Is it worth it for my wife to become US citizen?

[darkside 0]

Hi i been here in America for 2 years and my wife was already eligible for naturalization when i got here but due to financial problems she couldn't afford to pay the fee, but now that we can afford it and i want to petition my parents.. will i have start the count of 3 years the day that he will be naturalized or can i include the days since i been here in america 2 years.. Please pardon my English

[Peter_Pan 661]

3 years after she becomes citizen.

[Matt & Freche 2]

I believe = since ive been thru all that long ago= the time requirement stsrts from the actual date you enetred the usa.!! yet?? might be after the marriage date also if married in the usa? The process after the paperwork is submitted will take about a year + -

[newlyweds2010 208]

Do you have a Green Card? Then count 5 years from the "Resident Since" date printed on it. You can naturalize after 3 years of being a LPR provided that your spouse has been a USC since then. If your spouse naturalizes now, you won't benefit from the 3-year rule, regardless of whether she was eligible in the past. If you don't have a Green Card, then you can't count the time you have spent in the US towards the 3 or 5 years.

[darkside 0]

Yes i have a green card.. i received it weeks after i got here in the US.. Thanks a lot for the responses i really appreciate it

[newacct 688]

If your spouse naturalizes now, you won't benefit from the 3-year rule

Not true. The 3 year rule is just that in the 3 years prior to filing, he was an LPR and was married to a citizen.

If, hypothetically, he became an LPR 1 year ago, and his spouse naturalizes now, then theoretically he could file for naturalization in 3 years from now, instead of 4 under the 5-year rule.

[Dave&Roza 748]

I believe = since ive been thru all that long ago= the time requirement stsrts from the actual date you enetred the usa.!! yet?? might be after the marriage date also if married in the usa? The process after the paperwork is submitted will take about a year + -

Please look at the requirements for becoming a USC as it clearly states that you must be married to a USC spouse and that spouse must have been a USC for the preceeding 3 years. So if the OP is a LPR for 2 years and she Naturalizes now, he can file for USC based on the 5 year rule or 3 year rule as it will be about the same time--I would opt for the 5 year rule as it does not require you to show that the marriage to the USC is bonafide.

Good luck,

Dave

[Matt & Freche 2]

yes -true & as i was married before & did apply the I-130 - then after= wife had to be here 3 years total -after entru date-then applied citizenship-that even took another year to accomplish back then too.

[newlyweds2010 208]

Not true. The 3 year rule is just that in the 3 years prior to filing, he was an LPR and was married to a citizen.

If, hypothetically, he became an LPR 1 year ago, and his spouse naturalizes now, then theoretically he could file for naturalization in 3 years from now, instead of 4 under the 5-year rule.

Right, I didn't express it clearly but we are meaning the same thing. What I mean is, when you file under the 3-year rule your spouse needs to have been a USC for the preceding 3 years. If she naturalizes now, he will not be able to apply under the 3-year rule counting the days starting from the date when he became a LPR, but from the date she became a USC. Since he has already been here for 2 years as a LPR, the 3-year and the 5-year rule would give approximately the same date: either way, he won't be able to naturalize for the next 3 years.