Tough question to answer on N-400

[oabailey 0]

After many years in the US as a permanent resident I am finally going to apply for citizenship. The story is this. In about 1983 we were working on becoming permanent residents, based upon my late husbands job here in the States and doing this with the help of an attorney. Before we got our green cards we were visited by the INS who questioned my late husband. We were subsequently deported and returned to England where we were interviewed and approved for permanent residents. Returned to the USA and given our green cards.

My problem (if I have one) is this. What do I say on form N-400 part 10 questions 26 and 27. I have little memory of the events but think we took paperwork to the airport. I do not think we went before a judge but do not know if our attorney did. I have no documentation and basically forgot about the whole thing untill filling out the form. I was just going to check yes in both the question boxes and write an explanation of the events as best as I can recall.

What do you think?

Thank you.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Taking extra space and writing out the circumstances to the best of your memory sounds like the best solution to me. If they have any more questions they will ask them at the interview but it may be a moot point.

Good luck

[Steve D. 22]

As long as you don't lie, doesn't matter how nasty the situation is, you should be fine.

Explain as much as you can. I am sure an event that happened 20 years ago isn't too much an issue.

[sasaqlain 24]

If even after deportation, you were allowed to come back and issued Permanent Residency, I am sure your situation isn't bad. Just add a page and explain to the best of your knowledge and ability and during the interview, let the IO know that you have vague memory of the event, possibly due to the reason that your Late husband handled the paperwork. As much as we critisize the USCIS officers, most of them know their job well and understand situations, like yours. You'll be fine. Atleast thats what I feel.

[MayLiana72 2]

As an option, go to the USCIS website, and research there something like "request a copy of case" and see what you'll have. Probably they have you old papers and you can ask the copy, so you can know what exactly was happened in your past and you can attach it for your application.

[NickD 203]

Know of a 21 year old boy working with my stepdaughter, from Mexico, that was here illegally. After sitting in the county jail for close to two months, two big guys came over, with him in handcuffs, and escorted him clear down to Mexico. And was told to never come back. All he had was the shirt on his back, had a new vehicle and other personal possessions that was confiscated.

Is this how you were deported? Or just told you weren't eligible for a green card, so go back? Was your work visa still good?

Would help if you would specify exactly what question you are responding to and giving more specifics. Can be rejected for permanent residency for many reasons, like not putting in a N/A in a blank that doesn't apply to you.

[oabailey 0]

Thank you all for your replys. I will see if I can find copy of case. To NickD, no we were not in jail or escorted to the airport or had any possessions taken from us. As I said we were already in the application for permanent residency but had not received green cards. We were interviewed at American Embassey in London after this happened. Approved for green cards and received them on our return. The cards were not conditional and there are no expiration date on them. I have used mine to travel in and out of the USA for the last 25 years.

Thank you all.

[EgonRonay 2]

Know of a 21 year old boy working with my stepdaughter, from Mexico, that was here illegally. After sitting in the county jail for close to two months, two big guys came over, with him in handcuffs, and escorted him clear down to Mexico. And was told to never come back. All he had was the shirt on his back, had a new vehicle and other personal possessions that was confiscated.

Is this how you were deported? Or just told you weren't eligible for a green card, so go back? Was your work visa still good?

Would help if you would specify exactly what question you are responding to and giving more specifics. Can be rejected for permanent residency for many reasons, like not putting in a N/A in a blank that doesn't apply to you.

He covered all of those points very clearly.

[oabailey 0]

Thank you all for responding to my question. I have decided to check yes to boxes 26 and 27 and write as much detail as I can remember. I have tried to find out about any records of deportation from my green card number and according to the telephone number I tried there are none. So this happened before my family recieved permanent residency and I am sure the "the powers that be" have records dating back over 25 years so we shall see. The only other thing I have is two driving violations, one I have a record of and the other one happened over 12 years ago so I am checking with the DMV and see what they come up with. Hopefully they have a record and I can put that down on the form! Other than that everything is clean! I do not want to pay an attorney for something I think I can do myself but could find out later that is a mistake!

To all of you on this site keep everything, document everything, write everything down before it is to late. Even if you think you will never want to become a citizen, be safe rather than sorry. I don't think I would need to worry if we had kept everything or copied everything. The government has records of everything you do and keeps that information even if you think the time has passed to worry or the statute of limitations has gone. When it comes to try for naturalizion they can pull everything up. Like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

Good luck all and thank you.