How long does it take to become a us citizen

It illustrates just a thin slice of what it takes to become a citizen. No prior residency or physical presence in the united states is required to file a naturalization application under these circumstances. The citizenship interview usually takes place about 14 months, on average, after uscis receives your naturalization application sooner or later for some applicants. If you live in an area with heavy immigrant populations, it is not unusual to wait 2 years or more to become a us citizen. Filing for naturalization under this provision of the law, section 328 of the immigration and nationality act of 1952, as amended, excuses the applicant from any specific period of residence or. Mar 30, 2018 there are two ways to become a united states u. Apr 06, 2017 i was just reading a different question that has an answer that would help you. N400 processing time what happens after filing n400. In order to become a citizen you first need to get a green card and be a legal permanent resident for a number of years. Youre going to need a student visa and a school or program acceptance. For a regular person from outside of the us its almost.

Keep in mind that this is a very highlevel summary of the naturalization process for permanent residents to become u. My mom was an imagrant and she had to take a test about the united states and passed, then she is a residence. Four have lived in the same state for at least three months before applying. How long does it take to become an american citizen answers. There are many other eligibility requirements that you must satisfy, besides those listed above, in order to qualify to become a naturalized united states citizen. S or in certain territories or outlying possessions of the united states, that are subject to the jurisdiction of the united states. Below are the steps you will probably have to go through, and the typical amount of time each one will take. To begin the citizenship process, immigrants will need to file the u. That is why, it is important to start the process as soon as you are eligible. It takes around 6 months to become a us citizen from the time you submit your application. But you need to have met all of the conditions for the entire three years, namely that. If the person seeking citizenship is married to a citizen, their wait may be as few as three years. Mar 22, 2016 the united states citizenship and immigration services uscis will process your application. In return, you are rewarded with all the rights and privileges that are part of u.

How can an undocumented immigrant become legal in the us. How long does it take to become a us citizen answers. Usually familybased, workbased, investment visa or diversity lottery. The process how long does it take to become a us citizen varies considerably according to how long youve spent in the us and under what circumstances, your country of origin, and whether members of your family are citizens or youve married a citizen. Uscis will send you a letter only once with the date and location of your interview, as well as a list of any documents that you must bring. Once your application for naturalization is filed, the approval time to become a us citizen varies by person and location. The process can take anywhere from a few months to a year or more. The person who would like to become an american citizen needs to establish residence in america for at least three years at a minimum. Assuming you stay married to and living with your u. For most applicants, there are three significant appointments during the naturalization process that help determine how long it takes to become a u. If you are 50 years or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 years, you can choose not to take the test the 5020 rule. At the time of the filing the application, have been a permanent resident in the united states for at least for five years or for at least three years if you meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a.

How long does it take to become a citizen after filing form n400. Learn more about how long it takes from application to interview and steps you can take to avoid delays. General requirements for naturalization call for the immigrant to. Becoming a united states citizen may take several years, depending on your individual situation. Jan 21, 2009 for basic eligibility to become a naturalized u.

Studying abroad changes a lot of the rules for how long you can stay in another country. Im a citizen, how long will it take for my brother to get. While five years is the amount of time that you need have been a permanent resident of the united states to become a us citizen, it is not accurate to say that it will take you five years to become a us citizen. However, since there are so many steps to complete to become. Does a k1 visa petitioner need to attend the consulate interview. The short answer is that it can take anywhere from 5 to 8 months. Aug 17, 2018 under trump, theres a growing wait to become a u. Be lawfully admitted permanent resident of the united states. Jun 19, 2018 once your application for naturalization is filed, the approval time to become a us citizen varies by person and location. Canadians have no leg up over other nationalities in becoming us citizens and have to follow one of the paths to citizenship that others do. Be at least 18 years old at the time of filing the application for naturalization, form n400.

The duration that it takes to become a us citizen is a worry for many, mainly because while your documents are being processed, you are not allowed to travel out of the country. Currently, it takes about 6 months to a year to get u. Most people must wait five years after getting a green card to apply for u. How long does it take to become a citizen after filing form n. Report for your naturalization ceremony and check in with uscis. Again, most lawful permanent residents must wait a full five years before applying for u.

The duration that it takes to become a us citizen is a worry for many, mainly because while your documents are being processed, you are. You dont have to wait until youve had a green card for five years to apply for citizenship through the process known as naturalization. Posted on march 4, 2017 by metro there arent many options for illegal immigrants looking to gain legal status. Again, note that you need to have lived with your spouse in the united states for three full years before applying for naturalization under the threeyear exception. Apr 01, 2010 us citizens can travel to most of the western hemisphere and europe without a visa.

You need to wait a mere three years to apply for u. The cost to become an american citizen is only offered by the ins, and therefore, the only price difference would be due to the added costs involved when applying for the citizenship. Complete the questionnaire on form n445, notice of naturalization oath ceremony. The average wait time is now 10 months, but some wait more than two years. After filing form n400, application for naturalization, the entire naturalization process will take 812 months for most people. However, you must first satisfy several requirements, from being married for at least three years to successfully completing the citizenship.

While the us citizenship and immigration services uscis does not restrict the processing of citizenship applications to a specific time frame, it is common for many applicants to be interviewed and approved for citizenship. How hard is it for a canadian to become a us citizen. If i do, how long does it take for him to get his status approved for he to come into the us territory. What are the costs of the marriage visa process in the united states. Apr 23, 2012 at the moment, the better question would be how to you become a legal resident, or get a green card and how long will that take. Jan 11, 2017 from getting a green card to taking the u. Also, if you are 55 years or older and have been a permanent resident for 15 years, you can be exempt from it the 5515 rule.

After all that long, hard work to become a naturalized citizen of the united states, you finally realized your dream. Becoming a us citizen how to apply for us citizenship. The united states government takes the position that unincorporated territories of the united states are not in the united states for purposes of the citizenship clause, and thus individuals born in those territories are only us citizens at birth if congress has passed a citizenship. The short answer is that it can take anywhere from 5 to 8 months between application and interview. Depending on where and when you choose to file your application, the period of time between sending in the completed application and the interview to become a u. For permanent residents who have established residency in the u. How to get us citizenship by marrying a us citizen legal. To learn more, check out our free guide to how to become a u. American citizens can remain abroad for the rest of their lives as long. It now takes twice as long to complete the citizenship application process as it did two years ago. United states citizenship and immigration services reports that as of march 2019, the overall national pass rate is 90%.

The actual citizenship application process can take from 6 months to as much as a year, or longer, even if you are already a permanent resident. Jan 18, 2019 section 319d of the ina provides for the naturalization of the surviving spouse of a u. Becoming a citizen means committing to the united states values and laws, and understanding not only the benefits but also the responsibilities. Jul 25, 2016 washington american regional center warc committed to providing sound investment opportunities for eb5 visa immigrants. Although the steps that take place are fairly consistent, the n400 processing time can vary significantly based on the uscis case load, the uscis office where you filed, and your ability. Also, find information on dual citizenship, how to get proof of your u. How long does it take to become a us citizen and its benefits. How much does it cost to become an american citizen. Perhaps most importantly, becoming a us citizen makes one immune from deportation and protects minor permanent resident children from possible deportation in the future minor children usually become us citizens automatically when the parent becomes a us citizen. Biometrics appointment uscis will schedule a biometrics appointment approximately 12 months after you file form n400.

Wait times for citizenship have doubled in the last two. Please answer a few questions to help us match you with attorneys in your area. Ninety days before those two years are up, you and your husband submit a joint petition on form i751, asking that the conditions on your residence be lifted, thus allowing you permanent residence. A slight mistake in your application equates to delays in processing, so make sure that this important first step is errorfree. Why does it take so long to become an american citizen. I was just reading a different question that has an answer that would help you. By clicking submit, you agree to the martindalenolo texting terms. If they take an active part in the american armed forces or are married to u.

The citizenship process actually starts when you first get your us green card. However, since there are so many steps to complete to become a us citizen, the us citizenship processing time can be quite long. What are the eligibility requirements to become a u. Citizen can vary from five months to more than two years. Once your citizenship application if filed, the approval time to become a u.