h.linds

I got both my passport and certificate today in one package. Everything is correct. 

Last night, my status was still "'In Process" on the DOS Website.  Then, this morning, the representative from my Senator Office reached out to me and notified me that the passport would arrive today. I immediately headed straight home waiting... Passport was finally in hand before noon. It was shipped overnight from locator 35, Charleston, SC.

Big shout-out to the  Constituent Advocate at U.S. Senator Thom Tillis's Office, who helped me out during this stressful experience. It feels so great that my visa journey is eventually over. Also, many thanks to you all for your wonderful advice and tips  🙏

19 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Status changed to "in progress" on 3/4.

Status changed to "Shipped" on 3/20.

Passport arrived on 3/21.

Took exactly 6 weeks from date of application (2/6) to the date it shipped (3/20) from Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Locator 79.

 

That's wonderful. Congratulations!

Keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well. By the way, do you live in Hot Springs or is it only your passport agency location? (Just saw your location on your signature - Redundant question. :D). Congrats again!

On 3/5/2023 at 9:52 AM, Crazy Cat said:

Found out yesterday that there was a system issue in passport tracking which caused "Not Available" status for passport applications Feb 6-Feb 13.  As of yesterday, my wife's passport status now says "In Process".  Tomorrow will be 4 weeks.   I hope you can get your issue resolved.  

Hi Crazy Cat,

Thanks for the info! Has your wife's passport gotten any updates yet?

On 3/6/2023 at 12:50 PM, Liam2021 said:

Our passport has shipped last Friday 3/3/2023. DOS received it on 1/27/2023. Locator number 62.

Awesome. Congratulations!!!

Mine now shows "In Process" since 03/05 (although they cashed my payment on Feb 7), however been stuck with the same status and they just added another 02 weeks on my timeline. Locator #35 (which has lots of bad reviews from my research). I reached out to my state rep a few weeks ago, nothing has progressed so far on that front, either. I'm ready to make lots of phone calls next week. 😟

Thanks Crazy Cat and Liam2021for your advice/info.

I have reached out to my Senator Office for assistance. Entering Week #5 and my online status is still "Not Available".

Keeping my fingers crossed that the Senator Office will be able to track my application. Thought my visa journey was almost done when getting the citizenship. Nope, jumping straight onto another roller-coaster ride...Hopefully, all will be well and I won't have to spend $500 plus another 6 months - 01 year to get a replacement of my Naturalization Cert.  😩

Hi all,

I'm having an issue with my passport application and would really appreciate any advice. I applied for my passport a few days after the Oath Ceremony at a local passport acceptance facility. It has been almost 04 weeks, payment was already cashed about 2 weeks ago, but my status on the tracking system is still "Not Available". I have been trying to call the 1-877-487-2778 almost everyday, but no luck talking with a human so far. This morning, I double-checked my submitted application and found out that I accidently put my husband name in the regular order of "' First Name, Middle Name, Last name"' instead of "'Last name, First Name, Middle Name"' as required by the form. Wondering if this mistake messes up my application? Also started planning to contact my state senator as I sent along the original naturalization certificate and I currently have no other paperwork to prove my legal status over here.

Many many thanks! 

On 4/14/2022 at 12:51 PM, Mike E said:

 

We are more worried about the interview being scheduled before the 3 year anniversary and we have a plan to deal with it.  

 

 

Hi Mike,

I'm wondering if you could share your action plan if the interview is scheduled before the 3 year anniversary. I also applied under the 3 years - 90 days rule and reading the new/odd developments regarding early filings starts worrying me.  My case has been moving pretty fast so far.  Is this even an option to request an interview rescheduled to a later date?

Many thanks!

23 hours ago, WandY said:

Use your GC/SSN name and don't worry about it. My wife had the same issue and the only time it caused an issue was in a VN airport when her airline ticket name didn't match her travel docs. The airline took care of the issue. You are over-thinking it. The problem is very common in the U.S. and generally does not cause a problem. Just make sure your travel tickets match travel docs.

Thanks WandY! I've decided to fix my name order to keep my life(my paperwork) consistent. Your wife might be fine because she didn't have a history in the US prior to 2016 (that's when the US Consular decided to change the Vietnamese name order). I have had lots of troubles due to this issue. My local DMV refused to let me sit for the driver license test at least 3 times due to my different name orders on the very same system...

On 3/18/2022 at 7:18 PM, Mike E said:

I see two viable options:

 

1. Ask for a new name in your N-400.  You have that right.  Pro: no extra cost.  Con: it can delay your oath by months perhaps a year or more, because a judge has to administer the oath and worse sometimes an accompanying name change document is not provided at oath and you have to chase down.  
 

2. Naturalize, take oath with your current name, and then file for a name change in State court: Pro: keeps naturalization simple, and you can take your time getting your passport, passport card, SSA record updated.  Con: costs more money. 

Many thanks, Mike! You're always very helpful. I've already applied to fix my name in the N-400. It might take a little bit more time but I'd love to have my proper name back. It was butchered beyond recognition. 

Hi all,

I have a question related to “Name change”.

I’m a Vietnamese with the common problem of incorrect name order. My middle name + first name has been changed into my first name (current legal name) on Green card and SSN. Despite my attempts to correct the name order, it never got fixed. It took so much time (the USCIS informed me it would take from 6 months to 01 year to replace the GC at the time), while I needed to start working right away to support family and couldn’t do it without legal paperwork. Therefore, I took the common advice to put it asides and plan to request name change when filing for naturalization. However, the problem is I was a J-1 student, married my American husband then left the US for a few years before coming back as a legal permanent resident. My name when I was a J-1 student was in correct American/English order. It was also the name on my kid’s CBRA and marriage license, which is now different from my current legal name.

When filing the N-400 online I am being asked by the system to provide evidence of my name change. I have never legally changed my name. The USCIS and the US Consular in Vietnam changed my name order despites my desperate attempts to fix it. ( I have a trail of written communications back then with NVC, the US Consular and the USCIS). On my very same passport, my US visas prior to 2016 have my correct English name order, while the immigrant visa is the one with the incorrect order. Should I use my visas and the past communications records as evidence for my name (being) changed?

Would be so thankful if someone in the same boat could give me some advice.🙏

On 3/14/2022 at 11:07 AM, Kor2USA said:

My understanding is because you are applying under the 3 year rule you don't count the trips made before you became an LPR.

 

The spouse of a U.S. citizen residing in the United States must have continuously resided in the United States as an LPR for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of the filing the application and up to the time of the Oath of Allegiance. 

 

and

18 Months of Physical Presence

The spouse must have been physically present in the United States for at least 18 months (548 days) out of the 3 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-3#:~:text=3 Years of Continuous Residence,of the Oath of Allegiance.

 

Many thanks for the helpful information. 

On 3/14/2022 at 11:07 AM, Mike E said:

Keep it simple and list everything in the last 5 years as the form says. What matters is your physical presence in the USA since you became an LPR.  If you have (366 + 365 + 365) / 2 = 548 days of physical presence in the USA in past 1096 days then you qualify. 
 

Use https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/learn-about-citizenship/naturalization-eligibility to verify your eligibility to apply 

Much appreciated! 

On 3/14/2022 at 10:50 AM, Timona said:

Any trip more than a day is listed and the system does the count for you.

 

File N400 online. Faster, less hustle, it tells you exactly what to submit and you get receipt immediately. 

Exactly. Many thanks for the great advice. I'm just doing ground works on papers before I can file online. 

Hi all,

After almost 3 years, I'm now struggling with the same old, same old paperwork again. :). I'm working on the Form N-400 and very confused with the ''Time outside the US'' Question (part 9). I'm married to my American husband for 10 years, became lawful permanent resident (LPR) and got my 10 year GC since mid June 2019. I will be applying under the 3-year eligibility. After becoming legal resident, we haven't travelled outside the US (mostly due to the pandemic). However,  within the last 5 years and prior to the date of becoming LPR, we made some visits to the US to visit family. Should I list all the previous trips? How they will be counted towards the continuous residence requirements?  (As I understand, technically, I haven't travelled outside the States at all during the 3 years period).

Thanks a lot for your helpful advice!

On 8/9/2018 at 1:23 PM, peachouille said:

You're welcome, keep us posted!

Hi all,

It takes me a while to make some progresses. :). After calling/emailing the Belgium's Central Registration Office, I managed to get a soft copy of the Police Record. The hard copy is still on its way to my current address though (finger crossed it will eventually show up). Good news: the Belgium "centraal registraar" is very nice and helpful. There are 02 ways that one can obtain Belgian police record: visit the Brussels office and collect the paperwork oneself or they will mail it to you free of charge.  However, the certificate is written in French. Wondering if it is best to have the document translated into English or NVC will accept the original French one?

Many thanks! 

26 minutes ago, WandY said:

Don't worry about it. I don't think it will matter.

Many thanks for the comforting words.   

25 minutes ago, peachouille said:

I really don't think that only Belgians can request their police certificate from abroad. If you live abroad, you need to send a request to the Foreign Affairs service. All the details are here.

Thank you so very much!  I emailed them and will wait until their opening hour to call and talk to someone. Keeping my finger crossed!  

Hi again,

After submitting DS-260, I learned that I need to submit a police certificate from Belgium where I studied for a MA program almost a decade ago... I looked it up online and found that only Belgians can request a police certificate from overseas. I talked to the Belgium Embassy in my country and they couldn’t help, either.

Do any of you experience the same issue? Worst come to worst, I’m planning on flying to Belgium from my country to solve the problem. But it’s way too costly and requires complex paperwork for Schengen visa as well…

Thanks a lot!

7 hours ago, pushbrk said:

There is a distinction between where you "reside" and where you may be temporarily visiting.  If your husband is actually a resident of Vietnam, then the two addresses are different.  If he's only visiting you, even for a few months, then the US mailing address and his physical address are one in the same.

 

The earlier answers are kind of right but none of them addressed the difference between residing and visiting.  It matters.

Thanks all for your helpful advice. 

Just to clarify a bit more so I could be on the safe side.

My husband has lived with me in VN for years. He doesn't stay as a temporary visitor.  He's filed foreign-earned income tax every tax season. So, if I understand Pushbrk's advice correctly, my husband's physical/current address should be defined as "residing"? We've always used my parents-in-laws' address as mailing address and they're wonderful in securing/forwarding our mails. I'm just confusing about the physical one as we don't want any inconsistency in our paperworks (stated that we've lived together ever since marriage, then his physical address is different from mine)...

Thanks again! 

Hi again,

This time, I'm having a question related to the sponsor 's addresses on I-864 Form. I did some research into it, but still very confused. Therefore, would like to ask for some sound advice from VJ members. 

Mailing address: My husband's permanent address in the US (which is his parents').

Physical address: My husband is currently living with me overseas. So I understand that the physical address should be his current/temporary address (outside the States). Is it correct?  My husband, however, believes that the physical address should be the same with mailing address. 

Many thanks! 

Hi all,

I'm working on filling my DS-260. I find the last questions regarding children and spouse in Family Information very confusing. Hopefully somebody could help shed some light. 

My case: Both child and husband are USCs. We currently live overseas together, and will resettle back to the US altogether. Therefore, my child and husband aren't defined as "immigrants" and technically speaking, they won't migrate to the US with me. They just return home. 

So, how should I answer these questions?

1. Is the child immigrating to the U.S with you?

2. Is your spouse immigrating to the U.S with you?

I tried selecting "No", then the only option left is "Is the child/spouse immigrating at a later date to join you", which isn't correct for our situation, either!

Thanks a lot,

15 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Yes, the liquid assets in a US savings account can be used to offset the lack of income.

No, the overseas property would not be used as continuing income.

Your husband's sister's household would be 2, just herself and the intending immigrant, (you).  Neither your child or your husband are dependent on his sister for support.

 

It is probably best to use declare and document the savings, AND have the joint sponsor's I-864, tax return, evidence of current income (pay stub) and evidence of US Citizenship along with your husband's affidavit.  I-864 from both.

Much appreciated for the helpful answers! 

Hi all,

I'm having a question related to foreign-earned income and joint-sponsor question. Would really appreciate if you could help with some leads.

We are at the NVC stage for my IR1/CR1 spouse visa. I'm the beneficiary and my husband is petitioner. We both live and work outside the States for over 06 years. He does have savings in his US bank account,  which is around $70,000 (3 times more than the poverty line threshold)  and has filed his foreign-earned income with IRS every year. Would the savings meet sponsoring requirements when filing I-864? 

If not, could we use our oversea property as an additional asset? (we have an apartment and plan to put it up for rent after leaving for the States. Will this be counted as continuing income?)

Otherwise, we opt to use my sister-in-law as joint sponsor. She is single, so how can we calculate the household numbers? We also have a daughter, who is already USC and will be moving with us. Should our sister list her household number as 4 (herself, my husband, I and our daughter) or only 2 (herself and I as both my husband and my daughter are USCs and not filed under her IRS?).

Thanks a lot!  

Hi everyone,

My case is also at NVC Stage. We just made AOS and IV payment (pivot case). Our payment status is currently "processing". Wondering if anyone can go ahead with the AOS package while waiting for payments to be completed? It says "start now" on the CEAC page, but the function is being disabled. 

Many thanks and good luck to us all! 

21 hours ago, Fmert001 said:

I have called USCIS and I spoke with a Tier 2 Rep and they said as long I have the I-797C receipt that they have received the case and that it is a glitch in the system and just to wait until they fix the glitch..... (PD:11/17)

Many thanks, Fmert001. Your answer made me feel a bit better. We've tried to call USCIS from overseas many times but didn't have a single chance to talk with a real human-being. And each international call lasted for at least 15 minutes. I'm also anxiously waiting for my phone bill by the end of this month. Should we start getting our congressman involved?