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oceana15

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    N-400 and I-751 combo interview experience

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    Hello everyone! Just wanted to share my experience with my combo N-400/I-751 interview, which took place on August 14 in Springfield, MA. I will include all the details to help those with similar cases to mine.

     

    First of all, my I-751 had been pending since May 2018, so I went ahead and filed for naturalization in mid-May 2019. My N-400 biometrics and interview scheduling went VERY fast (basically 3 months). My I-751 did not move at all until it was "transferred to my local office" two weeks after I filed the N-400. I knew that I would have a combo interview because I received an email from USCIS letting me know about this, stating that the officer would "adjudicate both cases together."

     

    My husband and I went to our interview on August 14 and got there about 15 minutes early. An officer came out and took my appointment notice. About 20 minutes later, the same officer came out and said he would interview my husband alone to "knock out the I-751" (those were the officers' actual words). This freaked us out because we did NOT expect to be interviewed separately! I had never heard of that happening, other than the dreaded Stokes interview. This was NOT a Stokes interview. It was just a regular I-751 interview, but only my husband (US citizen by birth) was called in.

     

    The officer interviewed my husband alone for 15 minutes. Then he came to get me and interviewed me alone for the N-400. He started by going through my files and evidence, since I filed under the 3-year rule. He asked for my passports (all of them), green card, and driver's license. Here are the questions he asked me about my marriage -- I will explain why I think he asked some of these questions.

     

    1. Why did you file taxes separately in 2018? (My husband has IRS debt so we've kept our finances separate. We eventually want to buy a house so we need at least one of us to have great credit... that's me. He seemed ok with this answer.)

    2. Do you know your husband's ex-wife? (My husband was married once before.)

    3. When does your husband see his daughter? When was the last time she stayed at your house? When is the next time she will be visiting? (I have a stepdaughter who stays with us once a month.)

    4. What is your husband's work schedule?

    5. What's the last trip you took together?

    6. Did you live together before getting married? Where?

     

    NOTE: I will pause here to say that, once everything was done, my husband and I compared the questions the officer asked us separately and they were all the same questions. We gave the same answers.

     

    After asking me those questions, the officer asked me for new evidence -- anything with both of our names on it. I brought a LOT of new stuff because I suspected that the separate taxes might be an issue. For example, I brought my husband's 401K form listing me as his beneficiary, joint utility bills, joint car insurance, bank statements showing transfers between us, and photos & receipts from our last trip together. The officer looked through these and then returned them to me without making any copies. He said, "all of this looks good."

     

    Then, he did the civics & English test. He asked me:

     

    1. What's one Native American tribe?

    2. What's the ocean on the West coast?

    3. Who was one of the authors of the Federalist Papers?

    4. When must men register for the selective service?

    5. When do we vote for President?

    And one more but I can't remember it!!

     

    I got all the questions right so he did the English test (reading "Who elects Congress?" and writing "The people elect Congress.") Then, he went through the entire N-400 application question by question. By this point, he started laughing and joking a bit so I felt better. I was still a bit nervous that the separate finances thing would be a problem. Once we finished going through the application, I signed that I agreed to the oath (willing to bear arms for the US, etc) and confirmed that everything was correct on the application. Finally, he said everything looked good and he would recommend my application for approval. He gave me the interview form but checked "A decision cannot be made at this time." He explained that he had to approve the I-751 first and it sometimes takes 24 hours in the system, which is why he checked that box instead of the approval one.

     

    Walking out of the interview, I was so nervous about "A decision cannot be made"! But I checked the USCIS website later that day (about 5-6 hours later) and my N-400 had changed to "We approved your application. You are in line for an oath ceremony." My I-751 did not change -- it still said "transferred to your local office." But today, August 16 (two days after the interview), my I-751 changed to "Your case was approved." So now it is OFFICIAL! I'm so relieved and I realize now that the officer was just doing his job -- he wasn't trying to be harsh or anything. 

     

    I'm waiting for my oath to be scheduled and to get a letter about that in the mail. If you're still on this journey, hang in there!! If your marriage is real and you're telling the truth, you will be APPROVED. If you suspect that something in your file might be seen as a red flag (like my separate taxes), make sure to bring lots of evidence to compensate for that. Good luck!!!

     

    N-400 and I-751 combo pending

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted

    Hello everyone! I wanted to share an interesting development in my case today. 

     

    I'm scheduled for the N-400 interview on August 14th. My I-751 has been pending since May 1st, 2018. I kept wondering whether I would have a combo interview or not. Today, I received an email from USCIS with a letter (as an attachment) from a field officer. The letter stated that my I-751 and N-400 will be adjudicated together, and that I must bring my spouse with me.

     

    I'm relieved to know that both cases will be processed together, and now I can better prepare for the interview! Not sure if this is standard practice as I have not heard of other people getting this type of email.

     

    Interview experience

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    My husband and I had my green card interview yesterday morning, so I wanted to share it with everyone in case it helps or alleviates someone's nerves! My interview was conducted at the Lawrence, MA field office.

    We arrived 30 minutes early and the place was pretty empty. We went through the metal detectors, etc and went up to the check-in counter. They checked our interview notice, stamped it, and sent us to sit down in the waiting area. Not a lot of people there either, maybe 15-20 total. We sat for about an hour and were called in 30 minutes after our interview time (interview was at 11, officer called us at 11:34 or so). Luckily we had a really nice, really laid back officer. First thing he did was smile at us and ask, "are you nervous?" To which I replied (just sort of mumbled), "umm no, a bit, not really." haha. I WAS nervous!

    He took us into his office and made us stand and put us under oath. He had our MASSIVE file on top of his desk (we sent a lot of evidence initially, as our lawyer suggested). He looked at us, smiled, and said, "I want you to know you sent more than enough evidence to prove your relationship and I'm going to approve your petition, we just need to go through a few standard questions." This obviously put us both at ease and made me very happy!! Then he asked for all my passports and husband's driver's license. After that he asked to see originals of marriage certificate, divorce decree (husband was married before), our joint lease (we recently moved), my current I-20, my I-94 (which he kept), my driver's license, my SS card. He used these to confirm that the copies we sent were real.

    Then he went through both of our biographic forms and asked my husband about himself, then asked my husband about me (husband had to state my full name, date of birth, place of birth, etc). Then he went through my biographic info with me (asked me the same questions about myself, not about my husband). Then we went through the standard "are you a spy?" questions. He was really nice about it and made jokes -- he asked me "are you Batman?" so everyone laughed. ha.

    Then he asked if we were happy in our marriage, we said yes, so he explained that we were approved and we would get the card in the mail within 3 weeks or so. He explained about ROC and citizenship. Then we shook hands, thanked him, and he walked us out. That was it! We were out by noon, so the interview itself took about 25 minutes (most of this was him just comparing originals to the copies we had sent, and taking new copies of our lease and all my passports).

    I checked my status on the tracker right after the interview and it said my new card was being produced. This morning (next day) I received email confirmation of I-130 and I-485 approval. YAY!!

    So my experience should reassure all of you with real relationships that there is NOTHING to worry about. And it *does* matter whether you send evidence with your package or not. I would NOT wait to bring all the marriage evidence to the interview -- it seems better to have the officer already on your side once you walk through the door. In our case it seems the officer felt he already knew us and was comfortable approving us right away.

    Best of luck to everyone interviewing this week!! : )

    April 2016 AOS Filers

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Hi guys, first off, congratulations for those who now got their EAD and GC's! Here on my end, wishing that some news would come regarding my EAD & GC. No update since I placed a service request and no return call (like today is the 3rd day since I placed a return call note). I'm on my 85th day. Everything is stand still from "Fingerprint Fee Received" and "Case Received". While waiting, has anyone tried to send out job applications and accept interviews? Is this alright to do while waiting for EAD (like not on hand). Appreciate advice if it is good or fine to start applying while waiting for the EAD and GC. Thanks so much. :)

    Yes, definitely apply! It's a great idea. And hang in there -- I thought my EAD would never come, but it did on day 94!! Sometimes it *does* take the full 90 days, give or take.

    April 2016 AOS Filers

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    I AM DYING FOR MY EAD!!!

    so long story short. I got a job with the company sponsoring me H1B and met then met my husband.

    We filed AOS on 4/5 in Chicago lockbox; they received it on 4/8.

    Have yet to hear anything from them since biometric on 5/9.

    Now then I found a new job, and dying for the EAD card. Sent in an online request about a week ago.

    No response at all... Have you guys all received the EAD yet?

    No EAD for me yet, and I had biometrics on 4/18. At least my interview has been scheduled, so hopefully I'll have my GC soon and won't need the EAD at all!

    If you're past 75 days, I would definitely submit a service request online. They are unpredictable -- sometimes they help, sometimes they don't. But it's worth a try!

    April 2016 AOS Filers

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    It's just silly cause when you put an inquiry online they tell you that it will take them 15 working days or smth to answer that inquiry

    which gives them additional 3 weeks when EVERYTHING is past due

    when I sent them inquiry about my docs being lost, they answered me even after that timeframe and their answer was like :

    oh you already submitted a new package good for you and good luck with that!

    Yes, it is insane!! I'm already on day 90, still no word on EAD/AP. When I call them to ask what I should do, they tell me to submit a second service request. When I'm still waiting for the response to the first request!!! WHAT?!?! How is that logical? I think they tell me to submit another one because they don't know what else to say. If everyone submits a million service requests, that's just going to keep adding to their workload and preventing them from processing ANYTHING on time.

    April 2016 AOS Filers

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    i did file the 8th which would put me at day 74 from filing even tho they didn't receive it the 11th maybe I could just play the pity card and be like but it's 74 days since I filed the application it's only 1 days off 75 days

    I was able to put in a service request ONLINE on day 72 or so... if you'd rather avoid talking to them, just use the online system. It will probably let you put in a request now. Just enter the 8th (day you filed) rather than the day they received it. I was able to do this and my request was assigned to an officer for response a week later. Now, they sent me a response via snail mail so I'm still waiting for it...... at this point, I can't fight anymore haha I surrender and will wait patiently for them to approve my EAD whenever they feel like it! Otherwise I will go insane.

    Service Request - invisible response?

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    My EAD and AP applications have been pending since March 22. I submitted a service request using the online system on June 3, since I was approaching 75 days. I was told to expect a reply by June 25. I checked my case status history online today, and it shows that my service request was assigned to an officer on June 10, and a response was sent on June 13. However, I haven't received anything yet.

    Now I'm wondering... is it possible that this response to my service request is a physical letter, and so it could take a few more days to arrive? Or do they always send email responses, in which case for whatever reason I didn't receive it in? Should I call USCIS... again?? I'm so tired of dealing with them!!!! gaaaaaah

    Basically I just want to find out what the response says, to make sure it doesn't require any action on my part. After that I'm leaving it alone. Clearly putting in another service request is just counterproductive at this point.

    April 2016 AOS Filers

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Grats on EAD/AP approval my EAD and AP are both stuck on recieved on april 11th... I plan on calling next Friday (June 24th) since that will be day 75... My i-485 is stuck on "may 9th fingerprint fee recieved"

    My EAD and AP are also stuck, but on March 22nd. CRAZINESS! I've called them twice and put in a service request... nothing has helped so far. I plan on getting in touch with my state senator and USCIS ombudsman on Monday if nothing has moved by then.

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