Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions we receive. If your question has not already been answered, please do not hesitate to contact us.

You must be at least 18 years old, have had a green card for at least 5 years (or 3 if you are married to a US citizen), have continuous residence in the US, know basic English, and be of good moral character. ​ ​

Many countries allow dual citizenship, but not all so you have to be careful with citizenship issues.

Yes, all children born in the US automatically acquire US citizenship, except in cases where the parents are diplomats of third countries.

If you are a U.S. citizen, your child may be able to obtain citizenship through sections 320 or 322 of the INA, depending on your residency and the length of time you have lived in the U.S.

If you are absent for more than 6 months, you may be considered to have interrupted your continuous residence, which may affect your application for naturalization.

Immediate relatives such as spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of US citizens can receive an invitation with relatively short processing times. There are other categories with different waiting times.

Ο χρόνος επεξεργασίας κυμαίνεται από 15 έως 17 μήνες αν ο σύζυγος είναι Αμερικανός πολίτης και ζει στις ΗΠΑ.

There are three main ways: marrying outside the US and applying for an immigrant visa, marrying in the US on a tourist visa and returning to apply, or applying for a fiancé (K-1) visa and getting married within 90 days of arriving in the US.

Yes, but the wait times are longer compared to relatives who are US citizens.

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State that shows which immigration applications are being processed, based on priority date and family category.

The Visa Waiver Program allows a stay of up to 90 days without a visa for certain countries, but does not allow for extensions or changes of status. The B-2 visa allows a stay of up to 6 months and the possibility of extensions or changes of status.

No, working on a tourist visa or through the Visa Waiver Program is not permitted. An appropriate work visa is required for employment.

Main work visas include H-1B for skilled workers, O-1 for highly skilled individuals, L-1 for internal transfers, and so on. See more here.

The J-1 visa is for exchange visitors, such as students, trainees, and researchers. It requires approval from an authorized agency and may include a 2-year return to the country of origin requirement.

The K-1 visa is for fiancés of U.S. citizens. The fiancé must marry the U.S. citizen within 90 days of arriving in the U.S. and then apply for a green card.

Yes, U.S. citizens and green card holders are required to file a tax return regardless of their place of residence.

FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) requires U.S. citizens to report foreign accounts and foreign financial institutions to report account information for U.S. customers. ​

Yes, there is an agreement aimed at avoiding double taxation and preventing tax evasion between multiple countries and the US.​ See more here.

You must file an FBAR if you have one or more foreign bank accounts with a total balance of more than $10,000 at any time during the year.

Non-compliance can result in serious penalties: for an involuntary failure, up to $10,000 per violation; for an intentional failure, fines of up to 50% of the account or even criminal prosecution.

Yes, like US citizens, green card holders are required to declare and pay taxes on their worldwide income.

Yes, but the surrender process must be done officially through USCIS or a US embassy and a special exit tax return (“Exit Tax”) must be filed if certain criteria are met.

American citizenship does not necessarily cancel your foreign tax residency if you remain in home country. You will have to comply with obligations in both countries based on national laws and the double taxation treaty and consult with a tax professional in your home country.

The visa expiration date applies to entry into the US, not the length of stay. It is important to leave or renew your status before the expiration of the authorization to remain listed on your I-94 form.