poh

3 hours ago, mam521 said:

You still have to visit in person after the zoom marriage to legitimize it.  

Online or in-person. Best do whatever it is necessary to be without a doubt bona fida  relationship and marriage in the eyes of the USCIS Officer abjudcating your case.  

4 hours ago, Dorakiss said:

Good  Evening all ! So I have a question regarding my interview scheduled April , one of the document asked was certificate of naturalization if married to a US citizen . My wife got her citizenship through her mom when she was a kid and they never gave her one because she was not 18yrs . My question was should I bring to the interview ? can I go with her passport instead ?  any people saw a situation like this here . Thanks.

That doesn't sound right.  I was 17 still in high school when I got my naturalization certificate.    You should have one perhaps request one from USCIS.  https://www.uscis.gov/n-565

K-1 is best if you are unsure about getting married.  It's like a trial period for both of you   if you know you are getting married without a doubt go the CR1 route.  It really depends on your circumstances too . 

But if married less than 2 years you still need to paperwork and pay the fees for AOS and ROC.   In terms of supporting evidence you can reuse them with updates so makes it bit easier when applying. 

In a way , k1 and CR1 are about the same.  Just do what feels best for you. 

On 2/11/2022 at 9:40 AM, Vinh Le said:

Hello forum, 

I am filing for I-485, I was involved in a traffic accident last September. My license was expired at the time the incident happened. There were no injuries and I was not arrested, I am waiting for my hearing in April this year with two counts, improper turn and unlicensed operation.

 

In the question 25, I have marked yes and provided all the details in the last page. 

 

Now I am wondering if I should do the same for the form I-765, should I submit form i765 along with I-485 or should I just wait until I have the court's disposition? 

 

Big thanks, Vinh

I don't think it would matter on the timing of the application submission.  Looks like you will have a traffic violation record.  It will be hard to prove your license was not expired in court. I told my wife don't even get a parking citation.

On 2/10/2022 at 10:19 AM, Vinh Le said:

Should I submit an affidavits form? Do you think it is necessary?
We have all the required documents including marriage certificate, pictures of our wedding. 

 

Below is quoted from i130 instruction
"1. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. Each affidavit must contain the full name and address of the person making the affidavit; date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit; and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage;"

If you feel that your supporting evidence is weak or you think it may help you can submit it.  I don't think it's a waste of time.   I submitted affidavits from close friends who knew about  my relationship with my wife.

On 2/13/2022 at 1:58 PM, TYosemite said:

Hey guys, I got my notice for my I-485 interview for March 1st & after reading through the recommended evidence for ongoing relationship I started to panic a bit. 
 

Due to SSA messing me around, I never got my SSN so most things I could never get.

So far aside from photos from our wedding ceremony in California (we had our actual wedding a few months before this at the courthouse to stay within the 90 days)… I’ve been able to be added as an authorized user to my husbands credit card & we have a Sam’s club membership together. 

He’s going to be talking to his work on Monday about a possible loop hole they may have managed to find to get me on his health insurance (it’s not open enrolment) so that’s a possibility! 
Our lease isn’t due for renewal until after the appointment date so I cant be added to that in time to use it as evidence either.
 

Is there any other ideas you guys have that I could use? Or do you think these things will be enough? 
 

I did check off for USCIS to apply for SSN for me due to not being able to get one in time, so I’m hoping they’d be understanding that most things require an SSN to be added to (eg bank accounts, car insurance, bills etc) 

 

I added my fiance onto my work health plan even before getting Married.  I just needed an affidavit that we were living together. You should check with your company HR.

As soon as my fiance entered US I applied for SSN. You can get an letter from SS office that you applied for SSN.   There is a VisaJourney's step by step guide for K-1 visa and for AOS.

For AOS, most important thing is to show you are in a  bona fida relationship and married.   Do you have jointly filed tax forms, auto insurance coverage? Putting her on your auto insurance shouldn't be too hard .  Getting her on your credit card as authorized user and have her use it. It will help build her credit history too. One Good card is  Costco card it itemizes the purchases based on the card holder so the monthly statement will show charges made by your partner.  It might be difficult to open a bank account without a SSN , greencard or for her to apply for a StateID or driver license.  Even applying for credit cards you need SSN.  Sorry to say Getting the SSn should have been your high priority upon arrival.  

On 2/18/2022 at 5:55 PM, Aelius said:

I'm Canadian, and for three years my American fiancée has lived in Buffalo and drives across the border to visit me every week. I received my NOA1 back in September and would like to make sure I have enough evidence proving the genuineness of our relationship once we get interviewed later this year.

 

The problem is, we don't have the usual sorts of evidence that most K1 applicants have. Here are some common examples of evidence that other K1 applicants use, and why I don't have them:

 

1. Visa stamps. Canada does not stamp American passports when they cross.
2. Phone call logs. We don't call each other (what year is it anyway?).
3. Mail deliveries. We don't mail each other stuff. She visits so often anyway that we just give each other stuff in person.
4. Flight bookings, boarding passes, etc. She drives.
5. Hotel bookings. She stays at my residence when she visits.
6. Pictures. We don't really go out and do anything. What would be the occasion for which we would take a picture? I suppose we could just take selfies in my home, but that's... odd.
7. Credit card or bank statements of our purchases at the same time and place. Again, we don't really go out and do anything. Besides, I usually just pay for anything (e.g., pizza delivery). If we suddenly started paying for things together now after three years, wouldn't that be suspicious?
8. Engagement ring purchase. I never got one (I was intending to just get a wedding ring when the time comes; engagement rings never made sense to me.) We sent our I-129F (along with a letter of intent to marry, of course) back in August. It's now February. I suppose we could buy rings now, but wouldn't that look even more suspicious than not having rings at all? ("It says here you bought rings in February, but your letter of intent to marry was from August. Why would you buy engagement rings so many months after your stated intention to marry?")
9. Chat logs. We do indeed have 91,000 messages sent between us on Discord. But does that matter? Anyone can manufacture chat logs, and she doesn't use her real name on the application we use (Discord).
10. Names on lease. This one has never made sense to me. The whole point of immigrating is so that we can live together. Obviously we don't currently live together; we're in different countries!

I'm fine with doing some new things to get some of this evidence, but it seems so... obvious... that I would just be doing it for the sake of the K1 instead of organically. Like, there's little evidence of these things for years, and then all the sudden a few months before the interview we start doing all this stuff together? I don't know... Am I wrong to be concerned about that? And is there any sort of evidence I haven't mentioned above that might be compelling?

 

Thanks!

Selfie pictures together is better than nothing.  It shows you spending time together.  I submitted many of those.

Since you visited her didn't you take picture of you two at some landmark?  Or with friends?  Those friends can write an affidavit of bona fida relationship.   

Did you have any receipts while you were in Canada?  Start savings receipts and find an opportunity to take many pictures as you can.  We have many pictures of us just doing stuff together , with family and friends. 

I am sure you can think of many things to show you have an relationship with this person ...

On 2/15/2022 at 11:50 AM, nickymicky said:

02/10/2022 interview.

 

status changed to Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled

Horray🥳

On 11/29/2021 at 9:22 PM, turbo2253 said:

What is the best way to transfer funds or use funds in a Citi bank in VN ? 
should my wife bring cash with her?

or use a debit card at the Citibank here in Chicago

Citibank VN and US Citibank are not affiliated.  It's difficult to move money out of Vietnam.  Cash is preferred but there is the $10000 limit per person.   I suggest after your wife settle down and mingles with other US Vietnamese she can "exchange" funds.  She will know.  

On 12/15/2021 at 1:08 AM, Bill Hamze said:

I want to file jointly this year, but I need to obtain an ITIN for my wife as per form W-7 instructions. To do that, I need to send in a certified true copy of my wife's Vietnamese passport from the issuing agency. 

 

We went to the immigration office and they wouldn't help us. So I'm wondering if we can make a certified copy at the U.S. consulate? If it's $50 per page, do we need every page in her passport, including blank pages? Or just the biometric page? 

 

If not, is there an Acceptance Agent in Vietnam that can help with this?

 

Has anyone here done this before? Please advise! TIA

 

I don't know your details but she doesn't have a SSN?  SSN would be a easier route to use for tax purposes. 

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-7

An ITIN is a 9-digit number issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who are required for U.S. federal tax purposes to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have and are not eligible to get a social security number (SSN).

8 hours ago, RS_ said:

Congrats 🎉🥳👏🏼🎈🙌🏻

Thank you and best of luck to you and everyone. 🤗

8 hours ago, waiting4i130 said:

I received the letter immediately. Not sure if there is a way for you to follow up. I had to reschedule my appointment and after that it took 3-4 weeks for them to reschedule and send the letter. I'm in Nashville area though so I'm not sure if it's less busy than where you are.

I hear you.  Rescheduling always pushes back your application another months or more. It's like you are throwing a wrench in the slow moving gears.  

  I advise everyone to Keep your appointments if all possible. 

33 minutes ago, poh said:

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/citizenship-and-naturalization/i-am-a-lawful-permanent-resident-of-5-years

 

• Demonstrate continuous residence in the United States for at least five years immediately before the date you file Form N-400;
• Show you have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately before the date you file Form N-400;
• Show you have lived for at least three months in a state or USCIS district having jurisdiction over your place of residence. (If you are a student and are financially dependent on your parents, you may apply for naturalization where you go to school or where your family lives.);

 

For those that are applying for citizenship based on marriage to a US spouse

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-3

The spouse must have continuously resided in the United States after becoming a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of filing the naturalization application and must have lived in marital union with his or her citizen spouse for at least those 3 years.

4 hours ago, Faith & Love said:

So, the question in the N-400 application is "Have you taken a trip outside of the United States in the last 5 years?", and then you have to list all your trips outside the US.  I assume this question was written for those who are applying on the basis of 5 years of permanent residency, and it hasn't been adjusted to take account of the fact that people (like me) are eligible to apply for citizenship after only 3 years of residency.  I think the question is probably intended to ask "have you taken a trip outside the United States since you became a lawful permanent resident"...

 

So, if applying for citizenship on the basis of 3 years' permanent residency, do you answer this question: (a) with 3 years of travel history (which doesn't strictly answer the question as-written, but answers it in terms of travel taken since becoming a lawful permanent resident), or (b) 5 years of travel history (which will include 2 years when I wasn't living in the US)?!

 

Thanks in advance for any help

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/citizenship-and-naturalization/i-am-a-lawful-permanent-resident-of-5-years

• Demonstrate continuous residence in the United States for at least five years immediately before the date you file Form N-400;
• Show you have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately before the date you file Form N-400;
• Show you have lived for at least three months in a state or USCIS district having jurisdiction over your place of residence. (If you are a student and are financially dependent on your parents, you may apply for naturalization where you go to school or where your family lives.);

On 1/23/2022 at 8:29 PM, soapmctavish said:

Hi everyone. I need help and advice on my case.Four years ago ,I applied to be a citizen and was denied. According to them, I lied because during the interview I got mixed up with my previous address that I reside. The letter says I lied during the first interview, the removal of conditions and finally at my naturalization to  gain an immigration benefit. I was married to a USC that is why I got my green card. Divorced and filed for the removal of conditions which was approved without interview. I have a lawyer during that time but during my n400 I applied without a lawyer. I did not expect the officer would ask questions regarding my marriage and focused on the civics question. Im always worried they will deport me as a fallout of my n400 denial. Pls any advice will be much appreciated. 

Sounds like a good lawyer you got approved ROC without an interview.  Perhaps he/she can help again

On 11/19/2021 at 8:33 AM, daniel_and_lily said:

I think she said something like more pictures of us together or something. But I don't think that can have been all.

 

Turns out they also asked her for my divorce papers from my previous marriage (this came up after I posted this in discussion). This was listed as one of the items in Packet3k that she was supposed to bring, but did not. 

When I contacted their office via their form, they also linked me to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/vn/vn-iv-221ginfo.asp

 

It should be noted that one of the most frustrating aspect is their first come, first serve system for booking an appointment. It's near impossible to actually book an appointment. There's literally a bunch of women who sit refreshing their screen every few minutes ALL DAY in order to book an appointment. However, there's never a set schedule for when new appointment slots are available, it can be any time around the clock. We had been trying since April to be able to book this appointment.

 

 

Thank you. Attaching blue as you suggest.

This is a generic blue slip you get if you failed the interview.  Very unfortunate to happen during the pandemic.  Perhaps wait a bit to gather more convincing evidence and re-apply when covid situation gets better.   By then maybe you have gotten married and file i-130 instead. 

4 hours ago, nepttako said:

Hi there, I believe filing N-400 would speed up your I-751 process. If you decide to become a citizen, and you are eligible, I suggest you do so. I only waited half year for my N-400 interview, while I had been waiting I-751 for a year and 6 months. When you were interviewed N-400, they were forced to review your I-751. It is a good way to gain some traction. Also, utilize the 'Message' section on the USCIS website (after you login) to get some update from them.

Perhaps "forced to review your i-751" is not the best way to put it.  One of the requirements for n400 is that you have a valid greencard or a LPR.   They could have reviewed and found issues on your i751 and rejected both i751 and subsequently n400.

Perhaps safer route is get the i751 out of the way then n400. 

Congrats by the way. 

They will most likely reuse your fingerprint for one thing.  Since they are current and no need to schedule you months later for a biometrics. Also  You can reuse your supporting documents to prove your 3 yr marriage to US citizen spouse.  

2 hours ago, adipo21 said:

Hello guys Happy New year hope ur all ok all be submitting my N400 documents next month online which address do I submit ?Will they give us  a list of documents they want to submit online?thanks in advance. 

Here is the supporting documents checklist

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/attachments.pdf

6 hours ago, Nitha said:

So sorry to hear this. We also filed our case 1 day early to the 90 day period . But they send back the package within 15 days and told us to refile.

 

I think in your case it’s better to refile again with a cover letter  explaining your situation and request for an expedite( only if you didn’t get the package back). I don’t know if they expedite, but they are also responsible for the delay.

I encourage everyone to double and triple check their exact eligibility date to file and wait few days to mail it or file online.   Filing Few days later is much better than refiling and losing your application fee.  

35 minutes ago, rraypo said:

Never, never trust any immigration attorney.  In my experience of 61 years since I first immigrated to the USA, they are way behind any rule changes and make HORRIBLE mistakes. 

One time I was considering hiring a Vietnamese immigration lawyer and when visiting her office she had piles of what appeared to be supporting documents of one of several client all over her desk in easily visible from my view.  That raised a red flag and didn't bother to hire one since.  In my mind these lawyers wont give you the attention that you might need to get it right the first time.  If your situation is not too complex you can do it yourself.  I've gotten to N-400 step for my wife and didn't need one. On the other hand if your case is complex then perhaps do your research and seek advise from seasoned filers in forums like Visajourney or seek consultation but you take the lead not done high priced lawyers who just see you as client # X.  

On 12/12/2021 at 6:12 PM, Dzfiction said:

Thanks ! I just don’t understand why is it taking too long to schedule a dam interview??? What’s the hold up really and don’t tell me please because there’s is too many of us too many cases !!!! I don’t get it we pay for everything but the service sucks where is the problem please someone tell me ???! I’m going crazy . How hard can it be to schedule an interview for a straightforward case like ours with all documents and everything??? Really???

Have you tried writing to your congressman or senator asking for help?  They can look into it for you.

11 minutes ago, Citerio said:

Wow. Yall so lucky. Congratulations 👏 

Congrats  Could you provide your immigration timeline other then the n400 to better understand how you got done with n400 so quickly?

On 11/20/2021 at 9:23 AM, daniel_and_lily said:

I typed up the OF-194 form to make it easier to read for anyone who is curious

 

OF-194_ R2-A blue refusal.pdf 58.16 kB · 20 downloads

Yeah,This is the "blue paper" you don't want to get.   It's generic letter asking for more information.  This is very unfortunate.😞.  I actually had some of the information listed here prepared to submit on the interview day but they didn't take it. I recall in an old posting some person had to submit it so I just prepared it but never needed it.  Best thing you can do is provide what they ask and hope for the best.  Worst case apply again when travel restrictions are lifted and easier to travel freely.   If you are unsure about the k-1 process and it's requirements you should check old posting from people who passed the interview for tips.  There's lots of useful information on this site.