Georgia Naturalization News
September 13, 2022 was a great day for some Atlanta immigrants as they attended a ceremony where they took the new citizenship oath. Coincidentally, Citizenship Day and Constitution Week began four days later on September 17, 2022.
Almost 100,000 Naturalized Citizens
Georgia has approximately 97,000 naturalized citizens in residence in 2022, with most living in Atlanta. People from 27 different countries were able to participate in the Atlanta City Hall swearing in ceremony.
Event Speakers
The Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs executive director Vanessa Ibarra, Shineka Miller, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office director, and Atlanta’s mayor Andre Dickens spoke at the event.
What is Naturalization?
If a lawful permanent United States resident meets Congress’ requirements, the resident can apply for United States citizenship. The requirements, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s “Instructions for Application for Naturalization” are:
- You must be 18 years old.
- You are a U.S. permanent resident for a required time period.
- You have lived at least three months in the state where you are applying for naturalization.
- You have had a physical presence in the United States for a required time period.
- You have been a continuous resident for a required time period.
- You have demonstrated good moral character.
- You have an attachment to the ideals and principles of the United States Constitution.
- You can demonstrate basic United States history knowledge.
- You can read, write, speak and understand the English language.
- You agree to take an oath of Allegiance to the United States.
Naturalization Test
You will need to take and pass a naturalization test where you will need to show that you can read, write and speak English. You will need to prove that you have basic United States history and government knowledge. You do not have to take the English language test if:
- You are over 50 years of age and have lived in the United States for 20 years.
- You are over 55 years of age and have lived in the United States for 15 years.
- You are over 65 years of age and have lived in the United States for 20 years.
You might be exempt from taking the English language test if you qualify for certain medical exemptions.
Form N-400
Form N-400 is the name of the Application for Naturalization form. The form is complicated and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services instruction sheet is 18 pages long. In addition, applicants need the following information to apply:
- Permanent Resident Card.
- Marriage Certificate (if married, of course).
- Various military identification forms (if applicable).
- Passport-type photos (in certain situations).
The filing fee for Form N-400 can be as much as $725.00. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services strongly advises those that wish to apply for naturalization to refer to “A Guide to Naturalization.”
Get Help From an Experienced Georgia Immigration Attorney
As you can see, the Form N-400 naturalization application is extremely complex. If you make a mistake in filling out the application, your request for naturalization can be quickly rejected. A qualified Atlanta family immigration attorney at Shirazi Immigration Law Inc can provide solutions for your immigration issues. They will advise if naturalization is attainable in your situation, and will help you to consider alternatives if necessary. If you need immigration help, call today at 404-523-3611, or use the firm’s online form to schedule a case evaluation.
Source:
cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/new-u-s-citizens-sworn-in-at-naturalization-ceremony-in-atlanta/
