citizenship?

I think that currently its 7 years after being a permanent resident. Which I think is utterly ridiculous that you have to wait that long but maybe its just me.
 
moiraresfate said:
I think that currently its 7 years after being a permanent resident. Which I think is utterly ridiculous that you have to wait that long but maybe its just me.
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You're wrong.
The answer is "you can apply when you become eligible", which is not a nice way to say: "check out the N-400 instructions".
It could actually vary from case to case.
I will be eligible in less than 3 months, and I became a permanent resident at the end of October 2006.

Generally speaking, you become eligible after 4 years and 9 months since becoming a permanent resident or after 2 years and 9 months since becoming a permanent residence through marriage to a US citizen (given that you're still married and live together).
If in the meanwhile you broke the continuous residence requirement then the clock starts over.
 
If you acquired GC through employment, you are eligible after 5 years of residency. You can initiate the process after 4 years and 9 months but not a day before that. USCIS may even reject the application if they receive it before you complete 4 years and 9 months.

Having said that, there are other twists to the story. The residency should be continuous and without large gaps. I believe is atleast 180 days through each of the 5 years, but I may be wrong on that one.

Vinayak
 
Just to clarify. It's 5 years minus 90 days. Sometimes it can be more than 4 years 9 months, sometimes less. You have to take a calendar and count days. Same goes for 3 year term.
How you received your GC is not really important for naturalization. For example, if your green card was employment based, but you married an American citizen after you got your GC, you are eligible to apply for citizenship after 3 years minus 90 days from your date of marriage.
 
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