cheesecake77

Lets say you take the Oath, but you said "before you take a flight"... you need to leave on your US passport, and enter the US on your US passport. So you'll need to make sure ou have the money and time to apply for a same-day passport. There should be an office in Chicago to do it hopefully!

Thanks for your words.

I know about passport. If miracle happens, I would postpone my flight 2 days to get a passport in a day. I already checked it before my interview.

But I know that possibility is very low..;(

Do you have to have US citizenship right now?? I only ask because you could just get your 10 year green card, and apply for citizenship later on. You'll be in your country most often due to school, and there I doubt you'll get lower tuition for being a foreign dude (US citizen). Just wondering why you want your citizenship so bad under the circumstances you chose to live in...

Maintaining Green card for 4-year abroad is very difficult even with reentry permit. LPR cannot stay outside U.S so long to maintain green card, but no restriction to USC. I don't wanna lose my GC but it is possible.

And it's same tuition. No difference.

But, thanks for your reply

See if USCIS is willing to allow you to take your citizenship oath on your own prior to going, or ask for a July date, explaining that you are starting medical studies overseas. The other problem you have to worry about is getting a US passport. Once you get your citizenship you cannot use your foreign passport to -re-enter the US - you have to use an American one. You can apply for an expedited passport, but unless you are able to go in person to a passport facility office that does the passports there, you will still end up having to wait a few days for the passport. You will need to allow for that time if you get a July scheduled date as well.

I know it seems like a difficult decision, but if you are able to delay attending medical school until next year instead of this year, I do think that would be a better option for you. You would have your citizenship; you would have all of the things that need to get done after citizenship and you would not have to worry about leaving the US for extended periods of time putting your green card at risk. I know it seems like a long wait, but in that year you could also earn more money to help cover your expenses while at school and be in a better position all around to continue your medical degree.

Good luck with your choice. I realize it is a very difficult one to make.

(btw - I have edited your topic title to correct the spelling error).

Thanks for changing my typo

I'm going to go infopass and ask them plz let me attend afternoon ceremony before I take a flight, though it's like waiting for miracle. Nothing to lose and nothing to do for me.

If I decide to come for assigned oath maybe in March or May, I would fail to school and have to take a year off. It would be painful.

But I appreciate your opinion

Did you try to book info pass to explain your situation; they could give you same day oath. Otherwise, I would give the priority for citizenship. Another solution, what if you go for school and let somebody watch the mail for you, and when the letter for oath comes, you can come for 3 days trip, you get your certificate and passport in 2 days!!

Officer already told me it's impossible to do oath in Chicago unless I'm about to die. But I just made infopass appointment to do my best before I leave. Thanks for inspiring me to do that.

I'm willing to come back if I am assigned to July oath. But concern is I can't control oath date. Especially in my case where oath is done a few times per year.

Try to reschedule it and tell them that you will be abroad until july, so that they will not re-schedule you before...and tell them that you prefer to have the oath in july...try to talk to somebody before, so that they understand your case and hopefully can help you...

Thanks for your reply..

But according to my research in visa journey, rescheduling put me at the end of queue and don't know when it will be. Some have been lost in system and had to wait for a year ;(

So, if there is a way, I want to be scheduled on specific day in July at the first time. But it seems impossible.

I read many oath experience, and longest waiting is 2 month.. There is a May schedule in my district, but I will be between mid term. Bummer.

I passed an interview, it went well. But I'm in danger to fail to get citizenship.

I have to go abroad to go to medical school starting on March 1st And only can come and stay in U.S in July, during vacation.

My original plan was ruined since I live in suburb. It sounds absurd but it is.

If I could do my oath in Chicago, I would do it yesterday or some day in next week. I'm sure, because I saw many people who did interview same day with me received oath day in the waiting room.

But I live in southern part of Illinois, and Central district court has authority. It offers oath two days in every two month, like March 15, 22, May 10, 17.. even in different cities.

It seems possible at glance, because I might come back for oath when mine is scheduled. But I'm not going to Caribbean. I'm going to a country in Asia. It will take at least 3-4 working days to come and finish things.

However, due to their strict culture, absence means failure of whole year (not semester but year due to continuing curriculum) So I'm in the situation where I have to choose btw med school and citizenship.

Some might wonder why you wanna go med school in foreign country? I wanted to be a doctor in the states, but I had to go college again for prerequisites, since I graduated University in my home country.

It takes so long and needs so much money. So I chose med school in my country. This is the fastest and cheapest way for me to be a doc in U.S.

Back to my topic, I could not finish my citizenship process due to my address and will not be able to come back till July.

I did my best to explain my situation to IO. Though she understood my situation, she couldn't help. I have to wait my oath letter.

The only thing that I could do was to ask her to make a note on my file. Let me be scheduled in July oath. But It is not guaranteed. And there is possibility that approval is turn down due to my long absence in States.

It will be around 130 days till July.

I don't know what can I do. I should have known about jurisdiction earlier. I would have moved my address to Chicago area, so I do my oath in few days before I leave.

Some might say why you didn't apply earlier? Chicago is the one the slowest cities. I saw others who filed in similar time with me already finished everything in Dec or Jan.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

1. give up med school and just wait here to be a citizen.

2. give up citizenship and apply again 9 years later ( 4yr med + 5 yr stay in US)

3. When receive a letter ask rescheduling and Pray to be rescheduled in July

4. Come back on scheduled oath day and take a year off in med school.

I think 1,2 are too extreme. what else I can do? I wrote a letter to Senators but it won't help. I asked someone who might be able to call a Judge in my town. But donno yet.

I don't know why I share my story. But I'm so hopeless right now. Do I need to think that I'm just unlucky?

I can't change title. I say, Don't live not leave though I didn't mean it seriously

In line for?

inline for interview.

I'm waiting for interview

Hello,

I only have one month before I leave the States due to study abroad. Semester will start in a month and I won't be back until end of July. I'm frustrated.

My Field Office is Chicago and this is one of the slowest offices. But it seems many people around my timeline of Chicago cases already received interview letter.

My Priority date was Sep 17th

Bio was Oct 2nd

Placed inline on Oct 5th.

Yellow letter on Dec 17th

I called USCIS on Jan 7th for service request. Failed to talk with 2nd tier officer and haven't heard anything yet.

I thought I could finish Naturalization by Feb considering average timeline of slow Chicago. Once semester starts, I won't be back for an interview till summer break in late July.

I just wrote a letter to senator for my case. What else can I do?

Here are possible issues that I think may have caused the delay for my case

1. Fingerprint was not clear, so need redo (lady told me that acceptance rates weren't good when I did my finger)

2. Tax issue. My state tax hasn't been completely paid yet due to a residency disagreement with IL. The case is still pending. We submitted an appeal but haven't heard back yet. (Does USCIS look at both federal and state tax or just federal?)

For the 18/36 month physical presence requirement, when is the exact 3 year period taken into consideration? Is it based on the filing date, or the interview date?

Last question. Can I reschedule my interview for a specific date? For example, can I request to reschedule my interview to be between late July and mid August?

Any comments are appreciated.

Hello,

It's been 95 days since I'm inline for interview. (Priority date is Sep 17th and received a yellow letter 2 weeks ago)

I asked a service request this morning and rep said I would normally hear sth from them in 15 days and am able to contact again if I won't hear anything till then.

After some searches, I knew about Infopass and tried to figure out the difference between Infopass and Service Request.

It seemed one is online and the other is offline.

It takes 3 hours to the closest local office, Chicago. Is 6 hours (round trip) driving worth? Chicago is very slow but I saw several postings saying ppl near my timeline already received interview letter from Chicago office.

Briefly, my questions are,

1. Can I make infopass appointment regardless of SR?(I meant Infopass would be just few days after creating SR)

2. Do I get the same level and detail of information via SR and Infopass? If not, which is better?

3. Can I get information about my case instantly when I see a representative of Infopass or still need to wait few days?

Waiting without knowing timeline is painful.

Thanks

My status updated to interview scheduled im guessing its gonna be february

Hi, summmer13,

Congrat! You must be relieved.

Did you receive email alert or a message for your interview?

My priority date was Sep 17th, did bio on Oct 2nd and placed inline for interview on Oct 5th.

I got a yellow letter just before Christmas.

I saw several posts saying they got an interview letter. I don't know what happened to my case.

Did your online status change from 'Testing and Interview' to 'Interview scheduled'?

Thanks

Hello formywife

My case is almost same with you

I filed N400 on Sept 17, did fp on Oct 2. But I have't received yellow sheet and my online status is inline for interview.

Chicago is really slow. Let's keep each other updated!

Any one from Chicago Field Office, who filed N-400 on September,2012 have got interview letter? I filed N-400 on Sept 10 and Did my Fingerprint on Oct 3, since then my application status is "Initial Review", I got Yellow letter four weeks ago that I need to bring Drivers License. Dont know how long I need to wait, looks like Chicago Office is running very slow.

I reply to myself =)

I called to 800-375-5283 and heard recorded ARS. It said my latest update is I was placed in line. It was same message to what I saw at USCIS site.

I don't know what's going on. But it might be due to some internal problems of their website. If you want to know more, it seems better to talk with service agent.

I was relieved that I was not only one who had experienced this problem. Hope we can see progress soon.

Same here!

I was stuck for a while but I was inline for interview (Did Bio Oct 2nd, Placed Inline Oct 5th) It said contact USCIS 90days from OCT 5th if I haven't heard from it.

But Today I check my online status, and it changed!

"On October 5, 2012, your notice N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was processed and mailed to the address on record. If you have not received it within 30 days of October 5, 2012, contact customer service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move NGLISH"

What they meant "it" in those sentences? yellow paper saying bring tax transcript and so on?

I don't know " move NGLISH", either. Though I cannot remember the whole paragraph that I saw before for a long time, it said something about interview and 90 days rule. That was all disappeared.

Do I go behind? Chicago office is already so slow!

Same here!

I was stuck for a while but I was inline for interview (Did Bio Oct 2nd, Placed Inline Oct 5th) It said contact USCIS 90days from OCT 5th if I haven't heard from it.

But Today I check my online status, and it changed!

"On October 5, 2012, your notice N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was processed and mailed to the address on record. If you have not received it within 30 days of October 5, 2012, contact customer service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move NGLISH"

What they meant "it" in those sentences? yellow paper saying bring tax transcript and so on?

I don't know " move NGLISH", either. Though I cannot remember the whole paragraph that I saw before for a long time, it said something about interview and 90 days rule. That was all disappeared.

Do I go behind? Chicago office is already so slow!

Hello VJ Friends,

I am worried about my FP, because when my fingerprint was taken, I saw a lot of reject messages and the lady who did finger work also said it's highly likely that I should visit and take bio again.

It's been 3 weeks since I took FP, and I haven't heard anything from USCIS. (EB: 2nd Oct.)

Moreover, I checked USCIS website with my recipient # today, it said my case was placed in line for interview scheduling on 5 Oct, which is 3 days later from FB date.

I am just wondering is there still any chance that I need to retake bio? Or my faint fingerprint passed screen?

I hope it would not delay my process, since I have upcoming long term trip abroad. It's already quite tight schedule.

Thanks in advance for your comments!

Simply, you ignore that additional requirement as it does not apply to you. It's an additional document ONLY fron those who have been married before.

Thank you guys! =)

Hello,

I am preparing n-400 based on marriage.

According to checklist, naturalization on the basis of marriage to a US citizen requires 4 additional documents

I understand 3 of 4 (birth certificate of spouse, current marriage certificate, tax return form) but I am not sure about "proof of termination of all prior marriages of spouse" clause.

My spouse and I both don't have prior marriage history. Our marriage is the first to both of us. In this case, how can I prepare document on proof of termination of prior marriage? Still need to submit any kind of proof? or above three documents are enough?

I guess someone already ask same question, but hard to find regarding questions and answers. =)

I'd appreciated your help.

I concur with Gegel. You can file.

Thank you Gagel, PathaN! I'm relieved =)

I am about to file N-400. But I am not sure whether I am eligible for applying naturalization at this moment.

I have lived one state about three years since I arrived in US, but I was out of States for more than 150 days recently.

I know it's shorter than 180days, so 180days condition is fine, however, am not sure about 3 months condition.

It's been 3days since I was back to US. My address in US was not changed for a year (apartment lease contract, tax return file could be evidence on residency)

Do I need to wait three months to apply N400? or I can file N400 right now?

I'd appreciate for your help.

Hello, guys,

I've been watching this thread for long time, since it helped me soothe my nervous feeling.

I'd like to share my case status with you.

I received a email and txt msg from USCIS today morning. It said my card production was ordered on 2/23.

Here are my dates regarding removing condition.

Date of I-751 : 9/27/11 (if it means the day I sent a package)

NOA1 Date : 9/28/11 ( I cannot remember when I received a letter but this is a date written in a letter.)

Biometrics : 11/4/11

Approved : 2/23/12

I filed to CSC.

I have no kid and don't have enough joint documents (joint lease, one bank account and credit card having same number)

Since I didn't have interview when I received 2yr card, I assumed there would be interview this time. But it seems like interview is just random thing.

I also traveled several times. I was out of States for 7 months.( once 5 months, 6 times 1~2 weeks trips). So I was really worried about interview.

But I am approved!! I am so glad.

My case is closer to Oct file, so if it is not right place, plz relocate my case to other thread.

Wish all hear good news soon!