Jay2Pnoy

I am all ready to go for my interview tomorrow. I will definitely share my experience.

Your other option is filing for SB-1 or Returning Resident Visa at the US Embassy or Consulate, but many practitioners do not recommend this and only for those unable to return to the US to apply for re-entry, SB-1 requires more paperwork and evidence.

But re-entry permit is only applied if the applicant is inside the United States, the permit shall be requested and adjudicated prior to departure from the US. In this case, it is not advisable.

Plan ahead, if you must stay out of the US for more than 1 year, you should return to the US to apply for re-entry. Otherwise, you will lose your permanent residency status in that regard. If you would stay out of the USA for more than 6 mos but less than 1 year, the burden of proof and documentations shall be provided at the port of entry that you kept your status and remained as a permanent resident even while outside the country. Such include but not limited to family ties in the US, bank account, employment, business, etc.

You can file N-400 Application for Naturalization even with an expired green card, I know this for a fact, my friend's GC expired last year, didnt renew it and instead applied for Naturalization, he was approved and now a USC. Renewing GC is not necessary in your case. I also asked this same question to 4 different immigration attorneys, their answers were consistent: DO NOT RENEW, unless Citizenship would be denied.

Glad the service worked well for you, certainly a light is coming through you will be on your way at the end of the tunnel. All the best of luck!

Is thanks to the people of this board, that I might get done with my journey, certainly not to the USCIS employees, that's why I want everyone going through the process know about my experience, so you do not waste your time, like mine was wasted, not to mention save you frustration.

If you do not have a computer and need info, by all means call their 1800 number, the CSR will tell you what YOU could see on their website.

If you have a problem and need answers DO NOT WASTE your time talking to the CSR, ask inmediately for a TIER 2 Officer. They can look into your case and give you answers/direction.

I made the great mistake of believing what I was told by the CSR, and I missed my appt (that I never knew was scheduled as the letter never got to me), THREE times I was told to keep waiting that my case was still within the processing times, etc.... total waste of time!

My whole case could be finished by now, (I started in March).

Now I know at least who to call if I encounter more problems, and it's thanks to you guys.

Infopass would be ideal, or have a US Representative or Senator inquire on your behalf.

But I wouldn't certainly not consider calling the service again to speak with an immigration officer, they can also advise of the hold on the application or to ask questions, and if necessary may also make an internal office inquiry.

It works, I have done it in the past on our other immigration applications for the purposes of the benefits we sought. You must weigh in the advantages and disadvantages but like you said, you would miss work and drive 3 hours, and this only gives you a better option to make an inquiry offsite.

The service request does not mean anything, the response letter would come out and states that your case is still under review, etc.

You may certainly make an infopass appt, but to save you a trip call the customer service number and ask for a Tier 2 officer, they are real immigration officers, not some phony contracted agents who think they know more than you do... these people see the same thing you do at the website.

In my case, I requested a name change on natz application basically remove my second first name coz I have 2, too long to list with my middle and last names. However, I changed my mind and will keep my name at birth and advise the officer that at time of interview, 6 days to go.... not so anxious, just a lil bit ... lol

100 questions I know since the day before I sent in my application, the info on the app bothers me though... difficult to remember all my travel dates, too many short trips out of the country, yeah with my travels to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, not including the travels across the Pacific! I decided not to be exact and precise about it, just know the total days each trip and approximate date which I would tell the officer to look on my app lol.

Almost there...

Call the service number again, and ask for a tier 2 immigration officer. Level 2 officers have full access to your case, and they can also make internal inquiry whoever your case is assigned to in the local office.

You are not supposed to, but it helps if the prospective employer will perform a check against previous employments, if you put these as reference.

In general, the naturalization examiner would surely make note of the applicant's parking tickets, speeding tickets, civil money judgments. However, to date such failings have been struck down as the sole basis for denial for naturalization based on lack of good moral character; rather they may be considered as part of the whole picture.

Note that all bars based on lack of good moral character (statutory, regulatory and discretionary) differ from one to the next with regards to the time periods they cover. You plead for a lesser degree, thus not of significance for the purposes of eligibility of your naturalization application. But to be sure, disclose the citations and provide court dispositions including proof of payment. I have read immigration officers ask for satisfactory proof either monetary or otherwise. The point is, you are disclosing this citation, therefore disclose it fully or in its entirety, include all documentations in addition to proof that the citation was paid for.

Prior trips only during the last 5 years, anything prior to that is irrelevant. So if you remember travels within the last 6 yrs, well and good. Expired/Current passports will be asked as part of the requirements at the interview.

Yes, it's called US-VISIT Program. The government has full access to all of that however the burden of proof is on you that you continuously remained permanent resident pursuant to and did not violate the immigration and nationality act. If you can obtain all your passports, expired or not, bring them. I am certain that the officer will ask you for these.

Huh. We sent ours priority mail with a tracking number. I kept the certification slip, the receipt for the mailing, printed out the tracking info from the USPS site. I've had to much ####### go missing in the mail. But we were told by the postal clerk do not send it with a return receipt cause the USCIS wouldn't sign for it.

They do, many times I have sent applications for benefits to USCIS and yes, I have received return receipts. I guess for as long as you have a way to track down the package you are fine.

Yes, with a tracking number on the package. That's how I mailed mine, via USPS Certified, with a return receipt so I have records of who signed or received the package in case you had to go to Court later on, more documents to prove existence the better.

Ok thanks guys!!!!

This already helps me out a ton.

Well I am kind of stuck, here I copied and pasted of what I previously posted in reg. to my speeding ticket:

" Ok so I am getting ready to submit my N400, I printed off the 50- some paige guide.

In there it states that if a traffic fine was above 500 Dollars, you have to claim it.

I was speading, going 25 over the speed limit. No alcohol or drugs invloved of course.

I was going to work and was late LOL!

This was my first offence and I was "so much over the speed limit" that I had to show in court.

I ended up hiring an attorney because the case was just plain stupid to go to court.

The attorney got me out of it and it was dimissed as "defective equiment", no point on licence etc.

I called the lawyer that did this for me and it was classed as a "non moving violation".

Is this something I should claim on my N500/ at the point of my interview?

I am stuck, I don't want them to not grant me citzenship because of this ticket and I don't want them to think I am lying either.

The fine was a total of 300 Dollars."

Now my question is list it? I was planning on submitting copies as I want to be of good moral character.

If so what box on the N400 do I check? Cos I was not arrested I guess it was just an offence

Since you are concerned to be denied citizenship. Here, answer yes on #s 16, 17 and 18 on the GMC questions. Because you want to be upfront, provide a certified court disposition/records of the "non-moving violation", explain to the officer the offense at time of interview and be apologetic.

I am sure this is a non-issue, but disclose them as you wish and it shall set you free!

Refer below, a cover letter I included in my own N400 application:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please see enclosed following documents pertaining to Jay2Pnoy's application for naturalization:

1. Form N-400 Application for Naturalization

2. (2) Passport Style Photographs

3. Filing fee in a form of personal check - $680.00

4. Photocopy of I-551 - Permanent Resident Card

5. G-1145 E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Should other documents be required, kindly advise immediately.

I am getting ready to submit my paperwork N400 tomorrow.

Here a few questions to make sure I am doing everything correctly:

Some people told me not to send the N400 together with the money order.

Is it ok to still do this? I am mailing it all certified.

When it comes to the questions travel outside of the US.

I can not remember all the full dates I LEFT.

The passports tell me the date of entry.

I only know a kind of estimate, it was always around 2-3 weeks a year.

Is that ok??

Then I had a speeding ticket, people here (see my previous post) told me I should claim it.

Which I did, I wrote in there that it was classed as defective equipment, no drugs alcohol etc involved was not arrested.

Did however get a lawyer to drop this for me (didn't want points on my licence as I was going like 25 above the speed limit).

Which box do I check?

The one that says "Have you ever commited a crime or offence and were not arrested"??

Part 13: I leave that blank I guess because that is what I sign at the point of interview?

Thank you so much everyone!!!

It will be a terrible mistake not to include the payment/money order with the application, N-400's are generally rejected if the requirements are not met, one of which is the payment. Whoever tells you not to send the payment with the application provided you misinformation.

No, it is not okay to estimate, the form specifically asks for the actual dates of travel, thus not an estimate. When you leave the United States, there should be some kind of entry stamps in your passport, port of entry in the country where you traveled.

Citations are required to be disclosed, however minor traffic citations are not at all required. I personally did not disclose speeding tickets in my own application, as it did not result a fine of $500 or more. DO NOT check the box ".........were NOT arrested", this will result into further inquiry, unless you have other undisclosed crimes for which you were not arrested. Categorically, simply due to reckless driving, unless you are charged and convicted, does not equate to CIMT. Without seeing your certified court dispositions, it is hard to help you. But based on your statements above, the boxes in the good moral section that you should check are #'s 16, 17 and possibly 18, again depending on the conviction on the reckless driving charges which you already said was dropped by your lawyer, what you failed to mention is whether the charges were fully dropped without any charges at all or dropped to a lesser offense.

You must leave out parts 13 and 14. Those parts are to be completed on the day of interview.

Pinkytoes is correct. You should receive another letter in the mail for your biometrics, and then interview and oath taking notices will follow. If you sign up for case status update on uscis.gov website, you should also receive notification when there is a new update on your case.

See my timeline, it should give a general idea on when you should receive notifications and letters. Naturalization application takes 4-6 months from filing to oath, depending on the district office.

Right. The bank gave me the check information with NBC printed on it the same day these documents arrived (Saturday). Anyway, less stress finally.

Like I said previously, my biggest concern was that people who mailed a few days after we did already had responses whereas we didn't. We're sailing ahead with the rest now albeit possibly behind those later filers.

All the best of luck! Myself including. =)

Does anyone know where the interview letter is sent from? Dallas or Vermont?

Interview letters are never sent from the local district office unless you are a military applicant or in some special circumstances. It is and always has been coming from the Service Centers that has jurisdiction in your state of residence, or the National Benefits Center if you are under its jurisdiction.

Please take note of the differences between: District Offices, Service Centers and National Benefits Center, which is also interchangeably called as the Missouri Service Center.

Okay, so I guess all was for not. Mail just came by and we have a I-797C Notice of Action.

It really doesn't say anything. The document has my wife's birthdate and our mailing address printed on it. It says to make sure these are correct and to contact if not.

The number above does work on USCIS and is the same number on these receipts. However, I had to use NBC*######### to get it to pull up.

I guess we're on our way now. I wonder when any other correspondence will be obtained.

It's because you omitted "NBC" and the "*" (asterisk) on the receipt number, it would give you 13 numbers altogether and would have been able to pull case status.

Check the cashed out check, they sometimes put the NBC receipt number at the back of the check, which is usually the same case number on NOA. But lately, they are processing check payments as EFT, so it may not be possible to see the case number. If not, you just have to have patience and wait, give it by early next week.

They simply did not update your case status online as to why you received the letter without receiving updates, basically the internal office tracking number was not properly entered when the officer sent you a letter in the mail. Case status is informational, it does not reflect actual processing rendered in specific cases. After 1 mo, they now place your case in the loop, so that further updates on your case you are now going to be notified by virtue of that option. You are fine.

A week after you are scheduled for interview you should receive the letter in the mail, 10 days tops. Consider the difference between district offices as well, process sometimes varies by location. Be worried if 10 days have passed, call the service number and ask for tier 2 immigration officer. Generally, the tier 2 immig officer couldnt tell you the date by phone unless its within 5 days of the interview date, however they can re-send another letter if its presumed lost in the mail due to circumstances.

I received my Naturalization interview letter on 8/19, 8/5 when I was inline for interview, 8/12 when I received the text/email that I was scheduled for interview. 8/13 when the letter was mailed to me, it took 6 days altogether.

I HAD MY INTERVIEW AND TEST TODAY AND I PASSED IT!!!! SUPPOSEDLY ILL BE TAKING THE OATH TAKING BUT WHEN I TOLD MY COOL OFFICER THAT I LOST MY GREENCARD, I HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN APPT LETTER FOR THE OATH TAKING AND IT WILL TAKE ONE AND HALF - TWO WEEKS.. NOT BAD AT LEAST IM DONE WITH THE INTERVIEW AND TEST! HE ASKED ME ONLY 5 QUESTIONS ONLY.

Your journey will soon be over! Congratulations!