Ok, I am curious about obtaining US citizenship. I am a permanent resident in the US with a valid greencard. I am able to live here all my life if I want to. I was born in the UK & have a valid UK/ EU passport. My boyfriend of 7 years is a natural-born US citizen. When we get married, am I automatically entitled to US citizenship or is it a similar process to applying on my own? Any info is appreciated.
2006-09-20 08:07:06 · 13 answers · asked by jit bag 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Marrying a citizen does not confer citizenship on the immigrant, they still have to apply for naturalization.
If you are a permanent resident and have been for 5 years you are eligible to apply for citizenship. If you marry a resident you are eligible for citizenship. Under reason for ellibility to apply most immigration lawyers advise their clients to check the box that they have been here for 5 years as it indicates desire to stay.
2006-09-20 08:15:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are not automatically entitled to US citizenship - you have to apply for it, similar to if you applied on your own. I think if you have in the U.S. as a permanent resident for more than 5 years, you can become naturalized. I think if you are married to a U.S. citizen, the wait time is shorter. But you still have to apply for it - you don't just get it.
2006-09-20 15:11:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is a similar process. There is nothing "automatic" about it. You still have to apply for the citizenship and pass the test. The only difference is that the you are eligible to apply after three years, not 5 as it would be if you weren't married to a citizen. But it is three years since getting married (in your case), not since you received your green card.
2006-09-20 15:15:47 · answer #3 · answered by n0body 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have to apply, either way. If you have been a resident for 5 years, you may just want to apply on your own. Up to you. You should check the immigration web page or call, though, because most people who want to become a citizen after being married don't yet have green cards, necessarily.
2006-09-20 15:27:53 · answer #4 · answered by DAR 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hate to tell you this, but you have been given a lot of bad info here. Being married to a US citizen, you can apply for citizenship 3 years minus 90 days from the date of your green card!!!!
My wife is a Russian and the date on her green card is Feb. 19 2004 and she can apply in November of this year....90 days before that three year date.
2006-09-20 15:23:58 · answer #5 · answered by DuaneLaugh 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know (and I've done a lot of research on this cause I myself am a foreigner), once you get married to a US citizen, you are automatically a US citizen AFTER SOME TIME. You'll probably be visited by the immigration authorities, asked xyz questions to make sure you didn't get married just for the citizenship. Unless, when you get married, all this changes.
2006-09-20 15:15:41 · answer #6 · answered by manojl17 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You will have to go through the naturalization process, but there will be no obsticles. If you are a spouse of an American Citizen, you will be on the fast track through the system.
I wonder if, as a descendent of a British subject in a former colony of the UK, I would be given prefered status if I wanted to move to Cornwall?
We Americans are proud to have you Brits here. Our ancestors came back from WWII with nothing but good to say about your people.
Good luck!
2006-09-20 15:18:53 · answer #7 · answered by Suzianne 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you are not automatically a citizen. If you would like to become a citizen, you must go through the application- and waiting of becoming a citizen. However, because your spouse is a citizen already and you obviously have no alterior motives for marriage(you can stay here as long as you want anyway), it will be easier for you to become a citizen because of your marriage to him.
2006-09-20 15:16:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you are easier to just apply for your citizenship. You are already legal here. if you were illegal here, marrying him would just get your green card anyway
2006-09-20 15:15:19 · answer #9 · answered by RB 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my brother-in-law has been married to my sister for about 13 years, and hes still is a german citizen he never gave up his citizen ship, its actual something you have to apply for, my bro inlaw is lazy
2006-09-20 15:27:20 · answer #10 · answered by Quasar1 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋