Aaron & Anne

Hmm, I have a question, I also posted it on my thread.

According to the following link, the member's I-130 priority date got adjusted after the upgrade request.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/360086-filling-i-130-as-lpr-vs-usc-case-will-be-upgrade-but/

Does your priority date get adjusted as well?

According to the I-797C receipt, there's no PD anymore since it has been upgraded to IR (they left PD blank). The receive date is still the day I received NOA1 which was on May 9, 2012. So, I'm assuming that there is no reset or whatsoever will take place.

We submitted a request letter to upgrade our I 130 petition after my husband become US Citizen.

We expected to get receipt notice regarding to upgrading case.

However, we received a general inquiry response letter , our request letter and copies of naturalization certificate and receipt notice those are sent to CSC.

We feel confused. Why did they send back all those letters?(Our request letter has a stamp that they received)

What should we do?

We don't know our case has been upgraded or not.

Arriyan, I received a notice today from uscis confirming the upgrade. It took approximately 2 weeks for them to mail the receipt. Yours will come soon.

Hi to all,

My parents are ready to send their ds230 forms together with all the civil documents needed. My question is, my Mom worked as a RN in Saudi Arabia for 15 years. She comes home every year for a month to visit us until she retired on 1996. I read somewhere that if the applicant lived for more than 12 months outside their country, they still need to provide a police clearance. Does anybody have an idea how or where to apply for this?

Thank you.

Eunice

Check this Out http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=9727

We submitted a request letter to upgrade our I 130 petition after my husband become US Citizen.

We expected to get receipt notice regarding to upgrading case.

However, we received a general inquiry response letter , our request letter and copies of naturalization certificate and receipt notice those are sent to CSC.

We feel confused. Why did they send back all those letters?(Our request letter has a stamp that they received)

What should we do?

We don't know our case has been upgraded or not.

They did the same thing to me. CSC sent back all docs I submitted but before that, I emailed CSC and called NSCS to open a service request on upgrading my husband's petition. Until now, 2weeks have passed and still no response from them. I will call and email them again tomorrow. I don't know why other people would only take few days to upgrade and receive notifications from USCIS! I am also waiting for my NOA2 till now and it's just so sad to know that no matter how excited I was when I became a citizen, it's still a long process and long wait for us!

Hi Gibby, thanks for a quick response. I know and I have read online "USCIS" (website) that I cant apply a citizenship if I am outside the country for 6 months, which I will be from April 2012 - October 2012.

Plus I have to be there physically 3 months straight before I file the naturalization. And I can only apply the 90 days thingy before my 3 years anniversary which was last JUNE 2012, they said if I missed it then I can't apply the 90 days thingy So I just have to wait until I finish school.It stinks that I am goign through this sssssssshhhhhhh!!!! I just find it difficult for people like me who wants to save money for education and for immigration. The bottom line here is USCIS are being so smart of getting money from people like us. Every move will cost you 300-700USD for all the documents and paper work.Its just too much:(

Coz re-entry permit cost 380USD almost 400USD.... I need to get this twice in 4 yrs.

Theres also the N-470 that protects my residency or my intention to apply a citizenship this cost as much as 400 USD:(

from USCIS website:

What if my trip abroad will last longer than 1 year?

If you plan on being absent from the United States for longer than a year, it is advisable to first apply for a reentry permit on Form I-131. Obtaining a reentry permit prior to leaving the United States allows a permanent or conditional permanent resident to apply for admission into the United States during the permit’s validity without the need to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Please note that it does not guarantee entry into the United States upon your return as you must first be determined to be admissible; however, it will assist you in establishing your intention to permanently reside in the United States. For more information, see the “Travel Documents” link to the left under “Green Card Processes & Procedures.”

Additionally, absences from the United States of six months or more may disrupt the continuous residency required for naturalization. If your absence is one year or longer and you wish to preserve your continuous residency in the United States for naturalization purposes, you may file an Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes on Form N-470. For more information, please see the “Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements” under the Naturalization section of this website.

So far I am just thinking of just getting the re-entry permit.

Thanks again for ur response:)

So if i want to be on the safe side I have to spend roughly 800 for the two forms.

I was once a student before..nursing student too! Make sure to submit all requirements for your re entry. I applied before but they denied it because they said i forgot to include pictures--just like that! A lawyer told me that usually they would ask for RFE or to submit missing docs but apparently they didn't ask me that!

I hope you are not in Californina because there are a lot of PI graduates that are being denied by CA BON...Including myself! So the four years I've spent in college and PI RN license are gone. Just make sure your rotational duties and theoretical subjects are concurrent.

Good luck to you!

Hello everyone,

I hope you can help me here i am so confused:( any suggestions will be highly appreaciated...

I just need clarification on my case. I am a permanent resident of US for over 2 yrs now.I arrived the US last Sept 2009 ,Sept 2012 will be my 3rd year to apply US CITIZENSHIP,(married to US citizen). I got my visa thru my US citizen spouse."CR1" visa after 2 yrs I was able to lift my conditional visa. After that I got my 13 yrs greend card.

I just want to know If I can still apply US citizenship If I am outside the country for the next 6 months . I am here in the Philippines for 4 months now,I left US last April this year to study outside the country because its cheaper here in Asia.I am planning to apply my citizenship this OCTOBER. As being married to US citizen the rule is after 3 yrs of being in the US they said you can apply 3 months or 90 days before your 3 yr anniversary, my anniversary will be on SEPT. 2012 next month. Meaning I can apply it JUNE 2012.But I am here in Manila studying again for 4 months now,after two months OCTOBER our vacation I will go back to the states and thinking what to do.Either to apply citizenship , re-entry permit or just go back and forth every 6 motnhs "every semester break?

I am wondering if I am allowed to apply citizenship when I left April this year and will be back to US on OCTOBER on our school sem. break. I am planning to stay in the US for a month of my school break, while on vactaion I want to apply US citizenship...My husband is in the US so he can just file some of the paper work for me and I will just fly back If I need to be there for an interview or biometrics.

Some advise me to just get a re-entry permit that will allow me to be outside the country for 2 yrs. I just got in the nursing program and this will be for 4 yrs.Im only on my 1st year. I need to know which path to go to.

I am thinking of getting my citizenhip or re-entry permit which way is better and to save money...

CITIZENSHIP has rules and regulations I know that i also read their website some are confusing though...

as well as re-entry permit... please enlighten me here.

Some says and one of the GUAM USCIS agent told us if your US LPR or resident you can be outside the US with in 6months or with in 12 months...And the agent said that it depends on the immigrations officer.SOME are nice to just let me in the country with no hassle and some wont....

I am just confused,,coz my total stay in the US is not exactly 2 yrs and 9 months... Im lacking 2 months...

I appreciate your help...

Please help...

TAHNK YOU so much and have a good one!!!

GOD SPEED!!!

Hello.

My suggestion to you is get your citizenship first! You are eligible now but if you will continue going back and forth to PI until you finish your school, then you might have a problem. Remember, two of the requirements for citizenship application are PHYSICAL PRESENCE AND CONTINUOUS RESIDENCY. Even if you go back and forth to US just to break the 6 month rule, they can still deny your application.

If you are not really in a hurry to become a citizen, you can apply for re-entry permit BUT that does not preserve your residency, it only protects your green card from being revoked. If you choose to apply for re-entry and have finished school in two years--let's say, 2014...from 2014 count 4 years and 1 day for you to be eligible and that would be in 2018.

The opportunity is right in front of you to apply for citizenship NOW based on your Marriage. Don't wait till its too late. School can always wait but your elegibilty to become a citizen knocks not too often.

Good luck!

4 years + 1 day is for only absence more than a year. It does not apply to absence between 6 months and 12 months. Also, it only applies if you have a re-entry permit. I learned this from USCIS officials when I got an infopass appointment.

Regarding to taxes that you did not file, you can always file 1040X for those years.

Hi. Did you have the same problem too?

Since you have already filed the N400, we can only hope that your IO is sympathetic to your case. However, filing taxes is mandatory and you need to have your return transcripts for the past 5 years. Please call IRS and ask them for the transcripts. Its free and you should get it within 2-3 weeks.

If asked, you may have to explain why you did not file tax returns for couple of years.

Looking at your dates, it would have been best if you had applied 4 years + 1 day after your return from the long absence. That would be 1/18/2013. That is just a little more than 6 months away. Worse case scenario, you can reapply then.

However, I hope you get an understanding IO at your interview. Stay hopeful. Good Luck!

Thank you! I already ordered IRS transcripts from 2009 to 2011. You've been a great help! Thanks!

Since you have already filed the N400, we can only hope that your IO is sympathetic to your case. However, filing taxes is mandatory and you need to have your return transcripts for the past 5 years. Please call IRS and ask them for the transcripts. Its free and you should get it within 2-3 weeks.

If asked, you may have to explain why you did not file tax returns for couple of years.

Looking at your dates, it would have been best if you had applied 4 years + 1 day after your return from the long absence. That would be 1/18/2013. That is just a little more than 6 months away. Worse case scenario, you can reapply then.

However, I hope you get an understanding IO at your interview. Stay hopeful. Good Luck!

Please post the dates you were out of the US. Also, any reason why your parents did not include you or file tax returns on your behalf for those years?

Good idea. I will ask my dad! Thanks!

Hello. Thanks for the reply!

Here are the dates i was outside the country for the last 5years:

10/7/2007 to 3/31/2008 - 176 days (I think I might be in trouble here too)

4/16/2008 to 1/17/2009 - 276 days

1/31/2010 to 3/2/2010 - 30 days

11/28/2011 to 1/17/2012 - 45 days

TOTAL OF 526 days

Thanks!

Hello. I'm a newbie here!

I filed my N400 in April and done with fingerprinting last June 20th. I was wondering if anyone here had experienced being denied or approved in the interview in regards to staying outside US for more than 6 months but less than 1 year.

I got my GC in '07 through parents but stayed 9 months between '08 and '09 because I was a graduating student from college back then. After that, I stayed here in US from then on. Got work and has been paying taxes since 2009.

My immediate family were here while I was out and I did not work abroad. I didn't have any tax returns for 2007 and 2008 for I was still a student and totally dependent to my parents and have proof that my father had sent money from US to the Philippines. I also didn't have bank accounts, credit cards, etc.

Everyday, I'm scared as to how this journey will end up. I m still waiting for the interview letter and hoping that I can get some advise betore the judgement day!

YOLO