Surinder Singh

My Green Card is going to finish 5 years in a month. I am thinking of
applying for Citizenship. I had some questions regarding that, if people do
not mind. I am currently a citizen of India & I live in Texas.

1) Do I need a lawyer to process my Citizenship? Can I do it myself? I had
used a lawyer for GC (actually the company I worked for did.)

2) What is the processing time for citizenship?

3) Are there any travel and/or residence restriction during the waiting time
for citizenship?

Thanks.

Surinder

Jozef

"Surinder Singh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My Green Card is going to finish 5 years in a month.

While Permanent Resident cards expire, Permanent Resident status does not.

> I am thinking of applying for Citizenship. I had some questions
> regarding that, if people do not mind. I am currently a citizen of India
> & I live in Texas.
>
> 1) Do I need a lawyer to process my Citizenship?

Not normally.

> Can I do it myself?

Yes. The N-400 Application for Naturalization form can be found here:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdf
The instructions are here: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/n-400ins.pdf
The N-400 form can be filed 90 days before meeting the 5 year "Continuous
Residency" requirement.

> I had used a lawyer for GC (actually the company I worked for did.)
>
> 2) What is the processing time for citizenship?

Depends on the Field Office you file the N-400 application with. The Field
Office in Dallas, TX for example is currently processing applications that
were filed on September 6, 2006.
See https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp

> 3) Are there any travel and/or residence restriction during the waiting
> time for citizenship?

Until the N-400 form is filed and citizenship is obtained, you should not
leave the US for extended periods of time. Other than that, there are no
specific travel restrictions during the time the N-400 application is
pending.

Jozef

Surinder Singh

Jozef:

Thanks for your reply. Some more questions ...




"Jozef" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:i8T2i.25809$b67.5354@trnddc06...
>
> "Surinder Singh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...

>> 2) What is the processing time for citizenship?
>
> Depends on the Field Office you file the N-400 application with. The Field
> Office in Dallas, TX for example is currently processing applications that
> were filed on September 6, 2006.
> See https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp

Is the processing time different for different regions of the country?

Also, is that the time for the citizenship interview? Or is it the time for
the entire process (interview + finger printing + US passport)?



>> 3) Are there any travel and/or residence restriction during the waiting
>> time for citizenship?
>
> Until the N-400 form is filed and citizenship is obtained, you should not
> leave the US for extended periods of time. Other than that, there are no
> specific travel restrictions during the time the N-400 application is
> pending.

So I should stay in the US till I am called for interview? Or should I
plan on staying here till I get myself finger printed and get a US Passport?

I have heard that some people have been able to send the application and
then move abroad for a job. How did they manage to do it?

Thanks

Surinder

Jozef

"Surinder Singh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Also, is that the time for the citizenship interview? Or is it the time
> for the entire process (interview + finger printing + US passport)?

I see Rete has given you excellent info about this.

>
> So I should stay in the US till I am called for interview? Or should I
> plan on staying here till I get myself finger printed and get a US
> Passport?

You do not have to remain in the US. You can use your PR card to re-enter
the US. If you are called up you better get back though. You do not want to
reschedule appointments with the USCIS if you can avoid it.

> I have heard that some people have been able to send the application and
> then move abroad for a job. How did they manage to do it?

Moving abroad for a job may cause you to lose your Green Card. A permanent
resident of the US is supposed to live and work permanently in the US. While
it is possible to travel (and even work) abroad and re-enter the US by first
applying for a travel document, being away for an extended period of time
will reset the "Continuous Presence" clock, and you will not be able to
obtain citizenship.

Jozef

leonatlanta

no you don't need a lawyer. why would you feel that you need one? im just curious.

the processing for my citizenship took a little longer for me as i missed 2 biometric dates (due to moving home, i even failed to turn up for one as the mail re-forwarding got screwed up) but all in all it took me less than 6 months from posting my n-400 and taking the oath.

there are no travel restrictions as far as i know.

and when you get called for an n-400 interview, be prepared to get sworn in that day. i had my interview and the guy asked if i wanted to get sworn in the same day, it was a pleasent suprise.