Information regarding filing for citizenship

M

mazam

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

My wife is in california with her family. She is a green card holder. She got her permanent residency in August 2002. I told her that it is time for her to file for citizenship. What is the procedure for filing for citizenship. Will it be faster if she file for herself only and not with her family.

Does she need a lawyer to file for the citizenship? What papers are necessary? How much time it take to get approved? What is the complete procedure?

I am on H1B right now so should I file anything with her or should I wait for her to get citizenship?

Thank you very much,
Azam
 
She can't file for her citizenship until May 2007.

Do you have children? She can file citizenship along with her children under 18 if she has any. Once she gets her citizenship, her children under 18 will get the citizenship too.

Her application has nothing to do with her family (her parents or siblings) except her children. She'll need to file for her own application.

Click the following link for instructions & application form:
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/n-400.htm

If she has never committed any serious crime, I don't think she'll need an attorney as long as she fills out the form correctly & provides correct documents.

For the citizenship timeline, it depends on where you DO is. My aunt is in Los Angeles and she applied for N-400 in late-May this year, she had her interview last week and approved, and she'll have her oath next month. So totally it'll take less than 6 months.

If your wife files I-130 for you now, she'll need to upgrade the petition when she gets her citizenship, it sounds like an easy process but I heard a lot of people getting stuck and ended up spending months to get it upgraded. If I were you I wouldn't bother doing this, I'd wait until she gets the citizenship and apply AOS based on your USC's spouse status directly.
 
i agree with prev post...if your wife did not have any criminal offense (anything besides traffic citations)...then you really don't need an attorney. Calif takes less than 6months to be sworn in, after she gets her citizenship...then she will be able to apply for your green card right away.
good luck
 
Thanks for your reply

Thanks a lot for the reply.

No, we don't have any kids. She will be coming to Houston in March 2007. So, she can apply for the citizenship in May 2007 and let's say that it gets approved in 8-9 months and she get her citizenship. After that can I apply for temporary work permit? If so, how much time it will take to get the work permit?

Thanks,
Azam
 
Thanks PrincessKate

Thanks a lot PrincessKate for all your help. I really appreciate your time :)
 
I have another question based on OPs question:
Can the husband file for US citizenship directly with his wife if they have been married for more than 2 yrs? In this case mazam has a vaild H1, so he is in status right. Are there any loopholes to explore?
We are in the same situation as mazam is. So wanted to find out if we have this option?
 
EAD and loss of Job

Hi,

This might be a strange question. But suppose I got my EAD offcourse after my wife got her citizenship. And I got laid off. So, can I stay in US legally on basis of EAD?
 
mazam said:
Hi,

This might be a strange question. But suppose I got my EAD offcourse after my wife got her citizenship. And I got laid off. So, can I stay in US legally on basis of EAD?
Click to expand...

No, but you get to stay based on Adjustment of Status for marriage to a US citizen filed.
And with your EAD you could get another job.
 
Thanks

Thanks a lot :D

You people are just SUPER GREAT!!!!!!

And good luck with your interview tomorrow :D
 
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