How long do you need to be married to a U.S. citizen to apply for citizenship?

To apply for U.S. citizenship through marriage to a U.S. citizen, an individual must typically have been married for at least three years. This is significant because it reflects the requirement designed to ensure that the marriage is genuine and not simply for immigration benefits. Additionally, the applicant must have lived in marital union with the U.S. citizen spouse for at least three years and meet other criteria, such as being a lawful permanent resident for the same duration.

While options that suggest one, five, or ten years are related to various aspects of residency and citizenship requirements, they do not pertain specifically to the spousal application process. The one-year option does not align with the specified timeline for a marriage-based application, while five years is the period for individuals applying based on residency rather than marriage. The ten-year option exceeds the necessary duration for demonstrating the authenticity and stability of the marriage in relation to citizenship application. Thus, three years is the correct period required for applying for citizenship through a U.S. citizen spouse.