Conflicting information - please help

[rainmaykr 0]

I got a temporary permanent resident (GREEN) card on December 31st 2007. It is only a two year card after which I thought I could get citizenship. Having read some information here and read other information online it looks like I can't apply for three years?

I am not being lazy - just worried that I have made a mistake somewhere - why would my card expire before I could get citizenship - is this normal?

Can someone show me a link to a normal timeline?

Thanks in advance,

Phily

[payxibka 10,044]

I got a temporary permanent resident (GREEN) card on December 31st 2007. It is only a two year card after which I thought I could get citizenship. Having read some information here and read other information online it looks like I can't apply for three years?

I am not being lazy - just worried that I have made a mistake somewhere - why would my card expire before I could get citizenship - is this normal?

Can someone show me a link to a normal timeline?

Thanks in advance,

Phily

a greencard holder is never obliged to apply for citizenship, so while the paths have some commonality, they are mutually exclusive....

You will need to submit an I-751 to get the 10yr greencard... at anytime then one year or later, if you so choose, you can apply for citizenship.

Edited April 13, 2009 by payxibka

[Tini27 0]

I got a temporary permanent resident (GREEN) card on December 31st 2007. It is only a two year card after which I thought I could get citizenship. Having read some information here and read other information online it looks like I can't apply for three years?

I am not being lazy - just worried that I have made a mistake somewhere - why would my card expire before I could get citizenship - is this normal?

Can someone show me a link to a normal timeline?

Thanks in advance,

Phily

I went through the same process so I may be able to explain a little. A 2y GC is given when the residency is based on marriage to a USC. It is called a temporary GC and you must apply for a lifting of conditions I751 within 90 days of your second anniversary as a GC holder. The process will then turn your conditional residency into a permanent one (10 year GC). If your first GC is dated Dec 2007, you should be able to file for I751 in sept 2009. Once you are approved, you can file for citizenship in sep 2010. You should check the forums for lifting of conditions or I-751. You'll check timelines and other people's experiences. Good Luck!

[M.O 6]

No nothings wrong...the first green card is good for 2 years thats why its temporary...and 3 months before that card expires so in your case in september 2009 ..you have to apply for removing the conditions I-751 form (the 10 year green card) then if you want to apply for citizenship do it after 3 years...or 3 months before 3 years...

Usually you r eligible to apply for citizenship in 3 years through marriage and 5 years by being a permanent resident.

here are the forums for removing conditions http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=86

Good luck

[TayRivers 4]

I got a temporary permanent resident (GREEN) card on December 31st 2007. It is only a two year card after which I thought I could get citizenship. Having read some information here and read other information online it looks like I can't apply for three years?

I am not being lazy - just worried that I have made a mistake somewhere - why would my card expire before I could get citizenship - is this normal?

Can someone show me a link to a normal timeline?

Thanks in advance,

Phily

You need to file to remove the conditions on the Greencard, that is why it is only valid for 2 years. see the guide for full details of what you need to do to remove conditions.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=751guide

Once you have been a LPR for 3 years and you meet all the other requirements you can file for Citizenship, BUT you must file to remove the conditions at the right time before you can do anything else.

[rainmaykr 0]

Thanks for the info! I thought I could apply for Citizenship after two years and now feel like an idiot! Everything makes sense and looks straightforward - just more form filling and evidence to attach.

I had hoped to move home to Ireland for a few years but it doens't look like that is going to happen anytime soon..... oh well

[jasminelily 1]

Thanks for the info! I thought I could apply for Citizenship after two years and now feel like an idiot! Everything makes sense and looks straightforward - just more form filling and evidence to attach.

And being extorted for more money.

[NickD 202]

Lifting conditions by applying for the ten year card with the I-751 is a very serious matter, and if you do not apply in a timely manner, you can get deported! You are no longer here legally, neither can work nor travel. And the USCIS I see is still painfully slow on this process, still issuing a one year extension notice that you need to carry along with your expired green card to be here legally.

And it's your responsibility to stay legal, we came within a week of having to make an infopass appointment to stay here legally for my wife and daughter, can either get a I-551 stamp in a current valid foreign passport, or bring in two passport photos and get an I-94. But finally after a 14 month and one week long stressful wait, their ten year cards came in. My wife only enjoyed that ten year card for seven weeks when she had her oath ceremony and they took it back.

You can apply for USC with an expired green card and a copy of that one year extension, we did, and as a matter of fact was one year and one day later when we appolied for the I-751 with two concerns, when will we get those ten year cards, and when will my wife get her interview, then it's finally all over. Then you worry about getting your US passport, can no longer travel with your foreign passport and with US citizenship, well you can leave, but you can't come back like you did with that green card.

Better put a date on your refrigerator door when you I-751 is due, count 90 days including the date of your second anniversary, have it all prepared and suggest sending it overnight with a return receipt and pay by personal check so you have the canceled check as well for proof you did send it. USCIS is well know for losing applications, but that is your fault, not theirs. You may need that proof to prevent from getting deported. And do not send it a couple of days early, they may also reject it, even though it takes them months to process your application.

[rainmaykr 0]

So just to clarify:

If I received my temporary Greencard on December 31st 2007 I can technically apply for the 10 year Green card In September 2009.

I can then apply for full citizenship in September 2010?

One final question:

How long does citizenship take?

[payxibka 10,044]

So just to clarify:

If I received my temporary Greencard on December 31st 2007 I can technically apply for the 10 year Green card In September 2009.

I can then apply for full citizenship in September 2010?

One final question:

How long does citizenship take?

Yes

Yes

Depends on how busy your local USCIS office is... look it up in processing times area for an idea

[warlord 72]

How long does citizenship take?

Months to years. Everyone has different experiences. Based on your application, past history, processing times, INS filings, investigations etc. There is no specific time line, it always varies from person to person.

For example I filed in Nov and got my interview in Jan and oath in Feb. Mine was fairly quick. Others have been over a year waiting and held up in name checks or other issues...