Gathering proof

[JustBreathe 22]

I have been married to my husband since 2013. 10 years. 

 I am finally going to apply for citizenship. Do I need to show proof of our marriage for the first 3 years (2013,2014,2015) or can I show current proof? I don't have bills from 10 years ago anymore. 

 

Any suggestions on what to do?

[powerpuff 6,697]

Topic moved from Progress Reports section to US citizenship general discussion section.

[Dashinka 24,488]

To file the N400, you only need a copy of your GC and a copy of your marriage certificate.  You can include the interview required documents if you wish, but since you are filing under the 5 year rule, you do not need to include the spousal material below.  The operative phrases are in bold.

 

Good Luck!

 

Other Documents. Depending on the circumstances, you should bring certain documents to your interview. You may also submit copies of these documents with your application. For example: A. Spouse of a U.S. Citizen. Bring the following items to your interview if you are applying for naturalization on the basis of your marriage to a U.S. citizen:

 

(1) Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include: a birth certificate (if your spouse never lost U.S. citizenship since birth), Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Form FS-240 Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America;

(2) Evidence of the termination of all your prior marriages; and

(3) Evidence that you and your spouse have lived in marital union for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include:

(a) Joint bank and credit card statements;

(b) Leases or mortgages;

(c) Birth certificates of children;

(d) Insurance policies; and

(e) Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you and your spouse filed for the past 3 years (or an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years).

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-400instr.pdf

[OldUser 6,635]

Are you eligible to file under 5 year rule? If so, you generally don't need to prove marriage to USCIS.

[JustBreathe 22]

9 hours ago, OldUser said:

Are you eligible to file under 5 year rule? If so, you generally don't need to prove marriage to USCIS.

I have been married to a US citizen for 10 years. I think I could have applied after year 3. Right? I just didn't see the benefit to applying. 

[OldUser 6,635]

17 minutes ago, JustBreathe said:

I have been married to a US citizen for 10 years. I think I could have applied after year 3. Right? I just didn't see the benefit to applying. 

How long have you been an LPR? What's the resident since date on GC?

That's more important than how long your marriage is.

 

E.g. I'm operating with limited facts. You may have been married for 10 years, but been an LPR only for 3 years. Or you may have been an LPR for 8 years. Based on that you can pick eligibility criteria for N-400. If you've been LPR for 5 years or more with no breaks in residecy, you may be eligible to apply under 5 year rule. For that, it doesn't matter if you're married or not and you do not have to prove your marriage. 

 

[mam521 2,062]

On 10/25/2023 at 7:06 PM, OldUser said:

How long have you been an LPR? What's the resident since date on GC?

That's more important than how long your marriage is.

 

E.g. I'm operating with limited facts. You may have been married for 10 years, but been an LPR only for 3 years. Or you may have been an LPR for 8 years. Based on that you can pick eligibility criteria for N-400. If you've been LPR for 5 years or more with no breaks in residecy, you may be eligible to apply under 5 year rule. For that, it doesn't matter if you're married or not and you do not have to prove your marriage. 

 

Timeline says OP entered the US in 2013.  5 year rule applies, barring no lapses in residency.  

[JustBreathe 22]

Yes. I married my husband in 2013 and never left. 

[Dashinka 24,488]

1 hour ago, JustBreathe said:

Yes. I married my husband in 2013 and never left. 

So you are good with filing under the 5 year rule.  You will need to provide proof of you marital status, but since you are not filing under the 3 year rule, you do not need to provide the material I listed above.

 

Good Luck!