Immigrant Visa
US Naturalization (N-400) for Brazilians
5 years of green card (3 if married to US citizen), physical presence, good moral character, basic English, and civics knowledge. Brazil allows dual citizenship — you do NOT lose Brazilian citizenship by naturalizing as American.
Naturalization requirements
- Green card for 5 years (or 3 years if married to US citizen and living together)
- Physical presence in US for 30 of the last 60 months (25 of 36 for spouse cases)
- Continuous residence — no unexplained trips of 6+ months
- Good moral character (no serious crimes; DUIs and minor infractions are analyzable)
- Basic English: reading, writing, speaking — with exemptions for 50+ yrs with 20+ yrs GC, or 55+ with 15+
- US civics knowledge: 100 possible questions, answer 6 of 10 correctly
- Oath of allegiance to the US
N-400 process — step by step
- 1File Form N-400 online ($710) or paper ($760)
- 2Biometrics at Application Support Center — 1–3 months after filing
- 3USCIS interview — 6–12 months after biometrics (varies by office)
- 4English + civics test at interview
- 5Decision: approved / recommend approval / continued / denied
- 6Oath Ceremony — often same day (fast decision) or weeks later
Brazil-US dual citizenship
Both Brazil and the US allow dual citizenship. You do NOT lose Brazilian citizenship by naturalizing as American (Brazilian Federal Constitution, Art. 12, §4 only strips Brazilian citizenship in very specific situations — not by mere voluntary naturalization). You continue to enter Brazil with a Brazilian passport, exercise political rights there, etc.
Cost
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| N-400 online | $710 |
| N-400 paper | $760 |
| Reduced fee (income ≤ 400% FPG) | $380 |
| Full waiver | Possible with very low income or federal benefits |
| Pinho Law fees (N-400 + prep) | $2,000–3,500 |
What we do
Prepare N-400 + English practice session + 100-question civics bank in English/Portuguese + travel-history review to ensure physical presence + background review to catch any sensitive points before filing. After approval, we guide on US passport and ongoing obligations (global tax return, etc.).
Frequently asked questions
Does Brazil allow dual citizenship with the US?
Yes. You keep Brazilian citizenship when you naturalize as American. The Brazilian Constitution (Art. 12) expressly allows dual citizenship.
Do I need fluent English for naturalization?
Not fluent — basic. You need to read, write, and speak common phrases about daily life and answer questions about the N-400. Exemptions exist for 50+ with 20+ yrs GC.
How many trips to Brazil can I take?
No number limit, but 6+ month trips may break continuous residence. 12+ month trips automatically do (unless pre-authorized via Form N-470).
Do DUIs or other infractions block naturalization?
Depends. Simple DUIs usually don't block after 5 years. Multiple DUIs, crimes of moral turpitude, or aggravated felonies may block or even lead to deportation. Case-by-case.
If my N-400 is denied, do I lose my green card?
Not automatically. N-400 denial doesn't strip the green card unless it's for fraud or other removable grounds. In those cases, deportation proceedings can follow.
Do I need to attend the interview in person?
Yes. In-person interview at USCIS office. You go alone (attorney may attend). Duration: 20–45 minutes.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Schedule a consultation today. We will listen, assess your situation, and give you a clear path forward — in the language you are most comfortable with.