Thelord
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Posts posted by Thelord
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Just now, SusieQQQ said:
There are people for whom standing for half an hour or more is going to be problematic. And visa interviews are not private as a general rule, whereas uscis ones are.
I remember in the embassy they had handicapped section too where one can sit during the interview. So that's not big trouble to implement.
They can let in one person at the time. I have seen in some embassies the interview room which was very small just had two spots and the rest of people were waiting outside of that room until their number showed up on the screen.
Anyways they had basically 2.5 months to figure these out in their offices.
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This depends on lot of circumstances:
- Do you have a California address while you can keep the records of all your banks statement and pay stubs to that address?
- Are you going to sign a new lease in TN?
- Do you need to drive in TN? some states require you change your DL within a specific period of time otherwise you can get tickets
- When you come back to California do you need to sign a new lease or you just move back to your previous home?
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4 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:
I think they need to be more careful with interviews. You’re in an enclosed office with your interviewer for maybe half an hour, the tablet you use for reading /writing/signing etc is used by all the other applicants that day, as is the chair you sit in, etc. it’s a bit different from a ceremony where (from reports of the ones that have recently been held) they can do it quickly with minimal actual exposure person to person.
that's actually a good point. I think the future of interviews need to follow the same approach that the visa interview happens in the US embassies.
Meaning there is a glass between the interviewer and the applicant stands up while being interviewed.
Here is a note from USCIS today in CNN:
According to the announcement, measures to make the workplace safe for employees will include physical barriers to aid in socially distancing, limiting how many people are permitted in an office at any given time and requiring face coverings.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/26/politics/uscis-furlough-employees-congress-funding/index.html
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5 minutes ago, lucardo3 said:
if they only allow 7 people in a ceremony, we are doomed. They need to either perform those ceremony everyday to catch up otherwise it will be another backlog for those ceremonies just like other cases. But guess it`s better than nothing. 🤔
Yea exactly they need to do it every day otherwise the backlog of oath ceremonies will be brutal
They also need to conduct same day oath when the interviews start with social distancing
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It seems like USCIS is facing real budget problem and asking Congress for $1.2 billion otherwise they will reduce staffs.
This is not a good news at all given there is not much appetite from Congress to subsidize immigration in this situation. But I see this as USCIS's fault at the first place that they are not flexible in adapting with the situations (like using video conferencing to conduct interviews, virtual oath ceremonies, recycling all previous biometrics for all applicants) :
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-immigration-agency-payroll-congressional-help
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/15/citizenship-agency-faces-drastic-coronavirus-cash-/
- USCIS shuts down its offices for 3 months
- first order effect: new applicants who wanted to apply don't do it as they see no point to file (petitions/applications dropped by 50% according to the above source)
- second order effect: USCIS runs out of cash can't maintain the current staff salary (they will run out of cash by summer)
- third order effect: USCIS asks Congress to "bail them out" and it won't work and USCIS lays off 50% of its staff in summer
- fourth order effect: all the normal application processing time would double given the staff got reduced by half. for example if a normal processing time in your area is 8 months this would become 16 months. And add to this the shut down period of USCIS as well.
on a seperate note, the new stimulus bill that included virtual oath ceremonies passed last Friday in House of Representative, but could face real challenge in republican controlled Senate or veto from the president as they consider this "democrats wishlist"
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On 3/4/2020 at 9:06 PM, India_delta said:
Questions for you guys , i have a pending n-400 which i filled late January of this year in St. Paul based on 3 year of marriage to an American citizen. MY wife found a lucrative job overseas in Europe that is due to start in September of this year . So we made the decision to explore this option for The next 2 years. My question is how will this implicate my pending N-400 application and My current green card ? I am getting worried about losing it all . Would it be Ok to have my interview and oath while abroad ? OR at least the oath If the interview takes place beforehand we leave
any help or advice is really appreciated
If you really don't want to lose your green card and citizenship case, you must maintain a lease in US with all the proof of residency including US driving license, US insurance, US utility bills in your name, US bank account statements, getting paid in USD in US bank account. Taking an employment outside of US would severely impact your chance to get citizenship and also your green card.
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Interesting read from Forbes:
The numbers are adding up. “Boundless did the math, and estimated that 2,100 immigrants will run out of time to vote each day that USCIS offices remain closed,” according to the study. “The number increases for each month the COVID-19 shutdown remains in effect.”
“If USCIS were serious about getting people naturalized, they would schedule a single video conference interview, and if the applicant passes, they would immediately take the oath and become a citizen in that same session,”
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LA County plans to extend their stay in home order for another 3 months.
If you have not yet called your representative/senator to encourage USCIS to use video conferencing for interview and oath it is the time to do so.
- Phoenix777, thongho2910 and Giovanni1
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47 minutes ago, Puppy Popcorn said:
A pdf I read here mentions that you don't need documentations for fines less than $500. (Mine was $100)
But do I still say "yes" to questions 22-25 then? It makes me feel like a serious criminal 😳
22: Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?
Yes. I paid for the wrong bus fare and had to pay a fine. I was pulled aside so they could write my name but did not get arrested.
23: Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including any immigration official or any official of the U.S. armed forces) for any reason?
Yes. The $100 fine.
24: Have you EVER been charged with committing, attempting to commit, or assisting in committing a crime or offense?
Yes. Didn't pay the right bus fare. I was 18 but paid the price of a 17-year old which was around $1.25 cheaper (that was a significant amount as an international student, shouldn't have done it though).
25: Have you EVER been convicted of a crime or offense?Yes. The bus fare offense.
You just failed to pay the right bus fee by mistake you did NOT COMMIT A CRIME man! The crime is something you do maliciously.
The only thing you need to say YES is Q23 and explain there why you were given a ticken. The answers to Q22, Q24 and Q25 should be NO.
also while you don't need to submit supporting documents for traffic fines less than $500 you need to disclose them in Q23 as part of citation.
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20 minutes ago, Scandi said:
In my opinion, you will likely have a biometrics appointment for your N-400.
1. It seem to have been many years since you had a biometrics appointment last time (unlike those who filed for ROC and often had a biometrics appointment just a few months before becoming eligible to file the N-400)
and
2. the N-400 requires an interview. If they feel that they can start conducting interviews then they will also start collecting biometrics. They won't open up for interviews but not for biometrics, they will very likely go hand in hand.
I do believe there might be a good chance for some ROC filers to have their biometrics waived though. Solid ROC cases can easily be approved without an interview, so apparently they are able to make a decision without biometrics if that's all that is keeping them from making a decision.
Regarding the timing of the previous biometrics, USCIS did not provide a cut off date that would invalidate the previous biometrics. as long as your name, your date of birth and your A-number matches exactly with the previous USCIS case that collected your biometrics then you satisfy the requirement.
Regarding the interview actually that's a good point that eventually it is required and cannot be waived. But, maybe they do this to reduce the public load on the field offices so they can conduct interviews with social distancing. In any case, the fingerprints taken 5 years ago is as good as fingerprints taken now (it never changes that's the whole point). But for the photos if they need an updated picture happy to send one
In other word, my understanding is as long as my interview can happen during July and August 2020 (before September 1, 2020) then there is no need for me to do a new biometrics.
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District Court of Wyoming has conducted 2 naturalization ceremony with social distancing one at 1:30pm and another 3:30pm and they streamed it it live on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b__BkARfAYo
in each ceremony there like only 7-10 people. This is good news I think but hopefully this would be the start of conducting oath ceremonies with social distancing.
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District Court of Wyoming is conducting the naturalization ceremony with social distancing as of now and they are streaming it live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b__BkARfAYo
this is very good and hope other states follow the same path.
I was looking at the USCIS website here https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-covid-19 with regards to the biometerics:
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While biometric services (or other authorized collection sites) are temporarily suspended and/or operations are at reduced capacity, USCIS will reuse biometrics that were previously captured at the initial USCIS in-person appointment under certain circumstances and only when specific requirements are met. USCIS will reuse biometrics if:
- USCIS is otherwise ready to adjudicate the open application, petition, or benefit request but cannot proceed solely due to the lack of current biometrics;
- The individual previously submitted fingerprints and a photograph at an ASC (or other authorized collection site);
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There is an exact A-file number, name, and date of birth match between the pending filing and the previous filing from which the biometrics were collected; and the individual:
- a) Was scheduled for an ASC appointment that was canceled since the temporary closure of ASCs on March 18, 2020,
- b) Is unable to schedule an ASC appointment (or appointment for biometrics collection at an embassy or consulate, where applicable); or
- c) Filed a benefit request with an associated biometrics requirement after March 18, 2020.
If these requirements are met, a biometrics appointment is not required. This will remain in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic and will automatically expire on Sept. 1, 2020, unless expressly extended by the USCIS deputy director for policy.
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so am I interpreting this correctly that USCIS don't need to schedule a biometric appointment for me given:
1. assuming USCIS is ready to adjudicate my case
2. I submitted my fingerprints and photograph to USCIS field office 5 years ago for the I-485 adjustment of status application (green card)
3. My A-file number, name, and date of birth match exactly the 5 years ago's I-485 application, and
3.c. I filed after March 18, 2020 (I filed in April 2020)
the above rule is valid until September 1, 2020. So if the case is adjudicated before that time I would not need a biometric appointment but if the case is adjudicated after September 1, 2020 then I will need a biometric appointment for my naturalization application. am I reading this correctly?
- millefleur and DavidX
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While biometric services (or other authorized collection sites) are temporarily suspended and/or operations are at reduced capacity, USCIS will reuse biometrics that were previously captured at the initial USCIS in-person appointment under certain circumstances and only when specific requirements are met. USCIS will reuse biometrics if:
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23 minutes ago, thongho2910 said:
Casper WY naturalization 1pm 🤔🤔
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs_DYpL8QMg&feature=youtu.be
This is a fantastic news. Good job Wyoming!
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1 hour ago, Yajhsar said:
I don’t want to sound negative, but this update of USCIS is dated back to March 18th...And yet there is no progress on their arrangements. I have a family member waiting for oath too..Seems like USCIS is absolutely in no hurry for Oath ceremonies...
true USCIS is in absolutely no hurry to do anything. The deadline for the USCIS to respond to the Senators' letter was last Friday
It would be interesting to see the USCIS response as it will shed more light on how they are going to deal with naturalization applications in the next few months. If there is no pressure from Senate or Congress I assure you USCIS will not do anything at least until 2021. This coronavirus situation is going to take longer than most people think it take.
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32 minutes ago, Hamido said:
No this new update from 2 days ago,
USCIS website's latest update timestamp is May 6th which relates to the Military personnel filing N400 online. i don't see any other update to the website?
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20 minutes ago, geowrian said:
Devil's advocate here...
What's to stop somebody from using another person's fingerprints? The notary only verifies the person who signed the document is the person identified in the documents provided. They have no way to know if the fingerprints are from that same person or not unless they witness it themselves.
USCIS could probably figure it out given they have provided biometrics previously and it would be a mismatch, but then why biometrics are even needed again is the question if those prior ones are to be trusted still. 🤷♂️
But for conceal carry purposes, they likely have no way to know unless the person who provided the prints is in their system already. It seems more like a "catch some obvious cases but punish others later if they get caught" type of deal..
actually those fingerprint cards can only be filled in front of someone else to certify as well. One can take it to any police station and they do it for you and send the card to them or sometimes the police station collect it digitally and forward.
every one of us who came to US got fingerprinted one way or the other way. I remember during my AOS process USCIS collected all 10 fingerprints. During visa interview they got all fingerprints and when I entered US for the first time they got all of my fingerprints. On top of that when I wanted to get Global Entry they also got all fingerprints. So they have a good collection of the fingerprints digitally anyway and I really don't even know what's the point of this re-doing of fingerprints. It's not like that your fingerprint change when you grow older or something. Their only purpose is probabely to confirm the identity of the person who is getting taken picture/signature as that picture will be used on the naturalization document.
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another point regarding interviews, USCIS has the authority to conduct these interviews through phone or video confrence.
So to sum it up:
1- for biometric: post biometric cards to the applicants have them print their own fingerprint, sign in front of a notary and mail back to USCIS
2- for interviews: conduct through phone or video confrence
3- for oath ceremony: drive through at USCIS parking lot
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another point regarding biometric appointments, in Florida to apply for concealed carry permit you can do it either in person biometric at their office where they take your fingerprints electronically and take your pictures, or instead you request a biometric card which they mail to you and you just put your fingerprints there with black innk then you sign the card in front of a notary and you also attach one passport photo and you can mail the package to them. USCIS should use the same approach to avoid face to face contacts with applicants and also avoid backlog.
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2 hours ago, MotherofDragons said:
Then the people without cars would cry discrimination and file a lawsuit through the ACLU lol
they can just get a Uber for a quick trip jeez lol
also while Walmart and Walgreens can immediately put a glass between all cashiers and customers, I think USCIS can also learn and make this happen instead of just go to freeze mode for a few months. I honestly think if there is no pressure on USCIS they will just sleep on all the cases until 2021 while collecting upfront fees $ now because this is not a priority for the government. The only pressure on them that can work is through congress and senators. So that's why it is important everyone reach out to their senators and representatives and urge them to push USCIS to implement procedures to deal with naturalization cases during this pandemic given the election month is coming.
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2 hours ago, lucardo3 said:
Given the fact that how inconsistent USCIS is, chances for a virtual ceremony is zero to none.
yup agree that's why a drive through oath ceremony in USCIS parking lot might be the only option lol
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7 hours ago, xyz12345 said:
In smaller oath ceremonies...How about a drive through pharmacy type oath ceremony? USCIS/judge inside the pharmacy, you in car, hand in gc/ N-445, take the oath, sign the NC and then next car, pls! I'll go with that if I had to. I would like the ceremony but I would prefer to be a USC much earlier. Anything can change really fast so I'll take the first opportunity that will give me.
I like that idea! If they can't do virtual oath ceremonies let's do the ceremonies at the parking lot of USCIS office outside with every applicant sitting in its own car and can go through a line, drop the green card and pick up the certificate and leave the parking lot.
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I just think the best approach is the interviewing officer also get the authorization from their senior officers to administer the oath right at the end of the interview the same day! two birds and one stone! the interviews also can be conducted in person with a glass or plastic shield separating the interviewer and the applicant.
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I don't care a bit to attend the oath ceremony in person. This pandemic situation is with us at LEAST until the end of this year and USCIS should adapt. They can't just sit and go to the "freeze mode". Those who want to attend in person can be given the option to wait for a few months and possibly in 2021 when things are settled to have oath ceremony but the rest can be done virtually similar to Australia oath ceremony.
- thongho2910, Chileanhere, Shaun (S) and 1 other
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N-400 April 2020 Filers
in US Citizenship Case Filing and Progress Reports
Posted
Here is an update from USCIS today. This is generally a good news I think:
https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-preparing-resume-public-services-june-4