Do I Need a Lawyer to Apply for U.S. Citizenship?
No, you don’t need a lawyer to help you file your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. If you are able to understand and answer all questions on the form, you can complete the form without help. However, some applicants choose to consult with an attorney when there are red flags that include tax issues, previous dismissed convictions or charges, or less serious misdemeanours.
You can easily file your U.S. citizenship application if you just follow all the form filing instructions. All you need to do is to provide correct answers to all questions and make sure you do not provide any false information. Also, you will likely be in trouble if you hide any important information.
You do not need help to submit your biometrics information. But you might need help to prepare for the U.S. citizenship test and interview. There are a lot of online study materials available that will help you to prepare for the citizenship test and interview.
However, if you believe that you may not be able to go through the naturalization process by yourself, you can seek legal assistance and also find help within your community. Remember, USCIS immigration officers will not help applicants complete their applications.
While seeking help with immigration and naturalization services, you will need to avoid unauthorized people who offer to help. You must only seek the help of accredited immigration attorneys and EOIR-accredited representatives who are authorized to provide legal advice.
However, if you decide to file the application by yourself, start collecting information about the citizenship process after you make sure you are eligible for citizenship. Check out the naturalization guide, download Form N-400, and read all the form filing instructions. Once you feel confident, you can start your U.S. citizenship process.
Check out our immigration blog for more immigration facts!