"US govt dont' trust their own employees and got ya examin for not 15 but 17 years before they actually gave you a resident status!! Worked for us govt for 17 years...humm so even if you started at the age 17 you are are 34 by now!! " 15 years according to the US government, but the American government "branch" I worked with in Nepal won't let you come here/apply until it's about 20 years. This is a fact. But some people take their chances.