Can an asylee apply for us citizenship?

Question

My friend has been granted asylum in the US in May 2003.He applied for adjustment of status 2 years later. He finally got his permanent resident card in March 2007. Now he wants to apply to become a US citizen but <<you have to wait 5 years before you could do that>> he only has 2 years with his green card. He heard that he could be eligible because he had the asylum status for more than 5 years even though his green card is only 2 years old. Can he send his application and will it be approved on those grounds?

Answer 1

He must have his green card for a minimum of 5 years before he can apply.  Since he got his card in March 2007, he can apply after March 2012.

Answer 2

If his Asylee status period was credited towards his PR status, it would have been reflected on his green card approval date.

He will be eligible for Citizenship on 90 days priori to the 5th year anniversary of his green card approval date written on the card. So the first day he can apply is December 2011.