How long do I have to be married to a citizen of the United States before I may acquire citizenship via marriage?
A look back at the events leading up to and after the marriage and application for citizenship.Consider the scenario of an international student in the United States whose buddy, a citizen of the United States, has just filed for a visa to study in the country. The pair want to marry and establish themselves in the United States. How long does it take for an immigrant to become a citizen of the United States?From marriage to naturalization as a citizen of the United States.
First and foremost, let’s get one thing straight: marrying a U.S. citizen does not entitle a person to citizenship; rather, it grants them a green card. After holding a green card for a certain number of years, a person may apply for citizenship in the United States. However, it is at least a two-step procedure. In other words, even if the immigrant is sponsored by the spouse of a US citizen, the immigrant does not become a citizen of the United States instantly.The following are the actions that you are likely to need to do if this scenario applies to you, as well as an estimate of how long each step will take on average.
NOTE: For those who are not in the same position as myself, please keep reading.
The procedures are different for applicants who live outside of the United States or who reside in the United States but do not have legal status, are legal immigrants, or are a permanent resident of the United States. The procedures are also different for applicants who marry a citizen of the United States rather than a resident of the United States. The situations listed in this table are procedural in nature.If you stay married and live with your US spouse for three years after receiving your conditional residence visa, you will be able to petition for US citizenship at the end of that time period (naturalization). You must satisfy all qualifying requirements, including the ability to communicate effectively in English and passing an examination on American history and government.A person whose spouse became a citizen of the United States after the immigrant was given permanent residence in the country would have to wait three years from that time before claiming the exemption, which may or may not be beneficial.The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) accepts citizenship applications submitted on Form N-400.
This portion of the procedure takes a long time as well. Applicants must wait months before being called to a naturalization interview with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and then must attend an oath-taking ceremony if their application is accepted.In addition, the three-year rule is a significant exception to the general norm.
The majority of individuals must wait five years after receiving a green card before they may apply for US citizenship. However, you must have fulfilled all of these requirements throughout the full three-year period in which you lived with your husband and were a citizen of the United States. In reality, in order to qualify for the three-year exemption, you must stay married until you are sworn into office.If your marriage ends in divorce or you no longer live together, you must wait a minimum of five years from the date of your residence permit before applying for citizenship.
When a marriage terminates due to the death of the American spouse, as in My American Spouse Died: Can I Still Apply for Naturalization After Three Years?, the news is much worse.