Green Card Expiration & Naturalisation Application

[Master Semaj 2]

I have a couple quick questions regarding this jump to the next step. My GC is set to expire this year, only a month or so before I hit my 3 year residency mark and eligible to apply for citizenship. My questions are:

●Does the residency time frame start when you very first enter the country? (In my case, fiance visa) Or is it from another point in time?

●Do they have a waiver on a certain amount of time between a GC expiring without RoC's amd applying for Naturalisation?

It'd suck to pay out the cash for the RoC for all of a matter of weeks and then pay more for the Naturalisation

[belinda63 3,038]

You become a resident as of the date on your green card not when you enter the US or when you marry. Filing for ROC will be required for you if you wish to retain your green card since your initial will expire 2 years from the resident since date and you can't file to naturalize until three years (minus 90 days) from the resident since date. Yes it sucks, the whole immigration process is a money pit. But it is what it is.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Your greencard was issued in April 2014 based on your timeline. That means you are eligible for citizenship in April 2017. If you don't get that ROC application in by April 2016, it's all over. No leniency on being late.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Nich-Nick

[Master Semaj 2]

My GC was approved in April but I didn't get it until September, which is also the date month for my "Resident since" date on the card, so I presume that means I have until September of this year to get my RoC in.

Shame, I had hoped the time I spent applying and waiting for my GC would have counted toward my residency time. That would be too easy I guess.