joglen1210

You have to be fingerprinted first and then they will schedule/send an interview notice. Takes about 1-2 months from the time you were fingerprinted (although in some cases, it will take 3-4 months depending on the background checks).

In my opinion and based from my wife's experience, TN visa is valid for a year and that it going to be re-applied every year. It is not an immigrant visa. I have to drive my wife every year for 2 years to RE-APPLY (NOT RENEW). Dual intent is not allowed. My wife was petitioned while on a TN Visa and it only took less than a year.

Thank you for sharing your experience, and congratulations!!

Thank you. Good luck on your journey as well.

Cant wait to be a USC.

Thank you for sharing your experience, and congratulations!!

Thank you. Although I am not yet officially a USC.

Good luck to you on your journey.

Got my interview for naturalization today. Took about 20 minutes. The first thing the IO asked me is my basis for Naturalization and I replied, marriage to a USC spouse. And then she asked me to take a look at my application and apparently I ticked the wrong box - instead of box no. 2, I ticked box no. 3 married to a USC Spouse, stationed abroad. Although, she corrected it, I apologized for my oversight and told her that I checked it several times before I mailed my application and didn't realize the oversight. After that, she just checked our income tax returns for the 3 year period, checked that my address is still the same and all my trips abroad. She then continued with the questions and answers and the yes/no portions. She asked me to sign my photographs, sign the application and asked me if the spelling of my name is correct. And then she handed a paper with the note that I Passed the Test and has the "Recommended for Approval" box checked. She told me to expect to receive the oath schedule in the mail. That's it.

The questions were not that hard it you study.

1. Who were taken to America to become slaves? (People from Africa)
2. What is the highest court in the US? (Supreme Court)
3. Who makes federal laws? (Legislature or Congress)
4. How many amendments are there to the Constitution? (27)
5. What is the name of the Vice President (Biden)
6. Why did the colonists fight the British? (I answered - taxation without representation)

When we came home, I took out a copy of the N-400 I mailed and I saw that I submitted the correct basis for naturalization (ticked box no. 2). I am wondering where the IO got the form. Could it be that it was re-printed by them? Seems weird, although its all water under the bridge now.

Can't wait to be a USC in the next few weeks or days??

don't even try. will just waste their time and money.

So, my wife and I got married in Bangkok and never bothered to report it to the Philippine embassy. We didn't think that, for purposes of immigration to the US, it'd matter. We're married, and that's that.

But...she filed for her NBI (police) clearance today, and it asked her civil status. She put single, because according to the Philippines, she is single. Again, she is not registered as married in the Philippines. I didn't this would be a problem,

but in looking at example clearances online, the document DOES list her civil status, and it will most definitely say SINGLE. Is the NVC gonna take one look at it say "Nope!"? Will it be a problem at the interview? Or,

should she just reapply for a new NBI, saying she made a mistake, and this time put "married"? What if they ask for proof? Will they accept the Thai marriage documents, or is she going to have to go through all that time-consuming nonsense of reporting the marriage?

Does any of this make any sense? It's late, and I'm rambling.

I believe its up to you to report the marriage or not - as long as it is valid in the country where you got married, it is valid everywhere even in the US. It will be recognized by the Phil government and you can report them to the Phil Census bureau or not. It all depends on you. If you are thinking about future processing at the US Consul, they will recognize your marriage in Thailand as long as it is an official Thai document - they may just ask her why she got married in Thailand, not in the Phils. Actually, the being single in the document will show proof that she was free to marry and will not even pose a problem. Its just an opinion.

I hope your dad will get better and can recover soon.

If I were you, I would consult with an immigration lawyer if you really want a definitive answer, although most of the discussion here are based on experience, its all up to you on how to approach your own process. Based on most of my friends experience - they used the advance parole to go home and come back while their AOS'ing - their case is mostly work related from H1B and they do not have any pending removal or their authorized stay is still valid. BUT, like I said, it all depends on ones case and situation. As long as you do not have any pending removal proceeding or your period of authorized stay is still valid, I believe you can come home and come back -it is the purpose of AP in the first place. Just my thought and opinion. Hope it helps.

Thanks for the input. Fortunately my university is US accredited. But I won't still be able to work as an OT there coz US requires OTs trained abroad to pass their national and state licensure exams, and for me to be even be eligible to take requires that I have a master's degree.

I could maybe try out other jobs or become an OT assistant whatever for the mean time

That's good - if you can invest in additional education (MA or DPT), it will be better for you in the long run. People here start from the bottom and work their way up and if you have credentials (from apta), then you are good to go. Welcome to the US

you can bring some of your educational credentials in the US, but apparently, when you apply for a job (specially that requires college degrees), unless the college/university is accredited, or the course is Nursing or IT, it will not have any bearing - it will help, but, the first thing that they will ask you is - if you have any (US) experience and that you can do the job that is required. I used to work for an accreditation of your profession - (i suggest) you may want to get back to school (in the US) for an additional period if you wanted to be certified. Invest your money in education in the US and not waste your time and money with the thing "authentication`". Good Luck!!

my experience is from filing to interview is about 3-4 months. do not leave the country until you receive your card. otherwise, your case will be considered abandoned. good luck.

you can travel anywhere in the US once you are here. what type of visa do you have?

i mailed my N-400 on 2/20. I have a text notification on 2/23 and NOA listed my priority date as 2/25. I never received any e-notifications after that. I went online to USCIS site "Case Status Update" - it was updated 2/25 receipt notice, biometrics was scheduled 3/23, site updated 3/35 in-line for interview then updated again 5/09 interview scheduled. i only got 1 e-notifications which is when they actually received the application. I guess it depends on your Field Office, my wife and most of my friends applications were processed between 4-5 months.

I sent my N-400 to TX Lockbox and got a priority date 2/25, did biometrics on 3/23 and in-line for interview 3/25, then checked online and case was updated - 5/9 scheduled for interview (the case was updated on USCIS site). I am still waiting for the letter (actual date of interview) to arrive by mail. So counting from the time I mailed it on 2/20 to scheduled for interview is already 78 days. I am guessing that I will be interviewed within 30 days (fingers-crossed). My wife got her citizenship in about the same time- about 130 days. Good Luck!!

you have to go back home or run the risk of being out of status and subject to deportation. your case will be heard once the priority date becomes current.

I forget to mention that we have joint bank account and i would provide bank statement from this account for 2 years.

one of the major thing that they asked is Tax Return (like they will ask for Tax Transcripts for the past years) aside from joint bank account statements, utilities, leases with both your names on it, etc.

otherwise, you can try with what you have and see what happens. good luck!!

some people requests to be deducted as "single" on their tax form (W4) so that they will get more refund (its like forced savings), rather than being surprised with a tax due comes tax time. but comes filing time, they will change it to "married filing jointly".