Index

• Library: Becoming a U.S. Citizen (Nolo) (2021 Ed.)

Index

A

Accommodations. See Disabilities, applicants with

Accredited representative, 289

Address of applicant

current mailing address, 104

current physical address, 104

previous addresses, 105

See also Address of applicant, changes of

Address of applicant, changes of check in with new occupants of your former home, 159

delays caused by transfer of file, 53, 156, 158-159

and determining your USCIS district, 159

to new state, and residency requirement, 159

reporting, by permanent residents, 10

reporting change to USCIS (Form AR-11), 158-159

Administrative appeal. See Appeals

Adopted children, 108, 305

Adultery, 60, 73-74

Afghanistan, translators/interpreters in, 59

Africans, and enslavement, 188, 204, 206

Age

children of deceased soldiers, 42

children of permanent residents, 8

eligibility requirement for citizenship, 2, 28, 59

See also Age-related waivers

Age-related waivers

on Application for Naturalization, 104

asterisk (*) used to denote questions in the "100 Questions" list that are on the modified history/government exam, 177

of biometrics requirement and fees if over age 75, 93

English proficiency waiver, 83-84, 85, 86, 104, 111

and getting help filling out the Application for Naturalization, 111

and interview held in native language, 83-84, 86

the list of 20 questions for U.S. history exam, 197-198

table summarizing, 86

U.S. history exam modification, 85, 86, 177, 197-198

Aggravated felonies

defined, 63, 313-314

driving under the influence as, 64, 71

lawyer for, 64

as permanently barring a person from citizenship, 63-64

removable status and, 9

resisting arrest as, 64

Alcohol

drinking problems, 60, 70, 71

driving under the influence, 64, 70-71

"habitual drunkard" status, 70, 71

Alien smuggling

defined, 313

denial of citizenship for, 66

first offense for certain family members, 64

lawyer for, 66, 109

paying for or otherwise assisting, 109

as removable offense, 9, 10, 66

American flag, 195-196, 209

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 281

American Indians, in U.S. history and government exam, 188, 193, 204, 207

American Red Cross, 41

American Samoa, 195

Anarchism, support for, 79-80

Animals, service, 216

Annulment of marriage, 93, 94

Anthony, Susan B., 192, 206

A-number

overview, 313

on appeals request form, 268

on application form, 100

on back of photos, 93

in cover letter, 97

in cover letter for post-interview documents sent by mail, 257

in designated representative's letter, 214

on extra pages, 100

on payment for appeals fee, 262

on request for rescheduling of interview, 236

Appeals

overview, 258-259, 261-262

basis for, 259-260

choosing between reapplying for citizenship and, 259-261

the decision, 274

defined, 313

denial (loss of appeal), 274

documents to support, 269-272

in federal courts, 293, 313

fee for, 261, 262

fee payment by check, identification of, 262

Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings Under Section 336), 261, 262-268, 317

form, obtaining, 262

interview for, 273

lawyer for, 258, 274, 313

letters or sworn statements from friends or family, 270-271

notice of appeal, deadline for sending, 261

photocopy of, 273

practice filling out the form, 262

risk of new reason arising for denial of citizenship, 273

risk of removal for reasons exposed during, 274

sample request Form N-336, 263-267

sample statement from applicant, 272

statement from applicant, 271-272

submission of appeal packet, 273

time required for, 261, 273, 274

tracking delivery of, 273

See also Reapplying for citizenship

Application for citizenship

overview, 92

checklist for packet, 114

contents of application packet, overview of, 93-95

expediting processing, requests for, 160, 217

"fee waiver requested" written on packet, 120

See also Appeals; Approval of citizenship application; Cover letters; Denial of citizenship application; Eligibility for citizenship; Fees; Reapplying for citizenship; Withdrawal of application; entries beginning with Application for Naturalization

Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) (citizenship application)

overview, 96, 317

advising USCIS about important aspects of, 96

caution on checking the current forms and fees for, 92

changes to information reported at interview, 238-239

children's information scrutinized for evidence of adultery, 74

children's information scrutinized for evidence of polygamy, 73

consistency with previous USCIS applications, 99, 105, 223

English exam, studying the form as preparation, 166, 167

English proficiency and readiness for, 165

errors in previous USCIS applications, 99

extra space/attachment pages for, 100

form, obtaining, 96

handwritten, 98

inapplicable questions ("N/A"), 98

interview questions as focusing on, 237

lawyer for assistance with, 98, 105, 108- 109, 110

line-by-line instructions for, 100-112

PDF on computer, 98

sample form, 125-144

typed, 98

See also Application for Naturalization, instructions for; Application for Naturalization, notations written on top of; Application for Naturalization, post-filing wait; Documents; Documents, additional requests from USCIS; Lying

Application for Naturalization, instructions for, 100-112

address, current mailing, 104

address, current physical, 104

addresses, previous, 105

biographic information, 105

children's information, 108

contact information for applicant, 104

criminal record of applicant, 105, 109- 110

date of permanent residency, 101, 103

disabilities accommodations requested for interview and/or biometrics appointments, 103-104, 217-218

education history of applicant, 105

eligibility basis, 100-101

employment history of applicant, 105

English requirement, waivers of, 104, 111

good moral character of applicant, 108-110

help with filling out, 111, 214

illegal immigration questions, 109-110

interpreter's help with, 111

lawyer or paralegal help with, 111

marital history, 106-108

memberships in community organizations, 109

military service, 110

name change, 102

name, legal, 101

name, on green card, 101

name, other names used, 102

Oath of Allegiance (blank signature), 112

Oath of Allegiance issues, 110-111, 231

parents' information, 105

race of applicant, 105

renunciation of foreign titles (blank), 112

sample form, 115-144

Selective Service registration, 110

signature, 111

signature at interview (blank), 112

travel outside the U.S., 106

See also Application for Naturalization, notations written on top of; Application for Naturalization, submission of

Application for Naturalization, notations written on top of

overview of importance of, 96

disability accommodation requests, 218

English exam waivers, 83, 86

fee waiver requested, 120

U.S. history exam waivers, 85, 86

Application for Naturalization, post-filing wait, 146-161

overview, 146

additional documentation requested by USCIS, 149, 151-152

application number, obtaining, 148, 152

average wait time, 147

change of address during, 157-159

changes to information during, reported at interview, 238-239

eligibility for citizenship, improving and maintaining, 146

expediting a case for emergencies, request for, 160

receipt of application, notification by mail (Form I797C), 147, 148-149, 150, 152

traveling during, 158

See also Application for Naturalization, tracking; Interview

Application for Naturalization, submission of, 112-123

overview, 112-113

caution about applying too early, 113

caution about sending original documents, 121

checklist for citizenship packet, 113, 114

fee payment, 113-115

fee waiver or fee reduction, 115-120

by mail, 96

by mail, and duplicate accommodations requests by applicants with disabilities, 104

mailing addresses for, 122-123

mailing by a traceable method, 120-121

mailing confirmation, 147

by military spouses overseas, 38

online, 96

by overseas spouses of U.S. citizens in certain occupations, 56, 57

PDFs, creating, 96

photocopies of packet, 115, 120, 121

protecting your application against loss, 120- 122

receipt of application, electronic (Form G-1145, e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance), 121- 122, 124

receipt of application, notification by mail (Form I797C), 147, 148-149, 150, 152

walk-ins not available, 113

See also Application for Naturalization, post-filing wait; Application for Naturalization, tracking

Application for Naturalization, tracking overview, 147

application number used for, 148, 152

biometrics appointment, 154

delayed receipt notice, following up on, 148-149

expedited application processing, 160

fees, saving the canceled check or credit card statement to show payment of, 147, 148, 151-152

help from a U.S. Congressperson's office, 149, 161

interview appointment, 156

lawyer for, 149

"pending" status, 153, 156

receipt of application, electronic (Form G-1145, e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance), 121-122, 124

receipt of application, notification by mail (Form I797C), 147, 148-149, 150, 152

saving communications from USCIS, 147

saving mailing confirmation from USPS or couriers, 147

telephone contact with USCIS, 153

waiting period prior to USCIS responses, 153

Approval of citizenship application, 249-250, 258

additional documents requested before decision, 250, 255-258

sample interview decision, 251

See also Oath of Allegiance; Swearing-in ceremony

Asylees

on Application for Naturalization, 101

application tips for, 36

defined, 313

length of time prior to citizenship eligibility (rollback rules), 35-36, 101

physical presence requirement for, 45

Avvo.com, 281

B

Battered spouse, eligibility for citizenship, 34-35

Biden Harris Administration and military applicants for citizenship, 40

and U.S. history and government exam, 174, 182

Biden, Joseph, 182

Bill of Rights, 178-179, 180, 187, 199, 200

Biometrics appointment

accommodations for applicants with disabilities, 103-104, 216

applicants living overseas get fingerprints done locally/do not pay fees with application, 115

and attempts to hide criminal record, 105

fee for, 93

green card required as identification for, 154

notice of, 154, 155

notice of, as sign your case has been transferred to the Field Office, 153

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