Mailing address, PO Box, attorney, online filing (N-400)

[randomstairs 273]

Hi All,

 

I'll be filing for naturalization soon, based on five years in the LPR status. I plan to do it online and by myself, i.e. without the attorney. I do have a few concerns I'd like to get some advice on.

 

1) Mailing address. I’m renting on the month-to-month basis so my mailing (and residence) address is not guaranteed to remain the same for the duration of the naturalization process. It’s my understanding that the USCIS is inconsistent with applying the mailing address change, so there’s a risk of the critical mail arriving to the old address (I’m assuming the current landlord would most likely request the return of any mail to the sander and I would have no access to it – long story...) To play it safe, I'm thinking of renting a PO Box just for USCIS mail (the home address will of course be my current address). I'm seeing mixed opinions on this, with some online lawyers warning against it and others approving the idea. What do you think? Anyone experienced with PO Box and USCIS?

 

2) Attorney. One solution of the above issue would be to hire a lawyer (so that they would also receive the mail). I see no other pressing need for one, but if that’s the only safe way, I'll do it. However, I also really want to file online (as advised by USCIS too) so that I could manage my account (add new evidence, for example). Do attorneys, generally, allow that? I don’t want to completely depend on the potential law office for all my communication and for managing of my case (I heard at least one horror story related to that). Do you think it's worth hiring a lawyer just to secure a second mailing address?

[Mike E 11,730]

1. Yes rent the PO Box. Will your physical address change to a different state during the process?

 

2. not worth it for the reason of stable address. And lawyers change offices too. 

[randomstairs 273]

4 minutes ago, Mike E said:

1. Yes rent the PO Box. Will your physical address change to a different state during the process?

 

2. not worth it for the reason of stable address. And lawyers change offices too. 

Thanks! I'm not expecting to move to another state but it might happen. 

[Crazy Cat 39,897]

18 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

Hi All,

 

I'll be filing for naturalization soon, based on five years in the LPR status. I plan to do it online and by myself, i.e. without the attorney. I do have a few concerns I'd like to get some advice on.

 

1) Mailing address. I’m renting on the month-to-month basis so my mailing (and residence) address is not guaranteed to remain the same for the duration of the naturalization process. It’s my understanding that the USCIS is inconsistent with applying the mailing address change, so there’s a risk of the critical mail arriving to the old address (I’m assuming the current landlord would most likely request the return of any mail to the sander and I would have no access to it – long story...) To play it safe, I'm thinking of renting a PO Box just for USCIS mail (the home address will of course be my current address). I'm seeing mixed opinions on this, with some online lawyers warning against it and others approving the idea. What do you think? Anyone experienced with PO Box and USCIS?

 

2) Attorney. One solution of the above issue would be to hire a lawyer (so that they would also receive the mail). I see no other pressing need for one, but if that’s the only safe way, I'll do it. However, I also really want to file online (as advised by USCIS too) so that I could manage my account (add new evidence, for example). Do attorneys, generally, allow that? I don’t want to completely depend on the potential law office for all my communication and for managing of my case (I heard at least one horror story related to that). Do you think it's worth hiring a lawyer just to secure a second mailing address?

1.  Yes.  Renting a PO Box is an excellent idea for receiving mail.  

2.  An attorney is not needed for mail purposes..  We just filed my wife's online N-400 a couple months ago.  It was a piece of cake.  

Edited October 11, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Mike E 11,730]

6 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

Thanks! I'm not expecting to move to another state but it might happen. 

That will derail your N-400 process then. You need to reside in the same state or USCIS district for 3 months prior to each of:

 

* filing N-400

* interview

* oath

 

[randomstairs 273]

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

That will derail your N-400 process then. You need to reside in the same state or USCIS district for 3 months prior to each of:

 

* filing N-400

* interview

* oath

 

Oh, I see. I only knew about the 3 months prior to filing the N-400. In this case I am not gonna change the district until the whole process is over. Good to know! 

[OldUser 5,205]

@randomstairs IMHO paper is still the king.

 

Every now and then I read / hear stories of online systems playing up, causing delays and mistakes on submissions.

 

Mostly it's about I-130 form, when people checked the right boxes to indicate they're filing in the US, but their case was sent to overseas for consular processing. Cannot recall particular instances with N-400, but I think I saw somebody complaining about being processesed under 5 year rule when checked boxes for 3 year rule or vice versa.

 

Then there is the issue of proving you replied to RFE, if their system accidentally deleted / not showed uploaded files.

 

At least with paper forms you get certified mail receipts. With online it's much more difficult to prove you submitted responses in timely fashion etc.

 

Lawyer is not needed just for the sake of address. But I see value in somebody helping filling out forms correctly, evaluating entire immigration history and preparing you for the interview, especially if you had a complex journey becoming LPR.

 

Edited October 11, 2022 by OldUser

[randomstairs 273]

Thanks to everyone who responded! I've just read on USCIS website that when you open an online account and file online you can "Access every notice we send you; " (https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/benefits-of-a-uscis-online-account). So does anyone know how reliable this is? If every notice, like the interview notice, is available in your online account, I won't worry about opening the PO Box or hiring an attorney. To those who had filed online, have you received every notice in your account? Thanks!

[mam521 1,852]

3 hours ago, OldUser said:

@randomstairs IMHO paper is still the king.

 

Every now and then I read / hear stories of online systems playing up, causing delays and mistakes on submissions.

 

Mostly it's about I-130 form, when people checked the right boxes to indicate they're filing in the US, but their case was sent to overseas for consular processing. Cannot recall particular instances with N-400, but I think I saw somebody complaining about being processesed under 5 year rule when checked boxes for 3 year rule or vice versa.

 

Then there is the issue of proving you replied to RFE, if their system accidentally deleted / not showed uploaded files.

 

At least with paper forms you get certified mail receipts. With online it's much more difficult to prove you submitted responses in timely fashion etc.

 

Lawyer is not needed just for the sake of address. But I see value in somebody helping filling out forms correctly, evaluating entire immigration history and preparing you for the interview, especially if you had a complex journey becoming LPR.

 

They have lost mailed packages as well and then you're on the hook for the costs to resend. 

 

If you upload anything to CEAC, you should be able to see it in the system to verify it's there; if it's not, upload again.  The key is not letting the page time out.  The IT is from about 1995 and if you know that and can play to it, you can successfully navigate.  

 

It's basically a crapshoot these days!  Long, strong covid excuses still rampant on top of many incompetencies.  

[Renata P 0]

On 10/11/2022 at 1:42 PM, randomstairs said:

Oh, I see. I only knew about the 3 months prior to filing the N-400. In this case I am not gonna change the district until the whole process is over. Good to know! 

I think clarification needs to be done on this. Is it really a "de-rail"? To my understanding, if you move states you have to inform the USCIS and they will move your case to the office that is responsible for your district. Now, that may speed up or slow down the process depending on the time difference between the offices to process cases.

 

Also, I never read anywhere about 3 months for filing, interview and oath...only the filing. I am in a similar situation...I got a P.O. Box to receive any communications and I always check the online system. Thanks for any help!