suzukiwookie

Got a letter with the biometrics date today!

N-400: November 2013 Applicants
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USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
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UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
Jon and Sol......|10/28/13|10/28/13|11/05/13|11/04/13|11/18/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Pittsburgh,PA
suzukiwookie.....|04/11/12|10/29/13|--/--/--|11/06/13|12/05/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Tampa,FL
ravi_niu.........|10/14/13|11/01/13|11/07/13|11/04/13|11/18/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Orlando,FL
juzero2..........|--/--/--|11/01/13|11/07/13|11/16/13|12/06/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Baltimore,MA
Kirthiraj........|03/03/13|11/04/13|11/13/13|11/07/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Washington D.C.
Nyosh............|11/03/13|11/04/13|11/12/13|11/07/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Nashville,TN
Vares66..........|--/--/--|11/12/13|11/18/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Louisville,KY
Trooper..........|10/27/13|11/13/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Philadelphia,PA
jewel4life.......|11/18/13|11/14/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston,TX
babfela..........|--/--/--|11/15/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Pittsburgh,PA

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USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
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UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
vbb..............|10/31/13|10/30/13|11/08/13|11/07/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Salt Lake City,UT
copetes5.........|10/15/13|11/05/13|11/15/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago,IL
Nica_In_Love.....|11/01/13|11/06/13|11/14/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|
fabulous02.......|06/11/13|11/01/13|11/07/13|11/11/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Saint Paul,MN
Birdo............|01/02/98|11/12/13|11/19/13|11/19/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Bernardino,CA
lostinlove03.....|11/08/13|11/11/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Salt Lake City,UT

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USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
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UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
Barker Family....|--/--/--|11/18/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--| ,

I can't wait for that to happen to me! After all the gathering of documents and checking and double checking - putting the envelope in the mail was a complete non-event! I don't know what I was expecting but it was somehow odd to just drop the envelope in the mailbox and that was that...

As a side note though, I did not put a cover letter in my envelope. I hope it's not the "one thing missing" that will screw me over. I paperclipped the N400 itself, then I paperclipped my pictures and divorce decree copy in the back of it and my check and g1145 in the front.

Yes, I had that moment too, where i was like "Ok.. so when I drop this envelope through the slot, I'm an American citizen." You build this whole romance about it, and then it comes down to sticking an envelope in a slot THUMP. And that's it. No trumpets, no confetti falling from the ceiling, no Champagne, just a dull THUMP as the envelope falls to the bottom of the bin, and now you've sort of become a different person - an American. lol

As for the coverletter - don't worry. The person opening your letter knows what an N-400 is. They've seen one or two before . And if I may be so presumptuous; most of us have been through the ringer to get where we are (K-1, K-3, Married, Work authorization, green card, lifting conditions, etc) the road up to here has been, in large part, a gauntlet of trying to prove your love, prove your relationship, prove you marriage. I see a lot of us are still traumatized by this, and still think that the N-400 is about proving your marriage still. Well, it's not. You don't need to send pictures, love letters, and a pile of "evidence". Just send what the instructions ask for. I think this process is going to be a lot easier than all the previous steps. We should all relax, and take a deep breath, and enjoy what's left of the ride. And we should be proud that we made it this far, and that we found love, and that we made it work, and that we ventured and risked, and gained. And that we now get to participate as equal citizens in one of the greatest nations on Earth.

N-400: November 2013 Applicants
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USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
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UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
suzukiwookie.....|04/11/12|10/29/13|--/--/--|11/06/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Tampa, FL
ravi_niu.........|10/14/13|11/01/13|11/07/13|11/05/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Orlando,FL
Kirthiraj........|03/03/13|11/04/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Washington D.C.
Jon and Sol......|10/28/13|10/28/13|11/05/13|11/04/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Pittsburgh,PA

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USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
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UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
vbb..............|10/31/13|10/30/13|11/08/13|11/07/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Salt Lake City, UT
copetes5.........|10/15/13|11/05/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|
Nica_In_Love.....|11/01/13|11/06/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|
fabulous02.......|06/11/13|11/01/13|11/07/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|
Birdo............|01/02/98|11/12/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Bernardino, CA

Received Form I-797C, Notice of Action in the mail today!! They got my N-400, cashed my check, and "Upon receipt of all required Record Checks," I will be scheduled for an interview at a local USCIS office!

@ kirthiraj and suzukiwookie congrats. @ suzukiwookie what date did you send it out?

Sorry for the late reply. I sent it out on Oct 28th. Today I got an email from USCIS stating that they had received and accepted it!

Sent off my N-400 package last week. Checked the delivery confirmation online and it was delivered to the Dallas box this morning! Hopefully everything will go smoothly as it did throughout the whole K1 and green card process.

I sent just the summary pages of our last three tax returns (instead of sending three entire tax returns - 60 pages worth). So I hope that won't prompt and RFE for the entire 60 pages. Didn't bother sending any documents "proving our relationship" as it is not asked for, and I don't think this process is about proving you marriage, it's about citizenship.

I am really looking forward to being able to fully contribute to this country, and somehow, to make America a better place. Politics aside, we are very fortunate to be able to become part of a society where hard work does pay off, entrepreneurship is possible, your security in life and business are backed by a secure system, and the "American Dream" can still be had by those willing and able to work for it.

Received my greencard today!! Only 8 days after approval.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!

Did you get any email or text message ?

I did not get an email or a text message. But I don't think I requested those things.

Also, FYI the online case status on uscis.gov has not been upadated. It still says what it said in May 2011.

Woo hoo!!

Just a got a letter in the mail stating that "Congratulations! Your request for the removal of the conditional basis of your permanent resident status has been approved. You are deemed to be a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States. blah blah.. you'll get your card within 60 days."

By this time next year I should be a US Citizen! This puts an extra cherry on top of my day!

Date of decision 01/04/2012

I added our data to the VSC

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

WELSHDAN.............04/27/11........05/03/11.......08/10/11........--/--/11....

YOINK................05/02/11........05/05/11.......07/08/11........--/--/11.... (Scheduled Late Bio)

TINKERBELLUK.........05/02/11........05/09/11.......06/17/11........--/--/11....

JEAN0414.............05/03/11........05/05/11.......06/20/11........--/--/11....

SHERRY09.............05/??/11........05/06/11.......06/20/11........--/--/11....

EDINA................05/04/11........05/09/11.......06/27/11........--/--/11.... (early bio 06/24)

SWANTIGER............05/04/11........05/24/11.......06/27/11........--/--/11....

KMEHMOOD1............05/06/11........05/10/11.......06/26/11........--/--/11.... (Early bio 6/07)

PRINCESS_MARICAR.....05/06/11........05/10/11.......06/17/11........--/--/11....

J&N79................05/07/11........05/09/11.......06/17/11........--/--/11....

CLAUSKI..............05/07/11........05/10/11.......06/15/11........--/--/11....

JOHN HALL............05/09/11........05/11/11.......06/26/11........--/--/11....

CHIC.................05/09/11........05/12/11.......06/27/11........--/--/11.... (NOA1 info derived from immigration lawyer.)

FLORIDA RES..........05/10/11........--/--/11.......06/17/11........--/--/11.... (never received NOA1)

HARRY_SIDHU..........05/10/11........05/??/11.......06/24/11........--/--/11....

VIP1.................05/11/11........05/16/11.......06/23/11........--/--/11....

MARY AND ENRIQUE.....05/12/11........05/16/11.......07/19/11........--/--/11....

Chris and Kiki.......05/13/11........05/17/11.......06/21/11........--/--/11....

FURIOUSNG............05/14/11........05/19/11.......06/23/11........--/--/11....

~LAURA AND NICK~.....05/14/11........05/17/11.......06/28/11........--/--/11....

AUDREYBELLA..........05/16/11........05/18/11.......06/23/11........--/--/11....

MADWOMAN.............05/16/11........05/31/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

DEIDRE...............05/17/11........05/19/11.......07/20/11........--/--/11.... (Early bio 06/28 Raleigh-Durham)

HELLOMIFFY...........05/17/11........05/20/11.......06/27/11........--/--/11.... (Early bio 6/16 New York)

VMM..................05/17/11........05/20/11.......06/23/11........--/--/11....

DAGOBERT.............05/19/11........05/23/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

PATTU RANI...........05/19/11........--/--/11.......07/11/11........--/--/11....

TJBRUM...............05/19/11........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

EDDY67...............05/19/11........05/23/11.......08/15/11........--/--/11...

RUPA.................05/20/11........05/23/11.......07/11/11........--/--/11....

ANGUS28..............05/23/11........05/25/11.......06/30/11........--/--/11....

METEORO0915..........05/23/11........05/26/11.......07/11/11........--/--/11....

DFFKTLZL.............05/24/11........05/25/11.......06/30/11........--/--/11....

WINIFREDBEE..........05/??/11........05/27/11.......07/11/11........--/--/11....

SAL AND JAY..........05/26/11........06/01/11.......07/13/11........--/--/11....

CHRIS39..............05/26/11........05/31/11.......07/17/11........--/--/11....

CATT.................05/26/11........05/31/11.......07/13/11........--/--/11....

OPHELIA783...........05/27/11........06/01/11.......07/06/11........--/--/11....

JAMES_N_KAREN........05/27/11........06/01/11.......07/25/11........--/--/11....

DARKLUCK909..........05/27/11........05/30/11.......06/21/11........--/--/11.... (Early bio 6/17 New York)

ADRIAN01.............05/31/11........06/02/11.......07/13/11........--/--/11....

I haven't been on here for a while. Noticed that we're almost in November and since I'm a May 2011 filer, I was starting to get the jitters. So I thought I'd check VJ to see if any other May filers had gotten their GC's... I guess we're all on the same boat with the Vermont SC. That calms my nerves a little.. lol

The big question once I get the GC is (drum roll)...... "Do I want to be an American citizen?? Or stay a green card holding Canadian?" There are Pro's and Con's (primarily cross-border tax reasons) but I guess this is for another part of the forum, eh?

Ok thanks guys. I've decided to keep my CDN bank accounts and just mind my business. I will not be filing canadian taxes as I don't live there. Period. The end. I have tiger blood. I'm a warlock. lol

Well I called the CRA and they were of no help, the lady basically told me that I have to make the decision whether or not I am a resident. To which I said, "well that's why I'm calling you, you're the CRA and I don't know whether I am or not. You should be the deciding factor, you don't pay taxes to ME. How do YOU make that determination." to which she very hastily repeated her original statement again, and added a URL to follow on the CRA website which, yet again, vaguely explains what are some of the criteria of deeming a person a resident or non-resident. And it did not really state WHO should be deeming the person - the CRA or me?? So I'm not filing anything this year, but I'm still nervous.

I have a line of credit in Canada that I still owe money on, and a checking account.. So, should I play it safe and close the accounts and get a line of credit here to consolidate?? I don't ever plan on living in Canada again, but at the same time, I like having bank accounts there for when I visit. Am I freaking out over something that's not a big deal?

I've been in the US for two years now.. Just wondering if I'm supposed to be filing taxes in Canada??

Thanks guys! I guess we'll go through the US Citizen's line (which is always super short) Sweet!

Are you an American citizen?

I'd imagine that the visa-processing facilities would be on the Canadian citizens side.

Sorry, I think you missunderstood. I am Canadian. I live in the US (I have a greencard). We're just going to Toronto for vacation.

Hello everyone, It's been a while since I posted. Life in the US has been keeping me busy, but things are very good for us!

I will be visiting Toronto in March and had a question. When we return to the us we will have to go through US Customs at Pearson Airport. There are two lines. One says "Canadian Citizens" and the other line says "US Citizens". I will be with my wife and step daughter (both Americans). So which line do we go into? Do we all go together, do we split up?

Quick question: I'm currently in the US with my husband and am looking to transfer some funds from my CAD account to my US account. Does anyone have a way to do this with the least cost? Thanks so much!

I opened a Canadian RBC bank account and then I opened an American RBC bank account. I can transfer money back and forth for free. There is no service charge and the transfer is instant. I also got a credit card from RBC USA and that helped me establish credit here in the US. I have been here for less than a year and I already have a credit history and two American credit cards! I am well on my way to establishing good credit thanks to RBC! And better yet - there is an RBC just 4 minutes from my house here in FL.. how convenient is that!?

Congratulations!

If anyone has advice and has been in similar situation as us please help! I'm very sorry if I'm posting in wrong place

I am new to this. I received the website from a friend of mine who married a Turkish man. She said this site helped her tremendously so I hope it will do the same for me. I am still researching to figure out all the forms and visas and such. I am an American women and will marry my Brazilian fiance here in Brazil. We are still in the beginning stages collecting various documents. My divorce decree, letter of being single, etc. He was in the US previously entering illegally and living for 6 years. He was issued a drivers license. He also was arrested in 2008 for driving with an expired drivers license. He left on his own he was not deported. He returned to Brazil because of his elderly mother and has been here for almost 1 year. In January 2009 he tried to get a visa to return to the US and was denied. He Say's he was told he was denied because the interviewer didn't believe his application." No one told him he was banned for 10 years.

He thinks the reason he was denied is not because they know he was there illegally but because he lied and said he never applied for a visa before. Which he did in 1999 and was also denied then, he believes because he had no binding ties in Brazil. Presumably he was probably at risk of trying to stay in the US. I am wondering what we should do? Is there a way to find out if he was banned for 10 years without causing ourselves more pain? I'm worried he does have a 10 year ban and that is why he was denied. But we have a friend who also was in the US living with his whole family illegally for 7 years they all left and came back to Brazil on their own not deported. The children were in school,had drivers license etc and they were recently given tourist visas. Hope this makes sense because I'm totally confused myself. Any help will be appreciated.

I really doubt that this guy is going to be let in again. And my thoughts to you (please don't take offense)... find someone with a cleaner track record (I've seen too many people end up with guys like this..)

We had our AOS interview today and got the I-155 stamp. We got approved!!! I am now a permanent resident of the US! Green card will arrive in two weeks.

I can't thank Visa Journey enough. I don't know how we would have made it through this so easily without this very valuable tool.

Thank you everyone!

My father (he's a permanent resident) will be driving up from Florida to pick up my fiancee and I (we're in Toronto). My fiancee has been staying with me for a couple weeks while the interview was going on. All three of us will be driving down together and crossing at Niagara Falls. Our vehicle will contain clothes, books, dvds, pots and pans, some used electronics, and small household appliances (iron, kettle, toaster, blender, etc...). I'm not bringing any furniture.

I WILL NOT open the brown envelope. What kind of questions do they ask when crossing? Is it similar to the visa interview?

Thanks.

Hi and congratulations. Read my border crossing review on my timeline. I drove to Florida from Toronto and went through customs at Niagara Falls.

Hi guys,

Well, we have the AOS interview tomorrow in Tampa. I don't really know what to expect. Will they just give me the greencard, will they interrogate us for two hours? I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I'm not very worried about it. I just want to get it over with.

Any tips from those of you who have been through it already?

Hi all, after an RFE and then weeks of silence from the USCIS, we finally got a letter that says we have to attend an interview for AOS in Tampa this August.

I want to hear from people that have been to the interview in Tampa, FL. What should we expect? Any tips from experience would be appreciated.

Ok PHEW! Thanks guys!