gramercy

27 minutes ago, Zzz___1 said:

Congratulations!

Did they ask you anything specific during the citizenship interview?

A lot of my friends told me that their naturalization interviews lasted literally 10 min and IOs barely asked any questions. However, I’ve seen a descent number of people lately saying that IO have treated them with a lot of scrutiny during their naturalization interviews, so I am curious how has that been for you. 
 

thanks! 

Thank you 😊 

The officer who interviewed me was very rude and unpleasant.

She started with the test and I answered all questions correctly then she proceeded to question my marriage and eligibility, I answered calmly but she said she wasn't willing to discuss it and will look into my case further and she edited some information like (married instead of separated) and my name which was obnoxious but all worked out in the end, I was approved a week later, so I suppose she only delayed me a little.

The name was resolved by asking for a name change. 

52 minutes ago, Desert Storm said:

Hi @gramercy, do we just count the business days? I got my Green Card approved on July 31 2020. Can i send in my naturalization documents on April 30th 2023 ? 

Based on your 3 yrs anniversary date (7/31/2023) you may file on 05 / 02 / 2023

Use this tool to confirm

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/uscis-early-filing-calculator

4 hours ago, Braveheart123 said:

So I have a question since our marriage were terminated due to abuse can we get married again before becoming a US citizen and do we have to submit our tax return with the us citizenship 

You don't need to submit your tax returns but you should bring them with you to the interview, some officers do ask for it.  They did not ask me at all, but my friend was asked for hers at her interview so it depends on the officer.

I don't know if getting married would have any effect on your eligibility, I doubt it but do consult an attorney just to be sure.

21 hours ago, Braveheart123 said:

Congratulations on your success I have a question that have you applied your citizen ship after 2 years and 9 months of getting your green card and is the marriage certificate and divorce decree is mandatory to attached with the citizenship application moreover can you please share the VAWA notification where they have allowed the VAWA green card to apply for citizen ship after 3 years of being permanent residents 

I did apply after 2 years and 9 months. It is mandatory to have proof of your marital status either the marriage certificate or divorce decree, if you don't submit it and it is on the list of documents to bring to the interview.

Please find the memo in this link. https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/memos/sec319a012705.pdf

20 hours ago, Ziongirl said:

What if I do not have my ex cert, and have divorce cert?

Submit what you have on hand they will request more evidence if needed.

Personally I ordered my spouse 's certificate from his state records for a small fee.

The officer did not ask me for it at the interview either because it was attached or they didn't really need it.

7 minutes ago, Ziongirl said:

Congratulations on approval, am due to apply for citizenship come May, would you please tell me what documents you attached?

Thank you.

I submitted  the N-400 online and attached:

1-Greencard

2-Marriage certificate

3-Husband's  birth certificate

4-Office memorandum regarding VAWA eligibility 

5- Employment verification  letter

7 hours ago, Sparkle✨ said:

Glad to know that we can use the online filing system!

I’m applying for my N400 too next year and would like to know what documentation is required.

Do we still need to send in proof of abuser’s citizenship etc.?

How long does the process take from application to approval generally?

@gramercy and @Villanelle, you have been very helpful in answering my questions in the past on vawa thread. God bless you:)

It doesn't hurt to send your spouse's proof of citizenship if you have it on hand also either your marriage certificate or proof of divorce.

Here is a checklist of documents:

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

On 10/4/2020 at 2:08 PM, Villanelle said:

You can NOT use the online system. For VAWA n400 you must send it on paper- the online system wont accept it the way you fill it out. Also if you are doing a fee waiver you also couldn't use the online system. You can send the package with your fee waiver. If they reject the fee waiver you will get a notice saying so and asking for payment. If you can pay it then pay it and it will move forward. If you can not then its OK. It will just be rejected and in the future when you have the funds you can send a new package. There is no penalty for sending it with a fee waiver that is denied. 

 

There are a few options for the fee waiver. Please read it carefully and choose the right one. If you get any kind of social services assistance- food, medical, etc- then you simply need to show proof of such. In order to get such benefits you needed to be at a certain income level. So USCIS will accept proof that you receive said benefits as proof you qualify for the fee waiver. If you dont get benefits and your income is low enough you can do the option to qualify based on income level. For that you basically send your taxes/proof of income. The final way is if your income is technically above the guidelines but you just cant afford it. For that you need to list out all your expenses and income and provide an explanation of the hardship. Then you would be subject to their discretion if you qualify or not. 

 

I didn't know that I should submit a paper application and actually submitted my N-400 online and got the receipt notice both online and in the mail!! Hopefully it will move forward and they won't deny me after that.  

11 hours ago, Sk N said:

just a quick question, does unemployment benefit count as public assistance in US? 

No, you earned that benefit.

16 minutes ago, FeDaniela said:

Yes N-400 can now be submitted online. Here is the documents list require. You sent whichever applies to you. https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/attachments.pdf  

Also this article is very helpful for VAWA applicant naturalization process. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/when-vawa-green-card-holders-can-apply-us-citizenship-naturalization.html 

Thank you

Hi Everyone,

Anyone here submitted their N-400? 

Can we do it online? What do we need to provide beside the form?

2 hours ago, Aidan 85 said:

Good afternoon family just wondering what sort of email or wording of email do you send to Congressman to get them to check out case 

thanks in advance 

On their website there is a privacy release form that you should fill and message with with your A# NOA/Case number.

I tried my congressman's office with my initial EAD but by they time the case worker replied I already had my EAD on hand lol

Moving forward I personally had better luck with my senator once they inquired about my i485 it was updated.

On ‎2‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 12:18 AM, Strife said:

Could anyone with helpful information please chip in. I'm filing taxes using Turbo tax and I have a pending VAWA and AOS. Which residency option should I tick; non resident alien or resident alien?

Actually Its my first time doing all this and I'm confused because I read that you can be a resident for tax purposes even without a green card. However, I'm concerned if just ticking the most obvious option "non resident alien" could later on land me in trouble because IRS have a different way of processing info for tax purposes. @sandranj @gramercy and other members with helpful info pls help here. TIA

@Strife I think resident alien! 

10 minutes ago, xoxox said:

I am Sorry last thing .

That's mean your case would never get transfer if you didn't inquire about your case ?

In other way , if you didn't inquire your case wouldn't Move ? 

 

Or your case was already transferred without sending NOA and when you did inquire they Notified you that your case was transferred already ?

 

No, I never said that. I just got response when my senator inquired. 

The "What would've happened?"  scenario ; is just a guessing game no one can predict what issues  could've happened if I didn't request to expedite and ask my senator to inquire.

2 minutes ago, xoxox said:

So they are not always update the case online also they are not always issue NOA when the case got transfer .

For my understanding about your case that you didn't have pervious case was on hold and you just filed your 485 along with 360 and you didn't get any NOA or update about your case was transfer. Then you tired to contact USCIS to inquire where your case located later after you contacted them you received your interview letter .

Thanks a lot for this information .

Congratulations again for your GC and

I wish for you Happy your new life .

Yes, the update was after my senator's office contacted USCIS on my behalf.

On ‎2‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 9:44 AM, xoxox said:

Hi @gramercy

That's Mean your case transferred to local office without getting any notification update online or sending to you NOA ? 

Then you found out your case got transfer when you made an appointment  at infopass to inquire about your case ? 

After my case went to the NBC I did not get any updates online & my attorney didn't receive anything in the mail.

I only found out that it was transferred to NYC when my senator got the response from USCIS.

50 days later my attorney told me we received the interview notice in the mail.

10 hours ago, Godschild said:

Question, when you request to place your I-485 onhold, do you get any updates on your case status?

I personally didn't have to put it on hold as I filed noti-485 concurrently with the  i-360 and I didn't even get prompt updates when it moved to the local office until my senator inquired.

Updates usually happen when there is an action taken on your case - (aside from the "inactivity" updates which are insignificant) so I wouldn't worry about it yet.

1 minute ago, FridayGirl@69 said:

Reading your timeline it took exactly 2 years which totally goes according to historic processing times, congratulations again and again!!! 😍

Thank you dear  

6 minutes ago, xoxox said:

Thank you @FridayGirl@69 for this information .

That's statement confirms validity we should start counting from the date filing the application when an applicant summited 485 after vawa got approved or we should start counting from the date vawa got approved when applicant summited 485 along with 360 . 

Because ,

Some people have different opinion and they say We Should start counting from the date 485 reached to local office .

  

I think Now you cleared this matter .

 

According to several USCIS representatives that I called while waiting;  The counting starts from the time you filed, however it's not accurate since VAWA petitions already take much longer to process before getting  the I-485 transferred.

According to @sandranj one should start counting from the day your file arrived at the local field office. I don't think it should be that extensive but this is  more realistic expectation given all the delays.

34 minutes ago, Yollande said:

@gramercy, you are entirely correct. But is never wrong to be on the safe side. Vawa journey and approval and interview takes like 2years plus to be completed. If one can file for divorce then why not. What's the purpose of still being married after separation for that long with someone who has abused You? 

The purpose or reason that may delay divorce are many my dear, custody, financial means, fear & safety