Revolution

It really fluctuates. I applied with my sister, and it only took her 6-7 months, while it took me over a year, that was in 2002. My dad applied in March of this year, and it only took him 2 months. Crazy!

It goes way faster nowdays..

My application was received 03/06/06

Fingerprinted 03/29/06

Interviewed/passed the test 06/29/06

Now waiting fot the oath ceremony. Hope this helps.

I wish you speedy and trouble free rest of the process. It is about time that your spouse joins you. I am sure you'll find the best way to do it.

Thank you

Sorry to correct you but the residency starts the day you enter the USA. Total time counts, not just the time after you get your gc.

This is what it says on my GC: resident since 05/03/01. It's not a mistake or a typo because I am not a single case. There are tens of thousands of Bosnians in USA and everyone I know was able to apply after 4 years and 9 months of physical presence in the US.

Even if you are a refugee you are technically a resident. Not a "permament resident" or a GC holder but if you live in the US and have I-94 which will never expire and can work then I guess you are a resident.

I know, that is not term used by INS but if you think about it you will see what I mean.

It also doesnt say anywhere "you have to be a "permament"resident for 5 years to become a citizen" but: "after 5 years of residency, one can become a citizen", and since I have been phisycally present for five years and resided here I am good to go.

I don't know, it may had been a diff. program for Bosnian refugees...

As you can see in my above post I came to US in may 2001 and after 4 years and 9 months of residency one can apply for citizenship which I did in march 2006.

My line of thinking was:

- a refugee has to apply for permanent resident status after being physically present in the U.S. for at least one year (can't do before), that would mean May 2002 in your case, and you became Permanent Resident later that year at the earliest (or more likely in 2003/2004).

For naturalization purpose, residency starts the day one is approved for green card. So, I am confused by your timeline....anyway, only you know the details of your case.

Sorry to correct you but the residency starts the day you enter the USA. Total time counts, not just the time after you get your gc.

This is what it says on my GC: resident since 05/03/01. It's not a mistake or a typo because I am not a single case. There are tens of thousands of Bosnians in USA and everyone I know was able to apply after 4 years and 9 months of physical presence in the US.

As you can see in my above post I came to US in may 2001 and after 4 years and 9 months of residency one can apply for citizenship which I did in march 2006.

They received it at Nov 30 2004 and notice date is Dec 07 2004. The priority field is blank.

About the memo above...The part you mentioned is what confuses me.

[Currently, there is no time period within which these "following-to-join" derivatives must arrive in

the United States and derivative classification is lost only if they marry]

In part IV ( to "accompany" a parent) which I did, doesn't say anything about losing the status if I mary....

Now you did it

Thank You!

OK. I found this concerning the issue about the derivated status

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/lawsregs/han...tat.%20927'

The sections 4 and 5 on page 3 cover this...

I also must mention that at that time I couldn't speak English and didn't know any of the laws I know now. All we did is listen to the officers and if I beleive correctly i was advised to get married before I leave so I can bring her to US. At the time I entered USA I was over 21 and they said I could go because I was under 21 at the time of the filling and the interview...

I would also be very thankfull if someone could help me with my original question

I see what you mean but I applied for my green card and adjusted my status based on the refugee status and was approved even though I stated I was married and stated the date of marriage on application.

Also when I sent I-730 the case was denied because "a derivated refugee cannot apply for a follow-to-join relative". Right now I am a PR and applied for citizenship based on my permament residency.

Sorry can't answer your question.

But I have one for you (it may be very important): how old were you when you received visa? As far as I know one can derivate refugee/asylum status ONLY as an unmarried child under 21. If you married before you activated your visa (entered the US), you likely violated terms of your visa and that will come up during your naturalization. I hope somebody will tell me I am wrong.

I was 20 when I received the visa which was in february 2001. At that time I was dating my present wife. My parents and me had already been in process for 2 years (before I met her).

After we got approved and after she finished school we decided to get married so I wasn't married at the time while I was in process or before I received the visa. I got 21 on April 25th 2001 and we married on

April 28 2001.

I arrived in USA in May 2001.

My case is complicated but I don't think I broke any laws. All I know is we have been separated for the past five years and I want to bring here as soon as I can.

Thank you for your input

Hi to everyone.

I already searched thru topics here and someone had a similiar question but mine is slightly different..

I got married before I entered US and after I was aproved for a refugee based visa. I filled I-730 for my wife here but it was denied because I derivated my status from my parents and as such I wasn't allowed to sponsor anyone.

I was told I could send I-130 once I become a GC holder so I did it. I was aware of the fact that it would take few years before I can bring her and that nothing would happen until I become a citizen.

The I-130 was aproved in may 2005 and nothing has happened ever since.

I sent N-400 to NSC and I am scheduled for an interview and citizenship test in July 2006.

I called USCIS and asked them what to do after I become a USC and they told me I should call the visa center and let them know I am a USC now.

I heard that US embassy in Sarajevo (we are from Bosnia and she is still there) allows to go there and directly apply and some people already have done it and finished it in couple of months.

My question is: Should we go there and do it the same way and what about the I-130 I already sent to NSC and should I mention that I did it and that it was aproved?

I was also wondering if it's faster to continue the process here since it was already approved.

Thank you in advance.