Mountainside

On 4/11/2023 at 8:13 PM, Mountainside said:

N400 filed Feb 2.  Biometrics Feb 23.  Interview April 6.  Oath ceremony notice mailed today, April 11.  Oath ceremony May 12, Albuquerque NM.  Party tonight.  Bigger party May 12!

My wife became a US citizen today in Albuquerque NM.  163 new citizens and more than twice as many guests.  It was a fine and moving ceremony.  Best wishes to all of you in reaching your goals!

1 hour ago, faithful12 said:

thanks

It looks like current Albuquerque naturalizations are being presided over by a US District Court Judge at the Convention Center (there may be other ceremonies at other locations that I don't know of).  Here's the Court's schedule:  https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/naturalizations

2 hours ago, faithful12 said:

how much time did it take from oath to be scheduled to actual oath ceremony date?

April 6:  We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review.  April 11:  Your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, was placed in line for oath ceremony scheduling.  Also April 11:  Oath Ceremony Notice Was Mailed.  Oath ceremony will be May 12, two days from now.  So from time of being placed in line for ceremony to date of ceremony:  31 days.

I believe that unless their employers provide subsidized coverage, they'll be relegated to healthcare.gov in Arizona.  Anticipate several hundred dollars per month per person.  https://www.healthinsurance.org/health-insurance-marketplaces/arizona/#:~:text=Arizona uses the federally run,health plans through HealthCare.gov.

ExpressVPN works fine for me.  They have servers in both the US and the Philippines.

A Handbook of Cebuano Visayan, by Anssi and Nida Raisanen

2 hours ago, Marla W said:

did we all pay $725 only?

We did.

N400 filed Feb 2.  Biometrics Feb 23.  Interview April 6.  Oath ceremony notice mailed today, April 11.  Oath ceremony May 12, Albuquerque NM.  Party tonight.  Bigger party May 12!

5 hours ago, IWander said:

Unfortunately direct consulate filing doesn't exist anymore for anyone

I'm sorry now that I that I troubled the OP with a war story about an avenue that no longer exists.  Thank you for setting things straight.

19 hours ago, Iris1954 said:

How will the Filipino government know she has taken USA citizenship?

They won't (I think) until we return to the Philippines with her US passport.  Or if she decides to reaffirm/reacquire Philippine citizenship here in the US.

1 minute ago, dle3452 said:

Wow, congratulations, thats great.  I hope it all works out.  Is she keeping her Philippine citizenship also?

She'll automatically lose Philippine citizenship when she becomes an American citizen.  But she might reacquire/reaffirm Philippine citizenship at some point, and become a dual citizen.

4 hours ago, dle3452 said:

you were able to use the manila embassy because you were living here?

Yes.  Because, and ONLY because I could prove I was both a US and Philippine domiciliary, we were able to file directly in Manila.  It was a huge time-saver for us.  See pages 5-6 of the Form I-864 Instructions for pertinent domicile conditions.  Feel free to PM me if you wish.

Obtained spousal visa in the Phils.  Because I had simultaneous domiciles in the Phils and the US (and we lived in the Phils at the time), our application was processed by the Manila Embassy in a few months.  The Embassy folks were great.  We came to the US in 2019.  Her interview for naturalized US citizenship is tomorrow.  She's well prepared.  As you will be for your permanent resident visa process.

Speaking as a former Nevadan, I think your bride will enjoy the views form Minden/Gardnerville. Mine did.

My wife had been single and never married when I met her.  I'm not informed about I-29.  It's not too early to start thinking about arranging the date of your marriage ceremony, whether at a regional trial court or otherwise.  As you might suspect, getting a quick wedding date in the Phils, once all the necessary documents are in hand, is not easily done.  Recognizing that you're in a time squeeze, I think an attorney who is well-connected with your local regional trial court might be of assistance.    

You don't need a ds 5542.  You need an affidavit drafted by yourself or an attorney, stating that you're eligible to marry in the Philippines.  That's what you'll take to the Embassy for notarization.  I assume that your fiancee has an attorney who helped her obtain her annulment, who can easily draft such an affidavit.  If not, and if you're unable to draft such an affidavit, hire a lawyer to do it.  As legal documents go, it's simple.  Make an online appointment for the Embassy selecting "notary services - other".  Then show up, get it notarized, and leave.  Only takes one visit.

Appear at the US Embassy in Manila (or the consular office in Cebu City, if it's closer to you) as per this State Department link, with an affidavit to be notarized/authenticated:  :https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/marriage-abroad.html

That's what I did and it worked for me.  

On 3/24/2023 at 10:26 AM, springguy said:

any one got interview scheduled 😀?

On 3/24/2023 at 11:04 AM, Tom18 said:

Only one person has gotten interview scheduled that I have seen

Interview April 6 in Albuquerque.  Notice was sent March 1, bio was done February 23.

On 3/9/2023 at 5:35 PM, aperson said:

They do it by groups, 20 each group, and they call the next 20 people after every one in the previous group is done with the appointment. I think that’s why it was taking longer.

So different in Albuquerque.  We arrived a bit early and my wife was admitted immediately.  No other applicants in sight.  All staff very friendly.  Almost like being a VIP, with a warm welcome from USCIS.  

5 hours ago, R_3 said:

Wooho, this is so fast and so cool. Good luck with the interview.

Thank you.  My wife-applicant is a diligent student.  The likely impossible goal is to master the material better than the officer who will interview her

5 minutes ago, R_3 said:

Thanks.

You're welcome.  I'm guessing now that one of reasons things are moving so quickly for us is that we don't have to deal with adjustment of status.

1 hour ago, R_3 said:

you already have 10-year green card?

Yes.  My wife entered the US with a 10 year green card.

4 hours ago, Audyam said:

That is indeed moving very fast. Yaaay! How are you preparing for the interview?

My wife is the applicant.  She's using this book, purchased from Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNL89PK8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details  I think, by the time of her interview, she'll have mastered all 100 questions.  Also found some sample interview scripts online.  We'll use one or two.  And we'll go through the routine Q&A that covers the items on her application.  It's been a bit humbling for me, a native US citizen, that I could not have aced the civics exam (or maybe even scored 6 out of 10) a few weeks ago.