How early can we file?

[CaninCali 0]

Hi all! Haven't been around these here parts for approximately 3 years (ever since the conditions were removed on my permanent residency). Very exciting to be back. In September of 2012, I will have been a permanent resident for 5 years. Hooray! My question is, how far in advance can I get the ball rolling and submit my application to ensure my naturalization is complete as soon to this date as possible? I sure would like to vote in November's election. I seem to recall when lifting my conditions I could submit my paperwork 90 days prior to my eligibility date ... anyone know if it's the same for the naturalization process? Thanks!

[Inky 1,111]

If you read the instructions for naturalization and all the nice information USCIS provides you on their website it says 90days prior to 3 years.

[CaninCali 0]

Thanks so much for your response. I'm still making my way through their epic "Guide to Naturalization". :-)

You say 90 days "prior to 3 years". I get the 90 days part (If I'm eligible on 9/17 ... then I can submit my application 90 days before this)... but "prior to 3 years"? 3 years ... um ... what (sorry for my confusion, it's been a few years since I've been reading USCIS lingo)

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

Did you get your greencard through marriage to a USC and are still married to the same USC? If so, you are elligible to apply for naturalisation 90 days before the three year "valid from" date on your greencard. Ie you can file already. If you got your greencard another way or are now divorced, 90 days prior to 5 years.

[Jessica24 3]

Hi all! Haven't been around these here parts for approximately 3 years (ever since the conditions were removed on my permanent residency). Very exciting to be back. In September of 2012, I will have been a permanent resident for 5 years. Hooray! My question is, how far in advance can I get the ball rolling and submit my application to ensure my naturalization is complete as soon to this date as possible? I sure would like to vote in November's election. I seem to recall when lifting my conditions I could submit my paperwork 90 days prior to my eligibility date ... anyone know if it's the same for the naturalization process? Thanks!

Since you have mentioned that conditions on your card were removed, it leads to the assumption that your green card was based on a marriage to a US citizen. If you are still living in marriage with that citizen, then you are eligible to file in your citizenship application 90days before the end of the 3 yr anniversary. Otherwise you have to go the general route of 90 days before the 5 yr anniversary. This will be June 2012.

[CaninCali 0]

Awesome! Thanks so much everyone. I was married to a USC, but we are now divorced, so it's going to be 90 days prior to my 5th anniversary, which as y'all pointed out is June 2012. Weehoo. Can't wait to get the process started. Does anyone know their current processing times for an N-400? I was looking at their site with that table of processing times, but couldn't find this particular category? I would be putting it through the California Processing Center. Thanks again!

[Inky 1,111]

Awesome! Thanks so much everyone. I was married to a USC, but we are now divorced, so it's going to be 90 days prior to my 5th anniversary, which as y'all pointed out is June 2012. Weehoo. Can't wait to get the process started. Does anyone know their current processing times for an N-400? I was looking at their site with that table of processing times, but couldn't find this particular category? I would be putting it through the California Processing Center. Thanks again!

From the timelines on VJ it seems around 5 months for everything to be finished.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

More like 4 months. Wait until you have only 80 days left to avoid potential premature naturalization.