A great number of people is confused about immigration law and citizenship in the United States. Here are a few of the many common misconceptions about immigration laws and United States citizenship:

• If I marry a U.S. citizen I can automatically become a citizen. False. To become a citizen, you still need to follow various procedures such as applying for a marriage visa and providing proof of the validity of your marriage.
• Only if I am married can I bring a child into the United States legally. False. Children are eligible to relocate to the United States under a Family Visa petition regardless of your marital status.
• Attaining citizenship via naturalization is an easy process. This is not true. Naturalization is a complex process with many steps that must be followed.
• Legal immigrants, who are in the country on a visa, can be deported for minor legal infractions, such as traffic tickets or DWIs. This is not true except in extreme circumstances.
• You cannot become a legal immigrant if you come into the United States illegally. This is false. Someone who is an illegal alien can petition the government for a visa, green card, or a temporary worker visa.
• All immigration applications are the same. This is false. Every immigration case is unique and requires careful analysis and advocacy, preferably by a skilled and experienced immigration lawyer.
• The naturalization test is simple. The immigration test is a civics exam that requires a significant amount of knowledge of the United States government and its history. There are over 100 questions to study.
• You must be able to speak and write in the English language. This is not true. There are situations that allow an alien who cannot speak or write in English to become a permanent resident. But if you are unable to speak and write English that does make it difficult to pass a citizenship test if you are trying to be naturalized.

Misconceptions regarding immigration law are rampant. Instead of relying on gossip and innuendo, when you have questions about immigration laws or citizenship, ask an experienced immigration attorney to assist you through all the aspects of the immigration process in the United States.

If you are planning to apply to become a US citizen, you need a guide for naturalization that will help you every step of the way throughout the complicated application and then testing process.

In October 2008, the US government altered the naturalization test to include specific sections testing the applicant’s knowledge of American culture as well as written English. This portion of the test is generally regarded as the most difficult for immigrants to pass successfully, so you should spend a little more time preparing for this section.

Be sure you understand the residency requirements completely before applying for US citizenship. Since 9/11, errors and omissions on the application that were once overlooked are now being turned down or even worse – flagged as suspicious.

In general, to even have a chance of becoming a naturalized US citizen, you will need to have been a legal permanent resident for at least five years prior to filling out the application. The application process is more simple and it is easier to be accepted if you are married to a US citizen, and usually only requires three years of being a permanent resident before completing an application.

To successfully become a US citizen, you will need to prove good moral character, fulfill all residency requirements, prove that you have the ability to read, write, and speak moderate-level English, and pass a naturalization test that includes sections on history, US government, and English reading comprehension.

This entire process can take up to three years waiting in line for your application to be reviewed and finally accepted, before you can move on to take the naturalization tests and the other steps you will need to complete.

Stephanie Rose