By Debbie McGoldrick

“I divorced my husband last year. We were married for seven years and I received my green card and citizenship through him. I am hoping to marry my Irish boyfriend in the coming year, and he plans on living here with me. Is there any impediment to me acting as a sponsor for him, seeing as I obtained my status through an ex-American husband? Is there anything he could do to upset my plan, as we didn’t part on the best of terms? Am I somehow less of a U.S. citizen than someone born here?”

Not at all. You are a U.S. citizen, fortunately, and therefore there is nothing your ex-husband can do to prevent you from acting as a sponsor for your new husband.

You will be able to sponsor your boyfriend in the same way that your ex acted on your behalf — as an immediate relative, based upon marriage to a U.S. citizen.

This means that he will not be subject to a very lengthy wait, compared, at least, to other types of permanent resident categories. His green card will be issued on a conditional basis for two years, and just before that time the two of you will have to file a joint petition to have the condition removed and his status made permanent. You will likely remember the procedure from when you and your ex-husband did the same.

You are not “less” of a U.S. citizen, just because you are naturalized. That is, unless you are considering a run for U.S. president, as all candidates for the White House have to be born on U.S. soil. Other than that, there’s no difference at all between naturalized and born citizens.