CB & FM

At last! I can't yet see what the actual date is, but I hope it will soon update on the ELIS/DHS website. Doing a LOT of traveling in May, so travel arrangements may need to get adjusted; hopefully not!
 
Still very much pleased with the fact that I decided to file for citizenship back in November 2017 even though my ROC was still pending, November 2016 ROC filers are just starting to get approved now.
 
I'll update you once I am able to review the actual appointment letter, hopefully tomorrow.
 
Oath Ceremony Notice Was Mailed
We scheduled your oath ceremony for Receipt Number IOEXXXXXXXXXX. We sent a notice with the date, time, and location of your oath ceremony to the address you gave us. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your notice by May 30, 2018, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

Hi, guys after 1 year and 8 months and 25 days of waiting. My 751 was finally approved this morning. I wish my husband were alive to see this. I think he helped from heaven. Good luck to those of you who are still waiting. In the midst of sadness and immigration complications, finally some good news, I want to thank those of you who have been supportive of me and my circumstances. I did not get my "card in production" update though. Probably due to my 400, they still have to reject my 400 due to my husband's passing 3 days after the 400 interview. Anyone got the approval notice first and card in production second? Thanks.

Your welcome. My 751 was approved this morning. Good luck 

Thank you for letting us know how things are going! I know this is been hard for you. But know that your story is also inspiring! The strength you have had through this is amazing! Absolutely amazing that you got your update on his birthday! There's too many of these things happening in your case to be a coincidence. <3
Please keep us updated on your process!

Got a new update on my case on Thursday this week about my 751, it says my name was updated. My lawyer told me that means there is a change on my application, probably from joint 751 to a widow's 751 application. It also could mean that I am getting a decision soon. Other buddies who got this update, many of them ended up getting their approvals. It was also updated on my late husband's birthday which was emotionally symbolic and maybe he is watching over me. I expect my 400 to be rejected due to his passing. In the midst of all this, I can use some good news. Good luck to you all.

Thanks for the prayer, maybe something miraculous will happen, but as much as I am trying hard to do everything I can for my immigration journey, I am tired and demoralized and I am at the stage of grieving for my love, but I do believe betters will eventually come, I have to have hope. Thanks for your kind words, VJ is a wonderful support group as well, we need to be supportive of each other and get through the ups and downs of the immigration journey. Hope you will hear from USCIS soon too. Fingers crossed. 

My husband passed away yesterday, I submitted an emergency request to cover the 751 to a waiver application. Very tough times.

Hi everyone, 
 
I just had my combo interview yesterday on March 27, 2018 at Salt Lake City, Utah. The entire process is very smooth. Here are some details about my interview experience:
 
-We arrived at the field office around 12:10 pm, and there were not a lot of people there, we waited for about 15 mins then the office called us. The officer was very nice and knew that we are a military family as he was prior military personnel as well. First, he had us raised our right hands and swore that we will tell the truth. After that, he just looked through my I-751 file and asked me if we have more evidence since 2016, I gave him bank statements, utility bills, insurance card, etc, and the officer just punched it and added those into the file. At the same time we were just casually chatting and he was just doing his own thing on the application and didn't ask any question and seconds later, he said " This one is approved, and now I will have to excuse you to lobby while I conduct N-400 interview with you husband". So, that was it for I-751, very quick and smooth, no issue at all.
-For my N-400, he didn't really ask any more stuff and we were just chatting while he putting in information in his computer and moments later, he gave me to papers and asked me to read "Who can vote?" and asked  me to write "Citizens can vote" and I passed all of them, after that we started the civic test, I only remembered 4 out of 6 questions cause I just can't not remember all of them lol. But here are the questions were asked: 
 
1. Who were brought to the US and sold as slaves?
2. What the name of the Vice President?
3. Who did the colonists fight the British? 
4. What is the highest court in the US? 
 
After that, the officer informed me that I am all done and approved. Then the officer informed me that the next oath ceremony is on April 11, but I told him that my husband is deploying to Korea during that time and we are moving to our new station in the summer right after his return, and I will need him to be at the ceremony for the special moment. The officer is kind and nice to ask his supervisor to see if we could take oath right there and then. We waited for about 20 mins or so then we were called into the conference room and I was swore in by the center director. 
 
I am so happy to announce that I am a proud citizen! 

I just wanna share my Happiness today. 
 
N400 approved with pending ROC
 
I took an Oath and I am now officially a US Citizen. I feel so happy and honored. 
 
Good luck to all of you guys who are still waiting. 

For whatever reason I ignored the existence of this thread, so here I am now! November 2016 ROC filer, and November 2017 N-400 filer.
 
I had my N-400 interview on March 12, 2018 (with a pending ROC application). After reading much about it here on VJ, I was confident that the ROC would be adjudicated prior to the citizenship interview, so I brought my husband along, and sure enough, we were called together to have the ROC interview first, and then he was made to leave so that I could go through the citizenship interview.
 
The officer did have my huge folder on her desk, and the conversation concerning the ROC was a friendly and pleasant one. She went through the details included in the application (for both interviews actually), and then asked very simple questions about our married life, friends, etc..
 
Considering I applied for citizenship in November of 2017, and it only took 4 months to go through the process, and also considering that CSC has yet to process November 2016 ROC filers, I'll say I am VERY happy I went forward with the N-400 application.
 
Now all I have to do is wait for USCIS to schedule the Oath Ceremony, and then I'll finally be able to conclude this very long process.
 
Best of luck to everyone!

After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few. From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25]. 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down). 

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Here above is what I found regarding your question about green card fee. Take note expecially of above line with (31). This is a link to the letter about which it talks. Hope this helps.

Check's were cashed this morning.
 
Mailed my packet out on June 11, received by VSC on June 13

After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few. From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25]. 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down). 

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Here above is what I found regarding your question about green card fee. Take note expecially of above line with (31). This is a link to the letter about which it talks. Hope this helps.

Nice!! We can finally breathe now!  

Muito obrigada!

One other thing to think about in regards this issue other than what has been said, one to three months prior to expiration of letter you should make an infopass appt at your local USCIS office and get a I551 stamp in your passport. This will give you an additional extension. You would then just update the GE as was stated before with the new extension. Every office is different as to how soon before the expiration they will do the I551 stamp as I have read in other posts. Hope this helps.

You are thinking too much. Concerning the secondary processing, one way to make sure this does not happen is to sign up for Global Entry. Upon your first re-entry in the States using ROC, they will send you to secondary processing, verify that the letter is correct and you can ask to update your GE account then. Afterwards, when you come back to the States, use the GE machine without your Green Card - enter manually your A#. Should work like a charm! 

Package was delivered today at 10:30 am!!!!!! ROC here we go!!!!!!!! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

So happy to find another couple like you guys!!! We sent ours on 6-8-18. Now the waiting time begins !!!!!!! Just a little nervous about the financial proof!!!! Hopefully everything is going to be smooth~~~~ :):):):):):)

Hope the best for you guys. I think it is a matter of being thorogh and give lots of info. Our interview for 751 was interesting but I felt we did well, although my husband was a bit scared. I think it was the fact that she told him we would hear within 60 days that threw him. We heard in about a week. I guess that is just the usual phrase they spout. 

Hello everyone!!!!!
 
Our journey begins again!!!! We just sent our ROC package today. Let's start again another "journey". Hopefully everything is gonna be ok!!!!!!

Hope your journey is correct this time around!!!
 
We are waiting for an interview for citizenship.  We applied in February, had biometrics in March, and are now in that hurry-up-and-wait mode.  Can't wait for my spouse to finish her journey!!!
 
Sukie in NY

I’m an attorney and work on many immigration cases.  Last week I set up a call with a tier two officer to ask about a client’s green card.  We got lucky and the call back was made from someone in the National service department - not east or west,can’t remember the name (they’re able to clear. a lot of red tape when you want to put in a service request since all requests go to them in the end).  
 
We got to talking about the process of removal of conditions and my husband as we passed the time waiting for him to do something and we talked about a few things.
 
Right now he confirmed Vermont is faster than California with I-751.  
 
We also talked about filing your naturalization papers while you have a pending I-751.  He confirmed that your naturalization paperwork won’t be approved until the I-751 is completed.  He also said that it takes longer to process both applications when they’re both pending because you’ll have two different offices fighting for your hard file which then causes the file to be shipped between one office and another,
 
Mind you this is one viewpoint but he did raise an interesting point.
 
In the end I think it’s luck and who is ultimately reviewing your file.  
 
I am curious to to see whether or not they interview us this time around, his green card was approved without one.

We just received written notice approval for Removal of Conditions, about 6 months after the expiration of our temporary green card.  In our July 17 group, we appear to be the first ones to receive the approval.  It almost seems like a mistake by USCIS since we never had an interview for AOS or ROC and we didn't expect this for another 6-9 months.  Someone here in a prior post mentioned that maybe this group broke new ground for others to follow.  It certainly took a lot of courage for all of us to face our first embassy interviews in countries that may not have been favorable to this new arena.  It doesn't mean that life is easy from this point forward, but at least the US Supreme Court allowed this change in our lifetimes.  We certainly appreciate the courage and advice from all of you.  

Thanks!  We are sending good thoughts into the universe for everyone to have an RFE-free process and one that beats the time estimates.    Keep us posted.
 
Sean and Savio
Thanks!  You'll be through with ROC before you know it.