American citizenship brings many benefits and rights, such as exercising the right to vote, traveling with an “American” passport, staying for extended periods outside the United States, and not being subject to deportation. Even if a person was not born in the United States, they can become a U.S. citizen.
American citizenship holds within it a treasure trove of benefits and rights. It empowers individuals to exercise their right to vote, grants them the ability to travel freely with an “American” passport, provides the opportunity to stay outside the United States for extended periods without facing deportation, and establishes a sense of belonging.
Remarkably, even if someone was not born in the United States, they have the potential to become a U.S. citizen.
Obtaining American citizenship is achievable through various avenues. One of these paths is the process of citizenship. This involves granting U.S. citizenship to a lawful permanent resident, provided they meet the criteria established by law:
When an individual initiates the application for U.S. citizenship, the immigration agency meticulously scrutinizes all historical files. The aim is to ensure that the applicant genuinely met all requirements during the acquisition of permanent residency. This scrutiny might even extend to requesting records from the applicant's country of origin. In instances where new and potentially problematic information surfaces, the agency could reject the naturalization application and initiate removal proceedings.
Given the intricacies of the naturalization process, seeking guidance from an experienced immigration attorney is strongly advised.
Military service is another way to obtain U.S. citizenship.
Serving honorably in any branch of the United States armed forces, the Coast Guard, the Reserve Corps, or the National Guard can qualify an individual for citizenship.
Citizenship options extend to adoption cases as well. DeLaTorre Law can provide tailored advice on citizenship avenues for adopted individuals.
Citizenship can be acquired or derived for individuals with one or both parents who are U.S. citizens, irrespective of their place of birth.
An applicant is eligible if they had at least one U.S. citizen parent at birth. Additionally, the citizen parent must have resided in the United States for a specific period, which varies based on the applicant's date of birth and circumstances.
Derivation involves being the child of a foreign national who became a U.S. citizen before the child’s 18th birthday. To qualify, the child must be single and under 18 years of age, have obtained permanent residence before the age of 18, reside in the United States, and have been under the legal and physical custody of their U.S. citizen parent.
We will meet with you to hear your story and develop a strategy for your application.
After receiving your documents, we will prepare your case with all the relevant papers.
We will be with you every step of the way.
DeLaTorre Law is here to answer all your questions, provide reassuring expertise, and guide you to a successful application.
Spanish Spanish 
English