alix

My mom has a tourist visa and has been here many times.She just turned 65. I was just trying to understand what is the correct procedure and if there was any way to get her here quicker, that's all.

Amazing how things get turned around here so quickly!

I also applied with the 3-year rule, despite being here for about 7 when I applied. I think that if you have been living here for 5 years or longer you should put the 5 years. If you were here less than that, then put the trips since you arrived here. I know it's a pain but I think it looks a little sketchy if you cross something out on the form.

HI everyone,

I am planning to bring my mom to live here with me and my family (husband and kids). She will be living with us. I am working at the moment but my husband makes a lot more money than I do. Also, I need her to be here in the beginning of the year as I'll be going to a 6-week training in another state and need her to help with the kids. My questions are:

1. Can we apply when she is here on a tourist visa, after my training, for example?

2. Do I have to use my sole income or can I have it combined with my husband? We will both be supporting her.

3. if we start the process now while she is in Brazil, can she come to help with the kids while I'm in training and then go back for her interview?

Thank you in advance!

I got my passport but have not received my Certificate of Naturalization back yet. Can I bring my passport instead?

I received my passport today!! So happy!! It took a little over than 2 weeks from start to finish, on the routine processing.

On November 24th I did received an email saying that it was being processed, so it was an awesome surprise!

Can someone please update the tracker for me? Thanks!

Alix,

thank you so much for sharing your experience!! That makes me feel SO MUCH better! And congrats on being a citizen now - that's awesome

Can I ask why you filed under the 3 year rule? Do we have to do this, because it's marriage based? Or does it really matter, in the end? Did you send in all the documents requested based on the 3 year rule, or just the documents for the 5 year rule?

Sonja

Hi Sonja,

Sorry for the late reply!

I applied based on marriage (3-year rule) mainly because I felt that since I had lived abroad because of my husband it would be easier to explain my absence and that I didn't simply abandon my residency here in the US. I don't know if it makes a difference, but somehow in my case made more sense. In the end it really didn't hurt. Plus I didn't mind sending a couple more pieces of paper with my N-400. With my form I sent my husband's birth certificate, our marriage certificate and our tax returns (and the rest everyone has to send).

You'll likely get a yellow letter asking for extra evidence. Don't worry about it. Just be ready with all the evidence possible for the interview (joint lease or mortgage, utility bills, insurance cards, children birth certificates, also any proof that you didn't abandon your residency here) just in case they ask for it.

Good luck!

alix

Finally! I become a US citizen at 8am on December 18th!

Congratulations Damian!!!! I'm so happy for you!

Hi Sonja,

I had the same issue. In my case I had 3 periods of absence over 6 months in a 3 year period, from 2007 til 2010, because my USC husband was working abroad. We returned permanently in July 2010 and I applied for my citizenship in June of this year, almost 4 years later. I was very worried that they would make a big deal about that so I waited until I only had one of those "trips" in my travel history for the past 5 years, which lasted for about 7 months. I did disclose all my trips for the past 5 years and not 3, even though I applied based on marriage. The IO said: "I see you spent 7 months in Singapore" and I said it was because my husband was working there. And that was it. I had a HUGE stack of documents to prove that I didn't abandon my residence but he didn't ask for anything other than my children's birth certificates. Like me, you've been a LPR for quite a while (since 2006) and married for well over 3 years (I've been married for 9). I do think that it's less of an issue if you apply based on marriage as well.

So my advice is, just be prepared to prove to them that you didn't mean to abandon your residence. They might ask you about it or they might not. They will probably send you a yellow letter requesting evidence on that, but don't let it phase you. I am proud to say I've been a US citizen since Nov. 4th.

Good luck! PM me if you have any more questions.

alix

That's awesome news! Congrats!

Finally!!!!! Got the text message/email notification that there'd been movement in my case today. Sure enough, the online status had changed to "your oath has been scheduled."

So, I still don't have the letter - but at least I know it's on its way!!!!!

Congratulations Damian P!!!! Awesome news!

Congratulations also to everyone else who finished their journey! And hopefully all the June filers will be done with their journey soon!

Hi everyone,

My interview based on a 3 year marriage was last Friday, and even though I thought it was going to be smooth and easy, it wasn't.

I was well prepared for the civics and history test, confident about my profile and already submitted a lot of paperwork.

Having said that, the officer who interviewed me was quite unpleasant. She never made eye contact, and was borderline rude.

She went through all the questions on the N-400 form. Asked me 6 questions for the test, and I answered them all right. Read the sentence she gave me, and wrote what she asked. But towards the end, she asked for more paperwork. She wanted statements from the last 2 months of joint bank account, electricity bill, mortgage statement and lease from an apartment I stayed at between 2008 and March 2013. Really? I thought that was already been taken care of during the Green Card process and then again during Removal of Conditions. I wonder why she's reopening that topic that dates many years and is no longer relevant for my current application.

The interview letter asked for 3 papers:

- marriage certificate

- spouse's birth certificate

- selection service letter

I brought all of them, and told her so. The officer said and I quote: "Oh, this is a generic letter, we send that to everyone. I want to check the last 2 months statements that show your name and your wife's name". I really wish they requested that on the interview letter! I could have brought them with me to the actual interview. Anyway, I told her I can access them on my phone and show them to her, or even email them, but she refused and said she wanted the actual physical paper.

Anyway, I sent all those papers on Friday, and they were received by USCIS this morning.

Then earlier this afternoon, I received 2 emails and 6 text messages saying the following:

Your Case Status: Testing and Interview

On November 17, 2014, we started the interview scheduling process for your Form N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION, Receipt Number NBC*#########. We will send you an interview notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your interview notice by February 15, 2015, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

I already had my interview, passed the written, oral and civics test. Do I really have to wait until February 15 to hear back from them?

Shouldn't they just make a decision instead of rescheduling me for an interview?

Can I just schedule an info notice now instead of wait till February 15?

Just wondering what my options are and if anyone else has experienced something similar.

FYI: My wife and I have been together since 2007. Got married in 2010. Purchased an apartment in 2013 and had a baby soon after. All is in order and thought it would be a no brainer approval decision.

Hi koucki,

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. It's so crazy how inconsistent the IOs are during interviews, which makes it so much harder to understand why they make such a big deal out of nothing. Clearly your marriage is legitimate, especially if you have children together. Did you send in your child's BC as well? That was the only thing they asked me for, since I didn't submit it with the form.

I had the exact opposite experience from you, but I brought in a ton of paperwork. My case was a bit more complicated since I stayed abroad for over 6 months a few times during my time as a LPR. But surprisingly (and fortunately) for me, he only asked me quickly about it and moved on.

If it's not too much trouble for you, I would schedule an INFOPASS just to find out more about what's going on.

I really hope you hear some great news soon! I'll be here keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I have would leave around mid December, I could apply from the US before I leave. I still live with my parents here in the US and they would receive the mail and letters.

I believe the company is an US Company too (they are registered here and in Mexico), would that help?

Again, consult a lawyer. If your contract is thru the U.S. company, then things might be easier.

You can't apply from Mexico. I really think you should consult with an immigration lawyer. I'm not sure if they still do that but you might have to apply for a reentry permit so you don't loose your GC.

If you apply now and keep a home here and keep coming back for biometrics and interview, pay your taxes, I don't see why you can't do it. You'd have to apply from here though.

I applied for my passport today, Nov. 12th, at the local post office (Oak Brook, IL). I don't need it immediately so I asked for regular processing. I paid with debit card and she issued a money order. I was told it takes 4-6 weeks.

Can someone please add me to the tracker?

You need to give them all the time you were away from the country since becoming a LPR or for the past 5 years, which ever is shorter. If you've been a LPR for 4 years, you need to fill it out for the past 4 years. I also applied based on marriage, but had been a LPR for 7 years when I applied and I put all the time away for the past 5 years. They will probably disregard any time before the 3 years but in my opinion it's better to give them what they ask.

I had my interview 2 months ago. I passed the civil test and I was told that I will receive a letter with list of additional paperwork I need to send them and after that I will have my oath ceremony.

Never got anything from them. I called and still nothing happening. ....

Online status : Request for Evidence

On August 26, ( day of my interview ) we mailed a notice requesting initial evidence in this case. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the evidence requested.

Anyone has similar experience? ??? Don't know what to do. ...

alicemgi, what happened? Did you get your issue resolved?

Estimates are ok, but try to be as close as possible. I did have the exact dates of travel, because I had a few trips of more than 6 months so I wanted to be accurate. Look at old ticket reservations (if you keep those). They'll ask you to bring all your passports and travel documents, so you better find out where your old passport is in case they ask for it.

At my interview the IO didn't really look at my old passport and just made a copy of the personal info from my recent one.

Got my interview letter on Monday. My interview (and my daughter's) is Dec 12th.

Great news Copamom! Congratulations!

Thanks everyone!

Congrats!!

FINALLY!! Got a text this afternoon that my interview has been scheduled! And my daughter's too! Woo hoo!

That's awesome news Copamom! Hope you and your daughter receive your letters soon!

I had my oath ceremony today and it was a very emotional experience! I'm finally a proud citizen of this great country!

Thank you all for the support! My visa journey is done.

Can someone please update my timeline? Thanks!

I called USCIS again and spoke to an agent. She said the Phoenix office has been processing applications from March 8th since August 31st. That seems strange. That is the same thing it says on USCIS site for processing times. Seriously? They have been processing applications from that one day for 2 months? I find that hard to believe. She told me to give it another 5-6 months and if I don't hear anything, to call back. Splendid.

Hi Copamom,

Sorry to hear about what is happening to your case. I hope it doesn't take that long!

Just wondering 'cus I leave to Brazil December 20th, and I'm trying to figure out timeline to get the passport done in order, depending how long it takes to schedule the oath I might have to ask them to schedule it for after I return in January. No agency here that I can get same day passport, so even if I expedite it will take a couple weeks, I assume.

How long will you be home? I haven't been there in 3 years!!

Good that you got it sorted out.

What was everyone's time between interview approval and updated status online for oath ceremony? Not the ceremony date itself, but how long after the interview did you hear from USCIS?

It took 10 days for me, from interview to oath scheduled. I wasn't even put in line for scheduling, they just notified me I had been scheduled. I got the letter a few days later.

Hope you get yours soon!

Had my interview today in Memphis. Drove 300 miles for 5 minutes in the office. LoL.

Waiting room had about 4 people waiting. I was called promptly at my appointed time and the official was very professional, and pretty fast talking and to the point. Got sworn in, then we reviewed my file and he finished with the test.

Now to wait for oath ceremony date.

EDIT: For those who like knowing the questions asked, I got the easiest ones, lol:

- What is the name of the National Anthem?

- How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

- What ocean is on the West coast?

- What happened on Sep 11, 2001?

- What is the rule of law?

- Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

My reading sentence was "How many senators are there?" and I had to write "There are one hundred senators".

Congratulations Laura!!!

I don't think you are able to vote but you can call the election commission in your county and they will be able to tell you. I just called ours to find out where my USC husband could go voting. My oath is actually on election day!