2newshoes2

Friends,

I have researched this topic and have come up with a couple of conflicting opinions. I would appreciate any thoughts on this topic, but please base them in some kind of verifiable information, not just what you think the answer is.

If a US citizen provides the financial support of their child under the age of 19 who lives in another country (and has no US residency status), can that child be claimed as a deduction on Federal Income Taxes?

Thanks!

2NS

I think it depends on your particular location. In Brooklyn, NY last December, we weren't allowed to take anything into the building and there was no opportunity for photos. In fact, family members weren't even allowed into the ceremony. There was a discussion of this last week in this forum.

2NS

This was at the Brooklyn federal court house. I am glad to know that other places might be more hospitable. It really could have been made more inspiring.

2ns

Hi Friends,

I am posting this as a heads up. This was our experience in NYC, not sure if it would be the same in other places. The husband's naturalization ceremony was in early Dec. He was told to arrive at 8 AM. It was a large courtroom with about 250-350 seats. Family, friends were not allowed and had to wait in a cafeteria upstairs. At 9:00 they handed out and then collected certain forms. Then everyone sat and waited until 12:20 when a judge was available. He spoke for about 10 minutes. Everyone said the pledge of allegience and oath. Then they called out everyone's name, one by one to go up and pick up their certificate and then leave. (Without using any sound system so it became somewhat chaotic.) There was no opportunity for photos with the judge or even a darn flag in the lobby.

Quite anticlimactic. It is a waste of time for family to attend under these circumstances. Hopefully in other locations things are more hospitable,but you might want to check before investing half a day....

2NS

Hi all,

I can see how someone reading this thread might be confused into wondering if a foreign marriage is accepted in New York State. So just to reiterate, a marriage that is valid in the foreign country in which is was performed is recognized as valid in New York State (with a few exceptions I believe, like if the person was underage...) I was married in Cuba and it has never been questioned here, in any circumstance.

There was an interesting case I read about recently in fact that highlights this. There was a lesbian couple from Rochester, NY who were legally married in Canada. ( I believe that both are US Citizens and residents.) They went to court in NY State when one's employer tried to deny the other spousal benefits. The court affirmed that a marriage that is legal in Canada must be recognized as legal in New York State. Congratulations to the happily married couple! Now I hope that will soon apply to gay and lesbian US citizens who want to marry and bring their spouses to the US, and experience the same hopes and joys as many of the rest of us on this forum. Onwards!

2NS

Question:

You said she got her "permanent" green card but, it seems like it might really be a 2 year conditional green card since you were only married for a year when she arrived. What is the date it expires? If it is a 2 year conditional green card SHE would have to apply to remove conditions 3 months before it expires - and show proof of a valid relationship and life together for the 2 years. Might be difficult if you two are divorced and she went to live in another country...

Why is it that you say that you are the one who needs help?

2NS

Dear Friends,

If someone could clarify this we would be grateful. The USCIS site says the fee for the N-400 is $595. Somewhere else I read about an addition $80 biometrics fee for a total of $675. We already paid an $80 biometrics fee less than a year ago as part of the removal of conditions. Is this an additional biometrics process with an additional $80 fee or should we consider this done?

Thanks all,

2NS

Thanks for the good ideas. Can someone pick up the package for him or does he have to go himself?

2NS

Dear Friends,

I am inquiring for a friend. She applied to bring her fiance who lives in Camaguey. The application was approved and sent to Havana at least 5 months ago. Since then, they haven't heard anything. It used to be (a few years ago at least) that it took a long time for people who live far from Havana to receive anything. But this seems too long. It would be nearly impossible for her to sit home for a day or two trying to call USINT Havana. (She works full-time and is a single mother to 2 small kids...). Any suggestions or thoughts on what the options might be?

Gracias,

2NS

Hunter may be referring to "residency" in a different way than you. Usually to be considered a resident and qualify for lower tuition rates, they mean you have to show residency of the state, or in this case, New York City, for a year. They may not be referring to your official US permanent residency status. For example, a citizen born in the US living in another state in the US would not qualify for the reduced tuition until they were a resident of NYC for a year.

Hope this helps,

2NS

It sounds like the friend is just asking for a letter saying that your husband was present at the wedding. He can just state the facts as they happened. He was asked to be a witness and he attended the wedding. There is nothing illegal about his stating the facts as they happened.

2NS

Can't you get this "free to marry" certification at your local city clerk's office? I had to get something like this to get married in Cuba. Some official notarized form that testified to my not being married. (Of course it is all a meaningless formality. My local city government wouldn't know if I had been married in some other jurisdiction.) Sorry I dont remember all the details. After getting some form from the city clerks office I had to get some 2 other notarizations. I dont remember the details but it had to do with some office that validates forms for international purposes, having to do with some international treaty....

If it would be helpful to you, let me know and I can look up the details of what I got.

They say to allow 30 days for delivery. Does anyone have an idea of what might be the earliest we will receive it?

Thanks, all.

2NS

Sorry about your unpleasant experience at your interview. Ours was slightly less unpleasant. I am posting because when I was looking for a heads up on what to expect at the I751 interview there didn't seem to be a lot of info available. Hopefully if someone needs some guidance in the future they will find this thread.

We waited 2 1/2 hours to be called. They didn't separate us. She had a strong accent and was difficult to understand. She started by having us raise our right hands and taking an oath to tell the truth. Her demeanor was pleasant and conversational - although her conversation obviously had an underlying purpose. She said that we were called for an interview because we hadn't sent enough proof of relationship with the I175 application.

She asked the following questions, it wasn't clear who she wanted to answer but I let my husband take the lead since it is his application.

How did you meet?

How long did you know each other before getting married?

Have you travelled together, Where did you go?

What do you do for a living?

Name the people in this photo (noticing I had some photos with me...)

Have you ever gotten mad and walked out?

Have you ever had an argument and talked about divorce?

Do either of you have children, how old is your daughter?

-She seemed very intent to verify our income, saying that the Income Tax Returns we had submitted weren't valid without the W2. Luckily I had brought the W2s. (She also stated that she thinks I make too much money for what I do - which honestly left me feeling disrespected and believe me, I dont make a lot of money.)

-My husband yawned and she investigated this very thoroughly. She wanted to know what he did last night to be so tired. Was he up all night worrying about the interview? She warned him to be careful about yawning because yawning can be misunderstood and taken to be a sign of drug abuse. (It is true that yawning can be a sign of opiate withdrawl and I give her credit for knowing that but considering the context, it would be more likely to be a sign of having waited 2 1/2 hours to be called....)

She asked us for the following documents, none of which we have. For future reference for anyone who is reading this, this is apparently what would really make them happy to see with the I175:

Joint Mortgage or lease

Common life insurance policy

Car insurance policy

Child's birth certificate

A warning. Our appointment letter only stated that we should bring the originals of all documents previously submitted. (Now I understand that this only refers to documents submitted in support of the I175, at least in this case.) The letter did NOT say to bring additional proof of relationship. In fact the appointment letter didn't say anything else, except show up on this date. Luckily, I decided to bring along some photos and our tax files and recent bank and utility statements. Giving her the W2s, some photos, updated utility bills, updated medical insurance claims and bank account statements satisfied her. If we had followed what was stated in the letter and brought only what was previously submitted, it would have been a problem. She wanted to keep the photos and I told her no because they are the only copies we have and we weren't told we had to give them any new originals. (If we had known, I would have copies made to submit.) She disputed this, but what the letter states is very clear.

At the end she stamped a 1 year extension in his passport, said he can use this to travel and said to expect the 10 year green card in 6-8 weeks. (They had taken his greencard when we checked in.)

Hope this helps someone else, and mysweets, hope things go well for you too...

2NS

We have an I751 interview Monday, Nov. 5th in NY. I posted last week asking if anyone has any experience with this interview but didn't hear from anyone who has been through it. I am not worried, more curious.

2NS

For most male Cubans the FBI security check is done before they are issued the immigration visa in Habana. At least in our case it was. It took four (maybe six?) weeks after his interview. It will be interesting to see if they do yet another one. (For the more common finance visas issued in Habana, I have only rarely heard of this type of security check being done.)

Thanks for your reply. What country are you from?

2NS

Hi All,

We applied for removal of conditions in April, received the extension letter and biometrics appointment shortly after. We just received a letter telling us to come for an interview at our local office (in NYC) in early November. I am not worried, assuming this is just one of the random interviews they do. (My husband is however from the AXIS OF EVIL! Boo!) I would like to know what to expect though. Has anyone had experience with this first interview that you can share? (My understanding that the fraud interview is a second interview, not sure though....)

Also they asked us to bring originals of all documents previously submitted. I am wondering if they mean previously submitted since 2004 or previously submitted for the removal of conditions?

Thanks for any insights,

2NS