N-400 naturalization, citizenship eligibility, interview preparation, civics test. Bilingual immigration attorney FL.
Becoming a United States citizen is one of the most significant milestones in any immigrant’s journey. Naturalization grants you the right to vote, hold a U.S. passport, sponsor family members without quota limitations, and enjoy the full protections of American citizenship. At Fitenko Law PLLC, we help lawful permanent residents navigate the naturalization process from eligibility assessment through the oath of allegiance ceremony.
The naturalization process begins with filing Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) with USCIS. This comprehensive application covers your biographical information, residency history, employment history, travel records, and moral character disclosures. Accuracy and completeness are critical — errors or omissions can lead to delays, requests for evidence, or even denial.
We review every aspect of the N-400 application with our clients, ensuring that:
To qualify for naturalization, a lawful permanent resident generally must meet the following requirements:
The good moral character requirement is one of the most scrutinized aspects of the naturalization process. USCIS considers a range of factors, including criminal history, failure to pay taxes, immigration fraud, and failure to support dependents. Certain offenses are permanent bars to naturalization (such as murder or aggravated felony convictions), while others create conditional bars for the statutory period.
If you have concerns about your moral character history, it is essential to consult with an attorney before filing. We evaluate each client’s history, assess potential issues, and determine whether it is safe to proceed or whether additional time or remedial action is advisable.
As part of the naturalization interview, applicants must pass an English language test (reading, writing, and speaking) and a civics test covering U.S. history and government. The civics test draws from a pool of 100 questions, and applicants must correctly answer at least 6 out of 10 questions asked by the USCIS officer.
We provide clients with study materials, practice test sessions, and interview preparation to ensure they feel confident and well-prepared. For applicants aged 55 or older who have been permanent residents for 15 years (or 50 or older with 20 years of permanent residency), exceptions may apply that allow the civics test to be conducted in the applicant’s native language.
The naturalization interview is conducted by a USCIS officer who reviews the N-400 application, administers the English and civics tests, and asks questions about the applicant’s background and eligibility. We prepare clients by conducting mock interviews, reviewing every section of the application, and addressing any potential areas of concern in advance.
The United States generally permits dual citizenship, meaning that becoming a U.S. citizen does not require you to renounce your prior nationality (though some countries may have their own restrictions). The oath of allegiance includes a statement of renunciation, but U.S. law does not enforce the relinquishment of foreign citizenship. We advise clients on the implications of dual citizenship for both their U.S. and foreign-country status.
“Naturalization is the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. We are honored to guide our clients through this final, transformative step.”
Most permanent residents may file Form N-400 after five years as a green-card holder, or after three years if they have been living in marital union with the same U.S. citizen spouse for that whole period. USCIS accepts the application up to 90 days before the residence requirement is met. Physical presence is a separate requirement: at least 30 months of the last 60, or 18 of the last 36 on the three-year rule.
They can. An absence of six months or more creates a rebuttable presumption that you broke continuous residence; an absence of one year or more breaks it outright and restarts the clock. Physical presence is counted separately and without discretion. Where travel is unavoidable, Form N-470 or simply choosing the filing date carefully usually protects the case — which is why the passport stamps are reviewed before the application goes in, not after.
There are two parts. The English test covers speaking, reading, and writing. The civics test draws 10 questions from a published list of 100, and 6 correct answers pass. Applicants aged 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, may take the civics test in their own language with an interpreter; applicants 65 or older with 20 years study a shortened list of 20 questions.
United States law does not require you to give up another nationality, and dual citizenship is permitted. Whether you keep the other one is decided by that country's law, not by USCIS. We raise the question early for clients whose countries treat naturalization abroad as automatic loss, so that the choice is made knowingly rather than discovered at the oath ceremony.
Schedule a consultation with Attorney Ekaterina Fitenko to assess your eligibility for naturalization and begin your journey to U.S. citizenship. We offer guidance in English and Russian.