is it necessary to work on green card to get citizenship?

[steve-phuket 10]

my wife just got employment authorization, hopefully green card soon. she'd like to get citizenship ASAP. is it usually necessary to have a work/tax/SS history in the US to get citizenship? i ask because we're retired and not working, but maybe she should do some work if it helps the citizenship process.

 

thanks

[Crazy Cat 41,804]

Work history is irrelevant to the naturalization process.

[steve-phuket 10]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

Work history is irrelevant to the naturalization process.

ok, thanks. 

 

what about time in the USA? suppose we are here for about 7 months a year and travel for about 5, would that negatively impact naturalization?

[Mike E 11,739]

1 minute ago, steve-phuket said:

what about time in the USA? suppose we are here for about 7 months a year and travel for about 5, would that negatively impact naturalization?

No.  However you two should jointly file tax returns whether you have enough taxable income or not.  

[da95826 387]

6 hours ago, steve-phuket said:

she'd like to get citizenship ASAP. is it usually necessary to have a work/tax/SS history in the US to get citizenship?

No need to work during the 3 years of residency before filing for naturalization. 

 

Assuming you file a 3 year n400 application…

You need to show that LPR has filed and paid taxes so joint tax filing for each year no matter how much income, joint tax returns with spouse would be best.

You will need to show that the green card holder resides with the US citizen spouse for the whole three years after getting the green card, you must live together for the whole three years. 

You will need to show the US citizen spouse has been a US citizen for the whole 3 years before filing.

 

You will need to not be out of the USA for more than 180 days on any one trip out of the USA.

You will need to show that the green card holder has been in the USA for more than 18 months over the past 36 months (more than 50% of the time over the last 3 years).

You will need to live at the home address 90 days before filing your n400

[steve-phuket 10]

9 hours ago, da95826 said:

No need to work during the 3 years of residency before filing for naturalization. 

 

Assuming you file a 3 year n400 application…

You need to show that LPR has filed and paid taxes so joint tax filing for each year no matter how much income, joint tax returns with spouse would be best.

You will need to show that the green card holder resides with the US citizen spouse for the whole three years after getting the green card, you must live together for the whole three years. 

You will need to show the US citizen spouse has been a US citizen for the whole 3 years before filing.

 

You will need to not be out of the USA for more than 180 days on any one trip out of the USA.

You will need to show that the green card holder has been in the USA for more than 18 months over the past 36 months (more than 50% of the time over the last 3 years).

You will need to live at the home address 90 days before filing your n400

great info, thanks for that.

 

at this point i'm thinking we just stay retired, living in the US for most of the time with a couple of quick trips abroad for a couple of months each. then apply for n400 in 3 years. i think when my wife is US citizen she would automatically receive my SS survivor benefit so no need for her to do her own SS.

 

[Bob in Boston 698]

14 minutes ago, steve-phuket said:

i think when my wife is US citizen she would automatically receive my SS survivor benefit so no need for her to do her own SS.

How old is she?

[Crazy Cat 41,804]

25 minutes ago, Bob in Boston said:

How old is she?

That is an excellent question.  Most people don't realize that a non-working foreign spouse can receive Social Security retirement benefits ($$$) based on the US spouse's work record at age 62+.  Then, when the foreign spouse turns 65, he/she can qualify for premium-free Medicare (after having LPR status for 5 years).

Edited November 27, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Lil bear 4,181]

9 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

That is an excellent question.  Most people don't realize that a non-working foreign spouse can receive Social Security retirement benefits ($$$) based on the US spouse's work record at age 62+.  Then, when the foreign spouse turns 65, he/she can qualify for premium-free Medicare.

Yes. Its good news. My husband had 40 quarters even though we hadn't been LPR for 5 years ( this time)..  due to previous work visa then AOS from that. We then moved back to Australia for 25 years. When we left the US, he had 36 quarters SS   After returning to the US, he worked and get over the 40 quarter threshold .. he was then  able  to get Medicare part A  and B.. took SS benefits at 70 ( we chose to delay) and i also am on Medicare A and B and get Medicare  spouse benefits .. i only have  26 quarters  We have since both naturalized but our Medicare and SS benefit applications were all done while LPR of 3-4 years not over the 5 listed . We both came in September 2016 on IR5 

Edited November 27, 2022 by Lil bear

[steve-phuket 10]

8 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

That is an excellent question.  Most people don't realize that a non-working foreign spouse can receive Social Security retirement benefits ($$$) based on the US spouse's work record at age 62+.  Then, when the foreign spouse turns 65, he/she can qualify for premium-free Medicare.

i'm 63, my wife is 53, i stated taking SS at 62. good to know she'll be eligible in 9 years.

[Crazy Cat 41,804]

 

7 minutes ago, steve-phuket said:

i'm 63, my wife is 53, i stated taking SS at 62. good to know she'll be eligible in 9 years.

My wife just turned 65.  She has zero work credit quarters, but she receives monthly SS retirement benefits based on my work record, and she has Medicare Part A & Part B.  In fact, her SS was approved in 6 days!.  We discussed it here a few months ago.  I list the sources for my research in my thread below:

Medicare for Immigrants - General Immigration-Related Discussion - VisaJourney

Edited November 27, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[steve-phuket 10]

25 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

 

My wife just turned 65.  She has zero work credit quarters, but she receives monthly SS retirement benefits based on my work record, and she has Medicare Part A & Part B.  In fact, her SS was approved in 6 days!.  We discussed it here a few months ago.  I list the sources for my research in my thread below:

Medicare for Immigrants - General Immigration-Related Discussion - VisaJourney

is she now USC or still on greencard? i didn't realize she could get SS while you were still alive. this is all great news. thanks

 

[Crazy Cat 41,804]

1 hour ago, steve-phuket said:

is she now USC or still on greencard? i didn't realize she could get SS while you were still alive. this is all great news. thanks

 

She has a green card.  She will interview for citizenship in about 3 weeks.  Yes, a non-working spouse (foreign or otherwise) can receive monthly Social Security spousal retirement benefits based on the US spouse work record.  It does not affect the US spouse's retirement benefits at all.  As I said earlier, Most people don't realize that a non-working foreign spouse can receive Social Security retirement benefits ($$$) based on the US spouse's work record at age 62+.   That's why I created that linked thread after my research.

 

Medicare for Immigrants - General Immigration-Related Discussion - VisaJourney

Edited November 27, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[da95826 387]

2 hours ago, steve-phuket said:

at this point i'm thinking we just stay retired, living in the US for most of the time with a couple of quick trips abroad for a couple of months each.

Just keep track of the dates you departed the USA and return dates you will need them for the n400 application when filed. 

Collect evidence that you live together as a married couple for the 3 year period.

File joint tax returns regardless of income even if you don’t owe taxes.

 

[Pinkrlion 2,715]

2 hours ago, steve-phuket said:

is she now USC or still on greencard? i didn't realize she could get SS while you were still alive. this is all great news. thanks

 

SSA changed retirement years a couple of decades ago.  If she is 53 now, her retirement age is 67.  Those who are currently in their 40s, their retirement age is 72.  When you get your report from Social Security, it will tell you. 

 

Why Did the Full Retirement Age Change?

Full retirement age, also called "normal retirement age," was 65 for many years. In 1983, Congress passed a law to gradually raise the age because people are living longer and are generally healthier in older age.

The law raised the full retirement age beginning with people born in 1938 or later. The retirement age gradually increases by a few months for every birth year, until it reaches 67 for people born in 1960 and later.