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stillbaffled

Thinking of finally applying to naturalize. I could use your advice for my possibly unique-ish situation.

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Filed: Other Country: Canada
Timeline

Hello VisaJourney Tribe!
(I'm Canadian, and a permanent resident of the US since 2008. Got in with a K1, got married, but the marriage dissolved.)

Here is a barrage of question. If anyone can answer any of these, I'd of course be most grateful.

1. Thanks to the pandemic, finances went really south. They weren't terrific before, however I managed. So applying with having had some assistance, is that a no-no?

2. Due to the pandemic, are biometrics still charged but not actually done?
3. Is applying for financial assistance to pay for the application a "death sentence", meaning chances would be slimmer to be allowed to become a citizen?

4. I use a mail service being I move often, is this also a red flag to USCIS?
5. Anything I don't even know to ask? 😆 

Thanks! May you be having a terrific day.

Here's part of my then my signature from my original login name "spiritalight" from 2007 plus new stuff:

You will do foolish things; do them with enthusiasm!! | Don't just do something, sit there.

K1: Flew/moved to the U.S. – January 9th, 2008 

Green card/residency card: email notice of approval – August 28th, 2008 yippeeeee!!!

Card arrived – September 6th, 2008  :)
Moved to Honolulu 2010 | Moved to SFBA 2014

Renewed permanent resident card (green card)March 2020
N400: Applied to naturalize N400October 30, 2023

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Depending on your income, you can apply for a reduced fee or a fee waiver. So just check the requirements and file if you fulfill them.

 

Biometrics are always charged even if they're not done. ASC's are working currently taking biometrics.

 

You moving around the US shouldn't be an issue except for the fact that the USCIS office where you'll be interviewed will be assigned depending on your address. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Filed: Other Country: Canada
Timeline

Thank you kindly Allaboutwaiting! 
There is so much to know....and worry about. 

Here's part of my then my signature from my original login name "spiritalight" from 2007 plus new stuff:

You will do foolish things; do them with enthusiasm!! | Don't just do something, sit there.

K1: Flew/moved to the U.S. – January 9th, 2008 

Green card/residency card: email notice of approval – August 28th, 2008 yippeeeee!!!

Card arrived – September 6th, 2008  :)
Moved to Honolulu 2010 | Moved to SFBA 2014

Renewed permanent resident card (green card)March 2020
N400: Applied to naturalize N400October 30, 2023

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On 9/13/2021 at 2:05 PM, stillbaffled said:

4. I use a mail service being I move often, is this also a red flag to USCIS?
 

I heard some lawyers talk about this in a youtube video. If I remember correctly, the recommendation here is to use the address where you sleep. Using a forwarding address might not be a good idea here since is not where you actually live. Do note that you have to provide a list of addresses where you have LIVED in the past 5 years.  I assume your mail service address could go in the mailing address question. 
 

 

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On 9/13/2021 at 2:05 PM, stillbaffled said:

Hello VisaJourney Tribe!
(I'm Canadian, and a permanent resident of the US since 2008. Got in with a K1, got married, but the marriage dissolved.)

Here is a barrage of question. If anyone can answer any of these, I'd of course be most grateful.

1. Thanks to the pandemic, finances went really south. They weren't terrific before, however I managed. So applying with having had some assistance, is that a no-no?

2. Due to the pandemic, are biometrics still charged but not actually done?
3. Is applying for financial assistance to pay for the application a "death sentence", meaning chances would be slimmer to be allowed to become a citizen?

4. I use a mail service being I move often, is this also a red flag to USCIS?
5. Anything I don't even know to ask? 😆 

Thanks! May you be having a terrific day.

Public charge is not a factor in naturalization, so the concerns in 1 and 3 are not an issue.

2. They are charged. They may or may not be done depending on whether or not uscis has a recent enough bio to reuse. 
4. A red flag in what way? You need to list your physical addresses for the past 5 years. You need to be resident in the place of jurisdiction over your case for 3 months before you file. If you move often expect to be asked evidence that you meet this particular place of residence requirement.  (You can move after you file no problem.)

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  • 2 weeks later...
Filed: Other Country: Canada
Timeline

 ❤️ You are all so wonderful! ❤️ 
Thank you kindly to each of you here.
I swear if it wasn't for this Visa Journey tribe,. we might all lose our minds! 😆 
Years ago when I got help and helped others here going through K1 visa, I had a different name and that email no longer exists, so I couldn't figure out how to restart that account and started a new one. I was known as Spiritalight back in 2007. I wish I could get that one going again through this process. 

One more question (for now):

So I'm filling it all out online and I'm on the page that is asking (after attaching divorce paper evidence), 
"Additional evidence you want to provide"
and I clicked on "NO", and it recommended I add additional evidence.
A letter stating why I divorced?
What do you think?

Here's part of my then my signature from my original login name "spiritalight" from 2007 plus new stuff:

You will do foolish things; do them with enthusiasm!! | Don't just do something, sit there.

K1: Flew/moved to the U.S. – January 9th, 2008 

Green card/residency card: email notice of approval – August 28th, 2008 yippeeeee!!!

Card arrived – September 6th, 2008  :)
Moved to Honolulu 2010 | Moved to SFBA 2014

Renewed permanent resident card (green card)March 2020
N400: Applied to naturalize N400October 30, 2023

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
58 minutes ago, stillbaffled said:

A letter stating why I divorced?
What do you think?

I did not include this and I'm not familiar with it being a requirement. Unless there's something extremely suspicious about your divorce, doesn't seem necessary to provide anything other than the divorce paper.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

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