How Fast Does Acquiring U.S. Citizenship Take?

For this moment, you can expect to get U.S. citizenship in nearly 6 months from the day of application. The first step to it is receiving a green card. Yet, it is difficult to determine the exact duration of the process of becoming a citizen: each applicant’s waiting time will depend on their significant life circumstances. 

Don’t think of it as a tiresome process. While it is actually complicated, it’s possible to handle. What you need to do is to familiarize yourself with the timeframes established for each specific group of applicants. 

Why Is Becoming a U.S. Citizen So Time-Consuming?

It’s common for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to receive plenty of applications. Each of them needs careful revision, meticulous checking of details and eligibility criteria, as well as final stages of testing and interviewing applicants. That is why waiting for your turn can take a few months.

From year to year, this remains true, so those who bid for citizenship are to accumulate extra patience. In the last few years, applications have tended to pile up, thus increasing the waiting time for many applicants.

How can I Keep Track of My Application’s Status?

Luckily for everyone eager to become a U.S. citizen, there is a proven way to check how long one should wait for an application's final stage and how far the existing application has already moved. This tool is the USCIS official website. It is great both for those inquiring about the terms and those expecting their applications to be finished soon. 

Is It Possible to Boost Application Processing? 

We all tend to believe in a ‘magical pill’ or a secret technique to speed up getting citizenship. However, don’t build sand castles. There is no way to move your application ahead, and you will still have to go through the regular procedure, which includes several months of waiting. 

At the same time, such nuances as being sponsored by family members can potentially play in your favor. Still, it will not speed up the whole process much. In addition, trying to acquire citizenship through marriage isn’t an easy way, contrary to popular belief. The thing is that USCIS perceives the issue of marriage fraud seriously. Hence, it takes time for them to detect and check the purity of an applicant’s motives. 

How Expensive Is Applying for American Citizenship?

Currently, one has to pay a $725 fee unless they are liable to use a fee waiver. The amount paid for filing an application is another proof of why you need to double check if it is actually made according to all requirements. Being turned down on your application implies no refund of the costs. 

Steps to Follow to Acquire U.S. Citizenship

Eating an elephant isn’t a simple task, right? However, if you break down such a big thing into small and easy-to-digest steps, you are bound to succeed. Below is a sequence of steps to take toward the goal. 

1. Fill out the N-400 Form (Application for Naturalization).
   Along with providing all data and documents for the application, pay the fees. After that, you should send a notice of action, which normally takes up to 2 weeks. To this step belongs the applicant’s duty to ask for an appointment to bring forth biometrics (fingerprints, signature, photo). To review and check this information, the competent organization will need at least 6 months after you submit everything. 
2. Take the required exams and interviews.
   If you succeed at the first stage, go ahead and make another appointment for the examination and interview. As a rule, you will undergo both on the same day. Take your time to get ready and memorize all the crucial data. 
3. Do the oath of allegiance.
   After you pass the test and interview, you must pronounce the oath of allegiance. In fact, this is a milestone that marks your first day as a U.S. citizen. Even though it might seem purely traditional, that is a vital stage that crowns it all up. 

Receive Help In Filing an Application for U.S. Citizenship

As a layman, you might still find the whole application thing intimidating. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be so. When there is steady support from professionals in law and immigration, confidence grows, and it becomes way less stressful. Moreover, it can save you a good amount of time and money. Reach out to our team right now to get this kind of personalized guidance and support. 

Follow-Up: Essential Things to Do After Getting U.S. Citizenship

Of course, there are other heights you need to take after obtaining citizenship. These will let you fulfill your rights and obligations as a newly made citizen of the United States. Here belong: 

• Registering to vote. 
• Issuing a passport or passport card (can be applied for right away at the allegiance ceremony).
• Bringing amendments to your Social Security record (the easiest way is by turning to one of the local Social Security offices).

October 3, 2023

For this moment, you can expect to get U.S. citizenship in nearly 6 months from the day of application. The first step to it is receiving a green card. Yet, it is difficult to determine the exact duration of the process of becoming a citizen: each applicant’s waiting time will depend on their significant life circumstances. 

Don’t think of it as a tiresome process. While it is actually complicated, it’s possible to handle. What you need to do is to familiarize yourself with the timeframes established for each specific group of applicants. 

Why Is Becoming a U.S. Citizen So Time-Consuming?

It’s common for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to receive plenty of applications. Each of them needs careful revision, meticulous checking of details and eligibility criteria, as well as final stages of testing and interviewing applicants. That is why waiting for your turn can take a few months.

From year to year, this remains true, so those who bid for citizenship are to accumulate extra patience. In the last few years, applications have tended to pile up, thus increasing the waiting time for many applicants.

How can I Keep Track of My Application’s Status?

Luckily for everyone eager to become a U.S. citizen, there is a proven way to check how long one should wait for an application's final stage and how far the existing application has already moved. This tool is the USCIS official website. It is great both for those inquiring about the terms and those expecting their applications to be finished soon. 

Is It Possible to Boost Application Processing? 

We all tend to believe in a ‘magical pill’ or a secret technique to speed up getting citizenship. However, don’t build sand castles. There is no way to move your application ahead, and you will still have to go through the regular procedure, which includes several months of waiting. 

At the same time, such nuances as being sponsored by family members can potentially play in your favor. Still, it will not speed up the whole process much. In addition, trying to acquire citizenship through marriage isn’t an easy way, contrary to popular belief. The thing is that USCIS perceives the issue of marriage fraud seriously. Hence, it takes time for them to detect and check the purity of an applicant’s motives. 

How Expensive Is Applying for American Citizenship?

Currently, one has to pay a $725 fee unless they are liable to use a fee waiver. The amount paid for filing an application is another proof of why you need to double check if it is actually made according to all requirements. Being turned down on your application implies no refund of the costs. 

Steps to Follow to Acquire U.S. Citizenship

Eating an elephant isn’t a simple task, right? However, if you break down such a big thing into small and easy-to-digest steps, you are bound to succeed. Below is a sequence of steps to take toward the goal. 

1. Fill out the N-400 Form (Application for Naturalization).
   Along with providing all data and documents for the application, pay the fees. After that, you should send a notice of action, which normally takes up to 2 weeks. To this step belongs the applicant’s duty to ask for an appointment to bring forth biometrics (fingerprints, signature, photo). To review and check this information, the competent organization will need at least 6 months after you submit everything. 
2. Take the required exams and interviews.
   If you succeed at the first stage, go ahead and make another appointment for the examination and interview. As a rule, you will undergo both on the same day. Take your time to get ready and memorize all the crucial data. 
3. Do the oath of allegiance.
   After you pass the test and interview, you must pronounce the oath of allegiance. In fact, this is a milestone that marks your first day as a U.S. citizen. Even though it might seem purely traditional, that is a vital stage that crowns it all up. 

Receive Help In Filing an Application for U.S. Citizenship

As a layman, you might still find the whole application thing intimidating. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be so. When there is steady support from professionals in law and immigration, confidence grows, and it becomes way less stressful. Moreover, it can save you a good amount of time and money. Reach out to our team right now to get this kind of personalized guidance and support. 

Follow-Up: Essential Things to Do After Getting U.S. Citizenship

Of course, there are other heights you need to take after obtaining citizenship. These will let you fulfill your rights and obligations as a newly made citizen of the United States. Here belong: 

• Registering to vote. 
• Issuing a passport or passport card (can be applied for right away at the allegiance ceremony).
• Bringing amendments to your Social Security record (the easiest way is by turning to one of the local Social Security offices).