Columbus Business Daily

How many years does it take for one to obtain citizenship after Marrying an American citizen?

How many years does it take to obtain citizenship if a legal immigrant with a student visa has married an American citizen? Do they have to live in American all the years that it takes or can they go back overseas to live for some time and their application still be processed? Please describe the naturalization process steps that one must go through to obatin citizenship and how one applies for this. Thank you. Have a nice day.

Public Comments

1. First you will have to get green card. Three years after getting the green card you will get a citizenship You will get permanent residency mostly within a year. Yes you can go back and stay with advance Parole while you are in green card process. You can also apply green card from you home country.
2. I agree with Raju you must fist become a permanent resident first then after 3 years you can apply for citizenship. Make sure you have a good moral character and don't do anything that can affect your process believed me the INS are very strict.
3. About 4 depending on if you have anything sketchy in your background & you can afford the process. It costs a couple thousand dollars. No you can't go live overseas & then comeback. If your case calls for it you might have to go back to your home country for a mandatory period of time. It sounds like you're trying to marry someone for school purposes. Don't do it. You'll graduate before you get your citizenship.