N400 online submission questions

[TastyCake 232]

We are currently working our way through filing an N400 online for my wife.  We can't submit for another couple of weeks (October 17 appears to be the very first day per the USCIS website) but we are planning in advance for the big day.

 

We have the following already prepared for our online submission which will happen in a couple of weeks:

 

• Green Card photocopied and scanned (front in a jpg, back in a separate jpg, both sides in one pdf... we will submit all... the jpgs looks bigger and clearer)
• Will submit the N400 online and pay via credit card at the time of submission
• My birth certificate (scanned in pdf) showing I have been a U.S. citizen for forever
• Current marriage certificate (scanned in pdf)
• Divorce decrees for both me and her for our two prior marriages (scanned in pdf)
• IRS tax transcripts with both our names on them for 2021, 2020 and 2019 (scanned in pdf)

 

I went through the checklist and it seems (operative word) this is all we need.  Questions if you don't mind:

 

1) Does anyone see anything missing?  Anything to add?  We want to make sure we don't miss anything crucial

 

2) Did people also scan and submit the extension letter, too?  Or just the green card (front and back)?  Our I751 is currently still pending

 

3) I saw one item on the checklist that seems to be for people residing outside of the United States (we live in Massachusetts).  They ask for two identical photos with the A number on back.  So, for those of us who live stateside and are filing online, this is not necessary at the time of online submission, correct?  Perhaps we will be asked to bring two identical photos (with A number on the back) when we get the eventual citizenship interview?

 

4) We have an I751 pending (we will have been waiting for a year later this month).  It is stuck up at the Vermont Service Center.  Is this a question during the online submission so they know there is an I751 pending for us?  Or will they just know this?  I am not sure how this would need to be communicated to the USCIS as we hope to get a combo interview at some point

 

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.  We appreciate the support.  🙂

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by TastyCake

[Rocio0010 5,572]

It looks good to me, I’m actually following this because I will be submitting soon too.

1) The only thing I’m thinking of is if she has kids from previous marriages and paying child support you’ll have to submit those too.

2) Not needed. 
3) correct.

4) @Crazy Cat can tell you how they handled this for his wife. I believe they wrote a simple note requesting a combo interview as advised by @Family if my memory serves me well.

[Family 3,543]

1 hour ago, Rocio0010 said:

It looks good to me, I’m actually following this because I will be submitting soon too.

1) The only thing I’m thinking of is if she has kids from previous marriages and paying child support you’ll have to submit those too.

2) Not needed. 
3) correct.

4) @Crazy Cat can tell you how they handled this for his wife. I believe they wrote a simple note requesting a combo interview as advised by @Family if my memory serves me well.

A note ( #4) is not required, “ they know “ . I am a big fan of making first impressions at filing , and was hoping @Crazy Cat ‘s superb writing skills and sense of humor would inspire each human “ touching “ working on the file . 

[Rocio0010 5,572]

7 minutes ago, Family said:

A note ( #4) is not required, “ they know “ . I am a big fan of making first impressions at filing , and was hoping @Crazy Cat ‘s superb writing skills and sense of humor would inspire each human “ touching “ working on the file . 

Yep, I’m a huge fan too. Hopefully by the time I submit my N400 somebody will have already approved my full-of-relevant, very well put 6 lb 751 package and approve it prior to the N400. But I doubt it.

[Family 3,543]

2 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

Yep, I’m a huge fan too. Hopefully by the time I submit my N400 somebody will have already approved my full-of-relevant, very well put 6 lb 751 package and approve it prior to the N400. But I doubt it.

Hmmm…they may need to appoint a Special Master to go through that Baby ! 
 

[Rocio0010 5,572]

1 minute ago, Family said:

Hmmm…they may need to appoint a Special Master to go through that Baby ! 
 

I was just being generous and wanting to provide them with extra paper to collect dust on.

[Family 3,543]

4 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

5 minutes ago, Family said:

Hmmm…they may need to appoint a Special Master to go through that Baby ! 
 

I was just being generous and wanting to provide them with extra paper to collect dust on

Pixie Electronic Dust perhaps..all paper filings get shredded…

 

https://www.gurfinkel.com/uscis-says-dont-submit-original-documents/

record-keeping system to an electronic-based format. Even if a person files an application or petition on paper, it will be scanned by USCIS, and it is likely USCIS will shred your paper-based petition or application

[Rocio0010 5,572]

3 minutes ago, Family said:

Pixie Electronic Dust perhaps..all paper filings get shredded…

 

https://www.gurfinkel.com/uscis-says-dont-submit-original-documents/

record-keeping system to an electronic-based format. Even if a person files an application or petition on paper, it will be scanned by USCIS, and it is likely USCIS will shred your paper-based petition or application

That’s interesting. I would love to see the backstage of processing centers! I have actually never been to a USCIS office before !

[TastyCake 232]

3 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

It looks good to me, I’m actually following this because I will be submitting soon too.

1) The only thing I’m thinking of is if she has kids from previous marriages and paying child support you’ll have to submit those too.

2) Not needed. 
3) correct.

4) @Crazy Cat can tell you how they handled this for his wife. I believe they wrote a simple note requesting a combo interview as advised by @Family if my memory serves me well.

 

Thanks to you and Family for your feedback.  I can always write a short letter, make it a pdf and include it in the online submission.  Maybe there is an 'ancillary documents' area where I can include it just so they can't say later, '...but you didn't tell us about your pending I751!!!'.  I am inclined to think Family is right that 'they know'.  I hope my Irish ancestry furnishes some good luck and it will be a combo interview. 🙂 

[Rocio0010 5,572]

1 minute ago, TastyCake said:

I hope my Irish ancestry furnishes some good luck and it will be a combo interview. 🙂 

Include some four- leaf clovers 🍀🍀🍀

[Family 3,543]

16 minutes ago, TastyCake said:

hope my Irish ancestry furnishes some good luck and it will be a combo interview. 🙂 

That’s the spirit. Put a smile on the Officer’s face….

It is exactly the grass root movement of everyone filing their N-400 while I-751 pending that has forced USCIS to deal with the backlog! So great choice , God Speed 

 

PS the class action lawsuit for delayed N-400 may have helped too..lol

Edited October 2, 2022 by Family

[Sarge2155 4,571]

Great thread, I'm a couple months out from filing the N-400 also! @Crazy Cat what did you say in your letter to request your combo interview briefly?

[Joyoussinger 1,414]

We didn't include a letter requesting a combo interview, but we can add one if it's a good idea. We didn't even think of it at the time. 

We did include a copy of the extension letter, although it's probably not necessary. We thought that, since they wanted a copy of the green card the extension letter is now a part of it. We uploaded it to the "additional" section

[nastra30 2,013]

56 minutes ago, Joyoussinger said:

We didn't include a letter requesting a combo interview, but we can add one if it's a good idea. We didn't even think of it at the time. 

We did include a copy of the extension letter, although it's probably not necessary. We thought that, since they wanted a copy of the green card the extension letter is now a part of it. We uploaded it to the "additional" section

Actually a copy of extension letter (in addition to copy of green card) I think is fine so that at least they'll have proof that you've already filed to remove conditions. My spouse too did not include a letter requesting combo interview but I think it's a good idea. However, my spouse only did N400 interview and got a combo approval of both N400 and I-751 at the same time during the interview. Nothing was asked about the I-751.

[Dashinka 23,348]

A couple of things.  We did not request a combo interview, but did in fact have one.  You can add a letter, but in the end it is all up to the USCIS getting the ROC package to the local office, and the IO assigned the N400 actually reviewing it.

 

As to filing online, you can include all the information that is requested to be brought to the interview, but you will or should still bring it to the interview as well.

 

Lastly, when filing online, do not submit it as soon as the window opens.  Most here will recommend waiting a day or two to avoid any IT anomalies that may date the submission early.

 

Good Luck!