Coming up on Citizenship

[bradcanuck 1]

I am nearing my earliest application date to apply for citizenship (November 11th)

What I wanted to know is - in your experience when is it best to get all of the paperwork together? Do they change the forms often enough to where I should wait - or would it be fine to begin prepping everything and putting together lease documents, photos etc now? We were told during the GC interview that we would have to send in "additional proof" once our 2 year GC was up.

I am getting excited here and I want to make sure everything is tight and put away for the big day.

[payxibka 10,045]

I am nearing my earliest application date to apply for citizenship (November 11th)

What I wanted to know is - in your experience when is it best to get all of the paperwork together? Do they change the forms often enough to where I should wait - or would it be fine to begin prepping everything and putting together lease documents, photos etc now? We were told during the GC interview that we would have to send in "additional proof" once our 2 year GC was up.

I am getting excited here and I want to make sure everything is tight and put away for the big day.

It is not the earliest date but 3 years from the last qualification date... Based on your timeline... citizenship window opens 90 days before 1/26/2011 (3 years as an LPR) or end of October 2010 not 2009....

You will need to apply to remove conditions first (I-751) in October 2009 and then citizenship one year later

Edited April 13, 2009 by payxibka

[warlord 72]

I don't think the form has changed for a long while. I'd start getting everything ready, fill out the form etc and then just double check before sending it out (yes 90 days before your PR date is when you can officially send it, not 3 months though, 90 days) to see if there is a new N-400 or not.

That's what I did and pretty sure there was a new N-400 2 weeks before I sent mine out, so I just used that one, though I had filled out the older version weeks before.

I saved up bills and stuff for the package and then before sending it, I just photo copied the latest bill and put that in as well. You generally don't need a whole lot...

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Congratulations - very exciting - have no info to offer, but a quick question which undoubtedly has been asked somewhere on VJ - do my 2 yrs on my temp GC, before the 10 yr card count towards when I can apply for citizenship or no...not trying to hijack ok - well maybe a little, but in a pleasant way!

[Krikit 1,163]

Congratulations - very exciting - have no info to offer, but a quick question which undoubtedly has been asked somewhere on VJ - do my 2 yrs on my temp GC, before the 10 yr card count towards when I can apply for citizenship or no...not trying to hijack ok - well maybe a little, but in a pleasant way!

Yes!

[July09Bride 1]

Congratulations - very exciting - have no info to offer, but a quick question which undoubtedly has been asked somewhere on VJ - do my 2 yrs on my temp GC, before the 10 yr card count towards when I can apply for citizenship or no...not trying to hijack ok - well maybe a little, but in a pleasant way!

Yes!

Really!!!??? I read (somewhere), that if someone comes over on a K1, the waiting time is 3 years before applying for citizenship (instead of 5)... so, that could possibly mean in three years' time (from this summer), he could be doing citizenship paperwork?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Congratulations - very exciting - have no info to offer, but a quick question which undoubtedly has been asked somewhere on VJ - do my 2 yrs on my temp GC, before the 10 yr card count towards when I can apply for citizenship or no...not trying to hijack ok - well maybe a little, but in a pleasant way!

Yes!

Do I count as 3 yrs or 5 until I can apply ...so much conflicting info...good grief - things could get busy next year

[payxibka 10,045]

Congratulations - very exciting - have no info to offer, but a quick question which undoubtedly has been asked somewhere on VJ - do my 2 yrs on my temp GC, before the 10 yr card count towards when I can apply for citizenship or no...not trying to hijack ok - well maybe a little, but in a pleasant way!

Yes!

Do I count as 3 yrs or 5 until I can apply ...so much conflicting info...good grief - things could get busy next year

3 years based on a ongoing marriage to a USC

5 years if not

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Woot!

Brad- I'm right behind ya!

[Krikit 1,163]

Really!!!??? I read (somewhere), that if someone comes over on a K1, the waiting time is 3 years before applying for citizenship (instead of 5)... so, that could possibly mean in three years' time (from this summer), he could be doing citizenship paperwork?

It's 3 years from when he receives his conditional residency. It'd be nice if it was from K-1 entry but, alas.... it's not.

[payxibka 10,045]

Really!!!??? I read (somewhere), that if someone comes over on a K1, the waiting time is 3 years before applying for citizenship (instead of 5)... so, that could possibly mean in three years' time (from this summer), he could be doing citizenship paperwork?

It's 3 years from when he receives his conditional residency. It'd be nice if it was from K-1 entry but, alas.... it's not.

Yup, to expand on what krikit mentioned..

there are three 3-year criteria that must be met.... All three criteria must be met before the application window opens and then it opens 90 days before the latest date

1) 3 year anniversary of marriage (and marriage must still be intact and ongoing)

2) 3 years as a permanent resident

3) 3 year anniversary of the USC spouse's citizenship....

For most people the latest criteria met is 3 years as an LPR...

[SpiritAlight 1]

Congrats Bradcannuck on coming this far.

I imagine you are working things out?

[Flames9_RN 358]

I filed for my USA citizenship many months after I was able to. It was a very easy process, filling out the form wasn't that difficult. It took me approx 6 months from start to finish, and that included postponing my biometrics because I was going on holidays, and then having to wait a bit longer for my oath ceremony, because at the interview, they noticed their was an "extra file" on my case (no clue what it was), so instead of having my oath ceremony the very same day of the interview (not al places do that) I had to wait a bit longer, wasn't a big deal to me. Best of luck

[July09Bride 1]

Really!!!??? I read (somewhere), that if someone comes over on a K1, the waiting time is 3 years before applying for citizenship (instead of 5)... so, that could possibly mean in three years' time (from this summer), he could be doing citizenship paperwork?

It's 3 years from when he receives his conditional residency. It'd be nice if it was from K-1 entry but, alas.... it's not.

Yup, to expand on what krikit mentioned..

there are three 3-year criteria that must be met.... All three criteria must be met before the application window opens and then it opens 90 days before the latest date

1) 3 year anniversary of marriage (and marriage must still be intact and ongoing)

2) 3 years as a permanent resident

3) 3 year anniversary of the USC spouse's citizenship....

For most people the latest criteria met is 3 years as an LPR...

LPR = ??? LOL, everytime I see PR, I ALWAYS think Puerto Rico first... then the brain does a translation and eventually I think of Permanent Resident. So, what's an LPR? Someone becomes a PR when he/she gets the Green Card, yes?

*sigh*so much to learn*sigh*

[Krikit 1,163]

LPR = Legal Permanent Resident

A K-1'er will first receive Conditional LPR status. After 2 years they can file to remove those conditions...... aka the 10 year GC. One more year after that they can file for citizenship providing they are still married to the USC.