Making the decision to come to the United States for a short period of time or a long period of time is exciting. You get to experience new people, new opportunities, new places, new cultures, and new laws. Naturally, most people do not find the “new laws” to be nearly as exciting as the rest of the new experiences are. When you are working with a law firm that offers legal immigration services, there are some tips you can follow to make the transition of becoming a US citizen a little easier.
1. Plan for Delays
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (or USCIS for short) are always falling behind schedule. It is not uncommon for it to take as many as three years for them to finish processing an application. Fortunately, most green cards do not expire for three years. This allows you plenty of time to apply for citizenship and deal with the gruellingly long waiting process. The worst thing you can do in this situation is waiting until the last minute to send in your application. Most people suggest sending in your application before your green card is more than 6 years old.
2. Consider Establishing Your Citizenship
Instead of continuing to apply for and renew your green card every ten years, it is a good idea to reach out to a law firm that offers legal immigration services to get help with establishing your citizenship. An individual can apply for citizenship after they have had their green card for at least five years. You can also apply for citizenship after having a green card for three years if you are married to someone who is already a citizen.
Reaching out to a law firm such as Bell Law Office LLC is not going to make the process of applying for a green card, visa, or citizenship go any faster. It will, however, make it a great deal easier. The application process can be confusing and an immigration lawyer can help make sure you correctly fill out the application and all associated forms. Your immigration lawyer can also help you take additional steps to increase your chances of getting your green card approved or getting citizenship.
