When should I apply for citizenship?

[wantmygcnow]

Apology accepted Faysal,
I do know how to convert months to days though. The fine line here is that if those three months happen to have two months of 31 days, then you'd be applying two days ahead and your application will be denied or I/O would ask to withdarw it since you don't fulfil the eligibility criteria. Tha's why Three months is not equal to 90 days here.

Faysal,

PM's point is valid here. If someone was eligible say June and they applied on April 1st, if you count 3 months(april,may,june), its 91 days.....You would have to apply on the 2nd to have 90 days.

In this case only, 3 months do not equal to 90 days as PM pointed out. To be eligible for U.S Citizenship, the officers actually count the days. Its same as having valid time on your passport. Once I had 3 months on my passport but they did not equal 90 days, the embassy asked me for a new RTD...

The days,months etc matter in these kinda things.

I am glad you both have relieved your 'tensions'...

 

[bringslite]

Hi guys,

I have my Green Card (asylee). On the GC it says "Resident Since: 07/19/04"

1)
If I understand correctly, I will eligible to apply for citizenship in 4yrs & 9months on 04/19/09. Is that correct?

2)
In addition to this, I am marrying a US citizen in 1 month. I heard that I can apply for citizenship sooner if I'm married to a US citizen. Is this true? if so, how soon can I apply?

3)
Would you recommend applying to citizenship because of marriage or would you recommend waiting for 2009 and apply using my permanent residency as asylee?

Thank you for you insight & happy new Year.

Or as I mentioned a million times, you can go military (and hope that you do not get killed), and apply for citizenship right away!

 

[LolaLi]

My understanding is that citizenship applicants can apply citizenship after they have been permenant residence for five years. The 90 days is a rough estimate that the USCIS expects to process the application. The theory is that applicants should apply three months in advance so that when their file is ready for adjudication it would have completed the five years. For example, if USCIS gets more money and more officers and it makes the process take about two weeks, then the 3 month won't hold any more. In this scenario, applicants should file their application two weeks in advance. My point here is the filing of three months in advance is not law. The five years is the law.

Actually, even if the processing is fast - which I hope is the case since I'm getting closer to the DATE - there are procedures for handling it. The 90 day rule is in fact part of the law and applies to all citizenship applications. But lets say that one applied 90 days prior to their 5 year and by some miracle were able to get everything done - i.e. fingerprints, background check, name check, and interview - prior to the 90 days being up. Would CIS then cancel their application because they haven't finished the prescribed 5 years? The answer is NO. CIS will still approve the case BUT, they will schedule the oath to be after the 5 years anniversary date.

Hope that helps.

 

[wantmygcnow]

Actually, even if the processing is fast - which I hope is the case since I'm getting closer to the DATE - there are procedures for handling it. The 90 day rule is in fact part of the law and applies to all citizenship applications. But lets say that one applied 90 days prior to their 5 year and by some miracle were able to get everything done - i.e. fingerprints, background check, name check, and interview - prior to the 90 days being up. Would CIS then cancel their application because they haven't finished the prescribed 5 years? The answer is NO. CIS will still approve the case BUT, they will schedule the oath to be after the 5 years anniversary date.

Hope that helps.

No you are wrong. If you get to the officer before your 5 years anniversary, you are not "adjustable"...Its the rule book..go and read it! Thats why they are strict about applying exactly 90 days before.

If you manage to pass through, the officer will determine you ineligible and ask you to reapply the time he tells you....there is no Mcdonalds rule that "wait in the line until your burger is ready"...