When did I become a permanent resident?

D

dn29

New Member
Guys, I cannot find a straight answer online for citizenship purposes. I got married 3.5 years ago. I applied for the GC after a couple of months and received it 4/2008. That was the GC that has to be renewed after 2 years. I applied for the renewal in 1/2009 and received it in 9/2010. On both GC's it says Permanent Resident. I am still married and am planning to stay that way for the rest of my life.

My question is: I know I have to wait 3 years after becoming a permanent resident in order to file form N-400 and apply for citizenship. Does it have to be 3 years after getting the first GC in 4/2008 or after getting the 2nd one, 2 years later, in 9/2009?

I cannot understand when it is considered that I became a permanent resident. Can someone help me?
 
3 year after getting your first GC, you became a permanent resident with conditions in 2008 but you were still a PERMANENT RESIDENT, go ahead and start your process for CITIZENSHIP if you are married with a USC.
 
dn29 said:
Guys, I cannot find a straight answer online for citizenship purposes. I got married 3.5 years ago. I applied for the GC after a couple of months and received it 4/2008. That was the GC that has to be renewed after 2 years. I applied for the renewal in 1/2009 and received it in 9/2010. On both GC's it says Permanent Resident. I am still married and am planning to stay that way for the rest of my life.

My question is: I know I have to wait 3 years after becoming a permanent resident in order to file form N-400 and apply for citizenship. Does it have to be 3 years after getting the first GC in 4/2008 or after getting the 2nd one, 2 years later, in 9/2009?

I cannot understand when it is considered that I became a permanent resident. Can someone help me?
Click to expand...

BOTH cards say "Resident Since DATE" the date did not change. After the conditions are lifted, it ALL counts. You wait only 2 years and 9 months (plus a couple of days for good measure) from your Resident Since DATE and can apply for naturalization, IF OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE.
 
Thank you! What you guys are saying makes sense on some level. It is just that you get the first GC, wait 2 years, wait another year for them to process the renewal, and then you can immediately apply for the citizenship....this part makes absolutely no sense.why not keep the initial green card 3 years and then instead of getting another one, apply for citizenship? It feels like it is just another way to submit an extra form with an extra check.

I guess I am reluctant to believing that there doesn't have to be any wait time between getting the 2nd GC and applying for citizenship. Is there anyone here that has actually done this? I would hate to submit all the paperwork and a check to be rejected because it is too soon. It is one of those situations where it sounds too good to be true.
 
dn29 said:
why not keep the initial green card 3 years and then instead of getting another one, apply for citizenship?
Click to expand...

Because the conditions need to be lifted in order to be granted citizenship. All the time counts but you can't skip steps. If you've applied to lift the conditions, you can then apply for citizenship if enough time has elapsed--but the naturalization petition won't be approved until the petition to remove conditions is first approved.
 
dn29 said:
Thank you! What you guys are saying makes sense on some level. It is just that you get the first GC, wait 2 years, wait another year for them to process the renewal, and then you can immediately apply for the citizenship....this part makes absolutely no sense.why not keep the initial green card 3 years and then instead of getting another one, apply for citizenship? It feels like it is just another way to submit an extra form with an extra check.

I guess I am reluctant to believing that there doesn't have to be any wait time between getting the 2nd GC and applying for citizenship. Is there anyone here that has actually done this? I would hate to submit all the paperwork and a check to be rejected because it is too soon. It is one of those situations where it sounds too good to be true.
Click to expand...

Not everyone gets the conditions lifted. Some people commit marriage fraud and get caught at that stage.

Also, some folks do not meet the other requirements to apply right away.

Some have a minor criminal conviction that prevents a finding of good moral character. Some may have a minor criminal problem that would not prevent a finding of GMC but are still on probation which prevents naturalization.

Others have broken continuous residence requirements with a long trip and still others may have not "broken residence" but have travelled for short periods too frequently and have not been physically present for enough time in the aggregate.

Others are unable to meet the english and/or civics requirements.

Still others choose not to naturalize because they would lose financial benefits from the home country.

Others are very patriotic towards their country of birth and chose to remain a greencardholder.
 
BigJoe5, your response made me realize that I did not put enough thought into my last post. You are right; I was only thinking through my perspective and did not realize that obviously not everyone got married for the right reasons, does not satisfy the requirements or simply does not want the citizenship.

This week I will get everything together and submit my application. I guess in my case it was that easy. Thank you guys so so much!!!!
 
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