Teknodude

I hope you are submitting as many joint filed tax returns as you can as well. 
I said it before and it is worth saying again - lots of joint filed tax returns is worth its weight in gold in this process.  They totally go for it and counts massively in your favor if you can provide them, and they will find it odd if you don’t.  Don’t wait until the interview - just draws out the interview, as you will sit there as the IO reads each and every one.  Provide as much as you can up front, with the application, so it is reviewed in advance.  Streamlines the whole process.  
Good luck!  

You are welcome Giovanna024 - I am following you and your case actively so please do keep us up to date and thank you for posting updates for the Miami community - it is because of people like you, everyone going through this in Miami knows what to expect, so do keep up the regular posts!! 
 
I don’t want to say anything non factual or untrue - so everything I know is mere speculation.  
When I did my oath 18 months ago, rumours swirled around that Miami did same day oath ceremonies.  
Basically - I don’t think they do same day ceremonies in Miami.  Or back in my day, it wasn’t a thing.  
 
I have a feeling it won’t happen like that at the moment.  Because of Covid, they might well be spacing appointments out so less applicants will be seen “per hour” or ”per day” however they measure it.  And for each oath ceremony they drag in lots of people, a judge, a local “person of note”, such as a political representative, local city Mayor or someone, and it all takes time to organise - so just thinking off the top of my head, I’m guessing these things will be more organised, than same day oath ceremonies can be.   
 
BUT I may be wrong, and this is one of those times I so want to be wrong, as I would love all you guys to get your oath and citizenship as soon as you can.  So if you hear of same day ceremonies happening, do post it here and prove me wrong.  It will be awesome for you guys, if Miami get their collective asses in gear and do that.  
 
Like I said - my views above are my OPINION - not a view on what does or does not happen, so don’t try throw it back at me later!  

Plenty are from Miami - like me!  But I understand where you are coming from and what you mean in your comment, about current applicants.  When I went through it, it felt like there was NO ONE at all from Miami going through the same thing.  
 
Like I said, I have been through the process already, and still follow this thread, in case I can offer any help for anyone, and it is super annoying reading all the issues you guys are going through.  I went through it 18 months ago, and back then Miami was a ball ache compared to other cities in the USA - way longer times.  Back then it took me 14 months from filing to oath ceremony - marriage based.  
 
I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you, and everyone else in the Miami area, and if you need any help or advice, ping me a message, I would be more than happy to.  
 
Best of luck.  

Right - its pretty extensive, and do make sure you include everything they ask for. 
I highlighted the joint filed tax returns, as I know from experience, they really like to see them.  Not including them will IMO ask more questions of you....  
 
If you aren’t sure about anything, shout.  I spent a long time on this on my application, and remember it quite well.  I also still have my package of documents on my desktop in case I need to refer to it.  
Cheers, and good luck!  

Immigration is no joke.  Very serious, and important to get it right, as the wrong decision can have implications for years to come.... 
 
Forum members are here to try help folk like you, to help you to make informed decisions. 
In order to do that, it is fairly common for forum members to analyse stuff you have written previously to try to join the dots in your immigration enquiry, to help the members taking time to help you make the right decisions. 
 
So my thoughts to you, is be up front and open on EVERY aspect of this enquiry, so people can help you the best way.  It is why you posted in the first place right?  To get members input and help?  

Immigration is no joke.  Very serious, and important to get it right, as the wrong decision can have implications for years to come.... 
 
Forum members are here to try help folk like you, to help you to make informed decisions. 
In order to do that, it is fairly common for forum members to analyse stuff you have written previously to try to join the dots in your immigration enquiry, to help the members taking time to help you make the right decisions. 
 
So my thoughts to you, is be up front and open on EVERY aspect of this enquiry, so people can help you the best way.  It is why you posted in the first place right?  To get members input and help?  

Am I missing something here? 
 
Why didn’t the in-laws return home when scheduled to do so?  
If they are citizens, I’m sure they are allowed to return home - borders closed just to foreign nationals no?  And that depends on where in the EU they are from. There are still flights from the USA to Europe.  
 
Also, this virus pandemic didn’t just spring up all of a sudden last Friday.  So why are you “scrambling” to get documents together.  
When tourists were warned that this could happen MONTHS ago, why didn’t you arrange for the in-laws to get home in a timely manner?  Why did they stay and risk overstaying and ever being allowed to visit ever again?    
 
Tourists had every opportunity to repatriate in a timely manner, and failing to do so is all on you, and your in-laws, pushing it to the last week before their visas expire is highly irresponsible no?  

Am I missing something here? 
 
Why didn’t the in-laws return home when scheduled to do so?  
If they are citizens, I’m sure they are allowed to return home - borders closed just to foreign nationals no?  And that depends on where in the EU they are from. There are still flights from the USA to Europe.  
 
Also, this virus pandemic didn’t just spring up all of a sudden last Friday.  So why are you “scrambling” to get documents together.  
When tourists were warned that this could happen MONTHS ago, why didn’t you arrange for the in-laws to get home in a timely manner?  Why did they stay and risk overstaying and ever being allowed to visit ever again?    
 
Tourists had every opportunity to repatriate in a timely manner, and failing to do so is all on you, and your in-laws, pushing it to the last week before their visas expire is highly irresponsible no?  

I went with the more is better approach, and that filing it with the application would let the interviewing officer be able to review it all before the interview, and probably already be able to make an initial judgement before the interview.  
 
Definitely submit at least 3 joint tax returns for the previous 3 years.  Maybe more if you have them.  As far as I have heard from others, these are the real proof you are a married couple and filing jointly.  
I also brought my most recent return to interview, which made the interviewer smile and say  - “yes perfect, just what we like to see”.   
I also added other stuff, that proves we are living together - photos of both our current drivers licenses, showing the same address, copies of mailings with both our names on, etc. 
Also, 5 pages of photos, showing us, in different cities and countries, all over the world from about the last 10 years!!  We had been together 19 years when I did my citizenship, so lots of evidence to fall back on.    
 
I know someone who scanned in half a dozen Christmas cards, addressed to them both - and uploaded that, as another proof of them being together still.  Maybe a little OTT, but if you are short of other evidence, anything that helps.....  
 
Just be sensible, and include sensible things, that prove your relationship, and all should be good.  If you forget anything and think of it later, you can always bring it to interview, as you will be asked - “have you brought anything with you to support your application?”  
 
Hope that helps, and good luck!  

HI Just to update you all.  I had to get up at 3.30am to get in line to speak to a T2 officer and fortunately it was not a long wait for the call back.  15 mins. 
I spoke to a really nice T2 officer who was surprised by my issue and went away for a few mins to look in detail at my file. 
He came back and said basically “it was a clerical error” and was picked up.  A letter was mailed to me “unscheduling” the January 25 ceremony and the Feb 8th one was correct and the one I was scheduled for. 
So all good in the end - they don’t half like to keep us on our toes right to the end!!   
 
Appreciate your replies to this, and hopefully it will help anyone in future who has a similar issue.  Cheers! 

HI Just to update you all.  I had to get up at 3.30am to get in line to speak to a T2 officer and fortunately it was not a long wait for the call back.  15 mins. 
I spoke to a really nice T2 officer who was surprised by my issue and went away for a few mins to look in detail at my file. 
He came back and said basically “it was a clerical error” and was picked up.  A letter was mailed to me “unscheduling” the January 25 ceremony and the Feb 8th one was correct and the one I was scheduled for. 
So all good in the end - they don’t half like to keep us on our toes right to the end!!   
 
Appreciate your replies to this, and hopefully it will help anyone in future who has a similar issue.  Cheers! 

HI Just to update you all.  I had to get up at 3.30am to get in line to speak to a T2 officer and fortunately it was not a long wait for the call back.  15 mins. 
I spoke to a really nice T2 officer who was surprised by my issue and went away for a few mins to look in detail at my file. 
He came back and said basically “it was a clerical error” and was picked up.  A letter was mailed to me “unscheduling” the January 25 ceremony and the Feb 8th one was correct and the one I was scheduled for. 
So all good in the end - they don’t half like to keep us on our toes right to the end!!   
 
Appreciate your replies to this, and hopefully it will help anyone in future who has a similar issue.  Cheers! 

Hi all - been ages since I posted here but thought I would fling out an update.  
Brief timeline if I can remember it -
Applied online for N400 around December 20, 2017. 
Biometrics January 20 something 2018. 
Interview notice received December 5th 2018.  
Interview in Miami on January 7th 2019.  So it was about 13 months from application to interview. 
 
Interview went fine. Passed all tests - even the English language test!  Phew.  Worried about that one.  😉
Straightforward case, lived here almost 10 years, no gaps in residency.  Been with other half 20 years, married for 6 years. All joint tax returns provided, and I supplied 2017 tax return at the interview when asked if I wanted to supply more evidence.  
 
Result - A decision cannot be made at this time.  😣
Oh well - what can you do?  I asked the IO why?  She said she wanted to review the application to make sure everything in order. I asked how long.  She said she couldn’t say, but it would be up to 120 days.  
It doesn’t bother me as I have a green card so its not like I can’t live, work, travel etc - just bored of always waiting for these people. 
Miami takes so long I don’t hold out for anything changing soon, but just wanted to update Miami filers that although it doesn’t seem like it, things do happen sometimes!  

Thanks very much for taking time to reply AK_2014 I appreciate it, and your insight.  I hope it won’t end up being a thing.  
I filed today online, so we’ll see what happens.  Cheers!!  

Best best news I heard all day. 
So deserved sir. 
Congrats. Have a big drink - right now. 

Thanks Name O Boy! A big drink at least. 
Or several 

Exhausting process. 
 
Received response to my out of processing request - response below. 
 
"USCIS records indicate that your I-751 was approved on October 5, 2017.  Your card is currently in production. You will receive your card in the mail within 30 days.  Please ensure we have your current mailing address, and verify that you are registered to receive mail at the address you provided to us.  We apologize for the delay in receiving your card." 
 
Finally! Not sure if it was the prod from the second out of normal processing time service request. Anyway - it's good to know that stage is over and done with! 
Thanks for everyone's support and help! It's been er...... fun!  Aha. 
 

Exhausting process. 
 
Received response to my out of processing request - response below. 
 
"USCIS records indicate that your I-751 was approved on October 5, 2017.  Your card is currently in production. You will receive your card in the mail within 30 days.  Please ensure we have your current mailing address, and verify that you are registered to receive mail at the address you provided to us.  We apologize for the delay in receiving your card." 
 
Finally! Not sure if it was the prod from the second out of normal processing time service request. Anyway - it's good to know that stage is over and done with! 
Thanks for everyone's support and help! It's been er...... fun!  Aha. 
 

Haven't been following this at all recently, as had bigger fish to fry than worry about this. 
Got through hurricane Irma - house all fine, we now have power, but the garden destroyed.  Pretty upsetting as we put so much effort into creating our beautiful oasis at home over many years, but you know what, all our friends were safe, gardens can be replanted, and plants grow well here in Miami Beach, so it's the start of a new chapter. They finally lifted the curfew, and feeling less like a police state.  Still no internet, phone, or cable - thank god for AT&T lifting the data caps for Florida customers, so I can tether to my laptop etc. 
 
Anyway - too many to name individually, but many congratulations to all that have been approved in the last week or so.   
Still waiting here - June 22 - CSC.  One day maybe it will happen for me too.... 

Haven't been following this at all recently, as had bigger fish to fry than worry about this. 
Got through hurricane Irma - house all fine, we now have power, but the garden destroyed.  Pretty upsetting as we put so much effort into creating our beautiful oasis at home over many years, but you know what, all our friends were safe, gardens can be replanted, and plants grow well here in Miami Beach, so it's the start of a new chapter. They finally lifted the curfew, and feeling less like a police state.  Still no internet, phone, or cable - thank god for AT&T lifting the data caps for Florida customers, so I can tether to my laptop etc. 
 
Anyway - too many to name individually, but many congratulations to all that have been approved in the last week or so.   
Still waiting here - June 22 - CSC.  One day maybe it will happen for me too.... 

Haven't been following this at all recently, as had bigger fish to fry than worry about this. 
Got through hurricane Irma - house all fine, we now have power, but the garden destroyed.  Pretty upsetting as we put so much effort into creating our beautiful oasis at home over many years, but you know what, all our friends were safe, gardens can be replanted, and plants grow well here in Miami Beach, so it's the start of a new chapter. They finally lifted the curfew, and feeling less like a police state.  Still no internet, phone, or cable - thank god for AT&T lifting the data caps for Florida customers, so I can tether to my laptop etc. 
 
Anyway - too many to name individually, but many congratulations to all that have been approved in the last week or so.   
Still waiting here - June 22 - CSC.  One day maybe it will happen for me too.... 

Yes it's mandatory evac here where I live in Miami Beach, but I'm staying home for now. I have a friends place inland if I need to get out. 
 
We bought supplies, water, managed to get gas, I live in a good strong house. So we will see how this plays out. The stores ran out of essentials but gas was ok to get yesterday. 
 
Thanks for the message - appreciate it. 
Hope all will be well in Orlando. Could cop some wind and rain too...... 

Yes it's mandatory evac here where I live in Miami Beach, but I'm staying home for now. I have a friends place inland if I need to get out. 
 
We bought supplies, water, managed to get gas, I live in a good strong house. So we will see how this plays out. The stores ran out of essentials but gas was ok to get yesterday. 
 
Thanks for the message - appreciate it. 
Hope all will be well in Orlando. Could cop some wind and rain too...... 

Yes it's mandatory evac here where I live in Miami Beach, but I'm staying home for now. I have a friends place inland if I need to get out. 
 
We bought supplies, water, managed to get gas, I live in a good strong house. So we will see how this plays out. The stores ran out of essentials but gas was ok to get yesterday. 
 
Thanks for the message - appreciate it. 
Hope all will be well in Orlando. Could cop some wind and rain too...... 

Im flying back to Miami on Friday. 
I really appreciate your kind words of support. 
Its just annoying sometimes. I'll update as when anything happens. Cheers!