The journey toward U.S. citizenship is deeply personal. For many people, it represents years of work, sacrifice, and hope, and we understand how much is riding on it. At Borjas Law Group, LLC, we work with clients throughout the Chicago area who are navigating this process, and we want to help you go into it with a clear picture of what to expect. Understanding the factors that can affect your application, before you file, can help protect everything you’ve worked toward.
Our citizenship and naturalization services page provides an overview of how we can support you through this process. But in this post, we want to walk through some of the most common factors that can slow down or complicate a naturalization application, so you feel informed and prepared.
Meeting the Core Eligibility Requirements
Before anything else, it’s important to make sure you meet the foundational requirements. These generally include being at least 18 years old when you apply, being able to read, write, and speak basic English, demonstrating good moral character, and falling into a qualifying category such as being a lawful permanent resident for five years, or being a lawful permanent resident for three years while married to a U.S. citizen.
One thing we see sometimes is applicants filing before they’ve fully met these requirements. Some applicants file too early, before meeting the physical presence or continuous residence requirements, and this can result in denial and loss of filing fees. It’s a situation we want to help you avoid entirely. We encourage clients to connect with us early so we can review your eligibility carefully before anything is submitted to USCIS.
How Time Spent Outside the U.S. Can Affect Your Case
This is one of the areas that surprises many of our clients, and it’s important to understand how it works. The naturalization process requires that you have maintained what’s called “continuous residence” in the United States for a set period of time before applying.
“Continuous residence” means that the applicant has maintained residence within the United States for the required period of time. Extended absences outside of the U.S. may disrupt an applicant’s continuous residence. Absences of more than six months but less than one year may disrupt continuous residence unless the applicant can prove otherwise, and absences in excess of one year or more may also disrupt it.
If a single trip abroad lasted a year or longer, the impact can be significant. Unless an applicant has an approved Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes, USCIS must deny a naturalization application for failure to meet the continuous residence requirement if the applicant has been continuously absent for a period of one year or more during the statutory period. That said, there are exceptions and ways to address this depending on your circumstances, and we’re happy to walk through your specific travel history with you.
Even shorter trips can raise questions. USCIS will examine all of the trips taken during the three or five years (as applicable) that precede the filing of the application, and will notice if the applicant has taken multiple trips that appear calculated to stay just under six months. As a general rule, permanent residents should avoid any trips abroad of six months or longer. If the continuous residence requirement is broken, the clock resets and you must start a new period of residency before reapplying. We know that’s not always easy to hear, especially when travel is connected to family abroad, but knowing this ahead of time can help you plan wisely.
The Good Moral Character Requirement
This is one of the most important, and sometimes most misunderstood, parts of the naturalization process. One of the requirements for naturalization is good moral character. An applicant must show that he or she has been, and continues to be, a person of good moral character.
The way USCIS evaluates this requirement has changed meaningfully. USCIS issued a policy memorandum in August 2025 outlining a comprehensive approach to evaluating good moral character, emphasizing a holistic assessment over a mechanical checklist approach. What this means in practice is that USCIS officers must consider an individual’s positive attributes and contributions, such as community involvement, family responsibilities, educational attainment, and compliance with tax obligations, in good moral character determinations.
A clean criminal record is a good foundation, but it may not be enough on its own. Applicants may need to proactively submit evidence of positive community contributions, volunteer work, educational achievements, and other favorable factors. If you have any past arrests, convictions, or legal issues in your history, even older or seemingly minor ones, it’s especially important to speak with an attorney before filing. Criminal convictions, even those that are old or seem minor, can create serious questions about moral character during the naturalization process and may lead to delays or denials.
Even if a conviction or mistake occurred years ago, applicants should be transparent about their history. USCIS often values honesty and full disclosure more than attempts to conceal information. We know it can feel uncomfortable to put difficult moments in your past on paper, but transparency is genuinely your best approach.
Application Accuracy and Complete Documentation
The N-400 application is thorough, and USCIS reviews it carefully. USCIS reviews your entire immigration history, criminal record, tax compliance, employment history, travel history, and prior immigration filings. Your application becomes a full audit of your background.
Even small mistakes on Form N-400 can cause delays, Requests for Evidence, or even denial. Missing documentation is one of the most common reasons applications are slowed down. Missing documentation frequently causes delays, and submitting incomplete documentation often results in Requests for Evidence and additional months of waiting.
Equally important is full disclosure. False statements on your application, whether accidental or intentional, can be treated as fraud by USCIS, and such findings can jeopardize your eligibility and potentially trigger additional legal consequences. We always tell our clients: when in doubt, disclose. An attorney can help you frame information appropriately and completely.
The Test and Interview
The citizenship interview and test are steps that many applicants feel nervous about, and that’s completely understandable. For most people, one of the requirements during the interview is taking the naturalization test. The test has two parts: a civics test covering U.S. history and government, and an English test.
One of the common reasons for denial is failing the required English language and U.S. civics tests. These tests assess your ability to read, write, and speak basic English, as well as your knowledge of U.S. history and government. Applicants are given two chances to pass.
Preparation truly does help. USCIS provides free study resources, and community organizations throughout Chicago, including many on the North Side and in neighborhoods like Pilsen and Little Village, often offer citizenship preparation classes. Taking advantage of those resources can make a meaningful difference in how you feel walking into that interview.
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
The path to citizenship involves many steps, and each one matters. Travel history, criminal background, application accuracy, the naturalization test, and processing delays are all factors that can affect your timeline and outcome. But each situation is unique, and many challenges can be addressed with the right preparation and support.
At Borjas Law Group, LLC., we are here for clients throughout the Chicago area and Cook County who are working toward this important goal. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the process or you’re already mid-application and have questions, we welcome you to reach out. A consultation can help clarify your path forward and give you confidence as you move ahead.
