Skip to content

Ready to get in? 🚀

Let's send some magic to your inbox!

Enter your email and you'll receive a Magic Link from apps@weycop.com to access your profile and track your cases. If you're an existing user, you'll go straight to your case list.

My path to citizenship Illustrative, from USCIS's official rules

Your path to U.S. citizenship

Pick the kind of case closest to yours and see the usual steps: the forms, the official rules and how long similar cases took. Change the answers and the path changes with them.

Illustrative · not legal advice
7 stepsForms: I-130, I-485, I-751, N-400
  1. Step 1

    Your relative files the I-130

    The petition proves the family relationship. It does not give status by itself.

    I-130 Cases I follow: ~19 monthsUSCIS: ~13 months Official source
  2. Step 2

    Apply for the green card in the U.S. (I-485)

    Adjustment of status: biometrics, possibly an interview, and the decision. Immediate relatives can often file it together with the I-130.

    I-485 Cases I follow: ~22 monthsUSCIS: ~7 months Official source
  3. Step 3

    Green card: permanent resident

    The "Resident since" date on your card is the date your years toward citizenship count from.

  4. Step 4

    Remove the conditions (I-751), if your card is conditional

    If you have been married less than 2 years on the day you get residence, the card is conditional for 2 years and you file the I-751 in the 90 days before it expires. Married 2 years or more by then: no I-751.

    I-751 Cases I follow: ~29 monthsUSCIS: ~23 months Official source
  5. Step 5

    Apply for citizenship (N-400) · 3 years as a resident

    After 3 years as a permanent resident, if you are still married to and living with your U.S. citizen spouse (a citizen for those 3 years); you can file up to 90 days early. You also need enough days physically in the U.S. and good moral character.

    N-400 Cases I follow: ~16 monthsUSCIS: ~10 months Official source
  6. Step 6

    Interview, English and civics test

    An officer reviews your application and gives the English and civics tests.

  7. Step 7

    Oath ceremony: U.S. citizen

    You become a citizen when you take the Oath of Allegiance.

Important This path is illustrative and general. It does not guarantee any result, it is not legal advice, and it does not represent USCIS. Every case is different: exceptions, past immigration history or the Visa Bulletin can change it. Before filing, check USCIS's official pages or get help from an attorney or accredited representative. Find legal services (USCIS) · USCIS naturalization eligibility tool

Rules checked against USCIS's official pages on 2026-10-03.

GreenBro

Questions about your path?

Ask me with your details and I'll answer with USCIS's official rules and the cases I follow.