Can we file for naturalization and removal of conditions at the same time?

[Patient teacher 0]

Dear All,

Happy Spring,

Can my husband apply for his N-400 (hope I have the number right) at the same time as the removal of conditions?

Is anyone else freaked out at how much it costs???

We don't want to pay for a lawyer this time. What have some of you done?

I feel perfectly comfortable filling out all the paperwork and sending......

[germangel 0]

Removal of Condition and Naturalization are two separate processes and can be done simultanously. And yes, it is really expensive to do anything with USCIS these days. Maybe their way of "natural selection": only richers can be in the US now

[alimar 0]

Dear All,

Happy Spring,

Can my husband apply for his N-400 (hope I have the number right) at the same time as the removal of conditions?

Is anyone else freaked out at how much it costs???

We don't want to pay for a lawyer this time. What have some of you done?

I feel perfectly comfortable filling out all the paperwork and sending......

The time to apply for N-400 and the I-751 are totally diferent. For N-400 you need to be a lawful permanent resident for 3 years and being married for 3 years too which are totally different and you need to apply 90 days before you meet all the requirements . For I-751 you need to apply 90 days before your conditional green card expires (2 year of lawful permanent resident).

The fees for i-751 is $545 and you dont need a lawyer if you don't want.

You should better read the instructions for each aplication.

Edited March 29, 2009 by alimar

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Right- you need to apply to remove the conditions on your green card first. You can do that starting 90 days before the 2nd anniversary of getting your green card - the green card expiry date. You need to be a permanent resident for 3 years before you can apply for naturalization as the spouse of a US citizen. There is also a window that opens up 90 days before your third anniversary. If you have not received your 10 year green card by the time you become eligible for citizenship you can file anyway - you don't need to wait for the 10 year green card if you meet the 3 year permanent resident requirement but you can't file to remove conditions and become a citizen at the same time.

Many of us have done this whole process without a lawyer. If you read everything over carefully, follow the instructions and ask questions here about the things you are unsure, you should be able to do this without a lawyer as well. It is your choice. Take it one step at a time - the Removal of Conditions first.

And yes, it is a lot of money.

Edited March 29, 2009 by Kathryn41