SS&AM

On 3/30/2021 at 9:58 AM, Leah88 said:

Hey @SS&AM! I just read your comment and it is really helpful. Would you mind if I send you a few questions via pm? My husband is in officer school and has no time to help me out with my immigration process, so I am really grateful for any help. Basically wondering, where you have to go on Base, and how you submitted your package/ how to submit the orders and mentioned documents. Thank you very much in advance! 

Yes, shoot me a message. Happy to help

1 hour ago, potatingpotato said:

Any source on this? You are probably right but I'm hoping otherwise. 90% chance I will be going CONUS to CONUS. 

 

We briefly planned on having her go the US with her tourist visa to get married, go back to her country, then file for CR1 I130. Unfortunately, they just canceled her tourist visa. Frustrating as we are running out of options and time as I'm nearing the end of my current orders. Any suggestions are appreciated.

What branch are you? That’s cool to know you will be PCSing soon before getting selected for an assignment. You want to make sure the I129F is fully approved before she would come to America. 
 

as far as a source, I do not have a complete source that states exactly conus to oconus expedite but I know several people that have had disapproval for conus to conus which makes sense because their is no real rush on a need to expedite. If going oconus their is a rush to ensure they have a green card to go Oconus.  

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• Compelling U.S. Government interests (such as urgent cases for the Department of Defense or DHS, or other public safety or national security interests). 

Only way you can expedite is if you are PCSing OCONUS from CONUS.CONUS to CONUS PCS does not qualify.  I had mine expedited for my wife due to PCSing to Japan.

You apply for 319B from overseas. 

We had to file application and receive notice to obtain fingerprints from USCIS before my wife’s fingerprints appt. 

Even before Covid military can file online from overseas. Let me know if you run into any other issues. Glad to help 

319B is not only for military. It’s for any US citizen spouse working abroad for more then a year. 
 

what’s the reason for the rush on expedite? Knowing the reason we might be able to help a little more 

Yes you are eligible if your spouse will be overseas for more then a year 

1.  What’s your DEROS? They can travel with you when you leave Korea. 
2. Translator is great option, this will not hinder a interview decision

3. Both her and her daughter will be on the same I-130. 
Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy to help. The immigration process is much easier then most people think 

We received my wife’s green card in June 2019. Arrived in Japan on July 2019, filed for naturalization as soon as we got to japan. My wife was naturalized with no issues on December 2019. Let me know if you have any questions. 319B is if your spouse is already overseas that’s why we applied as soon as we got to Japan. We had to fly back to the states however to complete interview/oath same day. 

12 hours ago, NikLR said:

Its right there under the 2nd bullet point.  If you will be or have been gone for less than 1 year this wont work. 

Correct. My statement should be will be overseas for at least one year. However you can file prior to the one year mark of being overseas 

On 1/16/2020 at 9:18 AM, valentinasc said:

I’ve email the lawyer that helped me with the GC process, to see what she would say about this and she said that we can apply if I’ve been overseas under my husband’s order for a year.. I have not seen this information anywhere on uscis 😂

You don’t need to wait the full year being overseas. Attached is straight from USCIS website. A lot of great info on there. 

15 hours ago, R&OC said:

The expedited refers to the eligibility not necessarily the process. And we are changing our duty station (overseas) soon. Hence, I was wondering if we could speed up the process?

Oh I see I’m not too sure. How long ago did you file your N-400?  Ours only took 4 months til interview.

1 hour ago, R&OC said:

Does anyone have an idea or more insight about expediting the expedited Naturalization unter 319 (b)?

Why would you be trying to expedite it if it’s already a expedited process under 319B? 

1 hour ago, valentinasc said:

I see .. we are already in japan since 4 months ago and in September I should remove conditions on my GC but I don’t know if we can expedite naturalization. I have a job at the base we’re stationed at and my husband is on shore duty. I wouldn’t want to spend money on an N-400 and get a rejection and then being told I need to remove conditions 

I’m not familiar with the removal of conditions because we are filing over a year in advance before her green card residency expires. Applying under 319B already is pretty much expediting

On 1/15/2020 at 1:35 PM, valentinasc said:

I just found this out now..GC expires on September this year so I'll go ahead and apply for Naturalization and skip the Remove of Conditions process. We are stationed in Japan too.

What did you send immigration?

orders, dependent letter of approval, sofa stamp?  also for the interview, the both of you have to be present?

Lastly, did you send pictures and fingerprints along with petition, how does it work if filling online?

I'm sorry for bombarding you with questions, but I'm just excited that I finally found some good information for us military spouses!

Yes a copy of my PCS orders with my wife listed as a dependent. A letter requesting expedite reasons due to my wife having a hard time getting employment due to not being a US citizen. We got her fingerprints done on base and attached that with our online application. We sent pictures, bank statements of joint account, etc. 

On 1/15/2020 at 11:10 AM, Cyberfx1024 said:

How you are doing brother???? 

I’ve been doing amazing man. We are finally at the finish line for my wife’s immigration journey. Hope all is well with you. 

Under INA 319B you can apply anytime. The years of marriage does not apply to 319B. My wife applied for hers literally a week after she got her green card because we were going overseas to Japan. We will be headed back to the states this month for her naturalization interview. Private message us if you need any assistance at all. 

My wife is a green card holder currently using her foreign passport here in Japan. All customs did was SOFA stamp her foreign passport

a K1 visa can be expedited if your fiancé is deploying overseas or PCSing overseas are the only expedites for military personnel 

What branch is he?

You will just get issued a NATO order. You do not meet requirements for a expedite of N-400

A couple corrections as I am near the end of my wifes naturalization case that is scheduled for interview this month. Under INA 319B you may apply online and is actually faster then postal mail. Also you may choose any field office in the U.S. for your naturalization under 319B. We actually chose Albuquerque, New Mexico for my wifes interview. A lot of military spouses have been accommodated to have their interview and oath ceremony the same day at other field offices other then Fairfax. Just wanted to add to the friendly advice that you provided

Just curious if anyone else’s estimated case completion time reflects correctly. Eagerly waiting to hear about interview, case has been showing USCIS is actively reviewing your case after we reviewed your biometrics. Estimated case completion date is December 2019. 

50 minutes ago, JMEngland said:

Yea, I'm active duty Special Operations with yearly deployments, didn't help me one bit. Provided everything under the sun to attempt an expedite and was denied 3 times. Finally was told by USCIS that they aren't expediting for deployents anymore and to stop trying. Unless it directly affects DoD (not just the soldier and their family) expedites will not be granted. Even with a Colonel's signature on a memo specifically stating the exact words they wanted to hear, it was still denied. 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

I spoke with USCIS and got approved for my expedite. All I needed was a MFR from my Commanding Officer. Faxed it and was approved quickly. Let me know if you need any help.