We are preparing our AOS paperwork and the I-485 is asking about membership in any organization or communist party/affiliated membership since the age of 16. My wife is 37, was a Komsomol member until it (Komsomol) ceased to exist in the late 80's early 90's just before the FSU broke up. Back then it was difficult to get ahead in life, get into the University (as is her case) etc, without being involved in it.

I am curious of what sort of statement anyone else offered the USCIS during the application process when disclosing this information. I was thinking just a short sentance or two indicating the membership as part of getting into the University, and then it ceasing to exist which is truthful, and is historically correct.

Thanks

We wrote that my husband was in the Komsomol (Soviet youth organization) or some such.

Shouldn't be a big deal. It was "normal" for young folks to be in Komsomol at that time.

Whatever you put down, be prepared to answer questions about it. If she lists what is historically accurate and then accounts for that during questioning at the interview, there should be no problems.

it's total lunacy to even mention Komsomol fact. it's the same as being asked "did you take deep breaths of soviet air while you were young?" lets find anybody there who didn't...
if you put this absolutely meaningless fact into your biography why not to mention "octyabryata" (former communist kid organization -100% population inclusive) and "pioneeres" (former communist teens organization also - 100% population inclusive). formally they are both communist party affiliated organizations. to get to Komsomol one needed to be a part of both...

the question can be related only to the decisions the person could actually made. like say, join the Coomunist Party itself would be one.
do not burden USCIS with meaningless information... it burdens itself enough...


obender

There was a case about this back during the peak of the cold war. The holding was something like, forced membership into any organization was not a bar to naturalization.

I agree with you whole heartedly but the "The Man is the Man" and if he is asking for information on groups you have been a member of since age 16, I feel that I'll take the secure route and not withhold facts. It is meaningless like you say, but it is also a requirement to give factual information. It would be our luck that we'd get an adjudicator with an axe to grind, having a bad day, or want's to ruin our day.

Sounds like you've already made your decision.

well said, Slim!


obender

Yep!

Actually I was wanting to know what verbage others had used. We'll keep it short and to the point.

As long as you do that, there should be no problems. Kind of a nonchalant "Yeah, I was in Komsomolsk. Who wasn't?"