Become a USA citizen

[mereal 13]

Hi guys, I’ve been married for 3 years now to a us wife, and in October 2018 I will be having my green card for 3 years. My question is when should I apply for the citizenship ? Right after three years of marriage or I have to wait till October ? I’m really confuse I hope you can give me a clear answer , thanks lot

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

2 minutes ago, mereal said:

Hi guys, I’ve been married for 3 years now to a us wife, and in October 2018 I will be having my green card for 3 years. My question is when should I apply for the citizenship ? Right after three years of marriage or I have to wait till October ? I’m really confuse I hope you can give me a clear answer , thanks lot

 

Three years after receiving the green card you can file for citizenship.

 

There is certain criteria also you must meet.

 

Here is a post from earlier about same topic :

 

 

 

[bsp 32]

You can file 90 days before whatever day in October your GC is dated - so sometime in July.

[kris&me 572]

actually need to deduct any time spent outside the US in this 3 years

and you need to be present in the US 3 months before filing (if you do leave the US on vacaiton or other reason)

[nightingalejules 678]

5 hours ago, kris&me said:

actually need to deduct any time spent outside the US in this 3 years

and you need to be present in the US 3 months before filing (if you do leave the US on vacaiton or other reason)

This is not true. You need to report any time spent outside the US (on the N-400 form) but as long as it's less than 180 days total, you're fine. 

The 3 month presence means that you have to have lived in the jurisdiction in which you're filing for 3 months prior to filing. For example, I should have been eligible to file in August of last year, but we moved to a different state in August, so I had to wait until after November to file (which is to say, 3 months after we moved). But to be clear, that has nothing to do with physically being in the jurisdiction that whole time. It just means that your home is there. 

You are free to travel before, during, and of course, after the naturalization application process, as long as you don't go beyond 180 days outside the US within the 3 years.

[mereal 13]

How much it cost to start the application ? And usually how long it takes to get the citizenship?

[Lelita 74]

2 hours ago, mereal said:

How much it cost to start the application ? And usually how long it takes to get the citizenship?

The N-400 cost $725

if you apply on line is much faster than paper filer. And also depends on your field office.

between 3-12 months!