When can I apply for citizenship

It depends how you got Green Card. If you got GC through marriage to a US Citizen, then you can file N-400 after 2 years 9 months. If you got GC through employment, then file N-400 after 4 years 9 months (plus wait one extra week)
 
jaxguy1 said:
It depends how you got Green Card. If you got GC through marriage to a US Citizen, then you can file N-400 after 2 years 9 months. If you got GC through employment, then file N-400 after 4 years 9 months (plus wait one extra week)
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jax, you're sort of right, but not exactly.. :)

The method of obtaining your GC does not dictate how soon you can apply for citizenship. The "marriage rule" allows a person who is married to a USC (irrespective of how they obtained their GC) to apply for naturalization once they meet the dual requirement of 3yrs (less 90 days) continuous residence and 3 full years marriage to the same US citizen. Everyone else applies through the normal 5 year (less 90 day) continuous residence route.
 
boatbod is spot on. Whether or not one can apply under the "marriage rule" or "5 yr permanent resident rule" does not depend on how one got the green card. It depends on what applies to him/her at the time of putting in the N-400 application.
 
bobo2000 said:
What is the soonest I can apply for citizenship ? I got my GC in April 2004
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Assuming you are going to apply under "5 yr as permanent resident" category, you need to add 5 years to the date your permanent residency was approved and then subtract 90 calendar days from that day. You apply anytime on or after that date. Do remember not to confuse 90 days with 3 months because 3 months in most cases would not be same as 90 days.
 
The easiest way to determine this is to download the Guide to Naturalization. It is very clear. Just figure out which column (or was it row) you belong to by reading the conditions and figure out what the rules are.
 
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