Citizenship Lawyer in San Antonio, TX

How naturalization runs in San Antonio

Most people file the N-400 online, five years after becoming a permanent resident, or three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. USCIS then schedules biometrics at the Application Support Center, 2000 SE Loop 410, Suite 115, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays by appointment, and later an interview at the San Antonio Field Office, 20760 North US Highway 281, where an officer tests English and civics and goes through the application line by line. On our review date, USCIS reported that 80 percent of N-400s were completed within 12 to 13 months at the Dallas and Houston field offices; the San Antonio figure is on the USCIS processing-times page. Approved applicants take the oath at a ceremony scheduled by the field office.

The part of naturalization that surprises people is that the officer looks at how you got the green card and everything since. Trips outside the United States longer than six months, a divorce from the spouse who petitioned you, unpaid taxes or child support, an arrest in Bexar County that was dismissed, a vote cast by mistake, or a DWI can each turn an easy case into a denial or worse. Before we file, we pull the client's immigration file and criminal history and resolve what can be resolved. If a problem cannot be fixed, we say so, because an N-400 that exposes a defect in the green card can lead to proceedings at the Dolorosa Street immigration court. It is far easier to prepare for a question than to explain an answer, so if any of those situations applies to you, have the file reviewed before you submit the N-400.

Military families, children and dual nationality

Joint Base San Antonio, which takes in Fort Sam Houston, Lackland and Randolph, has roughly 33,000 active-duty personnel, and Lackland is where every Air Force recruit does basic training. Lawful permanent residents serving honorably can apply under section 328 or 329 of the immigration law with a certified Form N-426 from their command, and for those who served during a designated period of hostilities the usual residence requirement does not apply. The San Antonio Application Support Center sees military personnel without an appointment. We also handle the family side: the spouse of a service member who may qualify for expedited naturalization, and the parent or spouse who first needs parole in place and a green card.

A child under 18 who is a permanent resident and lives in the United States in the legal and physical custody of a citizen parent becomes a citizen automatically when the parent naturalizes. Proof is a certificate of citizenship from USCIS or a U.S. passport. Many San Antonio families discover years later that a child derived citizenship through a parent and never got the document; we file the N-600 and gather the records, including Mexican birth and marriage certificates through our Juárez and Chihuahua offices when the family's history runs through both countries. Becoming a U.S. citizen does not cost a Mexican national their Mexican nationality. Mexico recognizes dual nationality, and the Consulate General of Mexico at 127 Navarro Street continues to issue passports and consular IDs to dual nationals, so property, family and travel plans in Mexico stay in order after the oath.