My friend is from mexico (here w/ a visa) and has been married for about 7-8 yrs to a guy from here (U.S) how?

Question

long before she become a citizen?

Answer 1

What type of visa? If she hasn't received a green card then she can not be a citizen. She has to have a green card for 3 years before she can apply for citizenship.

Answer 2

It doesn't happen automatically.  Your friend must apply to become a citizen.  She has been here long enough to apply.

Answer 3

It is 5 years along with a lot of personal intreviews to go through

Answer 4

She is eligible now, absent any criminal record.

In general, you may apply for U.S. Citizenship or Naturalization if:

   1. You have been a lawful permanent resident for five years.

   2. You have been a lawful permanent resident for three years, have been married to a US citizen for those three years, and continue to be married to that US citizen.;

   3. You are a lawful permanent resident child of United States citizen parents: or

   4. You have qualifying military service.

They must have been physically present for at least 30 months of 60 months prior to the date of filing their application. Also during those 60 months if the legal permanent resident was outside of the U.S. for a continuous period of 6 months or more they are disqualified from naturalizing (certain exceptions apply for those continuous periods of six months to 1 year).

They must be a "person of good moral character", and must pass a test on United States history and government. Most applicants must also have a working knowledge of the English language.

There are exceptions, introduced in 1990, for long-resident older applicants and those with mental or physical disabilities.

Answer 5

If she is married to a UC citizen she was eligible to file 3 years after she became a legal US resident (Green Card holder.)  She will need to file form N-400 (there will be additional paperwork) get her fingerprints done by Immigration Services and pass an interview with a test.  For more info look here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/m...

Answer 6

she should ask INS