Sofitalian

If she's eligible to file under the 5-year rule, I would go for that. 

I filed under the 3-year (marriage) rule. I had more evidence that it's asked for. However, in my N-400 interview, the Officer still asked many many questions here and there. It made me nervous because the Officer had a strong accent. You don't want to put your wife in that stressful situation during the interview.

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

Did you tell security you had N-400 based on marriage to US citizen?

 

I guess the experience varies by office.

Yes I did. 

The IO had a strong accent (maybe he's originally an immigrant too) and that made me nervous. But overall it was ok.

24 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Congratulations ! You could have taken spouse with you. Usually it helps with N-400 under 3 year rule. The spouse may not be allowed in the same room, but they can be waiting in waiting area.

Thanks! My spouse went with me but he was not allowed to be even in the waiting room. He waited outside in the car.

Hello All,

My interview took place today. It took around 20 minutes from the moment I got into the interview room.

My application was under 3-yr rule and the interviewer did ask me a lot of questions about that (where's your husband now? Does he work? Do you work? When did you get married? Why did you only apply now?......) Some questions he kept coming back a few times such as "Do you have to work today?"....

He only asked for my Green Card, Driver's License, passport, nothing else.

The civics tests were not hard, but I didn't hear him well on the first question and I asked him to repeat. 

I was approved. The Officer told me it would take approx. 90 days for me to get the mail informing the Oath Ceremony. When I checked my USCIS account today, it's changed to "Oath Ceremony will be scheduled".

18 minutes ago, Natasha Cota said:

Hi everyone!

 

I’m freaking out a bit. So is it true if you file N-400 online your signature at the end must be handwritten?? I just typed out my name as there were no instructions that it must be while I was doing so. I was just casually browsing Reddit and found a question about and and did a further research and found that a separate file for N-400 instructions on the USCIS website mentions that “A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable”. Did I mess this up? How did you sign your form if you filed online? I’m honestly so upset now, I don’t know what to do…

On the online form, it was stated like this: 

You must provide your digital signature below by typing

your full legal name. We may deny your application if you

do not completely fill out this application or fail to submit

required documents. We will record the date of your

signature with your application.

Hello all, I'm still stuck in one question on N-400 Form about legal name.

On my I-130 and DS-260, I had used my legal name in my birth country (e.g. Mary Janice DOE).

Then when my IR-1 visa was approved, the IO let me used my Canadian passport for the visa (supported by a letter written by me to request that). My name is say, Janice DOE, on my Canadian passport.

On my IR-1 visa, then subsequently on my Green Card, my name is appeared as Janice DOE.

Now on N-400:

- When I am asked about my current legal name, should it be Janice DOE (i.e. follow my Green Card, not my marriage cert)?

- Should I sign Janice DOE on the last page of the form as my legal name?

Anyone had similar situations before?

Hi VJ members,

On N-400, the question of Part 12, 9 - "Have you EVER been a member of, involved in, or in any way associated with any organization, association, fund, foundation, party, club, society, or similar group in the United States or in any other location in the world?"

I checked on the DS-260 I filed. The similar question asked was "Have you belonged to, contributed to, or worked for any professional, social or charitable organization? My answer was NO.

I realized I missed to mention an arts organization which I joined many years ago (outside US). Should I mention it on N-400? I read many threads here that it's good to be consistent with other forms filed before.

Appreciate if anyone can share their experiences on this question. Many thanks.

6 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Yep,  worried too much 

apply when u get back as biometrics may happen fast

bio  is fingerprints and photo  

IR 1 bio was done at interview (fingerprints at embassy)  passport photos taken to interview

the biometrics photo taken now will appear  on the naturalization certificate at lower left hand side 

 

Best to u 

 

Thanks so much for your sharing.

Thanks @JeanneAdil @Crazy Cat. In fact, I will be outside US for 1 week and then be back to US in another state for a work trip (hence 10 days in total). I don't mind filing after I return if the 1-week outside of US is acceptable and not affecting my residence requirement. Am I worried too much?

6 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

You could get a "Biometrics Reused" notice.  But I think I would just wait to file after your return.  Otherwise, you will worry the entire time you are on your trip.  In the long run, delaying 10 days won't mean much of anything.  

-  just the thoughts of an old guy

My visa was IR-1. I've neverhad any Biometrics done.

Hi everyone,

I planned to submit my N-400 online today. I will be travelling outside US tomorrow (for 10 days). I checked in this forum most people who were processed in my local office got their biometrics appt 3-4 weeks after filing. 

Is there any concern that I should wait until I return from my trip to file? Thanks for your help in advance.

Following up on my previous post - 

I should put "DOE, Mary-Ann Jane" as my current legal name and check "DOE, Jane" which is what appears on my Permanent Resident Card.

Actually, I had legal name change in Canada for "DOE, Jane". Should I submit it as "Evidence of name change" in N-400 application? I don't know if it's relevant or if I will create confusion if I submit? Should I NOT add this evidence but only bring to the interview in future?

Thanks all for your comments. I initially thought about sending them by mail/by courier. Then I realized it's way too more expensive than paying for a 2nd baggage to airline

Hello all,

I've moved to the US 3 years ago, but I'm planning to bring back some used household goods from my previous residence in Canada. Those will mainly be some books, video tapes and documents. I think I will just put them into a baggage with my flight back to US. 

If it's unaccompanied goods, I know about the Form 3299. But these are now accompanied household goods, do I need to declare and is there a form to fill in? 

When I was waiting for my IR-1 visa, I visited my husband a number of times while he was in the U.S.  I always brought a copy of my NOA, round-trip ticket, lease, employment contract, and even the latest tax return of my home country. Never once any IO asked about those or raised any concern on my visit. Though I haven't flied directly to Nashville but I don't think the POE made any difference.

If question was asked, you may say “My fiancee has filed a petition for me and we just received the receipt notice for the case (if you have). As you understand the processing time is very long and I’d like to see my fiancee during this time. Due to his work he is not able to come and visit me. Instead I am visiting him (like I always have), I have no intentions to stay here as I have to return to xxx"... something alone that line.

From my experience of reaching the US Consulate in Hong Kong often got conflicting answers. If you called their lines and talked to someone, you might get different answers from different people. If I were you, I would go for the interview. 

2 minutes ago, Adventine said:

The only reason you would need a CPA is if you have a complicated tax situation (ex. significant foreign income or assets). Otherwise, it's extremely easy to DIY filing your own taxes with a program like TurboTax. 

I don't disagree but every family may have different situations.

For our tax filing. 

Thank you for all the replies. The suggestions here seem to be filing the tax return BEFORE filing N-400. 

We're trying to find another CPA to work with and we target to get it done next month (and hope the CPA won't take too long to compile the tax return). I wasn't really in big hurry to file N-400 but thought I might be able to vote by Election next year if things move fast. lol.

23 minutes ago, Mike E said:

The high percentage bet is to file now.

 

Do you owe any 2022 taxes?

I don't think so. We have credit from 2021 filing as well.

Hello VJ members,

I should be filing under the 3-year rule in the next month or so. My spouse and I filed tax jointly since I became LPR. However, we filed for extension for 2022 since we were both busy early this year. That said, we have the 2020 and 2021 income tax returns (MFJ). We never owed taxes and we even have credit with IRS.

My window for filing under the 3-year rule will open in a few weeks and let's say I file at the end of July. By the time I have my interview, we should have already filed tax for 2022. I can then either upload that 2022 tax document or bring to interview. I understand the key point is that "evidence that you have paid your income taxes to the IRS for the past 3 years".

Should I wait until we DID file the 2022 tax returns before submitting my N-400 application? 

Thanks for the advice.

 @Mike E mentioned that it's best to use the Employer address on the W-2. I'm also a remote worker and my working location is my home address. On the W-2, my company uses a PO box, but on the Form 1095-C, they use the street address of my company. Can I use the street address instead?

Hi VJ members,

I'm trying to start completing the N-400 Form online to see what info I need to gather. I came across some queries and hope to get advice from you.

Part 2. Information about You

Q1. What is your current legal name?

"Your current legal name is the name on your birth certificate, unless it changed after birth by a legal action such as marriage or court order. Do not provide any nicknames here."

In my case:

- During the IR1 visa application, the legal name I used was the legal name used in my birth country (let's say, DOE, Mary-Ann Jane)

- When my IR1 visa was approved, and because I'm also a Canadian by naturalization, the IO at US Consulate allowed me to choose which passport to use for my IR1 visa. I chose to use my Canadian passport. My name on my Canadian passport is, say, DOE, Jane).

- My name on my Green Card is "DOE, Jane"

Based on how I followed the questions asked in the online form, it looks like that I should 

- put "DOE, Mary-Ann Jane" as my current legal name

- put "DOE, Jane" when answering "What is your name exactly as it appears on your Permanent Resident Card?" and uncheck the box "The name on my Permanent Resident Card matches my current legal name."

- put "Canada" as the country of my citizenship or nationality

(A note for the question reads, "If you are a citizen or national of more than one country, provide the name of the foreign country that issued your last passport.")

Am I correct on the above?

And, when asked "Would you like to legally change your name?" Do I put "Yes" if I want to use the name appeared on my Green Card?

Tnanks @Mike E for your response.

3 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

If you have less than 5 years as LPR, provide the info from the "Resident Since" date on your green card.  Any address/work/travel history before that date is irrelevant for naturalization.

 

Thanks for your advice. 

Another question - I'm planning to file at the end of July (about a week after my window opens). If I travel outside US in early July for about a week, it won't jeopardize my residential status in this State, right? I've been living in the same address and same State since I became a LPR.