Naturalization & Waivers
Citizenship Applications and Immigration Waivers
Two kinds of cases live here. The first is the last step of a long road: turning a green card into U.S. citizenship with Form N-400. The second is the hardest step for many families: getting past a ground of inadmissibility, such as unlawful presence or a prior removal, so an immigrant visa can be issued. Both turn on records and timing, and both reward careful preparation before anything is filed.
Where your case fits
If you already hold a green card, your question is usually whether you qualify for citizenship yet, and whether anything in your history (long trips, missed tax filings, an arrest, a problem with how the green card was obtained) could surface at the interview. The N-400 page explains the 5-year and 3-year rules, the 90-day early filing window, the standard, online and reduced USCIS fees, and the tests.
If you are not yet a resident, the question is whether a waiver can open the path. The I-601A lets certain people in the United States ask USCIS to forgive unlawful presence before leaving for the consular interview, so the family is not separated for years. The I-601 is the broader waiver used after a consular officer, or USCIS in an adjustment case, finds a ground of inadmissibility. The I-212 is permission to reapply after a removal or deportation. Many cases need more than one, filed in the right order.
Every page lists the government fees as of the date shown, drawn from the federal regulation that sets them. Each filing is prepared by a licensed U.S. immigration attorney who works with the firm. If USCIS sits on a case or a decision raises a federal-court question, DC Federal Litigation PLLC handles that side from Washington, DC.
Naturalization and waiver services
Not sure which one you need?
Waiver eligibility depends on facts that are easy to get wrong from a checklist: exact entry and exit dates, how each entry happened, whether there was ever a removal order, and who in your family is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. A paid consultation sorts that out before you spend money on a filing. If you need your prior immigration file first, see the A-file explainer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a waiver and naturalization?
Naturalization is the process a lawful permanent resident uses to become a U.S. citizen, using Form N-400. A waiver is a request that the government forgive a ground of inadmissibility, such as unlawful presence, a misrepresentation or a prior removal, so that a person can receive an immigrant visa or green card in the first place. Some clients use both, years apart: first a waiver to become a resident, then an N-400 once they meet the residence requirements.
Can a past waiver affect my later citizenship application?
It can come up. At the N-400 interview, USCIS can look back at how you became a permanent resident. If the green card was properly obtained, including any waiver that was approved, that history is usually documented in your file. If something in the earlier case was incomplete or inaccurate, it should be reviewed before you apply for citizenship. We often request the A-file first so we can see exactly what USCIS has.
Do you handle these cases outside Washington, DC?
Yes. Citizenship applications and waivers are federal filings, so they are not tied to a particular state. The firm has its office in Washington, DC and works with clients nationwide and abroad. Interviews take place at your local USCIS field office or at the U.S. embassy or consulate handling your immigrant visa case.
What affects the cost of a citizenship or waiver case?
Government filing fees are set by regulation, listed on each page and paid directly to USCIS or the Department of State. The rest depends on your record: the forms involved, prior removals or arrests, long trips abroad, and how much hardship evidence a waiver needs. A consultation screens those issues first. Our legal fees are set out in writing in your engagement letter after we review your case.
Should I book a consultation or start the intake form?
If you know you need an N-400 and your history is simple, the intake form is the quickest start. For any waiver, or if you have prior removals, arrests, long trips abroad or uncertain entry dates, book a consultation first. Eligibility screening for waivers is the most important step, and a filing made on a wrong assumption can cost time and money.
Start with the right filing
Tell us where you are in the process and what is in your record. Start with a paid consultation. If you engage the firm within 30 days, your consultation fee is credited in full toward your initial retainer.