sweethrtt

19 hours ago, Mandeloon29 said:

Ohh, that explains a lot. Will it affect any possible visas later on? 

I had a Withdrawal on my record from 2011 and I successfully got a K1 Visa, Adjustment of Status (2 year green card), Removal of Conditions (10 year green card), and Citizenship (this Friday is my oath ceremony).

of course it totally depends on a case by case basis but truthfully I don’t think that withdrawal is going to give you any issues. But the other posters are right you’re lucky you didn’t get expedited removal. As Canadians we are lucky we can so easily travel to the US and spend as much time in the US in comparison to other countries but you should still take care of how long and often. Showing ties to Canada is important. I was traveling back and forth every other weekend, always went back, but I always kept documents to show that I was going to go back. They won’t take your word for it. So better safe than sorry. 

Oath Ceremony has been scheduled April 19, 2024!!! 
 

Wooooooooooooo 🎉🎉🎉

I uploaded my letter after I received the interview notice. In my case it was a combo interview. The IO specifically asked me if I was informed it would be a combo interview, I was not. He also specifically noted my request letter so there is definitely no harm in sending it. Also I have seen a few posts on here where they got a call or a letter between a week and a few days before the interview informing them to bring their spouse. At the end of the day it all depends with USCIS but again no harm in uploading if it would make you feel better! 

My immigration journey began on July 30th, 2018. Feels weird saying that because it has been 6 years … where does the time go? Lol Anywho I filed my I-751 on August 4, 2022 and my N400 on August 3, 2023. On February 22, 2024 I had my combo interview at the Albany, NY Field Office. I was not notified that it would be a combo interview so I uploaded a letter requesting a combo interview. It was indeed a combo interview. The IO asked if we were notified to bring my husband. We were not notified but thankfully - VisaJourney always coming in with good pointers - I brought my husband anyways. The interview was wonderful. We were in there for a good couple of hours between getting to the office, going through security, and then waiting to be checked in. Our interview was at 7:45am but they were having computer issues so we didn’t get called in to our interview until 8:30ish. It felt like a natural conversation. The IO was laid back and super nice. We went through the I751 portion first. He asked me and my husband a few questions about our relationship/married life etc. We randomly started talking about TikTok videos and books (husband is avid reader). Next was the N400 portion and he allowed my husband to stay with me the entire time… which was awesome! We did the civics and English test and I got all 6 questions correct they were:

1. Who is your state representative?
2. What is the capital of New York?
3. Name 3 of the 13 original states.
4. There are 4 amendments to the constitution about who can vote. Describe one.
5. Why did the colonists fight the British? 
6. What is the supreme law of the land?

After all was said and done. He took photocopies of some of the new evidence I brought with me. They hadn’t received my I-751 so he wasn’t able to approve me on the spot, but he did give me the letter saying I passed but a decision could not be made. 

After the interview my status changed to “We are actively reviewing your case”

March 22, 2024 my online account updated stating my I751 was transferred and a new office has jurisdiction.

March 25, 2024 N400 showed “We are recommending your N400 for approval”, I checked it a few hours later and it changed to “Oath Ceremony will be scheduled”.

March 26, 2023 checked online again and my I751 was Approved

Now we wait for my Oath ceremony date and time! Fingers crossed it’s in May lol 

It’s been a wild ride y’all and I’m finally happy to be nearing the end of this journey. Big shout out to all the fantastic people on visa journey who helped me. 

8 hours ago, TGregorio said:

My wife's immigration journey ended at the Washington, D.C. field office (Fairfax, VA) on January 6, 2024, oath ceremony! 😅 👏

 

Although, my wife and family arrived 30 minutes early for an 11:15 AM oath ceremony, the ceremony didn't take place until 12:20 PM.

USCIS scheduled oath ceremonies back to back, every 15 minutes for hundreds of N-400 applicants.  There was a very long line for 10:30, 10:45, 11:00 AM groups still waiting outside and before our 11:15 AM group. It was a cold, wet and windy day for an 1-1/2 hours wait outdoors. 🥶 

 

Thank you, Visa Journey for this platform and all the great information and ways that you've helped my family navigate the immigration process.  Thanks also to all the Visa Journey members that use this platform to exchange information, which I know to be  an excellent source of help!  We could not have done it with out the Visa Journey community. 👏👏👏

 

For those of you that are still waiting for your N-400 interviews and/or oath ceremonies, Congratulations!  You are so close to becoming  U.S. Citizens! 🎉👏

 

 

NOTES: 

 

Filed N-400 on 08/02/2023.  NOA dated 08/03/2023.

 

N-400 interview was scheduled on 09/28/2023. 

 

Attended/passed N-400 interview on 11/03/2023.  I-751 still indicated "finger prints reused."  The Immigration Officer (IO) said that the N-400 application thoroughly proved a bonafide marriage. The IO mentioned that because we had a child, that also reflected highly on my wife's case.  The officer said that she was satisfied with the quality of evidence provided, but she could not approve the N-400 until after the I-751 was approved. The IO did not review any of the long questions in the back of the N-400. 

 

Received letter from the Potomac Service Center on 11/06/2023, stating that the I-751 was being transferred to the National Benefits Center, "in order to speed up processing."  We didn't have a joint I-751/N-400 interview, although my wife requested a combination interview on her N-400 application.

 

I-751 and N-400 Approved on 11/15/2023.

 

Oath Ceremony Scheduled on 12/19/2023.  IO told my wife that she should expect to receive have her oath ceremony by the end of November or early in December. However, once that window for attending the oath ceremony letter passed, we inquired as to when my wife can expect to attend the oath ceremony. We were told "ceremony will be scheduled." It's possible that the ball was dropped between the NBC and Washington, D.C. field office for scheduling the oath ceremony. Based on what I've seen at the Fairfax, VA field office with other cases, attending the oath ceremony seven weeks after passing the N-400 interview is abnormally longer than usual.  However, we're happy to be finished with USCIS and this extensive immigration process.

 

We're so grateful for filing the N-400 online because one of the benefits was being able to download the oath ceremony letter two weeks early. The original oath ceremony letter was received a few days of the oath ceremony.

 

Received new U.S.A. passport on 01/22/2024. Once oath ceremony date confirmed, passport appointment scheduled at local USPS on 01/08/2024. We would have received the new passport in 12 days, but the winter storm caused a delay.

 

Registered to vote on 01/07/2024.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations!!!! 🎉 

On 12/24/2023 at 8:09 PM, aneeth said:

Hello All, 


N400 Filing : August 31 2023 ( Marriage based) 

Interview date : December 20 2023 Seattle field office. 

Security let me in at 8 AM, waited for 1 hr and Office called my number. 

Civic questions. 

1. When is the last day to file federal taxes
2. There were 13 original states , name 3
3. Name one state that borders Canada
4. What did Martin Luther Jr do
5. What are 2 parts of us congress
6. In which month we vote for president 

Reading : how many senators are there 
Writing : there are 100 senators.

Asked yes or no question’s from N400, adjusted few travel dates. I have 3 speeding tickets officer added them to my N400. 

Signed iPad with changed made and oath of allegiance. 

Printed paper and informed that she can not make a decision and have to send it to her supervisor. 

Walked out everything completed in 40 min. 

Happy Holidays everyone & good luck for who ever is attending interviews.

Hey! Did you get approved? 

Ya'll I'm freaking out! LOL

I checked online today and on January 11th they finally posted INTERVIEW SCHEDULED notice. My interview is February 22, 2024 in Albany, NY.

I wanna thank whoever was watching when I was booking a cruise that I chose the week earlier from my husbands week off of school! PHEW!

Nervous but happy! I'll keep ya'll posted hopefully it is a combo interview, to that end do you think it is a good idea to upload a letter kind of "reminding" them I have a pending I-751? Or should I not? Any thoughts are appreciated.

On 1/13/2024 at 2:48 AM, OldUser said:

Based on info in other threads, you filed N-400 in August 2023, not 2022?

 

If filed in August 2023, it's still early to bug USCIS.

 

It's also a bit early to bug regarding I-751 that you filed in August 2022, since most of I-751s take 20+ months nowadays.

Oh Geez you are so right about the N400. I totally confused the dates! Sorry about that! I filed my I-751 in 2022 🫣
 

Appreciate the response! 

11 hours ago, jackiegringa said:

So...5 months ago? Why would you think that this is taking too long? It hasn't been enough time to do anything about it but wait until your interview is scheduled.

 

Other people getting their interviews in less the 5 months is not indication that your case will also take less than 5 months. I understand the anxiety of getting over with USCIS very well but you're well within processing times for your files office which is 7.5 months.

 

If you submitted in 2022 then yes, time to start bugging uscis and your local representative about it. Otherwise you're just gonna have to wait ...

Should I start bugging them about my N400? I sent mine in August 2022. 

13 hours ago, Natasha Cota said:

Same. Applied for I-751 in September 2022. NOA and biometrics reuse, nothing since (Vermont service center). Applied for N-400 mid August 2023 online under 3 year rule, NOA and biometrics reuse. Case is being actively reviewed since the day I applied. I’ve been following this forum a lot and I see folks under three year rule who applied later than me got their interviews or are already sworn in. Don’t know how/why this happens.

It’s all so disheartening.

Fingers crossed we both hear something soon! Sending all my luck to you! 

Curious is anyone else in this group is still waiting to hear from USCIS? I filed August 2023 for N400 and August 2022 for I-751. It’s been radio silence ever since I got the acceptance notification and biometrics reuse.
 

I was able to finish my N400 yesterday. The website must have been acting wonky but I feel my computer also wasn’t making it easy lol technology: definite love-hate relationship 😂

glad it ended up working for you! 

I was trying to do my N-400 and the website wouldn’t load or it would I could get through the entire application and then my documents wouldn’t upload. Frustrating to say the least. I’m hoping it is all fixed by tomorrow!

First thing Monday morning I’m going to the SSA office.

Thanks everyone!! 

get the restricted wording off my social security card before my green card expires?

I just realized I never got that wording removed off my social and I’m worried. Will it cause me problems? 
 

I filed my I-751 about a month ago, so my green card expires soonish. 

I filed yesterday!

Now it’s out of sight and out of mind, as soon as I get the extension letter lol, and I can look forward to our vacation to Iceland!

I asked for an expedite based on a job offer. I included the job offer itself, my resume and a letter from my then soon-to-be-boss. It took a little more than a month but the expedite was approved. There really is no harm in trying. 
 

During these times it might take a little longer than a month but honestly it’s better then waiting 6 months or more. 

I used my AP back in June to travel to Canada. Had no issues coming back in. He will have to go to secondary (the usual) so they can parole him in, but aside from that he shouldn’t have any issues. I was like your husband terrified to use my AP but as soon as I used it the first time I was not worried anymore.

2 hours ago, NikLR said:

Even my kid’s school says she needs to quarantine for 14 days if they travel outside the country (she is Canadian and lives in Canada.).  Every family member I’ve had that has travelled during this time has had to quarantine during their return from outside the country. 

I called them a second time and was met with the same response as a Canadian Citizen I am allowed to come and go as I please. I am not required to stay for 14 days but I must quarantine for the amount of time I do decide to stay. 

4 hours ago, Luckycuds said:

I think your issue is can you travel to Canada for two days? I have a coworker who is a Canadian citizen/LPR who went to Canada and she HAD to quarantine for 2 weeks and even got checked on while in Canada. They are taking it much more serious than the USA (and justly so). 

I called CBSA and the agent told me that as a citizen I am exempt from having to stay for 14 days.

just to be on the safe side I may contact them again lol 

9 minutes ago, mkayyy said:

That's interesting.  Are you supposed to quarantine during the days you're there?  Being in Seattle, I would love to go visit my family in Vancouver at some point.  

Oh yes most definitely need to quarantine. For piece of mind give them a call and ask and that way you know for certain and you may be able to visit your family after all!! 

4 hours ago, mkayyy said:

Yes but you're supposed to quarantine for 14 days in Canada, so just going for a weekend is not technically allowed. This is what has prevented us from visiting family in Canada and even prevented family in Canada from visiting us (because they don't want to quarantine when they return).   

I called CBSA today and as a Canadian Citizen you are exempt from having to stay for 14 days. However my husband, for example, who is not an Canadian citizen is not exempt and must stay for greater than 14 days. I read what you mentioned on their website and that’s why I called them to clarify. 
 

But my question isn’t about the Canadian border it is about being allowed back in to the US.... I wasn’t sure if there was some rules about me coming back home to New York. 

Hi All

On October 28, 2020 I received my permanent residency card and am planning on traveling to Canada to visit my family. 
 

I know this has been answered before so I do apologize for the redundancy in my question. 
 

Will I be allowed back into the US after spending a weekend in Canada??

thank you in advance to those of you answering my question... it is greatly appreciated! 

Yes omg for the last 3 damn days I’ve been getting these emails.

First: October 22, 2020 two emails as above went to my case status and it was updated twice 1. You have completed your interview and we are reviewing 2. New card in production... then it completely went away and said “case status is not available at this time”

Second: October 23, 2020 two emails as above went to my case status and the two update from the first are gone and it is back to my July 10th interview has been scheduled notice 

Third: Today (October 24, 2020) one email went online to check no updates at all 

I’m getting so fed up with this. How could they toy with people like this? I got the new card is being produced and finally believed that I was on my way to getting my green card and all it was... was false hope. I’m heartbroken and in all honesty completely pissed off. I guess what bothers me the most is up until this point my case status was always updated correctly and then this 😡 

Also I want to mention that on October 20th I had a second interview.. not stokes interview either. So all these updates really screwed with me. I feel so defeated by this entire process.