Your Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants Explained

Introduction

For undocumented residents, obtaining citizenship is out of their reach due to many barriers to legal status. While many are deterred by the many steps towards legal status, note that gaining legal status can grant undocumented individuals many rights, including the ability to work, earn income and more. Also, gaining legal status gives individuals and their families peace of mind for the time being and takes them off of deportation radar. However, there are many complex steps to obtaining citizenship and many people are able to reach their goal with assistance along the way.

Explore the Importance of Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants

A pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants can seem like an insurmountable mountain to climb for many but it can bring many advantages to undocumented residents and the country at large.

• Legal Rights: One of the biggest advantages of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, in particular those already residing in the U.S., would be the Legal Rights of Citizens. Many believe that undocumented residents already have the same rights as legal citizens but they do not. Residents do have rights but they cannot apply for a Green Card without first obtaining legal status or residency. By giving immigrants the opportunity to become legal residents or even legal citizens, they will have the right to vote as well as be required to participate in other civic actions and services such as serving on a jury whereas undocumented residents cannot apply for a Drivers License in most states and would not be eligible for certain vehicles and services.
• Economic Opportunities: Although undocumented immigrants can reside in and work in the US, they are limited in job opportunities when compared to those of residents and citizens. Upon becoming residents of the US, individuals can apply for jobs that require a resident to work. This provides them with a greater chance for better work. Studies have found that when immigrants gain citizenship they typically receive an increase in wage, in the short term and long term, of 10% to 32.4%.
• Social Services: If undocumented immigrants were granted a pathway to citizenship they could take advantage of all of the social services that are granted to citizens. These social services would include, but are not be limited to, health care, education, and social security. In general undocumented immigrants are not entitled to these services and benefits.
• Family Unity: When a person becomes a citizen of the United States they are given the opportunity to sponsor family members who are trying to obtain immigration to come to the U.S. in order to live with their close family members.
• Security from Deportation: One of the greatest advantages to undocumented residents gaining a pathway to citizenship would be the ability to receive legal permanent residence in the United States and have the peace of mind to live without the fear of deportation. As mentioned previously many undocumented residents are constantly living in fear whether it is the removal of a parent or the undocumented resident themselves there is always the fear that they may be deported and be separated from their loved ones. By allowing undocumented immigrants to earn a path to citizenship they would have the same rights as every other U.S. citizen and be granted the ability to live freely without the constant threat of removal. As Patrick Gaspard stated, Granting undocumented individuals a pathway to legal status is not only the right thing to do for these individuals but also would be a huge boon to the U.S. economy. By educating undocumented immigrants of the many advantages of pursuing legal status to become a U.S. citizen, we hope to empower undocumented residents everywhere to attain legal status for themselves and their families.

At Vasquez Law Firm we are committed to serving our community and defending our immigrant clients. We are currently hosting several “Know Your Rights” workshops in English and in Spanish in which we explain the immigration rights of any immigrant as well as their criminal justice system rights and their rights in the workplace. As well as hosting these workshops we also offer annual scholarships to first generation college students of any age in order to support them in their pursuit of a career in law as well as to help to create a diverse pipeline of future lawyers. Here at Vasquez Law we also offer free legal services to qualified individuals and families as well as payment plans that allow us to work with all families to find a legal plan that fits within their budget. As Patrick Gaspard stated in a recent Huffington Post article Granting undocumented individuals a pathway to legal status is not only the right thing to do for these individuals but also would be a huge economic boon to the U.S. as a whole. The information that we are distributing at the free immigration workshops that we are hosting will educate immigrants of all statuses on the advantages that they would receive by pursuing legal status and will empower them with the knowledge necessary to pursue their goal for themselves and for their families.

Identify Legal Pathways to Citizenship

Some ways for undocumented individuals to look into pursuing the citizenship of the United States of America are discussed below in order to clarify some confusion brought up before on how an undocumented immigrant could go about acquiring United States of America citizenship.

• Family-Based Immigration: There are many individuals throughout North Carolina and Florida that are currently going through family-based immigration processes. These processes allow individuals with U.S. citizen family members to apply for an immediate relative’s green card and subsequently proceed with the naturalization process to become a citizen of the United States.
• Employment-Based Immigration: There are several visa categories for permanent residence through employment in the United States for skilled workers, and the undocumented individual is living in the United States and working here. The process would be for a change of status while the individual is living and working in the United States. This process would require a U.S. employer to offer you a job, and to sponsor your application for a change of status to permanent residence. This process would be particularly appropriate for individuals living in regions of the country with a strong labor market and many job opportunities for skilled workers in health care, technology, science, engineering and other such fields.
• Asylum and Refugee Status: Some individuals are forced to leave their home country because of persecution and seek asylum in the U.S. as refugees or asylees and could be eligible for permanent resident status if granted.
• DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): The temporary relief of potential deportation, along with work authorization, for the young children of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. when they were children. Today, approximately 64% of the 700,000+ Dreamers work in a variety of occupations in healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, and transportation among other fields and communities. The temporary nature of the relief and the lack of a visa or permanent status of participants are why the issue of the Dreamers is so often tied to that of other undocumented immigrants as part of a larger immigration reform effort. Dreamers are very productive young members of their new communities and only wish to live freely in the only country that they call home.

Several pieces of legislation currently are under consideration by the Congress and would allow undocumented immigrants to attain lawful status on the road to citizenship. Presently there is hope that undocumented immigrants could be granted a road to citizenship if bills are enacted into law. A bill, The Dignity Act, recently was introduced into Congress to attempt to acknowledge contributions of undocumented immigrants by granting them a road to citizenship so that they can acquire lawful status.

Other circumstances could apply to your case and be better served by the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney.

Navigate the Application Process for Citizenship

In most cases our Immigration clients begin their residency application in a state of ignorance not knowing how to start their residency application. In Personal Injury cases we offer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, emergency legal service. In both cases of legal service we take them on a contingency fee basis; in other words NO CHARGE for our services unless we win their case for them. We offer free initial legal consultation (Consulta Gratuita Sin compromiso) for their residency application.

1. Determine Eligibility: First, we help our clients determine their eligibility to become citizens. By virtue of being a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States for at least 5 years, most of our applicants are eligible for citizenship, provided they also have good moral character.
2. Complete Form N-400: Applicants complete and sign the application for Naturalization (Form N-400) in which they describe themselves and their past residence, background and other pertinent information and attach and reference supporting documentation. In FY 2024, 83.8% of the naturalized citizens had become citizens of the U.S. because they were lawful permanent residents of the U.S. for 5 years or more, or spouses of U.S. citizens for 3 years or more and had good moral character.
3. Assemble necessary documentation: As a legal resident you will need to gather together a massive amount of paperwork to be attached to your N-400 Application for Naturalization. This would include, but is not limited to, a copy of your “Green Card,” proof of “continuous residence” within the U.S., copies of your previous year(s) tax returns, etc. and other documentation relevant to your Naturalization application.
4. Submit Your Request: When you have finished completing your Application for Naturalization and gathering all of the necessary supporting documents to prove your eligibility to apply for naturalization, you will need to submit your Application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) along with the application fee. As of the end of FY 2024, the fee for the Form N-400 Application for Naturalization is $535, the fee for the Form I-130 Application to Register Permanent Resident Status and/or to classify a relative as a Immediate Family Member of a Green Card Holder is $535, the fee for the Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization for spouses of Green Card holders is $390, and the fee for Biometrics for a total of 10 fingerprints for an applicant and 10 for each family member (per family member) is $85 per person (a total of $345 for a family of four).
5. Attend Biometrics Appointment: After you have submitted your application for naturalization application, you and your family members will be scheduled for a biometrics appointment where your fingerprints and a photograph will be taken. This process is a required part of your background check as part of your citizenship application.
6. Interview Preparation: If approved, all naturalization applicants are scheduled for an interview as part of the processing for becoming a citizen of the U.S. In preparing for the interview, potential citizens study for the test of English as a second language and civics in order to better understand how one applies for citizenship and the residency requirements needed to gain approval for naturalization. The average percentage of naturalized citizens who have passed the civic portion of the test in FY 2022 was 92.4% with 88.6% or more passing the entire test on their first attempt. A resident’s application for naturalization and all supporting documents are reviewed by USCIS officers prior to any interview with the applicant for naturalization. In FY 2022, USCIS conducted 761,698 naturalization interviews or 83.8% of all naturalizations in the United States. That same year, 92.1% of all who took the naturalization test passed on their first attempt.
7. Attend the Citizenship Interview: We also describe in full detail what will happen at the citizenship interview for naturalization and advise as to when the resident will find out the date, time, and place of said interview after application materials have been submitted by the residency applicant. At the citizenship interview for naturalization, the officer assigned by USCIS from time to time will test the naturalization applicant for knowledge of two civic questions as well as test applicant’s ability to utilize the English language and read and write in English. In Fiscal Year 2022, 92.4% on average of all naturalization test takers correctly answered the civic test portion of naturalization testing by USCIS under scheduled testing.
8. Receive a Decision: After the interview with the officer, you will inform the applicant of his/her decision of whether or not he/she is considered to be a citizen of the United States. If approved, applicant will receive a letter in the mail with the date and time of Naturalization Oath Ceremony of applicant’s citizenship.
9. Take the Oath of Allegiance: After approval, applicants take an Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens.

Every step of the process is very important. A small error can lead to the denial of an application for residency for citizenship. The Vasquez Law Firm can assist its clients through the entire process. In FY 2024, 17.8% of the naturalized citizens had an attorney or accredited representative, such as the Vasquez Law Firm, assist them in their naturalization process. Most residency applications for citizenship are processed by the USCIS within 8 to 14 months and include 1 appointment for biometrics (fingerprints and photos) and 1 interview with a USCIS officer. The staff at the Vasquez Law Firm has over 30 years of experience in all immigration processes and has a 98% approval rate in all residency applications for citizenship to the United States. Its bilingual staff will assist its clients throughout the naturalization process in North Carolina and in Florida.

Address Challenges in the Citizenship Journey

At Vasquez Law Firm, we understand the unexpected twists and turns that undocumented individuals go through in their process to achieve citizenship. To better serve our North Carolina and Florida clients, we have listed a few common problems encountered by undocumented immigrants going through the citizenship process. We at Vasquez Law Firm have given our assistance on these issues and more.

• Language Barriers: Many people in North Carolina and Florida applying for citizenship face challenges with English proficiency. To improve your English skills in order to prepare for your citizenship interview, enroll in English language classes or take advantage of free online learning resources. Vasquez Law Firm has bilingual staff and attorneys who speak English and Spanish and can assist individuals who have limited English proficiency.
• Financial Concerns: Application fees for citizenship can be very expensive, but some individuals or families are able to waive or pay reduced fees based on their income. Many community organizations support individuals in submitting their application when they are not able to pay the application fee. At Vasquez Law Firm, we work with clients who need assistance completing their applications as well as those who need assistance with the cost of our services and we are happy to work with clients to set up a payment plan to assist in paying for our immigration services.
• Complex Documentation Requirements: One of the aspects of the process to apply for citizenship for undocumented immigrants is the numerous documents and evidence that must be included with the application for citizenship. The process of applying for citizenship for undocumented immigrants is often arduous because of the collection and organization of the documents and evidence required to fill out the N-400 form, the naturalization application. To help make this process as easy as possible, we suggest our clients keep both physical and digital copies of the documents and evidence required to apply for citizenship. There are many resources available to aid in the process of applying for citizenship including experienced immigration attorneys and free services provided by a legal aid organization. Many individuals have found it to be in their best interest to have an immigration attorney organize and review the necessary documents to apply for citizenship in order to ensure that the necessary documentation and evidence are included to avoid the possibility of denial due to insufficient documentation. At Vasquez Law Firm we can assist undocumented individuals in a variety of ways as they go through the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.
• Fear of Deportation: There is fear that applying for legal status to citizenship will result in deportation of self and/or family members. Many people are unaware of their rights and the process of seeking the aid from an experienced immigration attorney who can guide the undocumented immigrant through the process to become a citizen safely and effectively. There are many undocumented immigrants that have gone through the same process of seeking legal status to becoming citizens. The story of Kasonia Smith is one of the many cases of undocumented immigrants that have successfully completed the process of residency to gain citizenship. Contact Vasquez Law Firm for urgent matters 24/7.
• Extended Processing Durations: The time it takes for the residency portion to be processed for citizenship can vary from several months to a year or more, or more in some places are way faster than others. This can also vary from state to state as well as different USCIS offices, while your application is being processed there are things that you can be doing to get ready for the next step in the process to becoming a citizen of the United States such as studying for your test. Understanding the process and what is going on with your application will give you the ability to be prepared and in control while your application is being processed.

Pre-knowledge of problems that undocumented immigrants face along the citizenship pathway and preparation of experienced immigration lawyers to deal with them are vital to serve undocumented individuals proceeding through the process to attain citizenship. Our Vasquez Law Firm’s efforts to prepare undocumented individuals in getting citizenship in addition to our free ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops will continue to serve those individuals seeking legalization and citizenship in North Carolina and Florida.

Conclusion

Many people face many challenges trying to obtain citizenship. The process to become a citizen can be very difficult and confusing. However, achieving citizenship is an important step for people who want to fully integrate into society and to exercise their rights in a positive way as a citizen of the United States and for the good of their communities.

When you become a citizen of the United States you will have the following rights:

• The right to vote
• Serve in the military
• Hold public office
• Obtain a United States passport to travel back and forth freely between States and abroad and return to your home here

As a lawful permanent resident, you and your immediate family members will have the opportunity to work anywhere in the country. A grant of citizenship will also mean that you and your family members will have protection from deportation and can live and work here without the fear of being sent back to your home country.

Immigrants who are undocumented and want to become citizens have rights and should know about the resources available to help guide them. Many attorneys specialize in citizenship cases and offer free or low cost consultations. In addition, organizations hold citizenship workshops and offer bilingual services to undocumented immigrants. Getting your papers in order is an important step to changing your life and to strengthening your community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the importance of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants?

A pathway to citizenship is crucial as it provides undocumented immigrants with legal rights, economic opportunities, access to social services, family unity, and security from deportation.

What legal rights would undocumented immigrants gain through citizenship?

Upon gaining citizenship, undocumented immigrants would have the legal rights of citizens, including the right to vote, apply for a Green Card, and access services such as obtaining a driver's license.

How does citizenship affect economic opportunities for undocumented immigrants?

Citizenship allows immigrants to apply for a wider range of jobs, leading to better employment opportunities and potential wage increases ranging from 10% to 32.4% compared to their current earnings.

What social services could undocumented immigrants access if they become citizens?

If granted citizenship, undocumented immigrants could access social services such as health care, education, and social security, which are generally not available to them currently.

How does citizenship promote family unity for immigrants?

Citizenship enables individuals to sponsor family members for immigration, allowing them to reunite with close family members in the U.S.

What security from deportation does citizenship provide?

Gaining citizenship offers undocumented immigrants the peace of mind of legal permanent residence, freeing them from the constant fear of deportation and separation from their families.

What initiatives does the Vasquez Law Firm offer to support immigrants?

The Vasquez Law Firm hosts "Know Your Rights" workshops in English and Spanish, provides free legal services to qualified individuals, and offers scholarships to first-generation college students pursuing a career in law.

How can undocumented immigrants learn about their rights and the benefits of pursuing legal status?

Through the workshops organized by the Vasquez Law Firm, undocumented immigrants can educate themselves about their rights and the advantages of obtaining legal status for themselves and their families.

List of Sources

1. Explore the Importance of Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants
   • Pathway to Citizenship for 10 million Undocumented Immigrants Would Boost GDP by $1.7 Trillion - Office of Research (https://research.ucdavis.edu/pathway-to-citizenship-for-10-million-undocumented-immigrants-would-boost-gdp-by-1-7-trillion)
   • Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants Would Boost U.S. Economic Growth (https://americanprogress.org/article/citizenship-undocumented-immigrants-boost-u-s-economic-growth)
2. Identify Legal Pathways to Citizenship
   • Surprising Consistency on a Path to Citizenship for Long-Term Immigrants – American Communities Project (https://americancommunities.org/surprising-consistency-on-a-path-to-citizenship-for-long-term-immigrants)
   • U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Reached a Record 14 Million in 2023 (https://pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/08/21/u-s-unauthorized-immigrant-population-reached-a-record-14-million-in-2023)
   • Dreamers by the Numbers - FWD.us (https://fwd.us/news/dreamers-by-the-numbers)
   • A Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Americans (https://networklobby.org/issues/immigration/pathwaytocitizenship)
3. Navigate the Application Process for Citizenship
   • Naturalization Statistics | USCIS (https://uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-statistics)
   • USCIS News: What NC and FL Immigrants Should Know in 2026 | Vasquez Law Firm (https://vasquezlawnc.com/blog/uscis-news)
   • Naturalization Test Performance | USCIS (https://uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-related-data-and-statistics/naturalization-test-performance)
   • Naturalized Citizens in the United States (https://migrationpolicy.org/article/naturalization-trends-united-states)
4. Address Challenges in the Citizenship Journey
   • N.C. immigrants face many barriers, according to new study (https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2023/12/19/new-research-reveals-startling-disparities-immigrants-in-north-carolina-are-facing)
   • Why Don’t Immigrants Apply for Citizenship? - American Immigration Council (https://americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/why-dont-they-just-get-line)
   • Top Citizenship Challenges in 2026 (https://vanderwallimmigration.com/blog/top-7-challenges-people-face-during-the-citizenship-process)
   • Common Barriers in the Citizenship Process and How to Overcome Them (https://maneygordon.com/blog/2025/october/common-barriers-in-the-citizenship-process-and-h)