Kev-N-Ann

The 3 year rule is for those who are eligible and don't want to wait for 5 years. You have already waited 5+ years, so you will automatically be filing under the 5 year rule. 

Depending on circumstances, mine was straight forward under the 3 year rule. Fun part is that this process went so fast and today makes it 6 months that I’ve been naturalized and it amazes Me because sometimes I forget that I am a citizen 😂

Filing based on the 3 year rule was also a piece of cake for my wife.

Filing under the 5 year rule is a piece of cake..... I speak from experience.  Good Luck.

The difference is that you can log onto your irs.gov account and download 3-4 years of IRS tax return transcripts. But you cannot download 5 years. So if you do not have 5 years of tax return transcripts, your 5 year
based N-400 can be delayed.

Quicker no.. less documentation required .. yes 

Spouses are not listed as dependents.

Do you have tax return transcripts?
My spouses have never been listrd as my dependents or vice versa. I an unaware that a spouse can be listed as a dependent.
 
Did you file jointly with your U.S. spouse?
Depends on the answers to my questions. Depending on answers you might not be ready to file N-400.

What if someone wants to keep both names (maiden and married)?

First and foremost
get yourself to a safe location! ASAP ***NOW!
If he is doing that now, imagine what would he do once he realizes that you want to divorce him, especially if his goal all along was a green card?
Step one : Get yourself to the safe place
Step two: report him to the police
Step three: get a lawyer
Step one is due NOW

Yes, if they ask, tell them you met online. It is a very, very, very common tale and they here that everyday.

Doesn't OP need to do his biometrics first before USCIS will expedite the I-131?

Expect problems, because on the surface it looks like you married an American in order to evade immigration law and facilitate your children's father's entrance into the US.
Does your current husband know you are planning to divorce him? In order to naturalise under the three year rule you must be living together with your US citizen spouse in a true marital union.

Be careful!!! Very careful!

You came on the 4th, right? You count 14 days, that the secure system database needs to be updated, and then you go and apply for the SSN BEFORE you get married. Their system has your maiden name in (the name you used to enter the country) and the name that is on your Visa. You're going to need your I-94 and your passport with your Visa on it.
After you get married, you will send the AOS papers using your new name and when you receive the confirmation that they got your papers, you will go back to the SS office and ask them to change your name.
Many people applied for the SSN after the wedding and it was a hassle with the name change and the entrance papers etc., as many employees are not familiar with the whole K1 process.
Message me if you need anything else!

A strong recomendation, DO get your ssn ASAP.,.,do not make the mistake we made as we waited until after marriage to get ssn.,.,.,.,BAD MOVE on our part.
The SS system has your i-94 NAME ON IT NOT your new married anme..,.,,took us 5 trips to get SSN, and that was after wife got EAD/AP..,.,.,..
Please, good luck with POE..,...,Alanta.,.,was a nightmare! Hours.,.,.,just get settled,in..,.,go to SS office as soon as possible.
Good luck!

Just like everybody has been saying, the fact that they kept your passport is a good sign. I don't know why they considered it so relevant that you and your fiance have family in the same state, but it is their job to look at everything, and your job to provide them with the information they require.
You have done that, sent the email through on Thursday. You have to give them a bit of time to look into whatever they need to look into.
I am sure you will be getting an response in the coming week.
Iremise.. keep calm and think positive.. don't dwell on the what ifs.

No, I was just asking. But I take note you are avoiding answering the question.
Good luck to you.

Not about what Harpa believes or doesn't believe. She is not the one you need to convince. She was asking because how you ended up meeting your fiance with family near your brother could be important for the CO in determining whether or not they believe you just wanted to get to the US to be with family. Red flags are all based on how it appears to the CO.

I'm sorry you had to go through this.
I didn't know you had such a close relative in the US. If I knew, I would have warned you. They asked me if I had any relatives in the country, too, but I only have 2 second cousins in California, 3000 miles away from where I am.
I'm sure you feel disappointed and having been wronged, but, on the other hand, the consular officers have to do their job. No matter we like it or not, we are the ones that have to prove that "we are not an elephant"!
Did you send them the information they asked for? I think they were just looking to see your reactions. The fact that they kept your passport is very important. Send them the info they need and be patient. They'll update the CEAC status to AP, but this is normal. Then it will go to READY and then AP again, before they let you know that they need you to pick up your passport/visa and envelope.
As other members have already told you, once you get your visa in hand, all these will be forgotten. Immigrating (for whatever reason) is a hard process from many different aspects. You HAVE to be strong, if you want this to work out with your man...

I'm sorry you had to go through this.
I didn't know you had such a close relative in the US. If I knew, I would have warned you. They asked me if I had any relatives in the country, too, but I only have 2 second cousins in California, 3000 miles away from where I am.
I'm sure you feel disappointed and having been wronged, but, on the other hand, the consular officers have to do their job. No matter we like it or not, we are the ones that have to prove that "we are not an elephant"!
Did you send them the information they asked for? I think they were just looking to see your reactions. The fact that they kept your passport is very important. Send them the info they need and be patient. They'll update the CEAC status to AP, but this is normal. Then it will go to READY and then AP again, before they let you know that they need you to pick up your passport/visa and envelope.
As other members have already told you, once you get your visa in hand, all these will be forgotten. Immigrating (for whatever reason) is a hard process from many different aspects. You HAVE to be strong, if you want this to work out with your man...

Did you guys enter by the Paso del Norte POE? or the other one by Louetta?..don't remember well the name but it is on the east side of town and it used to be a lot less crowded your wife must know which one I am talking about. I am from Chihuahua and I know very well how extremely rude the IO are at this particular PUENTE, some IO literally terrorize people and I've seen it with my own eyes, it is very traumatizing. We never had a problem crossing by either POE showing my visa. I am so sorry your wife went thru this, it brought back memories of those experiences I've witness and they make you feel your life is in their hands. It should not be like this, they applied for this job and they agreed to deal with thousands of people a day who deserve the minimum respect like every human being.

That is why I didn't apply for one. The forms confused me. If it is meant for emergencies, but you have to know your travel date and purpose when filling out the form, then... Well, if I have an emergency that requires travel, then I need the AP yesterday, not in 60-90 days! And if I don't know, then I can't apply for it, but if an emergency DOES come up and I have to apply for AP, well... then they will take too long with it. I don't schedule my inter-continental travel emergencies 3 months in advance
But then I was told "you can just apply for it", and it seems like a lot of people do, so... I don't even know how AP is supposed to work anymore!

Hi All thanks for help. Just letting you know I just went to SSN office and get last name changed. Very easy and fast:)

Cool!!!

some prisons in texas do set up conjugal visits for spouses - I would suggest inquiring with the prison he is in and trying to set that up. sure - it means another plane ride into Texas but if consummation was the barrier to filing the I-130 and chasing a CR-1 visa - I'd study a bit more before ruling it out.