Citizenship after marriage?

SField · Feb 25, 2009

How does it work when a foreign national marries a US citizen? When do they become one, and what kind of paperwork is involved?

globetrotter · Feb 25, 2009

How does it work when a foreign national marries a US citizen? When do they become one, and what kind of paperwork is involved?

there are several variables - where do they live? has the US citizen lived his whole life in the US?

SField · Feb 25, 2009

there are several variables - where do they live? has the US citizen lived his whole life in the US?

no, I have lived extended periods in the UK, France, and Kenya (one or a few years each). The other person is a french citizen.

Shikar · Feb 25, 2009

I married my wife (non-US Cit. on a J1 visa for residency/fellowship), filed paperwork...took about 2-3 years for her Perm. Resident (aka old Green Card) to come in. She did get work permit in 6 months. Her J1 threw a wrench in the works and was tough to work around.

Regards.

globetrotter · Feb 25, 2009

no, I have lived extended periods in the UK, France, and Kenya (one or a few years each). The other person is a french citizen.

ok, talking about you? if you are here, it is easier. it can be a ***** when you are living abroad. I think that the short answer is that once they have lived in the US legally for 5 years, they can get citizenship. the marridge gets them the green card, unless they already have one. in which case I don't know if the marridge moves anything faster.

with my wife, we got her a green card while we were living outside of the country, and because I hadn't lived enough of my life in the US, we needed to jump through some special hoops.

SField · Feb 25, 2009

ok, talking about you? if you are here, it is easier. it can be a ***** when you are living abroad. I think that the short answer is that once they have lived in the US legally for 5 years, they can get citizenship. the marridge gets them the green card, unless they already have one. in which case I don't know if the marridge moves anything faster.

with my wife, we got her a green card while we were living outside of the country, and because I hadn't lived enough of my life in the US, we needed to jump through some special hoops.

Well I know she has to have some type of visa or green card because she has had short term contracts/professional engagements in NYC and LA on and off for the last 6 years or so. She is not a permanent resident but she did live in NYC for about a year. I'm assuming she'd just get a green card if we got married then she'd need 4-5 years to naturalize?

globetrotter · Feb 25, 2009

. I'm assuming she'd just get a green card if we got married then she'd need 4-5 years to naturalize?
that's the way it works if you start out outside the US, I have no reason to believe it isn't the same if she is already here. it might work faster.

gdl203 · Feb 25, 2009

I'm assuming she'd just get a green card if we got married then she'd need 4-5 years to naturalize?
That's how I've seen things unfold with my friends.

You're marrying a French chick?

SField · Feb 25, 2009

That's how I've seen things unfold with my friends.

You're marrying a French chick?

She's French/Russian who immigrated to Israel with her parents but for quite a while has lived in Paris.

Fuuma · Feb 25, 2009

Well I know she has to have some type of visa or green card because she has had short term contracts/professional engagements in NYC and LA on and off for the last 6 years or so. She is not a permanent resident but she did live in NYC for about a year. I'm assuming she'd just get a green card if we got married then she'd need 4-5 years to naturalize?

Thar's how it went for friends so unless it changed...

globetrotter · Feb 25, 2009

She's French/Russian who immigrated to Israel with her parents but for quite a while has lived in Paris.

cool, sounds like a great potential for culture

Fuuma · Feb 25, 2009

She's French/Russian who immigrated to Israel with her parents but for quite a while has lived in Paris.

Russian/French/Jewish!!!??? You're never gonna live through the guilt trips.

dkzzzz · Feb 25, 2009

She's French/Russian who immigrated to Israel with her parents but for quite a while has lived in Paris.

In other words she is Jewish?

MrG · Feb 25, 2009

I learned all of this when I married a foreigner.

Marriage gets you permanent resident status (a "green card") immediately, and it waives the residency requirement for naturalization. Ordinarily you have to live in the U.S. for a certain number of years as a resident alien before you become eligible for citizenship. However, marrying a citizen waives this portion of the requirement. You still have to go through the process of applying and becoming naturalized, but you don't have to wait years to do it.

So, if you marry a citizen you're immediately allowed to live here, and you don't have to wait around to be naturalized. It does not, however, grant one immediate citizenship, there is still a process.

gdl203 · Feb 25, 2009

In other words she is Jewish?
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Citizenship after marriage?

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