N-400, Wait for IRS?

[Applying 7]

So I am a Canadian citizen with Green Card in NYC, 15-years married to a US Citizen, and I've finally caught up on our tax returns (I just finished filing 2012-2018 jointly, paid all amounts due by check). I want to get the ball rolling on my N-400 but my IRS transcripts won't be ready for a while (not to mention they are going to hit me with massive penalties and interest which I will arrange for a payment plan on when I get the appropriate notice). Being that IRS processing will take time, I understand that applying based on marriage requires tax documents up front. 

 

So should I apply on a 5-year green card basis instead of 3-year married? Is the processing time the same or different?

 

Also I am 42 and did not register with the selective service when I was 25 here and without status. It's too late to register since that window closed long ago, but since that is outside the 5-year good moral character time frame do I even need to bother with an explanation letter?

 

Thank you

Edited April 7, 2020 by Applying

[millefleur 5,035]

You technically don't even need the IRS transcripts, you can just submit a copy of what you sent to the IRS (the 1040 and any other forms you sent it). The transcripts are preferred but it's not required.

 

The 5 year GC citizenship path is just easier, because they won't require any relationship evidence. For the 3 years married path, you need to upload proof of ongoing relationship such as bank statements, prior divorce docs, and other detailed info about your relationship.

 

The selective service question is the most interesting here. They want you to upload proof that you registered and they also ask for the date of when you registered. I'm not quite sure how you can handle it, but I believe the online application will give you a text box to explain why you didn't register when you should have.

 

Edited April 8, 2020 by millefleur

[Applying 7]

21 hours ago, millefleur said:

You technically don't even need the IRS transcripts, you can just submit a copy of what you sent to the IRS (the 1040 and any other forms you sent it). The transcripts are preferred but it's not required.

 

The 5 year GC citizenship path is just easier, because they won't require any relationship evidence. For the 3 years married path, you need to upload proof of ongoing relationship such as bank statements, prior divorce docs, and other detailed info about your relationship.

 

The selective service question is the most interesting here. They want you to upload proof that you registered and they also ask for the date of when you registered. I'm not quite sure how you can handle it, but I believe the online application will give you a text box to explain why you didn't register when you should have.

 

Thanks for taking the time to respond, especially regarding the 5-year track which makes sense.

 

In terms of selective service, it's actually turning out to be the easiest part of this. They have their own website and go out of their way to make it easy for you to demonstrate that as long as you are 31 or over you are good to go. See:

 

https://www.sss.gov/verify/sil/   Under "No SIL Required - USCIS":

https://www.sss.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Applicants-over-31-years-of-Age-USCIS-Policy-1.pdf

 

Edited April 9, 2020 by Applying