When does my residence time for citizenship start counting?

In the EB-5 program, the residence time that counts toward citizenship begins when the investor (and their dependents) becomes a lawful permanent resident. The reference date is the green card date: that is when the naturalization clock starts running.

Periods lived before that date under other immigration statuses are generally not added for this purpose. After obtaining the green card, you must meet requirements of continuous residence and physical presence for a set period before you can apply for naturalization.

Keeping a careful record of trips and absences from the United States helps prove that these requirements were met, avoiding questions during the citizenship application review.

Since the exact timeframes and criteria vary by situation and may change, it is worth confirming the updated rules with USCIS and reviewing your case with a qualified professional before counting on a specific date.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.