Requirements for naturalization

Permanent lawful residents in Texas who want to become naturalized U.S. citizens must meet strict requirements. However, the requirements may be waived in some cases, and others might meet exceptions to them.

Most lawful permanent residents must wait for a minimum of five years before they will become eligible to apply for naturalization. There is an exception for the spouses of U.S. citizens. They may be eligible to apply to become naturalized after they have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least three years while being married to the same U.S. citizen spouse. The U.S. citizen spouse must have been a citizen for the entire three-year period. The residence requirement may be completely waived for lawful permanent residents whose U.S. citizen spouses are employed abroad while working for the U.S. government, a recognized U.S. religious organization, an officially recognized U.S. research institute or other specified employers.

Lawful permanent residents who serve honorably in the U.S. armed forces are able to apply to become naturalized after one year of service. Lawful permanent residents who are married to U.S. military service members who are killed in action may immediately apply to be naturalized U.S. citizens.

Becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen offers residents many benefits. They may register to vote, run for office and enjoy all of the benefits that citizenship brings. People who are lawful permanent residents that wish to become naturalized U.S. citizens might want to talk to experienced immigration law attorneys who can explain whether or not they meet the criteria to apply to be naturalized. If they do qualify, the attorneys may assist their clients in gathering the documents that they need to support their applications. After the applications have been submitted to the USCIS, they may also help the clients to prepare for their interviews and for their citizenship tests.