If I’m a 17 year old female student who came to the U.S. 3 1/2 years ago, am I able to apply for citizenship now, apply when I’m 18, or wait until I’ve been here for 5 years?
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If I’m a 17 year old female student who came to the U.S. 3 1/2 years ago, am I able to apply for citizenship now, apply when I’m 18, or wait until I’ve been here for 5 years?
Neither of my parents have citizenship here and neither do I. We all have green cards though and I have attended middle school and am now in my third year of high school.
Asked on January 22, 2016 under Immigration Law, Massachusetts
Answers:
SB Member California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
No, you are not eligible for citizenship just because you have been in the US for a while. You have to be a permanent resident for 5 years of which at least 2.5 have to be spent physically present in the US in order to qualify for naturalization. What is your current immigration status in the US?
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