One question, how long a marriage-based green card holder is eligible for citizenship

[butterfly1978cn]

I learn that there is a 3 years time requirement, but I don't know this 3 years originates from the date of Conditional GC received, or from the date the Permanent GC is recieved? Because, if it's the former, the it requires 3 years total, if it is latter, then it's 5 years (2 years from CGC to PGC, then another 3 years from PGC to US citizhen).

Anybody can clarify this a bit? I am confused.

 

[MartinAub]

From the date your application for GC (conditional or not) is approved, even if you didn't get he card.

So, 3 years starting from approval date if based on marriage (- 90 days)
or 5 years if not based on marriage (- 90 days)

I should add that if you select to wait 5 years, but you got your GC based on marriage, the marriage related paperwork is not needed and that can be a lot.

In my case I got married in 1998, filed in 1998, got my GC approved on 12/12/2000, though I didn't get anything but a stamp in my passport, my later issued GC has the date of the approval.

Got my card actually after the condition was removed. Had to go to INS on 12/24/2003, not exactly a dream date for a German. That's when we celebrate Christmas.