Green card holder, waiting N-400 interview letter, I am a citizen of one of the countries on travel ban

[kmch 0]

Hello everyone,

 

I am a green card holder, married to USC. I am waiting right now on my N-400 interview letter, after I had my fingerprints taken a little over two weeks ago. I've asked an immigration attorney over the phone in regarding to N-400 processing time in my situation, and I was told that processing all petitions to people from those 7 countries have stopped. Honestly my wife can not stop crying, since this is really unthinkable. Have you guys heard any further new information about that? Thanks so much.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

That does not surprise me honestly. When the travel/immigration ban happened, it seems that all legal processes of immigration for persons from those listed countries also would have any action halted until further time... nothing specifically has been noted though about citizenship that I have heard, mostly immigrations and even GC's... but does not surprise me either at this stage..

[Transborderwife 4,666]

While I don't know the legal status of this at present, I wouldn't worry too much, no need for her to cry if your application is on hold.  You're still an LPR

[kmch 0]

Well LPR not like being a citizen. We also have some plans to travel this year. I also was eligible to apply a year ago but I put it off, so it kinda my fault. 

[Possiblymaybe 371]

Don't be too hard on yourself.  You had no way of knowing what would happen.

Have you received any word from a government official that petitions for citizenship have been halted?

[Umka36 781]

I found this article:

 

"USCIS will continue to adjudicate N-400 applications for naturalization and administer the oath of citizenship consistent with prior practices,” a spokesman for the agency wrote in an email to Quartz referencing the form used to apply for US citizenship.

The order, which also prevents nationals of those countries from entering the US, puts no restrictions on travel by US citizens irrespective of an additional citizenship. Thus gaining US citizenship would be a way to avoid these new impediments to travel, while also gaining complete protection against deportation.

An initial interpretation of the order barred green-card holders—US non-citizen long-term permanent residents—from of those countries from entering the US as well, but was later changed to remove that restriction. Typically US residents must be green-card holders to become citizens.

While there could always be future changes in law or policy that affect the ability of green-card holders to become citizens, the present order is not one of them."

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/trump-immigration-order-doesn-t-211932197.html

[bob zerg 1]

Are you sure that this is even true? I just called USCIS and they told me they are not putting any applicants on hold even if they are from the seven countries. I also have been checking my wife's status and it has not changed. She has an interview scheduled and I saw no status change. Also, this link right here also says the same thing about citizenship applicants and the executive order does not affect it:

https://qz.com/899579/trumps-immigration-order-doesnt-affect-n-400-citizenship-applications-the-us-government-says/

 

Anyway, I'm calling bunk on this for now until there is real evidence that applicants are being turned down left and right or a statement is issued from USCIS or another government official.

[kmch 0]

Thank you for all the responses. 

I haven't talked to any government official, but just an immigration lawyer we know. I have also talked to my cousin in a different state, and his attorney told him the same thing. 

Thank you so much for the article. It's a great relief.

Thanks bob zerg for your feedback. I am gonna call USCIS tomorrow as well.

[tariq_a 6]

15 minutes ago, kmch said:

Thank you for all the responses. 

I haven't talked to any government official, but just an immigration lawyer we know. I have also talked to my cousin in a different state, and his attorney told him the same thing. 

Thank you so much for the article. It's a great relief.

Thanks bob zerg for your feedback. I am gonna call USCIS tomorrow as well.

i called USCIS today to get my EAD expedited and i was never told it was on hold. but keep us posted.

 

Best of luck

[Hayder 22]

1 hour ago, kmch said:

Thank you for all the responses. 

I haven't talked to any government official, but just an immigration lawyer we know. I have also talked to my cousin in a different state, and his attorney told him the same thing. 

Thank you so much for the article. It's a great relief.

Thanks bob zerg for your feedback. I am gonna call USCIS tomorrow as well.

https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/protecting-nation-foreign-terrorist-entry-united-states

 

there is no effect of the EO on immigration benefit, dont listen to immigration lawyers they will tell you the worst senario to give they what they need $$$

[Hayder 22]

1 hour ago, tariq_a said:

i called USCIS today to get my EAD expedited and i was never told it was on hold. but keep us posted.

 

Best of luck

Can you tell me how to expidite the ead application. I need to do that too

[bob zerg 1]

Looking at this site, it says Adjustment of Status applicants may be put on hold, but they will process the N-400 applications as usual. They also quoted the above CBP link about the executive order and N-400s. We will just have to wait and see for more clarification and hope they will not mess with naturalization as this will affect my wife as well. New things keep coming out each day.

https://www.soundimmigration.com/immigration-ban-executive-order-update-feb-1-2017/

 

The uncertainty of everything is quite unnerving. At least they will allow green card holders of the seven countries to come back into the country without a waiver or anything. Sean Spicer announced that today.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/white-house-green-card-holders-no-longer-covered-by-trump-executive-order-234505

[tariq_a 6]

1 hour ago, Hayder said:

Can you tell me how to expidite the ead application. I need to do that too

check out this link

https://my.uscis.gov/helpcenter/article/can-i-ask-uscis-to-expedite-my-case

[AlexAlex82 0]

Don't worry bro, tell your wife to relax, if you have your application already in processing they will keep processing it, I got my interview on 31/1/2017 after the EO and i passed  and got the approval and the N-445 notice for the Oath.

 

it is really stressful but officer told me for the current application they will keep the processing, not sure about new N-400.

 

best of luck all

[kmch 0]

I called USCIS today, she told me: We don't have any order to stop processing N-400 petitions for applicants from the 7 countries. 

I told her My status online has not changed yet to "scheduled for interview", how long does take to receive a letter for interview?  She said if you don't receive your interview appointment notice by March 3, 2017 call us.

 

That's great news Alex, Congratulations! Hope things go smoothly with us as well.
I filed N-400 in the middle of December, and had my biometrics done in the middle of Jan.