American citizenship?

Question

I am an Italian citizen and I married an American woman. We are happily married and we live in Italy.
The Italian law says that a non Italian have the right to have the Italian citizenship by marriage after 6 month of wedding if you live in Italy or after 3 years if you live outside Italy.
Is there a similar law also in the US?
May I apply for the American citizenship because I am married with an American woman even if we don't live in the USA?

Answer 1

No, sorry. US laws works differently from Italian.

Marriage does not confer citizenship under US immigration and naturalization law. And you cannot become a US citizen if you haven't lived in the US, unless you acquire citizenship from a parent.

The only way you could become an American citizen would be for her to file an immigrant petition for you, you both to go and live in the US for the prescribed number of years, and then apply for naturalization.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, no. Your wife can apply for a spouse visa for you. You will have to wait some months, perhaps more than a year for an interview. Once you are granted the visa, you must move to the US or you will lose your residency permit. Then, after 5 years, which really comes to about 7 after all the waiting, you can get your citizenship. It is very long and complicated. That is why I haven't begun the procedures for my husband. I wish it were as simple as it is in Italy.

Good luck to you and congratulations on your marriage.

Answer 3

You may apply for citizenship. You will have to take a test and go through some other checks but you'll stand a better chance of expediting the process as you've already been married for a while and have been living abroad. Check with your local US consulate or online for the forms.

Answer 4

I think that you are an American Citizen whenever you marry an American. My question is - why do you want to establish dual-citizenship if you are not going to live in the U.S.?