Nina91

On 1/31/2018 at 9:52 AM, xilef said:

@Nina91 , did you have your naturalization interview at the Chicago field office ? Also did you bring your spouse along for the interview ? Were they asked to join you as well ? A couple of others folks from Chicago didn't have a combo interview like yourself and instead had a I-751 joint interview and are still awaiting their N-400 actual (second) interview.

My field office is Cleveland. The document scheduling N400 interview did not mention the spouse to come with me, but I still brought him, just in case. I thought it would be a combo interview but it wasn't, I also never got RFE notice.

On 1/31/2018 at 1:27 PM, AK_2014 said:

I'm so glad this worked for you, Nina! (And so frustrated they wouldn't treat my wife the same way! They refused to do her N-400 interview in Chicago in early November because her I-751 was still pending. Now the I-751 has been approved, but we are still waiting for the N-400 interview to be rescheduled.)

Thank you. I live near Cleveland. I had to go to the office to get my stamp because my GC expired, and they took my GC. Maybe that is what prompted them to expedite the process? With them, who knows. They even make you wait for the oath, my appointment was at 10 am and once I got there we learned the oath will be at 11:30 am. LOL

On 1/31/2018 at 1:49 PM, frigatebird said:

Thank you so very much for your reply, Nina91. I learned quite a number of cases same as your case. How long was the interview?

Do you know normally how far will the oath ceremony be after the passing paper is signed?

I don't remember but maybe 20 minutes? It could not be longer than 30 min from entering the door to exiting. The oath - it depends where you live. I had my interview in Cleveland office (which means I sent my docs to Chicago). I live outside of Cleveland and my oath was in my city, and they held oath ceremonies every 2 months or so. If you live in a big city, those are held more often.

By the way some places have oath the same day as interview.

29 minutes ago, frigatebird said:

Congrats ! Did you have your I 751 & N 400 combined for interview? Or you only had the later one?

 

Thank you! I do not believe they were combined, as nothing about I-751 was mentioned during my appointment. The N400 interview started with the review of basic info, then the civics questions and ended on signing document about me passing.

14 minutes ago, Cincyman said:

Great! Congrats! What is your USCIS Local/field office?

***Update: Nevermind just  realized you wrote on your post your field office. I do not know how to delete my comment. sorry **

Thank you

My journey:

I-751 application (California SC): mid September 2016

N-400 application (Chicago SC): mid October 2017

oath: mid January 2018 (never received green card)

My N400 journey:

application: mid October 2017

fingerprints: mid November

interview: mid December

oath: mid January 2018

It could be expedited in my case due to the fact that I applied for removal of conditions in September 2016 and have never received that green card.

On 1/9/2018 at 3:08 PM, dawning said:

I don't for sure know the answer, but I wouldn't think it would be likely that anyone would bother pursuing your husband because you received assistance in the 30 days before your citizenship was final. 

 

Mostly I just wanted to put in a vote of moral support that you should feel comfortable getting assistance if your family needs it.  Your husband is a citizen (I am assuming) and your child will be, so anything that helps to keep you healthy will be benefiting them, and you are becoming a citizen, so  your being supported now will help you to be a more productive citizen in the future for years to come.  And as you said, it is temporary.

 

Good luck!

I so much appreciate your kind words! Thank you for understanding.

When arriving to this country years ago, I never in million years thought I would be in a position I am in now. Hoping for better times and that this help is not needed much longer.

On 1/9/2018 at 5:57 PM, dawning said:

This is true, it is necessary to make sure not to apply for something for which you don't qualify, and to be careful to avoid any misrepresentation in anyapplication.    I was meaning to say more don't let people shame you for using things for which you legitimately ARE eligible.

Thank you for your kind words. I am pretty certain I am eligible for those programs. Also, I received a response regarding my citizenship that my current status is "oath ceremony" which will take place within a month.

Thank you above posters. I also found this helpful resource that might help others as well

https://www.hooyou.com/i-485/FAQonPublicCharge.htm

1 minute ago, Redheadguy03 said:

Why ask if you didn't want advice? You aren't supposed to be a public charge. Yes, there's exceptions, but you can still be required to pay them back. Means tested benefits are different from public charge. Example something could be public charge and you get it, but it's a mean tested benefit. So the USC could be required to pay it back. 

 

Wic is for kids. If you had kids they could get it, but you shouldn't be able to. 

I wanted to get responses on the specific questions I asked. My main question (among some others) is if those assistance programs require me to pay the government back? I could deduct that SSI and cash assistance are "public charge" and those three I mentioned are not... but I am not sure if I understand correctly?

I think you should research WIC better, WIC means Women Infants Children, and it is indeed for pregnant women.

1 minute ago, gregcrs2 said:

I think you meant Medicaid, not Medicare.

Yes, that is correct.

I would appreciate the answers that answer my specific questions. I don't need to hear how you think I should not be on public assistance. I get it, immigrants hate that.

2 minutes ago, Redheadguy03 said:

How long have you had your green card? If it's less than 5 years public assistance would have to be replayed. 

 

Have you looked into health insurance at all? You're basically at the citizenship part and you're already going to go on assistance. Try to figure it out and get insurance. Why only working part time? 

Not necessarily true, there are exceptions apparently and I think I qualify. With my income I only qualify for medicare. I don't think this response was helpful.

 Hello, I have a question. I found this link and want to double check if I understand correctly. https://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/public-charge-fact-sheet

The situation is that I have been on my naturalization interview three weeks ago and received notice that I am going to receive my oath ceremony appointment within 30 days. I am married to citizen and received green card through the citizen. We have been struggling financially due to health issues for the last few months and only one of us is employed part time. I am currently pregnant and would like to find out if I can apply for medicare, WIC and food stamps. I do not want to be a public charge and live off government and this assistance is only temporary, until we find a better job and health issues pass. We both had good jobs for many years and paid taxes but unfortunately health issues and job losses happened and we are struggling now. We have lots of medical bills for 2017 due to my health issues. Would receiving any of those three benefits (WIC, food stamps and medicare) hurt me or my spouse? I heard somewhere that once the spouse applied to be my sponsor for green card, they are responsible for me until I receive the citizenship. Technically I am almost there, thus I waited to apply for those benefits although we needed them few months ago already. I do not want my spouse to have to pay back the government a fine if I apply for something I should not be receiving. I really appreciate some advice in this matter.

this: https://my.uscis.gov/helpcenter/article/i-am-homebound-can-i-request-special-handling-of-my-case

Does anybody here have experience with applying for special accommodations? Were you approved or denied and what were specifics?

My N400 interview is next week and I also have a surgery scheduled a day before. I have not talked to doctor about the care after but from what I gathered, they want you to lay down and don't walk for at least few days after this type of surgery. No heavy lifting for several weeks after. It does not involve open wounds and it also does not impair my ability to walk and write.

Due to the scheduling and other reasons, I don't think I am able to reschedule the surgery for other day and I would also hate to miss my interview for N400 and have to reschedule for the future (and further delay my whole application). I called USCIS and they told me to apply for special accommodations but they can't tell me if I will be approved or not for special accommodations. The immigration center is over an hour drive from my home. I wonder if I should apply or not? Not trying to be difficult but on their website they state "4. for those unable to travel to a designated USCIS location for an interview, you may be visited at your home or a hospital."