Chocolot

congrats.

Only one more step with USCIS if you decide to apply for naturalization!

Congrats to all the June filers, I imagine the majority of us going through have added to the list by now.

I attended the biometrics at 8am, arriving early with about 8 other people. The new office at Oakland Park Florida seems nicely laid out, with plenty of parking (free) and we (I) was in and out with little fuss. Just full fingerprints again, which took a little bit of time to obtain, I think I have worn them out. I just hope I dont get called back for a repeat, or for photos, which they didnt seem to need.

I was given the book and audio CD for the questions likely to be asked by the IO, so now its that familiar waiting... again

best of luck to everyone, hope all this final stage with USCIS goes well for all

Gees, I have one of those pink birth certs too....lol, I hope my interviewer is a little more professional. I thought once you had the interview they could only make you wait six months before a decision.

Good luck, I think an infopass at your local office may be necessary to get it sorted out.

Oh boy, I sure hope they find my application soon. Mine has been with them since January 2004. I went for my interview over 5 years ago in Las Vegas. I had an officer interview me who could best be described as arrogant and flustered. I dressed nicely, aced everything on the test and the English language questions, had all my documents ready, but after the interview, she just said "I'll be in touch" without giving me a reason why she couldn't approve it. She kept saying "Where you documents???? Where you documents? " Yes that was how she spoke, English was not her greatest talent. I'd politely point it out amongst the HUGE pile of documents in front of her, exactly where it was when she looked right at it just two minutes earlier. "You have no birth certificate??!! (I'd point it out........) "This no birth certificate!! she said as she flipped it over and over " "It's British, I'd say, it probably doesn't look like the ones you normally see. (British birth certificates, at least in the 50's were rather large pink colored documents) Her eyes narrowed and she continued.. "Where you divorce certificate then huh?? (I'd flip a few pages on the tome in front of here ..'There it is" I'd say. I remember it a so clearly because it was surreal. I kid you not, this was how it all went. I couldn't believe it when she actually said at the end "You have kids? I replied casually " No, I've never really felt the urge" You no have kids?? You no want them? Why?? They are a gift from God..." Oh dear I thought, I'm sunk. If it had been going downhill already, now I was entering the black hole, never to escape.

And so it was. I waited three weeks, she still hadn't called. I arranged another meeting with her, she literally (and I MEAN literally) pushed me out the door. Put her hands on my back and shoved. Being the USCIS, I just rolled over (don't want to make a scene in their office with the armed guards, you understand) and went back outside with my tail between my legs, feeling very disheartened. I was totally confused by her behaviour and that was the last time I heard ANYTHING. She no longer answered my phone calls or the half dozen letters I personally addressed to her. Despite repeated calls letters, phoning my Congressman (Geoff Flake Dem AZ) and Senator John McCain (Rep AZ) I've still had zero action on it.

Sad but true. Anyway, that is my tale of woe. Luckily I have 5 years left on my 10 year Greencard. They way things have progressed so far, I'm gonna need every minute to sort this out.

Arizona Girl

congrats to all the Aussie/American couples going through now, we are almost atthe end of this journey, just waiting for the interview for citizenship!

it seems to take forever to go through all of these stages, and then before you know it you are in the queue for the next phase. Just remember to save all those files, and any extra proof you have of a combined and committed life together, as it is all needed again and again.

Have a happy life together,

I will post again when I am also a USC

cheers Jayde

Congratulations, it sounds as if it was almost an anti-climax but very helpful !

The End!

Biometrics Appt 07/06/09 or any other Wednesday before 09/28. Need to take NOA and Green Card and ask for Naturalisation booklet

Closer and closer

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USCIS Lockbox Texas

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UserName............Sent..........NOA1........Biometrics.......Int ltr recd........Interview.......Oath.........Office

Imzadi............06/05/09.......06/10/09.......07/01/09........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Atlanta

Tata..............06/06/09.......06/10/09.......07/10/09........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Philadelphia

Jayde......resent 06/06/09.......06/10/09.......07/06/09........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Fort Lauderdale

poisontee.........06/07/09.......06/11/09.......07/02/09........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......San Antonio

CColdwell.........06/08/09.......06/12/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

Mohsin............06/10/09.......06/19/09.......07/11/09........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

Wannabe_Texan.....06/11/09.......06/19/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Houston

Siddarth18........06/16/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

Immexperience.....06/18/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Orlando

Mr. Big Dog.......06/22/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Tampa

=====================

USCIS Lockbox Arizona

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UserName............Sent..........NOA1........Biometrics.......Int ltr recd........Interview.......Oath.........Office

gopalag1..........06/01/09.......06/04/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......San Diego

Kashif............06/08/09.......06/11/09.......07/07/09........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Seattle

Jess1.............06/09/09.......06/18/09.......07/13/09........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Detroit

alexandsara.......06/09/09.......06/16/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Seattle

Onion.............06/10/09.......06/20/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Detroit

daveh.............06/11/09.......06/16/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......San Jose

Mine says exactly the same, so I have started a new thread to see if any previous filers were exempt. I checked the May filers and they all appear to have bio appts.

cheers

Hello all, I have a question regarding NOA 1. My letter says " upon reciept of all required record checks, you will be scheduled to appear for an interview at you local USCIS field office". My concern is that it does not say anything like " you will be sent a letter for biomartrics appointment". should i expect an appointment letter even if it doesnt say anythign about it ....

Is it normal? I had my biomatrics appointmet on 7/25/08 for removal of conditions. I dont remmber but I read somewhere that if your biomatrics is within a year of last bio appointment, there are chances of skipping this step? is this correct.

Also, I sent my package to AZ but I got NOA from Missori ....whats with that???? did you guys also get your NOA from there?

I would really appreciate the answers to my questions.

Does everyone do the biometrics again for N400 even if they have done them recently for I751?

It is, it was. NOA is here

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</FONT></B>

UserName............Sent..........NOA1........Biometrics.......Int ltr recd........Interview.......Oath.........Office

Imzadi............06/05/09.......06/10/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Atlanta

Tata..............06/06/09.......06/10/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Philadelphia

Jayde......resent 06/06/09.......06/10/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Fort Lauderdale

CColdwell.........06/08/09.......06/10/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

Mohsin............06/10/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

Wannabe_Texan.....06/11/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Houston

Siddarth18........06/16/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

=====================

USCIS Lockbox Arizona

=====================

UserName............Sent..........NOA1........Biometrics.......Int ltr recd........Interview.......Oath.........Office

gopalag1..........06/01/09.......06/04/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......San Diego

Kashif............06/08/09.......06/11/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Seattle

Jess1.............06/09/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Detroit

daveh.............06/11/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......San Jose

Hopefully my application is ok now as the check was cashed yesterday! Maybe my NOA is in the mail.

ps. I have followed the instructions so everything is crossed that this formatting comes out right

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=====================

USCIS Lockbox Texas

=====================

UserName............Sent..........NOA1........Biometrics.......Int ltr recd........Interview.......Oath.........Office

Imzadi............06/05/09.......06/10/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Atlanta

Tata..............06/06/09.......06/10/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Philadelphia

Jayde......resent 06/06/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Fort Lauderdale

CColdwell.........06/08/09.......06/10/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

Mohsin............06/10/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

Wannabe_Texan.....06/11/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Houston

Siddarth18........06/16/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Newark

=====================

USCIS Lockbox Arizona

=====================

UserName............Sent..........NOA1........Biometrics.......Int ltr recd........Interview.......Oath.........Office

gopalag1..........06/01/09.......06/04/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......San Diego

Kashif............06/08/09.......06/11/09.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Seattle

Jess1.............06/09/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......Detroit

daveh.............06/11/09.......--/--/--.......--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--......San Jose

My wife chose not to change her surname when we got married.........will this be a problem later with immigration, interview, etc.?

No

There is no problem applying for the Greencard, drivers license etc. She is entitled to use her own name, and when travelling needs to have tickets as per the name in her passport. I will be naturalized using my own name as well. In a lot of ways it simplified things, not having to change all my ID to a new name.

I'm pretty sure you're right about Australia having a fiance visa (I believe ours is valid a little longer than the K-1 and you are actually allowed to leave Australia to honeymoon, within the conditions, of course). We were considering having Jesse move over here but we weren't engaged at the time and were looking more actively at a working visa... I only briefly checked out the Aussie fiance visa because I was daydreaming

I do wholeheartedly support the opinion that when you fall in love with a foreigner, that in itself presents hurdles and you MUST be prepared either to jump them or walk away from that relationship. Yes, the time apart sucks, but I'm getting through every day with the gratitude that I have this special person in my life who loves me and who wants to share his future with me... and isn't that a reward in itself?

As I read it the current rules allow a fiance to apply for a visa which allows entry and if marriage is completed within 9 months it is converted to a spouse visa, which gains Temporary Permanent Residence. With TPR travel overseas and return is fine. If the relationship doesnt last 2 years I am not sure what happens, as we are obviously over that and have all our USCIS copies to add to our proof.

The visa for "defacto" can be same or opposite sex couples and eligiblity depends on proof of co habitation for 12 months. If temporary PR is awared (for married couples with no children married less than 2 years or those married less than 5 years is awarded then the equivalent of adjustment of status is undertaken by the dept and costs no extra, which is just as well because the application costs about $2000.

I think although a TPR has to wait 2 years for some benefits the Permanent Resident is eligible to use the health system and the education system straight away.

Citizenship which gains the right to vote and hold some jobs that demand it, is allowed after 4 years from application.

I may let you know more in 2010 when we either apply in Washington or go on an ETA and apply onshore (I have conflicting advice on whether this is permissible) and we will go the legal way

<edit: grammar> and yes I am a granma 2

Edited to try and correct format, but not sure if it is right

Sorry It wouldnt let me correct it, (feeling really useless) anyone?

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USCIS Lockbox Texas

UserName........Sent..........NOA1........Biometrics.......Int ltr recd........Interview.......Oath........Office

Imzadi..........06/05/09......--/--/--.....--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--.Atlanta

Tata............06/06/09......--/--/--.....--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--Philadelphia Jayde....resent 06/06/09......--/--/--.....--/--/--........--/--/--...........--/--/--.......--/--/--Fort Lauderdale

We think it must be a form letter with lots of different reasons, because some definitely didn't apply.

We know the application was complete when we sent (we went over and over checking that we had answered every question and signed etc) and yet the first page was missing in the returned packet.

At least I had kept a copy on the pc and also had a complete paper copy. So it is back on its way with a new printout that says the date is current (I got it direct off the USCIS site), with a rewritten check. Now I have my fingers and everything else crossed, 'cos I just want this OVER.

PS thanks for pointing out the Arizona mistake, Tata, yes I also filed to Texas and I have tried to fix it,

Edited to try and correct format, but not sure if it is right

Jayde - if you don't mind me asking, what did you include in your packet to them? I'm trying to debate whether to 'front-load' the N400 with lots of stuff like for removal of conditions, or just send tax transcripts, marriage cert (the basics they ask for)....

Thanks and good luck!

Frustratingly, I didn't include enough. Unfortunately, the package was returned with a confusing NOA saying there was information missing and/or the application was outdated. So tomorrow I will refile it all once again, on a new up-to-date form. (I checked it seems the form is the most recent)

I included the copy of the front and back of the green card, birth and marriage licences, with divorce papers, a copy of our lease, and three years of tax transcripts. So just the basics, I figured the rest can be shown at the interview. oh and the cheque!

good luck

Personally, I couldn't imagine trying to have a relationship with someone that doesn't speak my language, but that's why I chose a partner that did speak English.

My husband and I both claim to speak English, but the English I was taught as a child and the Australian English and the American English are all very different,

boy have we had a steep learning curve!!!

Did my FP today (Walk-in)

Finally............ checked and rechecked, mailed the application today after visiting a passport photo place to add awful mugshots, along with copy of front and back of green card, copies of marriage and usc's birth certs. 3 years transcripts, copy of lease and of course a cheque.

I am relieved and yet anxious. I am SOoo looking forward to being able to say I have finished with USCIS.

I even started a June Filers thread!

Best wishes to all you May filers I will be keeping my eye on your progress.

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USCIS Lockbox Arizona

UserName.........Sent............NOA1.........Biometrics.........Int ltr recd.........Interview.........Oath.........Office

Jayde..........05/30/09..........--/--/--..........--/--/--..........--/--/--...............--/--/--..........--/--/--...........Fort Lauderdale

Hi Mara, no advice, sorry, just want to say i hope you hear something positive soon and look back on this as just another brickwall to knock down on this incredible journey to be together,

sending best wishes and the best of luck as dealing with USCIS always seems to be fraught

thinking of you

4] is there a way to pass on citizenship through *me* at this stage where he has permanent residence, but is not living in the US.

No answer, Im sorry, but welcome to VJ and hopefully there will be others with more info. Have you thought about contacting an immigration lawyer (being aware that some are better than others)

best wishes

I already have dual British and Australian Citizenship and never even faltered over taking loyalty to Australia, this is different on many levels, but it needs to be done, so that I never have to go through any uscis stuff ever again.

When we go to Australia, I will lose my permanent residence here, so it has to be done, so I dont have restrictions when we come back to stay with family here etc.

I havent mailed my application even though its all ready to go, because I am just having a lot of difficulty in facing saying those words!

I am so glad I saw this thread and realised how many feel this way.

Ken I stumbled across this thread again and of course was drawn to catch up, little did I realise what sadness you have had recently, I am sorry for your loss. But congratulations on starting your new journey, and wishing you every happiness.

Little do we know how our words may impact on someone else, but a recent trip to Colombia and a wonderful visit to Cartagena, was in some ways as a consequence of reading your description of your trips

here is a link to the aussie forum, some things are specific to what consulate you go through, hope it helps

Good luck on your journey

So many of your comments resonate. I don't think it is an overstatement to say this journey has given me the most joy but also the most heartache. To give up everything for love sounds like a cliche.... until you live it!

I can't wait until the time comes for me to return to my real home, yet in no way does this belittle the feelings I have for my husband.

I wish you all the best and hope you continue to heal and find lasting happiness

omg. youre 21!! i definitely thought you were older (like in your late 30s. ha! silly me.), because of the screen name AND your grace under pressure. : )

Thanks for the compliment...guess I never fail to give the impression that I am older, in reality also..."OMG your 21, I thought you were...like 25/26..." But being 21 and getting such remarks is a compliment, at least for me!

and I thought "Marmite" or "Marmalade"

as for mine it is a play on our initials, J and D, spelt out jay-de