Cali Gal CPA

My mom took hear oath today at LA Convention Center. She is now a US Citizen! Took about 4 months from when I submitted her application to her oath ceremony. Good luck to everyone who are still in the process!

Mom had her citizenship interview today at downtown Los Angeles. Her appointment is at 2:20PM, we got there really early to avoid traffic, grabbed lunch and walked to the Federal building (at 93 degree weather, ohemgee). We checked in at 1:45PM. Mom was called in at exactly 2:20PM, and 20 minutes later, we were all called in (I was with the husband and our 4-year old son in the waiting room). The IO said that my Mom was his last interview for the day and he just wanted us to be there when he congratulates her for passing her interview. He thanked my husband for his service (IO was retired navy and hubby is Active Duty Air Force) and told us that he will *try* and recommend that my Mom have her oath on the 22nd, otherwise, she will do her oath in October. The questions that were asked were:

1. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
2. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
3. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
4. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
5. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
6. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

She was asked to read: How many U.S. Senators are there?

She wrote: We have 100 U.S. Senators

After a brief chitchat with the IO, we were out the door by 3ish and my 66-year old Mom was so relieved. It was a nice birthday present for her, especially on this historically marked day.

We will now be patiently waiting for that letter

Please update my timeline.

Interview Letter: 08/06

Interview: 9/11

Thank you!

Received email notification that on August 6, they scheduled my Mom's interview! So excited!!! Her birthday is on Sept. 7 she turns 66, wish her luck

In line today 06/04

Received biometrics notice today. My Mom is scheduled for biometrics on June 02.

Cali Gal CPA's info updated!

Thank you KASH2011!

Received the NOA today. It's dated 05/13. Priority date is 05/11. Now waiting for Biometrics schedule

Checking in after so many years. Sent my Mom's N-400 application last week.

I don't think there's going to be a problem since they have a valid tourist visa.

On a separate note, did they get their tourist visa before or after you filed their I-130 petition?

I actually came across this before, but did not file the form because according to it:

"You should use Form N-470 if you are a lawful permanent resident (permanent resident) who will be absent from the United States for more than one year due to qualifying employment and you want to preserve your residence for naturalization purposes.

On behalf of the U. S. Government - Check Box A if you are, or will be employed by, or are under contract with the U.S. Government. This includes members of the U.S.Armed Services...."

My Mom is not directly employed by the US government, my husband is. Do you think this form could have still applied in her case? If so, then let me the first to kick me in the behind for not filing it!

Anyway, back to my original question:

If Mom goes back to the US this year, does that reset her time spent overseas? Say, if she is in the US in Dec. 2009, can she be out of the country until before Dec. 2010 and not need another re-entry permit?

Background: Mom is a LPR residing in a US Military base here in Deutshchland (command-sponsored by Active Duty hubby)

Mom has a reentry permit that will expire in APRIL 2010. When we receive it back in April 2008, I thought there won't be any complications because our orders were to go back to the US in July 2009 (this year)...but...(life hands you lemons)

We got extended to JULY 2010!!! THREE Months past the expiration date of Mom's Re-entry Permit.

I plan to spend Christmas this year in the US and will be taking Mom with me while hubby is deployed.

My question is, if Mom goes back to the US this year, does that reset her time spent overseas? Say, if she is in the US in Dec. 2009, can she be out of the country until before Dec. 2010 and not need another re-entry permit?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Should my active duty husband start looking for a new job?

And in times of war, which I don't think will be possible if Obama is elected, but just in case we get attacked again, does this mean everyone will be drafted to launch a counter attack?

Even with the U.S. citizen spouse in military service, I still can't understand how she could file N-400 in less than 9 months from obtaining permanent status...

Why is that?

I was an assistant to a Financial Adviser while in the US and worked with this lady who was somewhat nice but sharp-tongued, let's call her Tummy. One day, coworker K came to me and asked for help with several sales authorizations. After we're done K thanked me and said she's amazed that I learned so quickly, because all of the sales authorizations I processed and sent to the head office always get approved. Tummy heard her comment and said:

"Well, head office probably thinks she's dumb because they see her [Asian] last name, and think to themselves, let's not speak to her because she probably doesn't speak English or know what she's doing. So, head office just approves everything she sends them."

I didn't know how to react to that, I was dumbfounded. I was the only Asian girl working in a predominantly white staff, so I just shrugged off Tummy's comment and went on with my business.

K got her approvals on all the sales authorizations I helped her with, and she made sure Tummy knew that. K's last name is Hart, so head office couldn't have thought she was dumb too.

Took 7 months for my Mom, that's filing I-130 from overseas and NVC sending mails to Germany. I guess it would have taken longer if not for James' shortcuts.

Expeditious naturalization for PR/CPR spouses applies when your husband receives his official orders to move to a foreign base. You have to be included on his orders. The application is usually lodged after the orders are received and before departure overseas, but NO EARLIER THAN 90 days before the intended departure date. For example, if your scheduled to depart on Dec. 1 to your husband's foreign base, you would have to have filed the N-400 application on or after Sept. 1 while you are still in the US.

For those of you who are already overseas, you can still file N-400 in the Service Center that has jurisdiction over your Home State. However, your Active Duty Spouse's foreign assignment should be at least 12 months on his current overseas base. The N-400 for military spouses cannot be adjudicated overseas, so be prepared to fly back to the US for the interview and oath.

Good Luck!

Thats basically what I said and have said everytime that question is asked in this forum. It has been asked on more than one occasion. Except I said you must go back stateside to lodge it,..But the point is, it must be lodged with the relevant stateside service centre associated with your resident state,whether you mail it there or you mail it while your stateside and you do indeed need to go back stateside for interview and oath.

I think the people just dont like the answer they are hearing , and dont want to do the research themselves, and would rather have other people do it, hoping that the answer that they want is going to pop up.

I even went so far to find the ruling in the INA laws and guidelines once, but that was taken with a grain of salt.

I hear you Jodee.

I didn't know the provision under Section 319B either, all I was told was "IT CAN BE DONE", and that was it. All I needed was the IDEA that it is possible, so I went online and researched the INA, DOD and Dept. of State website. I read through the specific INA interpretations, memorandum, and clauses all night before assembling the packet.

I think folks here are getting more information than I did when I was starting the process, and this is good because now they don't have to dig for that information like we did.

How long is your Active Duty spouse's overseas assignment? You can file the N-400 from overseas provided, your Active Duty spouse still has at least one year left in his/her current foreign station.

Expeditious naturalization for PR/CPR spouses applies when your husband receives his official orders to move to a foreign base. You have to be included on his orders. The application is usually lodged after the orders are received and before departure overseas, but NO EARLIER THAN 90 days before the intended departure date. For example, if your scheduled to depart on Dec. 1 to your husband's foreign base, you would have to have filed the N-400 application on or after Sept. 1 while you are still in the US.

For those of you who are already overseas, you can still file N-400 in the Service Center that has jurisdiction over your Home State. However, your Active Duty Spouse's foreign assignment should be at least 12 months on his current overseas base. The N-400 for military spouses cannot be adjudicated overseas, so be prepared to fly back to the US for the interview and oath.

Good Luck!

If we pay those certain amounts, Visa Centers should work on our applications double time! to be fair!

When I read this last night, I immediately filed a petition for my bro. Sent it out today. $355 for an I-130 is huge, when it's only $190 until end of July. I know that sibling petition can take decades, but at least I lodged it before USCIS gets away with the fee increase. I know I'll be paying a hefty sum when Mom files for citizenship ($600+ vs $330 that I paid last year), but who knows, she might not want to become one

It's best to ask either or all: the airport, the agency that issues the permission - if such is the case.

My mom's interview was yesterday (Philippine time), May 23 830AM and she got APPROVED!

Thanks to everybody who helped me through all these, extra special thanks go out to James of James' shortcuts, Patiently Waiting and to the countless people here who took the time to answer my PMs.

Now on to CFO, woohoo!

Ok, I'm confused, somebody please help.

My understanding is that my mom will receive Packet 4 in the mail with all the instructions and the interview letter. I received what looked like Packet 4 in the mail on April 28 (it has interview letter and instructions) and I thought that that was my copy. The NVC specifically stated on their email to me dated April 25, that the petitioner and beneficiary will receive further instructions shortly.

Today when I called the USE in Manila, I was told by the lady that it is not them, but the NVC, who will send Packet 4 to my mom, and that they still don't have her physical file. Does this mean that the NVC sends Packet 4 to USE and then they forward it to the beneficiary? I know that even if I were her agent, she's also supposed to get Packet 4.

Also, has anybody tried DHL tracking by reference (correspondence) lately? It used to work when I type correspondence, now it doesn't anymore. Anybody know how to track NVC mail to the Philippines?

TIA!

Has anybody tracked packages from NVC lately? I tried to track using Correspondence as reference but it doesn't seem to work, the website says:

This reference was found on a large number of shipments. Unable to track using this search criteria.

Any suggestions on how I can look up mailings from NVC to MNL embassy? Thanks!

(1) I have yet to call the US embassy in Manila to ask them where the heck is Packet 4. But I understand that if they still have it I can request them to send it to SLEX for my Mom to pick it up, right?

(2) Also, will my Mom pay Delbros to have her (God willing) visa delivered? Or is the fee included in the $380 that I paid NVC when the application was lodged?

(3) If she has to pay the delivery fee, how much is it and where does she pay for it? I have heard of several successful applicants who were able to pick up their visas the following day after the interview, is there any special reason for this? Can my mom choose to pick up her visa instead of having it delivered to her?

(4) And one more thing, the travel tax (I dunno how much it is currently but when I left in 2004, it was around P1,600) does the passenger pay for this only if the tickets were bought locally? What if I buy the ticket from say, Expedia or any online travel agency, will the travel tax be included so the passenger won't have to pay it at the airport?

(1) Yes, you may request Embassy to send packet to St. Lukes so Mom can pick it up.

(2) Yes, Mom needs to pay delivery fee at the Delbros counter located inside the embassy. It is easy to find. No, delivery fee is not included in the $380.

(3) P165 delivery fee for Metro Manila, more pag sa probinsiya. Mom may request visa pick up after interview with the consul. Judging from others who have done it before, there seems to be no special reason for requesting pick up. Some applicants were successful in requesting pick up, others were not. Subject to the mood of the consul if he will grant it or not.

(4) Travel tax of P1,620 will be included in the cost if ticket is purchased in Manila. If you buy it from Expedia and other on-line service, travel tax is not included so Mom has to bring P1,620 and pay at the airport + P750 airport terminal fee.

Wow thanks PW! As always maasahan talaga ang fellow noyPi

Congrats! Finally you got your son's visa. I had a similar experience with our visas back in 2004. All the other applicants who were interviewed the same day received their visas in a span of 2-3 days, mine took about a week. When I got the passports, I found out that the delay was because the embassy made a mistake on my daughter's K2 visa, they spelled her name wrong, so they canceled the first visa and made another one. It's good to know that quality control is working. Anyway, congrats and welcome to America very soon!!!!