How Soon Can I Apply For Citizenship Through Marriage?

To apply for U.S. citizenship by marriage, you must be a permanent resident (Green Card holder) for at least three years and have been physically present in the United States for at least 18 months (548 days) out of the 3 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application. If you stay married to and living with your U.S. citizen spouse, you can apply for U.S. citizenship three years from the original approval date of your conditional residence.

If you are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, you can become a lawful permanent resident based on your family relationship if you meet certain eligibility requirements. The timeline of U.S. citizenship after marriage can vary depending on the circumstances. For example, if the marriage breaks up or the couple stops living together, the immigrant must count a full five years from the date of approval for residence to apply to naturalize.

For Korean citizenship through marriage to a South Korean citizen, there are strict eligibility requirements that must be met. The foreign spouse must have been married to the South Korean citizen for at least two years and lived in the country for at least three years, with no criminal record and financial stability.

To be eligible for naturalization based on being a lawful permanent resident for at least five years, you must be at least 18 years old when you submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and show you have been a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States for at least five years. The spouse of a U.S. citizen filing for naturalization on the basis of their marriage may file the naturalization application up to 90 days before the date.

What is the next step after I-130 approval for spouse?

What happens after the I-130 is approved? Congratulations! If your I-130 is approved, USCIS agrees that your spouse can get a green card. Next, apply for an adjustment of status or an immigrant visa.

What does an I-130 approval mean? It means you’ve started the marriage-based green card application. If this is approved, it means that USCIS has agreed that your spouse can get a green card and that you have provided the necessary documents to prove you are married. You can then apply for an Adjustment of Status or an Immigrant Visa from a US consulate.

Do you have to wait 5 years to apply for citizenship?

To naturalize, you must be at least 18, a permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen), and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Can I file I-130 right after marriage?

If you marry overseas, you can file a Form I-130 for your new spouse.

How long does it take for I-130 to get approved for spouse in 2024?

The fee for Form I-130 is now $675 and it takes about 12 months to be approved. Filing and getting an I-130 approved doesn’t give you an immigration status. This is the first step in getting a green card. This article explains the cost, approval time, and steps to follow after submitting Form I-130.

I-130 processing times; Form I-130 used for; Form I-130 cost; Form I-130 eligibility; Form I-130 required documents; Alternative documents; What happens after the I-130 is approved?; I-130 FAQs; Boundless guides; Common marriage green card forms; Boundless reviews. The time it takes to get your I-130 petition approved in 2024 depends on two things:

How long after I-130 approval for green card?

USCIS sends your file to the NVC. This can take six to eight weeks after the I-130 is approved. The NVC will email you when it receives your case. If you’re on a waiting list, this delay won’t affect you much. You have to wait until your priority date is current and a visa becomes available before NVC can do anything. The NVC will send you a welcome letter 6 to 12 months before your priority date is current. If you’re an immediate relative or your visa is immediately available, the NVC will send your welcome letter shortly after it gets your file from USCIS. The welcome letter contains fee invoices, your case number, and the invoice number. You’ll need these numbers to apply for your visa, so write them down.

How can I get I-130 approved fast?

How can I speed up the I-130 processing time? There are a few ways to get approval quickly, but they aren’t guaranteed. To avoid delays, file a complete, error-free I-130 the first time. Once your I-130 petition is filed, there are a few other options:

File an expedite request with USCIS; contact your congressional representative; stay in touch with USCIS. Check the status of your petition online or by calling USCIS.

What is Form I-130 used for? By filing Form I-130 and providing the supporting documentation, you show you plan to sponsor an immigrant family member and understand the financial commitment.

Submitting the I-130 petition to USCIS is the first step to getting a family-based green card. It proves you have a real family relationship with the person you’re sponsoring for a green card and shows you’re willing to support them financially if they’re approved. This is especially important when getting a marriage-based green card.

Can I apply for citizenship 3 months before?

You must live in the USCIS district or state for at least three months before applying. A district is a geographical area served by one of the USCIS District Offices.

What is the fastest spouse visa in the USA?

Fiancé(e) and Spousal Visa Application Process and Timeline. If you want to get to the U.S. fast, the K-1 fiancé(e) visa is the fastest option. If you want a green card quickly, a marriage-based visa is faster. For details on the steps involved, see the K-1 Fiancé Visa and Marriage-Based Immigrant Visa application guides. Overview: K-1 visa processing times have slowed. The average time to get the first step done, USCIS approval of the Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), was between 6 and 15 months in early 2024.

How soon can my wife get a green card?

How long does it take to get a green card? How long it takes to get a green card depends on the type of application and USCIS processing times. A marriage green card can take 13.5–40 months. Even if you think you qualify for a family-based green card, you probably want to get it. Family-based green cards take time to get. Boundless can help you apply faster. Save 30 hours on your green card application. Start today!

How early can I apply for citizenship?

You can file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, 90 days before you complete your residence requirement if you are eligible for naturalization.

You must be a permanent resident for at least 5 years; or, 3 years if you are married to a US citizen.

For more information, see our USCIS Early Filing Calculator page. The fee for Form N-400 is on our Fee Schedule page.

Can my wife stay in the US while waiting for a green card?

Adjustment versus consular processing. Few people can choose between adjustment of status and consular processing. But some U.S. citizen spouses in the United States can choose. Most eligible spouses prefer to adjust their status. It lets the foreign spouse stay in the United States while waiting for the green card. Consular processing often results in quicker processing times. The couple may be separated. Each path has its own pros and cons. Read Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing for a detailed breakdown.

Inadmissible grounds. All green card applicants are checked for admissibility before entering the United States. If the applicant is already in the U.S., they are still checked for inadmissibility before becoming a permanent resident. People with a criminal or terrorist history, drug abuse, infectious diseases, or other characteristics will not be allowed to enter the U.S. The following list summarizes some of the major classes of inadmissibility. Sometimes a waiver is available.

How long does it take to process I-130 for spouse?

Current estimated times. The USCIS website says it takes about 10.8 months for a U.S. citizen to process an I-130 petition for a spouse or child, and about 25 months for a green card holder to process one for a spouse or child. The I-130 petition for an alien relative is important for those immigrating to the United States. This petition establishes a relationship between a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and a foreign national relative. It is the first step in the family-based immigration process. The processing time for the I-130 petition can vary. Factors that affect I-130 processing time include the number of applications waiting to be processed, the complexity of the case, and the workload of the USCIS office. USCIS says it can take five to twelve months to process an I-130 petition, but it often takes longer. Sometimes it takes over a year to process an I-130 petition, which is frustrating for those waiting for approval. Applicants should be patient and understand that processing times for I-130 petitions can be unpredictable. You can speed up the process by taking these steps. This means submitting a complete and accurate application, responding to requests for more information or documents, and checking the status of the application online.