Citizenship Topics

Learn how an experienced citizenship lawyer can help you succeed.

Legal Help

U.S. laws provide many protections and benefits to citizens, but there are also many requirements and obligations as well.

Schedule a consultation with D.Ray Mantle to ask all of your citizenship and naturalization questions.

Skip Navigation LinksHome > Citizenship

U.S. Citizenship

The ultimate goal for many immigrants is to become a U.S. citizen. Individuals who have been permanent residents for five years (three years for spouses of U.S. citizens), have only met one requirement for naturalization.

Other eligibility factors include being physically present in the U.S. for at least half the required period (18 months for spouses of U.S. citizens and 30 months for others) and never taking a single trip abroad for more than one year. Military personnel and their spouses may also qualify for expedited naturalization and other benefits.

Additional criteria are outlined in the Guide to Naturalization. Applicants should not rely on the brief summaries provided in this publication and should consult an experienced immigration attorney for specific questions regarding naturalization eligibility.

U.S. citizenship includes several important obligations.  The naturalization process concludes with an oath ceremony, where applicants make the following promises:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Help with Citizenship

D.Ray Mantle assists individuals in obtaining positive citizenship and naturalization results in a timely, personal and professional manner. Your individual circumstances are carefully reviewed by an experienced immigration attorney to determine which options are available to you. Mr. Mantle provides guidance and help in gathering the necessary information and documents for your case, prepares all of the necessary application forms, and also ensures that your final application meets all government requirements.

If you would like to understand more about the application process and to find out if you qualify for U.S. citizenship, please contact D.Ray Mantle for a consultation.