Applying for US Citizenship

[K S]

We received our GC in Sep. 2002 and lived in the US continuously until Aug 2005. We have lived in the US from 1994 - 2005 through our F1 --> H1B --> GC. However, we left the US in 2005, applied for re-entry permit twice but eventually did not renew our GC when it expired in 2012. We also got a visitor visa to enter the US. We have since relocated back to the US in Mar 2020 on an employment visa (L1A), received our GC again in Sep 2021. 

The A number for the new GC is exactly the same as the old one. 

Question: Since the A numbers are the same, and in total we have more than 5 years of Post Green Card residency in the US, can we apply for citizenship sooner than the 4 years 9 months that would normally apply?

[pontevecchio]

I would suspect not. The Original GC was abandoned.

[JoeF]

The A# is the same because it really is just the number of your file.

You can nor use the time on the previous GC.

[Attorney_6]

On 12/31/2023 at 7:10 PM, K S said:

We received our GC in Sep. 2002 and lived in the US continuously until Aug 2005. We have lived in the US from 1994 - 2005 through our F1 --> H1B --> GC. However, we left the US in 2005, applied for re-entry permit twice but eventually did not renew our GC when it expired in 2012. We also got a visitor visa to enter the US. We have since relocated back to the US in Mar 2020 on an employment visa (L1A), received our GC again in Sep 2021. 

The A number for the new GC is exactly the same as the old one. 

Question: Since the A numbers are the same, and in total we have more than 5 years of Post Green Card residency in the US, can we apply for citizenship sooner than the 4 years 9 months that would normally apply?

No, previous period spent in the U.S. as an LPR does not count. You will have to wait at a minimum 4 years and 9 months before being eligible for your citizenship, assuming all other requirements are met.

[K S]

Thanks all for the confirmation. I agree that is fair. I was hoping it could be sooner, but that is wishful thinking

[muthukrishnan]

I am new visa first time vist need visa B1/B2 how to applied 

[pontevecchio]

Visas - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India (usembassy.gov)

Please start your own thread next time.