Below you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If your question isn’t answered here, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
You must be at least 18 years old, have had a green card for at least 5 years (or 3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen), have continuous residence in the U.S., possess basic English skills, and demonstrate good moral character.
Yes, Greece allows dual citizenship, so you can retain both nationalities.
Yes, all children born in the U.S. automatically acquire American citizenship, except in cases where the parents are diplomats from foreign countries.
If you are a U.S. citizen, your child may obtain citizenship under sections 320 or 322 of the INA, depending on your residence and the amount of time you have lived in the United States.
If you are absent for more than 6 months, it may be considered a break in your continuous residence, which could affect your naturalization application.
Immediate relatives such as spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens can be sponsored with relatively short processing times. There are also other family-based categories with different waiting periods.
Processing time ranges from 15 to 17 months if the spouse is a U.S. citizen and you live in the United States. If you live outside the U.S., it may take longer.
There are three main paths: getting married outside the U.S. and applying for an immigrant visa, getting married in the U.S. on a tourist visa and returning to apply, or applying for a fiancé(e) visa (K-1) and marrying within 90 days of entering the U.S.
Yes, but the waiting times are longer compared to relatives who are U.S. citizens.
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication by the U.S. Department of State that shows which immigration petitions are being processed, based on priority dates and family-based categories.
The Visa Waiver Program allows stays of up to 90 days without a visa for certain countries, but it does not permit extensions or changes of status. The B-2 visa allows stays of up to 6 months and offers the possibility of extension or change of status.
No, working is not allowed on a tourist visa or under the Visa Waiver Program. To work legally in the U.S., you must have the appropriate work visa.
The main work visas include the H-1B for specialized workers, the O-1 for individuals with extraordinary abilities, the L-1 for intracompany transfers, and others. Learn more here.
The J-1 visa is for exchange visitors, such as students, trainees, and researchers. It requires approval from an authorized sponsor and may include a two-year home-country residency requirement.
The K-1 visa is for fiancés of U.S. citizens. The fiancé must marry the U.S. citizen within 90 days of arriving in the United States and then apply for a green card.
Yes, U.S. citizens and green card holders are required to file a tax return regardless of where they live.
FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) requires U.S. citizens to report foreign financial accounts and requires foreign financial institutions to report information about accounts held by U.S. clients.
Yes, there is a treaty between Greece and the United States aimed at avoiding double taxation and preventing tax evasion.
You must file an FBAR if you have one or more foreign bank accounts with a total balance exceeding \,000 at any point during the year.
Non-compliance can result in severe penalties: up to \,000 per violation for non-willful failure to file, and for willful failure, penalties can reach up to 50% of the account balance — or even criminal prosecution.
Yes, just like U.S. citizens, green card holders are required to report and pay taxes on their worldwide income.
Yes, but the renunciation process must be done officially through USCIS or a U.S. embassy, and a special tax return (“Exit Tax”) must be filed if certain criteria are met.
U.S. citizenship does not cancel Greek tax residency if you continue to reside in Greece. You must comply with tax obligations in both countries according to their national laws and the double taxation treaty between them.
The visa expiration date refers to your entry into the U.S., not the length of your stay. What matters is that you leave or extend your status before the expiration of your authorized stay, as indicated on your I-94 form.
