quimolum

I had the same issue.

1- I filed online for N400 and I90 in december 2017.

2- in September they sent me an RFE requesting my greencard.

3- 2 weeks after I sent them my greencard, they sent me a new greencard with the right date.

....

4- I'm still waiting for my N400 interview. (it was supposed to be Dec 21 but was cancelled)

I would advise you to file for I90 online. Even if it is stressful to not have your greencard, it would be for only a couple of weeks and not months.

I am overjoyed that I just received my green card today!! I'm even smiling on the picture ;-)

as a summary:

approved: Sept 5 2017 (notice received by mail)

online update to "my new card is being produced": Sept 19 2017

online update to "Card Was Mailed To Me": Sept 21 2017

received by mail: Sept 25 2017 (20 days after the approval)

just as a side note: they made a mistake with "resident since". I'm slightly frustrated by that but it is only a small obstacle to overcome...lets hope so.

for those who are interested:

my online status just changed from "fee waived" to "my new card is being produced".

14 days after being approved (the approval was notified by mail only)

On 13/08/2017 at 9:58 PM, hsa12390 said:

Hi Everyone,

 

My French husband got his 2 year CGC back in Oct 2014 and we filed ROC back in July 2016 and received our 10 year GC about a month ago, so now we're filing for citizenship based on the 3 year rule! We live in Boston so are hoping for a quick turn around time

 

I just had a few questions about the application before I send it in

 

1) On the questions that ask about your last 5 years of employment and where you've lived and traveled in the last 5 years, would we just fill that out for the last 3 years? if so, should i cross out the "5" and write "3" instead or will the officer understand why we're only filing it out for the last 3 years?

 

2) For the spaces that don't apply to us, should we leave it blank or write "N/A"?

 

3) Similar to question 1, but on Part 9 (list all of the trips you've taken outside of US in the last 5 years), technically my husband arrived here Oct 1,2014. Should the time we spent in France before then be listed as a trip? I'm not sure because it was technically before he got his GC but going back exactly 3 years would mean from August 2014...If it is a trip, what would we put as "date you left the US?"

 

Also, the documents I'm sending are:

 

1) N-400 cover letter
2) N-400 application

3) check for $725

4) wedding certificate + translation + translation certification from translation company

5) My US birth certificate

6) IRS tax return transcripts from 2014,2015 and 2016

 

Are there any other documents I need to send?

 

Thanks everyone

 

Hello hsa12390,

looking at your list, I guess you got married in France. Did you send a wedding certificate of less than 3 month old? or the same as you used for I130?

I received my approval letter yesterday! I added myself in the list. I hope I didn't delete any people previously added. I should receive my green card within 60 days according to the letter.

I think we would all like lots of paid leave whatever the reason.

If often tell my wife I need paid leave so I can retire, but it hasn't happen so far.

Funny. I sense you are trying to make a point but I do not see the link with maternity leave and the fact that the OP here is being advised to LEAVE the US in order to have a child.

40% of US births are already financed by Medicaid.

https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-population/pregnant-women/pregnant-women.html

No system is perfect. In order to do what other countries are currently doing with maternity leave, we would have to raise our taxes. It's really hard to compare the US to other countries especially when you look at it's demographic/population size.

The US is not a "special" country. Giving access to paid maternity leave (not only 6 weeks!) would encourage women to have a good job and pay taxes of their own! Pregnancy/delivery/bonding with a new born are very temporary in the life of a woman. It doesn't cost that much to make sure she can sustain herself and family now and after the leave.

I'm pregnant due in one week. I will be eligible to FMLA one day after my due date... In Massachusetts the maternity leave is 8 weeks starting at the delivery. So I have 8 (state law) or 12 (federal law) weeks depending on one day! Crazy country!

In my company I cannot add my spouse to the health insurance if he has the possibility to be covered with health insurance through his own work. If he can prove he cannot be covered, I can put him under my health insurance. If you are on maternity leave, you are not covered: you should check again if you cannot be covered by your husband health insurance during your maternity leave.

One more thing: many companies here make it mandatory to use all your sick days during your leave. Some even ask you to use all your vacation days. When you come back to work, you have nada. It is often not a choice!

Just for fun, this is a video describing quite well how maternity leave works in the US:

However plenty of women have babies in the US. From my point of view, the only ones that are annoyed by the laws are the ones who rightfully do not want to depend on their spouse or on government benefits all their life. This system is outrageous in a "modern" country of "freedom" and "equality".

But do not avoid having children only because you are in the US: work hard and beat the system. And once you get your citizenship, vote for people who will change this stupidity!

I got my ssn card in the mail 2 weeks after I entered the US with a CR1 and my actual green card about 1,5 months.

I paid Elis 2 months before I arrived though... So it might affect the delay (but it might not). and it was in January, less busy than June.

Thank you for the quick response. So basically I would have to move back and work for a year and then file for her to come? It doesn't matter if I work for a few months, get a letter from employer stating that I am employed and have a sufficient salary, and show pay stubs? From your response it seems that getting a joing sponsor might be the only realistic option...

Hi,

We did the same thing than you.

My husband started working in the US after we got married. If you get a job that seems to last in the US and put a little money aside, do not hesitate to start the process right away. Do not wait.

They asked me a few questions about this at the embassy but they approved my visa.

Less than a year since my naturalization I obtained a security clearance. No issues.

That is great. How long did the investigation take?

What level of Clearance did you get? Did you have to give up your Nationality first?

Did you ever live in a country else than yours and USA?

Sorry for the questions. But it seems to me that the clearance depends on all that and I would really much like to be proven wrong.

Hi,

I think it depends on your nationality. I didn't know about it so I took the French and the German one at my interview (I wouldn't have risked anything by only bringing one anyway)

At the end of the article, it says:

Since ECRIS concerns only EU nationals, it is currently not possible to determine whether third country nationals were previously convicted in other EU countries without consulting all of them. This is why the creation of a European index of convicted third-country nationals to supplement ECRIS is under consideration.

So if you are not from the EU you should get a police certifictae from each country.

For your information, most of the papers in Europe are easy to get. I would get all the certificates if I were you (at least, if the embassy does not answer in time)

Salut,

Les français qui vivent en France doivent déclarer tous les comptes qu'ils ont à l'étranger... donc ce n'est pas si étonnant que les Etats Unis demandent pareil aux résidents permanents...

J'ai une question:

ça fait plus de 20 ans que je suis à La Poste. Quand je vivais hors Europe, je me rapelle, leurs tarifs étaient chers pour importer de l'argent en France! Depuis que je suis en Europe j'ai un peu oublié tout ça. Mais je sens qu'ils vont me faire bouillir quand je serais aux Etats Unis avec leurs tarifs.

Est ce que vous pouvez me conseiller une banque française "étranger friendly"? Comment vous faites pour verser de l'argent des Etats Unis à la France sans payer des tonnes? Ma banque allemande est parfaite pour tout transfère mais je vais fermer ce compte à la fin de l'année. Est ce que il existe une banque comme ça en France?

I am not at all a believer of long distance relationship. I think if you are a couple, you live together. However if you choose somebody for good, you can wait for her/him for a year or two because of a visa. It is a good enough reason to wait.

... and while you wait you prepare! You prepare for her/his arrival in the US, you save money, you plan (without specific time schedule)

If you do this preparation while she is here, it will be hard on both of you. So better do it before.

Again everyone is different. Everyone reacts differently. If you have already waited 3 months just keep waiting. no need to reset the clock. However, as everyone mentionned, you need a co sponsor if you want her in the US in the next months even if you find a job before the interview. You won't have enough history to be stable financially.... Unless you have assets and this is a different story...

It is more about your job experience than your degree, after some years of working.

It depends if you just got your degree or not, how long you have been working, if it was for an international company with international standards.

I think if you have less than 2 years experience, your degree is still pretty important to define you: my advice is that you look for some training in addition to a new job in the US.

If you have been working for 10 years already and you can show what you have done and describe what skills and knowledge you got from this experience, I do not think you have to go to school again and start from scratch.

Think from the recruiter point of view: He/she has to have some kind of known reference. Local university degree is a known reference for entry level jobs. Your work experience in a known company using the same standards as in the US will be the known reference when you are more experienced.

It depends what you mean by engineer:

* if it is (sorry I am European so it is my reference) the European way, meaning: Engineer with a degree (in France it is generally a master degree but in the US it can be bachelors degree) can do anything from research to management and design. yes you could if you apply to jobs; it depends on your experience and how you present yourself.

* if it is the strict US engineer word, meaning: PE, Professional Engineer, I think you need time for that. I am not sure if it is really worth it!

Here is what I found by googling:

It is off topic and no need to answer, don't be offended, I was just surprised, but: you know and lived with your fiancée since 5 years and you are not married yet?

Less than 3 months of waiting for NOA2 is not alarming at all.

It is not first in, first out unfortunatly. It is fustrating but you should only worry when you have to. Do not take life decisions according to assumptions...

Coming back to your country after living abroad is hard! I get you 100%!! But no place is perfect. Relax, breathe and focus on your job search.

Do it for your fiancée. She will be proud of you and in my opinion, having a goal makes the couple stronger.

I wish you the best.

yes. Embassy instructions are right. It is written somewhere else: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Supporting_documents.html

Police Certificates

If you are 16 years of age or older, you must submit a photocopy of a police certificate from the following locations:

Country of nationality At least 16 years of age At least 6 months

Country of residence At least 16 years of age At least 6 months

Country of previous residence At least 16 years of age At least 1 year

Any country where you were arrested Any age For any timeframe

You should get a Korean police certificate. The good part is that you don't have to translate it!

Hi all,

I went to the doctor today in Frankfurt.

Is it normal they just took one photo? I brought three because I saw somewhere I had to bring 3.

I hope they didn't make a mistake with the type of visa or something.

Please any feedbacks would help. thanks.

My visa is CR1 not K1. I am not sure if teh requirements are identical (it should be)

Thanks

I have a question

How long medical exams are good for before POE ?

my wife completed her medical exams back in april, her interview was supposed to be Aug 13th but the embassy keep telling her she will be asked to come in for an interview later. It's now been almost a month from the date NVC provided. I'm getting nervous as her medical exams are getting close to 6months in case she gets the visa in few weeks. I hope she will not be asked to do the medicals exams again before coming to the states.

Any info would help

Thank you all

for Frankfurt Consulate it is stated that the medical exams are good only for 6 months and that you have to enter the US during the 6 months after your medical exams and not your interview date. That is why they ask you to take your medical exams only when you know your interview date.... I hope she will get an interview and be able to fly to the US this month!

I could schedule my interview on September 2nd at last! I still have to go to the medical exam and it has to be done 2 weeks before the interview.

I have a full time job with a lot of time pressure. I will go to the doctor on September 9th and so I could only schedule the interview on September 24th.

I am so glad it is nearly finished. My husband too is so glad. I really hope the last two steps will go ok. I am very nervous for the medical exam!

For the ones who go through Frankfurt consulate, so that you know: they have accepted our translations which were done in the USA so not among the list of translators that they give on their website. In Germany, the translator asked me for 230 euros for all my French documents (310 dollars with the exchange rate of July)! in the USA it costs us 180 dollars only...

A last point, Frankfurt Consulate will never admit any mistakes they did (mistakes in address, names, saying they don't have the files even if they got it) and you cannot fight against this.

I am sorry I need to shout a little . Even though I am far from being the unlucky one here.

Our expedite request was approved July 24th and my documents were sent by NVC the same very day. NVC told us the consulate received everything on July 28th (which would match the package tracking). I have been emailing Frankfurt consulate since then. Last week they answered several times that they haven't heard of my case.

They finally admitted this week that they received it (telling me they received it August 1st) (ok whatever......) and told me they sent a letter to my German address on August 4th. I know German mail delivery: it is fast. (I received my police certificate the same week as I requested it and I just received a letter posted yesterday from my company)

I still didn't get their F******** letter. I am wondering if they put any stamps on the letter? I asked them to send me the letter by email but no answer yet.

and icing on the cake: I have put in the subject of my first email: my case number, maiden name, married name, first name. They changed it themselves each time they answered me, until the last email where they finaly got my maiden name spelled wrong! and erased my married name!!

It is like writting to an intern who is underpaid.

I thought I would have had a idea of what would happen in the next months by now! I am not even requesting an interview date. My questions in my emails to them is how much time they think they need or when they think I can go have my medical exam. I only want to know a rough timetable. and it is the one thing they keep as a secret

i woke up to the email that we have to wait 60 days.... this is just beyond crazy.

I have a question if anybody can help. we put in for an expedite back in 7/9/14 they requested my spouse's phone number which was provided 7/17/14 via email. since then, every time i call and ask they tell me that they're still waitting for the consulate to reply. is it normal to take this much time for a reply. my wife is due end for this year..what are the chances they will deliver here the U.S.?

thank you everyone

NVC cannot request anything before you have a case number. Then they just ask the consulate.

We had a case number July 11th and we had the confirmation July 24th. Today the consulate just told me that they sent me the instructions by post (they couldn't have sent it by email ) on August 4th. It all depends on the consulate. NVC does not really decide anything... and expedite doesn't mean 'right away' even though I feel super lucky that they considered approving our request!

Congrats to your wife for her pregnancy!

I just received NVC letter telling me my Case Number and everything (sent on July 11th) via Post and the stamp was French... My consulate is Frankfurt Germany. I was wondering if it was ok or they just cannot decide where I will have my interview. NVC always tells us they sent everything to Frankfurt. (expedite). The consulate tells us that they haven't receive anything yet and even started to ask me where I live!

Should I be worried? or France is actually a Western Europe postmail center for NVC ?

just to be sure: FRN is for Frankfurt?

They are confusing me for nothing now. At least they got my address right, for which I was very happily surprised. One good point for them.