If you are applying for citizenship, or naturalization, in the United States, you should prepare yourself for a long and sometimes confusing process. Even if the paperwork you turn in to the immigration office is perfect, it can still take a long time for it to complete the process. However, it only takes a slight error to hold up the process.
In general, there are four common issues that can cause serious problems for people who are trying to obtain U.S. citizenship. If any of these issues applies to you, you should take care of them as soon as possible so that they do not affect your immigration status.
Back taxes
If you owe back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), then it is likely that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will deny your application for citizenship. But, if you can prove that you are trying take care of your back taxes, then you could still qualify for citizenship. If you do owe taxes to the IRS, you should contact the IRS and try to work out a payment plan.
Back child support
If you are behind on your child support payments, this could also cause problems with your naturalization application. If a court in the Glenwood Springs area has ordered you to pay child support, then you must be able to prove that you are following the court order.
Register in the Selective Service System
Part of citizenship eligibility is being willing to stand up for the United State and the Constitution. One of the easiest ways to do this is by enrolling in the Selective Service System. If you are male, have a green card and are between 18 and 25 years old, then it is a requirement for you to enroll for Selective Service. Also, you have to provide you Selective Service Number when you apply for citizenship.
Demonstrate good moral character
Another citizenship requirement is that you must have a good moral character. This means that if you have a criminal record or are caught lying on your citizenship application or during the interview process, the immigration office could deny your application. In general, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will look closely at your behavior during the previous five years before you submitted your application, but they could look further back if they choose to.
If you are planning to apply for citizenship in the United States, it is important to take care of any issues that could cause the immigration office to deny your request. By avoiding the above pitfalls, you can increase your chances of receiving approval for your citizenship application.