Naturalization is the final step for the thousands of El Paso residents who have held a green card for years and want the security that only citizenship gives: the right to vote, a U.S. passport, protection from deportation, and the ability to petition for parents and married children. Many of our clients have been eligible for a long time but put it off because they worried about the English test, an old ticket, a long trip to Mexico, or a tax year they did not file. A short consultation usually clears those fears up. We look at your full history, tell you honestly whether you are ready to file, and if you are, we handle the N-400 from start to oath ceremony.
The requirements come from INA § 316 and § 319. In general you must be at least 18, have been a lawful permanent resident for five years (or three years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen), have been physically present in the United States for at least half that time, have lived in Texas for at least three months, show good moral character for the statutory period, and pass an English and civics test unless you qualify for an age or disability exception. You apply on Form N-400 with USCIS. Long absences, unpaid child support, unfiled taxes, arrests, or a mistaken claim to citizenship or voter registration can all affect eligibility and must be handled carefully before filing.
There is no court involved in naturalization. After we file, USCIS schedules biometrics and then an interview at the USCIS El Paso Field Office, where an officer reviews your application, tests your English and civics knowledge, and asks about your travel, employment and any arrests. You attend that interview; we prepare you for it and can accompany you. Applying without a lawyer is possible, but the N-400 asks about your entire life since you got your green card, and an honest but poorly explained answer can turn a routine case into a denial or, in rare cases, the start of removal proceedings. We make sure every answer is accurate, documented and consistent with your immigration file.
Common problems we check before you file
The most frequent issues for El Paso applicants are trips to Mexico: many people cross to Juárez so often that they cannot reconstruct their travel, and a single trip over six months can break continuous residence. We rebuild your travel history from your passport, CBP entry records and, if needed, a FOIA request. We also review tax transcripts, child support compliance, any criminal history (even dismissed cases must be disclosed), selective service registration for men who were 18 to 26 while in the U.S., and whether a name change through naturalization makes sense for you.
The interview and oath at the USCIS El Paso Field Office
Your interview takes place at the USCIS El Paso Field Office. The officer will place you under oath, go through the N-400 line by line, ask you to read and write a sentence in English, and ask up to ten civics questions from the official study list. Bring your green card, passports, and any documents we flag. If approved, El Paso applicants are usually scheduled for an oath ceremony within a few weeks, sometimes the same day. Once you take the oath you receive your Certificate of Naturalization and can apply for a U.S. passport immediately.
What's included
- Full eligibility review, including travel, tax, child support and criminal history screening
- Preparation and filing of Form N-400 with all supporting documents
- Fee waiver or reduced fee request (Form I-912) if you qualify
- English and civics test study materials and a mock interview
- Responses to any USCIS request for evidence about your application
- Attorney availability to attend your interview at the USCIS El Paso Field Office
How it works
Consultation and eligibility check
We meet in person or by video, review your green card history, trips outside the U.S., taxes and any police contact, and tell you whether to file now or fix something first. You get a flat-fee quote at this meeting.
We prepare and file the N-400
We draft the application, gather your documents, and file online or by mail with USCIS. You receive the receipt notice and a biometrics appointment, usually at the El Paso Application Support Center, within a few weeks.
Interview prep, interview and oath
Before your interview we run a practice session covering the civics questions and your own application. You attend the interview at the USCIS El Paso Field Office, and once approved, take the oath and receive your certificate.