Pumpkin

So it's monday today. The military hotline is available/open already since last night friday when i received my receipt number. 
 
I called in to request an expedite on my case. The lady wasn't the friendliest person and almost seemed mad the entire time (must be the monday blues and getting back to reality after the weekend). She asked me a few questions like why i'm requesting for an expedite and under what category of reason i'm requesting it. i told her our hectic pcs schedule and then us not having any address here in the us by the end of october when we leave our current duty station and then i also mentioned the travel bans of us citizens in japan because of the current pandemic and how it is both a financial and military reason. 
 
The lady told me the same thing as you that the expedite is a case to case basis and its not a guarantee they will and that it will take 7 days for them to review my application/or before I hear from them again and gave me a case/reference/tracking number for the expedite. She was talking so fast... and as soon as she said the last number she hung up on me. So i wasn't able to double check if its correct and ask where i can check or track it. 
 
Call took a total of 3 mins with her and 9 mins of wait time before i got to talk to her. 
 
So yeah do update me on how they updated you after those 7 days @Pumpkin thanks so much! I'll be taking cues/tips from you. 
 
And now it's a waiting game for me. 

After filing the N400 yesterday, I checked my account on USCIS today and it updated! Now it says this:
 
We received your application
You submitted your application on September 14, 2020
We will begin reviewing your application by conducting a background check in order to identify any issues that need to be addressed. We will schedule a biometrics appointment to collect your fingerprints. We will also review your application to make sure you have submitted all of the required information and documentation.
 
Estimated wait time: 4 days
 
I'll definitely be checking everyday after this, just in case. lol There's no indication that they accepted or even received my expedite request though, but I'll give it a week like the person on the phone told me.
 
I also got to add more documents since I've been paranoid ever since you mentioned the documents you sent. I definitely haven't sent enough. So I added a (recent) joint bank statement and also a document indicating that my husband gave me power of attorney. I also scanned my military ID in there since I can't think of anything else I can add as proof that we're still together. I'll be wracking my brain for other things I can add in later for good measure.
 
And yes, I'll try to update here as much as I can on the progress of my case. Hopefully it can help others in the same situation as us too.

After filing the N400 yesterday, I checked my account on USCIS today and it updated! Now it says this:
 
We received your application
You submitted your application on September 14, 2020
We will begin reviewing your application by conducting a background check in order to identify any issues that need to be addressed. We will schedule a biometrics appointment to collect your fingerprints. We will also review your application to make sure you have submitted all of the required information and documentation.
 
Estimated wait time: 4 days
 
I'll definitely be checking everyday after this, just in case. lol There's no indication that they accepted or even received my expedite request though, but I'll give it a week like the person on the phone told me.
 
I also got to add more documents since I've been paranoid ever since you mentioned the documents you sent. I definitely haven't sent enough. So I added a (recent) joint bank statement and also a document indicating that my husband gave me power of attorney. I also scanned my military ID in there since I can't think of anything else I can add as proof that we're still together. I'll be wracking my brain for other things I can add in later for good measure.
 
And yes, I'll try to update here as much as I can on the progress of my case. Hopefully it can help others in the same situation as us too.

My window for filing ROC starts this Friday (conditional green card expires on December) and I'm really not sure if I can actually finish the naturalization process before it expires so I think I'll have to file for ROC. Was hoping I wouldn't have to but oh well...But thank you for clarifying this!!
 
Knowing there are several military spouses out there going through the same and successfully going through it is very reassuring, thank you for that info! I filed for N400 literally just hours ago so I hope I get through this process quickly. Since my conditional GC expires in December, I think I might have to file for ROC too. But I'm hoping by some miracle that I won't have to and somehow get naturalized before the expiry...if anything, just to avoid the added fees. Also, I'm more in a time crunch since we're supposed to PCS to Italy in mid-October. Considering the wait time after filing today, even if I'll ask for my case to be expedited, realistically I know I won't finish the process in time before October so I'm fairly certain I'll have to delay going to Italy. Or probably go there but come back just for the interview and oath taking (when the time comes & if I do get approved). Ahhhh...I'm really kicking myself for leaving all these last minute.

No problem! I was actually worried about the same thing. Before I even considered filing for the N400, I was already thinking about the evidence I needed to send for when I had to file ROC and I literally don't have much to add on since my AOS at all because of COVID. My husband's currently stationed in S.Korea and we've been separated for a year. I was supposed to go see him back in April through May and that would've counted as something for our evidence but it got cancelled so the only evidence we have at this point is just a lot of calls and a short trip we had to LA before COVID which really isn't much.
 
I totally feel that right now...really no one knows what we're supposed to do. I'm going to call the passport office on base and ask if they can help me at all but one of the people my husband did ask (he asked a few people and everyone all suggested different things! Aaahh!!) also suggested calling the Italian embassy which I'll probably do if the first option doesn't really help. 
 
I filed my N400 online, I hope I get it gets expedited the same amount of time as filing it through the mail. I think the only part where it indicated that I'm filing under INA 319(b) is in my letter of intent. Although when I started filing online, it did ask me under what circumstance I'm filing for naturalization and it was pretty straight forward that I chose that I'm filing due to my husband's continued employment overseas. Also, now I feel like I definitely didn't give them enough evidence??? Not that I can give them much outside of what I already included anyway. Here's hoping the orders is enough proof that my claim on filing N400 is legit. I couldn't send them the approval for pcs because I'm actually still in the middle of getting medical/dental clearance.
 
I just called the military hotline an hour ago and they filed to get my case expedited without issue. I just have to wait a week to hear back from them whether they do or don't accept my case to be expedited. Hopefully they do! Hearing what you say others went through is giving me hope. I'm crossing my fingers....and toes. lol Good luck to you as well, I hope you make it (and without issue!) to when you're supposed to leave for Japan.

That's honestly what I feel like is gonna happen. That I'll just come back for those when I get scheduled for them. I just called the Military help line and already put in my expedite request so here's hoping they actually approve my case and speed it along a bit. As for the visa for Italy, yes we've been told I need a visa but both me and my husband are SO confused about that right now. Visa is the same as the SOFA stamp, yes? We've been asking around as to where I'm supposed to get that since everyone we ask seem to not know anything and when we do ask, everyone has different answers so it's all been confusing!
 
Ahh..when I filed the N400 (I did it online on the USCIS website) I didn't include any of the marriage evidence since it didn't really ask for them like they did for when we filed for AOS for the green card but I'll bring them with me when the interview comes around just in case. All I included were what they asked which is a copy of my current green card, marriage certificate, tax returns for the last 3 years (I gave my husband's which I'm not sure if this is even right but I haven't been employed anywhere yet so I've never filed taxes), as well as a copy of his orders with my name on it and a copy of my military ID as well just in case. That's all the evidence I sent it with my application. I hope this helps.

That's honestly what I feel like is gonna happen. That I'll just come back for those when I get scheduled for them. I just called the Military help line and already put in my expedite request so here's hoping they actually approve my case and speed it along a bit. As for the visa for Italy, yes we've been told I need a visa but both me and my husband are SO confused about that right now. Visa is the same as the SOFA stamp, yes? We've been asking around as to where I'm supposed to get that since everyone we ask seem to not know anything and when we do ask, everyone has different answers so it's all been confusing!
 
Ahh..when I filed the N400 (I did it online on the USCIS website) I didn't include any of the marriage evidence since it didn't really ask for them like they did for when we filed for AOS for the green card but I'll bring them with me when the interview comes around just in case. All I included were what they asked which is a copy of my current green card, marriage certificate, tax returns for the last 3 years (I gave my husband's which I'm not sure if this is even right but I haven't been employed anywhere yet so I've never filed taxes), as well as a copy of his orders with my name on it and a copy of my military ID as well just in case. That's all the evidence I sent it with my application. I hope this helps.

Hi pumpkin! All the people i've met on the foreign military spouse fb group that did this n400 under ina 319(b) all skip roc and go straight to n400 and all pass/become us citizens and pcs with their military spouse and live happily ever after. Hahaha. All of them including me are k1 fiance visas and then aos peeps. Most of them apply as soon as they get hard orders where its only been a few months or some even expedited their aos. So i've never thought about the fact about doing roc or our conditional green cards expiring. I'm flying out to japan in dec. My roc starts next year in feb. So it's probably not gonna even reach that time just like how it never crossed the other filers' minds because they all left so soon also. Its something you should consider. And probably just file for n400 under 319b and then if its not done by then file a roc also just to be sure. But if everything gets done by that time then you're all good. 

if you get naturalized before it’s time for you to file for ROC, then you can skip ROC. But if you are still waiting for your naturalization when your ROC window opens, then you have to file for ROC. But I don’t know if you need to have just the naturalization interview before it’s time for you to file for ROC to skip it or if you need to be naturalized.  
So you can file for naturalization now and if you’re still waiting for it when your time to file for ROC comes, then file for ROC. 

Roc can be skipped as long as you have a green card. Many of my friends i have met online also in the military has skipped and saved money by not doing roc and directly going through n400 and have gotten their citizenship. 
 
You can't file n400 under ina 319(b) if you're not on the orders/command sponsored. So you can file it though now since you will by this time have your other orders where you are included. You just have to have a copy of that hard orders and dd1278, dea (dependent approval for orders overseas), letter of intent to reside with the us citizen abroad and upon termination of that job/contract abroad to return and live in the us along with the other evidences/requirements they make you submit in usual n400's. I added my husband's navy contract and my deers application, id and tricare health insurance and my husband's page 2 and emergency contact page to show evidence that i'm his dependent. 
 
I'm a conditional gc holder. I came here on a k1 visa. We're pcsing to japan soon. I just filed for my n400 under ina 319 (b) last sept 4. 
 
Once you get your receipt number, you can also call the military hotline to request to expedite your case. Usual expedite under ina 319 b is about 1.5-3 months processing time for everything. This is based on multiple couples that have been filing under that since this january and as last as last june, july and august 2020.
 

https://www.uscis.gov/military/citizenship-family-members

Congrats!! And our experience was also the same. The interview went so fast and without any issues at all, it was honestly a relief. lol
If you don't mind me asking, is your case status online updated at all? Or does it still stay "Interview Was Scheduled"?
I heard of people having their online status updated as soon as they finished with the interview but mine hasn't yet so it worries me a bit. Kinda eager to have actual confirmation than just the officer telling us we were approved. xD

I never posted on this thread before but thought I ought to now.
 
I'm an April 2018 AOS filer as well (field office is in Denver, CO) and I had my interview earlier this afternoon. Must say, I was surprised when I got my interview date since it was much faster than I had thought. Even the officer assigned to us for the interview said he was surprised too that we got scheduled sooner than usual. I was honestly expecting to wait for a full year at least until I get interviewed for it but it was a pleasant surprise. :)

Thank you!! I checked just and it finally updated. 😊 Now I can relax a little. xD

The DHS website says 'Interview ready to be scheduled', uscis website changed to 'New card is being produced' about an hour ago  
 
Fingers crossed yours changes soon for that peace of mind!
 
Our interviewer said it could even take up to a day or two for the approval to go through.
 
Congrats as well!

Congrats!! And our experience was also the same. The interview went so fast and without any issues at all, it was honestly a relief. lol
If you don't mind me asking, is your case status online updated at all? Or does it still stay "Interview Was Scheduled"?
I heard of people having their online status updated as soon as they finished with the interview but mine hasn't yet so it worries me a bit. Kinda eager to have actual confirmation than just the officer telling us we were approved. xD

Had my interview in Denver today as well! It was pretty busy in there, but we were seen within 10 minutes of arriving and approved 10 minutes later!
I was expecting my interview to be another 6 or so months away as well!

I never posted on this thread before but thought I ought to now.
 
I'm an April 2018 AOS filer as well (field office is in Denver, CO) and I had my interview earlier this afternoon. Must say, I was surprised when I got my interview date since it was much faster than I had thought. Even the officer assigned to us for the interview said he was surprised too that we got scheduled sooner than usual. I was honestly expecting to wait for a full year at least until I get interviewed for it but it was a pleasant surprise. :)

You do not need to provide a reason or evidence for your travels. The same form was used by DACA recipients when they could still get AP and thats why it has those sections. If your have a pending i-485 and your current status is not DACA you skip those sections. 

If it makes you feel better OP, I overstayed my visa too. And way more than just the 2 months you have so far. I came here to the US last year on May 2017 on a Tourist (B-2) Visa (for reference I got married to my USC husband on June 2017) and I've been out of status since November 2017 which was when I was supposed to leave after the max 6-month allowed stay for tourists. Like you, I also panicked and worried and tried to get everything together before November but turns out it's impossible to get that much stuff together especially since I came here with no documents at all which I needed to file (birth certificate, medical, etc.).
 
We actually finally filed our AOS last month (April 2018) and it was received by USCIS and we got the receipts for it so (if I understand right) I'm no longer here "illegally". Just try to get your packet with all the forms and documents and evidence you need and don't necessarily rush it. Honestly if we actually insisted on filing before November 2017, I feel like we would've messed up somehow with all the rushing. I have been so worried about getting deported during that time (what with Trump and all) but people around me including my doctor kept reassuring me that it was highly unlikely that I would be since I'm "not the kind of immigrant they're actively looking to deport" which I suppose is true.
 
So don't rush. I'm not saying to take all the time in the world either, but just do everything you can in a calmly manner at least to make sure you don't miss anything when time comes you are going to file. Good luck!

About EAD it’s all written in instructions. You apply for one under category (c)(9) as AOS petitioner and about fees and how do do it:
 
“NOTE: If you filed Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, as of July 30, 2007, and you paid the Form I-485 filing fee, no fee is required to also file a request for employment authorization on Form I-765. You may file the Form I-765 with your Form I-485, or you may submit the Form I-765 at a later date. If you file Form I-765 separately, you must also submit a copy of your Form I-797C, Notice of Action, receipt as evidence of the filing of Form I-485 as of July 30, 2007”
 
Its the same for I-131. To form and  needed supporting documents you add a copy of your AOS NOA
 
1) timelines shows now around 4-5 months butbit changes 
2) still waiting for my EAD
3) it means the check/money order was fine and form was signed so they accepted it for further processing but they didn’t reviews it yet, that part will take months

Just for emphasis, I suppose? lol 

If it makes you feel better OP, I overstayed my visa too. And way more than just the 2 months you have so far. I came here to the US last year on May 2017 on a Tourist (B-2) Visa (for reference I got married to my USC husband on June 2017) and I've been out of status since November 2017 which was when I was supposed to leave after the max 6-month allowed stay for tourists. Like you, I also panicked and worried and tried to get everything together before November but turns out it's impossible to get that much stuff together especially since I came here with no documents at all which I needed to file (birth certificate, medical, etc.).
 
We actually finally filed our AOS last month (April 2018) and it was received by USCIS and we got the receipts for it so (if I understand right) I'm no longer here "illegally". Just try to get your packet with all the forms and documents and evidence you need and don't necessarily rush it. Honestly if we actually insisted on filing before November 2017, I feel like we would've messed up somehow with all the rushing. I have been so worried about getting deported during that time (what with Trump and all) but people around me including my doctor kept reassuring me that it was highly unlikely that I would be since I'm "not the kind of immigrant they're actively looking to deport" which I suppose is true.
 
So don't rush. I'm not saying to take all the time in the world either, but just do everything you can in a calmly manner at least to make sure you don't miss anything when time comes you are going to file. Good luck!

If it makes you feel better OP, I overstayed my visa too. And way more than just the 2 months you have so far. I came here to the US last year on May 2017 on a Tourist (B-2) Visa (for reference I got married to my USC husband on June 2017) and I've been out of status since November 2017 which was when I was supposed to leave after the max 6-month allowed stay for tourists. Like you, I also panicked and worried and tried to get everything together before November but turns out it's impossible to get that much stuff together especially since I came here with no documents at all which I needed to file (birth certificate, medical, etc.).
 
We actually finally filed our AOS last month (April 2018) and it was received by USCIS and we got the receipts for it so (if I understand right) I'm no longer here "illegally". Just try to get your packet with all the forms and documents and evidence you need and don't necessarily rush it. Honestly if we actually insisted on filing before November 2017, I feel like we would've messed up somehow with all the rushing. I have been so worried about getting deported during that time (what with Trump and all) but people around me including my doctor kept reassuring me that it was highly unlikely that I would be since I'm "not the kind of immigrant they're actively looking to deport" which I suppose is true.
 
So don't rush. I'm not saying to take all the time in the world either, but just do everything you can in a calmly manner at least to make sure you don't miss anything when time comes you are going to file. Good luck!