Autumnal

Read the book that USCIS gives out at your biometrics appointment, or try one of the many free apps available for phones. I had one for my Android that allowed me to select my state and location, so it confirmed my governor, senators, and congresspeople (pretty nifty!). Review a few questions a night and have someone test you on them. Identify the ones you have trouble remembering and focus on them. It's pretty straightforward.

The interview is not nearly as intense as the permanent residency one, and there is no rush on when you give your answers. Spend your time thinking and respond slowly, if you need to. You are not going to be rushed.

The person you spoke to is completely incorrect. File your N-400. This will move the I-751 along the system, and it's possible for your naturalization to be approved before the I-751 is. You'll be good.

Give the system a few days to catch up. If you do not see any information, you can always call the 1-800 number on the off chance they have real information!

They are not staying in the US long enough to demonstrate that they live here. In effect they are not living in America, they are living overseas. The failure to pay their taxes while they are abroad looks very bad. A top priority should be to file for the years they are missing, but I do not think it will help their case very much.

You do not have to prove your marriage was bona fide if you were applying on the 5 year rule. That only becomes an issue with the three year conditional rule, because the PR is married to the USC.

Your documentation is essentially correct:

- N-400 and related forms

- 2 passport style photos

- Cheque/money order

- Copies of your ID (green card, passport, DL, etc.)

- Divorce decree

- Marriage certificate

- Tax transcripts for 5 years

Essentially, under the 5 year rule, you're proving your legitimacy as an immigrant and intent to naturalize without your spouse. It shouldn't be a problem that your taxes are noted as single, versus married filing joint. I would personally recommend that you look into it because you are probably better off doing MFJ and getting better refunds.

Three years minus ninety days, to the date on your green card.

Month and year was fine.

Random...is anyone else waking up in the middle of the night around 3am with their stomach growling unable to sleep? I keep raiding the cupboards in the middle of the night before I can go back to sleep. Usually settle on a simple granola bar. Are any of you taking naps? I tested negative on gestational diabetes but they found I have anemia so now I'm on iron.

That's me, all right. 3AM to 3:15AM like clockwork, Niblet is sending me shuttling off to the kitchen. I've been snacking on roasted almonds (vanilla flavour is very good!), a piece of bread sometimes with a dab of peanut butter, cottage cheese or occasionally milk. Chocolate milk is the only surefire thing I've been able to have which relieves the heartburn that inevitably shows up. If you're achy and uncomfortable, make a nest of pillows and try to settle yourself in the middle. Another suggestion is a long body pillow you can snuggle up to.

I'm a total napper: exhausted after I get home from work, or in bed for a 2 hour power jag. I bet the iron is the culprit. I'll find out tomorrow I'm sure. Also not sure when they're scheduling me for glucose, given I'm around 28 weeks, but I'm going to fast and be careful for it anyways. I'm within the 24 hour window now, time to drink tons of water and go all out on eggs.

gained another 8 lbs, and she said not to worry that my weight gain is good and within limits. its not too much or too little. She did tell me i could take Zantac for my really bad indigestion, which always crops up around 10pm right before bed. I had it so bad the other day i thought i was going to be sick again And she said 1 mg of magnesium would help with my leg cramps, ( omg now that was a killer pain middle of the night in my calf!!!) and that my left foot / leg swelling more than the right foot is normal and nothing to worry about. I've already had to buy bigger sandals and socks!

Oh geez, me too! I was a real couch potato the months before I got pregnant, undid all my hard work weight training, swimming, and whatnot. So when I did get pregnant, I was at a higher BMI and weight than I had been for two years. My diet's pretty good and thought things were under control, but when I learned two weeks ago I've gained about 25 lbs with Niblet, I just about fainted. :/ Apparently my mother gained a ton of water weight too, and the edema is showing up in my poor feet. Let me tell you how rare size 10.5 is.

I traveled on a Canadian passport in my maiden name and carried the green card in my married name with my marriage certificate as a precaution dozens of times. Crossing back and forth into Canada from the US, even flying, isn't a problem. 99% of the time, the customs/immigration officials gave my passport a once-over and that was that. My declarations forms and green card got me home into the US without a fuss. The only times I encountered extra questioning was usually at the border via a land crossing, which was easy enough to remedy by showing my marriage certificate.

It should be a painless re-entry. As other posters noted, you must make your reservations in your passport (maiden?) name.

I went from a place with next to no snow to a place with 9 months of winter and no mountains. Michigan and BC are definitely a world apart. *sigh*

Well said, MsHogan!

Correct your case number right away. It's the main tracking thing they use for you. Sorry for your difficulties!

I loved hearing how painless and easy it was (minus the jabs and stolen gown). Great feedback!

Photocopy of a birth certificate was perfectly fine when I sent mine in. I did not send the originals, but I had them on hand for the interview just in case.

Passport: the most important page is the informational page (photo, signature, nationality). I would include an entry stamp if you entered on a K visa or something as well, for yourself; otherwise, you've got it.

You'll save $5-10k, at the expense of your immigration status... Not really worth the tradeoff. You aren't a non resident.

You need to declare yourself as a permanent resident. Choosing non-resident indicates to USCIS that you might be abandoning your status, potentially, if you have an app in play. They'll also want to know why you didn't keep your immigration status as a PR.

Financial and personal independence need to come before bringing children to the US.

1. OP needs a source of money (e.g., job).

2. OP wants to file for citizenship.

3. OP does not need spouse to file for citizenship if she's been here for 5 years. If for 3, while married, it may be tougher.

Just... wow.

The I-864 is primarily a promise between your ex-wife, as your sponsor, and the US government, that she will pay back any fees or payments made to you during that period if you go on welfare, social assistance, claim unemployment, and the like. The financial responsibility she had for you ended at the divorce. She is not responsible for supporting you after you are divorced; the I-864 isn't automatic alimony. You will need to file a separate petition with the court in your state to amend the terms of your divorce if you require financial assistance, provided it's even possible. In the state I divorced, alimony is waived if it is not included in the initial decree.

You can apply for a citizen based on being a PR for 5 years, but not the three year marriage option. Prolonged stays outside the US can affect you, and it's important to look at the eligibility flowchart published by USCIS to determine if you are able to apply by a given date.

RE: income taxes - if you made no income, I'd still file taxes stating $0 so that you have a record available with the IRS. While you may not need to have them, it's nice to prove that you made no income at the time due to unemployment, single parenthood, whatever the case. Otherwise follow HeatDeath's instructions.

Your best bet at this point may be to try and find a job to demonstrate you can support yourself going forward. Your ex-wife is not a viable income source, from your posts, and it'll cost more than it's likely worth to extract any funds out of her.

Awesome, Jadenjewel.

The horror stories are famous because the legions of Canadians who legally cross the border in the US to meet their relatives and loved ones during the application waiting period aren't posting regularly going "I had a normal trip again."

Proof of Canadian citizenship in the event of a zombie invasion?

Congrats, Ontarkie! That's great.

Yes, I've started experiencing BH contractions but I mistook them for the baby being pressed up against me in some weird position. I'm glad to hear it's not that. Time to add the information to my notebook and tell the doc about it on Thursday.

Has anyone got recommendations on how to find a good pediatrician? I don't know enough people with children to ask for personal recommendations around here, and my ob-gyn is on the other side of town (and other hospital network) from where I live.

Good luck!

AP: Advanced Parole

AP is a travel document allowing you to go back and forth between the US and Canada without any restrictions while you're waiting on a green card.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b11747a55773d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD