Applying for Citizenship While Waiting for 10-yr Green Card

[mccorleone 12]

Hi everyone...  My wife arrived US 8/29/2015 on a K-1 Visa, and has remained in the US since then (no trips outside of the US).  We submitted her I-751 package in March 2018 and are now waiting for the 10-yr Green Card (taking 18 months now).  Now is Sept 2018; she has been in the US for more than 3 years.  Our questions are:

1.  Should we and may we submit the application for Citizenship now? Or should we and do we have to wait until after she receive her 10-yr Green Card?

2.  Is it required that you must have the 10-yr Green Card in hand when you submit the Citizenship application?

Thank you very much for your comments/feedback!  Regards...

Edited September 6, 2018 by mccorleone

[ThousandMoreSteps 50]

She can apply for citizenship 90 days before the 3 year anniversary of the date on her greencard. When was the conditional one approved? ETA, looking at the time line in your signature, she'll be eligible to file around mid Jan 2019.

Edited September 6, 2018 by ThousandMoreSteps

[mccorleone 12]

4 minutes ago, ThousandMoreSteps said:

She can apply for citizenship 90 days before the 3 year anniversary of the date on her greencard. When was the conditional one approved? ETA, looking at the time line in your signature, she'll be eligible to file around mid Jan 2019.

File mid-Jan even though we're still waiting for the 10-yr GC?  Thanks...

[ThousandMoreSteps 50]

Yes, it's 3 years based on the anniversary of your greencard approval, not from the date you get married. You can apply up to 90 days before that 3 year date. I apologize, I didn't see your second question. You do not need to have your 10 year greencard in hand,  you can apply whilst it is still pending. They often end up combining the two cases.

Edited September 6, 2018 by ThousandMoreSteps

[mushroomspore 3,047]

14 minutes ago, mccorleone said:

File mid-Jan even though we're still waiting for the 10-yr GC?  Thanks...

Yes LOTS of people are filing N400 while waiting for I-751 these days. But make sure she meets all the other eligibility requirements before filing.