Category: US Citizenship

Citizenship/naturalization is a permanent benefit with many privileges, including worry-free travel and the ability to participate in the US electoral process. The Form N-400, Naturalization Application is currently 20 pages long, and consists of complex biographic and travel questions. It is imperative that all information is accurately and properly completed to prevent delays in processing […]

Becoming a U.S. citizen is a huge milestone in any immigrant’s life, it’s what many work towards since stepping foot in the United States. Although the largest hurdle has been surpassed, there are still items that one must file after attaining the coveted citizenship status. Below are some of the most important actions one can […]

Citizenship given to children under the naturalization of parents is referred to as “derivative citizenship” or “citizenship through derivation.” In certain circumstances, derivative citizenship can also be conveyed to foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizen parents. Watch the video below for more and, if you have any questions, contact Berardi Immigration Law today.

According to a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GOA), the backlog of applications for eligible immigrants to become U.S. citizens has more than doubled between 2015 and 2020. The report found that the USCIS backlog increased 85% from fiscal years 2015 through 2020. USCIS cited the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the application process, and staffing […]

On September 24, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will once again be extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, USCIS announced it would give certain applicants, petitioners, and requestors more time to respond to […]

I’ve been an immigration lawyer for 24 years. I’ve had thousands of clients over my career. Last week, a client from 2009 contacted me for her U.S. citizenship application. She currently lives in San Francisco and could’ve contacted hundred of qualified immigration lawyers. Today, a client from 2010 reached out to me about obtaining U.S. […]

On June 7, 2021, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling and stated that certain individuals who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may not qualify for Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR). In Sanchez v. Mayorkas, the Court concluded that individuals who entered the US illegally and subsequently gained legal status through the TPS program are not […]

On July 2, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released the “Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization”. This strategy was developed in response to President Biden’s Executive Order No. 14012, which required government agencies to work together to improve and promote naturalization in the United States. The purpose of this new strategy is to remove […]

The United States offers several different processes for people to legally change their name. There are different procedures that must be followed based on your citizenship or immigration status. In addition, many states have different rules governing name changes. For example, some US states do not even require native US citizens to file with the government […]

You’re approaching your fifth year as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and decide it may be time to apply for U.S. citizenship, but to your dismay, you realize your Green Card is expired, lost or stolen, or even expired and lost.  You are now wondering if you are still eligible to naturalize or if you […]