Naturalization

Our client from Lithuania had been a permanent resident since 2001, when our firm helped him end his removal proceedings (deportation) and obtain his green card. He wanted to file for his Naturalization, but he was worried because not only had he been in jail with removal proceedings but had also been charged with a traffic (speed) violation. We completed evidence of his past records before filing for his N-400 (Naturalization Petition) in November 2007. The evidence showed his removal proceedings had ended with adjustment of status to permanent resident in 2001, and also that the traffic violation ended with payment of fine and costs. The case continued normal procedure. Later, our client missed his fingerprint appointment because he had a trip scheduled to his home country. We rescheduled his fingerprint check and it took place at the end of January 2007. After this, we continued follow up but USCIS did not schedule an interview because they had a backlog and it slowed all processing times for naturalization. We had to do an inquiry in October 2007 and continued follow up until he was scheduled for an interview to take place in mid February 2008. We prepared him and his wife for the interview, which went very well and he had his Oath Ceremony in the first days of April 2008. He wants to retain us to file an immigrant petition for his father as soon as possible.

In October 2007 we filed an N-400 (Naturalization Petition) for an Indian physician. He had been charged with a crime years ago and was afraid that it would make USCIS deny his petition. Before filing we gathered all evidence that showed how he had been declared Not Guilty and the case was closed. He was scheduled for fingerprints one month later and his interview took place in January 2008. We prepared him for the interview and his Naturalization was approved. His Oath Ceremony took place one month after the interview and he became a US citizen.

A Philippine family hired us once again, this time to represent the parents for naturalization (N-400). Their biggest concern was they were once denied extension of their visitor's visa when they first entered the country in 2000. We reviewed all possible immigration issues to address their concern as we prepared them for interview. The applications were approved and the Oath Ceremony for both was done in four months. We have handled all immigration matters for this family since 1998 up to the present (11 years) and have assisted all family members and dependents to successfully immigrate to the United States. Incidentally, they are a family of medical doctors and nurses rendering valuable contribution to the healthcare services in the US.

Our client contacted us because her naturalization application was being delayed in Georgia. We recommended filing a Petition for Hearing on Naturalization application in federal court in Georgia. Our client agreed and we filed the case. A short time later, our client was requested to appear at a second interview. We were also informed that the background checks had been completed a couple weeks after we filed the lawsuit. After the interview, we were informed that the N-400 had been approved. Scott Bratton handled the case. Debbie Lee went to the second naturalization interview in March 2008.

Our client, a sixteen year old boy, was born in Venezuela to an American basketball player, playing in Venezuela at that time, and a Peruvian citizen. In 1992, the young child and his mother arrived in the United States through a visitor's visa, which expired later. They lived out of status for many years. The mother, who was raising the child by herself, wanted to give the best to her son. Being a U.S. Citizen would help the young child, as his mom would obtain the benefits of putting her son through college at a much lower tuition. When we were retained, it was hard to communicate with the citizen father, who had been in San Francisco for quite a while. Through research and consistent communication with the father, we finally had enough documents to file an N-600 (Application to U.S. citizenship by birth to a U.S. citizen parent outside the United States, and out of wedlock). We were able to obtain documents from the US citizen father as far back as the seventies to show the appropriate residential requirements for alien's eligibility for citizenship. Our attorneys then prepared the young child, and encouraged his father to come from San Francisco to attend the interview, convincing him that this is for his child's future. The interview lasted less than 10 minutes and the young child was immediately issued his naturalization certificate. He is now a US Citizen on his senior year in high school, and on his way to a very good US College.

A Peruvian engineer came to see us in mid April 2007. He had been a resident since 1995, and in 2003 he had filed for Naturalization with another lawyer. He had been denied citizenship for "poor moral character". Turns out he had had minor offenses (mostly related to traffic) in the five-year period before his petition. Because these represented minor offenses, he had almost forgotten them and had filed his papers stating that he had not committed any offense. Apparently his lawyer had not checked or asked about his criminal offense record. We started his case gathering background checks, certified copies of his cases in County Clerks and making sure that for every offense we demonstrated how they had ended with just a fine. We filed his papers at the end of April 2007. He got his Fingerprint appointment on May, and his initial interview scheduled for November. We were required to present more copies and information about the cases and finally our client received a notice that he was approved and was asked to go to his Naturalization Oath Ceremony on February 2008.

N-600 Certificate of citizenship: German national who immigrated to the U.S. with parents when he was a baby. Almost 60 years later, when he had a need to travel out of U.S., he realized that he has neither a German Passport nor a U.S. passport and has lost his green card, copy of his parents' original passport which also carried his name and info, and his A #. He did not even know what was the name his parents used for him on his green card. He tried to apply for a U.S. passport, and tried to get help from senators but the Passport office could not find any information about either his original name nor his A#. Based on his story and our research, our office decided to file N-600 Certificate of Citizenship because we believed he became an U.S. citizen when his parents became naturalized. We worked with the client and put together a package with all the clues we could get and presented our case to the CIS. Our work helped the CIS to trace client's old family files and finally in Nov, 2007, issued our client the certificate of citizenship.

Client retained our firm to file N-400 (Application for Naturalization). In relation to the major issue of "good moral character", our client was charged and found guilty in 2000 of DUI. His driver's license was suspended for 6 months. He was also charged with speeding and possession of drugs in 2004, but, both charges were dismissed. He also failed to register for Selective Service System, the registration being mandatory for permanent residents between the ages of 18-26. With our legal representation to deal with these 2 major issues, the case however was obviously approved expeditiously within 8 months from filing. He is now a naturalized citizen.

Pakistan physician had held his green card gained through employment for 5 years as of 2006. We therefore were hired to assist him in applying for US citizenship. Our attorney was present at interview which was scheduled to take place in June 2007. Approval for naturalization application was recommended and today we have just received client's oath ceremony notification. Congratulations to our client who has finally realized his dream of becoming a proud US citizen.

Egyptian wife received her green card through marriage to her US citizen husband. Later she wished to change her single name to her married name, so we filed I-90 on her behalf. Before I-90 was approved, however, it was time for her to apply for US citizenship. We therefore also filed N-400. Three months after N-400 application was filed, she was notified to appeal for initial interview and later was called in for oath ceremony to become a proud citizen of the United States.

Brazilian client was issued a Notice to Appear and placed in deportation proceedings after the Service discovered he was convicted of multiple criminal convictions amounting to the classification of aggravated felonies. Client then filed for naturalization form N-400. The Serviced denied the application. An appeal was filed but denied. Our attorneys filed Motion to Reopen and Reconsider the district director’s decision denying the applicant’s request for a Hearing. After careful considerations of all factors, the Service determined the Request for a Hearing was denied in error and reopened and approved client’s N-400 application. An oath ceremony notice promptly followed and our attorney will accompany the client in his swearing-in ceremony in May.

After our Jamaican client obtained her lawful permanent resident status, she was arrested for violation of law and was ordered removed. We filed BIA Brief and caused the removal proceedings to be terminated. Although she did file I-751, it had been pending for a long time and she lost track of her case status. We advised client to file for naturalization although I-751 was pending. We have by now received her N-400 interview notice which has been scheduled for April 2007. Congratulations to our client who is not only out of deportation proceedings but also becoming a United States citizen.

When our client retained our office, he had convictions for trespassing and driving under the influence of alcohol.  Our office prepared our client’s Application for Naturalization and attended our client’s Naturalization interview.  Upon completion of the interview, our client’s Application for Naturalization was approved.  Our client has subsequently attended his Oath Ceremony and is now a United States citizen.  Troy Murphy represented our client in these proceedings.

A Portuguese national who has lived in theUnited States and been a legal permanent resident since 1980 had our firm file for naturalization in September 2006.  This client retained our firm since a family member filed for citizenship and it took well over 12 months from filing to approval.  This is very common experience among legal permanent residents who filed in the 1980’s.  Our client was approved for citizenship in December 2006 and will be sworn in as a USC in January 2007!  Less than 5 months from filing to USC!!!

Our client retained our firm to file a federal lawsuit against CIS since her naturalization application had been pending over two years.  We filed a Complaint in US District Court in Clevelanddemanding that the Court compel CIS to grant the naturalization application.  Our Complaint was successful in expediting the case.  In January 2007, our client naturalized.  Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong & Associates.