Lynkali

My husband had his citizenship interview today and passed! Five-year rule at the San Diego office, and same-day oath so we are all done with USCIS!

However, the interview was VERY stressful - the worst interview of our whole immigration process. The interview lasted almost a full hour! The problem mostly stemmed from a name mix-up in the background check, which we had no advance knowledge of: apparently there's some guy with the same name as my husband working in a neighboring city in the Martial Arts field, and the interviewing officer spent a long time trying to trick my husband (who does not work at all) that he was that guy, or that he was trained in military/martial arts. That led to lots of probing questions about our finances (which are very normal and nothing out of the ordinary) and some attempts to sort-of bully or trick my husband regarding his lack of martial arts training! In the end, it all worked out - and in retrospect is kind of funny, once we googled the guy with the same name and figured out who they thought my husband was - but during the interview itself, my husband felt really stressed-out ... because how do you prove you're not that guy?

Other than that issue, the civics test was easy (although they did ask one of the harder questions, who was President during WWI) - but my husband answered all six correctly so no problems there, and of course English test no issues. 

My advice to anyone with a slightly common foreign name is to Google your name thoroughly - if my husband had known in advance that he had a doppelganger in a military-adjacent area, he would have been able to explain/answer much more easily and been more relaxed. Other than that, no complaints and we're REALLY glad to be done with the process!

We weren't expecting anything to happen in this week between Christmas and New Years, assuming everyone at USCIS was taking a break ... but I randomly decided to check our status on the web page this morning, and amazingly, INTERVIEW IS SCHEDULED!

Interview scheduled for February 13 in San Diego, notice mailed 12/28 (two days ago). Regular 5-year filer. Even though we signed up for text and email notifications, we didn't get any sort of notification - I just happened to check the site this morning!  Given San Diego is one of the slower offices, I'm quite happy, I was expecting more like April or so. Yay!

13 minutes ago, jts4132 said:

I tried again and still not getting the code.. are you being able to log in currently?

I had the same issue about 12 hours ago (late Monday night) and it wouldn't send the code at all, even by morning it had not sent anything. But I tried just an hour ago and it sent the code right away, as it usually does. I wouldn't worry - I think their 'send code' feature is malfunctioning sometimes, but it does work sometimes! Try again in a few hours, I'd suggest.

Still on "case is being actively reviewed" for us, no change since a few hours after originally filing (on Sept 14).  San Diego field office, I expect a fairly long wait but hopefully get an interview by March or so! We can wait, it's still better than the initial wait we had to get the K-1 visa back in 2012-13!  I only check the online status about once a week since I'm not really expecting an interview for another month or two.

3 hours ago, MunnoTheCat said:

I don't see my field office as we speak, but chances are it will be Long Island NY. Keep up fellas, we will all see eachother on the other side!!!

I don't think the USCIS site will show the field office until closer to the interview - could be wrong!  But even with "actively reviewing" status, my bio reuse letter says the service center is NBC. I'm sure we'll be at the San Diego office for the interview, but I'm not sure the site will say that until the interview is scheduled. Am I right?

1 hour ago, Lynkali said:

 

Oh, wow, I wasn't really expecting the biometrics to be re-used, since he last did them in 2015!  I'm surprised, but sure enough - Biometrics Reuse Notice is there, along with Receipt Notice.  Thanks for prompting me to check!

An hour later, and the Case Status has updated already!  "Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS" now, about an hour after Biometrics Reuse notification.  Yippee!

Edited to add: the processing time also changed, it originally said 16 months when first filed, now two hours later it says 9 months.

6 minutes ago, MunnoTheCat said:

check in few minutes to see if you could get biometric reuse letter in document section of your profile. that means your husband won't be going for a biometric appointment as they will use past fingerprints for verificaton. Welcome onboard btw!!!

Oh, wow, I wasn't really expecting the biometrics to be re-used, since he last did them in 2015!  I'm surprised, but sure enough - Biometrics Reuse Notice is there, along with Receipt Notice.  Thanks for prompting me to check!

My husband just filed n-400 today. Five-year rule since he's been a resident since 2014 (and ROC was 2016). Happily surprised at the new online filing system, and we only uploaded the required documents (green card, marriage certificate) plus five years of tax transcripts. Acceptance page said "16 months" for completion but based on what I see here on VisaJourney, we're hoping/expecting more like 8 months. We'll see!

Dear VJS. Twelve more days before the expiration of the USCIS approval notice for our K1 petition still no words yet from NVC. We wrote them and even the consulate in Lagos . they keep saying it will come . please what do we do? Assistance really needed now.

I'm wondering if you read the date in US notation or the rest of the world. If your expiration date says 12/9/2016, that is DECEMBER 9th, not September 12. Maybe that's what is causing you worry?

What do you mean with "temporary green card"? If you're waiting for AOS, then you don't have a green card of any kind. Do you mean the Employment Authorization (EAD)? That isn't a green card, it merely allows you to work. If the EAD is expiring and you still haven't received a green card, then I believe you need to file for a renewal of the EAD -- but I could be wrong and someone else more knowledgeable should answer, after you've clarified if you are talking about the EAD expiring?

May I ask if you used a joint-sponsor for AOS or did you successfully complete it with your own income?

Our K-1 process took almost a year -- they were much slower in 2012. So, by the time we were married and filed for AOS it was much longer, and thankfully I had a much more solid job with nice earnings, so we didn't even have a joint sponsor in reserve. I still was half-expecting to get RFE on the financials for the AOS, but it went through fine, since I was in a much more solid position.

The good news is that you're in Finland, which is relatively lax (or has been for most people) about financials. I was barely at the poverty line for the year we filed, and way below it for prior years, and therefore we had my parents prepare a whole joint-sponsorship package to bring to the interview in CASE the embassy didn't like my package. In the end, my husband said they barely even glanced at our paperwork, didn't ask or even care about financials at all, and we were approved without ever needing to mention our (held-in-reserve) joint sponsor stuff -- I'm not even sure they saw my total earnings and certainly didn't do more than flip past the page to see if it was filled out. Still, better safe than sorry and Penguin's advice about focusing on what his CURRENT earnings are is important.

Do beware though that the AOS once you're in the USA is probably a little more stringent, and you'll need to have a solid package when it comes to filing the I-864 things after you're married. Hopefully you'll have more solid paystubs by then!

hi i just got a text saying On May 16, 2016, we updated your name for your Form CRI-89, Petition to Remove Conditions of Permanent Resident Status Received. They update the name ?

At least during the earlier processes (K1 and AOS), the "name" update usually means they've "touched" your file and you should be getting a decision soon. It doesn't happen all the time but they seem to update the file electronically during some of the review process, then make a decision (could be approval, could be RFE) within a week or so. But again, that's going by my knowledge of the earlier processes, I have to assume it's the same for the ROC process!

I am filling out an FBAR (delinquent, actually, as I only recently learned I was required to), and can’t figure out where to list multiple accounts. I’m referring to Part II, line 18, which provides space for only one entry, and I have 3 different accounts to list. Also, I have RRSPs with TD and AGF. AGF sends me a 1099-Div which I include with my US taxes. I contacted TD about getting a 1099 from them and was told that banks report this info to the IRS. Does that mean I don’t include my RRSPs on the FBAR? Thanks for any help. It appears to be a very simple form, but I’m getting more confused by the minute and have a wee headache right now!

I have no idea about the second part of your question (don't even know what RRSP etc means) but the first part I think I can help: if you're using the online FBAR form, simply choose the PLUS sign above line 15 -- that will create a NEW area to add a second account. My husband had two accounts, we simply pressed the plus sign and a whole new "Part II .... 2 of 2" section appeared. If you're filing on paper, then I don't know, but the online form will let you create new areas for multiple accounts.

Can't help with the other things since I don't even know what those acronyms are.

if on Copies of bills, cell, power, water, charge card, etc

you have 24 months showing both names,

then yes, it could easily stretch up to 6 pounds o paper.

Exactly. We had three joint bank accounts, two joint credit card accounts, and four different joint utility bills (cable, electric, water and cell phone). That's 9 different bills. Each monthly bill was at least 2 pages and often 6 pages long. That's 18-40 pages EACH MONTH for 24 months. I did weed out what I thought was completely unnecessary, but since we have seen many reports of RFE requests for "complete" copies of bills, I didn't want to leave out too much. Our stack was 3 inches high and weighed just under 7 pounds. It was extremely well-labeled with tabs at the bottom, punched for ACCO fasteners and cross-referenced with 'see page X' notes. Better safe than sorry, but of course we are still waiting ... so we'll see if we made the right choice or not!

We also used the USPS priority mail box, it was absolutely no problem. We chose to pay for overnight delivery because we had that luxury, but even normal 3-day mail comes with tracking, so that would be fine as well.

I think he is worried that when it comes time to file for citizenship, there will be a record of him RETURNING from Mexico, but no record of him leaving the USA an hour before that. So how will USCIS know that his trip outside the USA was only for an hour if they have no time stamp for when he left? They might think he left much longer before and was gone more than the allowed time.

I don't know the answer and am not nearly well-versed enough in what proof you need for citizenship and travel abroad, but I think that's what he's asking?

If I remember right, it took almost exactly two months for his boxes to arrive. We knew it would take a while, but it did seem quite slow and long -- but yes, it was by boat. He had to sign release forms and a customs inventory form, but the company had everything processed through customs with just his signature, so they arrived on a truck to our house in California, after leaving Finland exactly two months earlier. There was absolutely no damage to anything -- the boxes were really pristine and had no signs of tampering or even being tossed around.

He brought a suitcase when he flew to the USA, full of clothes and his laptop. Then we just went shopping for some extra clothes and he settled in. He missed his vinyl records more than anything, but two months when you're busy getting married, getting all the new IDs and bank accounts and everything else done in between normal life, it flew by pretty fast.

I believe there WAS a $150 surcharge when the items cleared customs. I can't remember how they explained it and I was like "huh, ok" but it was so little compared to the overall cost, that I wasn't too worried. It had something to do with customs agent fees I believe. Nothing else -- he did pay up front and there were no surcharges from the actual shipping company, just that US agent fee whatever it was.

You'd probably be better off asking in a regional forum, as it's pretty specific to the area you're moving FROM as to prices. However, $5000 seems slightly high but not outrageous to me. When my husband moved from Finland, he hired an international shipping company. He had NO furniture, but a large amount of books, vinyl records, and other miscellaneous items. The company boxed up for him and cleaned his empty apartment, then shipped the boxes to the USA, for $3000. If your fiance has bulkier or heavier items, I could imagine the total coming to $5000. (For comparison, when I moved across the USA with a moving company, it also cost $3000 for a one-room apartment worth of stuff.)

I don't think you'll be looking at a July wedding on a K-1 visa. If it has to be July, then get married in July and file for a CR-1 spouse visa afterwards.

Just want to clarify what that means to the original poster, since he's new to the whole visa process: if you get married in July (while she is visiting on a 90-day visa waiver) and you file for the CR-1, then she still HAS TO GO BACK to the UK and wait out the process for the visa to complete. That can take a year, but she CAN still visit during that time. She just has to keep returning to the UK, she cannot live and work in the USA until the visa process is over.

She cannot come over on the Visa Waiver Program (I assume that's what you mean by "vacation visa") nor any other visitor's visa with the intent to stay. That is immigration fraud. Your lawyer was absolutely right about that.

If you file the K-1, she HAS to interview at the consulate in her own country (in London for the UK). The process requires her to do a medical exam in London and an interview at the consulate there. Those things CANNOT be done from within the USA.

She CAN visit you during the K-1 process while it is pending, but she HAS to return to the UK for the final stages of getting the actual visa. After she gets the K-1 visa, THEN she enters the USA to stay.

She cannot get a job in the USA until long after she enters on the K-1 visa (3 months at the earliest). She enters on K-1, you get married, she stays in the USA but does not work, you file for adjustment of status, and after 2-3 months she gets her employment authorization and can start a job here.

Other people can advise you more on time frames; our K-1 in 2012 took almost a year to complete, but they're moving much faster these days so it may only be 3-4 months.

You may wish to consider marrying in the UK and then filing for a CR-1 visa instead, which takes much longer to complete but gives her a greencard and the right to work the moment she enters the USA. Take a look at the guides here on VisaJourney: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

You should not need a lawyer, most people do not. Lawyers can slow the process down, and if neither of you has any criminal history or previous immigration overstays, then the process is very straightforward.

That's a fairly common situation and question. The answers I've seen always recommend some combination of:

- have an affidavit from your parents explaining the living situation

- have your parents draw up a "lease" even if you don't pay rent, you can simply state you'll contribute to the house expenses

- have lots of mail and identity documents at that address

You already have #3, so just add an affidavit from your parents and you'll be fine.

Obviously we're still waiting for ROC approval since we just submitted this month, but we didn't want to bother friends and neighbors either. We did get one signed affidavit from my parents (I'm the USC), but it wasn't notarized and shouldn't need to be. We have so much other evidence that I'm really not concerned about affidavits from others, it shouldn't matter at all.

We did the same for our AOS (just one letter from parents, not notarized) and had no problems with quick approval.

I've filled out many I-9 forms in my jobs (I'm a US citizen from birth) but I would have no idea how to GET those I-9 forms -- they go to the employer and the employer keeps them. Is this really something that the applicant is supposed to somehow get and submit to the CO, and if so, how would he go about getting them? Some of the places I've worked don't even exist anymore.

I'm just sympathizing and trying to imagine if I were asked to produce prior I-9 forms. That seems a completely impossible request to me, doesn't it? Are you absolutely sure he was asking you to submit the forms? Or was he just asking you to state what category you had checked on the forms?

Really should not be a problem. If you normally write checks that way and have no issues, then this shouldn't be any different. There's no difference between paying USCIS and paying any other company that deducts the check from your account. You should see your check cashed (money taken out of your account) within a few more days!