When can she get a US passport?

[88lance 1]

Quick question, I am a US citizen, and am marrying a foreigner. We will probably spend a lot of time in her home country, and maybe live in the US off and on. But we would like to travel to several countries, so it would be great if she had a US passport as well.  Does she have to move here for the 5 years or so to become a US citizen to acquire the US passport?  Or is it available to other levels such as permanent residency or something? What stage of the immigration process would she need to reach, and whats the average time frame to get to that stage?

[Just Paul 4,595]

When see becomes a US Citizen she can have a passport.   That is very far away time wise if you aren't even married yet.  Check out the guides above.

[Lil bear 4,214]

5 minutes ago, 88lance said:

Quick question, I am a US citizen, and am marrying a foreigner. We will probably spend a lot of time in her home country, and maybe live in the US off and on. But we would like to travel to several countries, so it would be great if she had a US passport as well.  Does she have to move here for the 5 years or so to become a US citizen to acquire the US passport?  Or is it available to other levels such as permanent residency or something? What stage of the immigration process would she need to reach, and whats the average time frame to get to that stage?

Quick question ... long time answer 

K1 visa application 12 months approx 

arrive in the US and marry within 90 days. Apply to adjust status (AOS)to permanent resident ASAP. 

AOS takes around 15 to 18 months 

Receive  Green  Card as evidence of conditional permanent residency. (Valid for 2 years ) 

Apply for Removal of Conditions during the 90 day period before the  expiry of the Green Card. Can take 12 months plus 

Eligible to apply for citizenship up to 90 days prior to holding a GC for 3 years 

Application for citizenship can take 6 to 18 months. 

After oath ceremony , apply for passport. 

So .. depending on how long  each application approval process takes and how soon you begin each step after the previous one is completed .. she could have her US passport in hand in around 6 1/2 years from now .. give or take some. 

As suggested before .. read the guides .. there is nothing quick, cheap or easy about this process. 

You also need to understand what is required for a permanent resident to maintain the residency status. It’s for living in the US .. not living in the US off and on. 

 

 

[Pitaya 2,577]

10 minutes ago, 88lance said:

Quick question, I am a US citizen, and am marrying a foreigner. We will probably spend a lot of time in her home country, and maybe live in the US off and on. But we would like to travel to several countries, so it would be great if she had a US passport as well.  Does she have to move here for the 5 years or so to become a US citizen to acquire the US passport?  Or is it available to other levels such as permanent residency or something? What stage of the immigration process would she need to reach, and whats the average time frame to get to that stage?

Welcome to the forum.

Ah...you have excellent questions, there are plenty of good answers to your present questions, and also to your next questions in the VJ guides section, comparison charts, flowchart, timeframe estimates, etc. I can tell that you are excited to find out this information, since you started your posting with "Quick question," and then proceeded to ask three questions and allude to several more...https://www.visajourney.com/content/guides/

You really need to take some time and find your answers in all of the readily available info at the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) site. There is also a Google forum search function, represented by the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner of the forum page. Google can be your friend too !

 

Good luck on your immigration journey. 

[little immigrant 801]

She has to be married to you for 3 years and be a resident for 3 years. The application will take more than a year. She needs to also live here. Off and on won't work. 

[Roel 7,192]

I'd suggest your read some basic guides because you're  very lost right now. 

 

Basically. Steps:

1. Get married. 

2. File for spouse Visa (ETA 12 months)

3. Receive spouse Visa and move to the US. 

4. Receive green card. From the date on the green card add 3 years and that's when the appuse is eligible to file for naturalization. Not US passport. Shell get that if she passes the naturalization process. (ETA another 12 months or bit less)

5. 2 years into the green card you also need to file ROC to remove conditions on said green card. Mandatory step. (ETA 18 months but can file n400 when eligible)

 

During all that time your spouse needs to live in the US in order to maintain her residency. So no long trips. She cannot live in her home country when "just" having a green card because it would be considered as abandoning her residency in the US. 

 

Also I know a lot of Americand think that marrying US citizen automatically gives someone rights and privileges of US citizen but that's far from right. Marriage alone means nothing. 

Edited June 24, 2019 by Roel

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Passports forum.

[payxibka 10,045]

6 hours ago, 88lance said:

Quick question, I am a US citizen, and am marrying a foreigner. We will probably spend a lot of time in her home country, and maybe live in the US off and on. But we would like to travel to several countries, so it would be great if she had a US passport as well.  Does she have to move here for the 5 years or so to become a US citizen to acquire the US passport?  Or is it available to other levels such as permanent residency or something? What stage of the immigration process would she need to reach, and whats the average time frame to get to that stage?

A passport is an indication of your citizenship not your residency 

[apple21 953]

Your future wife has to stay and live majority in the US to gain her residency status and eventually her US citizenship. She can't live on and off US shores if your ultimate goal is obtaining US citizenship.  Just a matter of prioritizing. 

Edited June 24, 2019 by apple21
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