New Hampshire has a reputation for tight controls on immigration, but if you are living in New Hampshire on a green card, you do not have to worry about state laws governing an application for citizenship, as citizenship applications are handled at a federal level.  However, if you are considering not applying for citizenship because of the hassle and time commitment, it is important to consider that both state and federal laws governing the lives of non-citizens can change any time, as can the rules regarding requirements for citizenship.  These changes almost never make things less complicated, so if you're thinking about getting your citizenship at any point, doing it now will almost certainly be your smartest strategy.You might be wondering whether it's a smart idea to contact a citizenship service to help you with your application, or to get immigration forms yourself and go it alone. Even though in very straightforward cases it is certainly possible to have a successful citizenship application without the help of legal counsel, very few cases are completely straightforward, and immigration law is one of the most complex branches of law there is. Adding your application rejected and having to reapply can be frustrating, expensive, and time-consuming, so than many people it makes much more sense to get in touch with a citizenship service or an attorney who is experienced in immigration law.Once you have submitted or to immigration forms and your application has been accepted into the system, you will be given a case number. The rest is a waiting game, but you must use your time wisely as you wait for your interview appointment. The naturalization process is so much more than just speaking to an official at a desk - you will have to show up prepared to demonstrate just how serious you are about your citizenship application, and how clearly you understand the rights and responsibilities of being a United States citizen.First there are the basic requirements for any citizenship applicants. You must be at least 18 years of age, you must have a clean criminal record, and you must have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least the last five years. Despite the popular myth, the residency requirement is not waived if you are married to a United States citizen. Movies and television had popularized the idea that getting married is your magic ticket into citizenship, but this is certainly not the case. Every candidate for naturalization has to go through the same process; the only advantage to being married is that your residency requirement is reduced to three years instead of the standard five years.During the interview process, you will have to demonstrate that you have a good working knowledge of the English language, both written and spoken; you will also need to show that you have sufficient knowledge in United States history and government. If you take the exam process seriously and prepare adequately, there is no reason you can't have a successful application on your first try.