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A complicated situation ---> DV 2012 lottery + about to marry a US citizen

N

nsensen

Registered Users (C)
I was fortunate enough to win the DV 2012 lottery!

My question is... I will be marrying my fiance in the next 6 months - 1 year. She is a US citizen.

I plan on going forward with the DV lottery and will attempt to obtain my permanent residence through that avenue.

After we get married, Would I have to wait 5 years to apply for citizenship or could I just apply to USCIS in 3 years (being married to a US citizen)?
 
If you choose to go the DV route to obtain greencard, your green card will say category "DV1". In this case, you will only be eligible to apply for US citizenship after 5 years.

If you obtain your greencard through marriage to a US citizen, your green card will say category "CR-1" (conditional resident). In this case, you must remove conditions after two years (after which your green card will say "IR-1") and then at the beginning of the 3rd year, you will be eligible to apply for US Citizenship.

So if being able to apply for naturalization quickly is important to you, you should go with the marriage to US Citizen route.
 
dv2012dv said:
If you choose to go the DV route to obtain greencard, your green card will say category "DV1". In this case, you will only be eligible to apply for US citizenship after 5 years.

If you obtain your greencard through marriage to a US citizen, your green card will say category "CR-1" (conditional resident). In this case, you must remove conditions after two years (after which your green card will say "IR-1") and then at the beginning of the 3rd year, you will be eligible to apply for US Citizenship.

So if being able to apply for naturalization quickly is important to you, you should go with the marriage to US Citizen route.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, that really clarified things for me.
 
But in the situation that your are getting divorced soon (hopefully not) with the CR-1 card there is a chance you'll loose it.
 
dv2012dv said:
...then at the beginning of the 3rd year, you will be eligible to apply for US Citizenship.
Click to expand...

just a correction ..it is not "beginning" of 3rd year, but after "completing" the 3rd year (you can file 90 days in advance).

Note that the clock for naturalization starts from the 'resident since' date that is shown on your green card
 
If you enter the US after your second wedding aniversary you are given the IR-1 green card without having to remove conditions. Hopefully you don't take that long to get approved.
 
Unless this is a scam marriage and an actual legit marriage then I would go down the marriage route. You will get Citizenship faster and I suppose it is easier then the DV lottery process.
 
If you choose to go the DV route to obtain greencard, your green card will say category "DV1". In this case, you will only be eligible to apply for US citizenship after 5 years.
Click to expand...
Incorrect.
Regardless of the GC classification, the rules are the same, with just 1 exception.
CR requires first to remove the condition, then have a citizenship interview (you could apply for citizenship before condition is removed).

After we get married, Would I have to wait 5 years to apply for citizenship or could I just apply to USCIS in 3 years (being married to a US citizen)?
Click to expand...
In 3 years provided other conditions are met as well:
1. You already have GC for 2 years and 9 months
2. you spouse would have beed a citizen for 3 years without interruptions.
3. you would have the same spouse for at least 3 years.
 
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take the dv green card (10 years UNCONDITIONAL GC) and then after 3 years aplay for citizenship ..its been done ...for the citizenship they gonna count 3 years marriage for the US CITIZEN and they not gonna look into your GC for sure and even of they look they not gonna bother with it ..FOR THE CITIZENSHIP TROUGH MARRIAGE WITH US CITIZEN GC CARD HAS NO USE ...ONLY IF YOU CAN PROVE 3 YEARS MARRIAGE

SO MY ADVICE IS TO TAKE THE GC TROUGH DV LOTTERY !!..DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT PUTTING EVERYTHING ON THE SAME CARD IF YOU WANT TO STAY TROUBLE FREE HERE IN THE USA..IF YOU WANT TO DEPEND ON SOMEONE AND GAMBLE THEN GO TROUGH MARRIAGE GC
 
This is by no means a scam marriage at all... I am very offended by anyone thinking that it is. We are getting married and I am not worried at all about getting divorced.

In all likelihood, I will go down the DV path... even though my fiance is insisting otherwise.

I just wanted to know if i could apply for citizenship after three years (being married to a US citizen the whole time obviously) even though my green card would be of the DV type

Is there any shortcuts or do I have to wait the 5 years?
 
raevsky said:
Incorrect.
Regardless of the GC classification, the rules are the same, with just 1 exception.
CR requires first to remove the condition, then have a citizenship interview (you could apply for citizenship before condition is removed).

In 3 years provided other conditions are met as well:
1. You already have GC for 2 years and 9 months
2. you spouse would have beed a citizen for 3 years without interruptions.
3. you would have the same spouse for at least 3 years.
Click to expand...

So basically, If i get a green card through the DV but at the same time marry a US citizen (and remain married to her).... in 3 years I can apply for citizenship? regardless of the green card type?
 
So basically, If i get a green card through the DV but at the same time marry a US citizen (and remain married to her).... in 3 years I can apply for citizenship? regardless of the green card type?
Click to expand...
Yes. As I said, with 1 excpetion for conditional GC.
 
nsensen said:
So basically, If i get a green card through the DV but at the same time marry a US citizen (and remain married to her).... in 3 years I can apply for citizenship? regardless of the green card type?
Click to expand...

This is correct. I was able to verify this by looking at the N-400 form question 2B.

Going the DV route is a good idea. It will also save you from the hassle and cost ($590) of filing form I-751 to remove the conditions (if you were to get the GC via marriage).

Congratulations and good luck.
 
you have to understand that USCIS is regarding every marriage between s US citizens and foreigners as a scam marriage ..so you better secure your GC for 10 years as a GC winner and then marry and after 3 years just aplay for citizenship
 
PRAHA said:
you have to understand that USCIS is regarding every marriage between s US citizens and foreigners as a scam marriage ..so you better secure your GC for 10 years as a GC winner and then marry and after 3 years just aplay for citizenship
Click to expand...

I will in all likelihood go the DV route. Thanks for the advice!
 
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