Naturalization
A Legal Permanent Resident who has resided in the U.S. for five years may apply for Naturalization by proving the qualifying residency, moral character, complying with the biometric requirments, passing a citizenship test, and being approved at an interview.
Naturalization
A Legal Permanent Resident who is married to a USC and has resided in the U.S. for three years may apply for Naturalization by proving the qualifying residency, marital status, moral character, complying with the biometric requirments, passing a citizenship test, and being approved at an interview.
It is important for Green Card holders to establish residency and apply for Naturalization at the earliest opportunity afforded. Green Card holder have obligations that a Citizen does not have – residency is one obligation, for example. A U.S. Citizen may be born abroad and live his or her whole life outside of the United States and still maintain his or her citizenship. However, if a Green Card holder travels outside of the U.S. and is delayed abroad for a period of over one year without first obtaining a Reentry Permit, his or her Permanent Residency is deemed abandoned and the Green Card is no longer valid (notwithstanding any further validity appearing on the face of the Green Card).
Proving residency is not easy for someone who works and resides abroad for extended periods of time. In such case, it may not only be impossible to raise the burden of proof necessary for purposes of Naturalization, but also jeopardizes the actual Green Card / Permanent Residency Status. Permanent Residency is proven by strong evidence that a person’s life is actually centered in the United States. When you actually reside in the United States this is not difficult to prove. Evidence of Employment, Physical Dwelling, Family Ties, Accounts, Memberships, Tax Returns and other evidence is easily gathered. When a person resides most of the time abroad this evidence won’t be readily available.