OldUser

Sometimes it's written in interview notice. Other times, it's not written, but it happens. Always be ready for it and bring the USC spouse.

You have to file taxes yes. There's an exclusion, about $130K. If you'll be earning less than that, you won't need to pay anything.

You can potentially get RFE for that.

Yes, it can pose problems. Extension letter itself creates problems occasionally, even with matching names. Imagine names not matching. Your step daughter should carry passport, GC, extension letter and a document proving name change for international travel. She should also have plan B if airline denies boarding a US bound plane, such as travel to Mexico / Canada and crossing by land. I'm not saying she'd have issues all the time, but there's a chance.

You must carry expired both GC AND extension letter to travel anywhere and entering the US. I traveled to Canada on conditional GC and extension letter. Entered without visa, whereas if I only used passport alone, it would have required eTA. I know somebody recently had issues entering South Korea with conditional GC and extension as they asked for unexpired GC instead. Also read this thread, Mexico was discussed there multiple times:

Alright, so I'm a lucky 10 year GC holder, I-751 veteran who got conditions removed last year. Recently, I was flying into the US with my 10 year GC for the first time. I kind of got used to extension letter and expired GC not working properly at GE kiosk. This time, the kiosks worked in facial recognition mode. It said unless asked, you don't have to scan documents. Of course I was asked (my US citizen spouse wasn't, used it before me). Remembering that I as LPR should use GC for entering the US, I put the 10 year GC facing with my photo down on the scanner. The kiosk didn't like it. I had to see agent. It took them 20 seconds to check passport and GC, then I was admitted without a problem. Now, I read on GE website, that LPR can scan either GC or passport. If I knew I could scan passport, I would have done that: When you use the Global Entry kiosk, you will need to use your passport or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) card. The Global Entry and SENTRI cards do not work when entering the United States by air through the Global Entry kiosks. Source: https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1302?language=en_US Also, when scanning GC, you supposedly need to put the back of the card on scanner, not the front how I did. I used GE kiosks with passport no problem before I became LPR. As conditional resident, kiosk let me through a couple of times with facial recognition only, but majority of time I was asked to scan a document which never worked since. Do people with LPR status have experience scanning docs at GE kiosk successfully without having to see somebody every time? What's the right way? Do you just use passport? P.S. I realize this may sound like a first world problem and I may just try using passport next time. But I'm curious 😃

I had WAC service center. Submitted end of November 2021 Biometrics reuse - end of April 2022 Approval - middle of August 2023 GC in hand - end of August 2023 Make sure to read the threads about what others are submitting. You need to submit tons of evidence showing your relationship from date of marriage to current date. This includes joint bank statements, insurance with both names, rental agreement with both names, and many more things proving you live together as a married couple. I recommend personal check for payments. Don't use credit cards - some on VJ had them denied and application rejected. Don't use cashiers check - you won't know when USCIS withdraws money. Good luck! Be ready for a long wait and nothing happening in between various stages as I-751 extension letters are now valid for whopping 48 months (4 years)

Sometimes if you were in the US on different status before adjusting, the Social Security card may say "Valid for work only with DHS authorization". This means, employers ask for some other document to perform I-9 verification, such as Green Card and extension letter. The drawback of this is, not all HR at companies know how extension letters work, and start panicking thinking LPR doesn't have authorization to work while I-751 is pending. To avoid all of this, it's best to have unrestricted social security card. You can get it while on conditional GC or 10 year GC by going to SSA office. They can issue Social Security card which doesn't have any extra wording. This card, along with valid drivers license or state ID, can be used for I-9 verification. In this case, LPR can decide NOT to show GC and extension letter to employer and has a right to this. Employer can verify eligibility to work using unrestricted SS card and DL, and it makes things much easier and drama free.

If you still have I-751 pending it's advisable to write a cover letter asking for combo interview. And even more importantly, include the copy of extension letter so I-751 case can be connected to N-400. You can upload this letters in additional evidence section. P.S what is the summary sheet fron IRS website? Download tax return transcripts for each year from IRS website and upload it. Photos are great, but if you have boarding passes / reservations from each trip, that's even more valuable.

@David00000 I highly recommend getting him: - US passport (large book, it's same price as regular but has more pages) - US passport card (can be used for land travel from Canada, Mexico and some cruises). It also serves as proof of citizenship if passport is lost - Certificate of citizenship (N-600). Can do later, but further down the line you do it, more difficult it would be to gather evidence etc. I'd suggest getting it within the next 2-3 years.

Not just that. Sometimes the passport won't be renewed many years later until one proves they're a US citizen. I wouldn't want to be in that situation without certificate of citizenship.

You can apply just for passport. But please make sure to apply for N600 at some point in near future. The worst case is if he's asked to prove he's a citizen may years later when your parents are no longer around. You don't want that!

I don't believe I-797 for AOS has any expiration date. The status is valid while you're waiting for decision.

Didn't know that. Which options to pick when filing FOIA? I won't do it but just curious 😃

I don't think @Lil bear implied you cannot visit your country of origin. You absolutely can (unless you got your GC through asylum from your country). If you go for 180 days on a single trip, or spend more time outside of the US than inside by coming to the US every few months and leaving after few weeks - that's how US residency is broken.

No, you break residence if you spend over 180 days in any given trip overseas. Then you'll have to apply on 4 year and 1 day rule since you return from that trip. Of course if you don't have any other trips over 180 days. 90 day residence rule is... You cannot move states, for example from California to Texas and apply for N-400 immediately. You need to spend at least 90 days in the new state, get new DL / state ID etc and only then apply.

If you can, go to Sweden for few months to see everybody, explore living situation (prices, rent etc), apply for few jobs. That would help making the right decision.

This is normal. I-751 approvals take 12-48 months to get approved nowadays. Only then you would receive 10 year GC. Yes, it's possible to apply for naturalization (N-400) when you become eligible even if you don't have 10 year GC. I-751 will always have to be approved before you can naturalize. Often (but not always) you will get a I-751 and N-400 interviews together (so-called combo interview). You can apply for N-400 at 3 year minus 90 days of your anniversary of being a LPR. You'd have to be still married to your US citizen spouse and live together all the way until you naturalize. You have to have a good moral character (no crimes), pay all taxes, spend enough time in the US, don't break continuous residence, have a residence in your state for at least 90 days when you file and pass the civics test.

If you end up getting the interview, you will likely get questions about marriage too.

Yes, you understand it correctly. You can expect becoming a US citizen beginning of 2026. I also wanted to add, there may be a new administration in power after upcoming US elections. They can radically change immigration process and make it more difficult to come to the US / become a resident again. I'd think hard before giving up this opportunity.

Is she happy with it? 😃 I'm yet to find an ID where my photo is great. But I don't care enough to update it.

Yes, print all pages of all documents you submit. Otherwise you may get RFE. You only do I-751 once, it's well worth spending time and money for it to go smooth. Congratulations! Instead I'd print out copy of the deed (are the both names on it?) which is only few pages long typically.

Yes you should do all that. Ideally she should have waited for N-400 to change name legally, but she now should notify USCIS about name change. Also, she better renew passport with new name too.

Typically, no new picture would be taken.

If N-400 interview is scheduled, you should bring your spouse in case if they decide to do combo!