By: Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa, Esq.

Only U.S. Citizens can vote in federal elections, so you must NATURALIZE OR BECOME A U.S. CITIZEN before the Presidential election in November . Since the N aturalization process takes about 5-7 months nationwide on average to complete and the D erived Citizenship process (through parents) takes about 5-6 months on average, NOW IS THE TIME TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION .

If you feel strongly about the issues facing this year’s presidential nominees, you are certainly not alone.

By now, you have probably watched some of the presidential debates on TV, and heard the candidates’ views on several issues. You may have already formed an opinion about certain candidates, based on their responses to certain issues. You probably also know which candidate(s) you DO NOT want to become the next U.S. President.

• Health care, particularly the future of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or “Obamacare”
• National Security/Terrorism
• Domestic Gun Control Policy
• Foreign Policy
• Employment
• Poverty/Homelessness
• Immigration

• Whether there should be a complete U.S.-Mexico Border Fence; Border security
• Birthright Citizenship: Whether children of undocumented immigrants should acquire automatic citizenship
• Undocumented Immigrants: Whether they should be given a pathway to legal status or U.S. Citizenship
• E-Verify: Whether the E-verify system (which verifies employment eligibility) should be mandatory for employers
• Future of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA)
• Future of the H-1B and H-2B Visa programs employing foreign workers

  If you are already a U.S. Citizen , then exercising your right to vote in a federal election is one of several benefits of U.S. Citizenship that you should take full advantage of ( Read more about OTHER BENEFITS OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP HERE ).

If you want to vote, you must first register to vote . Newly naturalized U.S. Citizens will usually be given a voter registration application immediately after the oath ceremony . You must register to vote before the election day deadline, which differs by state. The registration deadline is usually a couple weeks to one month before the upcoming election. To ensure you meet that deadline (and if you are already a U.S. Citizen), you can register to vote here .

The Legislative Branch, i.e, Congress, has plenary power (“absolute” power) over immigrants and immigration law. However, Congress is permitted to delegate some of this authority to the Executive Branch, that is, the President. This combination of congressional delegation and the power of the President to issue Executive Orders gives the incoming President plenty of power over immigration law and policy. That includes both new immigration laws and immigration reform.

That is why, if you like certain immigration laws and orders that are already in place, or if you seek new and different legislation, it is imperative that you vote for the presidential nominee that shares your view on those issues.

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• Top 8 Reasons to Naturalize & Become a U.S. Citizen
• Proposed Increase in Immigration Fees, including Naturalization
• Do I “Need” an Immigration Attorney For My Petition or Visa?
• Is it Time to Renew Your Green Card?
• This Month’s Promotions & Discounts!!

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