AlmostMex

Sorry for not updating about this sooner.... My husband's interview was in August, and after a very long day and an intense interview, he was told he passed the test but got a note that no decision could be made at that time. We were both very disappointed of course because even though we knew that was a possibility, we were hoping for an approval right away. We spoke with our lawyer right away, who said there was nothing to do but wait and it may take 2 weeks, 2 months or even longer....

But yesterday we got a text the case had been updated and when we checked the website, we saw this!

Yahoo!!!! One step closer to being done with USCIS! We are so excited and anxious to know what date the ceremony is! Does anyone know if we call the 1-800 number if they can tell us the date instead of waiting for the notice?

Thanks to all who have shared this journey with us, and for those who are still waiting, keep heart!

My husband's greencard expired while we were waiting for his citizenship interview, and I've been reassured numerous times by our lawyer and also by a USCIS agent on the phone that he doesn't need to renew it ahead of the interview.... so I would think the fact that you sent the wrong one but actually renewed it would be even less of an issue.

Hopefully I did this right! Updating AlmostMex's Interview letter and interview date We were notified by text at 5pm on Friday 7/8 that interview date had been scheduled. Letter came yesterday 7/14/16 with a letter date of 7/11/16, with an interview date of 8/11/16. I thought it was interesting that the letter must not have been printed until the following Monday morning after we got the Interview scheduled text. Our lawyer also didn't receive the automated email that we were assigned an interview date until yesterday (the day we actually received the letter in the mail) - not sure what is up with that. One step closer!

N-400: February 2016 Applicants
======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office
Helpme123........|05/03/13|02/02|02/11|02/09|03/02/16|04/04/16|04/18/16|05/19/16|06/30/16|Washington,DC
Gg77.............|09/09/09|02/04|MnOrd|02/11|03/01/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX
Mido85...........|04/16/..|02/04|02/08|02/10|03/04/16|03/15/16|03/25/16|04/30/16|--/--/--|Newark, NJ
Bjmymajourney....|10/02/12|02/08|02/..|02/..|03/10/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Pittsburgh, PA
Yanndny..........|01/31/11|02/05|02/12|02/09|03/11/16|03/15/16|04/09/16|05/09/16|06/14/16|New York City, NY
Miraculous.......|05/05/11|02/08|02/22|02/23|03/15/16|04/05/16|04/18/16|06/09/16|07/22/16|El Paso, TX
Team Katman......|09/13/12|02/08|02/16|02/11|03/08/16|03/11/16|04/04/16|05/11/16|06/27/16|San Antonio, TX
Nhutchings.......|05/08/13|02/08|02/16|02/16|03/04/16|04/08/16|04/18/16|05/16/16|06/17/16|New York City, NY
Scott&Elena......|04/18/13|02/08|02/16|02/11|03/07/16|03/18/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX
Yuyu.............|12/20/11|02/09|02/11|02/11|03/09/16|06/17/16|06/27/16|07/26/16|--/--/--|Jacksonville,FL
ParisTexas.......|05/06/13|02/09|02/18|02/16|03/09/16|04/06/16|06/27/16|07/26/16|--/--/--|Houston, TX
Rogperdiaz.......|09/27/07|02/10|02/17|02/26|03/09/16|03/21/16|05/09/16|06/07/16|07/14/16|Orlando, FL
Cwbyfan..........|09/24/85|02/11|02/16|02/17|02/29/16|03/21/16|05/20/16|06/21/16|--/--/--|New York City, NY
Sal and Jay......|07/24/09|02/12|02/22|02/19|03/16/16|03/21/16|06/17/16|07/18/16|--/--/--|Atlanta,GA
Ryna.............|11/30/11|02/12|02/22|02/19|03/14/16|03/16/16|05/09/16|06/02/16|07/21/16|Orlando, FL
Oi&Ni............|03/01/13|02/12|02/19|02/25|03/14/16|03/16/16|03/21/16|04/20/16|05/20/16|Memphis, TN
N Ahmed..........|08/27/10|02/12|02/17|02/17|03/10/16|03/21/16|04/25/16|05/27/16|07/08/16|Washington,DC
Sweetie1986......|04/23/13|02/12|02/..|02/..|03/09/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas,TX
Jenn28...........|02/24/09|02/18|MnOrd|02/--|03/23/16|03/25/16|04/07/16|05/11/16|06/16/16|Boston, MA
YeboNY...........|05/11/11|02/18|02/25|02/25|03/10/16|07/05/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY
Trotomundo.......|01/10/03|02/21|02/24|02/25|03/24/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ
Akdua1...........|04/25/13|02/22|03/03|03/04|03/31/16|04/04/16|04/25/16|06/01/16|07/06/16|Pittsburgh, PA
Nolaist..........|12/17/12|02/22|02/26|02/26|03/22/16|03/24/16|04/02/16|05/03/16|05/06/16|New Orleans, LA
Krbxtigerz.......|10/30/09|02/22|02/25|03/02|03/07/16|03/14/16|04/19/16|05/11/16|06/14/16|New York, NY
Eighthday........|05/05/11|02/22|02/26|02/26|03/24/16|07/05/16|07/08/16|08/10/16|--/--/--|New York, NY
Dustin C.........|08/23/12|02/23|MnOrd|02/26|03/14/16|03/16/16|05/07/16|06/09/16|06/30/16|Orlando, FL
Wooden heart.....|05/24/13|02/23|03/01|03/01|03/21/16|04/26/16|05/17/16|06/20/16|06/24/16|Philadelphia, PA
Andrea&Henry.....|04/20/13|02/24|03/01|02/25|03/18/16|03/25/16|04/14/16|05/19/16|05/27/16|Hialeah, FL
DM0371...........|05/20/13|02/24|03/01|03/01|03/24/16|04/21/16|06/06/16|06/30/16|07/21/16|Lewisville, TX
Erica_itz........|01/31/13|02/26|03/03|03/02|03/22/16|04/04/15|05/20/16|06/22/16|07/11/16|Philadelphia, PA
Danoll4..........|12/12/12|02/27|MnOrd|03/04|04/01/16|04/06/16|06/06/16|07/05/16|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office
Akihon...........|10/10/12|02/01|02/08|02/05|03/02/16|03/04/16|04/15/16|05/16/16|05/31/16|Chicago, IL
Iwo_Jima.........|02/01/10|02/01|02/18|02/18|03/07/16|03/10/16|05/10/16|06/08/16|06/16/16|San Jose, CA
A & K 42.........|04/29/13|02/02|02/08|02/09|03/01/16|03/29/16|04/04/16|05/10/16|06/08/16|Columbus, OH
AlmostMex........|05/31/06|02/02|02/11|02/10|03/01/16|03/11/16|07/14/16|08/11/16|--/--/--|Chicago, IL
Tim & Cai........|10/01/08|02/03|02/10|02/10|03/11/16|03/15/16|03/26/16|04/25/16|05/12/16|Boise, ID
ThaiJason........|05/09/11|02/06|02/09|02/11|03/04/16|03/08/16|05/17/16|06/23/16|07/22/16|Phoenix, AZ
Renovatio_007....|05/08/13|02/08|02/12|02/12|03/07/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Bernardino, CA
AlexHamilton.....|05/12/13|02/10|02/17|02/17|03/09/16|06/20/16|06/24/16|07/27/16|--/--/--|San Francisco, CA
Martinda.........|05/04/12|02/12|02/19|02/16|03/10/16|03/21/16|06/06/16|07/07/16|--/--/--|San Francisco, CA
Caryh............|06/27/12|02/13|MnOrd|02/18|03/15/16|03/21/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|St Paul, MN
SerraSerra.......|05/13/13|02/16|02/24|02/19|03/14/16|--/--/--|04/20/16|05/26/16|06/23/16|Kansas City, MO
Omendo...........|05/11/11|02/18|02/22|02/19|03/07/16|04/11/16|05/18/16|06/21/16|07/21/16|San Jose, CA
Coolmind1414.....|03/19/13|02/18|02/25|02/25|03/15/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA
EveOcean.........|01/08/13|02/18|02/25|02/24|03/13/16|03/16/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA
Anishp...........|05/21/11/02/22|02/26|02/27|03/24/16|04/21/16|05/20/16|06/23/16|07/21/16|San Jose, CA
Suerocky.........|04/26/13|02/22|02/26|02/25|03/21/16|03/25/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|St Paul, MN
JS&PL............|04/11/13|02/23|03/03|03/05|03/31/16|04/09/16|05/19/16|05/25/16|06/02/16|Detroit, MI
Binibini22.......|04/03/13|02/23|02/29|02/26|03/24/16|03/25/16|04/12/16|05/17/16|06/09/16|Agana, GU
Julbuk...........|03/13/13|02/24|02/25|02/29|03/25/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Columbus, OH
Kaz1302..........|02/07/13|02/24|02/29|03/01|03/14/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Denver, CO
Bwizzle..........|05/24/13|02/24|02/26|02/29|03/15/16|04/26/16|05/13/16|06/14/16|--/--/--|Chicago, IL
PGupta...........|01/24/13|02/29|03/03|03/02|03/25/16|03/30/16|05/20/16|06/23/16|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA
Mslads...........|08/24/12|02/29|03/03|03/01|03/25/16|03/30/16|04/19/16|05/25/16|07/13/16|Detroit, MI

===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|Field Office
Newbie123........|05/14/09|02/24|03/02|03/08|03/30/16|04/04/16|06/13/16|06/29/13|--/--/--|San Antonio, TX

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Legend:
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card. Early filing.
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed by USCIS. MnOrd = Money Order.
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification
Fprints: Date assigned for fingerprinting (Bio-metrics). Early walk-in.
In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Interview: Date of your interview
Oath: Date Oath taken
Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview

Passport tracker: 2016 US Passport Application Tracker List

Typically you don't hear anything after biometrics until your background check is completed, at which point you are placed "in line for interview", at which point it'll update on the website. I am not using the "new site" though, so not sure as to that.

OMG you have been waiting In Line since 03/11. I was placed In Line 1 day earlier (on 03/10) and I was naturalized 3 weeks ago.

Why did it take so long for you?

But anyway congrats for status update.

I really have no idea why it took so long! Our lawyer called at my request at the beginning of May and were told to just wait and all was normal with our case but they were still processing last year's applications.... I was starting to suspect that we were placed in line without the background check being done, but really who knows? Just thankful we are one step closer!

Thinking of all the people who are still waiting, especially my fellow Chicago office people!

####### is happening to Almostmex

Thank you for thinking of us!!! We actually finally got a text about 20 minutes ago that the interview is finally scheduled!!! Now to study, study, study and try to be patient waiting for the letter to find out the actual date! Just excited to be one step closer! (Sorry for all the exclamation points, I am excited!! )

This does happen, but not often. Sometimes applicants are interviewed without their background check being finished.

If you haven't contacted USCIS, you could call. Not sure how much it will help. If your background check isn't done, then you'll have to keep waiting. If it has been finished, sometimes files aren't properly updated and yours might already be ready for an interview.

Thanks Jimmy, We called USCIS a few weeks ago and they told us we just had to wait that they were only processing cases from September (now October after the mid-month update). I had our lawyer call as well to see if they'd get any more info, but they got the same story except they also assured them there was nothing wrong with the case. I am waiting until next week and will call again...

My husband got his K-3 visa thru Juarez 10 years ago, so may not be the same any more, but he had his cartilla from the IMSS showing all the vaccines and still had to some done at the Medical Facility in Juarez. I do remember they said there was a titre test they could do for some, but can't recall if he did that option.

Still waiting, waiting, waiting for an interview date in Chicago I am beginning to think we got put "in line" without the background check actually being done. Has anyone seen this before?

I was put inline for an interview last march 14 and until now I still haven't heard anything from uscis. My filed office is at Pittsburgh...Any advice on what to do? I tried calling but all they say is wait...I am getting impatient ;(

You're not alone... We have been waiting since mar 11 and just being told to wait too. It is frustrating, especially since others from same DO and similar timelines have even done oaths already. Not sure there is anything we can do except wait. our lawyer even called and got same story.

I'm concerned about AlmostMex. S/he was only a week behind but we haven't heard anything yet?

Thanks for your concern! We are still waiting, no updates unfortunately. We have called USCIS on Friday and had our lawyer call today and only response is that we have to wait and they are processing applications from Sept 2015 still. GC expires today so very anxious to have this over

Anyone here from Chicago that is still in line, waiting an interview date? I am starting to get really anxious about it.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Getting impatient - saw Akihon's interview notice for the Chicago office last week (congrats!!) and since we're about a week apart in timelines, I was fully expecting a Monday AM text yesterday which didnt come - boo! I am really hoping we hear something this week, my husband's greencard expires beginning of June, so am hoping we at least have had his interview by that date, though our lawyer and the USCIS rep I talked to both assured me that it isn't an issue if his g.c. expires since he's already applied for citizenship. After so many years dealing with immigration though, we are so ready to be done and can't help but be a little anxious! God's brought us this far though, I know He'll see us through this!

Hey guys, I had my fingerprint appointment today. By the way, my case was a little weird and complicated. I had my ROC interview 4 days ago on march 21st. It was like a stokes interview. We were seperated and were asked questions extensively. About 30 questions were asked. We totally matched everyone of them. We are living together, duh. If you live together, you will know them, unless you are absent minded. Anyways, today I received a letter. We are approved. I am really happy. If your marriage is legit, you won't have an issue. So now, looking forward to citizenship. But I have a question. Will we go through the same extensive questioning on N-400 interview? We were petrified, because we have heard so many bad things about stokes interviews. So I don't know what we should expect in N-400 interview. Any thoughts?

Our case is a little complicated as well, and we went through quite the interview process to get his K-3 visa, a lot of the same questions during his greencard interview, and I was still really nervous about his applying for citizenship. So we hired a lawyer even though I could do the N-400 paperwork myself, and he and his office assure me (over and over again ) that the N-400 interview should not be an issue.... that we have already gone thru the hard part. I am skeptically optimistic.. Hope this helps!

Adding our timeline in for my husband's N-400.

N-400: February 2016 Applicants
======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office
Helpme123........|05/03/13|02/02|02/11|02/09|03/02/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Washington,DC(VA)
Yanndny..........|01/31/11|02/05|02/12|02/09|03/11/16|03/15/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York City, NY
miraculous.......|05/05/11|02/08|02/22|02/23|03/15/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|El Paso, TX
Team Katman......|09/13/12|02/08|02/16|02/11|03/08/16|03/11/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Antonio, TX
nhutchings.......|05/08/13|02/08|02/16|02/16|03/04/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York City, NY
Scott&Elena......|04/18/13|02/08|02/16|02/11|03/07/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX
Yuyu.............|12/20/11|02/09|02/11|02/11|03/09/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Jacksonville,FL
cwbyfan..........|09/24/85|02/11|02/16|02/17|02/29/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York City, NY
Sal and Jay......|07/24/09|02/12|02/22|02/19|03/16/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Atlanta,GA
Ryna.............|11/30/11|02/12|02/22|02/19|03/14/16|03/16/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Orlando, FL
Oi&Ni............|03/01/13|02/12|02/19|02/25|03/14/16|03/16/16|03/16/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|Memphis, TN
N Ahmed..........|08/27/10|02/12|02/17|02/17|03/10/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Alexandria, VA
akdua1...........|04/25/13|02/22|03/03|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Pittsburgh, PA
Nolaist..........|12/17/12|02/22|02/26|02/26|03/22/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New Orleans, LA
krbxtigerz.......|10/30/09|02/22|02/25|03/02|03/07/16|03/14/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York NY
Dustin C.........|08/23/12|02/23|MnOrd|02/26|03/14/16|03/16/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Orlando, FL
Andrea&Henry.....|04/24/13|02/24|03/01|02/25|03/25/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Hialeah, FL
DM0371...........|05/20/13|02/24|03/01|03/01|03/24/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Lewisville, TX
erica_itz........|01/31/13|02/26|03/03|03/02|03/22/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Philadelphia, PA
danoll4..........|12/12/12|02/27|MnOrd|03/04|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office

AlmostMex........|05/31/06|02/02|02/11|02/10|03/01/16|03/11/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL
akihon...........|10/10/12|02/01|02/08|02/05|03/02/16|03/04/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL
Iwo-Jima.........|02/01/10|02/01|02/18|02/18|03/07/16|03/10/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Jose, CA
A & K 42.........|04/29/13|02/02|02/08|02/09|03/01/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Columbus, OH
Tim & Cai........|10/01/08|02/03|02/10|02/10|03/11/16|03/15/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boise, ID
ThaiJason........|05/09/11|02/06|02/09|02/11|03/04/16|03/08/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Phoenix, AZ
Renovatio_007....|05/08/13|02/08|02/12|02/12|03/07/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Bernardino, CA
AlexHamilton.....|05/12/11|02/10|02/17|02/17|03/09/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Francisco, CA
Martinda.........|05/04/12|02/12|02/19|02/16|03/10/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Francisco, CA
Caryh............|06/27/12|02/13|MnOrd|02/18|03/15/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|St Paul, MN
SerraSerra.......|05/13/13|02/16|02/24|02/19|03/14/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Kansas City, MO
Omendo...........|05/11/11|02/18|02/22|02/19|03/07/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Jose, CA
coolmind1414.....|03/19/13|02/18|02/25|02/25|03/15/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA
EveOcean.........|01/08/13|02/18|02/25|02/24|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA
Suerocky.........|04/26/13|02/22|02/26|02/25|03/21/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|St Paul, MN
JS&PL............|04/11/13|02/23|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Detroit, MI
Julbuk...........|03/13/13|02/24|02/25|02/29|03/25/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Columbus, OH
kaz1302..........|02/07/13|02/24|02/29|03/01|03/14/16|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Denver, CO
PGupta...........|01/24/13|02/29|03/03|03/02|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA

===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|Field Office
Newbie123........|05/14/09|02/24|03/02|03/08|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Antonio, TX

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Legend:
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card. Early filing.
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed by USCIS. MnOrd = Money Order.
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification
Fprints: Date assigned for fingerprinting (Bio-metrics). Early walk-in.
In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Interview: Date of your interview
Oath: Date Oath taken
Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview

He can file the paperwork while out of the country - just be sure he has a US mailing address to receive the hard copies of Notice of Action (receipts) or an Request for Evidence. He can use his parent's address if necessary. As long as he has an address in the US and he is a USC, it's fine. (I filed from Mexico - sent everything Fed Ex - and no problems at all). Good luck.

I (the USC) also filed the K3 paperwork from Mexico for my husband, I was living there full-time with my husband until he could get his visa. I used my parents' address which the lawyer explained to me was truly my domicile although my residency was in Mexico ( ) and it worked just fine. We had no problems, nor did it ever even come up in the interview. I agonized over the fact the paperwork had my address in the US while I was living in Mexico, but it was needless worrying (something I was really good at thanks to Immigration! ) Good luck!

This is kind of late to be responding, but I hadn't checked the site in quite some time.

My husband was given a removal order for 5 years back in 99 and he and I waited out the ban and were able to get his K3 visa through Ciudad Juarez embassy in May 05. It can be done, although the 5 year wait is brutal. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gone ahead and filed a waiver and got a K1 visa (since we weren't married at that time) for him, as the waiver approval rate is very high in Mexico. I don't know what it's like in your country, but it's something for you to consider. Don't expect to not be asked any questions about the ban though. There will be questions and many of them, even if you do wait out the 5 years. We went through the story with 3-4 different people before he was given the visa, and had to have lots of fingerprinting done to prove he hadn't reentered the US in the ban period and that he didn't have any other things against him except for the ban. He was given the removal order/ban because they said he was trying to enter the US to work - which he wasn't, but even so the ban stood. It wasn't easy to go through all of that, but our relationship is better off for it now. Best of luck to you, and I pray that God will give you all strength and wisdom.

Heather, Having a church ceremony only is pretty common in Mexico and in no way considered legal by Mexico and therefore the US doesn't consider it legal either. You have to have a civil ceremony in Mexico in order to be legal.

As far as the OP's question, I'd say you'd be much better flying out of Mexico if at all possible to avoid potential disappointment and a cancelled trip of your dreams. Like everyone's said so far, it all depends on who you get at the border, and in all likelihood, you would get turned back at the border. Why risk this at this point?

I also wanted to add that our immigration lawyer did make us have certified translations to submit with our initial filing of I-130 and I-129F and I believe she was correct in doing this, since the petitions are originally submitted and approved by US Service Centers prior to being sent to the consulate.

I realize the Mexican consulate accepts documents in Spanish - having been through there myself.

As far as AOS goes in the US , my husband's AOS was approved with my husband's birth certificate translated by me with the accompanying sheet saying it was an accurate complete translation.

From http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/for...-supporting.htm

Translations. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English.

You have to certify that you are COMPETENT to translate it, but you do not need to be a certified translator.

You should see if there is an engineering society or organization that oversees reciprocity of engineering degrees between her country and the US. Another great source of information would be a state university in your area. They usually know where to refer you to. We are going through this right now for my husband who has a bachelor's of accountancy and experience as an accountant in Mexico. One thing it's pretty easy to assume she'll need is a sealed transcript translated to English from her university in her home country.

As far as job experience, that will be up to the individual employers. Again the society or university may be able to give you some input on what to expect. Sounds like she has some great experience though. Best of luck to you both!

What stinger said isn't true. You can translate it yourself; I did for my husband's birth certificate. You just need to sign an additional sheet of paper that has wording about it being an accurate complete translation. The wording is on the state.gov webiste somewhere. I'll see if I can find it and post the link here.

My situation was the opposite (hubbie bought ring in Mex, and I brought it to US) but I came back into the US with my engagement ring and never even thought to declare it until afterwards. Nothing was said or asked for. I wouldn't worry. Diamond rings are pretty much the same in Mexico as in the US, and personally Mexican customs seem to be most interested is for objects that are really cheap in the US and expensive in Mexico. (i.e. you buy it in the US since you're trying to avoid paying import taxes) This is just my idea though, it could be incorrect. I will say this - I have travelled to Mexico numerous times over the past 8 years, (for 5 of those years on a quarterly basis) and never once was stopped by Mexican customs beyond placing my suitcases through an xray machine.

Thanks for the tips Benita! I've already told her she needs to keep a back of saltine crackers with her and eat one every now and then so her stomach is never completely empty. She doesn't feel like eating much though, so she has a hard time doing it.

She did good for 2 days and now again she was sick until 2am the night before last. She's starting to feel better again today. Poor girl also suffers from severe migraines that mean trips to the ER and had some surgery a couple years ago that basically pulled her stomach up closer to her esophagus because she had severe acid reflux which had burned the bottom of her esophagus (I think). So that's all making this worse. I am fairly sure this will be her last pregancy if she has anything to say about it.

As far as visa-related stuff, I know I don't post here very often, but my husband had a successful AOS interview and received his greencard 2 days ago. I'm so proud of my hubby too because he took the TOEFL (test of ENglish as a foreign language) at the end of May after studying ESL for 2 semesters, and he got the highest grade the university he'll be starting at in the fall has ever seen. The greencard is great timing because now he is considered a regular student (not international) and he's eligible for financial aid. THis is really important because since he's already got a bachelor's degree, we have to pay grad student tuition, and now should be able to get some loans to help us pay for it. A BIG relief to say the least. That's it for us, but life is pretty good right now, especially because my husband is so happy to have his sister and nephew here with us for their first visit since we moved back last May.

Congrats to mnmex on her new baby, to Benita on a great ultrasound, and to Charity for good news at the doctor about the unblocked tubes. There's Mexican baby fever over here How cool!