Do any of you know how long it takes to be an American citizen?
338136
That how the system is set...ridiculous. It is good only making it hard for good people to resume their lifes normally.
688059
It depends on a lot of factors.\n\nThere is a very strict procedure in obtaining citizenship through marriage.  First off a couple must file the appropriate paperwork with the INS prior to the marriage.  Once authorized there is usually a 90 day window to get married.  It can then take up to five years to be issued with a green card.  These last ten years.\n\nOnce the alien has a green card he/she can apply for citizenship.  It is easier to obtain citizenship the longer you remain the United States.\n\nIt is a complicated system and the best advice I can give is to seek out an immigration attorney and have a consultation.  There are so many loopholes and pitfalls in the system and a maze of paper work, forms, conflicting advice and fees.\n\nThe days are long gone when marrying an American made you a citizen.
748955
That depends on your location and circumstances and category you applied under! My green card only took a little under a year and a half!! I believe freedom is talking about citizenship ! That's something completely different!
806505
There is a law stating what constitutes American citizenship.  If you are born of an American Parent(s) or born on US territory (including territories that are not states) you are automatically as US citizen.  If you immigrate, register, take the required courses in English and US History, pass the tests, pass medical exam, after 10 years you can be made a Naturalized citizen.  Naturalized citizens can not become President (unless there is a change in the Constitution).\n\nIt is difficult for many Americans to break up a family (ie send one or both parents home and allow the US child to stay, or deny the US Child by having the child go home with its parents.  I think it's time to change that law to only children born of US citizenS, not just one US citizen.  Children of one US citizen get a front place in line to immigrate legally.
1019613
I know that there is an unusual volume of paper being processed as people who are qualified to become citizens become citizens and as others try to legalize their status.  \n\nI don't know specifically about naturalization papers.  However, typically you can get certified records within a couple of weeks.  However, things may be delayed, right now.
325622
If your wife is a US citizen and you filed for an I-751 when you arrived in the US to lift your 'conditional status' then you would have to wait 3 years to apply for citizenship. Once you have filed the initial paperwork, the process will take approximately 6 months to 1 year. It might take longer if there are complications in your case.\n\nIf your wife is NOT a US citizen and you both immigrated to the US, then you have to wait 5 years before applying for citizenship. Once you file the first set of paperwork, it should take approximately 6-12 months.\n\nhope this helps!
592162
If the American is marrying a woman from overseas and she wishes to stay in America, you need to apply for citizenship via marriage. You can consult the people at the American embassy, and you will receive forms. The process can take more than 7 years.
345589
i'd join-i'd love american citizenship without goin through the very expensive visa process that takes months n months
858008
That depends on your location! A place like LA or New York can take a long time! Smaller towns not so long! I filed mine in Portland Oregon and it took  a little under a year and a half! This was together with my permanent residence. US citizens do not have any advantage over permanent resident applicants!!
1133193
No, you can't . Most of these morons think that becoming a legal resident and citizen is an easy task, It's not.\nYou have to apply in your country of birth for legal residence,  doing so will take about seven to 10 years. to do that you must prove to have a clean record and have no convictions, you must show proof that you have the monetary capacity to live in your native land and pay for your food, clothing and place to live (which is a bit contradictory since most immigrants aim to come here because they lack this) after that you must have a background check and wait for this to clear. If you're lucky (and I do mean Lucky) you'll have an interview with someone at the American Embassy and depending on how that goes you may have to wait about a year to receive your "green card". All this is done while you live in your country, not here.\n\n\nGood luck
1170989
are you coming in with an immigrant vise or non-immigrant visa....b/c a non it probably would be 1-2 years at the most, Immigrnt would be good until you become a citizen...which takes 5 years unless you are getting married than it is 3 years until you are eligible to take the Citizenship tests
964654
first you got to apply for a green card...which should take only about 13 years....after that...fill out some more paperwork....then when you finally come to America at 52years of age...just wait 10 more years and your ready for social security!!!
618218
If you have been  a legal resident (or green card holder) for four years you can apply for  citizenship and wait for an interview. Once you passed you will wait for an oath ceremony date  which takes  an even  longer wait more especially now that there is surge for residents to become naturalized citizen. Just be sure that you had been a law abiding resident and paid taxes and not asked for public assistance.
547063
It depends.  If said foreign national remains married, then he or she is eligible to apply for citizenship after three years of receiving the green card.  If there is a divorce, however,  then the answer is five years.\n\n----\n\nFYI, the above people are wrong.
922718
It depends on how you become a citizen. Most citizens are born citizens, which happens to anyone born in the United States or US territory, unless they are born to a foreign diplomat and to anyone born to a US citizen as long as the parents lived in the US at some point.\n\nTo naturalize as a citizen, you must first somehow become a permanent resident, which can happen a large number of ways. You must then remain in the United States aside from short vacations for a particular number of years, depending on the basis for your permanent residence, apply for citizenship, and take a test.
889870
American Citizens, Naturalized Citizens, and Permanent residents however as a Permanent Resident the process is very very lengthy Check here for more info. . http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis...
396075
I can't tell you when you will get a reply from INS, I can tell you that I had a similar experience.  It took over two years (AFTER my interview that I passed) before I was contacted to attend a naturalization ceremony.  I am Moroccan and was told the same thing as you, that it was the FBI check they were waiting for.  I contacted ACLU and my local representatives who made contacts with INS and FBI on my behalf.  I don't really know whether it helped or not but I did finally swear in and get my citizenship.  There is hope, but you may need to push them.  INS is all politics, so get your representatives involved.  On the other hand, if  you know you have a criminal history anywhere in the world or have been suspected of any crime, you may wait for a very long time, much longer than you have already.  \nI say, contact outside organizations that are there to help you, like ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) or a State Rep., even an attorney (make sure you get a well known Immigration attorney if you do this).  But keep your hopes up and keep up the inquiries!