Ksenia_O

4 minutes ago, x_driven_x said:

Thank you!

 

We just got the (-751  approved and have the 10 year card in hand.

 

It's good to know about the naturalization ceremony request to surrender anything issues -we'll just keep it along with everything else we've collected through this process. 

 

Thanks! 

Congrats on your I-751 approval

Well, there is no "punishment" if you have nothing left to  surrender either... You would be good anyway.  But yes, I collected my stuff as well - including 2 EAD cards

11 hours ago, x_driven_x said:

Hard to google this one because all the results are just about expired green cards....

 

Once we have the new, permanent residency card in hand after removing conditions - what do we do with the physical 'expired' conditional card?  Are we supposed to send it back? Can we just shred it? Do we need to keep it for some reason? 

Just keep it.

Not sure where you are this point - if I-751 was approved already or not.

If not and your I-751 is taking awhile,  you may need your conditional green card to get I-551 stamp ( if an Ext. Letter gets passed 18 months)

If case is already approved and you have 10 years green card in hands -  you will be asked before Naturalization Ceremony to surrender anything, issued by USCIS

16 hours ago, nyoleg said:

Hello,

In the month of March I received I-551 on my passport. The green card and the renewal letter are 18 months overdue. I want to fly to see my parents . Can anybody please share from their personal experience whether anybody has had problems at the airport when boarding a plane under this situation? 

Many thanks

No worries . You'll be fine with the stamp, leaving Ukraine - they (surprisingly) are well aware of what the stamp stands for. 

No problem coming back either. The only thing , as mentioned above, you'd have to go through secondary upon arrival to the US, so if you have another flight within the country, plan your layover time accordingly.

Have a safe trip and enjoy your time in Ukraine !

2 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Not really certain about Singapore, but my wife regularly travels with two passports.  We buy her tickets in the name on her US Passport, and she enters and leaves Russia using her Russian passport.  The only issue she had was one time at exit passport control, the Russian Border Services gave her a little bit of a hard time, but eventually she was passed.  She never had any issues in other countries such as South Korea or China when entering (for transit purposes) with her US Passport.

Same here - I leave and enter the US, using my US passport. 

Outside of the US -  whatever benefits  me the most.

I see this all the time, before landing or during layover -  people with few passport books in hands...trying to figure out which one to use next  

But of course, it  works the best only if you have the same name in all passports.

1 minute ago, kvito28 said:

Thanks for sharing. Technically the extension letter provides 18 months so I will just use that date for eTA application.

 

 

Mine was a year, back in 2017. 

16 hours ago, kvito28 said:

I need eTA to travel to Canada. I got

one in 2019 when my GC was unexpired. Since then I have obtained a new passport (last one expired) and now my GC is also expired too due to pending i751. I have an 18 months extension letter.

 

The problem is that when I go to fill out online application for eTA it asks for the Alien number and GC expiration date which does not give an option to select any past date.. I am unable to proceed because of it. Has anyone experienced this and if so how did you get around it?

You have your Extension Letter, don't you?

When I needed  eTA during my ROC process, I just entered an Extension Letter "expiration" date. There was none on the Letter, of course, so I added a year to  my 2 years GC expiration date.

For example: 09/15/2017-- date of expiration of GC

                         09/14/2018 - the date on the sTA application

Worked just fine and didn't have any issues, traveling to/through/in Canada.

Good luck!

Hello everyone.

My son just got his citizenship (applied based on Military service) and I wanted to share his experience.

His timeline:

1. June 2014 - entered the US as a K-2 (was 19 years old )

2. Sept. 2015 - got his conditional GC

3. Sept. 2018 - got his 10-years GC

4. April 2020 - went to bootcamp (NAVY)

5. June 2020 - eligible to apply for N-400.

Now, knowing, he would be "balancing" between so many different locations (bootcamp in Chicago, then A-school in Pensacola , then C-school in California) he decided to wait with his N-400 submission and applied once he was at his permanent base/station. 

It took NAVY almost 30 days to provide him with the certified N-426. But long story short - he submitted his on-line N-400 in March, 2021.

There was a question in the application if he had an upcoming deployment. But since his deployment WAS NOT within the next 3 months, the answer was "No".

Once he reached that "3 months until deployment" window (the end of May or so), he contacted the USCIS Military help line by email, WITH the statement of upcoming deployment attached.

He also sent a message via account, but there was no answer ever since... No surprise though

In a week or so he received an email from the USCIS Military help line that they sent a request to expedite his N-400 due to his deployment.

A week after  the status of his N-400 changed to "Interview scheduled". 

He had his Interview last Friday, July 16. And they did the Ceremony right after that.

It took him about 3 months to get his Citizenship.

It was Seattle USCIS Office.

Military help line:
https://www.uscis.gov/military/military-help-line   

P.S. From son's observation it seems like a lot of non-US cit. Service members are not aware of the process and/OR what can be done to expedite. And sadly - not always a qualified help possible at your Unit as well.

So I've thought I'd share his experience so it may be helpful to someone

Good luck to everyone who is still in this incredible journey!

15 hours ago, nyoleg said:

but I have both the GC and the renewal letter expired. now I have a strain of I-551 in my passport.

stamp is enough and well recognized by airlines. 

29 minutes ago, nyoleg said:

but I have both the GC and the renewal letter expired. please tell me which airline did you fly?

Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Turkish, KLM/Delta/Air France  - they are all well informed about all forms of I-551. 

On 5/16/2021 at 9:00 AM, nyoleg said:

Hello Ksenia, did you fly from I-551 from Ukraine? Have you had any problems with boarding the plane? I have -I551 in my passport, but I'm afraid to fly home.

yes, I did - not a problem, at all. They  (seems like) are well aware what the stamp stands for, as well as a "combo" of expired green card +ext.Letter. 

No worries - you will be just fine

If you decide to go home - have a safe trip and enjoy your time 

9 minutes ago, AnaidV said:

Ksenia, thank you for your responce!! 💐 I calmed down a little bit cause I thought Im the only one in such situation) though I dont have a stamp in my passport.

It doesn't matter - stamp or a 'combo".

A Green card, I-551stamp, a "combo" of an Ext Letter+an expired green card - they all represent Form I-551. And an expiration of one of those doesn't mean your status got expired - in the system you still are seen as a LPR, regardless what Form of     I-551 you present at the border.

So,  no worries - you will be fine. Besides, I wouldn't take any risk by mailing your new green card abroad. No way.

Enjoy your trip and safe travel! 

7 hours ago, AnaidV said:

Hi everyone!

 

Briefly the situation is - I filed for removing conditions late December last year, got extension letter, got fingerprints waived and left the country to visit my family. Curently im abroad. I checked my case status yesterday and out of sudden found out that my new green card had been issued without interview. They work fast when you do not need it 😆

So the question is - can I get back with expired green card + extension letter or I need to have a new green card and they wont let me in without it?

My husband tried to call USCIS but its always only machine on the line

 

We're thinking about mailing it to me. Does somebody know what postal service accept green cards for mailing? DHL?

 

Thanks in advance! 🙂

You are fine with a combo of Ext Letter+expired green card, don't stress yourself out

My 10 years green card was approved while I was abroad. I came back with I-551 stamp in my passport with NO issue, at all (ext Letter was already expired, so had to get the stamp before leaving)

17 minutes ago, LenaR said:

Oh!

I think that's pretty much the info I was looking for. I don't have a particular desire to renounce it or anything. I just wasn't sure if I had to notify anyone that I got a US one.

Similar how to one has to update family records once get married overseas. Just felt like the kind of thing I had to report somewhere so not get some weird fine for not doing it haha.

 

And that thought occurred mainly after all these years of being vetted left and right during immigration and the overall phrasing that Ukraine doesn't have dual citizenship.

So great to know I don't HAVE to renounce anything. I would very much love to keep mine 😃  Just wanted to not have any trouble later on.

 

Thank you so much for your reply!!! 

There are no troubles, really

Use US passport to leave and enter the US.

Outside of the US - your choice, whatever benefits you the most. 

Congrats on your citizenship !! - your immigration journey is almost over:) 

1 hour ago, LenaR said:

Hello everybody!

As lines finally started moving I finally got my citizenship interview and finally passed it! Got certificate, applied for passport, overall smooth sailing.

BUT! What do I do now with my Ukrainian passport now that I'm waiting for US passport? I assume I need to update records in some way ? send it back? No idea what to do and can't seem to find any information on consulate site (it isn't made in a best way).

So I was hoping anyone who went through similar step can advise me either what to do, or at least where to address my question.

 

Thank you so much in advance! 

Not sure why would you want to send your Ukrainian passport anywhere...

If you mean a renounce of  your Ukr. citizenship by that, then it's not how it works.  It's long and exhausting process  in Ukraine and  turning in your passport doesn't make the process complete.  I know just one person. ONE, who went through the entire process and he says if he knew how bad it would be, he wouldn't even tried. 

USA doesn't care, as long as you leave and enter the country as US citizen. 

As of now Ukraine doesn't recognize a dual citizenship, but there is no "punishment" for having more than one either.

Now, Parliament is working on recognizing multiple citizenship since apparently a half of the country (at least)  possesses more than one anyway. 

I keep mine. And use it when enter/exit Ukraine . Was actually quite  beneficial during Covid lockdown when "foreigners" weren't allowed in. 

2 minutes ago, JP5380 said:

Thank you. It also appears I only need to file one application (I-751) and pay one fee for both her and her 7 year old son? Am I interpreting this correctly?

If your step-son acquired conditional resident status on the same day as your wife OR within 90 days thereafter - then yes. In this case his name and A-number should be included in Part 5. of Form I-751. Will be one application for both, and one payment.

Not sure about bio fee for 7 year old though...  Mine was older so had to include both bio fees anyway.

2 minutes ago, DC909 said:

He can submit his orders. Prior to his deployment, he should get some orders that show the dates of his deployment. 

Thank you!

Just now, DC909 said:

Ok, I didn't recall how long it asked for? 

 

One thing I recommend is walking in to a nearby ASC and taking his biometrics. As a servicemember, he is able to walk in to get his bios done without an appointment. This will at least get him ahead of the game with bios. 

 

Then, I would say 3 months prior to his deployment call USCIS and request an expedite on his case. Military deployment constitutes a basis for expedite. 

Oh, I didn't know he can just do a  walk-in for his bio - great info, thank you!!!

To expedite  - they will probably ask for a proof of a pending deployment... Who should he contact for that? - sorry another "dumb' question, but I'm just being a mom  It took forever to get back his certified N-426, so I'm afraid even to guess how the process of requesting the "proof" is gonna  look like...

4 minutes ago, DC909 said:

When he submits the application it will ask him if he is schedule for a deployment outside the country, he will put yes.

 

Read the below link for information.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/military/deployments-and-moving

It did ask - if he has a deployment within next THREE months....That's why he couldn't put "yes" since his is scheduled for the end of Sept - beg of Oct...

According to the link you've provided it does look like he would have to contact Military help line 3-*4 months prior pending deployment...

thank you for your help - really appreciate it! 

On 4/3/2021 at 7:24 PM, DC909 said:

Is he going to get deployed out of states? 

Yes. It would be Japan.... Well, everything can be changed, of course, but as of now - yes, Japan.

Hey, guys.

Sorry if it's been answered before, but I'm  having troubles to navigate the answer I'm looking for...

My son's N-426  got certified so he could finally submit his N-400, online.

It says estimated time is 10 months - should be over by Jan.2022. 

The thing is he is going to be deployed in Sept-Oct, and apparently will still  be overseas in Jan. 2022..

I've read somewhere that very often military guys get N-400 denied due to failure to show up for appointment ...because od deployment, duties...etc.

So, what should we do and when should we start doing something to avoid the "complications"?

Thank you!

On 1/24/2021 at 10:26 AM, Lena and Igor said:

So, couldn't figure out how to place this on the Ukraine forum, sorry.  

Dual Citizen of US and Ukraine, planning to relocate there in 2022 and occasionally travel to the US.  Since dual Citizenship is forbidden in Ukraine, which passport should I use to travel to Ukraine from the US?  Furthermore, after I am in country and choose to travel to the US, which passport should I use?    

Is your last name the same on both, US and UA passports?...

If so - then use US passport to leave and enter the US, and use Ukrainian passport to enter and leave Ukraine. That's what I do. But again - my name is the same on both documents. 

On 12/12/2020 at 10:28 PM, kemm360 said:

Our 06 office is just blocks away.  GoArmy... Beat Navy!  

Common 
My husband is Army veteran, son - is in NAVY.

I guess I'll  always be in the "middle", somehow   

On 12/12/2020 at 11:18 AM, Panda & Bear said:

Hey there! 
I joined the military in August 2020, and already sent my N-400 to USCIS. So when I needed N-426, I went to legal office in my A-school, and they did everything for me, because we don’t have access to people with such high rank as O-6 or above. So I would recommend you to find a legal representative at his command, and let them do their job 😃 It should be pretty easy, they should know what to do! Good luck!

Thank you!  Son already got the contact information of Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) so I guess that's the people he is going to deal with.

Thanks again!

On 12/12/2020 at 9:43 PM, kemm360 said:

If I am right, O6 in the Navy is a Captain, tell him to ask his chain of command, he will not be able to walk up to an O6 for his signature, his chain of command has to pass it up from the ranks up till it gets to him, in the Army, O6 is a Colonel and you hardly see those lol, I have only seen 4 in person in almost 2 years in  so I gave it to my first in line who passed it up to our Captain (Which is O3 in the Army) and I got it back in 3 weeks fully signed by my Brigade O6.

 

There has to be a O6 that can sign his N426 around.

Thank you! 

Hi, guys.
 

My son  joined NAVY on April 30 of 2020 And after Completion of A and C schools arrived to his first Commend 2 weeks ago.

He already has his N-400 "ready to go" but got stuck with N-426 certification... The instruction says that ONLY military personnel, serving in pay grade O-6 or above, can certify the form. But there is nobody at this grade on son's base... 

So... How does it actually work ? Where or who do you start from/with to request a certification of N-426?

Thank you!