Catalina Cuqui

It isn’t 6 months. It is a maximum absence of 180 days.  
 
I wrote 5 months to give OP a margin for error due to flight cancellations, pandemics, volcanoes, etc.  

Here are some info that you might be interested in that answers some of your questions:
1) re-entry permit and effect on naturalization (https://citizenpath.com/reentry-permit-permanent-residents/)
2) re-entry permit approval before leaving? (https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/B5en.pdf
3) N-400 interview and oath abroad? I doubt it. Even those who qualify for expeditious naturalization must be interviewed in the US (https://immigration.com/faq/expeditious-naturalization).
 
You probably also have to consider the length of the N-400 process in your local Field Office if you'll apply in a couple of weeks.
 
It'll be another 2.5 years+1 day if N-400 is based on marriage. I agree, travel to the US even for a day before 6 months absence to satisfy continuous residence and hopefully physical presence requirement is always satisfied. One less thing to stress about on top of tremendous grief and stress.

First i'm not a lawyer nor advising anyone what to do (i think this part is obvious unless someone is claiming so).  However, i disagree that having two or multiple homes is a fraud, rather sometimes a necessity (e.g. job or life situation) or simply a choice. I have lived in dual states (California/Hawaii) or (Colorado/Hawaii) and both places were legitimately a home. Just because you have a certain lifestyle, it doesn't mean that everyone's life should fall into a certain cookie cutter model. Having a home does not mean that you cannot travel or stay in other countries for certain period of time either. There are people who choose not to have a fix home, live in van, or just be a nomad. As long as you are open about it, these circumstances should not prevent you from become a citizen.  

I think you should get your biometric appointment letter in a week or 2, as soon as you get the letter take the letter and your itinerary go to the application support center and ask them to do a walk-in appointment. Once you get through the biometrics you can travel. When your husband receives your interview/test letter, come back for the interview/test. Once you pass it, explain that you are working abroad and if they can accommodate you for a quick oath (some people got oath same day, some within a week).
Good luck!

Yes, 2:30am Central. I intentionally waited until it was the 3rd everywhere in the continental US. Fat lot of good that did.

As an Englishman, I celebrate 9 years as a US citizen next week. I applied as soon as I was eligible. I see it as holding two passports, not disloyalty to queen or country or some moral dilemma. The British will never mark you off their list. You go through the short line arriving at Heathrow using the British passport. Wife can go through that line with you. You go through the short line entering the US with the American passport. 

I am happy to be free of USCIS forever. You never know how politics will change and how immigration will go in the future. I can always come and go or live in either country at will. If my mum needs extended help at some point, I can stay as long as needed and not worry about re-entry paperwork, etc. I have no intention of moving back to England permanently but I could. Then I could change my mind and move back to the US without anything to do but get out my American passport and go to the airport. if I lived and worked in the UK, I would file a short US return yearly showing my UK income, then exclude it, and owe zero US taxes. 
 
I will collect my UK private pensions and State pension here in the US as I have all my years in.  I’ve already voted for US President in three elections. It’s made me more interested in US government. I still watch the Queen’s speech every Christmas morning. (9am for me).  I can’t say I have experienced any cons really. 
 
 

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

PROs.

A US citizen can't be deported and never has to deal with US immigration.  A green card holder can be deported and has to renew his green card every 10 years.

A US citizen can vote.  An LPR could get in lots of trouble for voting.  

A US citizen can live outside the US and has the right to enter the US.  A green card holder must live in the US and have trouble entering the US especially if he is outside the US for more than a year.

Some jobs require US citizenship.  
 
CONS.

A US citizen must report worldwide income.  An LPR does too.  However, the LPR can escape US taxation by giving up his LPR status.  
 
Getting US citizenship may result in losing foreign citizenship when those foreign countries do not allow for dual citizenship (China, Japan, etc.).

If this any help at all to anyone out there who is using a Mac or other iOS device to submit n400 online, I was not able to do it smoothly with Chrome nor Safari (attachments kept going missing) but I downloaded Opera browser, and it worked perfectly. 

There have been a lot of issues reported lately with attachments and files not loading or saving when filing the N-400 online. Although the official instructions say that the online form works in most browsers, it works best in Internet Explorer.
 
If you have issues uploading or saving attachments/files, try again with Internet Explorer. For best results, consider filling out the entire form using IE. Sometimes other browsers such as Chrome or Firefox do work, but Internet Explorer is the one that will never fail.
 
If you fill out your N-400 online and realize your attachments did not save, re-upload them later to the Documents > Unsolicited Information > Upload Documents section. Make sure all of your uploads are visible under the Documents tab.

Yes.

Thank you! Yes, they specifically say in the letter that I need to go to a civil surgeon and do a new medical exam. I think it's because the one I provided with my app. (which included the DS-3025) is not valid anymore because it's been over a year. So I'm going to take the full medical. Better safe than sorry! And also, that's what it says in the letter.

Thanks for the link!!

Hi. No, I have no updates on either. Haven't heard from my AOS since April 2017, and know nothing of my EAD/AP renewal since March 2018.

The 180-day extension applies only to EAD, so you can't travel until they send you the new combo card. As someone else said, it feels like they're holding us hostage.

It's so frustrating when so many people that applied after you got their GC almost a year ago, and you're still waiting with zero news on your case. I am SO depressed I don't even want to think about the whole immigration thing at all, because every time I do I just feel awful. 

Good luck to everyone. 

 

Unfortunately the automatic extension does not apply to AP.
I filed for AOS on May 2017 and still nothing regarding the GC and now when trying to extend EAD/AP it takes them more than 5 months and nothing on that either so I can't leave.
Literally holding us hostage in the US.

April filer, myself and still waiting to be scheduled for an interview. Last time my case status was updated was in May 2017... I'm in New York and processing times are 12-19 months!

To make it more depressing, I see some January 2018 filers here in the forum already got their interview scheduled for sometimes in April/May, and I'm here waiting a whole year, its ridiculous.

I was on the wrong menu, I was able to create a login and check my status and my card was also mailed (I had my interview on 03/27/2018) whereas, as you said, my status on the other USCIS link is still showing my interview date. Thank you for your help, just in case for those who are also having a hard time finding the link: https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/
 
Thank you and good luck

Hi guys.

So I finally got an answer to my second service request (the first one was not assigned for processing). I got a letter in the mail that says "Due to workload factors not related to your case, USCIS anticipates a delay in completing your case. USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in the order received and in a timely and efficient manner.", etc etc.

My case status has been on "Fingerprints" since April 4. My AOS processing date is March 30. Field office is San Antonio TX, and I have talked to several people that applied way after me (May, July...) and already have their green cards or interview dates (I'm talking about same field office, same process: AOS from K1). I don't understand why there's a delay with my case but not with theirs.

Also, this letter was sent from the National Benefits Center. Does that mean that my case is still there, stuck at background check?

Frustrating but continue to be patient. 
And yes, the application stays at the NBC until a interview is scheduled. 

No need to elect to be taxed as a resident. You were a resident in 2017 since you came to the US in January.
No problem to e-file (I assume you have a SSN), there will be a loss schedule C for $200 (you declare $100 of gross income and $300 in expenses)

So as long as you meet the substantial presence test of 183 days then you can file using the MFJ status and be treated as a resident [for tax purposes], without the election statement.
 
In this example with the OP, she could have entered as late as say June 30th, 2017 (185 days) and still file MFJ with her husband without the election statement?
 
Thanks, I always had that little speck of doubt in my head about this and always did err on the side of caution as a "just in case".
 
Maria

Of course. She is a US Person for tax purposes as she meets the physical presence test. No need to elect.
If you file dual status, which wouldn't make any sense unless she had very substantial income Jan1-Jan11, you can't do MFJ.

Her timeline indicates entry into the US on Jan 12th, so not technically a full calendar year for 2017.
 
Can she still claim to be a resident for full year 2017 with an entry date into the US after the 1st of the year without the election statement?

To sum it up, DIY (do-it-yourself) tax software such as TurboTax does not have the capability to attach the election statement. You have to print and mail it in. Either that or go with a professional, independent tax preparer who uses professional tax software and they can e-File the return for you.
 
Maria

Today we had our interview for marriage based adjustment of status in West Palm, FL.
 
First a little background:
 
I came to the states as F-1 student 18 years ago. Went to school, graduated and worked my OPT for one year. I married my current spouse who was also an F-1 student 12 years ago. She got job after graduating and we move together and started a family. By this time, I was out of status. She finally got green card via employment and eventually became a citizen last year. Finally, after 11 years of being out of status I applied for adjustment of status in March 2017.
 
What we took to interview:
 
1.      Original & Copy of Marriage Certificate (2006)
2.      Original & Copy of Child Birth Certificate (2011)
3.      Original & Copy of Spouse Citizenship Certificate
4.      Original & Copy of Spouse Name Change
5.      Original & Copy of I-94
6.      Original & Copy of entry Visa
7.      Original & Copy of entry Passport
8.      Original renewed Passport
9.      Original & Copy of both parties Birth Certificates
10.  Original & Copy of Spouse US Passport
11.  Original & Copy of Child US Passport
12.  Original & Copy of all EAD cards
13.  Original & Copy of all I-20s
14.  Copy of Bachelors and Master Degrees for both of us
15.  Copy & Original approved I-130 filling
16.  Copy of I-485, I-864, I-693, I-765 fillings
17.  Sealed I-693 Envelope
18.  Joint Taxes 1040 (2007-2017) 11 years
19.  Spouse’s past 6 months of pas stubs
20.  Copy of letters to us by friends (2007-2017) 11 years
21.  Copy of emails to us by friends (2007-2017) 11 years
22.  Copy of letters written to us by us (2002-2017) 16 years
23.  Joint Stock Brokerage Account (2013-2018) 5 years
24.  Joint Car Insurance (2007-2018) 12 years
25.  Joint Saving/Checking Account (2009-2018) 10 years
26.  Joint Credit Account (2007-2017) 11 years
27.  Joint previous Title to a Vehicles
28.  Joint Health Insurance (2007-2017) 11 years
29.  Joint Dental Insurance (2007-2014) 8 years
30.  115 Photos (2002-2018) 16 years
31.  Apartment Leases (2004-2018) 15 years
32.  Spouse 401k stating I am 100% beneficiary
 
Interview Experience:
 
Our interview was scheduled at 7:15am in the morning. We arrived around 6:40 behind West Palm, FL USCIS building. Doors were opened around 7:00am. We passed the inspection, got ticket at reception and were the first ones to be issued a number for interview.
Minutes after we arrived, we were called in by a gentleman in his 50’s. He took us to his room and closed the door. My daughter was also in the room on an iPad to keep her busy. At first, he was very quiet. He was going through my thick file and marking vigorously with a red pen and intermittently entering information on this computer.
He neither made us swear to tell the truth, nor asked us yes/no questions from I-485.  He asked for my original passports, our driver licenses, my EADs, marriage certificate, our daughter’s birth certificate and my spouse’s citizenship certificate. He also asked that I have been here for so long how could I possibly support myself? Which I answered that I have had a supporting spouse with good income. Then discussion when to a lot of unrelated stuffs. From life in Florida, to his grandparents being immigrants and him being familiar with other cultures. At some point he was waiting for systems to respond due to servers being down. I offered to show him our 16 years album of over 100 photos. He commented that it spans such long time. I offered the album to him in its entirety and he accepted to include it into our folder.
At the end he said everything is good and I should get the card by Valentine’s day, which is in 3 weeks. I tried to get his confirmation regarding approval of my case and he said “Yes”. I also asked him why he did not ask anything of my US citizen spouse or asked me more questions? Or if this in fact was the result of a very long-term relationship that needs no further proof? Her replied “that and other evidences and that every case is different”. He also mentioned that he can tell if something is wrong and the fact that they receive a lot of fraudulent marriage applications, which he suspects next case is from that category.
At the end he took the print of both index fingers and a photo using a desk cam. At this point he said he has submitted my card to be produced and I should get a notice of action soon. We shook hands, thanked him and said goodbye.
The whole process took around 50-60 minutes and it was very pleasant. Now we are crossing our fingers that nothing goes wrong during this process and can get that elusive car in our hands soon.
God bless you all.