Mks1981

Hi All,

For those of you who have already completed the naturalization process, I'm wondering if any of you had your N-400 application expedited?

Quick backstory: I came to the US on a K1 visa. I'm an only child, and my parents live in Australia. They're in their late 60s and have no family around them.

We learned this week (Tuesday) that my father may have stomach cancer. We are waiting on the results to come back. I sent my N-400 application in on Monday. Talk about bad timing.

My question is this: If my father does indeed have stomach cancer, as his doctors suspect, is there any way I can get my application expedited so I can travel sooner? As I understand it, stomach cancer is one of the most aggressive forms and I wouldn't like to hedge my bets on my father being around until the application was processed over a normal time frame. That, and I obviously want to be there for my parents to support them during this time.

If it is possible to expedite it, what sort of documentation would I need? I imagine I'd need confirmation (sworn affidavit?) from my father's doctor and possibly from my mom?

If anyone could give me any insight into this, I'd appreciate it. I'm planning on calling USCIS in the next few days, but I just thought I'd ask in case anyone could throw some light on the process.

Thank you.

I am sorry to hear about your father's health issues. However, it is my understanding that you can travel all you want during your n400 application process. You just have to be back for your bio and actual interview. You just have to deal with the financial ramifications of traveling back and forth.. I don't think there is a way to expedite your application. Maybe others can chime in as well.

Just got done with the form tonight. Will be getting 2 2x2 photos tomorrow and make a copy of my permanent resident card.

Will try to get my paperwork out by the end of the week. So here's my quick checklist.

- N400 form filled out (needs to re-check again)

- 2 2x2 passport style images (should be able to get tomorrow)

- copies of resident card (should also be done tomorrow)

- check for $680 ($595 + $85 biometrics)

- sending it to

USCIS

PO BOX 21251

Phoenix,AZ 85036

Thats pretty much it. If You think i am missing something please let me know.

also, how do i go about sending this package?

Post office,fed-ex?

return receipt,certified mail?

Thanks!!!

Perform a quick search on this forum. You are missing quite a few items, I.e. Tax transcripts etc.

Hi guys I need some advice. I applied for my passport book the 15 of August and the received my app the 20th. When I checked online it still processing. And I'm traveling the 10 of september. I paid for regular service. Do u guys think I will get it on tint to travel. Please advice.

Applied for my passport on 7/31, received it 8/16 I believe. Regular processing.

hi! how long after the fingerprint did ou received the interview notice,? does your status online change? I got my fingerprint done last august 9 and eversince i never eard from them nor my status online change. it is still the fingerprint status thing. thank you very much!

Just a few days, the update "in line for interview scheduling" and "interview scheduled" took place on the same day. Interview letter was received a good week after fprints. Oath took place on the same day as the interview (8am).

My friend has got the US citizenship, but yet to get US passport. But they have to travel to India for an emergency.. What should be the process? Can they travel on Green card and Indian passport?

Also, in general cases.. once we do get US passport, how long will it take to get Indian Visa or OCI card?

He should no longer have a green card since you are required to turn it in during the oath. He has to travel on his us passport. He can go to the local Seattle passport office and wait for his us passport. No idea on how long it takes to get an Indian visa.

Hello,

In almost all the cases, the BIO letter should be sent to you within 30 days of the NOA1. If you did not receive it by that time you need to contact USCIS.

Seatle is witihin the 5 months frame for processing N-400. The best way to find out as close as you can how long it will take, it so track some members from the same office in previous months (I would start looking into April, May and June filers).

Good luck

My local office is Seattle as well. Applied end of April and completed the oath ceremony on July 30th (same day as the interview). Biometrics letter took about a month. Good luck!

I check my application status online it says that my application is being processed and it give my application locator number. Does anyone know what this means. Thank you ur reply woul be appreciated.

The online status updates are worthless, received my passport on Saturday, about 2.5 weeks after applying (regular). Received email yesterday that passport had been mailed. Congrats on completing the citizenship process.

@rocks: Thank you for the Information. Did they give you new SS Card with a new SS Number or the same Social Security Number and the card did they'll give there itself or they are going to mail it? How much time it may take generally at the Social Security office..... Any idea?

You keep your own ss number.

Just because you read something on the internet, it doesn't negate real life experiences. He didn't maintain his LPR status as he was a citizen. He claimed to be a citizen and they had no record of it. It's really not complicated. Stop arguing for the sake of it.

Read something on the Internet? If you recall, this argument started because you were saying you needed to be a citizen to receive ss benefits. Which is simply not the case. Next time learn the SSA rules and get your facts straight before you start spouting incorrect information.

I'm glad you know everything about this person's experience.

Very mature

"Other factors"? Again, what "other factors"? How can he prove he is in the country legally if they think he is a LPR and he doesn't have a GC? It is nothing to do with VJ, this is real life.

If SSA thought he was a lpr he would not have been denied ss benefits. See previous explanation. I will repeat it again, his status, as long as he was here legally, is irrelevant for obtaining ss retirement benefits. We already went over that more than once. Hence, the reason for his denial had to have been something else than him not updating SSA of his citizenship. Therefore, the was another factor causing the denial.

There are no other factors. It is as simple as that. As I previously stated, he didn't have a GC. How is he supposed to prove he is here legally? It's really not complicated. You should read what I quoted in my previous post. Here it is again.

How can you prove you are here legally with no GC?

I really don't see why you are making such a big deal about this. You should go to the SS office and change your status, there is no reason not to go other than wanting to argue on the internet.

Rocks, nobody is disagreeing with the need to update social security of your new status. You made the point that his ss benefits were denied because he was not a citizen. And that is impossible if he were in this country legally (as I have outlined previously). That is all. You are the only one making a big deal about this. Obviously other factors are in play in this situation. Just wanted to make sure that a common myth was not perpetuated on vj. That is it, I am done.

Why are you linking information about an LPR? As I stated previously,he is a citizen.

It's really very simple. He didn't have a GC, he became a citizen over 30 years ago. They wouldn't accept his passport as proof.

And yes, you are not eligible for medicare/medicaid without being a citizen.

I realize that he is a citizen. But he was not a citizen according to SSA. For most, if not all of us on this forum, the road to us citizenship is through a green card. (don't know if there is another way). So, even if he had not updated SSA, SSA most likely would have him listed as a lpr, and he still would have qualified for ss benefits. So, that leads me to assume that there are other factors at play here. Citizenship is a none factor for ss benefits.

This is indeed normal. In fact, the instructions that I received with my CON actually told me to go after at least 10 days. Didn't matter anyway as I had more interest in a passport due to travel next month. Will make a stop at the SSO and DMV after my CON is returned to me in mail.

Yep, same story here. Will take passport/con into SSA office when I get it back in a few weeks. Applied for passport last week.

What?

I'm talking from experience of something that happened to someone I know. They were unable to claim SS without proof of being a citizen. They had been a citizen for over 30 years...

Something else must have been going on here, or this person is not being truthful with you. This is directly from the SSA;

As a lawful permanent resident, you qualify for retirement benefits while in the United States and perhaps even if you move abroad. You need not become a U.S. citizen.

To get retirement benefits, you or your employer must have paid into the Social Security retirement system. Usually, to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, an individual must have worked for a combined total of at least 40 quarters of a year (ten years). The period is different for individuals born before Jan. 1, 1929.

To get Social Security retirement benefits while in the United States, a retiree must be legally here. However, U.S. citizens, permanent residents and even some undocumented immigrants can get those benefits if they move abroad. Anyone whose employment was subject to Social Security taxes may be eligible for these benefits.

Workers not here legally cannot get Social Security retirement benefits while in the United States. Whether they can get the benefits while abroad depends partly on where the person retires. However, most undocumented immigrants who worked in the United States using a Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) can get benefits while abroad. For general information on Social Security retirement benefits, go to www.ssa.gov or call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. You can get information about collecting benefits abroad by reading the SSA’s booklet, “Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States.” You can download the booklet from the web at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10137.pdf.

Same goes for social security disability benefits, as long as you have enough credits.

Hope this helps and we can put this issue to bed.

Thanks! I can't imagine that either. The lady next to me asked me if I was going into labor because the baby was moving a lot and I kept rubbing my tummy.

I went to the SS office first so that I could mail off the certificate with my passport application. I don't know if the SS office can accept a copy of your naturalization certificate, I don't see why not, I just hadn't thought of doing that. All they do is enter your alien number and check your details so it might not be a problem. It doesn't really matter when you go to the SS office and change your status, as long as you remember to do it. I know someone who lived here for many many years and they tried to claim SS at retirement age and the SS office had no proof of them being a citizen and it was a headache to fix.

I have no idea about the voter registration form. I sent mine off to the local government, they will send me a card if they accept my application. Where did you send your forms to?

You do not have to be a us citizen to receive ss benefits, either at retirement or for disability reasons. As long as you have enough credits a lpr is eligible for all these same benefits. It is a common myth.

My uscis journey is finally over. Had both my interview and oath today. Interview lasted 10 min, quite the surprise. Had 102 folks from 31 countries in the ceremony. Will apply for my US passport first thing tomorrow morning.

A lot of bad information in this thread. You have to bring tax transcripts for the last 3 years, among a host of other documents. Do a quick search and the document checklist will pop up.

you only need one answer unless they request more than one.

such as name 3 indian tribes.

The question is 'one' tribe, not 3.

Could someone please update my timeline? Received interview letter today for Seattle, WA office, interview scheduled for July 30th. Thank you!

Would somebody please be so kind to update my fingerprint date, 6/20/12. Thank you!

Could someone please add me to the list? Thank you!

Send 4/24/12

Check cashed 4/27/12

Noa1 4/29/12

In addition, has any one waited more than 30 days for their biometrics appointment letter? According to uscis website there has been no 'touch' on my application since 4/26. Getting a little worried. Thanks for your insight!

Marc