When to apply for citizenship

[Ak+Tk 0]

MY husband got his 10 year green card in October, when could we apply for citizenship? Thank you

[gstrength 20]

MY husband got his 10 year green card in October, when could we apply for citizenship? Thank you

Three years (minus 90 days) after his becoming a resident, he can apply to become a Citizen (provided he is still married to you)

[caly 48]

You can use this to figure out the exact date.

Filing Date Calculator from USCIS

[TimeTravel 78]

Three years (minus 90 days) after his becoming a resident, he can apply to become a Citizen (provided he is still married to you)

And keep in mind, you guys must be married for at least 3 years at the time of filling.

Filling requirement:

Marriage: At least 3 years

PR Status: 3 years - 90 days

[dilbert30 0]

My wife is eligible to apply for citizenship since July 2012. However, we have not applied. Her Green card is valid till 2020. Can she continue w/ Green card and then later apply when necessary for citizenship. Is there anything that prevents her for continuing w/ GC or anything that mandates that she convert into citizen after having K1/K3 visa category. Thanks.

[TimeTravel 78]

My wife is eligible to apply for citizenship since July 2012. However, we have not applied. Her Green card is valid till 2020. Can she continue w/ Green card and then later apply when necessary for citizenship. Is there anything that prevents her for continuing w/ GC or anything that mandates that she convert into citizen after having K1/K3 visa category. Thanks.

She can continue with her Green Card and she can renew the green card after 2020 if she wish to continue her stay with GC.

Citizenship is optional.

Personal Suggestion: It is better to get the citizenship if she is qualified now. You dont know what can happen in future, and what may make that person disqualified for citizenship in future.

[NickD 202]

13 month battle in the AOS only to get a two year conditional card, spent the next 21 months gathering evidence for that. Only to get a one year extension notice that also expired requiring a 450 mile trip to get an I-551 stamp. A day wouldn't go by with thoughts about the USCIS ruling our lives.

Because of frustration with the USCIS, elected with a long talk with my wife to apply for citizenship at the earliest date, only way to get freedom. Another factor from experience, having a loved one hit by a hit and run driver, then getting expelled from my health insurance policy with a precondition where after all of your reserves are ate up and public assistance is the only option. No way with that I-864 hanging over your head.

Yet another problem was with my wife's employer since our state passed a law for hiring an illegal with a $16,400.00 fine, their legal department was driving us nuts with an expired green card and that crazy one year extension. Then also problems with our DMV refusing to renew her drivers' license, what the hell is a one year extension?

We sure needed a break after that AOS and ROC go around when her ten year card finally came in, but elected to apply for citizenship at the earliest possible date. This meant copying another inch thick of documents, reading all the rules, trying to make heads or tails out of that sloppy N-400 form written by the then current director that can't even speak English let alone write it.

We thought on advantage of going through this marriage BS would be free from her consulate with a US passport, but learned the hard way our DOS made an agreement with the country she was born in and not even lived at required her to maintain her foreign passport. That was a negative, but at least we were finally free of the USCIS, that was worth the effort. I think we have a law now where preconditions in health insurance are no longer a burden, but still is great to be free from that I-864 and having to inform the USCIS we are moving across the street.

And once my wife showed her legal department her certificate, closed that file on her, no longer asked, where is your green card. She also feels she is a part of this country. Also took me awhile not to think about collecting evidence, keeping records on our travel, employment, and address changes.

[Deep2009 18]

Very well written "NickD"... I will answer this text to anyone who is considering not to apply for citizenship

Moderators please note it.

13 month battle in the AOS only to get a two year conditional card, spent the next 21 months gathering evidence for that. Only to get a one year extension notice that also expired requiring a 450 mile trip to get an I-551 stamp. A day wouldn't go by with thoughts about the USCIS ruling our lives.

Because of frustration with the USCIS, elected with a long talk with my wife to apply for citizenship at the earliest date, only way to get freedom. Another factor from experience, having a loved one hit by a hit and run driver, then getting expelled from my health insurance policy with a precondition where after all of your reserves are ate up and public assistance is the only option. No way with that I-864 hanging over your head.

Yet another problem was with my wife's employer since our state passed a law for hiring an illegal with a $16,400.00 fine, their legal department was driving us nuts with an expired green card and that crazy one year extension. Then also problems with our DMV refusing to renew her drivers' license, what the hell is a one year extension?

We sure needed a break after that AOS and ROC go around when her ten year card finally came in, but elected to apply for citizenship at the earliest possible date. This meant copying another inch thick of documents, reading all the rules, trying to make heads or tails out of that sloppy N-400 form written by the then current director that can't even speak English let alone write it.

We thought on advantage of going through this marriage BS would be free from her consulate with a US passport, but learned the hard way our DOS made an agreement with the country she was born in and not even lived at required her to maintain her foreign passport. That was a negative, but at least we were finally free of the USCIS, that was worth the effort. I think we have a law now where preconditions in health insurance are no longer a burden, but still is great to be free from that I-864 and having to inform the USCIS we are moving across the street.

And once my wife showed her legal department her certificate, closed that file on her, no longer asked, where is your green card. She also feels she is a part of this country. Also took me awhile not to think about collecting evidence, keeping records on our travel, employment, and address changes.

[Ak+Tk 0]

Well tomorrow 1/15/ is out three year wedding anniversary!!!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I believe everyone have their own experience with USCIS, as well as with their home country and I don't think it is worth to talk someone into getting their US citizenship (or talk them out of it). Some people cannot be dual citizens, and would like to hold on to their last little thing that holds them to their country, their citizenship. We should respect that and not try to convince one how they should get obtain their citizenship. Let them decide. Some people had big problems with USCIS, and others did not...some people have no feelings for their home country and if in a minute could become a USC they would while others never will want to get US citizenship. And these are all good. I don't think anyone has the right to judge and convince people to get US citizenship (or as mentioned in my first line, talk them out of it either...).

@Dilbert30: your wife can remain a GC holder forever if she likes to. She can always renew her GC in 2020 if she wants to. Up to her, and she won't get denied entry or anything like that just because she did not become a US citizen "on time". With that, there are job applications that does require US citizenship but it really depends on her field, it could be in her field this is absolutely does not matter at all.

[JB007 4]

As GC holder here are some drawbacks: your GC can be revoked anytime (i.e.: old laws are amended, new ones creep in), you can be denied entry in the country if the customs officer feels like it or if there's a glitch in the system mistakenly taking you for someone on the wanted list.

It's important to think about these aspects if you own a property in the US or have US-born kids.

[NickD 202]

See the poster in question is from India.

"Section 9(1) of the act provides that any citizen of India who by naturalisation or registration acquires the citizenship of another country shall cease to be a citizen of India. Notably, the termination provision differs from the renunciation provision because it applies to "any citizen of India" and is not restricted to adults. Indian children therefore also automatically lose their claim to Indian citizenship if at any time after birth they acquire a citizenship of another country by, for example, naturalisation or registration — even if the acquisition of another citizenship was done as a result of actions by the child's parents."

Is a consideration, several countries do not permit dual naturalization and with your place of birth printed in your US passport, won't even let you in. Maintaining a foreign passport can also be a pain in the butt especially if there are only three in the entire USA and have to show up in person to maintain it. Crook also like a little extra under the table.

Green cards use to be lifetime, now ten years, what about next year, every five years, then everyone one year, then everyday?

Have to say my wife and daughter got a bit spoiled living here, can actually drink the water out of the tap. But we still have to maintain their foreign passports if they want to visit their home countries. They were born there, not by choice, their choice was to live here, but the only thing our DOS cares about, is where you were born. They certainly different have any say about that.

Then for me with the USCIS with fraud and being accused of it. If I did get suckered marrying a sweet young thing that screwed me the wrong way, could be facing a five year prison term. If she dumped me just to get here, no protection from the USCIS, and still would be responsible for her for the next ten years with that I-864. Far more concerned with fraud than what the USCIS could even think about., they don't have anything to lose, we sure do.

[M and F Forever 0]

Well tomorrow 1/15/ is out three year wedding anniversary!!!

When I checked with USCIS. The date you use is the what is shown on the green card. So if it shows 1/15/2010, you can go ahead and file for citizenship now. If the green card shows 1/15/2010 as date of issue, then you are qualified at 10/15/2009 (90 days before).