thinbrit

I had my N-400 interview today and passed. They offered me the naturalization ceremony the same afternoon! All 134 of us had been interviewed in the morning and had the ceremony in the afternoon. 38 countries were represented.
I'm now a US citizen.
My green card was not even 3 years old! 2 weeks to go on it (I applied based on marriage, and applied 90 days before it expired) - is this a B.E. record ?

Noorah101

Congratulations! You had a VERY speedy N-400 process!

Rene

leopards

When you say green card do you mean after the conditional period? Or does your three years include the conditional years also?

Noorah101

When calculating the time as a PR until you can file an N-400 for naturalization, the time as a Conditional PR counts.

Rene

Matthew Udall

2 weeks to go on it before you filed the N-400, or 2 weeks to go on it as of the day you took the oath?

Edit: So, you filed 90 days early. Does that mean you applied the "file 90 days early as that realtes to the Continuous Residence" excpetion?

leopards

Really I was always under the impression you had to hold the LPR for 3 years which didn't include the conditional. So it's possible to apply for citizenship 3 years after you get approved for your conditional?

Noorah101

All I can tell you is that the clock starts ticking towards naturalization when you become a PR. If you first become a CPR, then yes, count from that date.

You do not have to wait until conditions are removed, you become an LPR, and THEN start counting towards naturalization.

Rene

Noorah101

I was browsing through your past posts, and I know you first had a conditional GC, and applied for the removal of conditions.

Which GC are you talking about in your quote above, that you say your GC was not even 3 years old? The first conditional GC is only good for 2 years, and then you receive a 10-year card. Do you just mean your PR status was not even 3 years old yet?

I know you can file the N-400 up to 90 days before your 3rd anniversary as a PR, but I didn't know you could actually become a USC before you have been a PR for a full 3 years.

Also, had you been married to your USC spouse for a FULL 3 years when you filed the N-400?

Rene

Folinskyinla

Hi:

If you mean that you just took the oath two weeks short of the three years of lawful permanent residence, I wonder why you have the sign rather than the sign. If that happened, I am of the opinion that this error will be difficult to correct.

Please clarify exactly what you meant by the times you give. Do remember that the plastic I-551 is not the same as admission to permanent residence. Even if DHS made the error of scheduling the oath two early [if that is, in fact, what happened] it is not their problem, it is yours.

BTW, 319(b) and 329 naturalizations are quicker.

Rete

Then you are under the incorrect impression. You are eligible to apply for naturalization 90 days before the 3rd anniversary of your becoming a PR (conditional counts) if based on marriage and continued valid marriage to a USC or 90 days before the 5th anni of your PR status (conditional counts as well) (might have been married to a USC and received CPR status and then removed condition but divorced before you could apply under the 3 year rule).

The rule is that you are allowed to file 90 days before the anniversary of your PR status and I'm assuming only that the OP is not a USC since he has not been a PR for 3 years at the time of his naturalization ceremony.

I base that assumption on the fact that while you can file, you must meet all the eligibility requirements before having the oath ceremony. IMHO, I would make an infopass appointment and find out whats what before I go and apply for a US Passport.

thinbrit

I held my green card for a total of just less than 3 years. 2 of which were conditional.

90 days before the 3 year anniversary of my green card, the date that says "Resident since" I sent off my N-400 application. I had been married for over 3 years by this time. All well within the 90 days I had my biometrics, interview and oath.

After leaving the interview this morning and between going back for the oath ceremony this afternoon, I realized I had not been a PR for 3 FULL years. I got all panicked and called the USCIS help line. I spoke to an agent and explained the full details. He said (I took his agent number), I was eligible to apply 90 days before the 3 year anniversary, and if I was offered to take the oath within that period then this was permitted. I reiterated I had not been a PR for 3 full years and was told this was not a problem.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

So you were admitted to citizenship prematurely. It may be that you would never have a problem, but one never knows. I've never seen this happen and I really don't know to fix it. But I think you should take care of it sooner rather than later.

Good luck.

leopards

Maybe I misunderstood the rules of the game but a green card based on marriage requires 5 years including conditional GC time before you can apply for citzenship right? If not could you link the uscis site where you found the 3 year stipulation.

Noorah101

You misunderstood. It is 5 years if you are NOT married to a USC. It is 3 years if you ARE married to a USC.

I don't have the link handy, but I'm sure it's on www.uscis.gov somewhere. Check on there for the USCIS Guide to Naturalization, it should be in there.

Rene

leopards

Thanks Rene as always you're most helpful.