How long does an immigrant have to wait to apply for citizenship?

The time frame to apply for citizenship as an immigrant in Washington depends on the individual’s particular circumstances. Generally, a person must be physically present in the United States as a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for a minimum of five years before they can qualify to apply for citizenship. If applying through marriage to a U.S. citizen, three years of physical presence generally satisfies the residency requirement. In addition to establishing residence within the statutory time frame, applicants must have been living in the same state for at least three months prior to filing their naturalization application. The applicant must also prove that they have lived continuously within the United States for at least five years immediately prior to the application, or three years if applying through marriage. The applicant must also demonstrate that they are knowledgeable about U.S. government and history, and that they possess good moral character. To prove all of the above, applicants must pass the required citizenship tests, which may vary by state. Overall, it typically takes five or more years for an immigrant to wait for citizenship, depending on their particular circumstances. However, the particular length of time varies, depending on the individual’s residency, knowledge of the United States, and other factors.

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Para un inmigrante que vive en Washington, generalmente hay cinco maneras de convertirse en un ciudadano de los Estados Unidos. La Ley de Inmigración de los Estados Unidos requiere que un individuo cumpla con los requisitos de estatus de residencia apropiados. La mayoría de los inmigrantes requieren una residencia legal permanente antes de solicitar la ciudadanía. Esta residencia legal permanente se obtiene a través de un proceso de inmigración conocido como ‘estatus de residencia’. Una vez que los inmigrantes reciben su estatus de residencia, tienen que pasar una cantidad de tiempo específica en los Estados Unidos antes de poder solicitar la ciudadanía. En la mayoría de los casos, los inmigrantes tendrán que esperar al menos cinco años antes de que puedan comenzar el proceso de ciudadanía. Sin embargo, es posible que los inmigrantes que estén casados con ciudadanos estadounidenses tengan que esperar solo tres años para aplicar. Una vez que hayan cumplido el plazo de espera, los inmigrantes tendrán que pasar un examen de ciudadanía, presentar documentación adicional y asistir a una entrevista con un oficial de inmigración antes de que puedan convertirse en ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos.

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How long does an immigrant have to wait to apply for citizenship?

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