removal of conditions or application for citizenship

[katalina 0]

Hi all:)

My conditional 2 year green card expires on 07/07/2007. As I have read in FAQs I should file I-751 and apply for the new 10 year green card 90 days before the card expires (which would be 04/07/2007). My third marriage anniversary is in 06/2007, so I was wondering if I could just skip applying for the removal of conditions (10 year green card) and just apply for citizenship (I heard that you can do it after being married for 3 years). All the answers will be greatly appreciated.

Katalina

[lucyrich 20]

You are only eligible for citizenship after a 3 year period passes during which you are BOTH married to a US Citizen AND a Green Card holder (doesn't matter whether the GC is conditional or not). If you got married first and then got the Green Card, that means you're eligible three years after getting the GC. If you got the GC first (say, through work) and then got married to a USC, you'd be eligible on your 3rd wedding anniversary.

Since people who get conditional Green Cards are those who got married first and then get the Green Card, it's the three year GC anniversary that counts for most people posting here. That means you must file for removal of conditions about a year before you're eligible to file for citizenship. The removal of conditions may or may not be adjudicated by the time citizenship papers are filed.

Oh, and the citizenship paperwork can be filed 90 days before that 3 year anniversary on which you'd become eligible.

Also, though it probably doesn't apply to you, people who don't qualify for the 3 year shortcut based on marriage will be eligible for citizenship after five years of lawful permanent resident status.

[zyggy 9]

For those with conditions associated with their Permanent Resdient Status, filing of the I-751 is mandatory. If you do not file the I-751, your permanent resident status will be cancelled and you will be put into removal proceedings.