Citizenship & Naturalization

Assisting Immigrants in the Greater Chicago Area with Obtaining Citizenship and Naturalization

Becoming a citizen of the United States of America is an extremely rewarding experience. The pathway to attaining American citizenship, however, often contains numerous twists and turns along the way. When it comes to pursuing and obtaining citizenship through naturalization, it is crucial to have a dedicated legal team on your side who knows what they are doing and who will know how to handle and resolve complex immigration hurdles in your case when they arise.

The Chicago citizenship and naturalization lawyers at Ahlgren Law make it a priority to zealously pursue citizenship on behalf of our clients. Our team will help you throughout every step of the process and ensure that all of your rights remain safeguarded along the way. Please speak with us today to learn more about how we could help with resolving your immigration issue.

Defining ‘Naturalization’

Individuals who are more than 18 years old and wish to become citizens of the United States typically must proceed through the naturalization process. In order for an immigrant to qualify for naturalization, he or she must satisfy one of the following requirements:

• The immigrant must have resided in the United States for a minimum of three years as a lawful permanent resident and must currently be married to a citizen of the United States, or
• The immigrant must have resided in the United States for a period of five years as a lawful permanent resident

Additionally, the citizenship applicant must be 18 years of age, demonstrate that he or she is able to write, read, and speak the English language, demonstrate good moral character, demonstrate that he or she has a basic knowledge about U.S. government and history, demonstrate loyalty to the principles of the U.S. constitution, and be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance. There are exceptions, including special provisions for asylees, individuals serving in the U.S. military, and children of U.S. citizens.

Ways to Become a U.S. Citizen Without Going Through the Naturalization Process

There are several ways that a person could become a citizen of the United States without having to go through the naturalization process. In the case of children, for example, a child who is born overseas might be eligible to obtain U.S. citizenship simply because his or her parents are citizens of the United States. This is called acquisition of citizenship and requires complex legal analysis to determine eligibility.

Contact a Skilled Chicago Citizenship and Naturalization Lawyer about Your Legal Issue Today

At Ahlgren Law​, our legal team can help you throughout the naturalization and citizenship process. For a consultation and case evaluation with a Chicago citizenship and naturalization attorney, please call us today at 312-782-1804 or contact us online today to learn more about how we can help you pursue naturalization and citizenship.