Lawful Permanent Resident starts when?

[Kakistos 1]

I moved here in May 2013 on a K1 visa, my partner and I were married and i was issued my short term green card in December (don't remember what its called). Continued through the process and received my 10 year green card. that states that I've been a Resident Since 12/24/13. I would like to apply for citizenship but need to meet the 5 year status term requirement (we were divorced). Do I need to wait till December, as the card would indicate, or can I apply now on the basis that I was legally here since May 2013? I would like to buy a house this year but the process and costs for non-citizens are quire different.

 

Thanks in advance.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

It’s the “resident since” date on your green card. Some people are in the US for years before they get a green card, it doesn’t count for naturalization. 

 

What housing processes and costs are different for USCs vs LPRs btw? I don’t recall any disadvantage to us purchasing as LPRs. 

Edited October 6, 2018 by SusieQQQ

[Kakistos 1]

The financial adviser at my local bank said that I would have to get the mortgage loan through one of the larger banks, I don't recall the exact wording, but that it would likely require 10-20% down up front depending on credit, where a citizen in my situation would be able to do 3-5%. I don't know if it was a state requirement or something. I'm in Wisconsin. I should have taken better notes but I was driving when I was having the discussion. I guess the question at this point then is, what institution did you use and what did you put down?

Edited October 6, 2018 by Kakistos

[Starkilla09 366]

You equally don’t need to wait for the full 5 years. You can apply as early as 90 days prior to your 5th anniversary of being a permanent resident as of your “resident since” date inscribed on your green card.

[TNJ17 1,329]

90 days before the date on your green card. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

11 minutes ago, Kakistos said:

The financial adviser at my local bank said that I would have to get the mortgage loan through one of the larger banks, I don't recall the exact wording, but that it would likely require 10-20% down up front depending on credit, where a citizen in my situation would be able to do 3-5%. I don't know if it was a state requirement or something. I'm in Wisconsin. I should have taken better notes but I was driving when I was having the discussion. I guess the question at this point then is, what institution did you use and what did you put down?

It was dependent on credit record, not citizenship vs LPR status.  I seem to recall for a mortgage there was a requirement of having a minimum 2 years credit record, which you presumably have by now - this would be a problem for a brand new immigrant obviously. Chase.

Edited October 6, 2018 by SusieQQQ

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

You can apply now because you are within 90 days of being a LPR for 5 years.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

31 minutes ago, Kakistos said:

I moved here in May 2013 on a K1 visa, my partner and I were married and i was issued my short term green card in December (don't remember what its called). Continued through the process and received my 10 year green card. that states that I've been a Resident Since 12/24/13. I would like to apply for citizenship but need to meet the 5 year status term requirement (we were divorced). Do I need to wait till December, as the card would indicate, or can I apply now on the basis that I was legally here since May 2013? I would like to buy a house this year but the process and costs for non-citizens are quire different.

 

Thanks in advance.

I should have highlighted the 90 days before, sorry.

even if you apply right now there is almost no way you’ll be a citizen this year. The quickest I am hearing people from application to oath is 4 months, some FOs are over a year.

[Kakistos 1]

26 minutes ago, Starkilla09 said:

You equally don’t need to wait for the full 5 years. You can apply as early as 90 days prior to your 5th anniversary of being a permanent resident as of your “resident since” date inscribed on your green card.

I'd read the turn around was about 6 months, but I checked on the USCIS site for my center its as much as 15 months. I don't actually think its viable at all now to expect this to be done by april anyway so there's no real rush anymore. I guess trying to do time sensitive things that require the USCIS to be quick about anything is foolish.

[geowrian 22,337]

A mortgage lender/broker cannot (legally) discriminate based on immigration status. It makes no difference if you are a USC or LPR. USCs just generally have a longer credit history which makes qualifying for certain progams easier.

Edited October 6, 2018 by geowrian

[JFH 12,190]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

It was dependent on credit record, not citizenship vs LPR status.  I seem to recall for a mortgage there was a requirement of having a minimum 2 years credit record, which you presumably have by now - this would be a problem for a brand new immigrant obviously. Chase.

We are starting the process if buying a house too. Not once had it been mentioned that the process differed between USCs and LPRs - all they are interested in is that we have the $$$$ for the purchase and our employment is steady. 

 

There are zero-down mortgages available through the department of agriculture - rural home loans. We looked into this as we live in a rural area. Although the area qualifies, we earn too much to qualify. 

[CarlHamilton 252]

6 hours ago, JFH said:

We are starting the process if buying a house too. Not once had it been mentioned that the process differed between USCs and LPRs -

It hasn't been mentioned because it's not true. 

[JFH 12,190]

11 minutes ago, CarlHamilton said:

It hasn't been mentioned because it's not true. 

That was exactly my point. 

[Diane and Chris 651]

7 hours ago, geowrian said:

A mortgage lender/broker cannot (legally) discriminate based on immigration status. It makes no difference if you are a USC or LPR. USCs just generally have a longer credit history which makes qualifying for certain progams easier.

Exactly @geowrian  We recently applied for a home loan. The only requirement was that my husband have his green card. We were going through AOS and luckily the card came through in time and we were able to get the loan. We close on the house next Friday!  

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

49 minutes ago, Diane and Chris said:

Exactly @geowrian  We recently applied for a home loan. The only requirement was that my husband have his green card. We were going through AOS and luckily the card came through in time and we were able to get the loan. We close on the house next Friday!  

Even that sounds odd. I personally know at least 3 couples who got mortgages on H and O visas.

Edited October 7, 2018 by SusieQQQ