Immigration
The Road to Citizenship: Green Card Path
The most common path to citizenship begins with receiving a Green Card. After obtaining a Green Card and possessing it for 5 or more years while living in the United States, the permanent resident can then apply for naturalization to become a citizen.
Once a citizen has his or her Green Card, 5 years later, the process is essentially the same: complete paperwork and then await approval.
Leading up to that, though, there are requirements you must comply with during the 5-year period:
You must be 18 or older.It will take almost 7 years to complete the Green Card process. Applying for naturalization potentially adds another 8–12 months or longer, bringing the total to 8 years or longer to receive citizenship.
This process is costly not only in terms of time but also money. To process an application for naturalization, it will cost an additional $725. If you remain a permanent resident, the fee can be estimated at around $7,680 over a lifetime.
It is important to note that many applications get denied, even for simple errors. It is important to reach out for assistance if needed during the process. The team at Joey Gilbert Law is always ready and willing to provide assistance and help you achieve citizenship.
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