When Can Green Card Holder Apply for Citizenship
Start thinking about applying for U.S. citizenship after you receive your union greenish card
So, yous but received your matrimony-based dark-green bill of fare? Congratulations, that's a huge achievement! Now it'due south fourth dimension to commencement thinking almost how and when to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. Not sure if y'all qualify to use just yet? Kickoff by checking your eligibility. Becoming a U.S. citizen means being able to vote in all elections, freedom to travel and alive outside of the United States for equally long as you desire, eligibility for federal jobs, and permanent protection from deportation.
When y'all have a U.South. spouse, you can employ for U.S. citizenship in three years instead of the normal five years. This shorter timeline can be incredibly helpful only also requires careful planning to get all the necessary documents and fill out the necessary forms. So the best approach is to start planning right abroad!
In this guide:
- Why should you become citizenship?
- Who qualifies for citizenship?
- What are the other requirements?
- What is the process for getting citizenship?
If all of this sounds complicated and intimidating, don't worry! We've joined forces with RapidVisa to help you complete your citizenship application and guide you all the way to the finish line. Together we'll assist you stay on superlative of interview training, follow-on forms, and every other of import milestone along the way.
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Why Should You Get Citizenship?
Becoming a U.S. citizen is something many green card holders aspire to — not just considering it is something that will proudly connect you to the United States, just also considering it provides existent, tangible benefits non available to green card holders. Some of these benefits include:
- You tin no longer be deported — the United States will now exist your domicile and fifty-fifty if you lot commit a crime afterwards you naturalize, yous will be able to stay here (note: The Trump administration is stepping up efforts to revoke citizenship from those who have committed certain crimes such every bit terrorism or fraudulently obtaining citizenship).
- You will take one of the near powerful passports in the world, opening travel to more than 180 destinations for brusk-term trips without a visa.
- Federal benefits only to U.S. citizens will be available to you, such every bit federal college aid. Your children automatically become U.S. citizens — even if they're born exterior of the Usa.
- Yous can use for jobs with the U.Due south. regime and vote in any U.S. ballot; yous can even run for elected function (excluding holding function equally President or Vice President of the United States).
Who Qualifies For Citizenship?
All green card holders, equally long as they meet central conditions, can utilize for U.South. citizenship afterwards 5 years (known as the "five-year dominion") — only those with a U.S. spouse and a green card through spousal relationship can utilise after only three years (known as the "three-yr rule").
Of import: This means three or five years of continuous living in the The states. If you go out for long periods of time, or applied and received a reentry permit, that time will be deducted.
A central condition for applying under the three-twelvemonth dominion versus the v-year dominion is that you must have been "living in marital union," meaning you lot have to have been living together with your U.South. spouse for at least three years earlier filing for naturalization. The five-year rule does not require this "living in marital union" portion. Importantly, you and your U.S. spouse must remain married until the time the applicant naturalizes just "living in marital union" requirement is just required until the fourth dimension of filing.
If yous divorce your U.S. spouse before 3 years, you will no longer be eligible for the three-year rule and and so have to apply under the 5-year rule. While this might seem like a set back, information technology still presents a pathway to citizenship, fifty-fifty if your union has concluded.
Not sure if you qualify for U.S. citizenship? You tin can bank check your eligibility with RapidVisa. When y'all're ready to utilize, we tin can guide you lot through every milestone of the naturalization procedure, starting with your citizenship application all the style to the finish line. Boundless legal support plus RapidVisa speed means you go the fastest and all-time dark-green card and naturalization service!
What Are the Other Requirements?
There are some other requirements for applying for U.Southward. citizenship. First and foremost: pay your taxes! Y'all must submit federal taxation returns for either iii or five years, depending under which rule you lot are applying. Your awarding will not be considered without them, so brand sure you are upward-to-date with your taxes.
Secondly, never register to vote or claim to be a U.S. citizen on any paperwork before being naturalized. This is critical, as USCIS takes these acts incredibly seriously and it will create a lengthy delay or possible deprival of your application. You lot could face deportation proceedings. The first three questions on the naturalization form are nigh voting and registering to vote. If you answer yeah to any of these, you should seek immediate legal advice earlier applying for citizenship.
Another requirement is that men betwixt the ages of eighteen and 26 must register for the Selective Service and provide proof when naturalizing equally a U.S. citizen. Selective Service is a government agency that maintains data on those potentially subject to futurity military conscription. Failing to annals tin create a significant trouble for male person dark-green card holders wanting to become U.S. citizens. Those who became green carte holders after their 26th altogether do not have to undertake this requirement.
Finally, stay out of trouble! Green menu holders may concord permanent residency in the Us but are not safety from deportation if they commit certain crimes. The aforementioned is true when applying for U.S. citizenship — you lot must answer a serial of questions truthfully and provide documented evidence if any of them employ to y'all.
All this means that it pays to exist prepared and accept all documentation gear up to hand before starting the naturalization process.
What Is the Procedure for Getting Citizenship?
And so, y'all've checked eligibility, printed out your tax returns, and started to call up almost applying for U.South. citizenship.
The first pace is to download, fill out, and submit Class N-400 (officially called the "Awarding for Naturalization") along with all required additional documentation. You lot volition as well have to pay a fee of $725, which includes $640 for application processing and $85 for biometrics services.
The second step will be attending a biometrics engagement where USCIS will process your fingerprints, photo, and signature.
Afterwards this, you will receive a find with a engagement, time, and location for your U.South. citizenship interview. At your interview, you will be placed under oath and asked to have an English and civics exam (unless yous qualify for an exemption or waiver). You lot can run across what to report here and even take a free practice test here!
As function of the interview, the USCIS officer will be asking you lot questions about your application and determining your eligibility for U.S. citizenship. If applying under the iii-year rule, you may confront questions and scrutiny over whether y'all have a bona fide marriage and genuinely "lived in marital union."
Usually, the USCIS will tell you at the cease of the interview whether or not your application has been successful.
The final pace on your citizenship journey is taking the Oath of Fidelity. In some locations the oath is administered on the same day every bit your interview, simply ordinarily you have to make an date to come up back for it at a subsequently stage to a USCIS field role.
Once you've taken the oath, you will receive a certificate of naturalization and will then be fully able to apply for a U.S. passport and vote! Congratulations, this is a huge accomplishment!
We've joined forces with RapidVisa to aid y'all stay on top of interview grooming, follow-on forms, and every other important milestone along the manner. Set up to commencement?
Source: https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/apply-citizenship-after-marriage-green-card/
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