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Naturalization and U.S. Citizenship Attorney | Harari Law

By Talia Harari, Attorney at Law. Updated September 2026.

Naturalization is how a green card holder becomes a U.S. citizen. Most applicants qualify after five years as a permanent resident, or three if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. You file Form N-400, attend an interview, and pass English and civics tests.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the qualifying period.
  • Long trips abroad can break continuous residence.
  • You can file up to 90 days before you reach the five-year or three-year mark.

Who Qualifies

  • You are at least 18 and a permanent resident.
  • Continuous residence for five years, or three through a citizen spouse.
  • Physical presence of at least 30 months in the last five years, or 18 months in the last three.
  • Three months living in your state or USCIS district before filing.
  • Good moral character and passing the English and civics tests.

For applications filed since October 20, 2025, the civics test asks up to 20 questions from a bank of 128; you need 12 correct. See the USCIS naturalization page and the 2025 civics test.

How We Handle It

  1. Consultation. We learn your residence and travel history.
  2. Strategy session with our legal team. We confirm your filing date and flag issues.
  3. Evidence and preparation. We prepare the N-400 and documents.
  4. Review and filing. You review it with us, we file, and we prepare you for the interview.

Not a permanent resident yet? Start with a marriage green card or adjustment of status.

Ready to talk through your citizenship case?

Request a Consultation

Flat fee, quoted in full before we begin. Admitted in New York, representing clients nationwide and abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I traveled a lot?

Trips over six months are reviewed closely, and a year or more generally breaks continuous residence.

Can a criminal record affect my case?

It can, and some records create removal risk, so we review them before filing.

Can I be exempt from the English test?

Age 50 with 20 years as a resident, or 55 with 15, can be. They take civics in their own language.

Related: all the visas we handle, marriage green card, adjustment of status.

This article is general information from Harari Law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law and agency policy change; outcomes depend on individual facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.