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Help! N-400 PDF glitch in newest version! What to do!?

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: India
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I am filling out N-400 paper form (Edition 04/01/24) in Adobe Reader. It has a glitch where if you fill in the Yes/No checkbox in Part 5 Question 4d then it also checks off the same Yes/No box in Part 10 question 1. Both questions are completely unrelated to each other:

 

Part 5 Question 4d

Is your current spouse's present physical address the same as your physical address?   Yes / No

 

Part 10 Question 1

My household income is less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.   Yes / No

 

I have tried this on different computers with different versions of Adobe and by downloading fresh N-400 PDF forms and it's the same behavior. I'm finding it hard to believe such a glitch exists.

 

I even tried disabling javascript but still the same behavior occurs! Unfortunately there is a barcode at bottom of each page which captures all the information filled in on that page and used for intake of the form into USCIS system. Due to that I want to either fill out the entire PDF form via Adobe Reader or else just print out the blank form and fill it out entirely by hand in black ink. However, I don't want to mix the two ways because that would mean the barcode on each page captured some info (the typed in portion) and missing other info (the handwritten portion). I'm able to bypass this problem using a browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) to check off the correct box for each question without affecting the other box, but USCIS does not recommend using browser to fill it in and I'm afraid that the barcode on those pages may not be getting updated correctly when doing it via the browser so again the same issue may be there that when USCIS scans the barcode they may not see the checkbox answer captured as part of that particular page's information.

 

I've the following questions:

 

1) Has anybody encountered this glitch with the PDF form and know a solution?

 

2) Are most people on here just doing the online version of N-400? I have read that the online system has its own glitches and drawbacks. And some lawyers say it's preferable to keep a paper trail of the N-400 application and don't recommend the online way.

 

3) If I do fill it out all by hand then will it cause any significant delays in processing as compared to the typed in way?

 

4) My I-751 is still pending. Not sure if that affects which option I use (paper vs online).

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Germany
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I have encountered a similar glitch as well. I have not been able to resolve it. I don't think it matters whether you fill it out by hand or not. Also should have no effect on your I-751

 

Naturalization

4/30/2024 Eligible to file for Naturalization

5/18/2024 Filed N-400 online, biometrics reused

5/20/2024 Case is being actively reviewed

 

Removal of Conditions

4/30/2023   Eligible to file for ROC

5/1/2023     Sent ROC package via USPS

5/4/2023     Package delivered to Phoenix, AZ lockbox

5/9/2023     Received text message confirming receipt, case #IOE....

5/10/2023   Check was cashed

5/11/2023   Case is being actively reviewed

5/15/2023   NOA received in the mail, biometrics reused

 

Marriage-Based AOS

3/3/2021   Sent application package to Chicago Lockbox

5/25/2021 Biometrics Appointment

7/29/2021 Interview date (Approved on the spot)

8/11/2021 Received Green Card in the mail

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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12 hours ago, dave2 said:

And some lawyers say it's preferable to keep a paper trail of the N-400 application and don't recommend the online way.

You can print out a copy of the completed N-400 after submission online.

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Germany
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1 hour ago, dave2 said:

@oneoftheunderdogs Ok wow I saw your original post and it is the same issue. So it's not just me. Are you still planning to file online?

yes I will be filing online.

Naturalization

4/30/2024 Eligible to file for Naturalization

5/18/2024 Filed N-400 online, biometrics reused

5/20/2024 Case is being actively reviewed

 

Removal of Conditions

4/30/2023   Eligible to file for ROC

5/1/2023     Sent ROC package via USPS

5/4/2023     Package delivered to Phoenix, AZ lockbox

5/9/2023     Received text message confirming receipt, case #IOE....

5/10/2023   Check was cashed

5/11/2023   Case is being actively reviewed

5/15/2023   NOA received in the mail, biometrics reused

 

Marriage-Based AOS

3/3/2021   Sent application package to Chicago Lockbox

5/25/2021 Biometrics Appointment

7/29/2021 Interview date (Approved on the spot)

8/11/2021 Received Green Card in the mail

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: India
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@Crazy Cat One user on VJ said that they filed online but when they printed out a copy of it some section were missing data that they know they had filled in for sure. But it sounds like only some people encounter a glitch with the online system. Most seem to be doing okay.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
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14 hours ago, dave2 said:

I am filling out N-400 paper form (Edition 04/01/24) in Adobe Reader. It has a glitch where if you fill in the Yes/No checkbox in Part 5 Question 4d then it also checks off the same Yes/No box in Part 10 question 1. Both questions are completely unrelated to each other:

 

Part 5 Question 4d

Is your current spouse's present physical address the same as your physical address?   Yes / No

 

Part 10 Question 1

My household income is less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.   Yes / No

 

I have tried this on different computers with different versions of Adobe and by downloading fresh N-400 PDF forms and it's the same behavior. I'm finding it hard to believe such a glitch exists.

 

I even tried disabling javascript but still the same behavior occurs! Unfortunately there is a barcode at bottom of each page which captures all the information filled in on that page and used for intake of the form into USCIS system. Due to that I want to either fill out the entire PDF form via Adobe Reader or else just print out the blank form and fill it out entirely by hand in black ink. However, I don't want to mix the two ways because that would mean the barcode on each page captured some info (the typed in portion) and missing other info (the handwritten portion). I'm able to bypass this problem using a browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) to check off the correct box for each question without affecting the other box, but USCIS does not recommend using browser to fill it in and I'm afraid that the barcode on those pages may not be getting updated correctly when doing it via the browser so again the same issue may be there that when USCIS scans the barcode they may not see the checkbox answer captured as part of that particular page's information.

 

I've the following questions:

 

1) Has anybody encountered this glitch with the PDF form and know a solution?

It appears so.  So AR will not allow you to switch the answer in Part 10?  Also keep in mind the IO will review the N400 with you at the interview, so any glitches can be corrected at that time.  It is also an opportunity to inform USCIS of their issues.

14 hours ago, dave2 said:

 

2) Are most people on here just doing the online version of N-400? I have read that the online system has its own glitches and drawbacks. And some lawyers say it's preferable to keep a paper trail of the N-400 application and don't recommend the online way.

IMO most people are doing the online filing, but it is a personal choice.

14 hours ago, dave2 said:

 

3) If I do fill it out all by hand then will it cause any significant delays in processing as compared to the typed in way?

Shouldn't as processing timing is based on your local office.  To the best of my knowledge, paper forms are scanned so by hand or using AR should not impact processing.

14 hours ago, dave2 said:

 

4) My I-751 is still pending. Not sure if that affects which option I use (paper vs online).

No impact.

 

Good Luck!

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: India
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@Dashinka Correct in AR if I try to switch the answer to either question the other one automatically updates to the same. So if I change Part 10 Q1 to No it will also change Part 5 4d to No as well, and vice versa. If I uncheck either one it will uncheck the other one as well. This new version of the form came out last month (Apr 2024) and I'm guessing it's a new glitch that's been introduced in this new version of the form. And I wonder if nobody is even using the PDF form in favor of online and maybe this glitch hasn't been reported to them.

 

I guess I will think about either doing it online like everybody else and hoping I don't get hit with a glitch or just filling it out all by hand in black ink and submitting it that way.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
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7 hours ago, dave2 said:

@Dashinka Correct in AR if I try to switch the answer to either question the other one automatically updates to the same. So if I change Part 10 Q1 to No it will also change Part 5 4d to No as well, and vice versa. If I uncheck either one it will uncheck the other one as well. This new version of the form came out last month (Apr 2024) and I'm guessing it's a new glitch that's been introduced in this new version of the form. And I wonder if nobody is even using the PDF form in favor of online and maybe this glitch hasn't been reported to them.

 

I guess I will think about either doing it online like everybody else and hoping I don't get hit with a glitch or just filling it out all by hand in black ink and submitting it that way.

I don't think you'll encounter a glitch, and even if you do, that will be corrected at the interview. So no worries about that at all. Definitely file online, it's so easy. 

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
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21 minutes ago, dave2 said:

@Scandi Thanks. Yes I am now leaning towards going the online route.

You'll like it, you'll notice immediately when you start to fill out the "form" online that it is much less confusing than the paper form. And once you submit your petition you will get your receipt notice ASAP in your online account. When filing online you don't have to sit around and wait for the post office to deliver it to a lockbox (hoping that it won't get lost on the way), and then wonder when and/or if USCIS will accept it. Or reject it for some ridiculous reason or error of theirs. Much less stress with the online filing. 

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
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12 hours ago, OldUser said:

So easy to file, so easy to make a mistake. I'll likely go paper for my filing, even though I like technology in general and work in tech 😃

It's the opposite, much easier making a mistake on a paper form that doesn't direct you. The online form removes things that doesn't apply to you based off of your age, if you don't have children etc, it also tells you if you haven't been an LPR long enough to file etc (while with the paper form you can still send it in not knowing you're not eligible yet, and your petition fee is in the hands of the lockbox people - will they accidentally accept your filing or not? Will they cash your check or not? You get denied later on, you don't get your money back). And if you happen to misspell something or not get something right (same with the paper form, people make mistakes on those all the time), the IO manually corrects that at the interview. The online filing is several times better and safer than paper filing. 

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

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