Family situation

[Sabela 16]

Hi everyone,

 

This is a sensitive subject. I recently moved to the USA in order to be with my husband + have a better future. I’m under the CR-1 category, but my parents aren’t doing great health-wise. I need to inquire about my timelines here.

 

1. My green card was issued on 12/12/22 (“Resident Since” in green card), so I am guessing I could apply for citizenship as early as 09/13/2025. Correct?

I have been reading about how long it takes from when you apply to citizenship to when you actually get it, and I am heartbroken knowing it can most likely take 2 years total... (current timelines).

2. Am I really looking to 2027 before I can get my citizenship? This is a very long time, and my husband cannot move back to my home country with me…

3. I am torn, and don’t know what to do. Is there any way to speed up the process? Do I really have to decide between spending the last years with my parents or my spouse? 

I’m overwhelmed, and I do not know what to do.  Every time I think about this subject, it feels like a dozen hands squeezing my neck and suffocating me... I am also thinking about spending  6 months in each country yearly , but I really don't know how that will look for me economically or towards citizenship.

 

Anyway, thank you for reading and your guidance in advance.

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

I think you are jumping one step. REMOVE OF CONDITIONS.

 

If you enter the country on a CR1 you have the 2 years green card, so 90 days before expiration you need to apply for I-751.This is the part that is taking more time. 

 

The date for apply for citizenship is correct if you will be applying based on 3 years for married with a US citizen.

 

Citizenship application always depends on which City/State you are resident. I applied for mine in January 2023 and get my Oath Ceremony on May 2023. They also approved my I-751 without interviewing me and my husband.

 

Each case is unique and times are never guarantee in a Immigration process. 
 

My advice: Safe all the good evidence and be organized. 

 

About point 3 - You are free to travel anytime. Why you think you need citizenship to do that?

 

Good Luck

Edited May 23, 2023 by PaulaCJohnny

[Boiler 45,439]

Why can your Husband not travel?

[SalishSea 17,793]

1 hour ago, Sabela said:

Hi everyone,

 

This is a sensitive subject. I recently moved to the USA in order to be with my husband + have a better future. I’m under the CR-1 category, but my parents aren’t doing great health-wise. I need to inquire about my timelines here.

 

1. My green card was issued on 12/12/22 (“Resident Since” in green card), so I am guessing I could apply for citizenship as early as 09/13/2025. Correct?

I have been reading about how long it takes from when you apply to citizenship to when you actually get it, and I am heartbroken knowing it can most likely take 2 years total... (current timelines).

2. Am I really looking to 2027 before I can get my citizenship? This is a very long time, and my husband cannot move back to my home country with me…

3. I am torn, and don’t know what to do. Is there any way to speed up the process? Do I really have to decide between spending the last years with my parents or my spouse? 

I’m overwhelmed, and I do not know what to do.  Every time I think about this subject, it feels like a dozen hands squeezing my neck and suffocating me... I am also thinking about spending  6 months in each country yearly , but I really don't know how that will look for me economically or towards citizenship.

 

Anyway, thank you for reading and your guidance in advance.

There is no way to expedite the citizenship process.  

[Sabela 16]

@PaulaCJohnny Great. I missed that entirely (removal of conditions). Did you go through that step? If so, how long did it take?

 

I am in Tennessee.

 

And I do not mean travel for leisure. I mean, my parents are getting sick, so my sister will need help in my home country. This is why I am asking about the time I can spent out of the USA each year without compromising my marriage / citizenship. I am just basically trying to find ways to navigate the situation.

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

6 minutes ago, Sabela said:

@PaulaCJohnny Great. I missed that entirely (removal of conditions). Did you go through that step? If so, how long did it take?

 

I am in Tennessee.

 

And I do not mean travel for leisure. I mean, my parents are getting sick, so my sister will need help in my home country. This is why I am asking about the time I can spent out of the USA each year without compromising my marriage / citizenship. I am just basically trying to find ways to navigate the situation.

The Remove of conditions right now when applying they sent you an extension letter for 48 months (4 years). Some people waited that long. I applied for citizenship and this speeded my case I guess. I did based on the recommendation of others member here and really help my process. 
 

I hope others can comment here soon and give you more ideas. Good luck again and I really sorry about your parents situation.

 

[Boiler 45,439]

Oops wrong thread,  longer than 6 months absence resets your Citizenship time line.

Edited May 23, 2023 by Boiler

[Sabela 16]

Thank you @PaulaCJohnny, for your input

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures to US Citizenship General Discussion -- original question is about citizenship eligibility and processing ***

 

[jackiegringa 419]

Citizenship process is not taking 2 years in most Field Offices at the moment but yes, you won't be able to apply for it until 2025.

 

You could apply for a reentry permit which would allow you to be out of the US for over a year at a time without losing your green card but that would reset your citizenship clock. If leaving now and being with your parents is more important than citizenship, this could be a way.

 

The removal of conditions process that you need is required in 2024 for you but I advise you to think through your options going home or not first and then later researching more into it, no need to worry about it right this second since it is still years away (as is citizenship).

 

[SalishSea 17,793]

14 hours ago, Sabela said:

@PaulaCJohnny Great. I missed that entirely (removal of conditions). Did you go through that step? If so, how long did it take?

 

I am in Tennessee.

 

And I do not mean travel for leisure. I mean, my parents are getting sick, so my sister will need help in my home country. This is why I am asking about the time I can spent out of the USA each year without compromising my marriage / citizenship. I am just basically trying to find ways to navigate the situation.

ROC is a big deal.   You need to start researching it.   You’re putting the cart ahead of the horse by focusing on citizenship, which can’t happen until you remove conditions anyway.

Edited May 23, 2023 by SalishSea

[Nat&Amy 623]

37 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

ROC is a big deal.   You need to start researching it.   You’re putting the cart ahead of the horse by focusing on citizenship, which can’t happen until you remove conditions anyway.

Removal of Conditions does not affect Citizenship timelines. It needs to be done, yes, but I don't see how focusing on it instead changes anything for the OP.

 

OP, you could always apply for a reentry permit if you plan to spend an extended period of time abroad but be aware that the amount of time you stay out of the US might affect your ability to apply for citizenship and that would potentially delay your citizenship process even more.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/continuous-residence-and-physical-presence-requirements-for-naturalization

 

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

23 minutes ago, Nat&Amy said:

Removal of Conditions does not affect Citizenship timelines. It needs to be done, yes, but I don't see how focusing on it instead changes anything for the OP.

 

OP, you could always apply for a reentry permit if you plan to spend an extended period of time abroad but be aware that the amount of time you stay out of the US might affect your ability to apply for citizenship and that would potentially delay your citizenship process even more.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/continuous-residence-and-physical-presence-requirements-for-naturalization

 

YES! Does affect for sure. @SalishSea is 100% right.
 

Timeline is from start to finish of the process.

 

Even if she is pass the interview she will not get citizenship finalized before having the I-751 approved. So the Citizenship will be on hold until the Remove of conditions is done.

Edited May 23, 2023 by PaulaCJohnny

[.yana 597]

36 minutes ago, Nat&Amy said:

Removal of Conditions does not affect Citizenship timelines. It needs to be done, yes, but I don't see how focusing on it instead changes anything for the OP.

Because plenty of people forget to file for it altogether (seems OP didn't even know about it), and it needs to happen way before filing for citizenship. I'd say it's sort of an important topic to focus on.

 

Not to mention that she needs to start gathering evidence for ROC pretty much right away. It took me a week to compile a packet for I-751 before sending it out. 

 

It took me less than 15 minutes to complete N400 form online and click 'Submit'. 

Edited May 23, 2023 by .yana

[Nat&Amy 623]

7 minutes ago, PaulaCJohnny said:

YES! Does affect for sure. @SalishSea is 100% right.
 

Timeline is from start to finish of the process.

 

Even if she is pass the interview she will not get citizenship finalized before having the I-751 approved. So the Citizenship will be on hold until the Remove of conditions is done.

How long USCIS will take to process OP's RoC is not something OP can control. She might apply as soon as her window opens and have her case gather dust for two years. She might apply two months after window opens and have it done in five months. Therefore, delays caused by an unadjudicated RoC are not the result of OP'd actions, can we agree on that?

 

I never said OP doesn't need to apply for RoC. But her applying for it does not affect her citizenship timeline. I stand by what I said.