Swanson & Swanson is an immigration law firm located in Los Angeles, California. Our lawyers are dedicated to resolving your immigration and visa matters in a professional, friendly environment. Our experienced attorneys have dedicated themselves exclusively to immigration law since 1954, when our founder, Otto Swanson, began accumulating knowledge of immigration law as an employee of the Immigration Service.
For additional information about our team or the benefits of retaining our services, please visit those pages or contact us.
To speak to a knowledgeable immigration attorney about obtaining U.S. citizenship through naturalization, call 310-694-5914.
Naturalization and U.S. Citizenship
As a general rule, United States citizenship is the result of birth in the States or naturalization. Exceptions to birth in the United States exist based upon date of birth and parentage.
Citizenship through naturalization requires lawful permanent resident status for a period of 5 years during which one has accumulated at least two and a half years of physical presence in the States with no single absence in excess of a year. Exceptions to these conditions are provided to those employed abroad in specified circumstances.
The residence and physical presence requirements are reduced to 3 years and one and a half years, if, during that time, one has been and continues to be married to a U.S. citizen. Exceptions to this condition are provided to spouses of U.S. citizens employed abroad in specified circumstances.
Of course one must be able to read, write, and speak English, and have a basic understanding of U.S. government and history. Exceptions to the English skills are provided to residents of 20 years and over the age of 50 and residents of 15 years and over the age of 55. An exception to the history and government condition is provided to residents of 20 years and over the age of 65.
