PaddyGirl13

I moved here with my then 13yr old son to live with my USC husband and his 2 kids. We started seeing each other, long distance, in 2011. Before we got married in 2014 we had introduced the kids to each other, spent vacations together, planned the future with them, it wasn't until 2016 were we able to move here and live together. I certainly wouldn't have moved here let alone got married unless I knew the kids, all 3 of them, were well acquainted and I knew the parenting style of my hubby. 

In this journey we all take leaps of faith of varying degrees, your level comfort with this risk is yours not ours. 

Good Luck.

11 hours ago, Boiler said:

He needs to leave the sheep alone.

Coming from a Welsh person that's funny  Says the Paddy  

I found it useful to download an app for the citizenship questions and took a test every day, any questions I got stuck on or knew I didn't know I wrote down. Writing them down aided my memory. I'll remember the answers to all 100 questions for the rest of my life

Most are common sense, some specific to your State, so get to know your Congresspersons and Senators and Governors names.

2 hours ago, Lil bear said:

Another option is to travel to Dublin and leave from there as they do CBP preclearance at Dublin. Quickest way to get face to face with a decision maker who can get the info from the system. 

The only issue with Dublin is that is if the Airline deny at check in you don't physically get near CBP as that is airside. I'd check with Dublin to see if they would let you through to CBP first before booking a flight.

When I interviewed we were asked why our relationship started in 2011 when I wasn't divorced until 2014. I explained my ex and I separated in 2009 and in Ireland at the time, you had to wait until you were separated for 4 years before you could apply for a Divorce and the actual Divorce process can take another year too. The officer accepted that without further questions.

38 minutes ago, Mike E said:

 

And tell your husband to start having over the stack of money each month that you are owed per the I-864: $1415 per month.  

?? nothing is owed per the I-864. 

If in the Republic of Ireland you can get a police cert from your local Garda Superintendent, have a look at the link below. I had to get a cert for immigration purposes and I filled out the form and posted it to the Local Station addressed to the Superintendent. It took 2 weeks to get mine back. 

https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/online-services/data-protection-foi-police-certificates/police-certificates.html

Quote

A Police Certificate is a certificate in respect of an individual issued by the Gardaí in certain circumstances.  The certificate, which is valid for 12 months, states your name, address, date of birth and also includes information about whether or not you have a criminal record in respect of this jurisdiction.

A Police Certificate is issued by the Superintendent and/or Assistant Principal Officer within the Division where the relevant applicant resides, or formerly resided, in the Republic of Ireland. Please go to our Station Directory to find out who your District Superintendent is. 

Police Certificates are issued solely for the following purposes:

    1. Foreign Consular Authorities
    2. Foreign Visas
    3. Establishing a Business in another EU State

The following documents are required:

• Completed application form
• A certified copy of your passport, driving licence or similar for identification purposes
• Proof of address and / or proof of previous addresses

The Police Certificate is issued free of charge and will take approximately three weeks to process.

On 5/8/2021 at 11:14 PM, aa1979 said:

Congratulations! How big was the group? Any information you over-heard or picked up on why the delay they are having?  Thanks...

My ceremony was at 9.30 am, we stood the entire time (20 mins max) in a socially distanced group of 49 people, 7 rows of 7, with little X's marked on the floor. It was a disappointingly short affair, the Judge gave a short address then we took the Oath and collected our certificates. Quite subdued really. Hubby waited downstairs for me in the lobby area of the center. 

I read on Fox9  that night that they said 800 people were sworn in on the 6th in St Paul, I really can't see logistically how they would fit in 16 or so groups in the one day, unless they had multiple rooms going.

All done, the oath ceremony was short and sweet. It's such a pity we couldn't have our families there to witness. 

I'll still be on the forum as my son will submit his N400 in November when he's reached 5 years. 

Thanks everyone for the support here!! 

On 5/2/2021 at 4:42 PM, 684117 said:

@flyingmamba @PaddyGirl13 my neighbor's ceremony on the 6th of May was cancelled, wondering if you heard anything? I thought it was weird they called her on a Saturday? 

No, I didn't receive any call. Do you know what time their Ceremony was scheduled for?

11 hours ago, sausa said:

Hello!

 

Filed in OCT and moved , filed a change of address form and got an email from USCIS in Minneapolis confirming the change. My profile however just updated the mailing address but not the physical. 

 

When you guys got your interview notice did you get it through the portal or does it only come by mail I am just curios.

 

Thank you

I got it both through the portal and physical mail.

2 hours ago, Jasmon said:

Ok, my case got denied. A few days prior to my interview I got a ticket for passing a parked police car  because I couldn’t merge over safely. Couldn’t pay the fine because it wasn’t in the system until a week after my interview. I was honest about getting the ticket at my interview and still got pre approved. They requested evidence and I responded right away with a copy of the ticket given. A few days after my interview I spoke to a traffic judge and they gave me two options pay the fine for the lesser amount or I could pay more and have it off my drivers record in a year and I assume that would be a better option. 🤦🏾‍♀️ I’m lost for words and don’t know what to do at this point.  Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.,

Sorry I don't have any advice for you, I had the fine paid and had a copy of the receipt by the time I applied, maybe their issue is that you didn't supply evidence of payment, a consultation with a lawyer may help. 

On 3/26/2021 at 7:16 PM, Jasmon said:

Anyone gotten a traffic ticket? If, yes I have a few questions. 

I did, for passing on the right, a few weeks after I arrived. Got a ticket, paid the fine, declared it on the n-400, the interviewer said it wasn't an issue at all. I included the ticket and receipt of payment in my evidence in the application.

3 minutes ago, flyingmamba said:

St. Paul river centre?

Yes same place. I'm wondering if they will relax covid rules to allow maybe 1 or 2 to come witness as its in the convention center. I'd love my Husband and Son to be there. Maybe there will be info in the mailed letter. 

27 minutes ago, flyingmamba said:

Got it! May 06, 10 am...

Just checked, me too....May 6th 9.30am. woo hoo!!

1 minute ago, flyingmamba said:

Not yet I've been checking every 30 mins 😂

It's funny that I am more anxious for this appointment more than any of the others, maybe because we are so close to the end of this journey. I've been checking more than I usually would. Hopefully we hear soon!!

On 3/20/2021 at 1:07 AM, flyingmamba said:

Same here! No letter yet

Has your oath appointment letter showed up in your online account yet? It hasn't appeared on mine yet. Maybe we will get the same day again

Interview March 10th, today my account updated to Oath ceremony date has been mailed. No letter there yet, I'll check again tomorrow. 

Now I'm getting excited!!

5 minutes ago, flyingmamba said:

Congrats! What time was yours? We were at 1325. Anyway, fingers crossed for a quick oath ceremony

11.05, congratulations to you!! Hopefully we hear soon. 

5 minutes ago, aa1979 said:

Congratulations... did you get a date for your ceremony as of yet?  What was the experience like? what were the questions they actually picked to ask you, if you don't mind sharing? Did they ask you to explain/define any of the terms or vocabulary in the yes/no application questions?

 

Thanks for sharing your experience! Congrats again... 

2 minutes ago, aa1979 said:

What were the specific questions they have asked you? how long did you interview take from the time you got in to the time you came out? Thanks for sharing

Firstly I was sworn in, then asked the test questions.

My questions were

1. Who is the speaker of the house. 

2. Who is the Mn Governor. 

3. Name a Minnesota Senator. 

4. Name a branch of Government 

5. How many ammendments to Constitution. 

6. What happened in the US on September 11th 2001.

I answered them correctly so he stopped there. 

I was asked to write the answer to the Question what state has the largest population, he gave me the answer and I had to write it on an iPad with a stylus... My writing looked like a 4 year old did it, I hate those stylus pens, we laughed about that. 

I'm not sure what you mean by terms or vocabulary, there was no mention of that. 

He then went through my form for the yes/no answers. He only asked me a couple of questions on my marriage, was I still married to my husband who initially sponsored me, did we still live together, are we in the same house, does anyone else besides our children live there. Confirm my address and date of birth and place of work. From entering the building to leaving was half an hour including security, interview was 20 minutes. At the end he informed me he was recommending me for approval. Next morning my status updated to the I am now in line for scheduling of the oath ceremony. It all went very smoothly. 

On 3/9/2021 at 12:42 PM, sausa said:

Anyone know if they are still doing interviews/oaths during the period with the Trial for the George Floyd case going on?

 

isn’t this happening in the same building as USCIS ? I saw on the news the boarded a lot of stores downtown for the case.

My interview was today, we stayed in the AC Marriott last night and walked to the office, a 5 minute walk. Nowhere we saw was boarded up, the Hennepin Court house is a few blocks away, not the same building. 

My interview was today, recommended for approval. Almost at the end of my immigration journey. In and out of the office in 20 minutes. Officer was very pleasant an overall good experience. 

Interview was today in Minneapolis, recommended for approval. In and out in 20 minutes, smooth.  

I have received my Citizenship interview date ( March 10), When I log in to my account on the USCIS website I get a "we were unable to retrieve you form". Does anyone know if this is typical after receiving the interview date? This status has been like that for a few days now.

On 2/4/2021 at 7:32 AM, PaddyGirl13 said:

I applied January 7th 2020, received an Interview was scheduled notice by email this morning, no date yet, I'll probably have to wait for snail mail as it's not in the portal yet.

 

Another step closer, yay!

Online account had the letter today, interview March 10th

I applied January 7th 2020 (St Paul Mn), received an Interview was scheduled notice by email this morning, no date yet, I'll probably have to wait for snail mail as it's not in the portal yet.

Another step closer, yay!