Legal Question in Immigration Law in District of Columbia

Re: us citizenship

A good place to start for those interested in obtaining U.S. citizenship is the website of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS).

There you can download form N-400 which is the application for naturalization with instructions

and the instructional booklet entitled: "A Guide to Naturalization".

Continuous residence in the U.S. for a period of at least three years with no trips outside the country lasting more than six months is one requirement for naturalization. Other requirements include good moral character, a knowledge of English and civics and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

If your conviction for a domestic violence offense did not result in a sentence imposed of 12 months or longer, it will probably not affect your application although it is important that you disclose this adverse information during the application process. (Imposed means not necessarily served but handed down by the judge at the time of your sentencing. All or part of your sentence might have been suspended but what counts for naturalization purposes is what was imposed as opposed to what part of it you might actually have served time for in jail.)