sailorinaz

Yes. First get your wife naturalized. Then apply for US passports for your daughters. Then apply for their N-600. The N-600 can take a while to process but meanwhile they will already have their US passports.

Thanks!

Certainly not like the removal of conditions stage where you send in an additional 80 bucks for each kid. They also have to show up for biometrics with a new photo and fingerprints.

Only thing you do with the N-400 is pay for the biometrics for the parent that is applying, but do have to list all of your kids, natural, step, adopted. If your IO has any brains, rare, will tell you the offspring of the applicant will automatically become US citizens the day the applicant receives the certificate of citizenship.

They could charge 80 bucks for each kid extra like they do for the ROC stage and print out a certificate for each kid, but for whatever reason, they don't do that. Instead want you to apply for that N-600 for each kid with a 600 buck price tag, then this drags on for six or more months. No civics test is required, but an appointed has to be given to show up, basically say congratulations, take the kid's green card and hand over the certificate of naturalization.

Why do they do it this way? The extra 600 bucks and further delay? Why do they tell you that your kids under 18 are US citizens at the oath ceremony without any proof of that?

Could also get that proof from the DOS, this really requires a lot of paper trail information and want all original documents they can lose with first class mail sending those back to you. Also want permission from the biological parent if the kid is under the age of 18. But if not planning on going anywhere, don't need a US passport anyway.

It takes all but two minutes to have your photo and fingerprints taken after waiting several hours, that photo is sent to the USCIS where they can print out that certificate in under ten seconds using a very low grade of paper. They also notify SS but still have to go in anyway to update those cards.

USCIS completely forgets what you went through for the AOS and ROC stages, want all that proof again for the N-600 plus more long trips. This is our government. If those kids are male, make sure they sign up for selective service as part of their 18th birthday present. Or will have even more problems.

USCIS does not do an automatic switch. What happens is that once your wife naturalizes and gets her naturalization certificate you can apply for US passports for your stepdaughters using their green cards and their mother's certificate. So your stepdaughters will get their US passports directly.

If for future use you want to have a back-up document besides the US passports for your stepdaughters, you can do the following: Once your wife naturalizes and gets her certificate you can apply for N-600 Certificate of Citizenship for your stepdaughters to USCIS. With this, they will get their own certificates as a separate proof of citizenship and they will not need their mother's certificate in the future.

Regarding the need for the N-600 there is a split opinion. Some people say just getting the US passport is enough, some say it is good to have a separate proof through the USCIS and that it "closes the door with the USCIS." The choice is yours. Either get only the US passports or get both the US passports and the N-600. BTW, the N-600 costs right now $600 so it is a budget decision as well. If you would ask my personal opinion, I am leaning to get the N-600 as well.

Ok, I found this:

Filing with Form N-400: If you are filing Form N-400 and From N-600 at the same time at a lockbox facility, USCIS encourages you to file them separately. However, customers who file Form N-400 and Form N-600 together in one package must submit separate payments for each application, or we will return the applications and fee, for correction and re-filing. ~ http://www.uscis.gov/n-600

It sounds it may be best to file the N-600 for her daughters after my wife obtains her citizenship. In other words, wait for their mother to become a citizen first then file the N-600 based upon her approved citizenship.

once her mother becomes a USC they will derive her citizenship status if they are under 18. they cannot become USC by you. there is nothing you can do for her, only for your wife

USCIS automatically switches the girls from permanent residents to citizens once my wife becomes a citizen or do you mean they must stay permanent residents until they turn 18?

My wife and two minor stepdaughters are permanent residents.

It is now time to apply for citizenship.

I see I must fill out the N-400 for my wife and pay a total of $680 for her but what about my stepdaughters?

Must I file a separate form for each minor daughter, and if so what form?

Does anyone know how much money I must send for each daughter?

Ok, thank you.

As a permanent resident she has to let them know every time her adress changes, and as long as the I-864 (Affidavit of support) the sponsor also is required to notify them if their adress changes.

PR files an AR-11, can be done online.

Sponsor files an I-865, has to be snailmailed.

I'm not exactly sure which forum to post this question, but I am wondering if I am required to let USCIS know whenever my wife moves. I.e. from one city to another. She is a permanent resident. Additionally, do I also need to let USCIS know when I move/am I still considered a petitioner?

Hi All,

I apologize if this has been discussed and answered before. Once the conditions are removed and a 10 year green card has been issued, is a U.S. Passport needed to travel out of the U.S. and back in again?

I am confused about this because I am thinking the U.S. Passports are only for U.S. Citizens.

You will still need the passport from the country you are a citizen of, to travel abroad, and whatever visas that are required for the country you wish to visit, considering the country of your citizenship.

You will need your permanent resident card to re-enter the USA. That is basically all you need to re-enter the U.S.A.

You cannot apply for citizenship and a U.S. Passport until you meet the time requirements for applying for Citizenship. This is 3 years if you acquired your permanent resident status by marriage to a U.S. Citizen-and are still married to that Citizen, or 5 years, if you acquired permanent residency by other means.

Ok, wow that is odd. Thanks for the info.

Hi All,

I apologize if this has been discussed and answered before. Once the conditions are removed and a 10 year green card has been issued, is a U.S. Passport needed to travel out of the U.S. and back in again?

I am confused about this because I am thinking the U.S. Passports are only for U.S. Citizens.

I remember when they raised the immigration fees, they said they did it because they didn't want the tax payers to bare any of the burden paying for people who immigrate legally to the US. However, they make the tax payers pay an amazing amount supporting illegals. (At least here in AZ).

I always thought it was strange that people in the military have to pay income tax on their paychecks when their pay comes from tax payer money.

What a tangled web we weave

Any tax gurus out there that know if any of the crazy fees and associated costs we have paid to bring our finances/Wife's here are deductible in anyway?

Thanks everyone.

She was pulled over for speeding and said she was guilty and she attended the driving school here in AZ to get the points dropped. The judge said he could not drop the driving without an AZ DL unless there is a hearing and the COP who issued the citation was offered a chance to attend the hearing.

SHE HAD ONLY BEEN HERE MAYBE 4 MONTHS.

I checked state laws/statutes as well as call the MVD.

As far as the SSN card, that was a nightmare and was talked about in other posts.

After wedding, applied for SSN. Was told she could not have one. Had to go through all kinds of hell to get one but when she did get one they gave it to her in her maiden name.

Tried to get the DL. MVD said the SSN Card needed to be in her married name.

Employment Authorization arrived. Went back to SSA. SSA took/tore up card and mailed a new one with married name 2 weeks later. Finally got the DL.

(Went back to SSA after green card arrived. SSA took SS card and said would receive a replacement in two weeks).

Some states consider a person a resident after 6 or 7 months though, regardless of their permanent residence. The fact that a person remained in a state for that period of time is what they look at. Friend of mine had a similar problem during her AOS process and was told that she was not allowed to drive without a US DL after the months mentioned above had passed...

Yes, AZ MVD said 7 months, and I also looked up Arizona law definition of a resident.

You don't have resident status until after USCIS approves and issues a green-card. Use the issue date on the green-card, any time before that date and she was a NON-Resident, the K-Visa is a NON-Resident Visa.

I agree and I can't expect all cops to understand the complications of the immigration process.

She certainly did not have the rights of a resident at that time.

Maybe a little off-topic, but before my Wife had her green card, she was here in a K-1 Visa and we were married and had already applied for permanent residency but were waiting for the interview, she received a traffic citation for driving without an Arizona Drivers License.

When she first arrived here, I called the Motor Vehicle Department and asked them if she could drive here on her drivers license that had been issued by her country and they told me yes. They said she could use it for 7 months from the date of arrival.

About 5 months after she was here, we went to the MVD and tried to have her take her test for an Arizona DL but they refused to do it because her Social Security Card still had her maiden name. (That is a different story). Anyway, the point is that an effort was made.

She has a hearing coming up and the judge told me it would be a question of residency and if she was a resident she would be in the wrong. I know laws very from state to state.

Wondering what all of you think. Here on a K-1 visa. Not yet a perm resident. Waiting for adjustment of status. Was she a resident at that time?

What is horrible is that we went to the authority. The Arizona department of Motor Vehicles and they told us it was ok. I even have a print out from their website and from the state laws but the cout may try to say she was a resident at that time.

Congratulations!!!

Where was your Interview at?

Phoenix, Arizona

Thanks to everyone who wished us good luck for our interview today.

My Wife and her Daughters were approved for permanent residency and we were told to expect the cards in two weeks.

We waited for about an hour past our scheduled appointment time. As we were waiting, we observed people being called to the interview rooms and some came out very happy and others came out very sad.

We were approached by a tall man in civilian clothes who requested us to follow him and he lead us through a hall and back to his office. We thought this was very strange because all the other people were entering and exiting through a different door.

We were seated in his office and were sworn in. He remained very serious but polite and professional throughout the interview.

We were asked some basic questions and for identification. He really did not ask for much supporting documentation.

The interview lasted about 25 or 30 minuets.

Good luck to all with your upcoming interviews.

Well Folks, tomorrow is our interview. Feeling nervous. Wish us luck. I will be sure to let everyone know how it goes.

Thanks all! Lal, I will need to look at my copies when I get home to see what I put. I think I may have put a(6) and I remember I was very confused as what to put. I didn't know about the forum then.

In Phoenix, it took about 1 hour. Always good to give your self more time for planning purposes.

My Step-Daughters came to the USA under K-2 visas. My fiancée, now my wife under a K-1. Right after we got married, I filed for AOS and also filed for Employment Authorization Cards. I need the cards for my Step-Daughters who are 8 and 10 because I am retired Navy and in order for the VA to recognize them as my dependents they must have social security numbers. (The only way to get them social security numbers before they have a green card is to get an employment authorization card) I also need them to have social security numbers because of the military health system.

I paid the fee and submitted the paperwork. The form was returned because they wanted their signatures on the form. (Keep in mind they are 8 and 10). I resubmitted and I received a notice some time later that the post office returned the cards to USCIS as undeliverable. I fought with the post office and called USCIS numerous times and really went through a lot of hardship trying to get these cards.

The cards arrived on about 01 October 07 with an expiration of 23 September 07.

Valid from 01 September to 23 September with a Category Code of A06.

I called USCIS and went through the typical bs and was told that I need to do new I-765’s and resubmit the original cards, and copies of the original forms and papers related to this issue.

I was also told if it is found that the reason for the error is my mistake that I will have to pay the fee again. Of course this time it will be the new higher fee with no credit from the last fee I paid.

The process could take 3 or more months.

They have their interview for permanent residency on 13 November and I am thinking of not trying to fix this problem because if the residency is approved on 13 November, they will no longer need employment authorization cards to get a social security number.

Wondering what you guys would do?

There is something seriously wrong with the system. All common sense has been tossed out the window.

Thanks all. I really did not make copies of the entire AOS packet because I didn't know I had to. However, I think I can put something together. I wish USCIS would tell you what you need to do for the entire process instead of telling you at each stage. If they did that, I would have made all the copies I needed the first time.

It feels so crazy that they want the same forms and or papers over and over.

When I was applying for the K-1 I had a lawyer who told me to submit the originals. We lost many of our original documents this way.

There is a woman here in Arizona named Sidney Hay who is running for Congress. She said one of her first priorities is going to streamline the legal immigration process and reduce paperwork. i.e. The paperwork reduction act.

I have a question about:

The third item down under”YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS”

Says: A completed Affidavit(s) of Support (Form I-864) with all required evidence, including the following, for each of your sponsors (unless already submitted):

Federal Income Tax returns and W-2”s, or certified IRS printouts, for the last 3 years;

Letters from each current employer, verifying current rate of pay and average weekly hours, and pay stubs for the past 2 months;

Evidence of your sponsor’s and/or co-sponsors United States Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident status.

Do we need to bring any of these items since we already did this for the AOS 485?

Please let me know.

I am confused about this one:

18. If you have ever been arrested, bring the related Police Report and the original or certified Final Court Disposition for each arrest, even if the charges have been dismissed or expunged. If no court record is available, bring a letter form the court with jurisdiction indicating this.

We did a police certificate when we did the K-1.

Are they saying we only need to bring something from the police department or court if we had an arrest, and if we have not been arrested, do we need to bring something saying her record is all clear?

If you did not get the vaccination record transfered to a supplement by a civil surgeon when you filed to adjust status, you will need to get it done before interview.

Get vaccination record transfered to a vaccination supplement by a US Civil Surgeon, and take it to the interview, you dont need a full medical done, and if the doctor wants to do a full medical, show the doctor I-485 directions showing that K-Visa holders only need the supplement done.

Thanks again. How do I locate my local US Civil Surgeon? I wonder if her doctor on base (Military Doctor) qualifies?