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Don0

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Posts posted by Don0

    3 yr versus 5 yr rule. Does it matter?

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi everyone! Will try to make this short. I came to the US Aug 2020. So I'm going on my 4th yr. Last yr, my 751 got approved on October and I didn't apply for a combo since I will be out of the country within this yr (next month, brother's wedding) and I didn't want to miss the interview or whatever appointment they would have set. 

     

    So now, I'm debating if I should apply when I come back on August under the 3 yr rule or wait for May-end next year to apply under the 5 yr rule.

     

    Would it be easier since it won't be based on marriage? Will it be less paperwork (I've read you will basically need your 751 if you do the 3 yr, correct me if this is incorrect)? I am not in a hurry but I also want to get this over with. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

    Unsolicited Evidence? Did someone ever use it? USCIS Portal

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted

    12 hours ago, pnw12 said:

     

    This is for IOE cases. USCIS is transitioning I-751s to online processing, so it appears as though all cases are now receiving online access codes. It's been pretty good so far, as you have the option to view USCIS notices faster, see that a potion of your application has been uploaded, and upload additional documentation in an 'unsolicited evidence' section.

     

    I believe the N-400 has had an online filing option for a while now. 

     

    Congrats on your approval! I'm guessing you've been waiting a long time for that? 

    Oh! So this is recent then? I filed May 2022, biometrics on June 2022 no news for a year and 4 months then they just sent me a card. 😅

     

    11 hours ago, oneoftheunderdogs said:

    Congrats! When did you file? It took probably 4 -- 5 months for my documents to show up on my.uscis.gov.

    I filed May 2022 though. This must be something new then..

     

    Thank you for everyone's responses!

    Proof of bonafide marriage for 3 yr rule

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    16 hours ago, carmel34 said:

    Best evidence of bona fide marriage is from the date of marriage until the time you file the N-400.  Another suggestion that works is to file the N-400 with the minimum required documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree if applicable, and IRS tax transcripts) and take more evidence from the date of marriage until present to the N-400 interview.

    Thank you for your reply. So you mean, I only upload the needed documwnts and all the others I just bring with me? Like bank statements, photos, insurance and such?

     

    15 hours ago, Dashinka said:

    This is what is shown in the N400 instructions (below) relative to marital evidence to bring to the interview.  You do not need all that to actually submit the N400 though even under the 3 yr. rule, although most when filing online will upload it.  It seems you already have a bunch of evidence from the I751, so you can add to that, and it is up to you if you want to upload it if you file online or take it with you to the interview.

     

    Good Luck!

     

    7. Other Documents. Depending on the circumstances, you should bring certain documents to your interview. You may also submit copies of these documents with your application. For example:

    A. Spouse of a U.S. Citizen. Bring the following items to your interview if you are applying for naturalization on the basis of your marriage to a U.S. citizen:

    (1) Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include: a birth certificate (if your spouse never lost U.S. citizenship since birth), Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Form FS-240 Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America;

    (2) Evidence of the termination of all your prior marriages; and

    (3) Evidence that you and your spouse have lived in marital union for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include:

    (a) Joint bank and credit card statements;

    (b) Leases or mortgages;

    (c) Birth certificates of children;

    (d) Insurance policies; and

    (e) Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you and your spouse filed for the past 3 years (or an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years).

     

    https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-400instr.pdf

    This is very helpful. Thank you so much!

    Proof of bonafide marriage for 3 yr rule

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, Don0 said:

    Hi VJ community!

     

    Just got my 10 year gc and will be applying for n400 next year. I will be applying under the 3 yr rule which is based on marriage. Aside from marriage certificate, taxes we filed jointly, what other evidence do I need to send?

     

    I have sent a lot of evidence (pictures, bank statements, birth certificate of our son) for my i751 that having to send only these two seems weird to me. 😅 

     

    Any info would be appreciated. Thank you!

    So I dug through VJ and it seem like I need to send in a lot of evidence as I did with my ROC. My question is, should it be from the beginning of our marriage or from the time I sent in my ROC packet? And do photos still count? Thanks!

    Proof of bonafide marriage for 3 yr rule

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi VJ community!

     

    Just got my 10 year gc and will be applying for n400 next year. I will be applying under the 3 yr rule which is based on marriage. Aside from marriage certificate, taxes we filed jointly, what other evidence do I need to send?

     

    I have sent a lot of evidence (pictures, bank statements, birth certificate of our son) for my i751 that having to send only these two seems weird to me. 😅 

     

    Any info would be appreciated. Thank you!

    Torn if wait for i751 or apply for n400..

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi everyone! Unsure if anyone is following this. But just an update.

     

    As I was editing my N400 draft (so it does not "expire"), I saw a change in my I751 case status. It showed "Case was mailed to me" Yey!

     

    No RFEs, no interview. And yes, I am under CR1 where an interview was expected. So maybe USCIS have changed "strategies"? Whatever it is, just happy I will have my card in a few days in the mail! 😊

     

    Thank you everyone! Decided to apply for N400 when I get back next year from my brother's wedding. Gotta chill from all these USCIS stuff. 

    Torn if wait for i751 or apply for n400..

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted

    We've decided (husband and I) to just wait out my RoC and file n400 when I get back. If I do file my n400, there would be a lot of things to consider that might lead me to either miss the interview or my brother's wedding such as the timing of the interview, oath taking  getting the US passport. I'll wait til end of this year to have USCIS sort it out and if nothing comes, by start of next year, the wom would be something to tackle. Not in a hurry to get a citizenship too so this seems to be the decision we're at at the moment.

     

    Thank you for everyone's input! Really appreciate it! 

    Torn if wait for i751 or apply for n400..

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted

    29 minutes ago, OldUser said:

    Yes, there's definitely a risk of you missing the interview and getting denied.

     

    Usually you're supposed to have an interview letter and case status update. Usually USCIS gives a few weeks notice.

     

    That said, you never know when you're going to be approved or called for an interview. I watched cases around mine. Some were approved in November 2022. In January-February it got quiet. My friend got approved in May 2023.

     

    I had 2 trips between November 2022 and August 2023 when I got approved.

     

    I would've missed those trips for no reason. Was there a risk? Yes. Was it that big? No. If you only travel for 2-3 weeks, you should be OK.

     

    I have the Lawfully app which notifies me of any case status updates. Hopefully that helps me. 

     

    And yeah, I was planning on a 45 day trip since the travel fees are expensive but if it's too risky, there's no problem shortening it. I'm praying I get no interview though. I know it's expected for cr1 filers but I have seen in our May 2022 filers thread that cr1 filers have been given the 10 yr gc without an interview! Wishful thinking..

    Torn if wait for i751 or apply for n400..

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted

    28 minutes ago, OldUser said:

    I believe the filing fee is under $500.

    You don't have to pay over $5000 for a lawyer, it can be done yourself:

     

     

    Either way, your I-751 can be approved between now and year or two away.

     

    If you don't have urgency to naturalize such as:

    - Wanting to sponsor parents, kids etc for GC

    - Wanting to take a job requiring US citizenship

    - Needing to travel overseas or move there for a year or more

     

    then you can just live with conditional GC and extension letter until USCIS makes a decision.

     

     

     

     

     

    Oh really? Thanks for letting me know. 

     

    And yeah, I don't have any plans for those. But my fear is being outside of the country and a physical mail comes in about my pending RoC or a schedule for interview. Does is give me enough time to fly back for the interview like the n400 does? I have usps informed delivery but it's not always reliable..

    Torn if wait for i751 or apply for n400..

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Don0

    Thank you for everyone's input. 😊

     

    I was thinking about possibilities and looking through timelines last night. Though it is a slim chance, if it does come in early, I would need to get my passport before I could fly, so that is another thing, I might not be able to get it done in time for the wedding. I will be in Sacramento FO so I believe they are one of the slowest so I dunno, this is confusing..

    Torn if wait for i751 or apply for n400..

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, Mike E said:

    That does not answer my question.

     

    What is scary is having I-751 denied while of the country.

     

    Why did you enter the U.S. before September 25, 2020? You could have avoided I-751.

    That is scary too. I'll look into it.

     

    It was the height of the pandemic so my interview was pushed a few months even when I already did my medical exam. Hence, my medical was expiring on September 3, 2020 so I had to rush. Also, my master's program started end of August so I had to fly earlier too. 

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