Citizenship Lawyer in San Antonio, TXNaturalization · N-400 Applications · Civics Test Prep · Interview Coaching

The Echavarria Law Firm provides citizenship and naturalization legal services in San Antonio, Texas, and handles N-400 applications from eligibility review through the oath ceremony. Elizabeth Echavarria is a San Antonio citizenship lawyer, the principal attorney of The Echavarria Law Firm, and a licensed member of the State Bar of Texas with more than 15 years of immigration law experience. The Echavarria Law Firm handles the 5-year and 3-year naturalization tracks, military naturalization under INA §§ 328 and 329, civics and English test preparation, USCIS interview coaching, and N-336 appeals after a denial.

Citizenship is the final step of the immigration journey — and the step where small errors carry the biggest consequences. A mistake on your N-400 application, an undisclosed trip abroad, or an overlooked criminal record can lead to denial or, for permanent residents with disclosure problems, trigger removal proceedings. The Echavarria Law Firm reviews every risk factor before filing, and every consultation, filing, and interview is available in English and Spanish.

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

U.S. citizenship carries rights that no green card provides. Once naturalized, you can:

• Vote in federal, state, and local elections
• Hold a U.S. passport with visa-free access to 180+ countries
• Sponsor parents, siblings, and married children for immigration
• Travel and live abroad with no risk of abandoning your status
• Face no deportation risk from criminal issues or extended travel
• Qualify for federal jobs that require citizenship
• Run for elected office
• Access federal grants and financial aid
• Pass derivative citizenship to children born abroad
• Stop paying green card renewal fees every 10 years

Three Paths to U.S. Citizenship Through Naturalization

The 5-Year Rule (Standard Residency)

Most green card holders qualify for naturalization after 5 years of continuous permanent residence with at least 30 months of physical presence in the United States.

The 3-Year Rule (Marriage to a U.S. Citizen)

Green card holders married to a U.S. citizen qualify after 3 years of permanent residence, provided the marriage remains intact and the couple lives together. The physical-presence requirement drops to 18 months.

The 1-Year Rule (U.S. Military Service)

Active-duty service members with at least 1 year of honorable service qualify under peacetime rules, and service during a designated period of hostilities creates immediate eligibility — details in the military naturalization section below.

The 90-day rule: USCIS accepts N-400 applications up to 90 days before you complete the residency requirement — 4 years 9 months on the 5-year track, or 2 years 9 months on the 3-year track.

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 Texas	3 months in Texas
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	Males 18–26 must register	Males 18–26 must register
Oath of Allegiance	Required (modified oath available)	Required (modified oath available)
Earliest filing (90-day rule)	4 years, 9 months	2 years, 9 months

Language exemptions: Applicants aged 50+ with 20+ years as a permanent resident (the 50/20 rule), or 55+ with 15+ years (the 55/15 rule), may take the civics test in their native language through an interpreter. Applicants 65+ with 20+ years of residency qualify for a simplified civics test drawn from 20 questions instead of 100. A medical condition may qualify you 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% of Federal Poverty Guidelines)	$380
Full fee waiver (income ≤150% FPG or means-tested benefits)	$0
Biometrics	Included in N-400 fee
Attorney fees — straightforward case	$1,000 – $2,000
Attorney fees — complex case (criminal history, travel issues, prior denial)	$2,000 – $3,500+
N-336 appeal (paper / online)	$830 / $780

USCIS fees reflect the G-1055 fee schedule effective 02/01/2026 and are subject to change. See the full San Antonio USCIS Timelines & Costs Guide for 2026.

How Travel Abroad Affects Your Citizenship Eligibility

Absence Duration	Impact	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 U.S. ties: mortgage or lease, employment, tax returns, family
Over 12 months	Automatic break in continuous residence	Restart the clock: 4 years 6 months (5-year track) or 2 years 6 months (3-year track) from return

Important: a reentry permit (Form I-131) preserves your green card during a long absence, but a reentry permit does not preserve continuous residence for naturalization. Many applicants discover this only after filing — a pre-filing travel review catches it first.

Good Moral Character: What USCIS Evaluates

Permanent Bars

• Murder — no waiver available
• Aggravated felony conviction (on or after November 29, 1990) — includes drug trafficking, firearms offenses, fraud over $10,000, and crimes of violence with a sentence of 1 year or more

Conditional Bars (During the Statutory Period)

• Controlled substance offenses — including marijuana, which remains a federal offense
• Two or more gambling offenses
• Failure to pay court-ordered child support
• Fraud to obtain immigration benefits
• 180 or more days in jail
• Multiple DUI/DWI convictions

Even expunged or sealed convictions must be disclosed on the N-400. USCIS runs an FBI background check regardless of state-level expungement, and an undisclosed conviction discovered at the interview is treated as misrepresentation — a problem far worse than the underlying offense in most cases. The Echavarria Law Firm reviews complete criminal history before filing and builds the disclosure strategy into the application.

The Naturalization Process: Step by Step

1. Eligibility Assessment & Pre-Filing Review

The Echavarria Law Firm examines your green card history, travel records, criminal background, tax filings, and Selective Service status before anything is filed, then confirms your eligibility track and filing timeline. Problems caught at this stage get fixed quietly; problems caught by USCIS get denied.

2. N-400 Preparation & Filing

The Echavarria Law Firm completes Form N-400 with verified information, compiles the supporting documents — passport and travel history, tax transcripts, marriage and divorce records, certified criminal dispositions — and files online or on paper, whichever fits your fee situation.

3. Biometrics Appointment

USCIS schedules an appointment for fingerprints, photograph, and signature at the local Application Support Center, and the FBI conducts background checks. USCIS may waive biometrics when prints on file can be reused.

4. Civics & English Test Preparation

The Echavarria Law Firm provides the official 100-question civics study materials and conducts mock oral examinations in the same format the USCIS officer uses: answering civics questions aloud, reading a sentence, and writing a dictated sentence.

5. USCIS Interview

The Echavarria Law Firm prepares you with a full mock interview covering every section of your N-400, travel gaps, criminal history questions, and both test formats — then attends the interview at the San Antonio USCIS field office with you. The officer typically gives a result the same day. If the English or civics test is failed, USCIS allows one retake within 60–90 days.

6. Oath Ceremony & Certificate of Naturalization

After approval, you attend the Oath of Allegiance ceremony — sometimes the same day as the interview, sometimes weeks later. You surrender your green card, take the oath, and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Typical processing time in San Antonio runs 8–14 months from N-400 filing to oath.

Denied Citizenship? Your Options After an N-400 Denial

Common denial reasons include a failed English or civics test (even after the retake), insufficient continuous residence or physical presence, good-moral-character issues surfaced by the background check, and incomplete or inconsistent documentation.

A denial is not the end of the case. Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings) must be filed within 30 days, and a different USCIS officer then conducts a completely fresh (de novo) review. If the N-336 hearing is also denied, federal court review is available under INA § 310(c). The Echavarria Law Firm regularly takes over denied cases, identifies the specific deficiency that caused the denial, and rebuilds the record for the hearing. Related option: motions to reconsider and reopen.

Military Naturalization for Service Members in San Antonio

San Antonio is home to Joint Base San Antonio — Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, and Randolph — and The Echavarria Law Firm handles naturalization for service members and their families under both military provisions.

INA § 328 — Peacetime Service

One year of honorable active-duty service qualifies a lawful permanent resident for naturalization with no state residency requirement, and the filing fee is waived.

INA § 329 — Service During Hostilities

Any length of honorable service during a designated period of hostilities — active continuously since September 11, 2001 — creates immediate eligibility. The applicant need not be a permanent resident, no continuous-residence or physical-presence requirement applies, and the filing fee is waived.

The Echavarria Law Firm coordinates with military JAG offices and USCIS to streamline service-member filings, and handles Parole in Place for undocumented family members of service members.

Why San Antonio Green Card Holders Choose The Echavarria Law Firm

15+ years of naturalization experience. Elizabeth Echavarria has practiced immigration law exclusively for more than 15 years, and N-400 cases — straightforward and complicated — are core work at The Echavarria Law Firm, not a sideline.

Pre-filing risk assessment. The Echavarria Law Firm reviews travel history, criminal records, tax compliance, and Selective Service status before filing, because the safest time to find a problem is before USCIS does.

Full interview and test preparation. Mock interviews in the exact USCIS officer format, civics coaching from the official 100-question pool, and English test practice — so nothing at the field office is a surprise.

Denied case recovery. The Echavarria Law Firm handles N-336 hearings and federal court review under INA § 310(c) for applicants denied elsewhere.

San Antonio local knowledge. The Echavarria Law Firm knows the San Antonio field office procedures and works regularly with military families at Joint Base San Antonio.

Bilingual from start to finish. Every consultation, document, and preparation session is 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 complete 5 years of continuous permanent residency before applying. If you obtained your green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen and remain married and living together, the requirement drops to 3 years. Military members can naturalize after 1 year of honorable service in peacetime, or immediately during designated hostility periods.

USCIS accepts the N-400 up to 90 days before you complete the residency requirement — 4 years 9 months on the 5-year track, 2 years 9 months on the 3-year track.

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

The N-400 filing fee is $760 on paper or $710 online under the USCIS fee schedule effective February 1, 2026. Applicants with household income between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines pay a reduced fee of $380, and applicants at or below 150% FPG — or receiving a means-tested benefit — qualify for a full fee waiver.

Attorney fees in San Antonio run $1,000–$2,000 for a straightforward case and $2,000–$3,500+ for cases involving criminal history, travel issues, or a prior denial. The Echavarria Law Firm provides flat-fee written agreements before your case begins.

What happens during the citizenship interview and test?

A USCIS officer places you under oath, reviews your entire N-400, verifies your identity, and asks about your background, travel, and moral character. You then take the English test — read a sentence, write a dictated sentence, and demonstrate conversational speaking — and the civics test, answering 6 of 10 questions correctly from the official 100-question pool.

Language exemptions apply at 50+ with 20+ years as a permanent resident, or 55+ with 15+ years; applicants 65+ with 20+ years take a simplified 20-question civics version. The officer typically gives a result the same day.

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

Yes. Trips under 6 months are typically fine with standard documentation. Trips of 6–12 months create a rebuttable presumption that you broke continuous residence — you must rebut it with evidence of U.S. ties such as a mortgage or lease, employment, tax returns, and family. Trips over 12 months automatically break continuous residence and restart the clock: 4 years 6 months on the 5-year track or 2 years 6 months on the 3-year track from your return.

A reentry permit (Form I-131) preserves your green card during a long absence, but a reentry permit does not preserve continuous residence for naturalization.

Can a criminal record prevent me from becoming a citizen?

It can. Murder and aggravated felony convictions (on or after November 29, 1990) are permanent bars to good moral character with no waiver. Conditional bars during the statutory period include controlled-substance offenses (including marijuana, still a federal offense), multiple DUI/DWI convictions, fraud, failure to pay court-ordered child support, and 180+ days in jail.

Even expunged or sealed convictions must be disclosed on the N-400 — USCIS runs an FBI background check regardless of state expungement, and filing with an undisclosed record can push a permanent resident into removal proceedings. Have the record reviewed by an attorney before filing.

What if my N-400 application is denied?

File Form N-336 within 30 days ($830 paper / $780 online) to request a hearing where a different USCIS officer reviews the case completely fresh (de novo). If the N-336 hearing is also denied, federal court review is available under INA § 310(c).

Common denial reasons are a failed English or civics test, insufficient continuous residence or physical presence, good-moral-character issues, and incomplete documentation. The Echavarria Law Firm regularly takes over denied cases and identifies the specific deficiency that caused the denial.

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

No — but hiring one is strongly recommended, because the real value is in the pre-filing review. An attorney catches disqualifying issues before USCIS does: travel gaps that broke continuous residence, unreported convictions, Selective Service problems, and tax deficiencies. A permanent resident who self-files with an undiscovered issue risks not just a denial but removal proceedings.

The Echavarria Law Firm handles the eligibility review, the N-400, interview preparation, RFE responses, and N-336 hearings if a case has already been denied.

What citizenship services does The Echavarria Law Firm offer?

The Echavarria Law Firm handles eligibility assessment, N-400 preparation and filing, document compilation, civics and English test coaching, mock USCIS interviews, military naturalization under INA §§ 328 and 329, denied-case appeals through Form N-336, continuous-residence analysis, good-moral-character review, and post-citizenship planning.

Every service is available in English and Spanish. Principal attorney Elizabeth Echavarria has practiced immigration law exclusively for more than 15 years. Contact the firm for a confidential case evaluation.