Pamela&Terry

Hi Everyone,

We are PCSing to Germany on September. Do you think I can get my oath/interview before September ? If you can share your timeline with me and how long it took for you to get approved I will appreciate it.

Also, Where you able to apply without the orders or I can apply with a letter of the commander? We don't have official orders yet.

Please share everything you can here.

thanks in advance,

Pamela

I think you should begin the process. Is he able to ship the form with his signature to you?

Even if he cant you can ask him to scan it for you and you can just explain this on the cover letter.

You can also explain that he is on the ship and that you are providing a relatives address. You can provide the address of one of his family members.

All you need is to have all the paperwork ready and send it to someone in the US so they can drop it for you in Virginia. If you have someone of your trust just get all the binder ready with the envelope ready and put it on other envelope. Ask them to drop the envelope for you.

Hello,

If you need to expedite I dont recommend trusting the USCIS phone line. It is always better to submit a letter in order to expedite. I have a couple of questions:

1)Does your husband has his orders already? They will usually get this 90 days before departure. When is he leaving?

2) Is he leaving deployed by a year or is he PSCsing there and you can go with him?

Pamela

Hello Everyone,

I hope this post is not too late. YES you can expedite for military circunstances. You just need to follow the guidelines and make it happen. Please let me know if you still need help with this so I can help you out. I had expedite twice already and always get succesfull results. I can provide you with an example of letter also.

Last time I expedited I received a response in 5 days. They mailed me with NOA within 24 hours.

Hey! First of all Congratulations!!! That is great news. Regarding the issues you are having dont worry about it. You just need to follow some steps in order to make this happen.

What documentation is the one that he cant provide? I need a Little bit more information in order to help you. I am following the topic so I can reply ASAP.

Dont worry we will figure it out, USCIS is military friendly you just need to follow instructions and everything will work out.

Hello Everyone,

I just want to give you all an update in case you are following up on this.. I went to the USCIS office and yes, indeed if you are applying for an expedite naturalization you will definitely need to remove conditions fist.

Also, if your husband is going abroad for a period longer than a year you can submit his orders in order to apply for an expedite naturalization.

My husband went on his year tour and I decided to wait untl May to apply for expedited citizenship since he got orders for Germany also.

I will keep you post if on how this goes,

Pamela

Thank you guys! I will ask tomorrow and speak with the passport office.

I will try to update you all so others can have the info.

Hello! Yes I will be staying in the US but only for a few months I am planning on flying to my country and come back a few times.

We will ask our legal office tomorrow. You have been so helpful. I think this is good and I hope it can work. We will find out tomorrow if the orders for Germany can be expedite or if we can get some kind of paper that mentions that we will be going to Germany after his short tour.

I will keep you all post it!

Thank you so much!

You are going to be staying in the US while your husband is going on his short tour correct? When does he leave for his short tour? If he has hardcopy orders you DO NOT have to apply to remove conditions. Although, I don't know for sure that the short tour will count. The only requirement is that you are a green card holder. The only catch is you have to do all the appointments and naturalize while in the US. You can totally skip the removal of conditions. We were going to do this, but I didn't get my hard copy orders in time for my overseas assignment for my wife to do everything before we left. If your green card is going to expire before he leaves, then file to remove conditions. You can also call the military helpline to get the best answer.

Check it out here: http://www.uscis.gov/military/citizenship-military-personnel-family-members/citizenship-spouses-and-children-military-members

Expedited Naturalization for Spouses of Military Members

Spouses of U.S. citizen service members who are (or will be) deployed may be eligible for expedited naturalization in the United States under Section 319(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

In general, an applicant for naturalization under section 319(b) of the INA must:

• Be age 18 or older

• Establish that his or her U.S. citizen spouse is deployed abroad as a service member

• Be present in the U.S. pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence (green card holder) at the time of examination on the naturalization application

• Be present in the U.S. at the time of naturalization

• Declare in good faith upon naturalization an intent to reside abroad with the U.S. citizen spouse and to reside in the U.S. immediately upon the citizen spouses termination of service abroad

• Be able to read, write, and speak basic English

• Have a basic knowledge of U.S. history and government (civics)

• Have been, and continue to be, a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the U.S. during all relevant periods under the law

Alex,

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. I now have a better idea of what needs to be done. I will call the USCIS military line tomorrow.

I will try to keep you all post it.

Pamela

Hi Pamela,

I have a friend here in Bahrain who is stationed with me, whose wife was in a very similar situation that you are. She explained to us that when she was up for Removal of Conditions she submitted all her I-751 application package, and a couple of weeks later after she had submitted, she was advised that she could apply for expedited citizenship because her husband was getting orders to the UK. She then apply for N-400 and got her citizenship even before the I-751 had been processed, so as far as know, it is possible.

So again, and just to clarify. If you are a conditional resident you MUST remove conditions. That is written in the immigration law and cannot be bypassed. However, immediately after you have applied for removal, granted you have all the paperwork to prove that your husband will be going overseas, you are entitled to apply for expedited citizenship if you wish to do so. That in some way, is one of the benefits that a military spouse has. I hope I did answer your questions. Again I'm not an immigration professional but I have been dealing with my wife's process for over 3 years, all on my own, and we are doing pretty well.

Take care

Alex

Thanks so much for the quick response! I am not in rush to be honest, I am just worried we might get a RFE that's all... My fiance is in the military and he won't have access to his mail for a couple of months because he is deployed. He'll be back soon. Thanks for all the help! I think i'll wait until it's been 6 months and i'll call the service center.[/quote

Wow! Me too!

I completely understand! My husband is in the military too we did Our visa while he was deployed as well. Message me if you have any questions I am happy to help and share some tips.

your passport is on the stanley location and will be deliver to the consulate soon. I am not sure where your are filing but it will be deliver to post soon!

Medical is easy and the interview as well. Everything will be fine!! I am already married for 2 years and it seems that the process never ends but it will one day, be patient and strong

3 months is not that long. Maybe they won't ask for an RFE. However, It doesn't hurt to call so ask your fiancé to call the the service center. You can call too and just ask for an update. They will tell you about the current process time and ask you to wait but it is always a good thing to check. You can if you want.

Your fiancé should get an email as well once the NOA2 gets in the system.

I know how it is, I used to check twice a day. I was always waiting for the RFE like you but then I didn't got one and I got my approval , just be patience and be strong!

Hello Everyone,

My husband got orders and he will be going overseas for a year in a short tour. It is unaccompanied tour so I won't be able to go with him. After the year we will be going to Germany.

My green card will expire on August 28 and I am ready to file the 1-751 to remove conditions. Mine was valid for 2 years.

However, I think I might be able to file for naturalization since we are going overseas. I am not sure if I have to file the 1-751 to remove conditions or I can file the N400 instead, or if I have to file both the 1-751 and the N400 right away.

I have read online about the EXPEDITED NATURALIZATION for Spouses of Military Members under section 319 on the INA and it seems that it might be an option.

below a link about this expedited option:

http://www.uscis.gov/military/citizenship-military-personnel-family-members/citizenship-spouses-and-children-military-members

Have any of you file or went through this process?

Thank you all of your help!

Hello Everyone,

I was reading your post and maybe you will be able to help me. Please message me if you guys think you can guide me through this process.

My husband got orders and he will be going overseas for a year in a short tour. It is unaccompanied tour so I won't be able to go with him. After his one year tour we will be going to Germany since he got follow on orders already.

My green card will expire on August 28 and I am ready to file the 1-751 to remove conditions. However, I think I might be able to file for naturalization since we are going overseas. I am not sure if I have to file the 1-751 to remove conditions or I can file the N400 instead, or if I have to file both the 1-751 and the N400 right away.

I have read online about the EXPEDITED NATURALIZATION for Spouses of Military Members under section 319 on the INA and it seems that it might be an option.

Have any of you read about this?

Thank you again for your help!

Very normal ,the first notice is when they order the card second though its the same message is when they sent it out to you .Hope it helps atleast thats what happend in my case.

OMG! thats great!! I hope it is, I was expecting something like "on April 19 we mailed you the EAD Card" I did not know it was in the same Card Production Step! Im happy now. HOpe it gets here soon

Thank you!

EAD Application

I have a question! Does anyone has experience something like this??

"On April 11, 2011, we ordered production of your new card" --> and this was the same for the online status

then, out of the blue, i received this email today "On April 16, 2011, we ordered production of your new card"

Both emails are regarding EAD and my Advance Parole status is: On April 13, 2012, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I131 APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT.

Arent they supposed to be together?? in the same card? And why It will show twice card production in EAD?

thanks in advance!!

Well we apply the 15 of Feb and I got a notice yesterday that my EAD card is on production, no news about AP or Green Card, my EAD took 56 days, now I just hope to get it in the mail soon. About the Green Card they said that if its transfer to CSC you might not get an interview. Will see!! I will keep you update if I have any news and you do too.

Online updates are usually screwed up. My wife's said still processing but she already had her green card.

WOW!!! and I checked it everyday. Now I know better.

thank you and congratulations on the GC!

OHHH Thats greaaaaaaaaaaat!! I thought they have to update, youre biometrics were taken or something like that. Tank you so much! You gave me the peace I needed jajaja

THANKS!!!

You know a lot of cases are being transfered lately. Our case was transfered too, We received the notice saying that it was transfer to the California Service Center to speed up the process. If you look in the forum in the AOS topics you will find some people asking the same and you will have the answers. Some of then told me that it was going to be good and no interview but others said you might have the interview too. I have read that the California Service Center is not very quick right now either, so wait until you get the letter but im pretty sure is the same that i get. Lets hope it wont take forever.

Hello Everyone!!

I have a question. My case status have not change since I did my biometrics is still showing me "On March 5, 2012, the post office returned the notice we last sent you on this case I765 APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION as undeliverable ... etc"

I already received THAT NOTICE that they resend me on march 19, I already did my biometrics...so why is not showing it online?

So the question is ¿What is the next step that is going to show in the case status online? They should post your biometrics were taken or something like that? dont they? Or it wont change until the card is produce? Anyone that get there EAD or Advance Parole can let me know how it works?

thank you so much!!

I know of at least one member that received their EAD BEFORE their scheduled biometrics appointment because they did a walk in.

I know another member who had their AOS approved in 37 days (no RFE's, no interview, no expedite) and she had done a walk-in.

So it's certain that it DOES make it faster (of course it would because you're doing things quicker which makes it possible to process quicker) but whether you'll NOTICE or not is another thing. Like I said, one member received their EAD before their scheduled biometrics date so that's obvious that it helped, but if you still got it after your scheduled biometrics date you wouldn't know whether it was just processed after that date, or because you did the biometrics earlier... I personally agree with walk-ins but then my office is 3 hours away so it's risky!

You are right! I might never know until I had the EAD. I did not intend to do a walk in earlier, what happened is that the NOA for the EAD and AP was returned in the mail so after a lots of calls and one info pass, someone finally called me back with answers. I ask them to send it again and then they told me that my appointment for the biometrics was in 2 days, since we did not have the letter in our hands they decide to change it without my permission. I told the guy in the phone DO NOT CHANGE IT I will try to walk in without a letter, then when we walk in they told me "your appointment is the 16 of April" so yes he did change it. Since we were there already they told me "we can do it" very friendly! I was surprised cause I did not even had the letter for the appointment and they let us in and everything. Hopefully my EAD will be here soon, I am sick of being in the house doing nothing jajaja. Thank you for replying!!!

They CAN start processing your case as of the walk-in date. It's able to move to the "able to be processed" pile instead of the "waiting for bio/rfe etc" pile. Whether they WILL start processing it now is another thing. They have a pretty big wait time at the moment so you won't really notice too huge a difference.

Well I hope it does and goes to the able to processed pile! I did not know they were so backed up!!! thats bad!

Thank you

The walk-ins have raised many questions whether or not they actually speed up the process. Usually it's hard to tell when you go a week or less before your scheduled appointment. Try doing a Visa Journey search using keywords such as early walk-in speed up biometrics EAD AP AOS - any combination of those words might help you to see post you won't always get if the members aren't active on VJ any longer.

Thank you!! I did some of that but all the walk in experiences are old , I did not find any update review of that! Hopefully it wont take forever!!

Well you have to wait, there is nothing else you need to do unless you have a RFE later on. The K-1 AOS is being reported for like 6 months. The wait game is now started. Good luck.

Yes i know waiting again! Thank you. But my concern really is if they are going to process the biometrics as the day we walk in or they will wait until the 16 of April to process my EAD. So its about how much time my EAD and AP will take.

If they process basing on the day we walk in I should have my EAD for the 20 of April but if not it will take until May. That is why I am asking if someone has experience a walk in and if this really speed up the process!