FYI
Sat my interview yesterday in Norfolk, VA. They adjudicated my i-751 before my n-400. Passed my interview & she said I'd be notified when my ceremony will be.
If you have an outstanding i-751, make sure you bring your spouse. Nothing was mentioned on my paperwork, but they asked to speak with them. Luckily they were downstairs waiting in the car
n-400
February 23, 2022
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled
We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review.
Further updater for anyone waiting: Husband had interview/test today at Albany NY office. Was approved (he was in there no more than 30 minutes!), and will take his oath next week on 2/4. Went way quicker than we expected!
Full timeline for us with the Albany NY office: Filed 8/2/21, biometrics appt 12/21/21, interview/test 1/28/22, oath 2/4/22.
Filed online for my husband 8/03/21
Biometrics reuse on same day.. On 8/25/21 interview scheduled for 9/24/21. I was surprised when I received the email. I-751 case still pending, hopefully it's a combo interview.
You don't need access code. All you need to do is to create an account in https://myaccount.uscis.gov/ then add your IOE receipt number into your account.
Submitted N400 online late yesterday evening/early this AM.
Got account information update when woke up w/ Case receipt and biometrics reuse notice in account updates. 13mo ETA.
Thought we'd this hard at 3yr but w/ the kids and everything didnt get to it until 5 yr anyway.
319B category still seems to be rather unfamiliar by many, even by who are eligible for, especially non-military applicants.
I had been looking for 319B (civilian) info on the internet with very little luck. Few posts I found was from years ago, so I decided to share my experience with up-to-date info, document list, procedure, and even quote of T2 officers' email, to contribute my part in return of the great support I have got from VisaJourney. As well as for the future 319B applicants’ references.
I was a 6 months conditional LPR when I applied for citizenship, and I became a US citizen in 3.5 months. I applied for both of my Green Card and citizenship from overseas. A few attorneys I had consulted with didn't want to take my case because “I don’t live in the States”. Thanks to USCIS website and Visa Journey, I managed to do it myself without any glitches.
If you are a spouse of a US citizen employed abroad, you might be eligible for the expeditious naturalization under INA319B too.
So, here’s the information and I hope it helps.
My category, 319B is for the spouse of USC employed aboard in qualifying employments.
First, timelines
Married: Jan 07 2017
I-130 NOA1: Apr 19 2017
GC date: Jun 23 2018
N-400 NOA: Dec 24 2018 (Day 1)
Interview scheduled: Mar 5 2019 (Day 71)
Interview scheduled for: Mar 26 2019 (Day 92)
Oath scheduled: Mar 29 2019
Oath: Apr 11 2019 (Day 108)
Second, a few key points when filing:
- LPR at the time of filing N-400
- Married more than one year when filing, and remain in a bona fide marital reunion with the USC spouse up until the Oath
- The USC spouse works for an American firm or corporation engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States, or a subsidiary thereof (* Note #1)
- The qualifying employment is scheduled for at least one year at the time of filing
- No pending I-751
- Free to choose the location for interview within the U.S.
- No requirements in terms of continuous residence and physical presence within the U.S.
- No need to file I-751 if the Oath happens before the 90 days window of lifting of conditions (if you have reached 90 days, or have pending i751, you will have to do ROC first)
- Be present in the U.S. for the interview and oath
- Depart the U.S. and live with the USC spouse within 45 days after naturalization
- Do NOT forget TWO photos and TWO sets of fingerprint cards in a sealed envelop
NOTE #1: “engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States” is the trickiest part. Translation: Not all US companies’ overseas assignment posts are qualified. The key factor is that whether the nature of the overseas assignment benefits the US or not.
For example, if a US company with thousands employees is manufacturing generators in Asia and sells them to the world, and the revenue goes back to the Asia entity, that might not qualify. Whereas if the US manufacturing company makes high-end audio components in the States, and the employee in Asia is to develop the Asian market, that would qualify. Also, if a US engineer consultancy firm only with 5 employees to provide consultancy services in Asia and send the production work back to the States, it would qualify.
Third, my document list
- Forms: N400, I551, etc.
- Supporting documents (general, all photocopies): cover letter (* NOTE #2), Passports (both parties), birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decree, police clearance cert
- Supporting documents(employment): company letter(*NOTE #3), business license, offer of employment(*NOTE #4)
- Supporting documents(overseas residency): lease, bills, tax returns, local bank accounts, etc.
- Supporting documents (intention of re-establishment of US residency (*NOTE #5)): property deed, bills, US bank account statements, etc.
NOTE #2 Cover letter contains: why you qualify for 319B and proof, your intention of residing with you USC spouse and proof, your intention of re-establishing residency in the US after your spouse’s oversea assignment
NOTE #3 Company letter contains: the nature of the company, if the company is wholly or partially owned by the US, the nature of the employee’s employment and overseas assignment, anticipated period of the overseas assignment, a mention of the name of the spouse to be naturalized
NOTE #4 Offer of Employment, focus on the job description (how the employee’s job is benefiting the US economy), the duration of the overseas post (must be over a year from the time of N-400 filing)
NOTE #5 To show your intention of re-establishing your US residency, you need to write up a statement stating so. Ideally accompanied by supporting documents, such as, US saving accounts, property purchase, pension savings, etc.
Forth, the procedure
(This is mine-applying from overseas. Cases may vary)
1. Submit your application- N400 along with supporting documents
(Read the N400 instructions on USCIS website to determine where to send)
2. If you send TWO sets of fingerprint cards, you might be OK (depending on countries where you send from)
3. USCIS might send you a RFE to request FD258 (FBI specified fingerprint cards with an envelop to seal the cards) with instructions on where to send back
4. Go to a USCIS international field office, or embassy, or a police station where directed by the embassy, to get fingerprints taken. Enclose the cards in an envelop with signature and seal on the flap
5. Wait…
6. USCIS would contact you, and ask you to pick a date and time for interview
In my case, I got an email from a Tier 2 officer asking me to indicate a date and time that I’m available for interview (*NOTE#6)
7. Get on the plane for your interview
8. They might give you the result after interview or not (depending on if your interviewer has the authority to approve your case)
Mine didn’t get a result after the interview because “you case is uncomment, we need more review”
9. Three days later, I got a call from USCIS (Dallas) that they have date and time for me
10.I changed my ticket and attended my Oath Ceremony. The officer was still a little confused at the check-in seeing my conditional Green Card and without a ROC.
So, I was asked to sit aside while other candidates were seated for the ceremony, when the officer went back to the office to search my case in the computer. But she came back in time and let me in for the ceremony.
NOTE #6, document check list from the T2 officer
Once the interview was scheduled, the officer kindly sent me an additional document check list- addition to the general list on the interview letter. See below:
(Luckily, nothing was new than I had already submitted, so I just brought the originals with me. At the interview, the interviewer didn't even go through the documents, simply checked if everything was there, and scanned them (I guess) for the supervisor to review.)
US spouse birth certificate
Marriage certificate
Statement from employer that includes the following:
· Name and nature of employer
· Employing entity is owned in whole or in part by the United States
· Employing entity is engaged in whole or in part in the development of the foreign trade and commerce of the United States
· Nature of the activity/duties of the US citizen and spouse
· Anticipated period of employment abroad
Category of Qualifying employment abroad
Last, now you are a citizen but you have to leave the US right away
We booked the tickets back to Singapore for the interview and had to change it for the Oath.
Our departure date was 2 days after the ceremony, and my tickets were booked under my old passport and name.
So, I made an appointment for passport with the embassy as soon as I got the oath date, and I decided to leave the US using my old passport.
At the airline check-in, they DID ask about my green card, which never happened before when I left the US. I think there must be some sort of remarks on my documents that the airline can see, like “the traveller’ s GC has been cancelled”. Luckily, they were understanding enough to let me go with my old passport.
I applied my passport in the US embassy in Singapore yesterday.
The officer there was also confused that why I didn’t apply in the US, and how comes I got my citizenship while living in Singapore. But when I explained the 319B category, everything just came together.
So, there you have it, the complete guide/experience of 319B for non-military applicants.
My package has travelled to many places and managed to get to where and whom it needed to go. My biggest conclusion/take-away from this immigration process is that the system is quite established, reasonable, and fair, and if you follow the rules and the instructions, you will get there.
Please, my fellow applicants, have confidence and faith in the process, and be patient.
If anyone has any questions, I would love to help wherever I can.
My wife filed 8/2 online. Already received NOA1 and the letter saying they are reusing biometrics. Initial estimate is 13 months. Looking forward to having this final step of the long journey completed! - Jason
I would like to say thank you for this wonderful visajourney website as it helps me a lot from the beginning until the end of my immigration journey. Today I had my oath Ceremony and I am now American citizen. Thank you very much, without the helps of everyone here in this website I probably would have lost on my immigration journey also whoever made this website I owe you much. Thank you.
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