Elrona

2 minutes ago, minemar said:

For those of you that already did their interview, what questions did you get? I noticed not much is shared about the process of the interview from those who got approved. 

If you meant for civics test, here are the questions I was asked:

1. What is the capital of your state?

2. Name one problem that led to the Civil War

3. When do we celebrate Independence Day?

4. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

5. What is the "rule of law"?

6. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizen?

On page 16 I wrote about the whole interview experience.

Just wanted to give an update on this topic in case its helpful for anyone else. I ended up filing my N-400 in late September 2021, had an interview on 25th of January 2022 and was offered to take the oath the same day! Surprisingly fast process and I feel very very lucky with it. Now I am able to move away as soon as I want and then come back in the future.

2 hours ago, CNMN said:

Good luck for the rest of you here, in my experience this stage was the easiest one of all during the whole immigration process (from visa to naturalization). I am still not completely done with immigration though, next now is my parents Green Card. See you guys around the forum. 

Thats also what I feel, that the citizenship stage was the easiest one of all  I expected so much more hassle, waiting around etc so I am pleasantly surprised how it went. 

1 minute ago, Charlene Gei said:

Hello everyone.. Its me again.. Asking help about preparing documents and update about the N400 interview.. There’s an update about my employment and i stopped working since 2019 and choose to become a full-time-mom and just started this January to invest.. Is this an update that i’m gonna tell to the IO on my interview?

i know this sound a silly question but i need an answer.. Please! Thank you so much for the help! 🙏🏼😊

I updated the officer about that on the interview. I actually had couple of updates (new employer for me and my husband, another trip to add, a trip I had forgotten to add) and it was not an issue at all.

tl:dr I had my interview today, took the oath after the interview and ... all done! I am a citizen now! 🙌 The process from sending in my application to becoming a citizen was just short of 4 months.

And a longer version too  

My field office was Denver and appointment time was 12:30. Drove up to Denver night before and stayed there. I live only like 2h drive away but I with mountains and winter, I knew I would be a nervous wreck if driving up the same morning. So it was very much worth it, to get to interview fresh and rested.

Got to the office about 15 minutes before my time. It was rather empty, no line and really no other people. Showed my appointment letter and ID, through the security and to the check in desk. The employee there was really calm, friendly and nice. A great start for the whole process 😃 In the room there were several windows (like in a bank) and I was kind of surprised that I wasn't directed to a separate office but the whole process happened just there. I did hear that several people who came in after me, they were guided to the second floor. Obviously I do not know if they were also there for citizenship or no, but after a while when I was the only person still sitting in the main room, I really started to wonder what the heck is going on!

Just on the dot 12:30 I was invited forward. The USCIS officer I had was just amazing. She was so friendly, polite and really made the whole nervousness go away! Even cracked a couple of jokes during the whole process! She explained really nicely, whats going to happen, in what order etc. 

First part was the civics test. I got asked 6 questions and as I got all right, that was it. Questions I was asked:

1. What is the capital of your state?

2. Name one problem that led to the Civil War

3. When do we celebrate Independence Day?

4. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

5. What is the "rule of law"?

6. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizen?

After that was the reading and writing test. I cannot remember the exact wording but what I do remember, I had to read "When is the Flag Day?" and then I had to write "Flag Day is in June".

Yay, the test part got done! Then it was time to go over my N400 application. I had to change the employer for both me and my husband, fix a mistake in two addresses and update trip list with two trips (one done after the application was sent in, one back in 2018 that I apparently forgot). No issues there! All got done nicely. 

Other questions the officer asked:

* My current and previous addresses

No issues with the current and two previous addresses, but for the next one I actually could not remember the address itself, had to check it from papers  Felt so bad, but luckily it wasn't an issue. Since at the current place we share an apartment, I was also asked with who we live (a colleague of mine but all three of us, me, husband and colleague, work for the same company) and what is the living situation (separate bedrooms, sharing the common areas). 

* Proof to show marriage is still on-going since I applied for citizenship

I showed the statements from the bank, paperwork for the car we bought together (she asked if that was the car we drove to the office, I said yes and mentioned my husband is sitting in the parking lot in the car waiting for me) and past/current health insurance information. 

* Why the mailing address is so different from physical address? (addresses are in different counties, good 4 hour drive)

Explained that the mailing in the town where I live is a true nightmare and after several international packages got returned to sender, decided its easier to just send everything to mother-in-law and she can forward it to us or bring with her when she visits.

* Have I worked or lived abroad?

That was honestly the topic I was worried the most. I have worked in New Zealand for extended time (also after becoming resident, but never more than 6 months). I answered truthfully that both me and my husband worked abroad, we have always included foreign income in the taxes and we never claimed to actually live abroad, our residency has always been in US.

N400 form done! Had to check the changes and sign them. Then it was time for background check. No idea what that entitled. Officer was doing the stuff in the computer and I was sitting, trying not to look too weird. 

At some point I was asked if I was approved, whether I would want to take oath the same day. Of course I said yes! And that meant that once background check was also done, I was ready for oath! She left to get the certificate of the naturalization and was kind enough to inform me that at that moment I could use the phone as long as its on silence. Made the waiting a lot easier! Once she was back, I checked the paperwork, signed some more papers and then stood up and repeated the oath after her. And - done! I was a bit surprised that I wasn't sent to a proper ceremony, taking the oath happened in the same open room, in front of the window and the desk. But I was happy with that decision as I am not a big fan of ceremonies anyway. And then it was done! I got my certificate, tiny US flag and an envelope with the information how to apply for passport. 

The whole process was just about an hour. 

Interview is in 2 days! I was going over my N400 application to add in new information (employer change, a trip after filing the N400 application) and discovered I had forgotten one trip from 2018! In some ways it's no big deal as they should only count my travels from last 3 years but since the application asked for the last 5 years, it should have been there... It actually lowered the number of days I spent outside of US, I just hate the fact I missed in when adding all the trips in initially.

I have right now added a post-it note on the first page of my N400 copy with the notes what page I have updated the info. Hopefully that's enough.

11 hours ago, notantifun said:

I will bring everything you submitted in your application including the other evidence docs. In my interview though, I was only asked for my Green card and my N400 NOA.

Thank you! Did you also have to update any information? Or does the interviewer as about it? I have to update on one more travel and my employer.

My interview is already next week! Crazy! Right now just going through the list of papers I want to bring with me:

• Copy of my N400 (I discovered mistakes in one of my address, ugh!)
• My USC spouse passport and birth certificate (+ copies)
• My passports (+ copies)
• Marriage certificate (+copy)
• State and federal tax documents from 2018, 2019, 2020
• Car documents to show joint ownership
• Health insurance documents
• Bank account info
• Photos together

Would I need anything else?

6 hours ago, mycase17 said:

I do not see I-551 stamp on her passport. There's a stamp on her VISA page but you can't read any numbers/letter in the stamp. Could I make info pass appointment and they will do something about it? I'm more concerned about her work since they are asking to provide updated I-9 verification by March 1, 2022. Please advise. 

Might need to send some official paperwork to the employer to explain the situation. When I got here, I also started work before I had my green card in hand and oh wow, it took a lot of explaining and repeating it over and over again before they understood that the stamp works as green card for a year.

Just got an update and my interview is scheduled for 22nd of January!

15 minutes ago, himalayanV said:

Hi All, 

Thought I would add to the community here  We filed for my wife online (Albany, NY; 3 year through marriage) on September 28. Got notice within 3 days (last week) that biometrics will not be needed and got another notice yesterday that her interview has been scheduled for Nov 10th. We are pleasantly surprised with how quick this has moved - fingers crossed that rest of it goes smoothly as well. 

Anyone else from Albany here? 

Oh wow! Thats crazy fast!

1 minute ago, PedroDaGr8 said:

Great news, on the biometrics.

 

Ours originally showed 13months, jumped to 15 months, then to 18 months, and has now dropped to 17months. All in the matter of a couple weeks.  I get the feeling that value isn't very reliable. It also doesn't help that we are at the SLOWEST FO in the nation. 

Mine just went from 13 months to 7 months! Still not sure which office I'll go to.

Just checked mine. It shows 13 months right now for me and luckily the biometrics will be reused! 

And I just submitted my N-400!  I'm applying with 3 year rule and I am hoping they can use my biometrics that I got done for I-751. 

To be fair I could have submitted it a month ago but my brain thought 90 days from 20th November is 20th of September not 20th August... But hopefully that one month won't hinder the process too much!

I live in Colorado and looking forward to see where my case ends up!

24 minutes ago, Savva said:

You did a good job putting your overseas employer to your US tax return, because it clearly shows that your intentions were to keep your residency here in the US, so the question is now how long did you work overseas in each year, and are you applying 5 or 3 year rule? If 3 was your husband 8n the US while you worked abroad or was he staying with you over there

I am applying 3 year rule and during that time I worked abroad just that once for 4,5 months because then COVID happened and well...  Before I moved to US, I worked for the same employer 3x 4,5 months (I'm from Estonia, the country where I worked is New Zealand, just to clarify). My husband did the same (every year 4-6 months) for 9 years and after we met we always travelled there and worked there together. 

12 hours ago, Savva said:

Did you really work abroad? Or just visited there? If that's the case you can just put unemployment, when I applied I had time gaps in between, so I just put these days as unemployment

I worked abroad. It was on a work visa, so my hope is that this one is already proof enough I didn't pick up residency or anything and it was always intend to be temporary. I have also properly added it to my US tax filings. I wonder if I could just write the jobs since that did happen but keep my address history all in US as that is where I did officially live. Little bit like if you would go on extended work task to somewhere and would live in a hotel/airbnb during that time, but your original residency is still your home. 

On 8/27/2021 at 4:53 PM, Savva said:

File online, very comfy, very fast! Good luck to you

Just started with it! Looks very nice way to do it, instead of the good old papertrail!

Would you have any recommendation how to include temporary working abroad? I have no issues adding in the work history (I did not go over the needed day limits) but I am worried if I put in my abroad addresses it might be seen as abandoning residency or something. Although it was just work, no residency gained or anything. But I don't think I can leave it empty as it would mean 4.5 months of no address history.

Hi all! Joining here with you. I feel absolutely stupid! I moved to US November 20th 2018. I have been thinking that whole time I can file for my citizenship in September 2021. And I realized just today that 90 days from November 20th is not September 20th but August 20th. So I could have already sent the papers in last week! And I have absolutely nothing prepared! Well, time to jump on that train now!

Hi all!

Thank you again for all the replies you have posted! It has been a huge help! I filed for my removal of conditions back in November as soon as I was able to. What I have heard from a lot of people is that it has taken very long time to get the new GC in hand (some people get their citizenship first before they get their 10y GC in hand). If I'd go the re-entry permit route, would that be any cause for an issue that I am in a limbo? My 2y GC has expired, I have filed the proper paperwork but have not received the 10y one due to backlog. 

9 minutes ago, thewaitingame said:

Nice! What is the email address that USCIS sent from? 2 years ago it was USCIS-CaseStatus@uscis.dhs.gov, is it still the same email?

No, the address it came for me is: do_not_reply_lockbox@dhs.gov

Just got the text message and e-mail (that was in spam folder) yesterday evening. So relieved! Posted it on 10/09 and it arrived 10/12. Case number starts with MSC so I guess I'll have interview in the future  

Returned to US just a week ago. Entry point was Chicago O'Hara. Had to fill in a COVID paperwork on plane that noone collected or cared about. CBP officer even said they don't need it anymore. No temperature checks or anything. 

What was a surprise was that flight from Chicago to Denver was 100% full. No empty seats at all.

Got everything printed out. Tomorrow will just have to add content list and a new renters insurance. To be honest, the package feels so small, compared what I prepped for CR1  But I really don't know what else to add.

1.       Form G1145 E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

2.       Payment in the amount of US $ 680.00 for form I-751 ($ 595.00) and Biometrics ($ 85.00)

3.       Form I-751

4.       Copies of the front and back of petitioner’s Permanent Resident Card

5.       Evidence of Bona fide Marriage

a.       2019 IRS Account Transcript, joint Federal and State tax return, W2

b.       2018 IRS Account Transcript, joint Federal and State tax return, W2

c.       Savings account statement Aug 26, 2020 through Sep 24, 2020

d.       Checking account statement Aug 15, 2020 through Sep 15, 2020

e.       Pictures of Spouse and Petitioner

f.        Flight bookings from trips together

g.       Current and past health insurances information

h.       Mail arrived to same address

i.         Copy of petitioner’s Colorado drivers licence

j.         Spouse’s 401k information

k.       Renters Insurance

l.         Rental Lease

Another one here getting ready to send things out. I'm right now planning to print everything tomorrow, get it ready and then in mail on Friday. 

What I have so far:

- jointly done 2018 and 2019 federal and state tax returns

- W2 from 2018 and 2019

- one of our lease's front page showing our names and signatures

- mail for our PO box for us separetly but same address

- flights we've taken together

- photos of us together (starting from 2018 July, got my green card 2018 November), 6 pages

- husband's (USC) 401k showing me as beneficiary

- insurance card with both of our names

- bank information (will add that tomorrow)

I hope its going to be enough! I'm already so stressed out

Oh wow! Thank you all for the replies and for the great discussion! Definitely has given me a lot to think about and helps with figuring out whats best to do.  

I didn't even consider re-entry permits! I need to look a bit more into it because relying on the answers here, that would seems just... perfect! What I need to check, I'm wondering whether I can be a legal permanent resident in two countries at the same time. I of course have my Estonian citizenship, but currently am a resident of US. But for my husband to get his residency in Estonia, I would need to reestablish my residency in Estonia and I've always been under impression that doing that, I would need to give up my US residency (so, basically abandon GC).