“Excellent team, excellent job! My process went very smooth and quicker than I expected (under 5 months). The staff and the attorney himself are super nice and friendly.”
Rebeca GonzalezGoogle review · EN
Citizenship · McAllen, Texas
McAllen Citizenship Lawyer
tu ciudadanía, tu voz
Becoming a U.S. citizen lets you vote, travel on a U.S. passport and petition for more of your family. We check that you qualify, review your record for problems, and prepare you for the interview and the test. Call or send the form, in English or Spanish.
- Attorney Alex Martinez handles your case
- Hablamos español, 24/7 hotline
- 4.8 stars from 610 Google reviews
In the media
en los medios
“Definitivamente lo recomiendo yo tenía una orden de deportación … logró cerrar la orden de deportación y hoy estoy muy contenta con los resultados”
Sofia ReyesGoogle review · ES
Naturalization
When to call a citizenship attorney
Naturalization is how a green card holder becomes a U.S. citizen. You file Form N-400, pass an interview with an English test and a civics test, and take the Oath of Allegiance. You become a citizen when you take the oath.
Most cases are simple. The ones that go wrong usually involve an old arrest, long trips abroad, tax problems or an issue with how the green card was obtained. Talk to us before you file.
Why Alex Martinez Law
One team for your whole case
contigo en cada paso
An attorney who reviews your file.
Alex Martinez, licensed in Texas, checks your dates and your record before anything goes to USCIS.
English or Spanish, at every step.
Alex studied in Texas and in Spanish in Mexico, and our team explains each form in the language you choose.
From green card to citizenship.
We also handle green card cases, family petitions and deportation defense, so your case stays with one team as it moves forward.
Reachable day or night.
Call the 24/7 line at (956) 540-2255 or message us on WhatsApp. Meet us in McAllen or at our Brownsville office, or by phone or video.
Protection from notario fraud.
For years Alex has taught Valley families about their rights and how to avoid immigration fraud. A notario cannot give you legal advice.
Paths to citizenship
Who can naturalize
Most people apply after years as a permanent resident, and many children become citizens through a parent. We confirm which rule fits you before anything is filed.
After 5 years as a resident
Five years with a green card, at least 30 months of them physically in the U.S., and three months in your state or USCIS district before you file.
Form N-400
3 years married to a citizen
Three years with a green card while married to and living with a U.S. citizen who has been a citizen that whole time, with 18 months here.
Form N-400
Children under 18
A child with a green card who lives in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of a citizen parent becomes a citizen automatically.
Form N-600
Military service
Service members and veterans have their own rules, and qualifying military applicants pay no Form N-400 fee.
The interview
2025 civics test
English and civics test
An officer reviews your application under oath and tests your English reading and writing. If you filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025, the civics test asks up to 20 questions from a list of 128, and 12 correct answers pass. If you fail a part, you get a second try 60 to 90 days later.
Exceptions50/20 · 55/15 · 65/20
Exemptions by age
If you are 50 with 20 years as a resident, or 55 with 15 years, you skip the English test and take the civics test in your own language. At 65 with 20 years as a resident, you take a shorter civics test from a special list of 20 questions. We check whether you qualify before you file.
Good moral character
Your record matters
To naturalize, you must show good moral character for the 5 or 3 years before you file and up to the day of the oath. Since August 2025, USCIS has told officers to weigh your overall conduct in that time, beyond a checklist of offenses.
Old arrests, tax problems, a false claim to U.S. citizenship or voting as a noncitizen can all come up at the interview. Applying with a problem on your record can put more than your citizenship at stake, so we review certified court records before you file.
Every arrest goes on the form
The application asks about every arrest, citation and charge, including offenses that were expunged. Leaving one out can count against your good moral character. Bring certified records of how each case ended.
Permanent bars
Records that bar citizenship
A murder conviction at any time, or an aggravated felony conviction on or after Nov. 29, 1990, bars naturalization for good. Many other offenses matter only during the 5 or 3 years before you apply.
Rules that shape a citizenship case
General information, not legal advice. Your own case depends on its facts.
5 or 3 yrs
As a permanent resident before you apply; 3 if married to and living with a U.S. citizen.
30 / 18 mo
Time you must have spent physically in the U.S. during those 5 or 3 years.
90 days
You can file up to 90 days before you reach the 5- or 3-year mark.
$760
USCIS fee for Form N-400 on paper ($710 online); $380 reduced fee for qualifying incomes.
Fees: USCIS Form G-1055, edition 10/01/26. Fees change; we check them before filing.
Check your case
USCIS case status Processing times Fee scheduleHow we handle it
Steps to the oath
Alex Martinez starts with your dates and your record: when you became a resident, every trip abroad, and every arrest or ticket. Those decide when you can file and what the officer will ask.
- 01Eligibility checkWe count your years as a resident and your days outside the U.S., and review your record, in English or Spanish.
- 02Form N-400We prepare and file your application, with a fee waiver (Form I-912) or reduced fee request on paper when you qualify.
- 03BiometricsUSCIS takes your fingerprints and photo at the McAllen Application Support Center.
- 04Interview and testAn officer at the USCIS Rio Grande Valley Field Office in Edinburg reviews your answers and gives the tests. We prepare you and stand with you there.
- 05Oath ceremonyUSCIS sends Form N-445 with your ceremony date. You become a citizen when you take the Oath of Allegiance.
Documents we gather
- Your green card and every passport since you got it
- A list of every trip abroad, with dates
- Tax returns or IRS transcripts for the years that count
- Certified court records for any arrest or citation
- Marriage certificate and your spouse's proof of citizenship, on the 3-year path
Fees and consultation
We go through our own fee and any payment plan in your first call, and you have it in writing before you sign.
USCIS filing fees are separate and go to the government. We confirm the exact amounts before you file.
What to bring
- Your green card and passports
- Dates of your trips outside the U.S.
- Any arrest, ticket or court papers
- Marriage certificate, if you apply through marriage
Your attorney
Alex Martinez
J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Licensed in Texas, admitted to the Southern District of Texas.
Reviewed by Alex Martinez, State Bar of Texas
Questions
Citizenship questions
General information, not legal advice. Ask us and we will tell you where your own case stands.
How much does it cost to apply for citizenship?
The USCIS fee for Form N-400 is $760 on paper or $710 online. If your household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines, you can pay a reduced $380 fee, and at or below 150% you can ask for a fee waiver with Form I-912; both requests are filed on paper. USCIS has proposed ending both options, so we check the rule before you file. Our attorney's fee is separate.
Can I apply for citizenship with a criminal record?
Often yes, but it depends on the offense, when it happened and how the case ended. A murder conviction, or an aggravated felony on or after Nov. 29, 1990, bars citizenship permanently; many other offenses matter only during the 5 or 3 years before you apply. You must list every arrest, even expunged ones, so we review your court records first.
What if I fail the English or civics test?
You get a second chance. USCIS retests you on the part you failed, between 60 and 90 days after your first interview. If you fail that part again, USCIS denies the application.
Do my children become citizens when I naturalize?
Often, yes, automatically. A child under 18 with a green card who lives in the U.S. in your legal and physical custody becomes a citizen once you are one. For proof, file Form N-600 for a Certificate of Citizenship ($1,385 on paper, $1,335 online).
Can I apply before my five years are up?
Yes, up to 90 days early. USCIS lets you file Form N-400 up to 90 days before you reach the 5-year mark, or the 3-year mark if you apply through marriage.
Become a citizen.
tu familia primero