Fast track to citizenship

[Shawn C 11]

Talked with a friend of mine (and his wife) the other day who is a Gov't contractor in Manila. He got married, got his wife a visa, AND her citizenship within 11 months doing it all at the US Embassy. Evidently there is a clause that allows this but it doesn't mean I didn't want to punch him in the nose, after going (and continue to go) through all the BS I have to just to get married

[SouthernComfort 13]

Talked with a friend of mine (and his wife) the other day who is a Gov't contractor in Manila. He got married, got his wife a visa, AND her citizenship within 11 months doing it all at the US Embassy. Evidently there is a clause that allows this but it doesn't mean I didn't want to punch him in the nose, after going (and continue to go) through all the BS I have to just to get married

What clause is that?

Edited June 22, 2012 by SouthernComfort

[UK_Fan 192]

a lot of people confuse green card (permanent resident) and citizenship.. so i'm thinking that's what happened here..

i can't tell you how many people assume that a green card equals citizenship.

[JohnR! 5,495]

a lot of people confuse green card (permanent resident) and citizenship.. so i'm thinking that's what happened here..

i can't tell you how many people assume that a green card equals citizenship.

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

Talked with a friend of mine (and his wife) the other day who is a Gov't contractor in Manila. He got married, got his wife a visa, AND her citizenship within 11 months doing it all at the US Embassy. Evidently there is a clause that allows this but it doesn't mean I didn't want to punch him in the nose, after going (and continue to go) through all the BS I have to just to get married

Immigration law is Immigration LAW....there is no fast track to US citizenship....(of course unless Obama will approve it personally).

[UK_Fan 192]

(of course unless Obama will approve it personally).

BOOM lol

[Shawn C 11]

It was citizenship, she took the test, had the interview was sworn in and got her passport the next day

I just looked it up in the USCIS guide (page 20)and there are no residency requirements (other than having a green card) if you are the spouse of a US Citizen if he/she is going to be working abroad for the Gov't for more than a year. So they basically got married, filed the visa, got her green card and immediately got her citizenship. Ironically I could have done this with my ex wife, but when we were doing her paperwork before we were sent abroad she already had her 5 years in the US.

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

It was citizenship, she took the test, had the interview was sworn in and got her passport the next day

I just looked it up in the USCIS guide (page 20)and there are no residency requirements (other than having a green card) if you are the spouse of a US Citizen if he/she is going to be working abroad for the Gov't for more than a year. So they basically got married, filed the visa, got her green card and immediately got her citizenship. Ironically I could have done this with my ex wife, but when we were doing her paperwork before we were sent abroad she already had her 5 years in the US.

WOW....yep. You are correct. I just read who can apply for naturalized citizenship. I guess the government employees get very special benefits....Thanks to you and me (the tax payers).

[Andy-n-Maricar 6]

It's not just US govt employees. US govt contractors, employees of an American institution of research recognized by the Attorney General, employee of an American-owned firm or corporation engaged in development of foreign trade and commerce for the US, employee of an international organization of which the US is a member by law or treaty, or a person who performs ministerial or priestly functions for a religious organization or interdenominational organization with a valid presence in the US AND you will be proceeding to join your spouse whose work abroad under orders of the qualifying employer will continue for at least 1 year after the date you will be naturalized.

Clearly not just US Govt employees but civilians as well.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

to naturalize abroad I thought the requirement was to be a permanent resident for 3 years. The "fast track" is for people that are in the US, but their citizen spouse is in a foreign country...all naturalization has to take place in the US....in that case the only requirement is that you be a permanent resident. I went through this and had to read very carefully as I thought we could bypass the removal of conditions since I was Active duty military. We could have done it before I left for Italy, but we needed orders and I didn't get my hardcopy orders until about 60 days prior to leaving the US.

[hellINTIM 9]

BOOM lol

lol