Your Citizenship and Naturalization Lawyer in Oklahoma City

Naturalization

At our immigration law firm, only Steven Langer—a dedicated Oklahoma City immigration lawyer—personally completes your naturalization forms. Call (405) 616-5999 today for your free initial consultation to begin your naturalization process at our Oklahoma City law office.

If you are a green card holder, naturalization is the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. From the outside, naturalization can appear straightforward. However, an experienced immigration attorney like Steven Langer understands that careful legal preparation is essential. A poorly prepared application can lead to extreme consequences—including denial of citizenship or even permanent removal from the United States.

Current fast processing by the Oklahoma City UCIS office means that applicants can become citizens in as little three months. Steven Langer works closely with each client to assure that each stage is handled properly and promptly.

At our Oklahomoa City law firm, immigration attorney Steven Langer requires that every client who applies for naturalization to undergo a background investigation similar to that utilized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

He also understands that USCIS wrongly denies some applications. Thankfully, citizenship is a right and not something awarded as a matter of discretion. Therefore, an applicant can seek review of a wrongful denial of naturalization within USCIS or in United States District Court. Steven Langer has represented clients in both forums and understands how to fight for your rights.

Who can naturalize and when?

The classic naturalization case involves a foreign national who becomes a lawful permanent resident, then applies for citizenship after meeting residency and physical presence requirements.

• Most green card holders must wait five years before applying.

• Spouses of U.S. citizens may apply after three years.

• In special cases, such as when a U.S. citizen spouse is deployed abroad for military or national service, a green card holder may qualify for immediate naturalization.

Steven Langer, a trusted immigration attorney in Oklahoma City, helps clients determine the earliest possible eligibility date and gather the required documentation.

Currently, service in the United States military can allow a lawful permanent resident to naturalize upon completion of basic training.

A little understood area of naturalization concerns derivative citizenship. In the context of naturalization, in many cases, when the parents of a minor lawful permanent resident naturalize, the child also becomes a United States citizen. Oklahoma City immigration lawyer Steven Langer evaluates each case to determine if a child qualifies for derivative citizenship and whether it is best proven through a U.S. passport orcertificate of citizenship.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have been a Lawful Permanent Resident for five years. How long does it take to complete the naturalization process?

The naturalization process at the Oklahoma City Field Office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services normally takes approximately 90 days from filing to attending the public ceremony where approved applicants take the Oath of Allegiance and receive their Certificates of Naturalization. Some oath ceremonies have been scheduled  within 60 days of filing the N-400.

My father is an older person. He does not speak English very well. Can he get around the English language component of the naturalization interview?

Normally, each applicant must take English language and civics tests. The civics test consists of up to 20 questions asked by the interviewer. You must answer 12 questions correctly.

The English language test includes reading a simple sentence in English, writing a simple sentence in English and demonstrating throughout the interview that the applicant is conversant in the English language.

Certain exceptions exist regarding the civics and English language requirement. Persons who are 50 years or older on the date of their application with at least 20 years of permanent residency may waive the English language requirement. Persons who are 55 years or older on the date of their application with at least 15 years of permanent residency may waive the English language requirement. Persons who are 65 or older take the test in their native language and also take a simplified civics test.

The civics and English language requirements may be waived for persons with demonstrated disabilities or health conditions. Steven Langer is experienced in obtaining and presenting the proper medical documentation to USCIS to obtain such a waiver.

Do you attend the naturalization interview with your clients?

Yes. Steven Langer always reviews each case thoroughly before the interview and ensures that either he or an associate attorney personally accompanies clients to their USCIS interviews. You are never left to navigate this process alone.

Citizenship

Most Americans take citizenship for granted. Due to our attitudes toward citizenship, certain bureaucrats within our federal government sometimes seek to deny the right of citizenship to Americans. A burgeoning area of law for immigration attorneys is citizenship.

United States laws concerning acquisition of citizenship at birth embody two legal principals: 1) The law of the soil and 2) The law of the bloodline.

What is law of the soil or jus soli? It is a rule of common law under which the place of a person’s birth determines citizenship. In addition to common law, this principle is embodied in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the various U.S. citizenship and nationality statutes.

What is law of the bloodline or jus sanguinis? It a concept of Roman or civil law under which a person’s citizenship is determined by the citizenship of one or both parents. This rule, frequently called “citizenship by descent” or “derivative citizenship,” is not embodied in the U.S. Constitution, but such citizenship is granted through statute. As U.S. laws have changed, the requirements for conferring and retaining derivative citizenship have also changed.

Derivative citizenship is also a term applied to foreign born adopted children of United States citizens who meet certain conditions. It also used in the context of naturalization when discussing certain minor children when their parents naturalize.

Do citizenship questions arise for persons born on United States soil? Yes. Due to a certain amount of fraud in border areas, the government may at a certain point in the life of an American born in one of these areas question that American’s citizenship. In these cases, Oklahoma City immigration attorney Steven Langer seeks to put together evidence proving that “more likely than not” the person being questioned is indeed a United States citizen.

In cases involving derivative citizenship, Mr. Langer first determines the law applicable at the time of birth. Facts to be reviewed include presence in the United States of the parent before the foreign birth of the child, whether the child was legitimated, whether the child is married and even in certain cases grandparental history must be reviewed.

Mr. Langer then determines whether the appropriate route for obtaining proof of citizenship. Options include registration of foreign birth, obtaining a United States passport or seeking a certificate from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

No matter your path to U.S. citizenship—through naturalization, military service, or derivative status—Oklahoma City immigration attorney Steven Langer has the experience and dedication to protect your rights and help you become or prove that you are a U.S. citizen.