lost_at_sea

5 minutes ago, sanmi said:

As for affidavits, it was recommended in the instruction of I-751. No one knows what would make a difference. At least, USCIS didn't say affidavits aren't necessary unless you don't have any other proof. 

 

As for trips, we were living apart, so more materials would be needed I assume, but I am not sure about it. 

 

It's great that you didn't go through the hassle to prepare any of those materials. But I just "

Submit copies of as many documents as you can", as stated in the instruction of I-751

It's a recommended example of what you can include, not a requirement, as per the instructions PDF.  The only required documents are the tax returns.

Of course every case is different - with your living apart, you had to include more. That's not a typical case for a majority people - they don't need to include all that extra. 

To clarify - sorry! Your list is helpful! I just don't want people to panic and stress about getting too much together that they don't need to. Each case is unique and the appropriate amount of documentation should be gathered. 

I still have an ISA from before I moved in the UK. I just left it there, and we take a bit out of it now and then when we go to the UK to save on conversion fees / emergency money when abroad.  If you want to leave it there, as Wuozopo says, you just need to declare it every year if it's above a certain amount in value.

It's called FBAR: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/report-of-foreign-bank-and-financial-accounts-fbar

It used to be higher than 10k, but I see the number has been reduced. Annoying.

Affidavits really aren't necessary unless you don't have any primary evidence (financial, co-mingled assets, proof of living together). There's no need to hassle your friends and family.  I don't want people to think that they're necessary - we sent 0. We sent zero photos, plane tickets etc. 

Time-to-Oath will vary wildly by field office, since some offer same-day oaths and others schedule as far out as 90+ days.  I'd probably recommend that if you want to put off the oath, you tell them but also tell them when you will be available next so they won't reschedule you too soon or in another bit of time when you can't make it.

Did my oath today in Oakland, California. All done! Woop. 

There were 1232 people being sworn in from 91 countries at my ceremony today.

--

8 hours ago, Sarahinarizona said:

My online account has updated me that I have an interview scheduled for July 17th in Phoenix AZ office.  I have already made plans for travel with my kids this summer and won't be back before the interview date. I am a Canadian born citizen and in all honesty, I don't have a pressing travel restriction that would require me to obtain my US citizenship as soon as possible. Is there any major drawback if I reschedule my appointment? I called up a L2 officer and she said they would probably reschedule my interview over the next 1-3 months. Any ideas? Thanks, friends!

There's no drawback, other than the delay in time. I expect they get a lot of requests for reschedules over the summer holidays.

Or even, if your oath is in the morning maybe book an appointment at the passport office for that very afternoon if you're able to get between the two easily.

I've booked an appointment in advance at our local passport office in SF to get a passport in time for international travel.

They have all the information you need online and you can book online.  Here's Boston's specific information and you can use the same online booking tool, so go there: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies/boston.html

When you go though the application appointment thing, it'll ask you when your international travel is and offer you an appointment in the preceding 2 weeks (at least, that's what I did for my travel on the 30th June - appointment came up for the 19th).  Some offices will have you come back later in the same day to pick up your passport, others will have you come back a day or two later. I think it just depends on how busy they are.  Given your dates, you really don't have much choice but to go in person and ask for the super fastest service. I bet they'll get it back to you within 24 hours.

10 hours ago, vanhiscers87 said:

 

You're an IOE filer; you should be able to download the first page of the letter online, while the reverse side is generic. Google the number of the form online, find a PDF copy of the reverse side with the same edition date, then combine your first page and the generic reverse side into one PDF file. Finally, print the file on both side of the paper. Problem solved.

Like I already said, there is not a digital copy of it in ELIS. I don't know why. All my previous notices have been available there. This one is not.

BUT, YAY. My USPS Informed Delivery (I just discovered this service on another thread on VJ, it's sort of magic) shows that a hard copy of a letter from USCIS is due for delivery today. That'll probably clear everything up for me. phew.

1 minute ago, ChristianZane said:

You are required to have the USCIS Oath Ceremony letter in your hand, that's the issue.  I guess it won't hurt to show up, but it sounds like it could be a lot of hassle, can't you call USCIS tomorrow and demand to speak to an L2 officer?  They may have some advice for this unique situation.

Of course I'll try calling them, but we know how useful the information line tends to be.  

1 minute ago, ChristianZane said:

Don't show up to an oath ceremony without the letter from USCIS, they won't let you in and they won't have your Naturalization Certificate printed out which what you need in the end.  Go to your FO Infopass and inquire about getting access to an oath ceremony hardcopy.

If I _am_ meant to be there, of course they'll have my certificate. My concern is that I simply haven't received the letter in a timely manner because of the short window of time, not that I'm not supposed to be there and I'm trying to get in early or something. I don't want to miss an appointment I'm supposed to be at, which is was wondering about showing up and asking at the door.

I don't have time to infopass before Wednesday morning. San Francisco books appointments 2 weeks out.

53 minutes ago, ACubed said:

Call the court and check if they have your name on the list. Also -  Every day, your local field office will allow a few people to walk in for infopass. You should be able to do that if you get there early enough. They will be able to print out your letter for you.

Call what court?  The oaths in my area are done in a theatre, and they only list the generic USCIS helpline number for information. 

I stuck your Q into google and got:

http://www.foreclosurelawfirms.com/legal-advice/foreclosure/foreclosure-basics/affect-citizenship-application.htm

Does it affect your ability to apply <- no. Does it affect your ability to get an approval? <- maybe.

It might actually be better if you did have a payment plan, since that would show that you're not just delinquent, you're on course to actually make the repayments.

Conundrum time...

So, I keep getting those little nudges on my account that there's new information, but there never is - it just says the same "we have sent you an oath ceremony date" message. No PDF.

I mentioned before that the officer at my interview was going to see if he could get me into this Wednesday's oath ceremony, but he couldn't confirm at the time. 

Given that there's no PDF and any physical mail may not reach me in time - do you think I should assume that he DID manage to get me into that one and I should just show up? They'll have a list of people right there, right? I figure worst case, I'm not on their mega list on the day and I just go home again. 

What do you think?

Sorry to hear about your marriage not working out.

In terms of naturalisation, though, it's actually "easier" under the 5 year rule because you don't have to include the extra documents they ask for for married 3-year-rule persons.  It's slightly less paperwork to mail.

If you follow the checklist, then you should be fine. Your situation shouldn't cause any undue difficulty. 

Hey gang!

Quick update. I had my interview today in San Francisco. I'd been really stressing about it, I'd read some negative reviews about this office and was ready for it to be a really horrible experience, but it was great.

Security were friendly and straight-forward, interview was early! My appointment was 12:45, but I was really early (I walked faster than I expected to - nervous energy - from my house) and they got me in for my interview a whole half hour early. I was basically all done by the time my actual scheduled spot came around.

Was interviewed by a very nice young officer - he asked me all the usual stuff, I had a bunch of additional travel since August to add that he made the amendments for (he was even able to verify my trips via his access to the global entry system). I also got my wedding date wrong by a day on the form! Oops! But we caught it and corrected it. Generally a nice, friendly, chatty experience.  I left with a "Congratulations" and recommendation for approval piece of paper and hopefully I'm going to get into the June 7th oath ceremony in Oakland (he had suggested one in July first, but said that I might just squeeze in to the earlier one), which'll let me get the passport sorted before my next international trip in July. Else, I'll probably have to bump it out to September to get a window big enough to do the passport without giving myself a stress ulcer. 

All in all, SO GLAD to have this bit over! It's really not as bad as I thought! I got the email notification of the change in application status as I was leaving the building (changed to "we're sending you the oath date" message).

Question: Does anyone happen to know if the appointment for the Oath will come in via the ELIS system (like the previous notifications for appointments)? Or is it just sent by mail? 

Updates:
clean table


======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd.|NOA.|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office.....|NBC/IOE
NCPAL.........|10/17/13|07/29|08/02|08/02|08/19/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|02/15/17.|03/31/17.|Washington, DC...|
Kismat75900...|??/??/??|07/30|08/04|08/05|08/26/16|--/--/--.|01/09/17.|02/14/17.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|
NewAm16.......|06/22/12|07/26|08/05|08/05|09/06/16|--/--/--.|01/31/17.|03/13/17.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ.......|IOE
midge & isi ..|??/??/??|08/01|??/??|08/08|08/23/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|12/13/16.|01/13/17.|Portland, ME.....|IOE
Southernnman..|10/23/13|08/02|08/10|08/10|09/02/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|04/05/17.|--/--/--.|W Palm Beach, FL.|
EastCoast_Guy.|05/01/12|08/05|08/11|08/12|08/29/16|02/22/17.|02/23/17.|04/05/17.|--/--/--.|Hartford, CT.....|IOE
Skull.........|11/01/13|08/09|08/11|08/12|08/22/16|02/22/17.|02/23/17.|04/05/17.|--/--/--.|Hartford, CT.....|
Kutza.........|09/16/10|08/09|??/??|??/??|09/07/16|--/--/--.|12/28/16.|01/31/17.|--/--/--.|Raleigh, NC......|
jay70.........|08/03/11|08/05|08/12|08/15|08/29/16|09/02/16.|12/10/16.|01/11/17.|02/16/17.|Baltimore, MD....|IOE
mommy22.......|09/01/09|08/08|08/16|08/15|09/07/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Baltimore, MD....|
TXBrazil......|10/28/13|08/09|08/16|08/15|09/06/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX.......|IOE
Baba1313......|06/04/13|08/10|08/16|08/15|09/06/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL........|
Dharri26......|??/??/??|08/12|08/08|08/15|09/08/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA......|
paul_pope.....|05/19/89|08/08|08/16|08/18|09/07/16|--/--/--.|01/24/17.|03/15/17.|--/--/--.|Charlotte, NC....|
Tigerflower...|08/15/13|08/12|08/14|08/18|09/06/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|03/14/17.|--/--/--.|Charlotte, NC....|IOE
Fabian&Rossy..|02/26/96|08/06|08/12|08/22|09/06/16|09/09/16.|09/24/16.|10/27/16.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA.|NBC
SL&SP.........|08/19/11|08/15|08/23|08/22|09/15/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY.....|
Luaytm........|10/26/11|08/17|08/24|08/24|09/14/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Antonio, TX..|IOE
ACUBED .......|04/10/07|08/18|08/22|08/25|09/02/16|--/--/--.|02/01/17.|03/24/17.|--/--/--.|Norfolk, VA......|IOE
PHUNKYVIDA....|05/30/13|08/20|08/16|08/25|09/15/16|09/19/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Oakland Park, FL.|NBC
spn1025.......|03/15/13|08/22|08/25|08/25|09/12/16|--/--/--.|12/19/16.|01/25/17.|--/--/--.|Manchester, NH...|
Nevyna........|05/02/05|08/22|08/26|08/29|09/06/16|03/02/17.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Jacksonville, FL.|
Argent........|06/13/09|08/29|09/06|09/07|09/27/16|09/29/16.|12/05/16.|01/03/17.|02/23/17.|San Antonio, TX..|NBC
Mubin.........|07/11/??|08/22|09/02|09/28|09/30/16|02/22/17.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Long Island,NY...|
jondoe........|??/??/??|08/30|??/??|??/??|10/05/16|--/--/--.|12/12/16.|01/11/17.|02/03/17.|Albany, NY ......|


==============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================
UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd.|NOA.|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office.....|NBC/IOE
Lenchick......|06/22/16|07/27|08/03|08/03|07/18/16|11/07/16.|--/--/--.|02/27/17.|03/02/17.|Washington, DC...|IOE
Usaf&cop......|08/07/13|08/01|08/04|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|12/29/16.|01/18/17.|--/--/--.|Wichita, KS......|
Kobiams ......|10/31/13|08/01|08/05|08/04|08/30/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL......|
Bob-Khahan....|10/02/13|08/01|08/09|08/05|09/02/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Saint Louis, MO..|
debz..........|09/05/11|08/05|08/10|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|01/10/17.|02/16/17.|Helena, MT ......|
Kamex009......|11/08/11|08/11|08/16|08/16|09/06/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Santa Ana, CA....|IOE
vanhiscers87..|11/04/13|08/12|08/18|08/17|09/07/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chatsworth, CA...|IOE
haron1930.....|xx/xx/xx|08/18|08/23|08/27|09/13/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Los Angeles, CA..|IOE
ChuckM........|11/18/13|08/22|08/29|08/25|09/12/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|St. Paul, MN.....|
lost_at_sea...|07/30/13|08/20|08/26|08/26|09/13/16|01/06/17.|04/26/17.|05/30/17.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA|IOE
unixyz1982....|11/18/13|08/20|08/30|08/26|09/12/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|01/20/17.|--/--/--.|Cincinnati, OH...|
skidivawannabe|07/23/10|08/19|08/24|08/29|09/12/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA|
Majuki........|11/21/13|08/25|08/29|08/31|09/26/16|10/21/16.|10/27/16.|11/30/16.|02/23/17.|San Jose, CA.....|NBC
Babyduck......|10/17/13|08/05|08/08|08/11|08/30/16|--/--/--.|03/13/17.|04/19/17.|05/02/17.|Seattle, WA......|IOE
MikloGoesLegit|10/24/13|08/05|08/08|08/11|08/18/16|--/--/--.|03/13/17.|04/19/17.|05/02/17.|Seattle, WA......|IOE
K & L.........|11/15/13|08/15|08/19|08/19|09/06/16|--/--/--.|04/12/17.|05/15/17.|--/--/--.|Salt Lake City,UT|IOE

===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office.....|NBC/IOE/LIN
Plastmassa....|12/17/12|08/09|08/16|08/15|09/06/16|--/--/--.|09/19/16.|10/24/16.|10/24/16.|Atlanta, GA......|LIN

Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
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Legend:
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed by USCIS
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification
Fprints: Date assigned for fingerprinting (Bio-metrics)
In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Interview: Date of your interview
Oath: Date Oath taken
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2 hours ago, MikloGoesLegit said:

 

 

Sorry I still don't know how to do this properly and remove the quote but I figured the information being there is more important than correct formatting.

The quote thing doesn't seem to work really in the new updated version of the site. It's actually easier to simply copy and paste it.  I updated the instructions, but I'll copy it out again.

You appear to be in filing for a K1 in Australia, so your embassy should accept a joint sponsor. A joint sponsor can be anyone over 18, resident in the USA, an LPR or citizen and have the required amount of money.

I recommend you read the I-864 and accompanying instructions.  https://www.uscis.gov/i-864

You'll be supplying the I-134* for the K1 process, but the embassies follow roughly the same rules as for the I-864, which you'll be completing during the AoS procedure anyway and will need the same financial information, except more stringently. 

The Australian's income does not count because it will not continue in the USA.  Savings/assets can count, so if you happen to have a lot that's also an option. 

* https://www.uscis.gov/i-134 

I think you're good to go. I don't think you're missing anything, either.  

You're sending them a lot. Like I said - they actually can't be 100% certain about whether you met or not in the 2 years. They play detective a little bit with the evidence you give them, so the easier you make the case for them the easier it is for them to just say YES. You're responding to the RFE with good evidence (they'll be glad to see the correctly date passport stamps). I suspect you'll get an approval on this shortly after they get your response and revisit your case.

The only other thing you could have sent, but again it's not even really good evidence, is some affidavits from friends/family who were with you at those meetings. But they're also easily faked, which is why I wouldn't put any thought to them unless they bounce you back again with another RFE.

At least you know they're looking at your case, now!

I think you'll be fine now.

Just now, Peot said:

So the most important thing is that we had met in the 2 years prior, but I was certain that plane tickets of our travel (with the accompanying photos as secondary) would be enough. For example, if I have plane tickets for us travelling to London, and we have a picture of us together standing in front of the Tower of London..... I would have thought that would do the trick.

 

Meanwhile, the passport stamps are VERY broad... they are dated with the date of entry into the country, but don't show WHERE you went in the country. For example I have stamps of me entering Chicago, Detroit, New York.... and some are on route to her, and some aren't. I'm confused as to why those are key and the above was not.

I updated my comment a little after. Sorry.

Anyway. This is me playing officer again and imagining how they might scrutinise.  The Tower of London photo - that could have been taken any time, not necessarily on that trip. It shows you met, but doesn't prove the when.

Having the passport stamps is important because they're government issued, so in their eyes, less likely to be faked.  Travel itineraries are documents made by private companies that they can't verify. 

It's a combination of things.  They want hard stuff (government issued things, for example) with corroborating secondary stuff (like boarding passes). They use them all together to form an idea of how likely it is that you actually met the criteria that they can't possibly really, truly, know (without a time machine or having personally met you both at the same time on that trip). 

The requirement to show that you had met in the 2 years prior is pretty key to the application, so I'm not surprised you got RFEd for that. I think what you're sending now should do the trick (namely the passport stamps, boarding passes and photos together).  

In terms of "Where did we go wrong the first time?", if you didn't send them any evidence that you'd met face-to-face in your first package to satisfy the "met in the 2 years prior" rule, then that's where you went wrong. No biggy, just slowed things down a tad.  

Photos aren't evidence of the "2 year" part (they are evidence of meeting, but not WHEN) and neither are letters etc. Buying plane tickets doesn't mean you got on the plane, could be faked.

Basically, you have to put your suspicious hat on and think to yourself "what evidence would be difficult for someone to produce if they were faking it".  

The passport stamps are government issued items, so they're really good. That, coupled with some evidence of your activity while there (that receipt, for example) makes it a lot easier for them to tick the "yes they met with in the last 2 years" box.

Just now, LivA said:

They might ask him this at his naturalization interview?!

Yes, especially because he'll be naturalising on the 3 year (married to a US citizen) rule.

2 minutes ago, LivA said:

Yes, we will be there a year. But I figured if we applied for Naturalization this May and it takes say 6 months for him to be a citizen that would take us to November and we wouldn't need to do any extension. I more worried about him applying for a visa while applying to be a citizen. But I guess it would be just the same if we were planning a trip to say somewhere in Europe. I think I just answered my own question lol

6 months for naturalisation is optimistic! I wouldn't bet on that.

And yep. I think you did just answer your own Q.

He can visit, yeah. How long are you planning to be in Qatar?  You could also look into a re-entry permit that would allow him to be outside of the USA for a longer period of time (so, if you were in Qatar for a year, he could be with you for that year), but it will count against his total US residency time for qualifying for N-400 application window start date.

It's fine. I don't think there's any legal requirement that your hand be on the envelope when it goes into the mail box.  Biometrics seem to come about a month after acceptance.  You can go look ahead in the citizenship progress reports section of the forum and see how long it's been taking folks to get their appointments for your service centre.