Citizenship Lawyer San Antonio, TX Naturalization · N-400 Applications · Civics Test Prep · Interview Coaching

Becoming a U.S. citizen is the final step in your immigration journey—and the most consequential. Citizenship gives you the right to vote, hold a U.S. passport, sponsor family members without quota restrictions, and permanently secure your status in the United States. But the naturalization process requires meeting strict eligibility thresholds for residency, physical presence, moral character, and language proficiency. A mistake on your N-400 application, an undisclosed trip abroad, or an overlooked criminal record can lead to denial—or worse, trigger removal proceedings against a long-time permanent resident.

The Echavarria Law Firm is a San Antonio citizenship practice led by principal attorney Elizabeth Echavarria, with 15+ years of experience guiding green card holders through the naturalization process. We handle straightforward 5-year and 3-year citizenship applications as well as complicated cases involving criminal history, extended travel, Selective Service issues, and denied N-400s. Every case is managed in English and Spanish.

What U.S. Citizenship Gives You That a Green Card Does Not

Three Paths to U.S. Citizenship Through Naturalization

USCIS recognizes multiple eligibility tracks for naturalization. Which one applies to you depends on how you obtained your green card and your current circumstances.

You may file Form N-400 up to 90 days before completing the continuous residence requirement—4 years and 9 months (5-year track) or 2 years and 9 months (3-year track). Filing early is a strategic advantage that gets your case in the USCIS queue faster.

Naturalization Eligibility Requirements at a Glance

Requirement	5-Year Track	3-Year Marriage Track
Minimum age	18	18
Continuous residence as LPR	5 years	3 years
Physical presence in U.S.	30 months	18 months
State/district residency	3 months in TX before filing	3 months in TX before filing
Good moral character period	5 years before filing through oath	3 years before filing through oath
English language test	Read, write, speak basic English	Read, write, speak basic English
Civics test	6 of 10 correct (100-question pool)	6 of 10 correct (100-question pool)
Selective Service registration	Males 18–26 must have registered	Males 18–26 must have registered
Oath of Allegiance	Required (modified oath available)	Required (modified oath available)
Earliest filing (with 90-day rule)	4 years, 9 months as LPR	2 years, 9 months as LPR

Language exemptions: Applicants 50+ with 20+ years as LPR, or 55+ with 15+ years, may take the civics test in their native language through an interpreter. Applicants 65+ with 20+ years of residency also qualify for a simplified civics test (20-question pool instead of 100). Certain medical conditions may qualify for a full exemption via Form N-648.

Citizenship Application Costs in San Antonio (2026)

Item	Cost
N-400 filing fee (online)	$710
N-400 filing fee (paper)	$760
Reduced fee (income 150–400% FPG)	$380
Full fee waiver (income ≤150% FPG / means-tested benefits)	$0
Biometrics	Included in N-400 fee
Attorney fees (straightforward case)	$1,000 – $2,000
Attorney fees (complex: criminal history, travel issues, prior denial)	$2,000 – $3,500+
N-336 appeal (paper / online)	$830 / $780

USCIS fees as of the G-1055 fee schedule effective 02/01/2026. Reduced fee and waiver eligibility is determined by household income relative to Federal Poverty Guidelines. Full immigration cost guide →

How Travel Abroad Affects Your Citizenship Eligibility

International travel is one of the most common issues we identify during pre-filing review. USCIS scrutinizes your travel history closely, and even well-intentioned trips can derail an application.

Absence Duration	Impact on Naturalization	What You Need
Under 6 months	No presumption of broken residence	Standard documentation (passport stamps)
6–12 months	Rebuttable presumption of broken continuous residence	Evidence of strong U.S. ties: mortgage, lease, employment, tax returns, family in the U.S.
Over 12 months	Automatic break in continuous residence	Must restart the clock: wait 4 years 6 months (5-year track) or 2 years 6 months (3-year track) from return date

Good Moral Character: What USCIS Evaluates

USCIS requires applicants to demonstrate good moral character (GMC) for the entire statutory period—5 years or 3 years before filing through the date of the oath ceremony. Issues we screen for before filing include:

Even expunged or sealed convictions must be disclosed on the N-400. USCIS runs an FBI background check regardless of state-level expungement. We order unofficial criminal history records before filing so there are no surprises at the interview. If your record presents issues, we advise whether to proceed, delay filing, or explore post-conviction relief before applying.

The Naturalization Process: Step by Step

Typical processing time in San Antonio: 8–14 months from N-400 filing to oath ceremony, depending on USCIS workload. Current San Antonio USCIS timelines →

Denied Citizenship? Your Options After an N-400 Denial

A denied N-400 is not the end of the road. The most common denial reasons are: failure of the English or civics test (even after the retake), insufficient continuous residence or physical presence, good moral character issues discovered during the background check, and incomplete or inconsistent documentation.

If your N-400 is denied, you have 30 days to file Form N-336 (Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings). A different USCIS officer reviews your case from scratch (de novo review). We represent you at the N-336 hearing, present additional evidence, and argue your eligibility. If the N-336 is also denied, federal court review is available under INA § 310(c).

If you previously filed N-400 without an attorney and were denied, we regularly take over these cases and identify the specific deficiency that caused the denial.

Military Naturalization for Service Members in San Antonio

San Antonio is home to Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland, JBSA-Randolph), making military naturalization a significant part of our practice. Active-duty service members and certain veterans receive accelerated pathways to citizenship:

We coordinate with military JAG offices and USCIS to streamline the filing process for service members and their families. Parole in Place may also be available for undocumented family members of active-duty service members.

Why San Antonio Green Card Holders Choose The Echavarria Law Firm

15+ years of naturalization experience. Attorney Elizabeth Echavarria has guided hundreds of permanent residents through the citizenship process—from straightforward 5-year filings to complex cases involving criminal history, broken continuous residence, and prior denials.

Pre-filing risk assessment. We identify disqualifying issues before you file—not after USCIS discovers them at your interview. Travel gaps, unreported criminal history, Selective Service problems, and tax filing deficiencies are all caught and addressed during intake.

Full interview and test preparation. We conduct mock interviews in the exact format USCIS officers use, including the N-400 review under oath, the civics Q&A, and the reading/writing English test. You walk into the interview prepared.

Denied case recovery. We represent clients at N-336 hearings and federal court review. If your previous application was denied or if another attorney mishandled your case, we take over.

San Antonio local knowledge. We know the San Antonio USCIS field office procedures, scheduling patterns, and officer tendencies. We also serve military families at JBSA through streamlined INA §§ 328–329 filings.

Bilingual from start to finish. Consultations, N-400 preparation, interview coaching, and USCIS correspondence—all available in English and Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions — Citizenship Lawyer San Antonio

How long do I need a green card before I can apply for citizenship?

Most green card holders must wait 5 years of continuous permanent residency. If you obtained your green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen and remain married, the waiting period drops to 3 years. Military members may naturalize after 1 year of service (peacetime) or immediately during hostility periods.

You can file N-400 up to 90 days before meeting the continuous residence requirement—strategic early filing gets your application in the queue faster.

How much does it cost to become a U.S. citizen in 2026?

The N-400 filing fee is $760 (paper) or $710 (online). No separate biometrics fee. A reduced fee of $380 is available for incomes between 150–400% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. A full waiver ($0) exists for lower incomes or means-tested benefit recipients.

Attorney fees in San Antonio range from $1,000–$3,500 depending on complexity. See our full cost breakdown →

What happens during the citizenship interview and test?

A USCIS officer reviews your N-400 under oath, verifies your identity, and asks about your background, travel, and moral character. You take an English test (read a sentence, write a dictated sentence, speak conversationally) and a civics test (answer 6 of 10 questions correctly from a 100-question pool).

Applicants 50+ with 20+ years LPR status, or 55+ with 15+ years, may take the civics test in their native language. We provide full mock interviews to prepare you.

Can travel outside the U.S. affect my citizenship application?

Trips under 6 months are typically fine. Trips of 6–12 months create a rebuttable presumption of broken continuous residence—you need evidence of strong U.S. ties. Trips over 12 months automatically break continuous residence and trigger the 4-year-6-month waiting rule.

A reentry permit preserves your green card but does not preserve continuous residence for naturalization. We analyze every trip before filing.

Can a criminal record prevent me from becoming a citizen?

Certain crimes are permanent bars (murder, aggravated felony). Others are conditional bars during the statutory period (drug offenses, multiple DUIs, fraud). Even expunged convictions must be disclosed—USCIS runs FBI background checks regardless.

Filing with an undisclosed criminal issue can trigger removal proceedings. We pull criminal history records before filing and advise whether to proceed, delay, or seek post-conviction relief first.

What if my N-400 application is denied?

You have 30 days to file Form N-336 ($830 paper / $780 online) requesting a de novo hearing before a different USCIS officer. We represent you at the hearing and present additional evidence. If N-336 is also denied, we can file for federal court review under INA § 310(c).

Common denial reasons: failed English/civics test, insufficient residence, moral character issues, or incomplete documentation. We regularly take over cases that were denied due to prior self-filing errors.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for U.S. citizenship?

Not legally required, but strongly recommended. A citizenship attorney catches disqualifying issues before you file—travel gaps, unreported convictions, Selective Service problems, tax deficiencies. Filing N-400 with an undiscovered issue can expose a permanent resident to removal proceedings.

We also handle interview prep, RFE responses, and N-336 hearings. For applicants with any complications, legal counsel significantly reduces risk.

What citizenship services does The Echavarria Law Firm offer?

Full naturalization services: eligibility assessment, N-400 preparation and filing, document compilation, civics/English test coaching, mock interview preparation, military naturalization (INA §§ 328–329), denied case appeals (N-336), continuous residence analysis, good moral character review, and post-citizenship planning (U.S. passport, family sponsorship).

All services in English and Spanish. 15+ years experience. Contact us for a free consultation.