Houston US Citizenship Lawyer: Understanding Every Path to Becoming a US Citizen
US citizenship is the most secure legal status the American immigration system offers.
Once you are a citizen, you cannot be deported. You can vote. You can obtain a US passport. You can petition for more family members. And you can pass your citizenship to your children.
At Prosperity Immigration Law, our Houston citizenship lawyers help individuals and families understand every available path to US citizenship and pursue the right one for their situation.
Path One: Naturalization
There is more than one path to US citizenship, and which path is right for you depends on your specific situation.
Naturalization is one of those paths and it is the most common path to US citizenship for immigrants.
By definition, it is the process by which a lawful permanent resident (a green card holder) applies to become a US citizen after meeting specific eligibility requirements.
The general requirements for naturalization include:
Path Two: Derivative Citizenship Through a Parent
Some people, including many who came to the United States as children, automatically became US citizens through a parent without going through the naturalization process at all.
This is called derivative citizenship.
Under INA Section 320, a child who is a lawful permanent resident automatically acquires citizenship if, while under the age of 18, both of the following conditions are met:
If you meet these conditions, you may already be a US citizen, even if you have never applied, never taken an oath, and are currently living outside the United States.
An attorney can help you determine whether you acquired citizenship and how to document it through a US passport application or a Certificate of Citizenship.
Path Three: Acquisition of Citizenship at Birth
US law automatically confers citizenship on some individuals at birth based on the citizenship status of their parents, even if they were born outside the United States.
This is distinct from derivative citizenship and governed by different statutory provisions.
The rules for acquisition of citizenship at birth are complex and depend on the year of birth, the marital status of the parents, and how long the US citizen parent resided in the United States before the child's birth.
If you were born abroad to a US citizen parent, it is worth discussing your situation with an attorney, but you may already be a citizen.
Path Four: Naturalization Through Military Service
Members and veterans of the US armed forces have access to expedited naturalization pathways that can significantly shorten or even eliminate the standard waiting periods.
The two pathways include the following:
Surviving spouses of service members who died during a qualifying period of military service may also have accelerated pathways available.
Does the United States Allow Dual Citizenship?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions about US citizenship. and it does not have a simple yes or no answer.
US law does not explicitly prohibit dual citizenship.
When you naturalize as a US citizen, you take an Oath of Allegiance that includes a renunciation of prior allegiances, but the practical effect of this oath depends on your other country's laws, not just US law.
Many countries do not recognize the renunciation, and their citizens continue to hold that citizenship even after becoming US citizens.
In practice, many people hold dual US citizenship without any legal problem.
However, the rules vary significantly by country, and some countries do revoke citizenship upon naturalization elsewhere.
Can I Apply for Citizenship with a Criminal Record?
Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from naturalization, but it does require careful evaluation.
The naturalization standard requires demonstrating good moral character during the statutory period, typically five years (or three years for the spousal path).
Certain crimes can permanently bar naturalization. Others may create a rebuttable presumption against good moral character. Many minor offenses are less disqualifying than applicants fear.
Attempting to naturalize with an undisclosed criminal record is one of the most serious mistakes an applicant can make. It can result in denial, a finding of lack of good moral character, and in some cases deportation.
Always disclose your full history to your attorney before filing.
Why Work With Prosperity Immigration Law
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally five years. If you are married to and living with a US citizen, the period is three years. Military service members may have shorter or no waiting periods depending on when and how they served.
Most naturalization applicants must complete an English and civics examination during the citizenship interview. However, certain applicants may qualify for age-related or disability-related exceptions.
Citizenship Is the Finish Line. Let Us Help You Get There
For many immigrants and families, becoming a United States citizen represents years of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.
But the path to citizenship is not always limited to the standard naturalization process. Some individuals may already qualify for citizenship through a parent, may have acquired citizenship at birth, or may have options available that they never realized existed.
Whatever your path to US citizenship looks like, Prosperity Immigration Law is here to help you navigate it, thoroughly, accurately, and with a strategy tailored to your specific situation.
We proudly serve clients in both English and Spanish and work with individuals and families throughout Texas and across the United States. If you are ready to pursue U.S. citizenship or want to better understand your eligibility, contact Prosperity Immigration Law today to schedule a confidential consultation.
Our Offices
Houston
7322 Southwest Fwy, Tower One, 4th Floor, Suite 470
Houston, TX 77074
(281) 545-3607
Harris County
21815 Oak Park Trails Dr,
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 801-5726
The Woodlands
282 Ed English Dr,
Shenandoah, TX 77385
(281) 949-7126