Free.bird

Hi all, 

How many people am I allowed to bring to my oath ceremony? I have 4 family members/friends who would like to attend and I wonder if it is too many. Do they all have to come along with me at the same time? I am planning to come early to ensure enough time for check in  and I wonder if some of my guests can come later. Ceremony is at uscis office. 

Also, what do you bring to the ceremony besides the notice and green card? My notice says "any other documents issued by uscis" but I am not sure if i should bring all my notices from the beginning of application. 

Many thanks in advance!

Hi all, 

How many people am I allowed to bring to my oath ceremony? I have 4 family members/friends who would like to attend and I wonder if it is too many. Do they all have to come along with me at the same time? I am planning to come early to ensure enough time for check in  and I wonder if some of my guests can come later. Ceremony is at uscis office. 

Also, what do you bring to the ceremony besides the notice and green card? My notice says "any other documents issued by uscis" but I am not sure if i should bring all my notices from the beginning of application. 

Many thanks in advance!

On 2/7/2019 at 7:59 AM, Free.bird said:

Hi all, 

Had an interview yesterday at Denver office. It was a very stressful experience. The interviewing officer grwas so detailed, asked me questions about my visas as far back as 8 years. Not much about marriage. I was slightly uncomfortable, because she kept asking same questions several times and making me doubt everything I say. She asked me about traffic tickets, I didnt have any, but she was asking several times in disbelief, like she was thinking I actually had tickets. She gave me a sheet saying "decision cannot be made, but passed civic test". She said she may ask us to come back for another interview or send a request for more info regarding i-751, but she doesn't foresee it happening. So we left slightly disappointed, especially since she said we may have to come back. Does anyone have any insight? Should I be worried? I worried myself sick, pulled DMV record online to search if I had any tickets that they might see. Of course I didnt have any, or I would remember and not hide it on the interview 😐

Hi all, 

Update to my case. On February 8 I received notification that I was approved! On February 10 I received a notice that my oath is scheduled for February 20! I am so relieved and happy. Thank you, visajourney community, for your support and information. Good luck to everyone!

4 hours ago, Free.bird said:

Hi all, 

Had an interview yesterday at Denver office. It was a very stressful experience. The interviewing officer grwas so detailed, asked me questions about my visas as far back as 8 years. Not much about marriage. I was slightly uncomfortable, because she kept asking same questions several times and making me doubt everything I say. She asked me about traffic tickets, I didnt have any, but she was asking several times in disbelief, like she was thinking I actually had tickets. She gave me a sheet saying "decision cannot be made, but passed civic test". She said she may ask us to come back for another interview or send a request for more info regarding i-751, but she doesn't foresee it happening. So we left slightly disappointed, especially since she said we may have to come back. Does anyone have any insight? Should I be worried? I worried myself sick, pulled DMV record online to search if I had any tickets that they might see. Of course I didnt have any, or I would remember and not hide it on the interview 😐

I forgot to add. I gave all correct civics answers. The last question was " name on branch of the governmet". To which I replied, "legislative, which is Congress". She said I was wrong! And tried to convince me that The Supreme Court was the legislative branch! I studied for civics every day for last 2 months. I was sure I was not wrong. I also checked the White House website, which confirmed that the legislative branch IS the Congress. Thankfully, she didnt fail me, but if she did, that would be so unfair. I can't believe that the person who takes the exam did not know civics herself. 

22 minutes ago, Tina and Johan said:

Ya, that's confusing.  You passed the test, you gave honest answers.  Maybe you should contact your congressperson to look into the situation.  I'd be stressed too.    Keep us posted!  I"m sorry it wasn't an immediate, great, finished experience.   

Thank you for your kind words. I wonder when it is appropriate to contact the senator. It's only been 1 day since the interview, maybe I wait for about a week? 

Hi all, 

Had an interview yesterday at Denver office. It was a very stressful experience. The interviewing officer grwas so detailed, asked me questions about my visas as far back as 8 years. Not much about marriage. I was slightly uncomfortable, because she kept asking same questions several times and making me doubt everything I say. She asked me about traffic tickets, I didnt have any, but she was asking several times in disbelief, like she was thinking I actually had tickets. She gave me a sheet saying "decision cannot be made, but passed civic test". She said she may ask us to come back for another interview or send a request for more info regarding i-751, but she doesn't foresee it happening. So we left slightly disappointed, especially since she said we may have to come back. Does anyone have any insight? Should I be worried? I worried myself sick, pulled DMV record online to search if I had any tickets that they might see. Of course I didnt have any, or I would remember and not hide it on the interview 😐

Hi guys 

Does anyone know how long it takes for online citizenship application to get processed in Denver  from filing to interview?? My estimate online shows September 2019, is that accurate? I filed on June 19, 2018. 

Also, do online applicants get processed faster or does it make no difference paper vs. Online?

Many thanks!

Hi all,

What is the current timeline for n400 processing in Denver? My online account shows 19 months but I have seen several timelines that got processed within 8 months or so. But there are not too many applicants from Denver on this website. I applied online, if it makes any difference, roc pending since june 2017. Many thanks!

Lemon23, thank you for your input! It helps greatly. 

Hi All,

I am currently preparing my application for removing conditions on my green card. I have a few concerns and I am not sure if I am just worrying over nothing or its something to be discussed with a lawyer. Husband (citizen) and I (applicant) decided not to use a lawyer and try to assemble everything ourselves. 

1. I entered on CR-1 visa on Sep. 14, 2015 and I stayed with my husband and his roommate at their leased home for 4 days until we moved to our curent appartment on Sep. 19. I did not list my husband' s adress on uscis forms or as an adress where to mail green card, because I was only there for 4 days, until our joint lease started. Now, question. On the form i751 there is a question "have you resided at any other addess", i was going to say no, but then I remembered about that first place where i stayed for 4 days. Is that really worth listing since I was not on the lease and was temporarly there? Also, I was worried because I never reported that first adress to uscis as my place of residence, should I have done that?

2. I was going to include our cell phone records as evidence. It only has husband as a payor,  but both of our numbers are on the statements. When we printed the statements for the past 2 years,  we saw that he still had his old address listed, he never updated his address! Idk if I should include it,would it count against us since it doesnt show our current joint address on the bills?

3. Husband's father wrote an affidavit confirming the validity of our marriage, but he did not put his addrss or DOB on the affidavit. Can we still use it? We don't want to make him go through the trouble all over again.

3. Not sure if we have enough evidence.

We obtained the following:

1. Joint lease for 2015-current days.

2. Joint tax transcripts from IRS for 2014, 15 and 16

3. Joint tax returns for the same years

4. Auto insurance declaration for 2016 and 17 (i only started driving in 2016)

5. Joint checking acct statements for 2014-2016

6. Joint savings statements from 2016 to present

7. Credit card statements from 2016 (inception) to present

8. Energy and internet bills - both in husband's name, addessed to our residency

8. 2 affidavits from friends 

9. 3 separate travel itineraries for vacations we took together

10. 25 photos of us together with friends and family members throughout the span of marriage

11. A few greeting cards from Husband's mom addressed to us both

12. Life insurance printout where we name each other beneficiaries

13. Gym membership listing both of us as a couple membership

14. Husbands 401k printout where he names me as a beneficiary

Apologies for the lenghy post. I wish all of the members fast and painless approvals!

FB

My guess is that "home airport" is irrelevant. The fact that you spent 1 year as all Turkmenistani applicants confirms that you need 2 years in Turkmenistan as opposed to Russia. I would email to the embassy to clarify though

Hi! I am a UGRAD alumna btw, also subject to 2 year hrr (in the past). Did you qualify for UGRAD as Turkmenistan applicant or Russia applicant? I believe you have to be physically present in where was considered your home country at the time of your UGRAD application for 2 years before you get to visa interview stage. I had to deduct all of my trips to Russia and Kyrgyzstan when I calculated my 2 years. Hope this helps.

weird.. it does not say anything about medical expiration on my visa, and the visa is expiring in exactly 6 months after the issuance. If medical expires, but the visa is still valid, can I still cross with my visa, but get new medical exam? Will I have to give it to the embassy and get new interview date?

My CR-1 visa was finally approved at Almaty embassy last week! Now that the first wave of excitement is gone, I have lots of questions and not so many answers. First, I have done my medical a month before the interview. Does it mean I have to cross US border before medical expires (6 months from the date of medical), that is, 1 month before my actual visa expiration?

Second, I have read some horror stories of how home countries' airport employees open sealed envelopes from embassies, that are supposed to be open by CBP inspectors,thus invalidating the visas. Does this happen often? If yes, how to act to prevent that?

Thanks in advance and good luck!

Yay! Husband called following three N/As and we got case complete! Scan date 30 April

Hey guys,

We got 3 N/A's on CEAC website three days ago, should we be calling to NVC for case complete? does this for sure mean we have a cc? How long does it take for them to send out an email and interview appointement? Scan date 30 April 2015, (had AOS checklist 30 days after original scan date)

If checklists are unrelated, I don't understand why they wouldn't mail checklist for all the mistakes they find all at once, instead of one by one?

Were your two checklists unrelated to each other? Like, they sent you a checklist #1 for AOS and checklist #2 for IV?

Hi guys,

I hope I am posting in the right place. We just got checklist, 28 days after scan date. It asks for 2014 Tax return. But we submitted tax transcript for 2014 in our original AOS package, isn't it enough? Also, is it possible that they will issue another checklist for IV package after they review our AOS checklist documents? We don't want to mail additional documents, wait 45 days and get another checklist, this time for IV package. Did this happen to anyone else? Or if they sent just AOS checklist, does it mean that our IV package was ok?

Another question, how long does it take to get cc after checklist these days? I hear NVC is getting faster, but our checklist email says 45 days

Thanks guys, NVC has been of immense help to us, wish you all fast and painless process!

Hi!

a. It has to be exactly 2 years (not a week less) in your home country, not any other country before you apply for AOS or immigrant visa; I believe short trips to USA or even a third country should be deducted (say, 3 weeks business trip abroad adds 3 weeks that you should be staying at your home country).

b. USCIS will know that you have had the J-1 visa with 2 year hrr, they can see in their system. Even if they do not see it, you should always tell the truth, as they ask specifically whether or not you had J-1 visa with residency requirement when you apply for AOS, lying will get you banned from US for life. You yourself have to prove that you have completed 2 years by showing them passport stamps (entry/exit stamps), boarding passes, letters from your employer testifying that you have worked for them and resided in your home country, and other evidence you could think of.

c. Even if you have new passport, they have all of your immigration information in the system, so they know everything of your past visas attempts and even records of what you said on the visa interview

Good luck!

p.s. I am not a lawyer, my answers are based on my own research. Consult a lawyer before making decisions

Our's NOA2 took 8 months to receive. We sent 3 service requests, a letter to congressman and called there 3 or 4 times. For service requests, we had been getting same generic responses, which pretty much mean nothing but that you have to wait longer. My husband in a US citizen though,situation might be different for you.

Guys! Husband just called with great news: our I-130 has been approved! After 2 service requests and 1 inquiry from congressman! Thank you all for your replies!

mrskvelasco, our wedding dates and NOA1 dates are only couple of days apart! We got married on January 8, 2014

Yes, we have contacted our senator's office and they have received the same generic response "wait for 60 more days before putting another request". I am in Kazakhstan right now, and my Husband is in USA. I am worried that they will continue feeding us the same 60-days-more responses, since even the senator could not influence them =(

Thank you guys for your responding to this, it's nice to feel that there are people int he same boat with us.

Hello dear VJ-ers,

We got our NOA1 on 25 of March 2013, and still have not got NOA2. We have put in 2 service requests to uscis (our service center is NCS), to which we received two nearly identical generalized replies, pretty much saying that we need to back off and wait however long it takes. we have involved our congressperson, and she have received the same reply, saying that "if the petitioner does not receive USCIS decision notice, or other notice of action within 60 days of this email, you may send another inquiry".

I understand that people have been waiting longer that 8 months and some wait for years, but I would still like to know whether we should expect an actual decision within 60 days mentioned in the USCIS email, or there is a good chance of receiving similar non-informative responses. If anyone in similar situation could share their experience and progress I will be very grateful. I am also curious what could be the reason for such extended background checks (which they claim to be the reason for such delay), is it the beneficiary or the petitioner that they are checking at that stage? I do not think that the authenticity of our relationship is questioned, since we have lived together for a while, and we frontloaded our petition very well with joint bank statements, utility bills and joint lease agreements, we do not have big age difference, prior marriages or kids.

P.S

Neither of us has any criminal or domestic violence history, and I (beneficiary) have never violated US immigration laws.

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinion. VJ has been very helpful to us during the process, I hope I get some help here as well.