taximan683

You are right! The fee went up for filing from $640 to $710, but the $710 includes the biometric fee now. So I paid $15 more thinking that I was saving money. Ugh

You can print out your tax transcripts easily on the IRS website. I have heard that they prefer transcripts since they are officially from the IRS.

Filed 3/29 before the fees go up. Biometrics reuse notification was immediate. We watched a mock interview on YouTube and my wife is worried about it now. She's very soft spoken and intimidated by official situations like this. She's studying for the civics test, and she will make sure she remembers and understands completely all the questions on the form. Her English is good, so that's not a problem. We are almost to the end of this long process from K-1 and K-2 to citizens!

I wonder how long in advance they notify you of the appointment. If they notify us before July, then at least we'll know if we have to reschedule. If they notify us while we're gone then maybe the appointment would be after we're back, so it wouldn't matter as long as we find out. I just don't want to completely miss the appointment because we didn't know about it.

My wife is eligible to apply, but we are traveling to the Philippines for 6 weeks in July/August. I'm worried that they'll set an appointment for the time we are out of the country. Are all the letters available online, or do we need a traveling mailbox so we can see any documents they might send? I suppose I could reschedule if there is a conflict, or should we wait to file when we get back?

I believe they ask 10 questions and you need to get 6 correct. I didn't know there's a 2020 version. I just went to the website and downloaded the questions. When is your appointment? You got the appointment right away? That was quick.

Thanks, yes I review it all with her. She is proficient in English, but not sophisticated in uploading documents,etc. Your advice is well taken to not only study the civics, but understand all the items on the form. I will not put myself on the form as preparer since she is responsible for the answers. Thanks!

We are filing this month for my wife, her 3 years since green card issued is June 1. I fill out the forms for her. Should I put my name on the application as the preparer? I do all the paperwork and she's studying for the test. We are filing online, so that's what I mean by "paperwork". I have all the documents uploaded that they ask for. Is there anything else I should put for additional evidence?

My wife will apply for citizenship this year, and I'm wondering if I should wait to adopt my stepchild until the citizenship process is complete, or go ahead and adopt her now. I'm in California. My wife and stepdaughter have their green cards and we have been married and living in the USA for over 4 years. They have had their provisional green cards for 3 years this June (expired, but have letter stating they are awaiting removal of provisions). I'm wondering if adopting her now will create confusion, and maybe better to wait for citizenship through her mother is complete. Any thoughts?

What about becoming dual citizen? Her Mom will file for dual citizenship when she becomes US citizen. I guess my stepdaughter can still be dual citizen due to her Filipino birth. I am only concerned with adoption in the US so she will be eligible for Social Security benefits under my name.

My stepdaughter is in the USA as legal resident from Philippines. Her father is not on the birth certificate and has never had contact with her. We had no problem with her coming here as K2. If I adopt her, will she automatically becomes a citizen? My wife will apply for citizenship next year and our daughter would then become a citizen anyway. I want to adopt her either way and I'm wondering if I should wait until she is a citizen or do it now. In addition, I will be applying for social security while she is still only 11 or 12 years old and I learned that she will receive social security benefits as my minor adopted child, so that's another reason to adopt. Any comments or experience with this would be welcome.

Thank you for your answer. I'm going to adopt her one way or another. I'm just wondering if I should wait until she's a citizen or do it before she's a citizen. I'm just wondering if that makes any difference? Just from the perspective of how much complication there is. Maybe it doesn't matter at all and maybe I should talk to a lawyer.

I need to adopt her anyway. I'm just not sure if I should do it now or wait. Maybe it doesn't make a difference.

Thank you for the responses. One more question. Should I apply to adopt my stepdaughter now or just let her become a citizen with her mother? I believe she will become a citizen when I adopt her. Is that true?

OK, so we want to retire to the Philippines in about 2 1/2 years. We have filed I-751 and my wife's provisional green card was created June 2021, so I believe she can apply for citizenship 90 days before the same date in June 2024. I'm thinking that we should make her and her child (my stepchild who I plan to adopt) dual-citizens before we retire to the Philippines because we will want to visit the USA whenever we like. If my wife and step-daughter only have green cards, then we will have to return to the USA every year and renew their green cards in 10 years (after they receive their 10-year green cards). Has anyone here dealt with the same situation? My plan is to have her apply for citizenship when eligible which would confer citizenship on the child as well, then apply for dual citizenship at the Philippines consulate in the USA. I also plan to adopt my step-daughter because she would be eligible for Social Security benefits until she reaches 18. I will be applying for Social Security in the next few years. Does anyone here have experience with this kind of situation? Is there anything I am forgetting, or any flaws in my plan? Is it very important for her to become a citizen, or is it possible to deal with the challenges of the green card? (wife is worried about the citizenship test).

Yeah, I ran into several problems with form versions and confusing rules. I remember going to the office where you do the biometrics and being asked for our marriage certificate when that was not on the list of items to bring. Luckily, I had brought all of our documents just in case. You just have to expect the unexpected and adapt to whatever they want. I'd have to check our timeline, but our interview was about a year ago. Maybe some requirements have changed. If they don't accept your medical, I believe you can go get it done afterward. Good luck!

I was told that the DS-3025 had to be less than one year before the interview. I had the same confusion as you. I found a medical office that was reasonably priced and made an appointment for a week before the interview. I wasn't sure if it was necessary until the day before the appointment when we received a courtesy call from the agent saying we needed it

Before our interview, an agent called us to remind us that the medical was over one year old and that we would need an updated one. Luckily, we already had an appointment to get another medical. There are certain vaccinations and tests that need to be updated. My wife and child had to have a blood test, and we had to go to Rite Aid to get a couple of booster shots. If you go without the new medical, you might be delayed in getting the green card because you'll have to do this after the interview. I'd recommend that you do the physical before the interview, but apparently some people are not asked for it. For us, it was definitely required.