GermanG

On 10/4/2020 at 11:42 PM, Can-thePNWhobbies said:

Well that is for me I guess. I was told that by USPS officer. You dont need to be cynical! There s no place to check that. He told me 5 months, i got my passport less than a month. Its bcuz of him, i canceled my trip. 

Sorry about the cancellation of your trip. You should not call people :"cynical". Stick to the facts.

On 9/22/2020 at 1:02 PM, Tm and Je said:

I already received my passport book, passport card and my certificate of Naturalization. My visa journey is completed!! 

Thanks God! I received my US Passport book on Friday 9.25.2020.

So, it took 2 months and 5 days since I filed. Not 5 months like people said before!

On 9/16/2020 at 3:48 PM, Tm and Je said:

Hey German. My passport application was approved today. It took almost 2 months. 

Excellent! Mine has been cooking for 2 months already. Another trick is to apply for the Enhanced DL.

At least you can leave by land or sea.

On 9/3/2020 at 2:48 PM, Can-thePNWhobbies said:

Thank you. I just sent my passport documents. The guy told me that it may take 4 to 5 months

Hi there,

I applied for my US Passport on July 20, 2020.

As of today, they are done with 92% of the application received during April, May and June. So, it's not true that it can take 5 months.

I expect to have it by December.

On 8/17/2020 at 11:02 AM, BeMeow said:

Hi GermanG, since you filed your N-400 under 3-year rule, did you bring updated documents about marriage evidence? Also, did your interview officer ask any question related to the marriage or just normal naturalization questions? I'm currently waiting for my N-400 interview wondering what I should prepare for the interview.

 

Hi BeMeow,

I brought all the evidence related to our marriage. Right before the N400 interview, I had to send back an RFE for the I751 approval so I showed up to the N400 interview with the copies of the same documents (updated mortgages, etc.etc.).

The Immigration Officer mostly focused on N-400 solo questions (it was no longer a combo interview because one month before the 10-yr Green Card had been approved). So, mostly Naturalization questions.

42 minutes ago, yippy_j said:

You got me a bit worried about "all documents".

 

What do you mean? Like all the US issued documents before you become a green card holder? I thought they already vetted you on that? Is it really necessary to bring all those documents? I dumped all of those (like i-20) years ago once i got my green card. I thought those were only necessary when you applied for green card?

 

The IO specifically asked me to see my J1 waiver. He had in front of him a big big binder with all my immigration history. There were people whom they were asked about taxes (not me), etc. That's why I said to bring all your documents. What they said in the appointmenf letter is not enough.

49 minutes ago, Tm and Je said:

Congratulations!!!

I would like to add that during my interview the doors of the offices were open so l barely could hear the questions because the IO in the office in front of where l was, was talking aloud and it was distracting. I also asked to repeat questions many times because of that.

Congrats to you too!  Now that I recovered from yesterday experience, I can emphasize to really review your N400.

You need to know BY HARD your trips (dates outside the US), your addresses (when you moved in and out) and employment history.

In my case, the IO went beyond the information provided in the N400 and asked me questions about my life in Argentina and when I arrived in the US in 2002 on J1 visa. He asked me about the J1 waiver (thanks God I brought a big binder with everything). More is less. Bring everything that you have. And everything organized chronologically, with bookmarks.

Also pay attention to the yes/no answers. Go back to your N400 and read them again. There is a "switch" point from "no" answers to "yes". Know that point.

It was extremely difficult to understand. My IO spoke thtough a double bandana and there was a flexiglass in front of me. Ask him/her to repeat. 

The English part is on a little touchscreen to your left. You can scribble words, not a problem.

1 hour ago, Kylekyle said:

How was your interview today?

Hi Kyle! I passed interview, exam and oath. Today I became US Citizen. I left USCIS with the Certificate of Naturalization in my hands.

Here some tips:

1) The sound is terrible, very hard to hear what tgey are saying. They were a facemask and there is a plexiglass inbetween. Ask to repeat questions. 

2) bring all documents. Since you ever came to the US. I was asked to show J1 waiver that happened in 2009 (I was on F1 OPT before H1B).

Have everything super organized, chronologically.

3) SUPER TIP. I could barely hear the officer. There is a sequence of "no" questions (about being involved in prostituition, etc.). Then switch to Yes. PLEAEE STUDY YOUR N400 AND WHERE IS THE NO YES SWITCH. if you make a mistake, they can reject your petition. It happened to an applicant before me.

Good luck to everyone!!!

7 minutes ago, JollyRedd said:

Congratulations!! I know that it has been a rough road for all of us combo filers. Good luck on your day! 🙂

Thank you so much!! It's been a loooong way for me too..I came to US in October 2002 and have had all the visas and work permits that you can imagine. It's been a ~18 year marathon! 

I am thankful to members of this Forum for very helpful advice and to US Senator Maria Cantwell, who pushed my combo cases. 😃😃😃

1 hour ago, Can-thePNWhobbies said:

Congratulations!!!

it is exiting news. I hope We will get soon too.

They scheduled the interview on July 8th in the afternoon. They notified me on Friday June 26th by email (USCIS-Case notification email).

MyUSCIS and the Check-case status websites updated it on June 27th. They said "my interview was scheduled".

I learned about the date/time because I called Customer Service. They said they mailed me the notification but I haven't received it yet.

23 minutes ago, rowrowrowtheboat said:

Congratulations! Great news!

Thank you!! The interview wikl be on July 8, 2020 in the afternoon.

They notified me through email.

Nothing has changed on myUSCIS (yet).

They told me the info on the phone. They also mentioned I would receive a hard copy by mail. For reference, I filed on 10/25/2018 (20 months ago).

On 6/25/2020 at 6:06 AM, Can-thePNWhobbies said:

There will be another notification? Hmm

Guys!!! Excellent news!!! 

I was a combo filer (i751: November 2017/// N400: October  2018).

The GC was approved on May 27, 2020. I received GC on June 02, 2020.

Today, I received email:

Application Type: N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Your Case Status: Testing and Interview

On June 26, 2020, we scheduled an interview for your Form N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION, Receipt Number IOExxxxx1. We will mail you an interview notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

9 minutes ago, Tm and Je said:

Did you at least take a photocopy? This might be a good story for your grandkids one day.😏

Yesss!! It was awesome. They printed all the right information (date of birth, case number, etc.) except for the photo. What it was funny (or terrible) is that if I were to have surgery and change my gender (male to female) and race (I'm latino and the woman no) maybe it would take shorter than waiting for USCIS to print and mail back the right Green Card. Anyway, as long as I have memory, I will never forget that day.

6 minutes ago, TheyLoveMe said:

That's an epic fail from USCIS side, it sure isn't funny to you. Hope it gets resolved ASAP.

After waiting for 32 months for the I751 to get approved, I almost stroked out to find out that my GC had a woman's face (and of different ethnicity). I called USCIS and they apologized for their mistake. I had to send back tbe wrong GC (I wish I would have been able to keep it.). It was a mystical experience😜

40 minutes ago, Can-thePNWhobbies said:

After you get I751 Notice, how many days the card will be delivered? 

It says 60 days but it is accurate? or they send in a week or two? I need to schedule a plane ticket...

My i751 was approved on May 27, card mailed on May 29 and I received it on June 2. pretty fast!

PS: My green card had somebody else's photo. I had to file the I90 form to replace it. It's USCIS's 100% fault that they didn't check my GC and fingerprints. Funny but terrible.

I just wonder what will be the approach for old filers like me. I filed the N-400 almost 20 months  ago (the expected completion date was originally Dec 2019 and then Feb 2020. Still in my rocking chair).

For the 2018 filers, is it possible to complain about outside normal processing range when they keep pushing the time line to 36 months? Has anybody tried anything or are we passively going to wait other 1.5 years?

2 minutes ago, Can-thePNWhobbies said:

Exactly, otherwise, if you reviewed the green card, why do you wanna do another process for N400? why do you wanna do same thing twice, 2x more work?

everything is about election..

I am looking other other N-400 pages (within Visa Journey) and not everyone saw what I have just realized.

It's very surprising that ALL the cities have exactly the same processing time-frame of 3 years.

Some people think that is a "systematic error". What do you guys think? Should we call?

7 minutes ago, GermanG said:

WOW!!! Unless I am wrong, but today, the USCIS website announces that IT IS TAKING BETWEEN 12.5 MONTHS TO 36 MONTHS to process the N-400 at Seattle, WA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable!!!

It jumped from a maximum of 19 months to 36 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, the receipt date for a case inquiry jumped backwards to July 1, 2017.

This must be a joke. 

What is interesting is that ALL cities have exactly the SAME time frame...UP TO 3 YEARS FOR N-400!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think they want us to vote for the upcoming elections.

29 minutes ago, immianxiety said:

April 2018. 

WOW!!! Unless I am wrong, but today, the USCIS website announces that IT IS TAKING BETWEEN 12.5 MONTHS TO 36 MONTHS to process the N-400 at Seattle, WA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable!!!

It jumped from a maximum of 19 months to 36 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, the receipt date for a case inquiry jumped backwards to July 1, 2017.

This must be a joke. 

18 minutes ago, rowrowrowtheboat said:

will absolutely do. Good luck to you and everyone. 

I was a combo filer. The Green Card was approved and I received it 2 weeks ago. My N-400, still nothing. I filed on October 25, 2018. Are there still "old" N-400 filers in this forum?

34 minutes ago, Hien Le said:

Hi congrats on your approval. It seemed like Seattle combo filers are getting their I-751 approved before naturalization interview now

By the way. I really hope to get N-400 approved without an interview since I saw some one in this forum get their I-751 and N-400 approved together but apparently it's not the case for me.

Have you or anybody received any letter for N-400 interview? I am just curious to see what is going on after they opened up on June 4.

The letter that I received the last Saturday (from USCIS) says that I should expect soon a letter for interview (for Naturalization). No mention about skipping interview or test.

29 minutes ago, Tm and Je said:

Just an update...

On June 1, l sent another inquiry and yesterday, June 8, l received the answer that my I-751  is pending for interview and it will be combined with my N400.

On June 5, l wrote again to the Senator Maria. 

And today...Good news!! I just received the "My Green Card is being produce" notification. 

I am very happy. Hopefully you get yours soon.

Excellent!! Tm and Je! 

That's what I kept telling people of this forum.

No matter what they write to you (from USCIS), insist on Senator Cantwell.

I have had the same story (letters saying about the "combo" interview..blah..blah..both cases will be adjudicated at the same time...blah..blah.)

I think it was her phone call that pushed to the approval of GC.  Congrats!!!!!!!!!!

Hope we can have the exam on the same date!

3 hours ago, Hien Le said:

Yes it was transferred to NBC August 2019 after I filed N-400

 

 Wow congratulations it was a surprised that we no longer need a naturalization interview. I am also a combo filer, my I-751 was transferred to Lee Summit August 2019, and finally got approved yesterday. I am waiting on the approval letter to see what it said :). I will keep you guys posted!

Hi all, 

Update: the letter that I received from USCIS Seattle office only says that they are working on my case (N-400) and I should expect the letter for interview soon.

It was a hard copy reply to my E-request that I did on June 1. False alarm.

very excited about the possibility of not having interview! I hope more people have that luck!

25 minutes ago, Tm and Je said:

I did contact Senator Cantwell, Ombudsman, sent several E-requests, lots of calls... Believe me...l have done everything but nothing yet. 

Please let us know if the USCIS letter is your naturalization appointment. Fingers crossed. 

I will let you know. It's coming from Seattle and my N-400 was filed in October, 2018 so it's overdue. No changes in myUSCIS website yet.

Whatever they write to one Congress man doesn't match with what they tell the other one. I used to send E-request every single month for both pending cases. Before, they told Cantwell about "combo" interview, and all of a sudden, they approved the GC. Keep insisting and alternating the means, rotating each time. 

19 hours ago, Tm and Je said:

I just received an answer from the congressman...

 

 

June 4, 2020  Mrs. Dear Mrs. As a result of our inquiry, we have been told that your pending applications are combined and will be considered together.  Unfortunately the waiting time for an interview for citizenship is quite long, as it was even before the offices were closed to due COVID 10.  Please see their website for COVID related updates: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-covid-19 I'm not sure what other questions you might have.  If you have any questions, I am available to be reached at (   Sincerely,   Constituent Services Office of Congressman Denny Heck

 

 

 

Sorry to hear about that. Please try Senator Cantwell, Ombudsman, E-requests (do it for both pending cases, I751 and N400) and try to talk to tier 2 officers. I also sent many messages using myUSCIS inbox.

I did all of that and I received an RFE for the I751 and the case was approved in 1 day upon review of new evidence. I was impressed how Senator Cantwell's office called me and called USCIS to do a close follow up. I am not a politician..merely a humble worker.I don't have proof but I think that Cantwell's push catalyzed the approval of my GC.

Today I can see that I will be receiving a letter from USCIS Seattle (I can see it on my USPS informed delivery system). I hope it is the appointment for Naturalization.

Don't give up and keep pushing it.