Applying for citizenship

[hasson 1]

I married to a U S citizen for past 7 1/2 years living together with kids.only last December i got my visa Approved and now we living together in U S and i am a GC holder for last 6 months.My question is living with my husband 7 1/2 years together,do i still have to wait for 3 - 5 years to Apply for citizenship?

[v333k 59]

Yes - USCIS starts counting when you become a permanent resident and not when you got married. Being married to a USC and obtaining residency through that USC allows you to apply after 3 years of being a resident instead of the normal wait time of 5 years.

[hasson 1]

Yes - USCIS starts counting when you become a permanent resident and not when you got married. Being married to a USC and obtaining residency through that USC allows you to apply after 3 years of being a resident instead of the normal wait time of 5 years.

Thank you

[v333k 59]

What kind if visa did you obtain?

Thank you

[hasson 1]

What kind if visa did you obtain?

IR1

[v333k 59]

I think the IR1 counts as resident so you need to start counting since you got approved for it...

IR1

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

To understand this, think of it this way: a US citizen and a Brit meet in London, get married, and live there for 50 years. Now in their 70s, they decide they have enough of the rain and want to move to Florida. The Brit gets a 10-year Green Card but still will have to wait 3 more years before he/she can become a U.S. citizen. The 50 years of happy marriage to one another doesn't count, neither would the time count if somebody where lawfully in the US with a student and a work visa. The clock starts ticking at the date that's in front of the Green Card.

[NickD 202]

For us, that wait was only between the time we decided to get married and when we could be finally be together, took a year. The rest of the time passed like crazy. Were you and your husband separated for a long period of time?

And surely you received the ten year card, certainly been married for over two years.

What you need to do now is to download the N-400, instructions, M-476 manual, and the supplements so you are prepared to gather all the required evidence, keep track or your address changes, employment, and trips. So you are not scratching your head 2 1/2 years from now.

[hasson 1]

Thank you for all the answers