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Congratulations! Hope your husband is OK

Long journey for you, for sure, glad it's over!

Thanks Grashoppr, yes he's ok now, thanks.

Yes, it was a long journey, but I shouldn't really complain as there were people there who had waited 8-10 years. Not exactly sure of their circumstances, but I think they came on either assylum or refugee status.

Hi everyone,

I am finally a US citizen! We had a long delay as my husband had been in the hospital and as a result we postponed our ceremony until April 25 so he could be with me. The ceremony was held in Roanoke, VA and was very enjoyable. It feels good to be at the end of the process, and although my journey was not as long as some, it still felt long!!!

I wanted to come back onto this thread to take this opportunity to thank Visa Journey for all of the information, help, advice that it has provided. A big thank you to all of the posters, as without them we would not share the vast amount of knowledge needed to get through the process. We have managed to do every part of this process just from the information we received from this site, and in doing so have saved thousands of dollars!! We are both truly grateful to everyone on Visa Journey.

Sending best wishes to everyone still enduring any part of the legal immigration process - stick with it, it's all worth it in the end!!!!

hi guys i am a new user and wondering if anyone else waiting on the oath i had my interview November 1 and been on the oath que since the 8 of November i am about to call them tomorrow cuz thats passed 45 days they said anyone has the same prob in VA plz let me know what is ur ceremony date if you have one thank you guys

I passed my interview on October 5 in Norfolk VA, still haven't heard anything. When I called after 45 days, I was told on two occasions that that information online is incorrect, and we have to wait 90 days to have an oath scheduled. So frustrating to know that even after all we've been through to get to this stage, USCIS are still messing us around.

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing.....Congrats to all who have passed interviews and/or have finished their journey. To others waiting, may things move quickly for you.

As for us, we did pass our interview on 10/31 ( changed from 30th due to Hurricane Sandy) and got a notice from USCIS saying we were placed in the que on November 2nd for the oath ceremony, however, we haven't heard anything else since. I know a couple other people in the area that are also waiting for the oath ceremony, so not sure what the hold up is on that down here in South Eastern, VA.

The notification said we should hear something within 45 days.......so about two more weeks to go before we inquire......maybe we will here something before then.

Hi there,

I passed my interview in Norfolk VA on October 5. I've heard nothing since and when I called after 45 days was told that the USCIS website was not correct, and in fact I had to wait 90 days before they will accept an inquiry!

This whole process has been frustrating from start to finish with the inequities in the system. It does seem unfair that you can get a totally different service from different offices (those that have oath ceremonies on the same day), while others just wait and wait and wait. Oh well, nothing new I suppose and I am just grateful to be at the end of this dreadful process, just venting!! Thanks for listening :)

Congratulations to those that are now citizens and good luck to those still awaiting interviews - one thing's for sure, we'll all be citizens in 2013!

Thank you PathaN and you too!

Hi everyone,

Had my interview today and passed. Had a great IO who was friendly and put me at ease. All went by in a blur and I can't even remember what questions she asked! I just remember she stopped after 5 correct answers. Oath date to come in the mail, but I think it might be November 16.

Interview was in Norfolk VA, so a 10 hour round trip, but it was worth it!

Best wishes to all those still waiting, and congrats to those who have also passed.

Good evening everyone,

Interview letter received on September 1st, with interview scheduled for October 5th.

Would someone be kind enough to update the list for me. Thanks!

Good morning everyone!

Received my NOA July 28, Biometrics letter received yesterday - appointment scheduled for August 10.

Would someone update my information - thank you!!

Hi everyone,

Check was cashed today and acceptance text received!

Hi Guys,

I've mailed my packet this morning to Lewisville. Field Office is the Washington Field Office at Fairfax VA.

Could you add me to the list please?

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

Green card arrived yesterday!!

On to citizenship, papers ready to go next week, then this journey will really be done!

Good luck to everyone still waiting!

Good morning everyone!

Got my letter of approval yesterday - AT LAST !!!! Approval letter dated June 6.

Would someone smarter than me update the list....thanks!

My citizen packet is all ready and waiting for June 21 when I can apply. One more hurdle and $680 to go!! Then it will be all over.

Best wishes to everyone still waiting.

Hi guys,

Just letting off some steam here! I spent all of yesterday getting my biometrics done. It was nearly a 7 hour round trip driving from Southwest Virginia to Charleston, West Virginia for a 5 minute appointment, not to mention taking a day of hard earned annual leave from work and just over a whole tank of gas!

You'd think there would be more places where you could get this process done, rather than their designated offices which for some are simply miles away. Maybe a police station or somewhere like that - Roanoke is the nearest big city, I'm sure one of their police departments have the necessary equipment. That would have been a 1 hour round trip instead.

For those of us on a budget, the fee for the I-751 and biometrics is bad enough considering the poor service we receive (especially from VSC), but these additional costs in time and gas just really annoyed me yesterday

Thanks for listening guys, just wanted to vent - I feel better now

Best wishes to all.

Thank you to Yurika and Jim for all the updating!! Much appreciated

Looks like it'll be a long wait now before the approved column gets completed. Looks like February 2012 at the earliest.

However, it'll happen eventually!

Best wishes to all.

Hi everyone,

Got our Biometrics letter today, it's scheduled for September 21st.

Best wishes to all.

Received my NOA1, dated 8/22/2011. Could you add this to the list please.

Thanks, best wishes to all.

Hi everyone,

Our package was sent yesterday to VSC (unfortunately!). Lets hope for a smooth process!

Best wishes to all

Thanks everyone for some good suggestions here. I'll certainly be following up and getting at least one bill put into my name only, plus including this issue in my covering letter too.

Thanks again.

Just as a tid bit of info here in Australia whoever opens the account be it electricity water phone whatever stays in that name. In my previous marriage I got all these things put on when we moved into our house and do you think for the life of me they would put in both names. NOPE and when we divorced and I left he had to ring all these places himself to put them in his name. Crazy I know but it must be the same here. We have not gone that route yet as we rent but the lease is in both names now (joint) when we buy a home it should be a different matter, one would hope.

It's so infuriating. The reason they all gave is that they find it too difficult to collect on accounts if one party moves for whatever reason. Therefore they apply this rule to any couple or partnership whether married or not.

To some extent I can see their point - especially if it relates to a situation with students sharing a house for example. But that doesn't help me with USCIS and their requirements!!

However, I intend to include this point in our covering letter to USCIS and I'm sure they must have come accross this problem before.

Although we won't be filing for ROC until next year, we have been trying to add my name onto my husband's utility bills. All are in his name as he had these accounts years before we met.

All of the following utilities have refused to change the name of the account to include my name, Verizon (phone and Internet), DirecTV, Appalachian Power, and the Town of Christiansburg VA (water bill).

We have other documentation - I'm on his healthcare policy and my vehicle is on his motor policy etc., but I'm just interested to know whether others have had the same problem where utilities won't add a spouse to the account name?

Luckily I'm not desperate for a great credit score as we are not in the market for a mortgage and I don't need car loans etc., but it would be nice for a store card It's just very irritating when you have a lifetime of excellent credit in another country, for that to count for nothing here. We have Experian and Equifax in the UK, why on earth do Equifax and Experian in the USA not talk to their UK counterparts? The information is only an email away!!!

However, thanks DamianandKelly for the tip. I've looked at the Orchard Bank website and gone through the questions and they will give me a card. Much appreciated.

I applied for the Capital One® Classic Platinum Credit Card as it was recommended in another thread as a good one to apply for if you were new to the country. Got denied for not having any credit history . I wrote back to them quoting their website which indicates that this is for people that are new to the country and wish to build credit history and they just said that I couldn't have a card as my name did not appear anywhere with the three main credit agencies. A total waste of time! I have decided not to have a US credit card, and am using my UK ones.

I've got utilities in my name and a lease agreement with Aarons, a slower route to building credit I know, but it'll have to do!

Here's the thing... Your immigration history will follow you whenever you have to deal with USCIS or any US consulate in a foreign country. At no point are you fully free and clear - not even after you become a US citizen. What I mean by this is that at any point they can go back and look into your past immigration history in order to make a decision about a current immigration matter. For example, when you originally applied for your visa they checked to see if you had any immigration history with the US. When you applied for your conditional green card they checked to see if you had a legitimate marital relationship with a US citizen. When you self-petitioned to remove conditions on your green card they checked to see if you originally entered that marriage in "good faith". They're going to go back and look into all of that stuff again when you apply for US citizenship. If none of your immigration history has caused you any prior problems, it probably won't cause any new problems when you apply for citizenship.

Now, once you become a US citizen you will be eligible to petition for a foreign fiancee or spouse. You can even petition for a foreign spouse while you're still an LPR, but it takes several years. As usual, this will trigger an investigation into your immigration history. Since you've known your new fiancee for a long time, there is a possibility that they will now suspect you entered into the first marriage with a US citizen in order to ultimately submit a petition for your current fiancee. The odds of the US government suspecting this will increase exponentially at a high fraud consulate (you didn't say what country you and your new fiancee are from). If, in the course of their investigation, they uncover evidence that leads them to conclude that the first marriage was a sham, then everything you've accomplished up to that point, immigration wise, will be at risk. They would almost certainly deny your fiance's visa, but they could also revoke your citizenship and deport you.

Please understand that I'm not trying to scare you, or even implying that there's a likelihood any of this stuff will happen. In fact, it's likely you'll have no problems. However, the fact that you've apparently known your new fiancee since before your first marriage is a definite red flag for a classic visa fraud scenario, and I have little doubt they will at least investigate this. It's something you should be aware of, and also be prepared to address it. What would look very bad for you would be any evidence that you had a romantic relationship with your current fiance BEFORE your first marriage to a US citizen, as well as any evidence that you maintained contact with him while you were married to the US citizen.

This is what Anh Map was alluding to. A classic visa scam involves divorcing a foreign spouse, marrying a US citizen and obtaining legal status in the US, divorcing the US citizen, and petitioning for the first spouse to immigrate. The ultimate objective is to get both foreign lovebirds to the US with legal status to remain here. There are many variations of this particular scam, some of which involve a prior sweetheart rather than a spouse. You should give some thought to your own situation, how your relationship began and developed with your new fiance, and whether a USCIS adjudicator or US consular officer might find any of your circumstances fit that mold. If so, you should prepare adequate evidence to counter their suspicions.

Here's the thing... Your immigration history will follow you whenever you have to deal with USCIS or any US consulate in a foreign country. At no point are you fully free and clear - not even after you become a US citizen. What I mean by this is that at any point they can go back and look into your past immigration history in order to make a decision about a current immigration matter. For example, when you originally applied for your visa they checked to see if you had any immigration history with the US. When you applied for your conditional green card they checked to see if you had a legitimate marital relationship with a US citizen. When you self-petitioned to remove conditions on your green card they checked to see if you originally entered that marriage in "good faith". They're going to go back and look into all of that stuff again when you apply for US citizenship. If none of your immigration history has caused you any prior problems, it probably won't cause any new problems when you apply for citizenship.

Now, once you become a US citizen you will be eligible to petition for a foreign fiancee or spouse. You can even petition for a foreign spouse while you're still an LPR, but it takes several years. As usual, this will trigger an investigation into your immigration history. Since you've known your new fiancee for a long time, there is a possibility that they will now suspect you entered into the first marriage with a US citizen in order to ultimately submit a petition for your current fiancee. The odds of the US government suspecting this will increase exponentially at a high fraud consulate (you didn't say what country you and your new fiancee are from). If, in the course of their investigation, they uncover evidence that leads them to conclude that the first marriage was a sham, then everything you've accomplished up to that point, immigration wise, will be at risk. They would almost certainly deny your fiance's visa, but they could also revoke your citizenship and deport you.

Please understand that I'm not trying to scare you, or even implying that there's a likelihood any of this stuff will happen. In fact, it's likely you'll have no problems. However, the fact that you've apparently known your new fiancee since before your first marriage is a definite red flag for a classic visa fraud scenario, and I have little doubt they will at least investigate this. It's something you should be aware of, and also be prepared to address it. What would look very bad for you would be any evidence that you had a romantic relationship with your current fiance BEFORE your first marriage to a US citizen, as well as any evidence that you maintained contact with him while you were married to the US citizen.

This is what Anh Map was alluding to. A classic visa scam involves divorcing a foreign spouse, marrying a US citizen and obtaining legal status in the US, divorcing the US citizen, and petitioning for the first spouse to immigrate. The ultimate objective is to get both foreign lovebirds to the US with legal status to remain here. There are many variations of this particular scam, some of which involve a prior sweetheart rather than a spouse. You should give some thought to your own situation, how your relationship began and developed with your new fiance, and whether a USCIS adjudicator or US consular officer might find any of your circumstances fit that mold. If so, you should prepare adequate evidence to counter their suspicions.

Wow! That was a well written and informative response. Thank you for taking the time to respond in such a professional manner.

Faris Ali Gillani was born on Sunday, January 24th 2010 at 11:46am!!! The doctors decided to induce me when they saw that my placenta was looking too aged. All in all the first part of labor was kind of miserable cause it was taking so long and I wasn't dilating well, but it simply felt like menstrual cramps so the pain wasn't so bad. But it sped up out of nowhere going from 1cm to 9cm's in half an hour and exactly an hour afterwards my beautiful baby boy was born!!!

....g2g now though. Will be logging on next whenever I get a breathing moment to do so...lol.

Wonderful news Mumtaz!! Many congratulations - the fun starts now!

Hi everyone,

Wanted to stop by and say hello. Been here in Virginia for nearly two months now and am settling in slowly.

Got my green card (although no-one told me it wasn't green ). However the social security card/number never showed up, so much for completing that part of the DS 230! Going to the social security office on monday which is 30 miles away and will be able to apply for it in person then. From what I've read here, it should be issued fairly shortly afterwards.

Have got a job interview on Tuesday - wish me luck!!

Best wishes to all - happy for your husband Whidbeygirl - he's done very well to get a job so soon.

Take care.