What's the difference after getting the 10 yr GC

[daphne2109 0]

I'm curios to know what the difference is in trying to get the USA citizenship within 3 months before the 3rd anniversary of the 2 yr GC...& trying to become USA citizen any time after receiving the 10 yr GC, what's the difference in it? Can anynone to decide to become USA citizen whenever she/he wants within the 10 yr GC validity?

Does anyone know about it?

And by the way, usually how long it takes to get an answer or whatever, in order to become US a citizen from the time you have filled out the

form N-400? (Sorry if especially this question sounds silly but it is just curioisity of mine.......I'm not sure if I will try to get the US citizenship & if I decide when (first of all I'm still in the process to get my 10 yr GC.......so my question is just a curios question).

Tks for any reply I might get!!!! Good luck for you Journey

[Jasman0717 9]

Take a look at the instructions for the N-400: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400ins.pdf

[KyngSilva 0]

No difference. You don't get any special treatment. You have to send in the same documents. I applied after 7 years of getting my 10 yr card. It was not important to me until this year, since I did everything a USC could except vote or work for goverment jobs. It's your call when you want to become a USC after your probation period is up. It's taking any where from 5 to 8 months depending on what office you file at currently. They are trying to get them done in 5 months.

[ziia 9]

Hi. There is no difference. You can apply for citizenship any time you want, after you have met the minimun requirements(3 years residency in case you're married to a USC or 5 year residency in case you're not). Your unconditional permanent residency never expires(the card does, but not your status). I know people who live here for over 10 years now solely on GC and never applied for citizenship. Most of us want to become citizens as soon as we meet the minimun requirements for perosnal resons only(bring family members to live here with us, stay abroad for longer periods of time without jeperdising our US residency, voting in the Ntional elections, or simply because we love this country and we consider it our home now and we want to be a part of it all the way, or for some simply because it is a lot harder to loose the citizenship than it is to loose the resident status). If you don't want to become a citizen of US, have no worry. You can live on GC juat as well all your life.

I noticed it usualy takes more or less, 5 months from the time of filing N400 to when one becomes a citizen.

[daphne2109 0]

Hi. There is no difference. You can apply for citizenship any time you want, after you have met the minimun requirements(3 years residency in case you're married to a USC or 5 year residency in case you're not). Your unconditional permanent residency never expires(the card does, but not your status). I know people who live here for over 10 years now solely on GC and never applied for citizenship. Most of us want to become citizens as soon as we meet the minimun requirements for perosnal resons only(bring family members to live here with us, stay abroad for longer periods of time without jeperdising our US residency, voting in the Ntional elections, or simply because we love this country and we consider it our home now and we want to be a part of it all the way, or for some simply because it is a lot harder to loose the citizenship than it is to loose the resident status). If you don't want to become a citizen of US, have no worry. You can live on GC juat as well all your life.

I noticed it usualy takes more or less, 5 months from the time of filing N400 to when one becomes a citizen.

Thank you so much guys for your replies now it's more clear to me. I will (in the future) ask for citizenship but I just wanted to know if there was any difference to ask it within 90 days on the 3rd anniversary of the 2 yr Gc or not. I love this country, but of course I love also mine, so one day I will try to become US citizen not in the near future, there is not rush at the moment to me. Tks alot again.

[moonhunt 1]

I'm curios to know what the difference is in trying to get the USA citizenship within 3 months before the 3rd anniversary of the 2 yr GC...& trying to become USA citizen any time after receiving the 10 yr GC, what's the difference in it? Can anynone to decide to become USA citizen whenever she/he wants within the 10 yr GC validity?

Does anyone know about it?

And by the way, usually how long it takes to get an answer or whatever, in order to become US a citizen from the time you have filled out the

form N-400? (Sorry if especially this question sounds silly but it is just curioisity of mine.......I'm not sure if I will try to get the US citizenship & if I decide when (first of all I'm still in the process to get my 10 yr GC.......so my question is just a curios question).

Tks for any reply I might get!!!! Good luck for you Journey

For most of cases, there is not much difference.

But there are some minor difference.

- Oversea travel : As Lawful Permanent Resident(LPR), you should keep your residence in U.S. And when you travel more than 6 months for single travel, and/or when you stay out of U.S. for more than 183 days per year, you may get into trouble to prove your domicile - intention to live in U.S.-

But US Citizen doesn't have limitation like that.

- Immigration Petition : As LPR, you can only invite your spouse, and children using I-130 immigration petition based on family, and it is subjective to annual immigraiton visa quota. But as US Citizen, you can invite your parents, brothers/sisters. Your immidiate family such as parents, spouse, and childeren under 21 years old is not subjective to immigration visa quota at all.

- Voting and social welfare qualification : As a LPR, you can NOT vote for any election, which is entitled to US Citizen. For some cases, if it is allowed to any legal resident, it may be. But you should be very careful. And for some cases, social welfare is limited to US Citizen, too.

Besides, given the situation after 9/11, even for LPR, rules are applied very strictly.

For an example, if you get caught with DUI, you "may" be kicked out from this country because you are LPR, not US Citizen.

For this kind of insecured environment, a lot of people just take the US Citizen course.

At least, US citizenship gives more secured position for that matter.

LPR is still considered as foreign nationality, versus US Citizen is considered as US citizen.

[AusCal 3]

If you apply for citizenship anytime from 3 months before the 3rd anniversary of receiving your GC to 3 months before the 5th anniversary of receiving your GC you are applying "marriage based", and need to provide similar proof, at your citizenship interview, of the legitimacy of your marriage as your supplied at the I-751 interview.

If you wait to apply until after 3 months before the 5th anniversary of receiving your GC, you do not need to supply any of this information. If you are in no hurry to apply for citizenship, it may be nice not to deal with this extra hassle of paperwork.

[KyngSilva 0]

They still ask for the docs even after the 5 years. I did it after 7 years and was asked to bring in a a certified copy of my marriage certificate.

[AusCal 3]

They still ask for the docs even after the 5 years. I did it after 7 years and was asked to bring in a a certified copy of my marriage certificate.

They did? I have my interview on Tuesday - my GC was marriage based, but, that was over 6 years ago. I see nowhere in the instructions that my marriage certificate is required.

In fact, the list is very minimal:

All I am required to take is:

*interview notice letter

*greencard

*passport

That's it - I hope LOL

They do suggest taking two additional passport photos - but, it is stated it is not necessary. I'm not taking them, if photo's are needed I know that are places just outside the office I can have them done at.

I do also plan to take pay stubs for two absences from the US for 5 months each - where I was working for US companies overseas. But, if they don't ask about those absences, I see no reason to bring it up. Based on your experience I'll add in my marriage certificate - can't hurt.

[moonhunt 1]

They still ask for the docs even after the 5 years. I did it after 7 years and was asked to bring in a a certified copy of my marriage certificate.

They did? I have my interview on Tuesday - my GC was marriage based, but, that was over 6 years ago. I see nowhere in the instructions that my marriage certificate is required.

In fact, the list is very minimal:

All I am required to take is:

*interview notice letter

*greencard

*passport

That's it - I hope LOL

They do suggest taking two additional passport photos - but, it is stated it is not necessary. I'm not taking them, if photo's are needed I know that are places just outside the office I can have them done at.

I do also plan to take pay stubs for two absences from the US for 5 months each - where I was working for US companies overseas. But, if they don't ask about those absences, I see no reason to bring it up. Based on your experience I'll add in my marriage certificate - can't hurt.

If you got green card through marriage, they usually ask for marriage certifcate and others.

But it really depends on USCIS adjudicator - also known as Interview officer -.

If they feel everything looks good, they may not ask any further info/documents.

But if they feel they need more info, they can ask for anything.

If you don't have that at the moment, they can hold your case by asking request for evidence (RFE).

[NickD 202]

We applied for my wife even before her ten year green card came in so I wouldn't have to staple that card to her forehead and we could say goodbye to the USCIS. Also removed that huge sign to remember to contact the USCIS in case we decided to move. Also that big sign to remind you to renew that card, still can get deported if you forget. Plus the panic of losing or having that card stolen, or mutilated, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to replace it, costs both arms and both legs to replace it. Her certificate of natualization is locked up in a fireproof safe, but we will probably never have to use that again, just renew her US Passport, others just ask if she is a USC. She says, yes.

[KyngSilva 0]

The key term here is "was asked' . =) Once I was infront of the IO he did not even bother to look at my docs that I had brought, and I brought all my papers. Like moonhunt stated it all depends on the IO. The only thing he wanted to see from me was my Selective Service registration. Good luck Auscal, let us know how your interview goes.

[Flames9_RN 358]

In the letter I recieved it asked to bring numerous items to the interview, which i did. But the only thing he looked at was my passport for a brief few seconds, then handed it back. As well handed over two passport style pictures! And that was it