N-400- Naturalization

U.S. Naturalization: Becoming a U.S. Citizen

At Shah & Kishore, we believe that becoming a U.S. citizen is one of the most meaningful milestones in an immigrant’s journey. Naturalization not only grants you the right to vote, access to federal benefits, and the ability to sponsor family members for immigration it also provides protection from deportation, even in cases involving minor criminal offenses. U.S. citizenship is permanent and secure, and it affirms your full membership in the American community.

However, the path to citizenship has become more complex. As of October 20, 2025, the U.S. government has implemented significant changes to the naturalization process. Applicants must now pass a more rigorous civics test, answering 12 out of 20 questions correctly from a pool of 128 questions, up from the previous 6 out of 10 from a 100-question pool. More importantly, applicants must now affirmatively demonstrate “good moral character”, meaning it’s no longer enough to simply avoid criminal activity. You must show positive contributions to American society, such as community involvement, stable employment, and adherence to social norms.

This shift has made the process more challenging, especially for those with limited English proficiency, complex immigration histories, or unique personal circumstances. Our firm has successfully guided clients through naturalization including those who faced hurdles such as:

Spending extended time outside the U.S., raising concerns about abandonment of permanent resident status.
Failure to maintain employment with a sponsoring employer.
“Quick divorces” after receiving a marriage-based green card, which can trigger additional scrutiny.

With over 30 years of experience, Shah & Kishore offers personalized, hands-on support throughout the naturalization process. We work closely with each client to prepare strong applications, gather necessary documentation, and ensure readiness for interviews and testing. Our multilingual team speaks Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Romanian, French, and of course, English, allowing us to serve clients from diverse backgrounds with clarity and compassion.

Naturalization Requirements

To qualify for U.S. citizenship, you must generally meet the following:

Be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder).
Be at least 18 years old.
Have continuous residence in the U.S. for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen.
Have physical presence in the U.S. for at least half of the required residency period.
Demonstrate basic English proficiency (reading, writing, speaking).
Passthe civics and history test.
Show good moral character, now requiring affirmative evidence of positive contributions.
Take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.

Children of Naturalization Applicants

One of the most powerful benefits of naturalization is that it can also lead to automatic citizenship for your children, depending on their age, immigration status, and where they reside.

Under the Child Citizenship Act, certain children automatically acquire U.S. citizenship when a parent naturalizes, if the following conditions are met:

The person is a child of a parent who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization (including an adoptive parent);
The child is under 18 years old.
The child is a lawful permanent resident (green card holder).
The child is living in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent.

If these conditions are met, the child does not need to file a separate naturalization application. Instead, they automatically become a U.S. citizen on the date the parent is sworn in. Our firm assists families in documenting this status and obtaining a Certificate of Citizenship or U.S. passport for the child.

For children who do not meet these criteria such as those living abroad or over 18, we help explore other pathways to citizenship, including derivative citizenship, naturalization through Form N-600 or N-400, or family-based green card sponsorship followed by naturalization.

At Shah & Kishore, we ensure that your entire family benefits from your naturalization journey. Whether your child was born abroad, adopted, or is part of a blended family, we provide clear guidance and legal support to secure their future in the United States.