Marriage after applying for Citizenship

[sol_09]

Have a tricky situation.

I am eligible for citizenship and planning to apply this month. It roughly takes about 9-10 months in my state.
I was planning on getting married by Jan next year. My spouse is not in US.

Can I get married while my application is under process?

Thanks in Advance!

[Nick757]

Get your Citizenship first and than get married. It's easier and less hassle unless you're afraid that the bride will runaway 😁

[SuperSanta]

You can but you shouldn't.

There's two reason why you shouldn't:

- It can complicate your naturalisation application.
- It can complicate your spouse's visa application.

Since I assume your intent is to bring your partner into the US, as a spouse. It looks better for that application if you were naturalised before the marriage (so she is then marrying a naturalised citizen, rather than marrying a permanent resident who then gets naturalised at some indeterminate point between marriage and visa application).

None of this is illegal, and likely wouldn't cause either one to get denied. It just requires an awkward explanations on the forms and during the interview. For example, they'll spot that your marriage date is before your naturalisation date and flag it, then ask about it. Spousal visas are very painful, the more you can simplify and streamline that process the better, even if it means waiting a month or two before marrying.

[sol_09]

Thanks SuperSanta!

Instead of them spotting - I can myself file for I-130 post wedding in January while on my GC while waiting for citizenship.
Once I become a citizen, can I inform USCIS about my status change for my I130 application which ideally should expedite the processing?
Is that an option?

According to my lawyer, it takes approx 2 years if I file on GC vs 8 months when I file as a citizen to bring my spouse here.
But I-130 processing is common for both cases.

Thanks in Advance!

[suziq38]

If I were you, I would not even risk getting married right now. I would wait until I became an American Citizen.

What is the rush?

Which is more important right now?
It is your decision. I am not a lawyer, so I don't give legal advice.

I live in California, and right now the wait time once the immigrant has filed the N400 is about 2-3 months.
I was seeing longer wait times last year.

[sol_09]

Thanks for your advise.

I live in California too. My lawyer told me it might take somewhere between 5-9 months. Although he said he has seen cases where people did get processed within in 4 months.

I have recently submitted my N400 and waiting. Wedding is on hold for now.