(5 years - 90 days) or sooner???

G

GoodKid

New Member
A friend told us that you have to complete five 'fiscal' years to be eligible for applying for citizenship and not 5 anniversary years. He explained that the year when you got your GC is also counted as one year. I really didn't get the math, but according to him, if we got the GC in July 2002, we are eligible for applying for citizenship now, in September 2006. Does anyone know about this? OR is next year the soonest I can apply? Please help!
Thanks.
 
It is 5 calendar years, not fiscal years :)

If you got your GC in July 2002, assuming you meet all other requirements, then you can file in July 2007 minus 90 days (not 3 months, 90 days)
 
Yes, better safe than sorry. Well, if you are soooo eager to file, you can of course send them your N-400. Yet, the only thing you will accomplish is lightening your wallet by $400.00 ;)

Cheers!

Legal
 
LegalAlien99 said:
Yes, better safe than sorry. Well, if you are soooo eager to file, you can of course send them your N-400. Yet, the only thing you will accomplish is lightening your wallet by $400.00 ;)
l
Click to expand...

Possibly, however if you make a gross error with eligibility, it seems USCIS simply returns your application with the check uncashed.
 
I am still hesitant, since the instructions in N400 were not very clear. I become eligible on Jan 22, 07. Why is it that I can apply 90 days in advance?

Can anyone explain this rule?

Thanks
 
Because nominal (/target) N-400 processing time is 6 months, and it's just about impossible to do in less than 3. So, if you apply ninety days early, and you get the fastest possible processing, you can take the oath on your 5 year anniversary - give or take.

The absolute rule is you have to be a permanent resident for 5 years (or 3 years in some situations) before you *become* a citizen. So they make a rule that makes it theoretically possible for that to happen.

Don't count on 3 month processing time (or for that matter, don't make any hard and fast plans that rely on 6 month processing). Instead, apply, expect the worst, and be happy when something good happens.

(oh, and it's 90 days, not 3 months)
 
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