Slightly confused.

[meauxna 15]

Okay so assuming it all goes well and I'm awarded a greencard when I get to the US... 2 years later I file to remove conditions... I get the 10 year greencard.. am I correct?

Where I'm stuck at is.... Greencard = Legal Permanent Resident? Or US Citizen? What happens to my Canadian citizenship along the way? Is becoming a USC a totally different process or something that just happens further down the line?

hi, it *is* a lot to take in!

You will come to the US as a fiance and get married, and then apply for AOS/Adjustment of Status to Legal Permanent Resident. A Permanent Resident/LPR gets a Green Card as evidence of their status. You will get this status after having your AOS interview and being approved. The effective date of your PR status will be on your Green Card--this may take a year or so after you file (or less, check your District Office info).

You can read the highlights of being a PR here:

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

If you are marreid for less than 2 years when your AOS is approved, you will have Conditions on your PR status which requires you to file I-751 2 years after you become a PR (the dates are noted on your Green Card).

How Do I Remove the Conditions on Permanent Residence Based on Marriage?

The positive conclusion of that petition is LPR status (the previous status is often called CPR, but both are LPRs) and a Green Card that's valid for 10 years at a time. Your status does not expire after 10 years, but the card does.

After you have been a Permanent Resident AND married to your USC for 3 years, you MAY apply for US citizenship via Naturalization. This is optional, but there are several advantages to naturalizing and KEEPING your Canadian citizenship (you will never "lose" your CanCitz & giving it up is hard).

[Ecalos 0]

Oh I can naturalize and keep it?

I was under the impression that the US frowned on dual citizenship nowadays...

If you could elaborate on that a little more I would be really grateful, and thanks so much for the info you posted

[Reba 2]

they don't particularly recognize dual citizenships or triples or or or necessarily. However, they cannot force anyone to renounce their home citizenship, other than to say it in the oath at your swearing in ceremony (one reason I wont do it, until they officially remove that from the oath )

Canada will never recognize you as a US citizen, once a Canuck, always a Canuck, unless you go into Harper's office and spit in his face and turn around three times while reciting the national anthem backwards. Er sumthin'

When you travel in and out of Canada and the US, you must use your Canadian passport to enter Canada, and your US passport to enter the US. If you travel anywhere else in the world, you can use either, but I think they favour that you use your passport of your birth country.

My Aunt has 3 citizenships, UK, Canada and US. There was once a member here at VJ who had 4 or 5 citizenships.

[Ecalos 0]

Ah cool! So once i'm in the US I just apply for my passport like Joe Ordinary and that's it?

Hee. I'm so grateful for the knowledge present on this board!

[meauxna 15]

Ah cool! So once i'm in the US I just apply for my passport like Joe Ordinary and that's it?

No, not at all!

Not sure how you got that conclusion.

Reread my post.

First get here.

Then get married.

Then apply for your AOS.

Wait.

Get approved for your AOS.

Wait 3 years.

APPLY to be a US citizen.

Wait.

Take your oath.

NOW apply for a US passport.

Details on Dual Citizenship:

Dual Citizenship FAQ

Dual Nationality and

United States Law

by Rich Wales

http://www.richw.org/dualcit/

Please read my post in this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=311

There is more to it than *just* living here for 3 years as a PR + being married to a USC for those 3 years. MUCH more.

[Ecalos 0]

I'm very dumb sometimes. I just reread my last post. What should have been in there was "after naturalization", THEN the passport thing.

Thanks so much for dropping all that info right in my lap, I'm sure I'll find it very useful in the near future

Cheers!

Edited October 10, 2006 by Ecalos