The Wait to Become a U.S. Citizen or Get a Green Card Has Gotten a Whole Lot Longer
According to immigration lawyers and advocates, the wait to become a U.S.
citizen or get a green card now has lengthened considerably. WNYC is reporting
that when a 60-year-old Dominican immigrant recently applied for citizenship,
his attorney expected the process to move quickly. The man had lived in
the U.S. for 17 years, and received a green card in 2011. Instead, immigration
authorities demanded court transcripts of a illegal sports betting charge
that was dismissed five years ago. The delay was stressful to the man,
whose right leg had been amputated several years ago, and who had no income
during the significant delay. He had paid Social Security taxes during
the years that he had worked, so becoming a U.S. citizen would enable
his to collect Social Security disability benefits. Instead, he faced
a months-long wait.
Immigration advocates claim that the wait to process a new citizenship
application is now about eight months, which is two to four times the
length of time that it took only a year or so ago. Other organizations
report that their clients have been waiting as long as one year for their
citizenship applications to be processed. Some are even referring to the
delays as a “second wall” meant to purposely deter immigrants
from seeking citizenship. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS),
however, attributes the delay to the 24% increase in citizenship applications
since the previous fiscal year, and claims that it is adding extra overtime
hours for staff and filling all vacancies.
Even as the wait for naturalization and green cards has become lengthier,
deportations continue to occur. We are the California deportation defense
lawyers to whom you can turn if you or a loved one are facing deportation
proceedings, no matter whether you are facing criminal charges, you have
a criminal conviction, or you simply have no legal status. Regardless
of the complexity or difficulty of the situation, Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C.has the experience, knowledge, and skills to advocate on behalf of you
and your family throughout the course of any deportation proceedings.
Contact our office today and let us answer all of your questions about
any aspect of deportation proceedings.
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