CITIZENSHIP
In partnership with local community organizations, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California hosts free citizenship application workshops where our staff and volunteers help verify their eligibility for citizenship, complete and file their citizenship applications, and prepare their fee waiver requests if they cannot afford the filing fee. We offer similar services at our downtown Los Angeles or Anaheim office for those who cannot attend a workshop. We serve the low-income and everyone in need.
Please call us at our information below if you are interested in applying for naturalization! For more information about naturalization, click here.
Fill out our legal help request form
Navigating the Citizenship Application Process: Step-by-Step Videos
Available in English and 5 Asian Languages
Intro
Naturalization Eligibility Requirements & How to Prepare for Your Appointment
How to Submit Your Application
How to Prepare for your Interview
How to Interview
New Citizen Guide
Basic eligibility requirements for U.S. citizenship
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
- Continuously reside in the U.S. for at least 5 years since becoming a permanent resident
- Be physically present in the U.S. for at least 2½ out of past 5 years
- Be of good moral character
- Be able to understand, speak, read and write English
- Understand U.S. government and history concepts
Information & documents to bring:
- Green card and state-issued ID
- $760 filing fee (payable to U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security). USCIS no longer accepts checks and money orders, only credit and debit. Note: If you are low-income, you may qualify for a fee waiver.
- Passport(s)
- Arrest and court records (if any)
- Home addresses for the past 5 years
- Employer addresses and employment dates for the past 5 years
- Dates of all trips abroad since you became a permanent resident
- Spouse and children names, birth dates, A-numbers, and addresses
schedule your appointment now for legal assistance:
Free Legal Assistance
Every Tuesday and Thursday in our Los Angeles office from 10-3 PM and in our Anaheim office from 10-1 PM.
Please see these and all other clinics here.
We also offer individual appointments on a case-by-case basis. For those with criminal records, we require a Live Scan before we can schedule your appointment.
If you have any specific questions, please text us at (213) 973-6140 or email us at citizenship@ajsocal.org.
Want to get started now? Fill out this intake form and we will contact you to schedule an appointment.
Click here for more information about the benefits of US citizenship and important next steps you can take, such as applying for a US passport, petitioning for family members abroad, or obtaining proof of US citizenship for a minor child. Questions? Call us!
- Share your journey to U.S. Citizenship with us by visiting here to tell us your story
- If you’ve benefited from our citizenship services and would like to pay it forward and help other aspiring residents, consider donating here.
The LA Citizenship team currently offers the following services:
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N-400: Naturalization
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I-90: Renew or Replace Green Card
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N-600: Certificate of Citizenship
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N-565: Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
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Family-Based Immigration
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I-912: Request for Fee Waiver
For more information on each service and requirements, click through below.
N-400: Naturalization
- Must be 18 years old
- Must be green card holder
- Must continuously reside in US for at least 5 years (3 years for spouse of US citizen)
- Be physically present in the US for at least 2 1/2 out of the past 5 years
- Be of good moral character
- Be able to read, write, and speak English
- Be able to learn US history and civics questions
- N-648: Request for Medical Waiver
- Waives English and civics test requirements
- Language Exemptions (age/years of residence):
- 50/20 and 55/15: Allowed interpreter, no English test
- 65/20: Allowed interpreter, no English test, simplified civics test
I-90: Renew or Replace Green Card
- Assistance for lost, stolen, or expired green card
- Eligible for renewal 6 months before expiration
N-600: Certificate of Citizenship
- Must be child of US citizen who naturalized before the child turned 18 years old
- Additional requirements depending on birth date
N-565: Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
- Lost or stolen certificate of citizenship or naturalization
Family-Based Immigration
- I-130: Petition for Alien Relative (no consular processing)
- I-485: Adjustment of Status
- I-751: Removal of Conditions
- Remove conditions on conditional (2-year) green card for permanent (10-year) green card
I-912: Request for Fee Waiver
- Eligibility based on household income and means-tested benefit (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI)
Great customer support from beginning to end of the process from attorney and advocate. The team is really informed and goes the extra mile at every stage. My concern was my English capability, but thanks to their "Thai advocate," I was able to communicate with an attorney for the whole process.
Patty J.
Working with AJSOCAL was very smooth and happy. From the beginning of the application to the later preparation for the exam and the interview, AJSOCAL gave me a lot of guidance and encouragement. They also provide Mandarin service, which made me understand everything easier. Based on my experience, I strongly recommend that you come to AJSOCAL for help when you need to apply for naturalization.
Nancy Bao
I feel very happy and lucky to have everyone in the office help us wholeheartedly, especially Sabrena Tran and Attorney Joseph Navales. I didn't feel any anxiety or worry before going to the office... Of course, I will introduce this service to my relatives and friends. AJSOCAL is very reputable, professional, and everyone in the office wholeheartedly supported and assisted us.
Du Dinh Tran
I am so happy and wanted to thank AJSOCAL and their staff for assisting me with the Naturalization application, especially Seda. She gave me advice and helped keep things straight on point. I really appreciate her. I am very impressed with how this organization treats their clients as if they are your own family members... I definitely will tell my friends and family about AJSOCAL’s services especially to the Thai community.
