I received my green card more than 3 years ago and I am married to an American citizen - in other words, after doing my research I know I am eligible to apply now.
The problem is the story of my green card. My employer applied concurrently (I-140/I-485) for my green card in April 2003. After my I-140 was approved but before the I-485 could be approved (though it was pending for more than 180 days), I was laid off due to bad times for the company. They kept me on the payroll till April 2004. In the meantime I did a few jobs here and there in the same field but on November 1, 2004, I got my green card approval letter. I got the stamp a few days later and the actual card arrived a few weeks later. A lawyer that I consulted told me that I really could not tell the USCIS that I wanted to refuse the green card even though my wife was ready to sponsor me for a family based green card.
I continue to work in the same area and have a perfectly clean record - not even a traffic ticket. I meet all the requirements for citizenship.
Can anyone kindly tell me if applying for citizenship will open a can of worms and jeopardize my wonderful, peaceful life as a permanent resident? Or should I simply go ahead and apply?
The problem is the story of my green card. My employer applied concurrently (I-140/I-485) for my green card in April 2003. After my I-140 was approved but before the I-485 could be approved (though it was pending for more than 180 days), I was laid off due to bad times for the company. They kept me on the payroll till April 2004. In the meantime I did a few jobs here and there in the same field but on November 1, 2004, I got my green card approval letter. I got the stamp a few days later and the actual card arrived a few weeks later. A lawyer that I consulted told me that I really could not tell the USCIS that I wanted to refuse the green card even though my wife was ready to sponsor me for a family based green card.
I continue to work in the same area and have a perfectly clean record - not even a traffic ticket. I meet all the requirements for citizenship.
Can anyone kindly tell me if applying for citizenship will open a can of worms and jeopardize my wonderful, peaceful life as a permanent resident? Or should I simply go ahead and apply?