hopefulls

Hello everyone

I just want to provide an update and also to warn those who mislead and provide wrong information. I know in some cases, you are trying to be helpful but none of us are immigration officers but yet you tried to forced your opinion and try to scared people. Last year, there was a BIG debate about my situation. I was pregnant and decided to have my baby overseas, I left the US June, 2019. My son was born in December 2019 in Italy, vaccination is not given until the child is 3 months so I decided not to travel until he was vaccinated. My return was scheduled for April, 2020, as we are all aware Covid-19 hit Italy and the entire world, I had multiple flight cancellations which delayed my return. After many attempts, I finally made it back to the US May 31, 2020. I was NOT questioned by immigration upon my arrival as to why I was outside the country for so long as a green card holder, STANDARD entry. Bear in mind, while I was in Italy, I had TWO interviews scheduled for my naturalization, I requested BOTH to be cancelled, one was in September, 2019. I was 6 months pregnant at the time and didn't want to travel. Then a month or so later, a 2nd interview was scheduled for January, 2020, again I didn't want to travel with my newborn less than a month old without vaccination, I requested the 2ND cancellation. While in Italy, my 3RD interview was scheduled, I knew that I would be pushing my luck so amidst Covid-19, I made all the effort to return to the US especially with the fact that I was VERY close to reaching my 1 year outside the country. I had my naturalization interview, no drilling, the officer was actually friendly. She asked why I was outside the country for that period of time, I told her I was pregnant, had my son plus Covid-19 delayed my return by a month. I also took with me a printout from USCIS website that basically says, for any stay beyond the 6 months exception can be granted if the individual does not give up their resident. I never did, our condo was vacate the entire time, my address never change. I did quit my job as I could no longer work with the time difference but besides that my intention from the beginning was never to abandon my green card status. She said, she could not approved my case that day (August 14th) and that she will need to speak with her supervisor. Today I received a notification that my naturalization has been approved!!!!

For those who have unique situation like myself, explore USCIS website and get answers there. A lot of people had said that I will not be accepted back inside the country because I abandoned my green card and that if I am allowed my naturalization will be denied NEITHER of that happened. I might be an exceptional case but don't provide people who are seeking answers your opinion, provide facts that they can seek out themselves.

Good luck to all those who are still waiting

On 9/1/2019 at 9:54 AM, xyz12345 said:

They're pretty fast in responding so you'll probably get a reply within the week. Your problem would be if they're going to send you a generic email. That was the case when I emailed them and they responded within a day or two. It was much better when I called them up.

 

Did you send medical documentation with your request for rescheduling? This is from a very recent post regarding OP's pregnancy and being overseas too...."Today I called USCIS from overseas, and I was told that there would be no problem rescheduling my naturalization interview provided that I mail them a letter requesting the postponement supported by medical documentation from my doctor.

Tomorrow I will be mailing through DHL everything I need to send to USCIS.

Problem solved."

 

A lot of heated issues were also discussed in this post but the above was written on page 2.

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/715949-reschedule-naturalization-interview-due-to-pregnancy/page/2/#comments

Ok, thanks. I assume with the hurricane out for Florida there might be some delay with replying, will just wait and see but hope to call tomorrow.

I will review the thread, thanks again! 

Thank you, I have already done so, still waiting on a response 

10 hours ago, xyz12345 said:

You can send a message to USCIS via your my.uscis.gov account. On your account, you would see 'Resources' underneath 'Sign out'. If you click on 'Reources', you would see 'Ask USCIS' and 'send a message'.  You can also try to call them up. It's a good thing that you want a followup.

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/642402-saga-of-n400-interview-rescheduling/

Thank you, I have already done so, still waiting on a reply 

Does anyone know the email address for USCIS local office in Oakland Park FL? I have mailed in a request to have my interview reschedule due to being overseas and pregnant. Due to my circumstances, I will have to deliver the baby abroad. The tracking shows that the mail was signed for however, I would like some reassurance if  I can communicate with the office via email since I don't know when or if the mail will be opened and processed.

Also, I have send an email to "SCOPSSCATA@uscis.dhs.gov"  but received an automated reply that is is no longer valid.

Any help will be appreciated!

3 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Yep.  But if you can handle a denial knowing that it’s just a matter of time til you can apply again.. then that’s s reasonable outcome. 

For now , do what you need to care for your wife and that precious baby .. and enjoy the “journey”. Hope all goes well 

Thank you

2 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Certainly in one angle you are right about the devils ration st the time of application ... they ask about travel between application and interview at the interview.  Worst case scenario is that the eligability to file for naturalisation is pushed out. If it’s denied due to the travel then you reapply when it’s time. Seems that managing the pregnancy and delivery is rightly a higher priority 

Yes definitely the pregnancy has the highest priority, and unfortunately we are not able to handle it in this country because of reasons beyond our will. I guess that if we are able to reschedule the interview, then we will have to explain our motivations to the officer, and hopefully we will be given a break.

47 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

You need to throughly review the N400 requirements 

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization/continuous-residence-and-physical-presence-requirements-naturalization

 

an absence of over 6 months automatically disrupt continuous residence ..some leeway .. but it’s for things like when the rest of the family stayed in the US 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-3

 

IMO inability to pay for medical care isn’t going to cut it with USCIS.. that is the whole reason for the sponsor requirement. 

 

You can probably do what you are talking about from a GC status perspective , but my read is that she will then have to be back on the US for 2 years and 1 day before being eligible to file for naturalisation 

 

also .. entry into the US for an LPR is never guaranteed .. it’s not as simple as length of time away .. the CBP Officer assesses travel history , intent etc each time 

I reviewed the link that you provided, and to me it seems like the continuous residence and physical presence requirements consider the time spent in the US before the application is sent to USCIS. We have already sent the application in November, and at that time my wife fulfilled all the requirements. I think that the time to take into consideration in our case is the time between the submission of the application and the interview with USCIS which will probably take place when we will be abroad. I thought that the most trouble we would run into was to have to reschedule the interview from abroad, but now you are making me think that we have a lot more to worry about. 

24 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Maintaining the LPR status and meeting the residency and physical presence for naturalisation have different criteria 

But she should be ok in both cases right?

She will be outside of the US for 9 and a half months, therefore less than a year, so she should be able to maintain the LPR status.

Also including the upcoming 9 and a half months abroad, she has spent more than 18 months (about 24 months to be exact) in the last three years in the US, so she should still qualify for naturalization.

The only reason we are going abroad for this long is because my wife is pregnant, and we were denied emergency Medicaid. So we can't afford to have the baby in the US. Do you thing that USCIS will consider it a mitigating factor?

8 hours ago, Lil bear said:

Continuous residence is usually considered broken by a period over 6 months. Residency may still be considered maintained over that period , but both residency and physical presence tests must be met 

Are you talking about naturalization or green card?

9 hours ago, Russ&Caro said:

Well, if you add 3 months to 10 months, plus additional trips as you mentioned, you're getting ever closer to the 18 month limit for physical presence. Also, your continuous residency is best proven by an uninterrupted lease of an apartment or continuous mortgage payments on a house that you own. If you're using a parent's or friend's address as proof that might present problems. Also, you have to worry about maintaining her green card. The guidelines set forth by USCIS state that any green card holder engaging on a trip abroad for longer than 6 months should apply for a re-entry permit or risk abandonment of the green card. I would study the USCIS website on all of the rules and guidelines associated with naturalization and green cards and make sure you're following all the rules exactly. Good luck.

We actually fully own the condo where we live (paid cash), and we have been living there since August 2015.

I thought that a permanent resident could stay outside of the US a whole year.

2 hours ago, Russ&Caro said:

Here are the time period requirements for residency and physical presence:

 

    Resided continuously in the U.S. for three years in the case of qualified spouses of U.S. citizens, (see legal basis) 

 

    Physically present in the U.S. for eighteen months within the three year period before applying in the case of qualified spouses of U.S. citizens (see legal basis)

 

So, if you maintain a residence within the US for the entire 10 months that you're abroad, you might still qualify for residing continuously for 3 years. On the physical presence, you might qualify for 18 months assuming you haven't made any other extended trips abroad during those 3 years.

I am a US citizen, my wife has been a resident since September 2014, and she has been spending almost all of that time in the US. The only exception is a three month stay abroad in Italy last year. Then we took short trips abroad here and there, probably for a total of no more than 15 days since September 2014.

We will still maintain our residence in the US for the whole 10 months that we will spend in Italy.

So according to the rules that you mentioned, she shouldn't have any problem, right?

Hello,

I applied for citizenship for my wife this past November and the application is currently pending. The estimated completion time is 14 months (Fort Lauderdale center), so she should become a citizen in January 2020.

However my wife is currently pregnant with the baby due in December. We applied for emergency Medicaid, but our request was denied. Being without insurance and family support here in the United States, we decided to have the baby in my country of origin (Italy). We are planning to leave in June and come back to the US in April of next year, for a total of 10 months abroad.

Does anybody know how our extensive stay abroad will affect her application for citizenship? We were reading that there is a requirement which prohibits staying abroad for longer than 6 months. Will we have to reapply for citizenship for my wife when we come back next year?  

Hello,

I applied for citizenship for my wife this past November and the application is currently pending. The estimated completion time is 14 months (Fort Lauderdale center), so she should become a citizen in January 2020.

However my wife is currently pregnant with the baby due in December. We applied for emergency Medicaid, but our request was denied. Being without insurance and family support here in the United States, we decided to have the baby in my country of origin (Italy). We are planning to leave in June and come back to the US in April of next year, for a total of 10 months abroad.

Does anybody know how our extensive stay abroad will affect her application for citizenship? We were reading that there is a requirement which prohibits staying abroad for longer than 6 months. Will we have to reapply for citizenship for my wife when we come back next year?  

Am in the same boat too, trying to figure out which is better, online or paper. Somehow I was told that online takes longer, which I don't understand why it would.

3 hours ago, marinadf said:

Hi guys! Just received the update that my card is being produced. I'm CSC filer but I'm not on the list. My NOA is 09/01/16 and biometrics 10/14/16. Card ordered January 17th. 

Good luck all!

 

Congratulations! You give me hope, my file date is 9/9/16

13 hours ago, zuluweta said:

I am praying that CSC starts approving our ROCs. I had to undergo secondary inspection as I came through immigration at the airport today. This cost me more than an hour of my time and anxiety and stress wondering why I was brought to secondary, given that my I-551 temporary GC stamp is valid until August 2018.

 

I could hear immigration officers interviewing people on visitor visas then the visitors being denied or grilled with detailed questions about their travel history. When I asked the CBP officer why I had to undergo secondary inspection, he said it was because my GC has expired and is not a valid travel document. Also, they had to verify my temporary GC stamp and its validity. He also warned me that until I get the 10-year GC, I should expect secondary every time.

I have experienced the same, if there is no GC, the immigration officer asked you to wait in a room to be processed.

I have traveled with a valid I-551 stamp in my passport, most of my travel is to Europe and I find it extremely irritating after a LONG flight and jetlag to be sitting in a room especially when the officers take breaks in between and engaged in a conversation with fellow coworkers neglecting that they have us waiting. This happened both at Miami and Ft. Lauderdale Airtports. I hope those of us waiting will get our GC soon and file for citizenship so we can eliminate the stress of immigration.

On 12/22/2017 at 2:29 PM, KCMO said:

 

California Service Center (48 applicants, 1 approved - 2%)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
FROMPHWITHLOVE.......08/30/16........09/01/16......10/13/16......--/--/--
SDDUDE89.............08/31/16........09/01/16......10/12/16......--/--/--
TONY23...............09/01/16........09/13/16......--/--/--......--/--/--
THAIRI...............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/11/16......--/--/--
MECHANICALSHASTA.....09/01/16........09/16/16......11/03/16......--/--/-- 9/26/17 Infopass stamp exp 9/25/18
TEXANS_99............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- 9/22/17 Infopass stamp exp 9/21/18
DIMPLES2x............09/01/16........09/02/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
COLGIL...............09/06/16........09/08/16......10/31/16......--/--/--
PUNTER13.............09/06/16........09/09/16......10/14/16......--/--/--
TEE328CEE............09/07/16........09/16/16......10/12/16......--/--/--
Hopefulls............09/07/16........09/23/16......10/13/16.....--//--/-- 7/05/17 Infopass stamp exp 04/19/18 (due to passport validity) 
4444510..............09/08/16........09/09/17......10/12/16......--/--/--
NADESHDA.............09/09/16........09/13/16......10/12/16......--/--/--
ARDALLAS.............09/09/16........09/12/16......10/11/16......10/25/17 (Approved with N400)
KETTLEFISH...........09/09/16........09/13/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- 3/08/17 Infopass exp 12/8/17
YVY23................09/09/16........09/13/16......11/01/16......--/--/-- 10/26/17 Infopass 
BING2K...............09/11/16........09/14/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- 10/12/17 Infopass exp 10/12/18
DGREENING............09/12/16........09/15/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- 12/08/17 Infopass exp 12/08/18
SARAH&MARC...........09/12/16........09/24/16......10/14/16......--/--/--
TDCK83...............09/12/16........09/17/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
FAY2017..............09/13/16........09/24/16......10/12/16......--/--/--
FRALIFAY.............09/13/16........09/19/16......10/17/16......--/--/-- 10/16/17 Infopass exp 4/16/18
CDNRN................09/13/16........09/16/16......11/03/16......--/--/--
OZGIRL1981...........09/13/16........09/16/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- 09/25/17 Infopass exp 6/25/18
HARAMI...............09/14/16........09/20/16......10/11/16......--/--/--(BIO EARLY-DIFF STATE 10/04/2016)
SADSTORIES...........09/14/16........09/16/16......11/01/16......--/--/-- 9/20/17 Infopass (joint to divorce)
MAYDE................09/14/16........09/16/16......11/01/16......--/--/--
ZULUWETA.............09/14/16........09/15/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
HANAMERICANA.........09/14/16........09/15/16......10/12/16......--/--/--
KCMO.................09/16/16........09/19/16......11/03/16......--/--/-- 09/11/17 Infopass exp 09/11/18
JIMLEEN..............09/16/16........09/16/16......10/13/16......--/--/--
SIDELCAMPEADOR.......--/--/--........09/21/16......10/18/16......--/--/--
FRIENDLYUSA..........09/17/16........09/23/16......10/12/16......--/--/--
BRUNOGAVA............09/--/16........09/20/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
CLWA.................09/20/16........09/23/16......12/16/16......--/--/--(BIO letter not sent or lost by USPS.)
VICKY86..............09/20/16........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/--
BOMZY............... 09/22/16........09/27/16......11/20/16......--/--/--
LALA1................09/23/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
NOWAY123456..........09/23/16........09/26/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
MDX81................09/24/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
KETSUBAN.............09/26/16........09/28/16......11/14/16......--/--/-- 10/30/2017 Infopass
QP2017...............09/26/16........10/26/16......11/08/16......--/--/--
BFP Xx...............09/27/16........10/03/16......11/07/16......--/--/--
WINGNUTFISH..........09/27/16........11/03/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- (Filed again 11/01. lost by USCIS)
BECKEPAUL06..........09/28/16........09/30/16......11/08/16......--/--/--
FARIHAK..............09/28/16........10/03/16......11/08/16......--/--/--
SUNGTORY.............--/--/--........09/22/16......11/07/16......--/--/--
TIGLON...............09/30/16........10/03/16......12/08/16......--/--/-- 10/15/17 Infopass exp 12/14/18
LILIDEYAN............09/30/16........10/21/16......11/08/16......--/--/-- 10/18/17 Infopass exp 4/18/18



Vermont Service Center (40 applicants, 35 approved - 87.5%)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
ROBM913..............08/24/16........09/02/16......10/03/16......08/11/17
YASHMIN..............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/03/16......08/08/17
BABY-PIE.............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/04/16......07/31/17
USMAN104.............09/06/16........09/09/16......10/14/16......08/11/17
HOLMDEL..............09/06/16........09/12/16......10/17/16......09/13/17
B&G..................09/09/16........09/17/16......10/14/16......08/07/17
MASSBOY617...........09/09/16........09/12/16......10/11/16......08/15/17
AMITS................09/11/16........09/14/16......10/11/16......08/31/17
A&L2017..............09/12/16........09/19/16......10/17/16......09/28/17
DWMSKL...............09/12/16........09/15/16......10/20/16......08/21/17
SURGFORCE............09/12/16........--/--/--......--/--/--......08/11/17
TAandNA..............09/13/16........09/20/16......10/20/16......08/07/17
TANIAC...............09/13/16........09/20/16......10/21/16......10/13/17
AUTRE VIE............--/--/--........09/13/16......--/--/--......08/28/17 (Divorce waiver)
AVAYA................--/--/--........09/14/16......10/--/16......10/30/17 02/--/17 Infopass exp 02/--/18
BLABLY...............--/--/--........09/15/16......10/19/16......09/15/17 (Divorce)
STACKERIA............09/14/16........09/16/16......10/17/16......08/15/17
JOHNDOE82............09/14/16........09/16/16......10/17/16......08/18/17 (walk-in/rescheduling)
BEGINNING777.........09/14/16........09/20/16......10/14/16......08/28/17
CATHYMAC.............09/14/16........09/26/16......10/27/16......--/--/--
DUDEINTRIBECA........09/15/16........09/19/16......10/17/16......09/11/17
SARAH___NICHELLE.....09/15/16........--/--/--......--/--/--......08/31/17
TRAVELER101..........09/16/16........09/20/16......10/19/16......--/--/-- (BIO EARLY 10/14/2016)
JPTL85...............09/16/16........09/19/16......10/18/16......08/24/17
INGRID28.............09/17/16........09/20/16......10/20/16......10/23/17
CANGREJA.............--/--/--........09/22/16......10/18/16......09/26/17
DINOSAUR2013.........09/19/16........09/22/16......10/17/16......10/06/17
AKG25................09/19/16........09/23/16......10/24/16......--/--/--
ARPIT25..............--/--/--........09/23/16......10/24/16......10/06/17
ANLY8872.............--/--/--........09/23/16......11/04/16......10/12/17
TVF..................09/19/16........09/19/16......--/--/16......09/06/17
STEVE&ANNA...........09/19/16........09/22/16......10/18/16......08/21/17
MAGGIE&JAYSON........09/20/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
USA_DZA..............09/25/16........09/28/16......--/--/--......08/28/17
SCHULLEY.............09/26/16........09/30/16......10/31/16......08/23/17
STEFKE...............09/27/16........10/07/16......--/--/--......--/--/--
HEATHERANDTEZZ.......09/29/16........10/06/16......--/--/16......09/08/17
LILI13...............09/29/16........10/03/16......11/04/16......08/30/17
DANICA1..............09/30/16........09/30/16......11/01/16......08/31/17
DAROD85..............--/--/--........09/30/16......10/21/16......08/24/17


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Is it possible to file for citizenship before receiving removal of condition green card? We filed in September, 2016 (CSC) and have not received the green card as most persons.

My husband and I are going overseas in May, 2018 for 3 months and want to file for my citizenship before we leave and, want to make sure we have sufficient time to have the biometric done before May.

Does anyone know if we will need to wait for the green card or can we file for citizenship while its pending? If so, is the citizenship process the same?

Thanks!

Hello VJ,

I would like some personal feedback from those who have traveled with their Extension Letter please. We filed for removal of condition in September of last year, with the backlogged, not expecting an answer until June. However, my husband and I want to visit his family in Italy in July and my extension expires in September, I know its say I can work and travel but what are your personal experience if you have traveled on the extension letter?

FYI, last time I traveled was with my Employment Authorization Card, upon returning to the US, I was held in the immigration room for hours just to be processed to gain entry back in the US. I am concerned with the travel ban even thou it should not affect permanent residence if anyone had a smooth reentry back in the US with the Extension Letter?

Thank you!

Thank you Harpa Timsah

How long it will take to schedule your interview will depend on how backlogged your local USCIS office is. It has only been 2 weeks, which is not a long time to be waiting.

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based main forum to Progress Reports sub-forum - topic is case status ~

Thanks for your reply KayDeeCee, am not so much concern about the interview time, just not getting the notification in the mail, we only go a email

Hello my vj members,

I would like to get some feedback please. We submitted our AOS package and received an email notification from Uscis on Feb 22, 2014 saying that my interview is ready to be schedule, its been two weeks now and have not received anything in the mail. Is this normal?

We have not receive any update regarding AP or EAD but according to vj prediction we should get those by May 12-15th.

I appreciate some feedbacks

Thank you

Am sorry the date for email notification was actually April 22nd, not feb

Hello my vj members,

I would like to get some feedback please. We submitted our AOS package and received an email notification from Uscis on Feb 22, 2014 saying that my interview is ready to be schedule, its been two weeks now and have not received anything in the mail. Is this normal?

We have not receive any update regarding AP or EAD but according to vj prediction we should get those by May 12-15th.

I appreciate some feedbacks

Thank you

Once its given to DHL you will receive an email stating it is in transit from the Embassy, that is when DHL in Kingston receive it to be deliver to DHL Mobay if thats where it is being collected... all the best guys!

CONGRATS to you!!!