What Does Immigration Services Look For In A Marriage Based On Citizenship

Start thinking about applying for U.South. citizenship after yous receive your marriage green card

USCIS processing a naturalization application

Then, you lot merely received your matrimony-based light-green bill of fare? Congratulations, that'due south a huge achievement! Now it's time to start thinking about how and when to utilise for U.Southward. citizenship through naturalization. Non sure if you qualify to apply only yet? First by checking your eligibility. Becoming a U.S. citizen means beingness able to vote in all elections, freedom to travel and live exterior of the United States for as long every bit you want, eligibility for federal jobs, and permanent protection from deportation.

When you have a U.Due south. spouse, you lot tin can employ for U.S. citizenship in three years instead of the normal five years. This shorter timeline can be incredibly helpful simply also requires careful planning to go all the necessary documents and make full out the necessary forms. So the best approach is to offset planning right away!

In this guide:

Why should you go citizenship?
Who qualifies for citizenship?
What are the other requirements?
What is the process for getting citizenship?

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Why Should You lot Become Citizenship?

Becoming a U.S. citizen is something many greenish card holders aspire to — not just because information technology is something that will proudly connect you to the Us, but too because it provides real, tangible benefits non available to green card holders. Some of these benefits include:

You can no longer be deported — the U.s.a. volition at present be your home and fifty-fifty if you commit a criminal offence later on you naturalize, y'all will exist able to stay here (notation: The Trump administration is stepping up efforts to revoke citizenship from those who have committed certain crimes such as terrorism or fraudulently obtaining citizenship).
You volition take one of the most powerful passports in the earth, opening travel to more than than 180 destinations for short-term trips without a visa.
Federal benefits only to U.S. citizens will be available to you, such every bit federal higher assistance. Your children automatically become U.Due south. citizens — even if they're built-in outside of the United States.
Yous tin apply for jobs with the U.S. regime and vote in whatsoever U.S. election; you can fifty-fifty run for elected office (excluding holding role as President or Vice President of the Us).

Who Qualifies For Citizenship?

All green card holders, as long as they encounter fundamental conditions, tin can apply for U.S. citizenship after five years (known as the "five-year rule") — merely those with a U.Southward. spouse and a greenish card through marriage can apply after only three years (known every bit the "three-year rule").

IMPORTANT: This means three or five years of continuous living in the U.s.. If you go out for long periods of time, or applied and received a reentry permit, that time will exist deducted.

A key condition for applying under the iii-year rule versus the 5-year rule is that you must accept been "living in marital union," meaning you have to have been living together with your U.Southward. spouse for at least three years before filing for naturalization. The v-year dominion does non require this "living in marital union" portion. Importantly, you and your U.Due south. spouse must remain married until the fourth dimension the bidder naturalizes but "living in marital union" requirement is simply required until the time of filing.

If yous divorce your U.Due south. spouse before three years, you will no longer be eligible for the three-year dominion then take to apply under the five-twelvemonth dominion. While this might seem like a set back, it notwithstanding presents a pathway to citizenship, even if your matrimony has ended.

Non sure if you lot qualify for U.Due south. citizenship? Y'all tin can bank check your eligibility with RapidVisa. When you lot're set up to apply, we can guide you through every milestone of the naturalization process, starting with your citizenship application all the fashion to the finish line. Boundless legal support plus RapidVisa speed means yous become the fastest and all-time green carte and naturalization service!

What Are the Other Requirements?

There are some other requirements for applying for U.S. citizenship. Get-go and foremost: pay your taxes! You must submit federal tax returns for either three or 5 years, depending nether which rule you lot are applying. Your application will not be considered without them, and so make sure you are up-to-date with your taxes.

Secondly, never annals to vote or claim to be a U.Southward. denizen on whatsoever paperwork before being naturalized. This is disquisitional, as USCIS takes these acts incredibly seriously and it will create a lengthy filibuster or possible denial of your application. You could face deportation proceedings. The first three questions on the naturalization grade are about voting and registering to vote. If you reply aye to any of these, y'all should seek firsthand legal advice before applying for citizenship.

Another requirement is that men betwixt the ages of 18 and 26 must register for the Selective Service and provide proof when naturalizing as a U.S. citizen. Selective Service is a government agency that maintains data on those potentially subject to future armed services conscription. Failing to register can create a significant problem for male green card holders wanting to become U.South. citizens. Those who became green card holders after their 26th birthday do not take to undertake this requirement.

Finally, stay out of trouble! Green card holders may hold permanent residency in the United States merely are non safety from deportation if they commit sure crimes. The same is true when applying for U.S. citizenship — yous must reply a series of questions truthfully and provide documented evidence if any of them apply to yous.

All this ways that it pays to be prepared and have all documentation ready to hand earlier starting the naturalization process.

What Is the Process for Getting Citizenship?

So, you lot've checked eligibility, printed out your tax returns, and started to recall well-nigh applying for U.South. citizenship.

The kickoff step is to download, fill up out, and submit Form N-400 (officially called the "Awarding for Naturalization") along with all required additional documentation. You lot volition as well accept to pay a fee of $725, which includes $640 for application processing and $85 for biometrics services.

The 2d step will be attention a biometrics engagement where USCIS will process your fingerprints, photo, and signature.

After this, you volition receive a notice with a date, time, and location for your U.Southward. citizenship interview. At your interview, you lot will exist placed under adjuration and asked to take an English and civics test (unless you authorize for an exemption or waiver). You can run into what to report here and even take a free practice exam hither!

Equally role of the interview, the USCIS officer will be asking you questions nearly your application and determining your eligibility for U.S. citizenship. If applying under the three-twelvemonth dominion, you may confront questions and scrutiny over whether you lot have a bona fide marriage and genuinely "lived in marital wedlock."

Normally, the USCIS will tell you at the finish of the interview whether or non your awarding has been successful.

The final step on your citizenship journey is taking the Oath of Fidelity. In some locations the oath is administered on the same day as your interview, only unremarkably y'all accept to make an appointment to come back for information technology at a later stage to a USCIS field role.

Once y'all've taken the adjuration, y'all will receive a certificate of naturalization and will and so exist fully able to apply for a U.S. passport and vote! Congratulations, this is a huge accomplishment!

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