American citizenship application without an attorney

If you are eligible to become a US citizen, it is easy to file your application yourself without using an attorney. Depending on where you are and what kind of attorney you end up approaching, you might save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

This advice assumes that you have a reasonable command of English, you are educated enough to fully understand documents that are written in English (but can sometimes come across as a big legal), and you have had a "clean" record. Remember that while hiring a lawyer does not guarantee that you will have no problems (I know of lawyers who have committed mistakes in all kinds of situations), but having a law firm working for you sometimes can give you peace of mind (though I often wonder if it is worth the thousands of dollars that they charge)

How to start?

1. Add the USCIS (formerly INS) website to your favorites. What I mean is that spend enough time reading what they have there because that is the latest information. Your lawyer will also go there to find information for your case.
2. Believe it or not, but the USCIS website is quite user-friendly. You can basically find out the complete process to become a US citizen and download forms (or even better, fill them online using a fillable form, if available for some cases).
3. Also do some research by looking at websites of law firms which you can also find by doing some Google searches. You will end up on several websites that have excellent explanations or specific cases discussed. Chances are that you will also end up on many bulletin boards that give helpful information. But be careful of taking everything that you read on the Internet as the ultimate truth. The final word should still be the one on the USCIS website.

How to complete the application?

1. Print relevant applications and instructions from the USCIS website.
2. Organize all the relevant background information that you will need, e.g., trips made, employment record, etc. Now sit down in a quiet place and fill the application by hand. This will be your rough draft.
3. Have a friend/family member review the rough draft with you so that you are sure that you got everything right.
4. Now you can complete the application online by typing it in a fillable form on the USCIS website. Print a copy and once again have a friend/family member review it so that you have everything right.
5. Attach everything that the USCIS has asked for (not more, not less) and please follow the instructions religiously. Then make a photocopy of the complete set and mail the original to the address advised by USCIS.
6. If all goes well, you will receive an acknowledgement from the USCIS.