It took you so long to apply for U.S. citizenship. You got all the documents together, took the test, and waited to hear a response.
However, you just received word that your application was denied – and you’re heartbroken. What can you do? Is there a way to appeal this decision?
Find out how to apply again and consider calling an experienced Florida immigration attorney for help.
Appealing Your Citizenship Decision
You can apply your citizenship decision, but you are required to apply for an administrative review within 30 days of your original denial. When you appeal, you’ll need to fill out and turn in the N-336 form (Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings). The fee for this is $75. You may also have to pay for biometrics again – that fee is $85. You can submit the N-336 form by mail or online on the USCIS website. If you submit it by mail from Florida, you’ll need to mail it to:
USCIS Attn: NATZ
P.O. Box 4088
Carol Stream, IL 60197-4088
You may need to submit evidence and supporting documentation to show that your application is legitimate and you deserve to be a U.S. citizen. If any basic information like your last name, date of birth, or address is missing, you will automatically be denied. They will also reject any form that comes in unsigned.
What Happens After You Appeal?
After you send in your appeal, you should hear from USCIS. They will send you a letter with the date of your scheduled hearing. The date will occur within 180 days. The officer who presides over this hearing will be different from the one who reviewed your original application.
If you find out that you get denied again, you can then go to the federal level with a federal district court review. You will have to submit your petition to a local federal court in Florida within 120 days of your administrative denial. Then, your court date will occur within 180 days.
Keep in mind that if you get denied, you may lose your green card. You’ll have to ask USCIS what’s going to happen to it.
Can You Apply for Citizenship Again?
If you were denied U.S. citizenship because you did not have a legitimate green card or you broke the law, you would not be able to apply again. If there were some questions about whether or not you broke the law, you could always ask an immigration attorney for help.
If you were denied because you didn’t fill out the form correctly, you failed your civics or English test, or you didn’t meet other requirements, you can apply again. Just make sure that you study ahead of time and turn everything in that the USCIS needs from you.
It’s a good idea to get in touch with a Florida immigration attorney if your application was denied, whether you’re about to appeal, going for a federal court review, or applying again. You can also work with one on your initial application to ensure that everything goes smoothly the first time around.
Contact a Florida Immigration Attorney
Do you have questions about being denied U.S. citizenship? Then contact Florida Immigration Law Counsel through our website or by calling 1-800-666-4996. We deal with the government so you don’t have to. We look forward to assisting you.
