AMarina

Thank you for the repplies.

Dear all,

if somebody filed I-130 for their parents after they've changed their name during Naturalization, what did you write in section C, 17 for I-130 - list all children of your relative. Should I list myself with my maiden last name or my current married name?

Thank you!

Thank you for the replies, everyone. A little bit more to clarify - so if, as a US citizen, I will answer N/A to questions 10. (Alien Registration Number) and to question 14 on I-130 (if you are an LPR, what's your date of amission, etc.), what should I answer to 14b. - Did you gain permanent resident status through marriage to a US citizen or LPR? I did gain my LPR status through marriage to a US citizen, so I would be inclined to answer "yes" to this one, but wouldn't it be confusing if I say I am not an LPR, but confirm I have the LPR status from husband? does this make sense?

Thank you all for the responses.

Thank you so much for the prompt reply. do you also know if I have to promptly request a name change on the SSN?

Dear VisaJourney members,

could you please advise on the following: I have requested to get my husband's last name as a part of my naturalization process. My Oath Ceremony is this Friday, and my naturalization certificate will be issued with this new name. My social security card has my maiden name on it. Do you know if I need to change my social security number as a result? Or do you just report name change to them and they send you the card with the same number, but new name?

I wanted to file I-130 for my parents as soon as I get my citizenship, but am now confused whether my SSN will change and I should wait until that is sorted out before I can file I-130. Any advice would be greately appreciated.

Thank you!

Dear VisaJourney members,

could you please advise on the following: I have requested to get my husband's last name as a part of my naturalization process. My Oath Ceremony is this Friday, and my naturalization certificate will be issued with this new name. My social security card has my maiden name on it. Do you know if I need to change my social security number as a result? Or do you just report name change to them and they send you the card with the same number, but new name?

I wanted to file I-130 for my parents as soon as I get my citizenship, but am now confused whether my SSN will change and I should wait until that is sorted out before I can file I-130. Any advice would be greately appreciated.

Thank you!

Thank you, Oksana.

Hello, there

I'm just about to join the happy group of new US citizens and am starting to look into I-130 for my parents. Just a couple newbie questions:

- for translations, has anyone done "unofficial" translations - i.e. a non-professional translator translates the document and signs that they certify that they are competent to translte the foreign language into English? If this is not an option, can somebody advise some affordable and reliable translation agencies whom one could trust with such docs as birth certificate?

- for question 10, Alien Registration Number - if I will be a US citizen at the moment I sign the petition, should I mark that as "N/A" or should I still fill out my previous alien registration number?

Thank you so much!

Thanks, guys. I guess, I'll bring the monthly statements from our bank which include copies of those cashed checks with my signature on them. But overall, I just don't understand why they are required if it's not officially stated anywhere.

Apart from that, I'm just going to bring all the documents that are on the checklist plus our leases to confirm the joint residence.

Hi there!

My interview date is approaching and I read that many people bring their utility bills in, although they are not officially requested on the invitation letter or the document checklist. In fact, my husband's name only is on all our utility bills (although I'm the one who signs all the checks with payments). Did anybody have troubles because their name was not on the utility bills? What do you do in such cases?

Thank you so much!

Hello, there!

Can somebody please advise on the following: just recieved my invitation for the interview and the document checklist requires me to provide the current marriage certificate "registered by a civil authority" and "certified copies of birth certificates" for the children.

I have the apostile-certified marriage and birth certificate for our daughter which are also attached to the Russian-language official translations (we had to use them during our recent trip to my home country). Do you think I can use these certified documents, although the Russian translations are attached? Or should I get the new certified copies? Do they just look at the originals or do they collect them during the interview?

One more question - I see people corresponding about some "yellow letter" - I have only received on letter (white) with the invitation for the interview and the Interview Document Checklist (N-659). Should I be getting this additional yellow letter or is it not sent to everyone?

Thank you very much!

Hi AMarina,

Instead of rescheduling your biometrics, why don't you try a walk-in, earlier than scheduled?

Likewise, I did a walk-in biometrics for my I-751 case (a week earlier than scheduled) at my local (lol..1-2 hrs away) office in Buffalo, NY, due to transportation and medical issues. They had no problems with that, and I was glad that I was able to get such done beforehand.

You can read more about my walk-in biometrics expererience here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=153099&hl

Might as well get it done and over with earlier, instead of worrying about having to reschedule for it later, and having your case further delayed because of that.

Just explain your situation if they ask for such (and bring extra proof if need be, such as ticket, vacation plans, etc.), bring your biometrics letter, identification, go at a time convenient for you, and go when it is not busy, and you should be ok there. Worst case, they say no. Best case, they say yes, which is a good thing.

Have it done first, and then go on vacation, and you'll be able to enjoy your vacation more then.

Don't let the USCIS run your schedule....Make your own schedule instead!

Hope this helps. Good luck with the rest of your immigration journey too.

Ant

Thank you all for the great suggestions - I did just that, walked in this Saturday, and although they say on their website that they don't accept walk-ins and it's all by appointment only, they let me do it right there and then, so about 5 minutes later I had my fingerprinting all taken care of!

Hi, I've had the same situation and talked to multiple people - some answer "yes", some "no". Nobody seems to have a problem regardless of how they answer. But if you do answer "yes", you will need to attach some explanation of why this is not a big deal. Good luck!

First of all, I believe, not all centres will do the walk-in biometrics. I was scheduled a FP appointment for the day after Memorial day at St.Louis,MO. Since, I was travelling out of town for the Memorial day weekend, I could not make the appointment. But my letter stated that if I missed my appointment, I could walk in on any following Wednesday as long as it is before Aug 20. So, I went for the FP on the following Wednesday. At the appointment, while I was being finger-printed, the lady mentioned as FYI that I had missed the appointment & they no longer do the walk-ins. I showed her the letter that stated I could come on any Wednesday. They were surprised that they were still mailing out those letters and asked me if they could photocopy it. I didnt mind as long as they did my FP.

So, anyways, check with your center before you go for a walk-in. Also, check if your letter says that you can appear on any following weekdays before a certain date. Else, it would be safer to write a letter and keep a copy just in case they decide to cancel your application. Good luck.

That's the problem - my letter doesn't mention anything about walk-ins, just that I can request rescheduling my mailing the form back, and the center's web-site clearly states that they don't accept walk-ins. Has anyone tried to still do a walk-in to a center that states they don't do that?

I guess, in my case it may be the most time-efficient to send back the form, accompanied by a letter explaining which dates won't work for me.

I've seen several folks on here that said they just walked in for the biometrics. Bring your appointment letter and they may be able to work you in.

Thank you all, this is very helpful. I may try this Saturday and see what happens.

Personally - rescheduling is bad.

Even if you manage to do it, I have seen cases where their case was "cancelled" because they didn't show up to the first appointment.

Infopass at the local USCIS would probably be the quickest way to do it.

I have even seen where people have just walked in with the letter you have, and get it done right then, (not on the date the letter said to do it).

Depends how busy they are I suppose.

Thank you for the prompt response. Yes, it's not my preference to reschedule, but I can't cancel my trip now. Apologies for my ignorance - how does one get to Infopass - is there a link somewhere?

Thank you!

Hello,

I would really appreciate some advice on the following matter: just received my fingerprinting appointment letter, and it requests me to appear at Hartford office on July 16, while I'll be traveling out of country until July 26. The only way to reschedule is to mail the form back to them asking "please reschedule my appointment for the next available... Wednesday or Saturday afternoon". How can I communicate to them that I will not be available until July 26? What if the next available appointment will also fall during the time I'm gone? I've searched a number of sites, and couldn't find the phone number to call this particular office, so I only have the general USCIS 1-800 number (which I intend to call tomorrow, but doubt they can advice on this).

Another question is - has anybody rescheduled their appointment? How much does it really delay your application, as they threaten in the letter?

Thank you!

Just pay attention to the details. I mailed my application on 11.03.2008, and my interview was scheduled for 03.24.2009. I really thought it was short period for naturalization process, however now is extended up to May.

Thank you for sharing. At least the timeline is much quicker than the official data of 14+ months for Hartford! That's good news. Good luck, let us know how it goes during the final interview.

I did, and was told to come back on the day I was told to come.

Good luck to you, Kasper!

Do you mind sharing your timeline? I'm going to apply this June, and will also go through the Hartford local center.

Thank you!

You can check the law, in INA 319 (a).

Any person whose spouse is a citizen of the United States, ... may be naturalized upon compliance with all the requirements of this title except the provisions of paragraph (1) of section 316(a) if such person immediately preceding the date of filing his application for naturalization has resided continuously, after being lawfully admitted for permanent residence, within the United States for at least three years, and during the three years immediately preceding the date of filing his application has been living in marital union with the citizen spouse ..., who has been a United States citizen during all of such period, and has been physically present in the United States for periods totaling at least half of that time and has resided within the State or the district of the Service in the United States in which the applicant filed his application for at least three months.

It looks like the three years living with the US Citizen must have happened during the three years immediately before filing the application. In other words, time you spent living together a long time before filing the application doesn't count.

We were in a slightly similar situation, but not exactly the same. You can see our timeline below. We had been married and living apart prior to getting the green card status. The day of entry to the US was the first day of us living under the same roof as a married couple. I'm still not 100% sure we absolutely had to wait three full years after entry, but we decided it was the safer, simpler, easier thing to do. After we finished the process, I saw posting by another couple that was in our situation, but they tried using the 90 day shortcut. Their N-400 was denied at the interview, because the interviewing officer said they hadn't been living together for the full three years immediately preceeding the filing of the application.

You might want to consult with an attorney to get a more reliable answer as to whether you can take the 90 day shortcut. Or you could file and see; the worst that will happen is they'll deny your N-400 and you'll have to file again (and pay the fee again). Or you could wait until three full years after your entry to the US with a Green Card, when there won't be any question about your eligibility. The choice is yours. Good luck.

thank you very much for the last post! This is really helpful information. Yes, I will consult with the lawyer about this, but looks like waiting out the full three years is a safer thing to do...

thank you all for the replies. Yes, it sounds tricky to me because many people first had conditional green cards and they have no problem to demonstrate that they have been living together for 3 years prior to application. In my circumstances - we got married when I was in the US on a student visa, lived together while my visa lasted for a couple months, then I went back home, and re-entered the US three years later with a permanent green card. So the length of marriage requirement is taken care of. But as for "living together" requirement - we lived together for 2 years 9 months since I became and LPR, and if I count the couple months that we lived together during my student visa status, and the time we spent together during visits over the three years of separation, I will have the 3 years of "living together'. However, does this kind of "living together" count? Anybody here in a similar situation - gotten married while on J-1, had to do the "2 year home residency requirement" and then re-entered with a permanent green card?

So u have been married for 5 years? Your Green card states you have been a resident since? From that date to today how many years has it been?

Has it been less 2 years and 9 months?If it has, then you can file. =). You cannot count living with your husband, if you were not a resident. Im sure the crew will jump in soon.

Thanks for the reply. To clarify - I would like to file when I have 2 years 9 months as an LPR (it will be in March 2009), so I'm not counting any non-resident time here. I'm just trying to understand whether I can apply 90 days early, since I will not have been an LPR for the full three years yet, although I will have been married for more than 3 years, and we have been living together for 3 years. Does this make sense?

Hi guys!

I am just starting this process, and was pretty sure I am eligible to apply 90 days early, but am not so certain any more. Maybe somebody can help to figure out?

The guide to Naturalization says that one may file "up to 90 days before you meet the continuous residence requirement", but the following conditions have to be present:

- Permanent Resident in continuous residence for 3 years minus 90 days

- married and living with your spous for 3 years before you file your application.

At the same time, "you may send your application before you have met the requirement for continuous residence only". So, does that mean, I must have been a Perm. Resident for the full 3 years before applying or not?

I entered the country with a permanent green card in June 2006, so my full three years of being a Permanent Resident will be in June 2009. We have been married for more than 5 years, and if I count in a couple months we lived together prior to me becoming a LPR (I had a student visa at that time), I will have the required 3 years of living together by March 2009. I haven't left the country after June 2006. However, since I will not have 3 years as LPR by March, can I still apply early or do I need to wait until June?

Thank you for your comments!

Thanks for the replies, everybody. I see all the points, and since Pioneers is not officially a wing of the party, am tempted to state "no". I guess, I'm just looking for a confirmation that somebody with a similar background has done this and had not problems - anybody like that out there?