My wife came here via K-1 and now obtains Permanent Residence

[The_Sage1 2]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but how could my wife become a dual citizen(Philippines/USA)? Is there any way for a US Permanent Resident Card holder to become a US citizen and still retain Philippine citizenship if she is just simply married to a US citizen?

Another thing I'm wondering is with the start of conditional permanent residence is it 3 or is it 5 years after that she can apply for US Citizenship?

Edited June 3, 2010 by The_Sage1

[Indy90 21]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but how could my wife become a dual citizen(Philippines/USA)? Is there any way for a US Permanent Resident Card holder to become a US citizen and still retain Philippine citizenship if she is just simply married to a US citizen?

Another thing I'm wondering is with the start of conditional permanent residence is it 3 or is it 5 years after that she can apply for US Citizenship?

While the US does not recognize dual citizenship, the US also does not require you to formally renounce your citizenship by going to an embassy, etc. It really is up to the foreign countries...many countries let their citizens obtain citizenship in another country and still keep their original while some do not...I think China is one that will not while Ecuador, where my wife is from, lets people be dual citizens. It just depends on the Philippines, I am not sure what there law is. The US government will not take away citizenship because of dual citizenship, although that might have been there policy decades ago. She can use her Philippines passport abroad but would use her American when entering the US (the Philippines might require her to always enter with a Philippine passport, again it just depends the country).

Since your wife will have married you, she can apply 90 days before the three year anniversary...if she was not married to a USC it would be 90 days before 5 years.

[ceziepie 0]

The Philippines recognizes dual citizenship. My fiance is both a USC and Filipino citizen. He used his Philippine passport in coming to the Philippines and US passport in coming back. I'm just not sure how long it take for one to become a USC. They said at CFO seminar yesterday that it takes 3 CONTINUOUS years of residency in the US to become eligible for citizenship. Meaning she can't leave the US within 3 years or else she's gonna have to start over again.

[alex and astrid 38]

The Philippines recognizes dual citizenship. My fiance is both a USC and Filipino citizen. He used his Philippine passport in coming to the Philippines and US passport in coming back. I'm just not sure how long it take for one to become a USC. They said at CFO seminar yesterday that it takes 3 CONTINUOUS years of residency in the US to become eligible for citizenship. Meaning she can't leave the US within 3 years or else she's gonna have to start over again.

You can leave the US, you just can't residency somewhere else...for example, now I have my green card, I can come and go as I please. But, if My husband and I were to move back to Australia, that could be considered abandoning my residency in the US.

If you are married to a USC and that is how you come to claim your residency, you can apply for citizenship three years after your green card is issued....not after three years of marriage.

[Indy90 21]

The Philippines recognizes dual citizenship. My fiance is both a USC and Filipino citizen. He used his Philippine passport in coming to the Philippines and US passport in coming back. I'm just not sure how long it take for one to become a USC. They said at CFO seminar yesterday that it takes 3 CONTINUOUS years of residency in the US to become eligible for citizenship. Meaning she can't leave the US within 3 years or else she's gonna have to start over again.

You can leave, just not for a long time period like 6 months without starting the clock over. I forget the exact rule, but if she wants to go to the Philippines every six months for a two week visit, there will not be a problem.

[redglasses 1]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but how could my wife become a dual citizen(Philippines/USA)? Is there any way for a US Permanent Resident Card holder to become a US citizen and still retain Philippine citizenship if she is just simply married to a US citizen?

Another thing I'm wondering is with the start of conditional permanent residence is it 3 or is it 5 years after that she can apply for US Citizenship?

It is three years if you filed it based on the marriage to a USC. If not, it is 5 years.