This advanced legal training course provides a thorough and practice-oriented exploration of the multiple legal pathways to U.S. citizenship, with an emphasis on complex and nontraditional cases. The course examines the statutory and regulatory frameworks for naturalization, automatic and derivative citizenship, special military provisions, adoption-related citizenship, and immigration relief that may lead to citizenship (e.g., asylum, VAWA, TPS, SIJS).
Students will develop expertise in identifying eligibility, assessing legal barriers (such as criminal history, prior fraud, or abandonment of residency), and navigating procedural complexities in both affirmative and defensive contexts. Hands-on simulations will include strategic planning, filing assistance, litigation, and appeals, enabling students to work confidently with high-risk or non-routine citizenship cases.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
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Understand the legal foundations of naturalization and automatic citizenship under the INA and related statutes.
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Identify and resolve common legal and procedural complications in citizenship applications.
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Evaluate alternative or delayed paths to citizenship through humanitarian or derivative channels.
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Draft, support, and troubleshoot N-400 and N-600 filings with evidentiary and waiver strategies.
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Represent or advise clients with denials, revocations, or complex case histories.
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Interpret statutes, agency policy, and federal case law relevant to contested or delayed naturalization.
