U.S. Citizenship: Now Faster Than Ever Before, only 3 – 5 months. USCIS has hired more staff and now can process forms faster. Many Southeast Asians have been afraid to apply. Don’t be afraid, just do your research. If you have a criminal history and/or have not paid your taxes, you still might be eligible for citizenship. Do your research, get a lawyer, or call us for help. Below are some helpful links.

Get the N-400 application here.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176...

Advice on getting your citizenship.
# 1. If you have any criminal convictions, you need to be careful. If you apply for citizenship and you have a criminal conviction, they can then call the deportation officials. If you have NEVER been in contact with the police then go ahead… but if you have had contact with the police, you should see a lawyer. Sometimes even small crimes will prevent you from getting your citizenship. So if you think it might be possible that you have a criminal history, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact a lawyer.

# 2. Never go to a random tax agency that claims to do immigration. Instead, contact a lawyer or go to one of the following agencies:
International Institute (the only non-profit agency that has immigration lawyers)
www.iiri.org/

The Catholic Diocese of Providence
www.dioceseofprovidence.org/

Progresso Latino
www.progresolatino.org/

# 3. Do your own homework. Find out your criminal background in RI.
http://courtconnect.courts.state.ri.us/pls/ri_adult/ck_public_qry_main.c...
This does not cover your criminal background in other states, only Rhode Island.

# 4. Find out if you have paid your taxes for the past five years. Get a free transcript of your tax reporting history.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=105370,00.html

# 5. Find out how much you owe in loans, debt, etc…. Get your free credit report. The government allows you to get up to three free credit reports once a year.
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp