getting Citizenship with citizen parents

[eXm3 0]

Hi!

I've been living in US for 3 years now. I moved here when I was 17. My father is an US citizen and he has been living here for 15 years. I had my permanent resident card (the 10 years one) for over 2 years now. So my question is do i have to wait 3 or 5 years before applying for citizenship?

My dad is also married to us citizen (but she just got her citizenship few months ago).

Any information will be appreciated.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi!

I've been living in US for 3 years now. I moved here when I was 17. My father is an US citizen and he has been living here for 15 years. I had my permanent resident card (the 10 years one) for over 2 years now. So my question is do i have to wait 3 or 5 years before applying for citizenship?

My dad is also married to us citizen (but she just got her citizenship few months ago).

Any information will be appreciated.

Generally, a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) has to have his/her green card for five years and lived in the US for five years in order to qualify for US citizenship.

The 3 years rule for citizenship only applies to LPR who have 1) been married to a US citizen for 3 years, 2) have a green card for 3 years, and 3) reside in the US for 3 years under the two previous conditions. No one else benefits from this expedited citizenship rule.

However, you may already be a US citizen. A child (under 18 years old) who immigrates permanently to the US and has a US citizen parent automatically acquires US citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act. So, if your Dad became a US citizen before you turned 18, you are a US citizen. You will need to file form N-600 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship). If your Dad became a US citizen after your 18th birthday, you do not qualify for citizenship under this act - you will have wait 5 years under the general rule.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00048f3d6a1RCRD