Simulation

When Can You Apply for and Get U.S. Citizenship

With a green card granted in June 2025, the general 5-year rule lets you file N-400 around March 2030 and take the Oath near early 2031 (assuming ~10 months of processing). If you are married to a U.S. citizen, the 3-year rule moves both gates up by about two years - file around March 2028, oath near early 2029. The simulator shows both clocks side by side so you can see exactly how much the marriage rule accelerates the path and where each milestone falls.

Results

Visualization

VisaFig provides general estimates for informational and educational purposes only. U.S. immigration law is complex and outcomes depend on individual facts, current forms, and the monthly Visa Bulletin cutoffs published by the U.S. Department of State, which we do not model here. Government filing fees reflect the DHS 2024 Fee Rule (effective April 1, 2024) and the November 2025 EB-5 court stay, and they change over time - always confirm the exact current fee with the official USCIS Fee Calculator (uscis.gov/fees) before filing. Nothing on this site is legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative for your specific case.

How It Works

We start from your green card grant date and add the statutory residency clocks. The general rule (INA 316) is 5 years minus the 90-day early-filing window, or 57 months; the marriage rule (INA 319) is 3 years minus 90 days, or 33 months. We then add an assumed N-400 processing period to reach the estimated Oath date. The simulator computes both paths from the same green card date so you can compare them directly. Physical-presence and continuous-residence requirements are not plotted but are explained in the advice - they can delay a real eligibility even when the simple clock says you qualify.

What Should You Do?

The dates here are the earliest possible under the residence rules, not a promise. Two statutory conditions can push your real eligibility later. First, continuous residence: a trip of more than 6 months creates a rebuttable presumption you abandoned it, and more than 12 months generally breaks it unless you filed Form N-470 before leaving. Second, physical presence: you need about 30 months physically in the U.S. during the 5 years (or 18 months during 3). Also, the 3-year rule requires you to remain married to and living with the same U.S. citizen spouse through the oath - a divorce or separation before then drops you back to the 5-year clock. Finally, N-400 processing varies sharply by field office, so use a conservative number if yours is slow. Verify your specific situation with an attorney before relying on these dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there two clocks?

Because the law gives two residence paths: 5 years generally (INA 316) and 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen (INA 319). The simulator shows both from your single green card date.

What is the 90-day early filing?

USCIS lets you submit N-400 up to 90 days before completing the full residency period, so we use 57 months instead of 60 for the general rule and 33 instead of 36 for the marriage rule.

Does the 3-year rule need the citizen spouse at the oath too?

Yes. You must still be married to and living with the same U.S. citizen spouse when you file and when you take the Oath. If that ends earlier, you fall back to the 5-year rule.

How accurate is the processing estimate?

It is an input you control. USCIS field offices range widely; check your office's published processing time and use the higher end if you want a safe plan.

Do trips abroad break the clock?

They can. Over 6 months raises a presumption of abandonment; over 12 months generally breaks continuous residence absent an N-470. Track all travel.

What about physical presence?

You must be physically in the U.S. about 30 of the 60 months (5-yr rule) or 18 of 36 (3-yr rule). Long overseas stays can fail this even if residence is unbroken.