Scandi

Yes, you probably need to show the letter that you have filed an i-90 in order to get the stamp. 

You just write down all your travels outside the US on the N-400 form, and bring every single passport you have. That's all I needed, the IO wanted to see 2 of my 3 passports. Pretty much just my oldest (with the K-1 visa in it) and my newest. 

Nope, not a criminal matter at all. 

Like someone else mentioned, start preparing for ROC by collecting evidence. They will want to see evidence from the entire marriage. You can't start preparing for ROC too early, in fact, you have probably already started since the day you got married. 
 
Regarding SSA, yes you definitely should update your status with SSA to get an unrestricted SS card. This because if you were to lose your greencard you will have a hard time getting a new job with a restricted SSN. A SS card that says "valid for work only with DHS authorization" means the employer will want to see this authorization - something you can't if you have lost your greencard. With an unrestricted SSN you don't need to show your greencard (SS card and drivers license/ID is enough), so it won't matter if you have lost it, for job seeking purposes. 

I printed everything in black and white on regular copy paper, including photos. The photos aren't that important anyway, so don't worry about that. 

Because it's so simple, easy and for free when you do it during the N-400 process. At several field offices you don't need to wait any extra time for an oath ceremony when you have a name change, I personally only waited 4 business days (had interview on a Thursday, the field office's next oath was the following Tuesday). We are many who had name changes without having to go through a judicial ceremony, we just had a regular ceremony at the local field office and it took 10 minutes. 

Had I waited to have my name changed until afterwards, I would've had to go through court myself and pay for it, and I have no idea how long that process would've been. Instead, now USCIS did the work for me and for free. Super easy, super smooth, no extra work on my part other than filling out my new name on the form. 

EDIT, I looked up what a name change AFTER the naturalization would've been like for me:

"You pay a $435-$450 filing fee. If you can’t afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. The clerk will give you a date when a judge will make a decision.
A judge will make a decision in about 2 to 3 months after you complete a few more steps."

So, pretty much super expensive, more work AND would've taken A LOT longer than the 4 days I had to wait. 

Like someone else mentioned, start preparing for ROC by collecting evidence. They will want to see evidence from the entire marriage. You can't start preparing for ROC too early, in fact, you have probably already started since the day you got married. 
 
Regarding SSA, yes you definitely should update your status with SSA to get an unrestricted SS card. This because if you were to lose your greencard you will have a hard time getting a new job with a restricted SSN. A SS card that says "valid for work only with DHS authorization" means the employer will want to see this authorization - something you can't if you have lost your greencard. With an unrestricted SSN you don't need to show your greencard (SS card and drivers license/ID is enough), so it won't matter if you have lost it, for job seeking purposes. 

Like someone else mentioned, start preparing for ROC by collecting evidence. They will want to see evidence from the entire marriage. You can't start preparing for ROC too early, in fact, you have probably already started since the day you got married. 
 
Regarding SSA, yes you definitely should update your status with SSA to get an unrestricted SS card. This because if you were to lose your greencard you will have a hard time getting a new job with a restricted SSN. A SS card that says "valid for work only with DHS authorization" means the employer will want to see this authorization - something you can't if you have lost your greencard. With an unrestricted SSN you don't need to show your greencard (SS card and drivers license/ID is enough), so it won't matter if you have lost it, for job seeking purposes. 

Like someone else mentioned, start preparing for ROC by collecting evidence. They will want to see evidence from the entire marriage. You can't start preparing for ROC too early, in fact, you have probably already started since the day you got married. 
 
Regarding SSA, yes you definitely should update your status with SSA to get an unrestricted SS card. This because if you were to lose your greencard you will have a hard time getting a new job with a restricted SSN. A SS card that says "valid for work only with DHS authorization" means the employer will want to see this authorization - something you can't if you have lost your greencard. With an unrestricted SSN you don't need to show your greencard (SS card and drivers license/ID is enough), so it won't matter if you have lost it, for job seeking purposes. 

Because it's so simple, easy and for free when you do it during the N-400 process. At several field offices you don't need to wait any extra time for an oath ceremony when you have a name change, I personally only waited 4 business days (had interview on a Thursday, the field office's next oath was the following Tuesday). We are many who had name changes without having to go through a judicial ceremony, we just had a regular ceremony at the local field office and it took 10 minutes. 

Had I waited to have my name changed until afterwards, I would've had to go through court myself and pay for it, and I have no idea how long that process would've been. Instead, now USCIS did the work for me and for free. Super easy, super smooth, no extra work on my part other than filling out my new name on the form. 

EDIT, I looked up what a name change AFTER the naturalization would've been like for me:

"You pay a $435-$450 filing fee. If you can’t afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. The clerk will give you a date when a judge will make a decision.
A judge will make a decision in about 2 to 3 months after you complete a few more steps."

So, pretty much super expensive, more work AND would've taken A LOT longer than the 4 days I had to wait. 

Because it's so simple, easy and for free when you do it during the N-400 process. At several field offices you don't need to wait any extra time for an oath ceremony when you have a name change, I personally only waited 4 business days (had interview on a Thursday, the field office's next oath was the following Tuesday). We are many who had name changes without having to go through a judicial ceremony, we just had a regular ceremony at the local field office and it took 10 minutes. 

Had I waited to have my name changed until afterwards, I would've had to go through court myself and pay for it, and I have no idea how long that process would've been. Instead, now USCIS did the work for me and for free. Super easy, super smooth, no extra work on my part other than filling out my new name on the form. 

EDIT, I looked up what a name change AFTER the naturalization would've been like for me:

"You pay a $435-$450 filing fee. If you can’t afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. The clerk will give you a date when a judge will make a decision.
A judge will make a decision in about 2 to 3 months after you complete a few more steps."

So, pretty much super expensive, more work AND would've taken A LOT longer than the 4 days I had to wait. 

Did you have an interview for your AOS? If yes, then your ROC interview is likely to be waived.

EDIT to add: It's never too early to start preparing for ROC since USCIS wants to see evidence from your entire marriage.
So for ROC you will want to start collecting evidence from the day you get married, pretty much. 

Correct, even if the form also has the US spouse's signature on it, it is the immigrant's petition. A US citizen cannot withdraw the immigrants petition (and the i-864 has nothing to do with ROC, that's an AOS thing). Maybe the US citizen pretended to be the immigrant and wrote USICS a letter about withdrawal? Possibly, as USCIS doesn't verify who sends the letter, as long as all the info in the letter is correct.

Correct, even if the form also has the US spouse's signature on it, it is the immigrant's petition. A US citizen cannot withdraw the immigrants petition (and the i-864 has nothing to do with ROC, that's an AOS thing). Maybe the US citizen pretended to be the immigrant and wrote USICS a letter about withdrawal? Possibly, as USCIS doesn't verify who sends the letter, as long as all the info in the letter is correct.

Did you have an interview for your AOS? If yes, then your ROC interview is likely to be waived.

EDIT to add: It's never too early to start preparing for ROC since USCIS wants to see evidence from your entire marriage.
So for ROC you will want to start collecting evidence from the day you get married, pretty much. 

Personal checks have been great throughout my whole immigration journey. The only time I didn't use one was for my citizenship because everything was online then, no paper filing. 

1. Correct. Because with the K-1, you (the US citizen), were the one who had to file the i-129f petition, making you the petitioner. The i-751 on the other hand is not your petition, it's the immigrant's petition, hence the immigrant is the petitioner. The immigrant is also the one receiving the benefit of that petition, meaning she is also the beneficiary at the same time.
For the i-751, the only thing the US citizen is, is "the spouse".

2. Both fees are sent at the same time. One check with the total amount is fine (that's how I always prefer to do it myself), if you prefer two you can do that too.

Personal checks have been great throughout my whole immigration journey. The only time I didn't use one was for my citizenship because everything was online then, no paper filing. 

Personal checks have been great throughout my whole immigration journey. The only time I didn't use one was for my citizenship because everything was online then, no paper filing. 

1. Correct. Because with the K-1, you (the US citizen), were the one who had to file the i-129f petition, making you the petitioner. The i-751 on the other hand is not your petition, it's the immigrant's petition, hence the immigrant is the petitioner. The immigrant is also the one receiving the benefit of that petition, meaning she is also the beneficiary at the same time.
For the i-751, the only thing the US citizen is, is "the spouse".

2. Both fees are sent at the same time. One check with the total amount is fine (that's how I always prefer to do it myself), if you prefer two you can do that too.

When you get married and you choose to use your spouse’s last name, then it's an automatic name change (ie you do not go to court to have your name changed, the marrige to your spouse is enough to change to his/her last name).
Your marriage certificate is the proof of that name change. 
 
If your married name is the name on you immigration documents (greencard etc) and that's the name you want to keep, then you don't ask for a name change when you naturalize, that is already the name USCIS has on file for you. Seems like you ended up asking for a name change at the interview, so your certificate will be in the name you chose to change to (ie your maiden name). 
 
And no, you absolutely do NOT need to have your maiden name on your certificate. You choose whatever name you want.
 
 

Personally I never declare anything. Not food, not jewelry, nothing. I never bring anything that I plan on selling, it's all just gifts for hubby and myself. You SHOULD, I just never do and never have. Neither as a tourist, LPR or citizen. I also never leave the US on my US passport when I travel to EU, which apparently you SHOULD. I only ever use my EU passport. I guess I'm just a rebel. 🤷‍♀️ 
 
Last time I flew a few months ago I brought back several VIPP pieces for our bathroom, they are so hard to come by here. That was  goods for a few thousand dollars all in all.  

Personally I never declare anything. Not food, not jewelry, nothing. I never bring anything that I plan on selling, it's all just gifts for hubby and myself. You SHOULD, I just never do and never have. Neither as a tourist, LPR or citizen. I also never leave the US on my US passport when I travel to EU, which apparently you SHOULD. I only ever use my EU passport. I guess I'm just a rebel. 🤷‍♀️ 
 
Last time I flew a few months ago I brought back several VIPP pieces for our bathroom, they are so hard to come by here. That was  goods for a few thousand dollars all in all.  

Personally I wouldn't get a new medical exam unless asked for it. Just include a copy of the DS-3025 that she received at her medical that shows her vaccines as "complete". USCIS may in some cases request a new medical, but in many cases they don't as it's not needed when you file for AOS within a year of the overseas medical. For me it would be wasted money. I did receive an interview for my AOS which I welcomed, this was back when most K-1s were waived - that's not the case anymore. Most K-1s are getting interviewed for AOS these days (since 2018 I believe), but then you're much more likely to get your ROC interview waived instead. Typically it's "one or the other" with AOS and ROC. 

It's normal, just not common. They can do this to anyone, you just happened to be picked that day. It happens.