What preparation is required for citizenship application?

[lukefromireland]

I'm an Irish citizen. I married an American on January 5th 2018, we live in Los Angeles County and I was approved a conditional green card on August 23rd 2018. It's due to arrive next week.

Questions

1) The interviewer said USCIS would check up on us in 2 years because my GC is conditional. Is that 2 years from our marriage date or 2 years from the interview date?

2) Do USCIS issue me with another GC if everything is hunky dory in 2 years time? How long does that GC last?

3) Should I keep collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for when USCIS check up on us in 2 years time? Is there anything else I need to prepare?

4) Interviewer said I can apply for citizenship in 3 years time. What preparation is required? Does it cost money? Should I continue collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for that?

5) Will Ireland still allow me to renew my passport if I become a US citizen?

6) Is the option to get citizenship over renewing green cards a no-brainer?

Thank you very much,

Luke

[krypton9591]

I'm an Irish citizen. I married an American on January 5th 2018, we live in Los Angeles County and I was approved a conditional green card on August 23rd 2018. It's due to arrive next week.

Questions

1) The interviewer said USCIS would check up on us in 2 years because my GC is conditional. Is that 2 years from our marriage date or 2 years from the interview date?

2) Do USCIS issue me with another GC if everything is hunky dory in 2 years time? How long does that GC last?

3) Should I keep collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for when USCIS check up on us in 2 years time? Is there anything else I need to prepare?

4) Interviewer said I can apply for citizenship in 3 years time. What preparation is required? Does it cost money? Should I continue collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for that?

5) Will Ireland still allow me to renew my passport if I become a US citizen?

6) Is the option to get citizenship over renewing green cards a no-brainer?

Thank you very much,

Luke

Luke,

please see my answers as attached to your questions

Questions

1) The interviewer said USCIS would check up on us in 2 years because my GC is conditional. Is that 2 years from our marriage date or 2 years from the interview date? As far as I am aware it is two years from your approval date

2) Do USCIS issue me with another GC if everything is hunky dory in 2 years time? How long does that GC last? yes you can apply to remove conditions and get a 10 year non conditional green card

3) Should I keep collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for when USCIS check up on us in 2 years time? it doesn't hurt to do so. Is there anything else I need to prepare? this you would contact USCIS for

4) Interviewer said I can apply for citizenship in 3 years time. What preparation is required? You can always take practice tests to see if you would pass the ones given to you during the naturalization proces. Does it cost money? of course. there's no such thing as a free lunch. Should I continue collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for that? once again it doesn't hurt to do so, although much less nessescary if you apply after having your condtions removed.

5) Will Ireland still allow me to renew my passport if I become a US citizen? that depends on if Ireland allows Dual citizenship.

6) Is the option to get citizenship over renewing green cards a no-brainer? I personally think so.

Best of Luck and Wishes

[lukefromireland]

Thanks Krypton

Luke,

please see my answers as attached to your questions

Questions

1) The interviewer said USCIS would check up on us in 2 years because my GC is conditional. Is that 2 years from our marriage date or 2 years from the interview date? As far as I am aware it is two years from your approval date

2) Do USCIS issue me with another GC if everything is hunky dory in 2 years time? How long does that GC last? yes you can apply to remove conditions and get a 10 year non conditional green card

3) Should I keep collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for when USCIS check up on us in 2 years time? it doesn't hurt to do so. Is there anything else I need to prepare? this you would contact USCIS for

4) Interviewer said I can apply for citizenship in 3 years time. What preparation is required? You can always take practice tests to see if you would pass the ones given to you during the naturalization proces. Does it cost money? of course. there's no such thing as a free lunch. Should I continue collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for that? once again it doesn't hurt to do so, although much less nessescary if you apply after having your condtions removed.

5) Will Ireland still allow me to renew my passport if I become a US citizen? that depends on if Ireland allows Dual citizenship.

6) Is the option to get citizenship over renewing green cards a no-brainer? I personally think so.

Best of Luck and Wishes

[pmf123]

For me it was 2 years since marriage date - in my case interview took 2 years and 2 months, so got permanent card immediately.

you apply for removal of conditions 90 days before 2 year date. card lasts 10 years BUT your status is permanent, its only the card you renew so you can travel, etc. don't leave for more than 1 year without getting extended travel document, or that means you abandon your green card.

yes keep/update evidence for next interview

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/dual-citizenship

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I'm an Irish citizen. I married an American on January 5th 2018, we live in Los Angeles County and I was approved a conditional green card on August 23rd 2018. It's due to arrive next week.

Questions

1) The interviewer said USCIS would check up on us in 2 years because my GC is conditional. Is that 2 years from our marriage date or 2 years from the interview date?

2) Do USCIS issue me with another GC if everything is hunky dory in 2 years time? How long does that GC last?

3) Should I keep collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for when USCIS check up on us in 2 years time? Is there anything else I need to prepare?

4) Interviewer said I can apply for citizenship in 3 years time. What preparation is required? Does it cost money? Should I continue collecting evidence of a bonafide marriage for that?

5) Will Ireland still allow me to renew my passport if I become a US citizen?

6) Is the option to get citizenship over renewing green cards a no-brainer?

Thank you very much,

Luke

This is what the I-751 instructions state: "Submit copies of as many documents as you can to [...] demonstrate the circumstances of the relationship from the date of the marriage to the present date [...]"
See screenshot below. Remember that the I-751 is usually adjudicated at one of the Service Centers. It is only sent to your field office, if an interview is needed. The service center will not have the evidence of bona fide marriage that you submitted for AOS. So it's important that you send evidence since the date of your marriage.

They want to see a continuum. It's best to not have gaps. Even if it gets repetitive. That's the nature of evidence. They want to see consistency.

The US does not recognize dual citizenship. No one will ask you to surrender your Irish Passport, and unless you tell Ireland that you naturalized, they won't know. They will not care either, as Ireland does allow dual citizenship.

[pmf123]

You might want to reword that, its not that they dont recognize dual citizenship.. there is no law that mentions it so they have no opinion either way.

Ireland like UK allows it.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

You might want to reword that, its not that they dont recognize dual citizenship.. there is no law that mentions it so they have no opinion either way.

Ireland like UK allows it.

Per immigration findlaw "The United States does not formally recognize dual citizenship. However, it also has not taken any stand against it, either legally or politically." I.e., "The US does not recognize dual citizenship. No one will ask you to surrender your Irish Passport, and unless you tell Ireland that you naturalized, they won't know. They will not care either, as Ireland does allow dual citizenship."

[S_R_E]

From the US Department of State

https://travel.state.gov/content/trip-cancellation-insurance/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html