Highyella72

Hi to all , am new here so forgive my nervousnous . So i moved here with my family back in 1977 from England, i was 13 at the time and will be 50 this year (nov) i have had a green card all this time and am ready to move forward for citizenship - i served in the army when i turned 18 for 3 years left under other than honarable but while i was in the army my parents and siblings did get their citizenship .. when i came out of the army i just went on with life .. now my wife wants me to pursue my citizenship which i have filled out all the paperwork and have it ready to go. My british passport was lost long ago while i wa sin the army and i never re applied as i have never been out of the states since being here my question as i see a lot stating they will ask for the old passport..will that be an issue as i havent had one in 30 years . anyway any help will be greatly apprecieated

thank you all

I entered the USA and became a Resident Alien (green card holder) when I was 9 years old. When I turned 39 years old I applied for my citizenship and became american when I was 39, so it was also 30 years later. I wasn't asked to turn in my Canadian passport at that time. I was only required on the day of my citizenship swearing prior to the ceremony to turn in my green card so they could destroy it. I still have in my possession my Canadian passport as I don't use it, I have now an american passport. Just so you know I just became american in May 2011. I am not sure it is required to be turned in to be destroyed.

IE isn't an operating system.

Besides I was able to use Google Chrome to log in, so I don't think its an issue with the Internet browser you choose.

Okay I will research to get those forms however I figure that will be with the instructions I am to receive in the next day or so.

These instructions will not come to until you case is received and entered into the system at NVC. You will need to call NVC to see if they have issued a Case#, at which time you will give them your updated email address and your wifes email address. From what I have seen the communication with all this information has come by email. I have not received a hard copy of mail from them since the I-797 approval notice. They communicate via email from this point on from what I understand. I would wait 2 weeks or so from your approval notice then call NVC to get your case # and at that time they will update your email and your wifes email address for communication and further instruction.

Not saying we skipped it as in we are not going to be interviewed just that the blue dots on USCIS website were skipped over to post decision activity. What you are saying helps me understand now that the NVC will let us know about the interview. I been wondering about that because I need to save money to fly over to Dominican Republic for that.

Yes, just sit back and relax. There are several more steps to go through before an interview is scheduled. You might want to start getting the required documents together for the AOS packet and the IV packet. Our petition was approved 1/9/13, took 2 weeks to arrive and be entered at NVC, then the AOS bill was generated and we paid, I submitted AOS documents. IV fee was invoiced after the Choice of Agent Form was accepted by NVC and we paid that fee and we submitted the IV documents from the beneficiary, which was signed for at NVC on Tuesday last week. They still haven't closed the case yet. Once they close the case, we will be put into a queue to await an interview. Depending on the country you wifes interview could be a month or more out from the completion of the case at the NVC level.

Why do you say that you skipped past the interview? I am lost as to the reason for that. I would think if you filed an I-130 it would be forwarded to NVC and they would request the payment fees for AOS and IV fee and supporting documentation. And after that time you would be scheduled an interview. That is the normal process. So at this point I am assuming that only the petition has been approved at this time. Is this is what you are saying?

They understand things like animals in the house, cos in some areas of Nigeria, Dogs and cats are cooked and eaten. So Dogs and cats in the house is a shocker to them.

Well luckily for me, they don't eat cat and dog.....lol.... He actually wants to get a dog for a pet when he gets here..... Will see how that goes.....smiles

Still trying to understand why you took what i wrote. Honestly don't think he will mind the herb thing not being cooked here, since he doesn't cook anyway..... I am willing to compromise some things, but other I am not, and he knows me well enough to know how stubborn I actually am......

Am sure my husband is going to find it hard adjusting to us having two cats. We both know things are a lot different in Nigeria. I can see him not understanding my relationship with our cats.

And while I was over there, they cooked some kind of herbs that made me gag every time I smelled them. So hoping he won't be expecting it to be cooked in our house. Though I'll be open to discussing alternative to find a middle ground.

The Alien number for your wife should be on the I-797 you received when your petition was approved. It would be listed next to her name.

Hi folks,

My wife just got her approval and picked up her visa Friday. I am trying to pay the immigrant visa fee, which is $165.00. I went online and it asks for the case number, then the "A" number. According to her, the only number with an "A" has about 13 numbers with it and doesn't sound like it would be the correct number. When will she get the alien number? I don't know whether to just put "none" and pay the fee or not. Are we missing something?

Thanks for you help

Alex

Am sure my husband is going to find it hard adjusting to me having two cats....smiles.... We both know things are a lot different in Nigeria.... smiles... I can see him not understanding my relationship with my cats..... lol

And while I was over there, they cooked some kind of herbs that made me gag every time I smelled them..... so hoping he won't be expecting it to be cooked in my house...... lol

I know many relationship do not make it and that not all of them are because person A was scamming person B. I thought it would be good to share some of the problematic moments in either our own relationships or those of others that might provide insight to others merging cross cultural habits.

Food can be one. I know of a non VJ couple where the wife couldn't stand the smell of her Nigerian husbands cooking and after having his newly cooked food thrown out a few times he packed up and left. Suggestion - if you don't like it go shopping and let him cook while you are gone. Some glade can save a marriage.

Pets My husband had never seen a dog as a pet. It took some changes for all 3 ( me , him and the dog )

After you pay the AOS fee online and it shows as paid, print the paid receipt and cover letter and forward the AOS documents to the NVC. You will get an email regarding this.

Hi guys, luckily we got contacted by the NVC on the next steps of our journey. We recieved notification a few days ago that our case has been approved for further processing. Now i have a few questions and would appreciate any help. First, the embassy which we will go through is Cd. Juarez. The information i got from the NVC is i must initiate communication between the the NVC and us and choose an agent, which could be me. It looks like i can do this by simply sending an email following these instructions:

•NVC case number entered in the subject line of the message

•The full name and date of birth of the principal applicant

•The full name and date of birth of the petitioner

•The names and e-mail addresses of all persons who are to receive correspondence from the NVC

•The name of the person submitting the request

Or filling out the DS-3032 and sending it by mail?

The NVC will then stop sending paper letters and instead send e-mail messages to the e-mail address(es) provided in the request

Now, comes the confusing part. I also recieved an invoice for the AOS and how to pay such fee at their website. I can follow those instructions just fine, but what im confused about is when do we actually send or provide the AOS form? Do we pay first and then my wife takes the form filled out to the consulate?

The second part is, according to this page( http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_5165.html), if my case starts with MEP i have to do Electronic Processing (WHich im assuing would be email communication?) and Online Forms DS-260/DS-261(which would be that email with the information above on who will be designated as the agent? Thank you in advance for any information. Just lost on where to go next.

Getting married in the summer or even before is not likely if you go a K1 route. It takes months for the petition to be approved on the USCIS level, then it has to be sent to Nigeria where she will interview which could be a couple of months longer. I understand you two wanting to be together and wish you the best of luck whichever route you choose. Myself and my husband went the K1 route first after myself being there 2 times and were denied for "Immigration Purposes Only", I arrived later the afternoon after his denial and we married instead and had to start the process all over. We are now awaiting an interview for his marriage visa......

Once again Goodluck!!!

Hi Fellow VJers,

I have been a silent follower of the forum and the impact of this forum is priceless.

Now I am gathering information as I intend to start paper work gathering to enable my now Fiancee' join me here in the USA (she is Nigerian).

To this end can someone please help me with some information on which pathway is best for me and my wife to be? i have read on ths forum that K3 is obsolete as it were and that K1 and CR1 take about the same time to process. As many people in Love would say...our most preferred option would be the one that offers us the fastest rout to her joining me here. We are not married yet. but this is no issue. we are planning this anyways...thinking sometime in the summer or even before. Also, if anyone has been through this before kindly chip in. Your help is sincerely appreciated.

Thanks you for your help.

Smith

My interview for immigration is coming in next week. I just want to know what photo they use on the Naturalization Certificate. The ones that I sent with N-400 application are not very good. They take photos digitally or they use those already submitted with N-400. Can I bring new ones and ask IO to replace them.

Thank You.

They used the photo they took when I did my biometrics.

Petition was just approved today after 9 months, hopefully the NVC portion will go smoother....

Happy New Year to all of you here at VJ!! Wishing you much happiness, success, prosperity and LOVE in 2013!

Here's an update:

Today I called the USCIS and I was told that today makes 4 days PAST THE NORMAL processing time!! SO....

I asked them for a SERVICE REQUEST and obtained a Referral ID number.

Within 15 days, the California Service Center will contact me in regards to my petition. They will review my petition and advise me

of any questions or concerns that they might have (I thought they were already doing this the past 6 months...)

If I don't hear from them in 30 days, I need to call the USCIS back.

How many of you are at a similar point as we are? Do any of you have any suggestions, advice or concerns regarding this part of our petition process?

For those of you who have experienced having a SERVICE REQUEST made and receiving a Referral ID...did that expedite your petition approval?? Or prolong it?

Did anyone have their petition denied after doing a SERVICE REQUEST?

We are still waiting for our NOA2....

Thank you for your input and I pray that we all continue to have patience.

Frank & Menchu

I am nine and a half months out, contacted congressman, service requests made, also directly to VCS and still keeping hearing it is being worked on and to wait 30 days for a response. This has been going on for several months..... But I wish the best of luck and hopefully yours will not take nearly as long as mine appears to be taking.

Katheryn gave very good advice. I know it's hard to wait, we've been waiting since July '11. Heck it took almost a year to get our fiancé visa approved. I'm not sure it it's just MN, or if it's just the ineptitude of the California Service Center. I think it's just ineptitude. Write your congressman, request information, and just hang on and wait. As long as you are here and with your loved one, try not to worry. God Bless.

Its not the CSC only. I am at the VSC and have been waiting more than 9 months for my CR1. I filed March 29, 2012...... I have contacted my congressman and he is also getting the same response as me. Nothing is being accomplished and I keep hearing you case is with an officer and is currently being reviewed. For months now I have heard the same thing. Good luck and hopefully yours will come soon.

you are under normal processing times. what you need to do is WAIT. why you send amend case letter in the first place? who advised you to do this? It is not needed and yea it MIGHT delay your case even further who knows. right now do nothing and wait at least 5 months then start inquiring.

VSC is way behind. I am nearly 8 and a half months out...... and I keep getting nothing regarding my inquires, they have told my local senators office twice 30 days I will receive my notice of action, and I still haven't received a response. So all I can say is be patient.......

Here's what I was told when I called, two weeks ago. The polite man said be aware when they give the date May 14th, its two weeks prior and two weeks after that date which are also being processed at the same time. Depends on where you are in the pile of of applications that the particular person is working from

My senators office told me today that our case is with an adjudications officer and they have up to 90 days to complete, but usually takes 30-60days.

Hope this helps , I know it helped me to know that they are doing their best to process these as fast as they can. I don't think they are just sitting around trying to annoy us Which they are, but its not intentional!

Neary 8 months here at VSC. March 29th......

OMG!!!! This is hilarious.....lol

Hey Guys, we filed in August, still no update on the NOA2 been 3 months now. Anyone else facing the same issue ?

They often don't update on the USCIS site. I have filed in VSC and I filed in March 2012 still waiting on NAO2, you just filed recently, it takes at least 5 months generally for a NAO2 sometimes less sometimes longer. Patience is a virtue here, even if seems like forever.....smiles.... Good luck!!!

I havent had Much reasons to leave comments cos i read, some discouraging ones from that want to Pull others down.

@aaron2020, u just were trying to make her feel bad, by making her feel her husband country is the reason she isnt getting the required Support.

Sometimes its best to shut up than try to be a Poisonous commentator.

@ OP, i hope u find the strength to fulfil your dream-sometimes some ailments needs Love, than Money

I am sorry that the OP is having so much trouble, however given the OP's medical condition, it is understandable with the requirements of sponsorship that family members and friends are reluctant to sponsor the spouse especially if they too have a family to support. Any defaults such as government assistance, medical bills and such would add a greater strain on their finances and their family when the OP's spouse isn't their own. It is a difficult position to say the least. I wish her luck in her journey, but I even as a person sponsoring my husband ( ) to come here can understand the views of her family and friends.

I got my name change but I need to update my driver license. Do I have to updat my ss first

Yes, go to the SS office, with marriage certificate and old drivers license or passport. Update SS Card, wait for it to arrive, then go to the DMV with SS card and old drivers license... and they will issue you a new one.

Your petition has been re-approved by USCIS....It is now going back to NVC and then back to Manila for a 2nd interview. Good luck to you.

This may not be true...I received the same two emails the same day, and it was a clerical/computer error. It just means it was returned to be looked at. Does not necessarily mean it was approved. Mine is still in review.

Yes, I'm sure. Did you not read the I-864 instructions? Please re-read them (or read them for the first time, which I hope isn't the case). It states in the instructions that an employment letter and pay stubs are optional, they're just to prove current income.

She will need proof of income for this current year' a transcript from the IRS for only:, 2011 will not show current ability to support. If she does not receive current pay stubs due to beng PDN, try getting a letter from her employer, stating date, hours, rate of pay, and copy of her direct deposits from associated employer.

The part of this that sucks for me, is during Easter vacation, my wallet was stolen with the original receipt and customs receipt from USPS....so I had no way to even file a claim, I knew the number, but they still refused to do anything without the original receipt.....

OMG are u kidding me. Wow now that is something.

Okay everyone here is something the post office gave me today. Like who knew all this here it goes (typing on a phone)

Instructions to Initiate an Inquiry for International Mail

To report the loss, rifling or damage of an article, mailed to or from a foreign country after January 1, 2006, please call our International Inquiry Center at 1-800-222-1811.

You will need to provide the following information:

1) Mailing receipt number or item barcode number of the article.

2) The names and addresses of the mailer and the addressee.

3) Your telephone number

4) Date of mailing

The inquiry center will correspond with the respective post in the foreign country. Inquiries should not be filed before the following number of days from the date of mailing:

- 3 days for articles sent by global expresss guaranteed, but not later than 30 days from the day following the date of mailing

-3 days for articles sent by express mail, but not later than ninety days from the day following the date of mailing

-7 days for registered letter-post, recorded delivery or insured and ordinary parcel post sent by air mail, but not later than six months from the day following the date of mailing.

-30 days for registered letter-post,recorded delivery or insured and ordinary parcel post sent by economy (surface) mail, but not later than six months from the day following the date of mailing.

Okay hope this helps.

I used priority mail, however, it is not good enough. You have to send it certified mail in order for it to be trackable past the US and to be insured.....This is what I was told my the USPS officer.....

Yep, that's the part that burns my behind too...the stealing! My brother-in-law told his fiance today that they just received the package I sent to them over two years ago (before my first visit!)

Holy Mother of Jesus...I asked her, did they have to watch the movies first and use the webcam before passing it forward? Maybe the box was not large enough and got lost! Who knows!

Did you use Priority Mail where the package has to be signed for and has a tracking number? I do hope it shows up very soon!