tpontirolli

September 1, 2009

I think it is time for an updated timeline of all new citizens!

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USCIS Lockbox Texas

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

KromiX...........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/28/09......05/09/09........07/02/09.....07/27/09....Miami, FL

Raleighn400......04/02/09....04/07/09....05/11/09......05/22/09........07/29/09.....07/30/09....Durham, NC

SY2k9............04/02/09....04/11/09....05/02/09......05/11/09........06/18/09.....06/25/09....San Antonio, TX

Tumande..........04/02/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/15/09........06/23/09.....--/--/--....Dallas, TX

GabLopSan........04/06/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......06/02/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....Newark NJ

James............04/07/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/21/09........07/08/09.....07/24/09....Miami, FL

Ssalburo.........04/07/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......05/18/09........08/06/09.....08/21/09....Baltimore,MD

SleepBear........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/11/09......06/01/09........07/06/09.....07/15/09....Miami, FL

weirdon..........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/20/09......06/08/09........07/28/09.....09/02/09....Philadelphia, PA

l.j./1999........04/11/09....04/16/09....05/07/09......06/27/09........08/18/09.....08/27/09....New York, NY

n400filer........04/11/09....04/20/09....05/22/09......05/27/09........07/28/09.....08/13/09....Boston, MA

liahnsilver......04/16/09....05/05/09....05/30/09......06/21/09........07/30/09.....08/19/09....Houston,TX

jeangab .........04/20/09....04/30/09....05/15/09......06/05/09........07/29/09.....08/14/09....Durham, NC

pampita2.........04/20/09....05/04/09....06/05/09......06/19/09........07/22/09.....09/21/09....Front Royal, VA

alaneluk.........04/22/09....04/29/09....05/07/09......05/21/09........07/10/09.....--/--/--....Indianapolis, Indiana

Cliff_Ksenia.....04/23/09....04/29/09....05/20/09......06/08/09........07/22/09.....--/--/--....Christiansted, VI

J&D..............04/24/09....04/30/09....05/16/09......06/04/09........07/23/09.....07/23/09....Tampa, FL

Kathryn41........04/30/09....05/06/09....06/03/09......07/06/09........08/13/09.....08/26/09....Atlanta, GA

king&queen.......04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......07/07/09........08/13/09.....08/26/09....Atlanta, GA

etahb............04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......06/12/09........07/23/09.....09/25/09....Albany, NY

USCIS Lockbox Arizona

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

anci78...........03/26/09....04/02/09....04/22/09......05/15/09........06/22/09.....08/05/09....San Francisco, CA

jsnearline.......03/28/09....04/03/09....04/25/09......05/20/09........07/17/09.....08/28/09....Denver, CO

gopalag..........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/29/09......05/21/09........07/01/09.....08/19/09....San Diego, CA

sjjp1974.........04/03/09....04/17/09....05/09/09......05/22/09........07/21/09.....07/22/09....Portland, OR

Babonsi..........04/06/09....04/18/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....08/12/09....Sacramento, CA

Swatcat..........04/09/09....04/17/09....05/27/09......06/18/09........07/28/09.....--/--/--....Kansas City, MO

macb1980.........04/09/09....04/16/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....08/28/09....Cincinnati, OH

RDan19...........04/18/09....04/20/09....05/19/09......07/07/09........08/18/09.....08/19/09....St.Paul, MN

MsAnn............04/20/09....04/27/09....05/29/09......06/17/09........08/19/09.....08/19/09....Portland, OR

mrPuffyBunny.....04/20/09....04/27/09....05/28/09......07/06/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

tpontirolli......04/22/09....04/29/09....05/22/09......06/05/09........07/22/09.....08/19/09....San Diego, CA

Wifey246.........04/24/09....04/30/09....05/13/09......06/08/09........07/30/09.....08/28/09....Los Angeles, CA

Clarax...........04/28/09....05/08/09....05/26/09......06/26/09........08/11/09.....--/--/--....Denver, CO

USCIS Lockbox Nebraska

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

GermanInDixie....04/03/09....04/09/09....04/29/09......06/02/09........06/16/09.....07/22/09....Atlanta, GA

August 28, 2009

Just wanted to post and update about my passport application. I applied for my passport last Thursday (8/20/09) and for my surprise I received it yesterday (8/27/09). I did ask for expedited service, but that was faster than I though it would be!

The certificate has not arrived yet and they say it will come in a separate envelope. I also applied for a passport card. The more evidence I am done with USCIS, the better!

Good luck to you all still waiting for the ceremony!

August 19, 2009

I'm all done! My ceremony was today at 7:30 a.m. I got there at around 7 a.m., and the line was already huge! There were over 1000 people being naturalized today.

Though the reporting time was 7:30 a.m., the ceremony did not start until 10 a.m. They played a video of President Obama e some other "cheesy" things (useless facts that happened on August 19 throughout the years.) The cool thing was to see the spouse of a a local baseball player (Adrian Gonzalez) being naturalized (though USCIS Officers made too big of a deal that he was there...)

The judge was very, very nice, and he actually cracked some jokes in the middle of the ceremony. As you can imagine, the majority of the people were from Mexico. There were people from 98 countries being naturalized.

I am SO GLAD to be done with USCIS! Got my certificate in my hands, and all I have to do now is update my records and apply for a passport.

August 11, 2009

I posted this question before, but I dont think anybody saw it.. Can USCIS accommodate family of applicants that want to attend the oath ceremony? What would you say is the maximum number of people I should take with me? I have a few family members that wish to attend the naturalization ceremony, but I am afraid of them going and not being allowed in (my main concern is because since it scheduled for 7:30 am It would be a bummer to have them go down with me and not make it in).

I appreciate any insight you may have!

Oh, and my oath ceremony is in San Diego, CA.

August 6, 2009

Adding my oath date.

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USCIS Lockbox Texas

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

KromiX...........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/28/09......05/09/09........07/02/09.....07/27/09....Miami, FL

Raleighn400......04/02/09....04/07/09....05/11/09......05/22/09........07/29/09.....07/30/09....Durham, NC

SY2k9............04/02/09....04/11/09....05/02/09......05/11/09........06/18/09.....06/25/09....San Antonio, TX

Tumande..........04/02/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/15/09........06/23/09.....--/--/--....Dallas, TX

GabLopSan........04/06/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......06/02/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....Newark NJ

James............04/07/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/21/09........07/08/09.....07/24/09....Miami, FL

Ssalburo.........04/07/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......05/18/09........08/06/09.....--/--/--....Baltimore, MD

SleepBear........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/11/09......06/01/09........07/06/09.....07/15/09....Miami, FL

weirdon..........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/20/09......06/08/09........07/28/09.....--/--/--....Philadelphia, PA

l.j./1999........04/11/09....04/16/09....05/07/09......06/27/09........08/18/09.....--/--/--....New York, NY

n400filer........04/11/09....04/20/09....05/22/09......05/27/09........07/28/09.....08/13/09....Boston, MA

liahnsilver......04/16/09....05/05/09....05/30/09......06/21/09........07/30/09.....08/19/09....Houston,TX

jeangab .........04/20/09....04/30/09....05/15/09......06/05/09........07/29/09.....08/14/09....Durham, NC

pampita2.........04/20/09....05/04/09....06/05/09......06/19/09........07/22/09.....--/--/--....Front Royal, VA

Cliff_Ksenia.....04/23/09....04/29/09....05/20/09......06/08/09........07/22/09.....--/--/--....Christiansted, VI

J&D..............04/24/09....04/30/09....05/16/09......06/04/09........07/23/09.....07/23/09....Tampa, FL

Kathryn41........04/30/09....05/06/09....06/03/09......07/06/09........08/13/09.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

king&queen.......04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......07/07/09........08/13/09.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

etahb............04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......06/12/09........07/23/09.....09/25/09....Albany, NY

USCIS Lockbox Arizona

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

anci78...........03/26/09....04/02/09....04/22/09......05/15/09........06/22/09.....08/05/09....San Francisco, CA

jsnearline.......03/28/09....04/03/09....04/25/09......05/20/09........07/17/09.....08/28/09....Denver, CO

gopalag..........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/29/09......05/21/09........07/01/09.....08/19/09....San Diego, CA

sjjp1974.........04/03/09....04/17/09....05/09/09......05/22/09........07/21/09.....07/22/09....Portland, OR

Babonsi..........04/06/09....04/18/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....08/12/09....Sacramento, CA

Swatcat..........04/09/09....04/17/09....05/27/09......06/18/09........07/28/09.....--/--/--....Kansas City, MO

macb1980.........04/09/09....04/16/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....--/--/--....Cincinnati, OH

RDan19...........04/18/09....04/20/09....05/19/09......07/07/09........08/18/09.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

MsAnn............04/20/09....04/27/09....05/29/09......06/17/09........08/19/09.....--/--/--....Portland, OR

mrPuffyBunny.....04/20/09....04/27/09....05/28/09......07/06/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

tpontirolli......04/22/09....04/29/09....05/22/09......06/05/09........07/22/09.....08/19/09....San Diego, CA

Wifey246.........04/24/09....04/30/09....05/13/09......06/08/09........07/30/09.....--/--/--....Los Angeles, CA

Clarax...........04/28/09....05/08/09....05/26/09......06/26/09........08/11/09.....--/--/--....Denver, CO

USCIS Lockbox Nebraska

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

GermanInDixie....04/03/09....04/09/09....04/29/09......06/02/09........06/16/09.....07/22/09....Atlanta, GA

August 5, 2009

I called the USCIS Customer Service line today and the officer informed me that he had "very good news" for me. My oath ceremony has been scheduled for August 19th in San Diego! The notice was mailed out yesterday so I still haven't received it. I'm sooo glad I'm almost done with the whole thing! Gopalag, we will be sworn in as citizens at the same ceremony!

A question for those of you who have already gone through the ceremony: how does it work for family members that wish to attend? I have family that wants to go, but I don't know if USCIS makes arrangements for family members of applicants.

My oath is barely 2 weeks away!!!! Yayyy!

Can somebody please update the timeline for me? I'm posting from my phone and can't copy and paste the list! Thank you!

July 23, 2009

I went for my interview today. For those of you still waiting for your interview: it is a breeze. I got to the federal courthouse building in downtown San Diego at around 8:30am. I checked in at the window and gave the officer my interview letter and waited to be called. My interview was scheduled for 9:15 am and the officer called me right on time. He was very nice and friendly. The only thing I was a little worried about was a speeding ticket I had not disclosed on the n-400... I told the officer during the interview about the ticket while he was going over the "yes/no" questions of the form.. He looked up and said "it was just a speeding ticket, and unless you were arrested you really don't have to worry about it." he did not make any changes to my application because of the ticket. I even offered to show my documentation about the ticket and he REALLY didn't want to see it. I can tell you that speeding tickets under $500 are NO BIG DEAL for your application and I didn't get in any kind of trouble for not disclosing it.

We then went over my name change. He wanted to make sure they had the correct spelling of my new name. When I got married in Brazil, the commissioner did not allow me to drop my maiden last name and add my married last name so I ended up with a very long name. So the officer was was actually curious to know about my last names, where they came from, etc.

He then performed the english and civics test.. I cant remember all questions that were asked, but here's what I remember:

-why does the flag have 13 stripes?

-what is the name of the national anthem?

-what is an important thing Abraham lincoln did?

For the english test, he asked me to read "why do people want to become citizens?"

he then asked me to write "Because people want to vote."

I signed my pictures, checked information on a couple sheets of paper for my name change and for the certificate.

He congratulated me and told me I'd receive the oath leteer in the mail. While he wad finishing up my paperwork, i asked him if name changes delay oaths, and he said "no, not at all."

he told me that my interview had been cancelled last week actually because they had had a ceremony on that day and someone mistakenly scheduled interviews on that day. Apparently they don't have interviews on oath days.

He told me that most likely my oathwill be on August 19th which is the next oath ceremony in San Diego.

I was in and out of his office in less than 15 minutes.

Everything was great and I can't wait until my oath!

Best of luck to everyone out there still waiting!

July 12, 2009

Changing my interview date..... :crying:

IMPORTANT!

1. Select Rich Text Editor as your message setting (go to My Controls > click Board Settings).

2. Click 'Reply' on the most recent/updated posting version of this list.[/b]

3. Remove the quote tags from the top and the bottom of the list.

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5. Do not move or delete these instructions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

USCIS Lockbox Texas

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

KromiX...........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/28/09......05/09/09........07/02/09.....--/--/--....Miami, FL

Raleighn400......04/02/09....04/07/09....05/11/09......05/22/09........07/29/09.....--/--/--....Durham, NC

SY2k9............04/02/09....04/11/09....05/02/09......05/11/09........06/18/09.....06/25/09....San Antonio. Tx

Tumande..........04/02/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/15/09........06/23/09.....--/--/--....Dallas, TX

GabLopSan........04/06/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......06/02/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....Newark NJ

James............04/07/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/21/09........07/08/09.....--/--/--....Miami, FL

Ssalburo.........04/07/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......05/18/09........08/06/09.....--/--/--....Baltimore, MD

SleepBear........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/11/09......06/01/09........07/06/09.....07/15/09....Miami, FL

weirdon..........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/20/09......06/08/09........07/28/09.....--/--/--....Philadelphia, PA

l.j./1999........04/11/09....04/16/09....05/07/09......06/27/09........08/18/09.....--/--/--....New York, NY

n400filer........04/11/09....04/20/09....05/22/09......05/27/09........07/28/09.....--/--/--....Boston, MA

liahnsilver......04/16/09....05/05/09....05/30/09......06/21/09........07/30/09.....--/--/--....Houston,TX

jeangab .........04/20/09....04/30/09....05/15/09......06/05/09........07/29/09.....--/--/--....Durham, NC

pampita2.........04/20/09....05/04/09....06/05/09......06/19/09........07/22/09.....--/--/--....Front Royal, VA

Cliff_Ksenia.....04/23/09....04/29/09....05/20/09......06/08/09........07/22/09.....--/--/--....Christiansted, VI

J&D..............04/24/09....04/30/09....05/16/09......06/04/09........07/23/09.....--/--/--....Tampa, FL

Kathryn41........04/30/09....05/06/09....06/03/09......07/06/09........08/13/09.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

king&queen.......04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......07/07/09........08/13/09.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

etahb............04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......06/12/09........07/23/09.....--/--/--....Albany, NY

USCIS Lockbox Arizona

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

anci78...........03/26/09....04/02/09....04/22/09......05/15/09........06/22/09.....08/05/09....San Francisco, CA

jsnearline.......03/28/09....04/03/09....04/25/09......05/20/09........07/17/09.....--/--/--....Denver, CO

gopalag..........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/29/09......05/21/09........07/01/09.....--/--/--....San Diego, CA

sjjp1974.........04/03/09....04/17/09....05/09/09......05/22/09........07/21/09.....--/--/--....Portland, OR

Babonsi..........04/06/09....04/18/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....--/--/--....Sacramento, CA

Swatcat..........04/09/09....04/17/09....05/27/09......06/18/09........07/28/09.....--/--/--....Kansas City, MO

macb1980.........04/09/09....04/16/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....--/--/--....Cincinnati, OH

RDan19...........04/18/09....04/20/09....05/19/09......07/07/09........08/18/09.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

MsAnn............04/20/09....04/27/09....05/29/09......06/17/09........08/19/09.....--/--/--....Portland, OR

mrPuffyBunny.....04/20/09....04/27/09....05/28/09......07/06/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

tpontirolli......04/22/09....04/29/09....05/22/09......06/05/09........07/22/09.....--/--/--....San Diego, CA

Wifey246.........04/24/09....04/30/09....05/13/09......06/08/09........07/30/09.....--/--/--....Los Angeles, CA

Clarax...........04/28/09....05/08/09....05/26/09......06/26/09........08/11/09.....--/--/--....Denver, CO

USCIS Lockbox Nebraska

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

GermanInDixie....04/03/09....04/09/09....04/29/09......06/02/09........06/16/09.....07/22/09....Atlanta, GA

July 12, 2009

I got home last night from a one week vacation to a Notice of "Descheduling" Interview... They also sent me a new interview notice with it... They have rescheduled my interview so that intead of 7/15, it will be on 7/22... One week is not too big of a delay, but I was bummed!

June 18, 2009

No, you do not have to renounce your Brazilian citizenship.
When you take the oath, you supposedly renounce loyalty to any nation other than the U.S., but UNLESS YOU GO TO A BRAZILIAN AUTHORITY (a judge, officer at a consulate, etc) and FORMALLY renounce your citizenship, you will not lose it.

Prior to the constitution of 1988, Brazil did not allow dual citizenship and everyone that became a naturalized citizen of another country, lost his/her brazilian citizenship.

Since 1988, however, unless you FORMALLY RENOUNCE IT BEFORE A BRAZILIAN AUTHORITY, you get to keep your citizenship.

What are the negatives of maintaining dual citizenship with Brazil ? Do you or anyone else know?

I can tell you a negative of NOT keeping your brazilian citizenship.. You will need to get a visa in order to visit family down in Brazil, and that alone is a reason that for me is enough to keep it.

And if you ever decide to move back, that is another reason to keep your Brazilian citizenship. If you ever renounce your citizenship and later want it back, it will be nearly impossible to re-gain it.

Another reason to keep your Brazilian citizenship is for healthcare reasons. Though many people would not agree with me, in case of a major sickness/disease or even childbirth, you can always fly down to Brazil and receive free treatment through the public healthcare system. I am from Curitiba, Paraná where the public healthcare is pretty good considering the fact it is public. Curitiba has the best hospitals for treatment of leukemia. Also, the city's program for Pre-Natal care is one of the best available (my cousin was born in a public hospital in Curitiba a few years ago. My aunt received 5 star pre-natal care and at the hospital... much better than I have ever seen in private hospitals in the United States.)

I definitely consider flying down there if anything ever happens.. I have had many bad experiences with healthcare providers in the U.S, and unless it changes soon I would not seek any treatment here if it is available in Brazil. Recently I had a $6,000+ bill from a hospital here in the U.S. because of a shoulder pain I had. I left the hospital hours later without knowing what was wrong with my shoulder and $6K poorer (which I am still paying for...) a total waste of money and time! Healthcare in the U.S. is outrageously expensive and ineffective!

Brazil and the U.S. have a pretty reasonable relationship so I do not imagine any major conflicts. I can't imagine Brazil going to war against the U.S. or anything like that.

If you have not done so already, be sure to transfer your voter registration to your local consulate and vote for president every four years so that you won't have problems obtaining passports in the future.

What will happen is when you get your U.S. Passport, you will use it to leave and enter the United States. You will use your Brazilian Passport to enter and exit Brazil. The customs of each country will not care for your citizenship of any other country. All they care to see is your local citizenship/passport.

Many, many people have dual citizenship in Brazil and have no problems whatsoever.

If you have kids, the Brazilian citizenship might also be of good use for them in the future. According to a law passed in 2007, children of Brazilian citizens registered with a Brazilian consulate are now considered "natural born citizens" and no longer need to opt for the Brazilian citizenship at the age of 18. That is thanks to the efforts of the "Brasileirinhos Apátridas" foundation. Be sure to register your kids at the consulate. They will also be dual American-Brazilian citizens

Hope that helps.

Good to know, 2 questions since you seem like you know alot about it... I was born there, came when I was 2 years old, and never went back so I doubt I'd go back only family I have is my grandma, we usually fly her here..... thats why I'm asking negatives... You can't think of ONE negative at all??

I thought even if I'm going to brazil, no matter what, once a uS citizen ur supposed to use the US passport to enter the country, no matter what?

I cant think of a negative at all. Unless you really dont want it, I think you should keep it. Your brazilian passport might even be useful if you want to travel to a country that does not have good relationship with the U.S. I know things may change soon but, for example, as a Brazilian you can easily get in to Cuba, but as an American, things get a little more complicated. You also have some perks when going to Portugal. (Portugal and Brazil have some kind of deal that treats its citizens as equals...)

As to your second question re using the US passport, the Brazilian Federal police does not care if you have another passport. To enter Brazil, all you need is your Brazilian passport. They do not care about your immigration/citizenship status in other countries. Therefore, upon leaving the United States, you will show your U.S. passport. You will show your Brazilian passport to the airline as your authorization to enter the country (the airline gets fined by the federal police in Brazil if someone travels without a valid visa). Upon arriving in Brazil, you show the federal police/customs your Brazilian passport, same upon going through the federal police/customs to leave Brazil. You will then show the airline your American passport as your authorization to enter the US and also show it at the immigration at the airport upon your arrival. The US Immigration officer will not question you regarding your dual citizenship. All you need to do is make sure you travel with both passports. The truth is: your US passport will be good for leaving and entering the us, and your Brazilian passport is good for entering and leaving Brazil. No questions will be asked.

Ahh Gotcha.... Oh and you said something about registering at my local consulate and voting every 4 years for brazilian president? What happens if I don't, they assume I abandoned the country? I really have zero interests in Brazilian politics, nor do I care to research candidates before an election, and I am not about to just go to a consulate and blind-vote someone for the sake of some 'status'. I am against uneducated voting in the US and hate that it goes on here, I don't want to be a blind-vote in the brazilian system for my personal benefit...

According to Brazilian law, voting is mandatory for every citizen over the age of 18. You are required to register to vote with the nearest Brazilian consulate. You can either vote or "justify" your absence by submitting a form pretty much saying you did not vote due to x circumstances. It is not a big deal but it needs to be done. When you are over the age of 18, you are required to present your voter registration card in order to be able to get a Brazilian passport. Not voting and not "justifying" your vote will require you to pay fines in order to fix your status with the Brazilian Electoral Justice. It really just sounds worse than it really is, but it is not bad at all. Every 4 years you can just give the consulate your "justification form." I believe you have 30 days from the date of the election to do this. No need to vote or look up candidates if you dont want to. Besides, down there it seems not to matter who you vote for, since justice is only for the rich.

But should you decide not to do any of this voter thing, you might just be able to pay the fines when you request a passport. As you may know, in Brazil "everything ends with pizza," that is, nothing is really taken seriously.

BTW, you would never lose your citizenship just for not voting. Should you chose never to do it, it wont affect the fact that you are a citizen. All it will do is make it harder when you need a Brazilian passport.

June 18, 2009

No, you do not have to renounce your Brazilian citizenship.
When you take the oath, you supposedly renounce loyalty to any nation other than the U.S., but UNLESS YOU GO TO A BRAZILIAN AUTHORITY (a judge, officer at a consulate, etc) and FORMALLY renounce your citizenship, you will not lose it.

Prior to the constitution of 1988, Brazil did not allow dual citizenship and everyone that became a naturalized citizen of another country, lost his/her brazilian citizenship.

Since 1988, however, unless you FORMALLY RENOUNCE IT BEFORE A BRAZILIAN AUTHORITY, you get to keep your citizenship.

What are the negatives of maintaining dual citizenship with Brazil ? Do you or anyone else know?

I can tell you a negative of NOT keeping your brazilian citizenship.. You will need to get a visa in order to visit family down in Brazil, and that alone is a reason that for me is enough to keep it.

And if you ever decide to move back, that is another reason to keep your Brazilian citizenship. If you ever renounce your citizenship and later want it back, it will be nearly impossible to re-gain it.

Another reason to keep your Brazilian citizenship is for healthcare reasons. Though many people would not agree with me, in case of a major sickness/disease or even childbirth, you can always fly down to Brazil and receive free treatment through the public healthcare system. I am from Curitiba, Paraná where the public healthcare is pretty good considering the fact it is public. Curitiba has the best hospitals for treatment of leukemia. Also, the city's program for Pre-Natal care is one of the best available (my cousin was born in a public hospital in Curitiba a few years ago. My aunt received 5 star pre-natal care and at the hospital... much better than I have ever seen in private hospitals in the United States.)

I definitely consider flying down there if anything ever happens.. I have had many bad experiences with healthcare providers in the U.S, and unless it changes soon I would not seek any treatment here if it is available in Brazil. Recently I had a $6,000+ bill from a hospital here in the U.S. because of a shoulder pain I had. I left the hospital hours later without knowing what was wrong with my shoulder and $6K poorer (which I am still paying for...) a total waste of money and time! Healthcare in the U.S. is outrageously expensive and ineffective!

Brazil and the U.S. have a pretty reasonable relationship so I do not imagine any major conflicts. I can't imagine Brazil going to war against the U.S. or anything like that.

If you have not done so already, be sure to transfer your voter registration to your local consulate and vote for president every four years so that you won't have problems obtaining passports in the future.

What will happen is when you get your U.S. Passport, you will use it to leave and enter the United States. You will use your Brazilian Passport to enter and exit Brazil. The customs of each country will not care for your citizenship of any other country. All they care to see is your local citizenship/passport.

Many, many people have dual citizenship in Brazil and have no problems whatsoever.

If you have kids, the Brazilian citizenship might also be of good use for them in the future. According to a law passed in 2007, children of Brazilian citizens registered with a Brazilian consulate are now considered "natural born citizens" and no longer need to opt for the Brazilian citizenship at the age of 18. That is thanks to the efforts of the "Brasileirinhos Apátridas" foundation. Be sure to register your kids at the consulate. They will also be dual American-Brazilian citizens

Hope that helps.

Good to know, 2 questions since you seem like you know alot about it... I was born there, came when I was 2 years old, and never went back so I doubt I'd go back only family I have is my grandma, we usually fly her here..... thats why I'm asking negatives... You can't think of ONE negative at all??

I thought even if I'm going to brazil, no matter what, once a uS citizen ur supposed to use the US passport to enter the country, no matter what?

I cant think of a negative at all. Unless you really dont want it, I think you should keep it. Your brazilian passport might even be useful if you want to travel to a country that does not have good relationship with the U.S. I know things may change soon but, for example, as a Brazilian you can easily get in to Cuba, but as an American, things get a little more complicated. You also have some perks when going to Portugal. (Portugal and Brazil have some kind of deal that treats its citizens as equals...)

As to your second question re using the US passport, the Brazilian Federal police does not care if you have another passport. To enter Brazil, all you need is your Brazilian passport. They do not care about your immigration/citizenship status in other countries. Therefore, upon leaving the United States, you will show your U.S. passport. You will show your Brazilian passport to the airline as your authorization to enter the country (the airline gets fined by the federal police in Brazil if someone travels without a valid visa). Upon arriving in Brazil, you show the federal police/customs your Brazilian passport, same upon going through the federal police/customs to leave Brazil. You will then show the airline your American passport as your authorization to enter the US and also show it at the immigration at the airport upon your arrival. The US Immigration officer will not question you regarding your dual citizenship. All you need to do is make sure you travel with both passports. The truth is: your US passport will be good for leaving and entering the us, and your Brazilian passport is good for entering and leaving Brazil. No questions will be asked.

June 17, 2009

No, you do not have to renounce your Brazilian citizenship.
When you take the oath, you supposedly renounce loyalty to any nation other than the U.S., but UNLESS YOU GO TO A BRAZILIAN AUTHORITY (a judge, officer at a consulate, etc) and FORMALLY renounce your citizenship, you will not lose it.

Prior to the constitution of 1988, Brazil did not allow dual citizenship and everyone that became a naturalized citizen of another country, lost his/her brazilian citizenship.

Since 1988, however, unless you FORMALLY RENOUNCE IT BEFORE A BRAZILIAN AUTHORITY, you get to keep your citizenship.

What are the negatives of maintaining dual citizenship with Brazil ? Do you or anyone else know?

I can tell you a negative of NOT keeping your brazilian citizenship.. You will need to get a visa in order to visit family down in Brazil, and that alone is a reason that for me is enough to keep it.

And if you ever decide to move back, that is another reason to keep your Brazilian citizenship. If you ever renounce your citizenship and later want it back, it will be nearly impossible to re-gain it.

Another reason to keep your Brazilian citizenship is for healthcare reasons. Though many people would not agree with me, in case of a major sickness/disease or even childbirth, you can always fly down to Brazil and receive free treatment through the public healthcare system. I am from Curitiba, Paraná where the public healthcare is pretty good considering the fact it is public. Curitiba has the best hospitals for treatment of leukemia. Also, the city's program for Pre-Natal care is one of the best available (my cousin was born in a public hospital in Curitiba a few years ago. My aunt received 5 star pre-natal care and at the hospital... much better than I have ever seen in private hospitals in the United States.)

I definitely consider flying down there if anything ever happens.. I have had many bad experiences with healthcare providers in the U.S, and unless it changes soon I would not seek any treatment here if it is available in Brazil. Recently I had a $6,000+ bill from a hospital here in the U.S. because of a shoulder pain I had. I left the hospital hours later without knowing what was wrong with my shoulder and $6K poorer (which I am still paying for...) a total waste of money and time! Healthcare in the U.S. is outrageously expensive and ineffective!

Brazil and the U.S. have a pretty reasonable relationship so I do not imagine any major conflicts. I can't imagine Brazil going to war against the U.S. or anything like that.

If you have not done so already, be sure to transfer your voter registration to your local consulate and vote for president every four years so that you won't have problems obtaining passports in the future.

What will happen is when you get your U.S. Passport, you will use it to leave and enter the United States. You will use your Brazilian Passport to enter and exit Brazil. The customs of each country will not care for your citizenship of any other country. All they care to see is your local citizenship/passport.

Many, many people have dual citizenship in Brazil and have no problems whatsoever.

If you have kids, the Brazilian citizenship might also be of good use for them in the future. According to a law passed in 2007, children of Brazilian citizens registered with a Brazilian consulate are now considered "natural born citizens" and no longer need to opt for the Brazilian citizenship at the age of 18. That is thanks to the efforts of the "Brasileirinhos Apátridas" foundation. Be sure to register your kids at the consulate. They will also be dual American-Brazilian citizens

Hope that helps.

June 17, 2009

No, you do not have to renounce your Brazilian citizenship.

When you take the oath, you supposedly renounce loyalty to any nation other than the U.S., but UNLESS YOU GO TO A BRAZILIAN AUTHORITY (a judge, officer at a consulate, etc) and FORMALLY renounce your citizenship, you will not lose it.

Prior to the constitution of 1988, Brazil did not allow dual citizenship and everyone that became a naturalized citizen of another country, lost his/her brazilian citizenship.

Since 1988, however, unless you FORMALLY RENOUNCE IT BEFORE A BRAZILIAN AUTHORITY, you get to keep your citizenship.

June 6, 2009

Just received my interview letter. It is dated June 2, 2009.

The envelope is marked as if mailed from Zip Code 64063 (Lee's Summit, MO) on June 3, 2009.

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USCIS Lockbox Texas

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

KromiX...........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/28/09......05/09/09........07/02/09.....--/--/--....Miami, FL

Raleighn400......04/02/09....04/07/09....05/11/09......05/22/09........07/29/09.....--/--/--....Durham, NC

Tumande..........04/02/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/15/09........06/23/09.....--/--/--....Dallas, TX

GabLopSan........04/06/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......06/02/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....Newark NJ

James............04/07/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/21/09........07/08/09.....--/--/--....Miami, FL

Ssalburo.........04/07/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......05/18/09........08/06/09.....--/--/--....Baltimore, MD

SleepBear........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/11/09......06/01/09........07/06/09.....--/--/--....Miami, FL

weirdon..........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/20/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Philadelphia, PA

l.j./1999........04/11/09....04/16/09....05/07/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....New York, NY

n400filer........04/11/09....04/20/09....05/22/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Boston, MA

liahnsilver......04/16/09....05/05/09....05/30/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Houston,TX

jeangab .........04/20/09....04/30/09....05/15/09......06/05/09--......07/29/09.....--/--/--....Durham, NC

pampita2.........04/20/09....05/04/09....06/05/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Front Royal, VA

Cliff_Ksenia.....04/23/09....04/29/09....05/20/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Christiansted, VI

J&D..............04/24/09....04/30/09....05/16/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Tampa, FL

Kathryn41........04/30/09....05/06/09....06/03/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

etahb............04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Albany, NY

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UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

anci78...........03/26/09....04/02/09....04/22/09......05/15/09........06/22/09.....--/--/--....San Francisco, CA

jsnearline.......03/28/09....04/03/09....04/25/09......05/20/09........07/17/09.....--/--/--....Denver, CO

gopalag..........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/29/09......05/21/09........07/01/09.....--/--/--....San Diego, CA

sjjp1974.........04/03/09....04/17/09....05/09/09......05/22/09........07/21/09.....--/--/--....Portland, OR

Babonsi..........04/06/09....04/18/09....05/08/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Sacramento, CA

Swatcat..........04/09/09....04/17/09....05/27/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Kansas City, MO

macb1980.........04/09/09....04/16/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....--/--/--....Cincinnati, OH

RDan19...........04/18/09....04/20/09....05/19/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

MsAnn............04/20/09....04/27/09....05/29/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Portland, OR

mrPuffyBunny.....04/20/09....04/27/09....05/28/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

tpontirolli......04/22/09....04/29/09....05/22/09......06/05/09........07/15/09.....--/--/--....San Diego, CA

Wifey246.........04/24/09....04/30/09....05/13/09......--/--/--........07/30/09.....--/--/--....Los Angeles, CA

Clarax...........04/28/09....05/08/09....05/26/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Denver, CO

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UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

GermanInDixie....04/03/09....04/09/09....04/29/09......--/--/--........06/16/09.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

June 3, 2009

I called USCIS today. I was told they have scheduled my interview for July 15! It is incredible how fast this is going! I had my biometrics appointment just a week ago! I will post when I receive the actual interview letter. Good luck to everyone still waiting!

No IL yet, tpontirolli?

Unfortunately, not yet. The mail does not come until the afternoon. Hopefully it will come today! What about yours?

May 29, 2009

I called USCIS today. I was told they have scheduled my interview for July 15! It is incredible how fast this is going! I had my biometrics appointment just a week ago! I will post when I receive the actual interview letter. Good luck to everyone still waiting!

Important!

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3. Remove the quote tags from the top and the bottom of the list.

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USCIS Lockbox Texas

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

KromiX...........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/28/09......05/09/09........07/02/09.....--/--/--....Miami, FL

Raleighn400......04/02/09....04/07/09....05/11/09......05/22/09........07/29/09.....--/--/--....Durham, NC

Tumande..........04/02/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/15/09........06/23/09.....--/--/--....Dallas, TX

GabLopSan........04/06/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Newark NJ

James............04/07/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/21/09........07/08/09.....--/--/--....Miami, FL

Ssalburo.........04/07/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......05/18/09........08/06/09.....--/--/--....Baltimore, MD

SleepBear........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/11/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Miami, FL

weirdon..........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/20/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Philadelphia, PA

l.j./1999........04/11/09....04/16/09....05/07/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....New York, NY

n400filer........04/11/09....04/20/09....05/22/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Boston, MA

liahnsilver......04/16/09....05/05/09....05/30/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Houston,TX

jeangab .........04/20/09....04/30/09....05/15/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Durham, NC

pampita2.........04/20/09....05/04/09....06/05/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Front Royal, VA

Cliff_Ksenia.....04/23/09....04/29/09....05/20/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Christiansted, VI

J&D..............04/24/09....04/30/09....05/16/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Tampa, FL

Kathryn41........04/30/09....05/06/09....06/03/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

etahb............04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......--/--/--........--/--/--.....--/--/--....Albany, NY

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