Almost 5 years on GC, basic questions on Citizenship

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Asif2000

Registered Users (C)
I am an old timer and used to be a regular visitor/contributor on this forum during my F1/PT/H1/GC processes. I got my passport stamped back in Feb '02 and got the plastic few months later. I am getting ready to file for citzenship and I have some basic questions...

  1. When can I offecially apply? I have heard different things about it. I have heard some say 6 months prior to 5-year completion and I have some say 3 months prior to 5 year completion and I have seen some completely against filing even a day before 5 yaers are complete. So which one is it?
  2. Do I need an immigration lawyer for this process?
  3. Where/how do I get started? (A FAQ, or a to-do list of some kind would certainly help)

Thanks in advance y'all.
 
Asif2000 said:
I am an old timer and used to be a regular visitor/contributor on this forum during my F1/PT/H1/GC processes. I got my passport stamped back in Feb '02 and got the plastic few months later. I am getting ready to file for citzenship and I have some basic questions...

  1. When can I offecially apply? I have heard different things about it. I have heard some say 6 months prior to 5-year completion and I have some say 3 months prior to 5 year completion and I have seen some completely against filing even a day before 5 yaers are complete. So which one is it?

    90 days before your being LPR for 5 years (or 3 years if based on marriage to US citizen).
  2. Do I need an immigration lawyer for this process?

    No.
  3. Where/how do I get started? (A FAQ, or a to-do list of some kind would certainly help)

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/n-400.htm

Thanks in advance y'all.
Click to expand...

You are welcome.
 
Yup, 5 years - 90 days (but don't cut it too close - people have been turned down because their calculations were 1 day of from the USCIS calculations - give yourself a couple of days extra), no lawyers needed unless you are an edge case.

All you really need is the form, its instructions and the "Guide to Naturalization" (all available from the same USCIS site).

After reading all that, if you have questions, this is the place to come ask them.

The process can take anywhere from 2 or 3 months to several years. The "nominal" USCIS target is 6 months.
 
...and the fee is $400 (not $390 which you may find listed in some out of date USCIS publications.)
 
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