Cleveland - The Fastest City in the U.S. in Naturalization (2024)

FAQs

How long does citizenship processing take in Cleveland? ›

The top 3 best overall metro areas for immigrants to become U.S. citizens are Cleveland, Ohio; Riverside, California; and Louisville, Kentucky. The worst 3 metro areas for immigrants to become U.S. citizens are all in Texas: Austin, Houston, and Dallas.

There are several routes to becoming a citizen in the United States, but by far, the fastest is to become naturalized by marriage. Expedited naturalization by marriage requires you to live in the United States with your citizen spouse for three years.

You only need to give one answer, unless either the question or the officer, asks for more. The questions will be asked exactly as written on the Civics Questions and Answers list but the officer could re-phrase the question to make it easier to understand.

Approximately 7 to 11 Months After Filing.

Although Cleveland is the overall best-ranked city for becoming U.S. citizens, the highest naturalization rate of eligible immigrants are in Columbus (20.6%) and Cincinnati (16.8%), Ohio, and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

The processing time for naturalization (citizenship) averages 9 months according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). During this time, as the government works to process the Application for Naturalization, applicants must complete several steps before becoming citizens.

You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice.

Perhaps the most difficult part of the naturalization process is the in-person interview and test with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer. The test determines an applicant's ability to speak, read, and write in English, as well as their understanding of U.S. government and history.

Which state is easy to get U.S. citizenship? ›

The top three states with the largest population of lawful permanent residents eligible to become U.S. citizens are California, New York, and Florida. The 10 states with the most eligible U.S. citizens account for 67% of all lawful permanent residents eligible to naturalize in 2022.

You may travel to another country, including your home country, provided no other legal impediment precludes you from doing so. However, if a trip lasts longer than 180 days, USCIS may determine that you have not continuously resided in the United States and therefore are ineligible for naturalization.

Arguably the hardest question on the U.S. citizenship test is number 67: The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. This answer is unknown to even most American citizens because the Federalist Party ceased to exist back in 1824.

An applicant has two opportunities to pass the English and civics tests: the initial examination and the re-examination interview. USCIS denies the naturalization application if the applicant fails to pass any portion of the tests after two attempts.

The naturalization ceremony is a solemn and meaningful event. Please dress in proper attire to respect the dignity of this event (please no jeans, shorts, or flip flops). You must return your Permanent Resident Card to USCIS when you check in for your oath ceremony.

In the first few months of 2023, we have continued to see improvements in processing times for many petitions and applications. For example, the current processing time for the I-129 petition is approximately 2 months.

Documents that you must take your naturalization test and interview include: Interview appointment notice. Permanent resident card (also known as a green card) Your driver's license or other state-issued identification card.

Simply put, the green card holder can legally live and work in the country. However, there are other benefits that the green card holder doesn't have that a citizen would have, one of which includes voting rights. It can take a couple of years for the green card holder to obtain permanent citizenship.

What state has the most naturalized citizens? ›

The largest number of persons naturalizing lived in California (148,765), Texas (97,675), and Florida (96,149) (Table 2). Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. September 30. the citizenship status of a parent.

And they can never be deported. Of the applications submitted each year, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves about 23%, denies about 2–3%, and leaves about 70% pending.

The current naturalization fee for a U.S. citizenship application is $725. That total includes $640 for application processing and $85 for biometrics services, both of which are nonrefundable, regardless of whether the U.S. government approves or rejects an application.

1. Marriage to U.S. Citizen. This is the fastest way to immigrate. Typically, the process lasts from six to nine months, after which a temporary Green Card is received.

How long will the interview last? A typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.

Contact An Immigration Lawyer And File A Lawsuit

If you feel that your case has not been considered, you can file a civil lawsuit against the government. In your lawsuit, you will ask a federal judge to order USCIS to review and make a decision on your case.

Why Is It So Hard To Become A U.S. citizen? It is hard because of the long processing times, the financial and personal costs involved, and the fact that most immigrants do not have a direct relative that is a citizen of the United States.

If an applicant fails any portion of the English test, the civics test, or all tests during the initial naturalization examination, USCIS reschedules the applicant to appear for a second examination between 60 and 90 days after the initial examination.

Why would naturalization be denied? ›

Having A Criminal History

If you have a criminal background/history, your chances of being denied citizenship are very high. The USCIS is interested in individuals of good moral character only. Serious crimes will permanently disqualify a person from becoming a US citizen. Minor crimes may bar someone temporarily.

A denied citizenship application may be the result of having a criminal record. The USCIS reviews allow your past criminal history before making their decision to accept or deny your application. Some more extreme crimes may merit a court hearing for someone to be deported after applying for citizenship.

You may lose your U.S. citizenship in specific cases, including if you: Run for public office in a foreign country (under certain conditions) Enter military service in a foreign country (under certain conditions) Apply for citizenship in a foreign country with the intention of giving up U.S. citizenship.

The current average processing time across all offices is 15.5 months. The whole naturalization process (including application processing, the citizenship interview and exam, and oath of allegiance ceremony) takes 18-24 months on average.

Ordinarily, denial of U.S. citizenship leaves the person with permanent residence, but there's a risk of green card cancellation and deportation.

You can apply for a U.S. passport immediately after your naturalization oath ceremony. However, if you decided to change your name as a part of your naturalization process, you will need to update other documentation, such as your social security card and driver's license before you can apply for a U.S. passport.

During your naturalization interview, a USCIS Officer will ask you questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver.

Most commonly the citizenship interview questions will begin with questions about your application and background. They will want to know about your immigration status, application, and background information. There are also basic questions such as what is your birthdate where were you born and what is your race.

What happens if you pass the naturalization test? ›

Once you've passed the interview and citizenship test, USCIS will send you a notification that your application was approved. You will then be scheduled for your oath ceremony, usually 1–2 months after your successful interview.

The agency hasn't posted the monthly national pass rate on the naturalization test since early December, when the new exam took effect. Until then, 90% to 91% of test takers passed.

Show that you have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately preceding the date of filing Form N-400. Be able to read, write, and speak basic English. Have a basic understanding of U.S. history and government (civics). Be a person of good moral character.

If a foreign national does not pass their initial naturalization interview, they will be given a second opportunity to show that they meet the requirements for U.S. citizenship. Often, this occurs when the foreign national fails one of the tests for citizenship.

Do I need to memorize the words to the Oath of Allegiance? No, you don't need to memorize anything! During the ceremony, you'll be given a sheet of paper with the words to the Oath of Allegiance, or the words will be projected on a screen. To help you prepare, you can also read the full text of the Oath below.

Documents you must bring to the Naturalization Interview

Although not required (unless residing outside of the US), it is recommended that you bring two additional passport-style photos (2”x2”). The photos must be in color with face, frontal view, on a white to off-white background.

Is There an Official Dress Policy for the Citizenship Interview? The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) does not have specific rules or requirements about what you have to wear when you go for your naturalization interview.

On average, it takes 18 months to 24 months to complete the naturalization process and become a U.S. citizen. The naturalization process has five general steps. It begins with filing Form N-400 and ends with taking the Oath of Allegiance.

The processing time for a replacement US naturalization certificate usually takes approximately 5-8 months.

How long will the interview last? A typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.

How can I speed up my citizenship process? ›

You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice.

Once you've passed the interview and citizenship test, USCIS will send you a notification that your application was approved. You will then be scheduled for your oath ceremony, usually 1–2 months after your successful interview.

An applicant applying for naturalization under INA 316, which requires 5 years of continuous residence, must then wait at least 4 years and 1 day after returning to the United States (whenever 364 days or less of the absence remains within the statutory period), to have the requisite continuous residence to apply for ...

If you don't submit a photocopy or a second certified copy of your citizenship evidence, your passport processing could be delayed. You cannot submit digital evidence of U.S. citizenship (e.g. electronic or mobile birth certificate) when applying for a U.S. passport.

A driver's license, social security card, or a voter registration card does not constitute proof of citizenship. ***Applicants may be required to provide additional identifying documentation, which may include, but is not limited to, photographs, medical records, or school records. ***

Arguably the hardest question on the U.S. citizenship test is number 67: The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. This answer is unknown to even most American citizens because the Federalist Party ceased to exist back in 1824.

The diagram below shows that 96.1% of all applicants pass the naturalization test. In fiscal year 2021, almost 90% passed it during the initial interview, and another 6% of all applicants passed during a re-exam.