Derbo/Yamkins

I haven't received any notification (email, text or letter) as of today. Is that normal? I see Kimbear did and we have a similar timeline (except for GC date).

Fingerprinting on 06/16/15

Hi, I'm helping my 75 year old grandmother to apply for Reentry Permit due to Medical Reasons. In some pages of USCIS, they said that 75 y/o + are exempted from biometrics. However, in the instructions for the I-131, it says 14-79 y/o need biometrics.

Throughout her immigration history/requirements before (GC, etc). they were never successful in acquiring fingerprints from her. We always had to travel to the biometrics center 5 times to retry. Had to submit a police clearance from states/counties she's resided in. It's really more of a burden for her to be traveling back and forth.

Is there like a form I could fill out for exemptions? I heard of the waiver for the biometrics fee but wouldn't that still require her to appear for an appointment?

Thank you!

UPDATE:

NOA: 05/20 (date on NOA), received in mailbox on 05/23
Priority Date: 05/18

Check cashed 05/21 for us!

My first credit card was with Capital One. They have one for immigrants/no credit. $0 annual fee. They upgraded mine after a year.

http://www.creditcards.com/no-credit-history.php

Add us in!

We sent it to the Arizona express address though.

================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================

UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|YellowLtr|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Deren & Yamy.....|08/16/12|05/15|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL

The Philippine passport will be void until she applies again for dual citizenship and then apply for another passport, I think.

I also think being a dual citizen would allow you to enter the Philippines without going through the "foreign" line in the airport. Isn't there a fee to enter? I think it's less.

I'm not even sure if I want to apply for dual citizenship or another passport. What rights do we keep? Other than owning properties in the Philippines? That's one reason why I'm asking about the name (I could care less about the Philippine passport). Legal documents like titles, etc.

Leads me to another question, what happens to properties we own in the Philippines after being a US Citizen? Do I need to be a dual citizen to keep them?

Hi, I'm filing for N-400 and there is a section about name change. Would like to know if I need to file one.

Here's my scenario: (just using initials) (First, Middle, Surname)

My maiden name is: YA. A. Y.

After marriage, I've been using YA. A. H.

In the Philippines though, by law, they only recognize the maiden name as the middle name. So, when I renewed my Philippine passport, the embassy in Chicago insisted me to use YA. Y. H.

I chose not to keep my maiden name because of personal reasons.

Do I need to request a legal name change (other than being married here) in the N-400 so the Philippines would recognize it as legal? Or it wouldn't matter once I become a US Citizen?

For the employment history, do I include the months I wasn't working yet (arrival until first job) even if I didn't apply for "unemployment"?

Thanks, everyone!

Part 8

Qn 1 --> 0 days

Qn 2 --> 0 days

Qn 3 --> "N/A" or None

Thanks!

Thank you for the clarification!

I'm just not sure if I am allowed to alter the form. But if it worked for EmigratingSwede, I guess it will be okay.

I'm currently filling out N400 and will be sending mine by the 16th of May.

I don't know how to fill out Part 8 though. I'm filing after 3 yrs due to marriage and never left the US since 2011. Do I include the time and trips before entering the US?

Thanks!

Hi! I'm filling out the N-400 and came across Part 8. I'm a 3-yr filer based on marriage. I'm asking for help on how to answer the following questions.

Question #1 asks: How many total days have you taken outside the US during the last 5 years?

Does this only pertain to travel or should I just write the days that I haven't entered the US yet? Number of days in 2 years?

Question #2 asks: How many trips of 24 hours or longer that you have taken outside the US during the last 5 years?

I've taken trips before I entered the US. Do I include those?

If so, how do I answer #3's Date of Returning to the US?

Thank you very much!

What will happen if she gets granted a permanent resident visa in, say, Canada? What would happen to the U.S. petition?

What happens if she gets married? What happens if it's to a U.S. citizen? Will they cancel it?

Once my mom becomes an LPR, through me petitioning her, she wants to petition my sister in the Philippines who will be aging out by April 2016.

Given we do this and wait for 11 years, (accdg to the bulletin) can my sister travel and work elsewhere like Canada or UK? Or does she have to stay in the Philippines?

Thanks!

For trips abroad spanning less than a year, you don't need a re-entry permit.

Is it okay if it's almost a year?

She needs a travel companion and the next trip that could "fetch" her back to the US is around April 2016. Is that pushing it too close?

Hi!

My 75 yo grandma is an LPR. She will be traveling to the Philippines around May 2015 for vacation and business. Does she need to file a traveling permit or re entry visa of some sort while she's in the US?

How long of a stay is she allowed in the Philippines before they require her to have a reentry permit into the US?

Thanks! You all have been a good help.

What happens if another type of visa is available for her? Example, employment (she's graduating Pharmacy school next year) or fiancée or marriage visa? A lot can happen in 10 years. What happens to our petition?

It is doubtfull she will show enough ties to home to get a visa especially since your mother used a visitors visa to get residence in the US illegally. Had your mother obeyed the terms of her visa your sister might have a better chance

My mom was falsely promised an employment sponsorship that resulted to her overstaying. She was wrongly advised to stay and wait. Basically, she was scammed of her money, time and opportunities.

During those 10 years, can my sister be given a travel visa to, at least, see us? It's cheaper to fly her than to fly the whole US family to see her.

You can look for jobs if you plan on working.

See if you have a local community of immigrants from your country. If you want someone who went through the same thing. Try the Belgian forums here, if you find someone, set up a meeting or lunch date.

Try Yelp to discover new places to eat and shop.

Go visit your spouse's workplace if you can, meet coworkers. Ask your spouse to give you a tour at work or the local area.

Or as newly weds....uhh...make babies. ?

Okay. Thanks for your advice.

For now, I'm just gathering information. I'd be getting my citizenship within this year so I could do that first to broaden my scholarship opportunities.

I'm also waiting on admission counselors regarding if I need to retake the courses even I've taken them.

Hello!

I have a BSN from the Philippines and I am an RN in the states of IL and IN. I've had CGFNS evaluate my degree before (for the licensure) and they deem that my degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree. I'm also an LPR applying for USC by May 2015.

Any foreign graduates here who have been through the same? Did you need to do pre-reqs courses even if you've taken them before?

Are we considered international students? Were there financial programs, scholarships that you qualified for?

I'd like to know your experience and insights.

Thank you.

That's sad to know. ? She'd be left in the Philippines by herself.

Can't I add her as my mom's kid/beneficiary when I petition mom?

Hi, everyone!

I will be eligible to apply to become a USC by May 2015. I intend to petition for my mom (present in the US) as soon as I get approved. I have an unmarried sister in the Philippines who will turn 21 on April 2016. We plan to petition her once mom gets her GC.

Will she be covered by CSPA?

Can you give me an estimate timeline of this process?

Thank you.