tin-jen

He's not a GS government contractor, though - he is a DoD government contractor. So sometimes we are treated like he was active military, sometimes not. So that's the problem. Like, for example, we were able to cancel our phones before we left, using his travel authorization as orders and they were fine skipping the cancellation fee as they normally would for active duty military. However, this did not work with a leased car and we had to pay the cancellation fee for that.

So, we are always kind of like an in-between status and no one ever knows how to treat is, which is why I am expecting problems at POE. (Which is also, why we need to go the 319(b) route, to be able to go back).

Thanks, belinda! Yes, we have his travel authorization letter (that also states me and is handled the same way as military orders most of the time - just not valid to protect my GC status while we're abroad, at least that's what we've been told so far!) and we both have ID cards for the military base here. I will obviously also have the interview appointment letter (or email?), so hoping that should be fine!
How do you know they have a list of the companies? Do you think my status might even be protected under that? So far everyone we asked (USCIS, 1 lawyer, the US Embassy in Germany (twice)) told us no, though....

Thanks I am aware of the rules! (But I understand your confusion )

I already know, I am eligible for naturalization under 319(b), so that part is not an issue. I even think we could do it ourselves, without the lawyer, but since that route is not very well known (as you just proved ) many people suggest using a lawyer for this.
My question was mostly directed toward people that have done it this way and applied from abroad!

Hi,

my husband and I are about to file for naturalization (for me) under 319(b). He is a contractor and we have been living in Germany since April 2014. We are using a lawyer to help us with this, since we want to be on the safe side.

I know, I am probably worried way too early, since we haven't even filed yet, but I am always very organised and want to be prepared for everything - so here's what's worrying me a lot right now:
If we file this month, it will be about 4-6 months until the interview date (provided everything goes smoothly) - which means, we are talking February-April for that. We left the US in April 2014, so I will have been out of the country for more than 6 months (possibly even more than 12 months) by the time of the interview.
Now, I know there is no way, I can do the interview here - like I said, my husband is a government contractor and not active duty military.
What do I tell the officer at POE? I am guessing he will be very suspicious if I get there with my GC after having resided in Germany for more than 6 (or even 12) months and no military travel orders to show.
Is the appointment letter for the naturalization interview enough to show him or am I trapped here now and won't be able to enter the country and will have to give up my GC and apply for a whole new visa once we are ready to go back????

Thanks!

I filed in February, got my EAD/AP card in the beginning of April, but haven't heard anything about the GC yet. Also, no letter. So far, I am fine and the wait doen't bother me too much, but I know, soon I will be starting to get worried about not receiving the GC in time before the EAD card runs out. Does it make any sense to call them and ask about my case (I'd like to know why I didn't get one of those letters!)? Probably not, right?

congrats everybody on your progress!

nothing new here yet.. however i found a job that would be just perfect for me.. wish i could apply for it! according to vj data i should get my ead in about 10 days, but then i was also supposed to get the k1 noa2 last year in the middle of july...

in germany, for situations like that you can usually get a temporary passport, or even the "express-passport" (ready within 24 hours, however 3 times as expensive as the regular one). maybe they have something like that there, too? just call and ask!

this is unbelievable!

i can't believe you still haven't heard anything!!!! just read your other thread.... i don't even know what to say...

i know ive never said anything in this topic, simply because i agree with most people's advice on here and also because i am neither a doctor nor a psychologist, so i can't say anything about your husband's problems. however, i've followed this threat and was shocked and worried about you at the same time!

just wanted to check in and see if everything is okay with you, since it's been a while that you last logged in....!

please let us know what you're up to and if you are alright - i bet theres more people than just me who are worried!

hm... i didn't have any problems getting the ssn in my new name. all they wanted to see was the marriage certificate and that was fine.

fingers crossed!

soooo sorry for everyone still waiting!!!! can't believe some of you still haven't heard anything!!!!

have you ever thought about changing your plans and moving to the other country, or maybe a whole different country where it is easier for both of you to immigrate?

i know our plan b would have been to move to germany and plan c somewhere else in europe... so maybe a change of plans is worth looking into for some of you guys?

wishing you all the best though and keeping my fingers crossed for everyone!!!!!

It is not too hard to make your own sourdough bread. It just takes some time. My Mom has sent me sourdough starters and bread mixes, I'm excited to try them. I don't like using a bread maker, had one in Germany too. It also works without one And if I don't have any fresh bread and have a craving, I go to Aldi's and get the packaged stuff that is a bit like Pumpernickel. Better than nothing and it doesn't taste like cake

yeah, i've wanted to try making my own for a while - but i haven't had the time for that yet with all the stuff you have to do once you're here and now christmas cookies and everything! but i definitely will

@kaaha... thanks for the tip.. i'll see if i can find a wegmanns here - haven't heard of it before, though.

btw, for everyone who wants to bake german things: i found dr. oetker's vanilla sugar at farm fresh. you can look at their homepage to see which one has it! (it took a while to find that out and i almost started making my own (which takes 2 weeks, though )).

yeah, bread here is a BIG problem for me too... haha...

oh, btw - in case my fiance reads this, he is doing a great job showing me everything and explaining everything to me. he is actually very very patient and understanding!

To convert temperatures from Celsius to Fahrenheit I just double it and add 30 (or Fahrenheit to Celsius, take off 30 and divide by 2). Not sure if it's exact but pretty close.

thank you! sounds like a really good trick!

and the recipes... yeah.... its taking forever to bake something or even to shop for it... when you go to the store you have to convert everything you need from grams to ounces and then when you bake convert it into cups... :-/ so annyoing.. and then 1 cup of powedered sugar of course is not the same as 1 cup of ground almonds... but i made the first to batches of cookies and they came out pretty well

now, off to the mall and practice driving a little more....

oh another new thing that happened to me and confused me for a few seconds: last time i bought clothes the girl asked me whether i wanted my receipt in the bag or have it emailed to me... i didnt expect a question like that at all so i had to think about it for a few seconds and they were probably thinking "why is she taking so long... its not THAT important"... haha....

but i am learning new things each day...

yes, uscs, be patient with us!

it is the same for me. ive been here quite a few times and i actually studied english at university, since i am an ESL teacher (which included a few culture-classes) BUT theres just sooo much i still need to learn/or that i am still not 100% comfortable with. i never know how much to tip, i think it's weird that in some stores the shop assistant has to unlock the door to the dressing room for you, just today my fiance explained how to get gas and i wouldnt even know how to send a letter! (like, where to go, how much it is and everything... i mean - it is easy to figure out and i would probably go to one of the ups or fedex stores, but still: i dont actually KNOW it). also the whole banking/credit card system and everything about health insurance and things like that.... i NOW know how to use the washer and dryer (but i didnt righ away), i had trouble locking or front door the first time i did it (in germany we just turn the key a couple of times all the way around and then its locked - here we just do half a turn and then turn it back and then its locked ). i still have to get used to driving an automatic car and sometimes am not really sure about the traffic rules or have to really concentrate to get it right (in germany, when theres no signs, the person on the right has the right of way, here its the bigger street... i still stop for lots of cars, even though i have the right of way) and i am SHOCKED by how many crimes occur where i live. there were 4 shootings in this area (luckily this doesnt mean my neighborhood, but the whole metropolitan area, but still ) within the last 3 days and it is hard for me to get used to not being able to walk around outside alone after it gets dark wherever i want to.

i just start noticing what a safe place germany is!!!!

so, to those of you who are the usc: please be patient with your fiance(e) - it can be very frustrating at times and you actually feel like a 12 year old kid that has to learn how to live on your own all over again. and that's even though the differences between germany and the us arent THAT big... i can only imagine how frustrating and exhausting it must be for people whose countries are a lot more different than the us!

alright - back to baking christmas cookies (thats another thing... all the different measurments...ugh... ).

goodnight

yaaaay!!!! very happy for you guys!!! you have a very stressful time ahead of you - BUT it is sooo much better than all the waiting before

@kaaha: good luck for your interview tomorrow! fingers crossed!!!!!!

congrats to everyone on all those good news! so glad to hear about milan&pams second interview going well!

and congrats @givn2fly on the wedding! all the best for you guys.... really sorry to hear about your stuff, though... :-/ hope youll be more lucky with your insurance!

ive been here for exactly 3 weeks today but it seems like a lot longer, since weve been so busy the whole time! theres just soooo much to do and organise and then we added to it by moving to a new place and city right before my arrival and putting in a 6 day roadtrip to orlando, fl. but it is really nice and we both enjoy every second we can spend together! i still cant believe i am living here now, though - right now it still feels like an extended holiday. although, i think thats also what keeps me from being homesick, so its actually a good thing!

well, hope to hear more good news next time i check on here (andie, and rong and david!!!!)

have a good sunday, everyone!

Oh no..... Unbelievable!!!! I hope u can sort this out quickly!!! Stay strong and dont give up - most cases Ive read about, that had initially been denied, were approved at the next interview!

thanks guys!

wow - so dhl just ALWAYS sucks..... typical....

i finally have some time to tell you guys how everything went! poe (newark) was really easy: the only thing asked me was "when are you getting married" - other than that, there was just lots of waiting in line

theres really not much else to tell you about poe, because it was SO easy!! everyone was really nice to me - much nicer than each time i entered on ESTA and also much nicer than they were to everyone else in secondary..

the last few days here have been pretty busy - just getting new stuff for the house and unpacking, fighting cockroaches and then, of course, still the jetlag.

but i am very glad i am here now

keeping my fingers crossed for each one of you!!!! i know everyone says this, but it really IS worth it!

thanks @tigerflower! i will let you all know how it was, as soon as i have time when i am there!

it is 1.30 am for me now, so friday - which means i am leaving TOMORROW!!!!! i am very excited, but it is also very very hard to leave everyone behind and an awkward feeling generally. i think i am going through all the emotions there are in the world at the same time.... but i will be fine once i am on the plane!

the last few days before the departure go by REALLY fast! it's weird, since time went by sooo slow before for months! good luck for everyone's journey! youre all very close too!

@andie: i am keeping my fingers crossed for you to get it all very very soon!!!!!!! i keep thinking about you guys and how unfair this process is.... hope it all gets sorted out!