WHEN DOES THE TIME START TO APPLY FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP

[rjgacek 6]

Can anyone out there tell me, when the 3 year to apply for american citizenship begins for my immigrant wife??

She arrived here on 12/12/2013. we got married on 12/20/2013. does her time start from when she arrives here in the U.S., or from the date we got married, or does the 3 year time frame start from the date her green card is approved.

Any consistant answers on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you kindly

Ron

[van1234essa 11]

Can anyone out there tell me, when the 3 year to apply for american citizenship begins for my immigrant wife??

She arrived here on 12/12/2013. we got married on 12/20/2013. does her time start from when she arrives here in the U.S., or from the date we got married, or does the 3 year time frame start from the date her green card is approved.

Any consistant answers on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you kindly

Ron

The 3 years are from the time she gets her conditional greencard. There's a time window of 90days before the 3 years are reached, that's when you can send in the application. No sooner than that. So let's say your wife gets her greencard on May 1st, 2014 then she's eligible for naturalization by May 1st, 2017 but you guys can send in the paperwork up to 90 days before that date.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Family-based AOS to US Citizenship Discussion Forum~

~Inquiry about US Citizenship timeframe, not adjusting status~

[Shub 78]

When she gets her green card, look at the date next to "resident since" on the card, then count three years from that date, then subtract 90 days -- that's the earliest day you can apply. Unfortunately it doesn't matter when she arrived in the US or when you got married. Since presumably she will get her green card before your second wedding anniversary, you will need to worry about applying for removal of conditions first, so make absolutely sure to remember to look into that and actually do it.

Applying for citizenship is strictly voluntary, but applying for removal of conditions is mandatory, and you will get no reminders from USCIS.

[Dave&Roza 748]

Can anyone out there tell me, when the 3 year to apply for american citizenship begins for my immigrant wife??

She arrived here on 12/12/2013. we got married on 12/20/2013. does her time start from when she arrives here in the U.S., or from the date we got married, or does the 3 year time frame start from the date her green card is approved.

Any consistant answers on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you kindly

Ron

For marriage based citizenship there are actually several conditions that must be met. 1) You are over 18, 2) you are married to a USC for at least 3 years, 3) the USC spouse has been an USC for the past three years, 4) you must be a LPR for the past three years, 5) you must reside in the USCIS district which has jurisdiction for the past three months, 6) you have not taken any trips outside the US of more than 6 months, and 7) you have spend more than 18 of the 36 months physically present in the US.

Most people focus on items #2 and #4, but #6 pauses your clock or can reset it if out of the US for too long. Item #6 comes into play should you have to move right before you are eligible to file for USC. So it really depends on how your wife lives her life for the next 3+ years. Since you got married and then she became a US LPR, the driving date will be the "Resident Since" date on her GC. She can file 90 days before her third anniversary of becoming a LPR as long as she meets all the other requirements. I suggest you read the Guide to Naturalization for more information.

Good luck,

Dave

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

When she gets her green card, look at the date next to "resident since" on the card, then count three years from that date, then subtract 90 days -- that's the earliest day you can apply. Unfortunately it doesn't matter when she arrived in the US or when you got married. Since presumably she will get her green card before your second wedding anniversary, you will need to worry about applying for removal of conditions first, so make absolutely sure to remember to look into that and actually do it.

Applying for citizenship is strictly voluntary, but applying for removal of conditions is mandatory, and you will get no reminders from USCIS.

My wife and step-daughters received a letter from USCIS reminding them about the requirement to remove conditions I think about 6 months prior to expiration.

[Shub 78]

My wife and step-daughters received a letter from USCIS reminding them about the requirement to remove conditions I think about 6 months prior to expiration.

Is that so? Well good! I don't think they sent me a reminder, but that was a few years ago. Perhaps they do it now, or perhaps they're not consistent with it