Szilvia74

Read the question again:

"have you ever failed to file". EVER is the key word. If you did not file before it was due you failed to file (even though you corrected it later).

It is a good idea to attach an explanation because the IO will ask about it in the interview. It may slow down the process as it did to me.

Wrong answer:

That means you have filed your taxes. If your landlord didn't receive your rent check, calls you, and says: "yo dawg, wussup with da cheque?" and you sent one to him, and he cashes it, you have never failed to pay your rent.

If you filed, you did not fail. If you owe nothing, you don't owe anything.

Pure poetry. Looks like I missed my calling in life.

So does she meet the physical presence requirement of eighteen months (within the 3 years)?

Did they say what is the reason you need to wait? Is there something wrong with your papers? Is this normal processing time in Dallas? (Check processing times on this site to compare).

If the wait seems too long compared to other cases it is a good idea to contact your senator for help to speed up the case (there are a few people on this site to whom this method worked well).

He feels he doesn't belong there because it is such a different environment, language, people etc. He will adjust eventually, you just need to wait it out.

"Almost 2 weeks"? I understand that you are impatient but 2 weeks is nothing... Wait a little bit more and if you don't hear from them schedule an INFOPASS and/or contact your senator.

Some offices are very slow and if you have to submit additional evidence that makes the timeline longer. I applied in September, they requested evidence after the interview in January. Finally I found out via my senator that my case is approved as of April 7 but the oath ceremony is still not scheduled. I am just saying this so you know I feel your pain! Keep on hanging

Were the questions asked for the civic and history test in Spanish then? I am just confused how could he answer those questions but not pass the English test.

Are you applying under the 3-year rule? I think it is better if your souse is there but if he has something important to do it is OK, you just want to be ready to explain IF it comes up. It shouldn't be a biggie, but it really just depends on the IO. My IO asked where my husband was and I told him he is sitting in the car outside...and he didn't seem too satisfied with the answer.

If I look at the 4 requirements that someone mentioned above my first response is that this one is not met: "Live in the legal and physical custody of the American citizen parent" as he lives in India, not with you in the US....

If you have a delivery confirmation they received it. Perhaps they collect a certain amount of checks and they cash them together. I do not think there is anything to worry about. (I can be wrong but I believe they cash the check even if anything is missing/wrong.)

Okay - so I know that I previously posted about waiting for my NOA1 - but I just called the bank to see if my money order had been cashed yet, and it hasn't! I have delivery confirmation that they received the packet last Friday - so it will be a week tomorrow. Does it usually take that long for them to cash the check? I just feel as though I see timelines saying they received the packet and 2 days later they cashed the check. I've looked through my photocopy of the packet I sent and can't find anything wrong or missing...waiting to hear from them just to know the process is started is killing me. I I know I have a much longer wait - I just want to have a start date to work with!!!

AND - if this is not normal - what could be the reason for them not cashing the money order?

Thanks for the info

Thanks Nick! But I have some questions:

What do you mean "Stepdaughter was the third to be called out of 38". Called out for what? And why did you have to read her certificate?

And why "her original US citizen certificate had to be sent off to some unknown place"? I thought I can use that right away to get the passport.

Don't everyone lllooovvvee the MOM? LOL (I can't stand it either).

Stepdaughter filled out her N-445 while we were waiting in line. Was different this time as the first time I was separated from my wife. Told her not to sign it, but she did anyway, but the office manager glanced at it and took it anyway. She didn't know how to spell Bloomington. She also turned in her green card. They never asked her or my wife for their conditional green cards, still have those in our folders. Worthless, but what the heck, a reminder of what we went through to get those.

We were suppose to be there at 2:15 PM, had a bit of a problem getting my wife and stepdaughter out of the Mall of America, but got there at 2:20 PM. Didn't make any difference, we were at the end of the line for that metal detection inspection, but it moved fast, was in our seats at 2:35PM and waited until 3:00 PM when it formally started. Manager have a five minute talk on what to do after you received your certificate. She called the people to stand and remain standing by country, half the people were from Laos, other half from China, on my stepdaughter stood up from Venezuela. They recited the oath, had all of us stand for the pledge of allegiance, showed a brief welcoming from Obama, played that video about America being great, then she said, no pictures, and when you get your certificate, make sure its correct or will cost you 380 bucks if you leave with errors on it. Stepdaughter was the third to be called out of 38. I read her certificate twice taking about five seconds, then we left.

Not much fanfare, but was shocked to learn that about 15 people had there interview that morning, same day oath. Would have been nice for us with another 450 mile trip. But we were lucky, had a blizzard the day before. Road conditions were reported as being snow covered, but at least one lane was clear, so we left three hours earlier and got there three hours early, so hit the mall instead. Wife and stepdaughter thanked me for great patience with another three hours at the mall, not of thing of interest to me at that mall, prices are super high as is the MN sales tax.

We are now at that stage where her original US citizen certificate had to be sent off to some unknown place and wondering if we will ever see it again for her passport.

I actually went to an into-pass appointment today and the guy was very nice. He told me that my file first went from the officer to the supervisor and the supervisor realized that the officer made a mistake (I can safely assume what it was) and so he sent it back to the officer and then the paperwork went back to the supervisor (last Friday). Now it will take probably 8 more weeks... At least I know what's going on!

I know who my senator is ) My husband actually have had contact with her via work. I don't know maybe it is worth to make that call to the senator to speed things up!

I meant go thorough with possible re-interviewing in my new state of residence.

Thanks a lot for sharing this. I cannot make my and my husband's life about waiting for a decision and not going anywhere because of that. I may just have to rethink if I really want the citizenship, and re-apply in my new state of residence.

I try an infopass appointment though...

Thanks a lot for sharing this. I cannot make my and my husband's life about waiting for a decision and not going anywhere because of that. I may just have to rethink if I really want the citizenship, and re-apply in my new state of residence.

I try an infopass appointment though...

Thank you for your reply. WOW our case dragged on long.

Have you ever made, and gone to, an infopass appointment?

Hi there,

My case went over a year without a decision from the USCIS. I had to sue them to have them adjudicate my case. After I filled for the mandamus petition I have been approved in less than 3 weeks. Good Luck and please do not give up.

Yes they sent me the RFE almost right away (within 3 days). I complied...and never heard from them again.

Hi Szilvia, did they ask you to submit any additional RFE or was it due to timing, or something else?

I already submitted the material they requested, but I have no clue as to in which stage is my approval.

I had my interview Jan 10 and I am still waiting for a decision (I had some minor tax issues). My worry is this: 120 days from the interview is May 10. We sold our house. We plan a vacation, and then move to another state as of June 1. So if they wait out the 120 days I only have 21 days to have my oath. If not I guess I have to go through the whole hassle again in another state. Does anyone have any experience with this and also what happens if I never receive an answer? I heard that I can sue the USCIS. But I won't have the time!

I would be curious about other people's experience too. I am on day 73 now (after the interview).

Depends if you expect any issues or not. I sent my application in September, had my interview early January, and I am still waiting...

I assume then that the sponsor was not your wife then? I remember that for the affidavit my husband had to show some income in order for me to get the visa.

I would file now (both federal and state tax) and explain to the officer why you didn't file. Make sure you tell him that now you understand that you need to file and you will file from now on

Just look at the guidelines for removing conditions on this site! It's not hard to understand.

It is very important to do the removal of conditions; if she fails to file in the 90 days time frame she WILL lose her GC!

If you file in the bases of marriage (3 year rule) you will have questions asked at the interview about your existing marriage. So yes if you are divorcing or have divorced that will not work. Wait 2 more years.

The current fee of $650 should be enough for doing some simple paperwork, an interview and FBI check.

I don't see how the USCIS would be able to guarantee faster processing without knowing your case prior to submission (i.e. possible issues).

I got the answer for this from a lawyer already...

I already had my interview and my sponsor was still alive at the time. They are delaying with the decision on my citizenship and I was wondering ...if it would help them to make a decision faster if I send them a short letter letting them know (they may fear that I do not have a sponsor anymore and if I need "public, private, state, or federal aid" it would be on the gov't expense).

I know I am mean

I already have a hard time for paying the application fees so I would not be able afford to pay more. I am sure there would be people who would though (yes the ones with fancy cars). For some of us $650 for N-400 is expensive. Also, what did I get for it? An officer who is (still) trying to find something wrong with my application, and sent me a form after my interview that was so standardized that technically it didn't even apply to me! I vote for making the service better first for everyone.