kcoyclay1

Thanks Happychic! Updated additional information

Hi Dioxide45,

I definitely will. The info from passport tracker stated that I'll get three mails. I paid for overnight and I hope use the large envelop and not fold my certificate as USCIS advice against it. I've heard they fold it at times. I'll update you guys on Saturday.

Hi guys. Can someone please add me? I applied for regular processing on November 14th. Got an email yesterday that it's processed and since I paid for overnight shipping, I'll be getting it on Saturday. That's only 2 weeks! Will let you guys know what came in the mail. I did passport and passport card. The lady at the post office said I should get everything in one mail as I paid for overnight. She also told me its best to get the card as well just in case something happens to my passport, then I wouldn't have to fill out the form again. It's also a great ID. I substitute it for my GC ?

Correction passport after 20 days, regular everything...still waiting for my naturalization certificate tho

awesome. safe jobbing!

Thank you everyone for your help.

alix, forgive me but what does LPR mean?

In my case, I'll have been in the US without leaving at all for 3 years in January. So you are suggesting including the 2 years (about 690 days) in the "how many total days have you spent outside the United States in the past five years" part? I was simply living in my home country of Australia whilst I was working on my green card application, then when I got here I havn't left.

Also, what do you think? I'm about to submit two tax returns with the N400 packet. Should I simply include the first page with names, address etc or the whole tax return?

Thanks so much.

The question in in relationship to when you got your green-card (GC). You can only respond based on the three years as you were not a GC holder before that. They want to establish your travel pattern since you got your GC.

They need the entire tax return.

Received notification I have been placed in line for oath today... One more step to go!

Congrats

I just updated my status at the SS office yesterday it took 2 hours from the line outside to getting a ticket number once I got in the building it took about 40 mins wait to speak with an officer about the change of status . I'm now officially done and I also receive my passport book and passport card last week .

My training for United airlines as an international flight attendant will begin January 2 2015 at ATLANTA . A new journey begins.

For everyone els here that's waiting to become a U.S. citizen I wish you all the best of luck .

Yipeee! Way to go! Congrats and all the best in your future endeavors.

If your son is under 18 he can leave with no bar to reentering . Overstays are not held against minors. Make sure he exits before 18 + 180 days ( and do not wait until day 180 ) You should be able to have him leave to see mom have the current I130 upgraded to child of USC and get him back with a green card. How long before he is 18 ? If this is done before 18 he enters with gc and gets to become USC but later he waits 5 years to apply for USC

overstays are held against minors.

Jxn, thanks for your response. That is what I am concerned about, we opened the bank account on October 20 ish, before that we were using my personal bank account together, and the rental agreement we have now is pretty recent as well (September 17), we only have pay stubs posted to our old address in NY (we currently live in NC) and the landlord in NY is in Bulgaria now so we can't contact him. Apart from that we have photos taken since we met and a brief letter of our story. We never thought that these sort of evidence would be needed so didn't try to collect anything. For bills, our rentals included all utilities. Do you think waiting a little bit longer would be wiser?

How did you pay your rent? Use the cancelled checks as proof of payment since you cannot contact the landlord. Take old and new rental agreements to show timeline of living together. Do you have cable bills, phone bills, insurances - health, car, life? If you do, use those as evidence as well. What about letters to the old address - even if it is a subscription? That helps to establish the pattern of co-habitation over a period.

Remember that not every interview is similar so be prepared in order to prevent a RFE. Better to have more evidences that are not asked for than less and being asked to submit more.

Took me 8 minutes. The office was empty. They do not keep your NC. I was told that I would be updated in 2 days. Better to update the SS status then do the passport. I have heard of incidents where persons did not receive their NC from the passport office. Just saying.

Hi Everyone

Today was my interview, and i passed and was surprised they gave me same day oath!

Im now a US Citizen!

I just want to thank every member of visajourney thet helped me through the whole process!

Good luck to the remaining few who are still waiting.

Awesome! Congrats! Now you need to update your status at SS and get your passport.

Hello everyone

President Obama is going to reveal his immigration system reforms tonight at 8p ET

From what i am reading it looks like all the reforms will cover the family,spouse of US citiznes who are already in the united states, such as the ones are illegaly intered the united states, or children who were born on the Soil, however that's just what i see i dont know if i am right on this, tonight we are gonna find out, but do you think this reforms will affect family based immigrants who are in foreign countries in a negative or positive way? is the USCIS gonna be backloged with HUGE work and the NVC too?

Please share your info and opinion

Great question. They are already understaffed and backlogged as it it. Lets' see..

I am about to petition for my mother who lives overseas and noted that the I-130 asks about her prior spouses. Does USCIS require a copy of her spouses death and or divorce certificates for processing? The only requirement I noted in the instructions is my birth certificate to prove our relationship.

hi everyone i am searching some help regarding my n400 application . i am a may filer and given my interview on october 20 2014 , since then my status is stucked in testing and interview, i am not even in oath que. by the way i requested for name change and the officer told me that i will get my oath letter in 2 weeks but its almost a month. can you suggest me if it is normal not to have the status updated for a month. Please friend i am waiting for your valuable inputs.

It could be because you requested name change; however, I believe that you should be getting a response soon.

finally a USC! did my oath at Ontario Convention Center with around 1200 other participants yesterday. Thank you vjers for all the help. This forum helped me save a lot in processing my papers from beginning until the end. Good luck to the others still waiting.

Will now start scheduling for passport application for husband, myself and my son. Husband's passport expired in July.

Thanks again for our journey together visajourney!!!

Please update for me! Thanks!

Congrats

Expedite Criteria

All expedite requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and are granted at the discretion of the Director. The burden is on the applicant or petitioner to demonstrate that one or more of the expedite criteria have been met. The criteria are as follows:

Severe financial loss to company or individual

Extreme emergent situation

Humanitarian situation

Nonprofit status of requesting organization in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States

Department of Defense or National Interest Situation (Note: Request must come from official United States Government entity and state that delay will be detrimental to our Government)

USCIS error

Compelling interest of USCIS

Note: Discretionary expedite requests for petitions and applications that have Premium Processing Service available will not be considered for expedite processing. The only exception is when the petitioner is a not-for-profit organization designated by the Internal Revenue Service. For information regarding premium processing, please refer to the premium processing webpage.

If you have already filed your application or petition:

You can make an expedite request by contacting the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283. The NCSC will take a service request and forward your expedite request to the office with jurisdiction over the application or petition. You also have the options of 1). visiting your local office by scheduling an InfoPass appointment or 2). writing a letter to the local office or service center.

Dear All,

I have applied for I485 and I130 family based peition since March 2012

My interview date was June 2nd in Hawaii field office. Just 2 weeks before

my interview, I got a job offer in California but I never moved yet and never filed

change of address. During the interview processed when the interviewer asked me

If I work because I showed her my SSN and EAD so I told her the truth that I got

offer for employment in Hawaii by San Francisco but I will still be in Hawaii for the next couple of months.

After she looked at all the documents and all the photos. She said all the documents are ok

but I can't give any decision until I see my supervisor and he is busy now.

I will speak to my supervisor if I will process the case here or it should be transferred.

2 weeks later I got a phone call from the USCIS and they told me that they will transfer

the case to the San francisco office. It was very odd and weird why did they transfer the case for

processing in San Francisco office. 1 week after I got the call , I got a place in San Francisco

and I filed AR-11 in July.

August 3rd I got A letter that I need to show up for interview in San Francisco by August 25th

I made the interview it was exactly the same thing as Hawaii.

The officer was called Sakaya an Asian lady she was very nasty and she didn't give me a decision.

A month later I got a letter that I need to appear for another Interview in San Francisco.

by End of october. That interview was stokes interview and we passed it.

The office said that day I am satisfied that the marriage is genuine and I will be approving this case end of the day

or no later than 2 weeks. Nothing really changed and I called USCIS and talk to TIER2 they said under processing

I went to infopass and the woman was laughing at me she told me usually it takes 1 year to process

thats why you have an EAD and then she laughed at me said OMG you called USCIS soo many times.

A month later I went to USCIS and another woman was extremely rude and yelling at me.

I asked for a supervisor and fought for it. Finally after couple of hours got a supervisor she looked at my case

she said yes its recommended for approval but probably something is missing.

The same day I spoke to the supervisor the case was approved that was end of december 2012

Ok this was the story my question

Majority of cases are approved same day. My case was not treated professional and it was treated

unprofessionally with misleads by USCIS officer. There was no FBI Checkes issues as I made the finger print and I was approved for EAD immediately

Due to the lack of experience of USCIS officers they transferred the case to San Francisco without filling AR-11 and I didn't even moved to CA.

I just don't know why I didn't get it approved sameday.

This not justice and unfair to do that to me

My permanent resident has been delayed for almost 7 months. Now I will be eligible for Early n400 filing by September.

I have an evidence that I have attended 3 interviews for no reasons. I just don't know why the interview results in Hawaii were completely disregarded and

I have to start all over again in San Francisco field office

My current situation now I am on a permanet resident and filed already for removal of condition and my early N400 filing window would open by September.

I am an IT Professional and work for a vendor right now and most of my customers are Federal Government. I am a highly skilled Engineer and technical leader

I am unable to perform most of my duties because I am not eligible for Secret or Top Secret clearance.

All my clients need Secret and Top secret cleared persons to access their premises.

My company always send a low skilled engineer who is US citizen to perform the job. I am in a big risk for losing my job which is quite decent and well paid because

I am not generating enough revenue for the company due to the Secret or Top Secret clearances which are for US Citizens only.

The company has a reason to terminate or lay me off because they don't have civil projects for me.

Now the question is

Because of the 7 months delay in my Green card case.

Is it possible to file a lawsuit against the USCIS and get a court order for a filing date 7 months earlier than September which is March 2015?

Getting a U.S Citizenship now is critical to me for the following reasons

1-The ability to get Secret and Top Secret clearnces to perform the job duties. My wife (US Citizen) right now is suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury

which cost me thousands of dollars out of pocket medical expenses and cureently I am on Debt just from paying Co-Pays and medical bills even with Insurance

If I lost my job my wife the US Citizen wouldn't be treated.

2-I am a visa national which require visas for majority of the countries with the US passport I could travel without paying visa fees.

3-I will be missing the elections date If I filed on September 2015.

I have all evidences that I have attended 3 interviews and my case green card case was extremely delay for no obvious reason and not even for

any further FBI Checks or investigations.

I have all evidences that all my customers are Federal Government and they request my company to send US Citizens only on premesis because

my customers belong to high intelligence authorites.

I am not asking much but my case should be treated fairly with justice from the beginning.

I will be suffering extreme cruelty without being Citizen asap due to the USCIS carelessness in handling my green card case. I just need to be compensated for the 7 months that was wasted due to the USCIS officers

carelessnenss

I know that I can't file for N400 until 2 years and 9 months from the resident since date of the green card.

I need to get the exception to apply 7 months earlier than the normal filing date as a compensation for that delay of the green card processing.

Its unfair that most of the people get their green cards sameday and the USCIS officers messed and jacked up with me.

Please help Is there are any hopes that this could happen?

What do you think should be the procedure to follow to file that lawsuit?

What will be the consequence If I didn't win the lawsuit? Where to file the the lawsuit?

Please advise

Thank you all

I'm truly sorry to hear about your wife. I understand the stress that you must be experiencing; however, removal of conditions sometimes takes a year and sometimes the early filing date for N-400 arrives before the ROC is done. While you may look at it as a delay of your green card processing, this is also a normal situation with USCIS - as the lady stated. Also, majority of cases get approved on the same day and minority do not; yours fall in the minority category. Remember that even with an interview approval, some cases are referred for additional review before a final approval is granted.

I don't think that USCIS or a judge would consider the delay/process as a valid reason to grant you early citizenship; you had a stokes interview which suggests that prior to that they were not convinced about your marriage. Thank God that they realized that it is legitimate. As you know, your three years as permanent resident is dated from your conditional residency, and all those interviews before you were granted your CR status and after are considered processing time.

You stated that you will be suffering extreme cruelty without being citizen ASAP. From whom will you be suffering extreme cruelty? Will you be able to prove it? Please don't take it personal, I am just asking questions here. Anyway, with the many delay of so many cases due to lack of staff and the vast amount of other applicants having to go through a similar process as you did for whatever reason, I doubt that suing them will be in your favor as the time-frame of your case is not unique. Even with your case being erroneously sent to another state, they may just look at it as a genuine mistake. Another point is that it also appear as if you are suing because of a job situation rather than incompetence. They are allowed to interview and re-interview individuals if they feel doubtful at any point about the case. While one IO may say everything is okay, another may review the case and feel that it warrants another interview. It appears as if that was the case.

I am truly sorry about what you are going through. Just a reminder - the citizenship process also takes a very long time based on the state you live in, and even if you win the case - it may take a very long time before it is brought to court. By then your normal date for applying for citizenship may have passed and if not and you receive "early application" for citizenship, you still have to go through another long process of fingerprinting, being placed in line for interview - which sometimes take up to 90 days - interview based on your marriage, being placed in line for oath, and finally oath ceremony. Do what you think is best, but remember that sometimes what we think is best can end up causing greater delays than expediting the process. All the best.

No disrespect intended, but I had a tough time reading your post and making sense of precisely what has happened. For me, this is another reason for you to get a lawyer, because I don't think you can clearly explain your case in English. That doesn't mean you're not smart or a bad person, but you need help articulating this, and hopefully getting it resolved.

He explained well. No problem understanding everything he said.

I searched forums and couldn't find a recent or accurate answer and need help.

I had my naturalozation interview today and they scheduled me for oath tmrw. That's the good news part! The problem is that I have travel planned for Nov 24th driving back to Canada. I called about expedited passport and they said I need proof of travel such as flight tickets and there's no exceptions if I'm staying with family...

Anyways here's my real question:

I called border at Lewiston crossing and an officer there told me that I can cross back into US with Naturalization Certificate and my drivers license. Is this true? I don't need a passport?

Also, my son who is 11 years old. Will they take his permanent resident card at oath ceremony tmrw too? Or will he have this to use for our trip?

I want to hear for sure that I won't have issues before I leave the US lol... I'm worried that maybe I didn't get accurate info and don't want to find that out the hard way lol...

Any experts or people with experience please chime in!

Thank you!

Expedite your US passport or get the passport card that is good for crossing the border.

I just got offered a job in Mexico for 2 years, I have been a permanent resident for more than five years and fulfilled the requirements but never really got to applying for citizenship (bc I'm an idiot)...

Do you think I can send my application before I leave to Mexico and then when I get my call I can fly back to the US and take the oath? Or that can't be done?

It's a really good job offer than can't be refused and the opportunity of a lifetime, but I worked hard to get my green card as well and I don't want to lose it!

Hope you guys can help me out please :-)

Sorry to be bombarding you with so much information. Just trying to help. Found this on the USCIS website.

​

Certain applicants​ ^[17] may seek to preserve their residence for an absence of one year or more to engage in qualifying employment abroad.​ ^[18] Such applicants must file an Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes (​Form N-470​) in accordance with the form instructions.​

​

In order to qualify, the following criteria must be met:​

​

The applicant must have been physically present in the ​United States​ as an LPR for an uninterrupted period of at least one year prior to working abroad.​

​

The application may be filed either before or after the applicant’s employment begins, but before the applicant has been abroad for a continuous period of one year.​ ^[19]

​

In addition, the applicant must have been:​

​

Employed with or under contract with the U.S. Government or an American institution of research​ ^[20] recognized as such by the Attorney General;​

​

Employed by an American firm or corporation engaged in the development of U.S. foreign trade and commerce, or a subsidiary thereof if more than 50 percent of its stock is owned by an American firm or corporation; or​

​

Employed by a public international organization of which the ​United States​ is a member by a treaty or statute and by which the applicant was not employed until after becoming an LPR.​ ^[21]

​

The applicant’s spouse and dependent unmarried sons and daughters are also entitled to such benefits during the period when they were residing abroad as dependent members of the principal applicant’s household. The application’s approval notice will include the applicant and any dependent family members who were also granted the benefit.​

​

The approval of an application to preserve residence does not relieve an applicant (or any family members) from any applicable required period of physical presence, unless the applicant was employed by, or under contract with, the U.S. Government.​ ^[22] ​

​

In addition, the approval of an application to preserve residence does not guarantee that the applicant (or any family members) will not be found, upon returning to the United States, to have lost LPR status through abandonment.​ ​USCIS may find that an applicant who claimed special tax exemptions as a nonresident alien to have lost LPR status through abandonment. The applicant may overcome that presumption with acceptable evidence establishing that he or she did not abandon his or her LPR status.​ ^[23] ​

​

Approval of an application to preserve residence also does not relieve the LPR of the need to have an appropriate travel document when the LPR seeks to return to the United States.​ ^[24] A PRC card, generally, is acceptable as a travel document only if the person has been absent for less than one year.​ ^[25] If an LPR expects to be absent for more than one year, the LPR should also apply for a reentry permit.​ ​The LPR must actually be in the United States when he or she applies for a reentry permit.​ ^[26]

​

The city I would be living at is close to the US Border and I would have 3 days a week off of work, I could fly/drive to the US at least once a month, would that help not to lose the permanent resident status instead of applying for the citizenship.

I'm not leaving permanently, it's just part of the job moving to Mexico and then there is a possibility of a raise and moving to their US offices after 1-2 years.

Also, i would be receiving money from a company to my US bank account and pay taxes to it, if that helps.

Exceptions

Section 316 paragraphs (b), ©, and of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows for certain exceptions to the continuous residence requirement for those applicants working abroad for:

• The United States government, including the Military
• Contractors of the United States government
• A recognized American institution of research (List of Recognized American Institutions of Research and Other Recognized Organizations)
• A public international organization
• An organization designated under the International Immunities Act

If you seek to preserve your continuous residence for naturalization purposes while employed abroad by one of these recognized institutions you must file Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes with USCIS.

An organization may obtain USCIS recognition as an American institution of research for the purpose of preserving the continuous residence status of its employees who are, or will be, naturalization applicants assigned abroad for an extended period of time. The requesting organization should follow the instructions found on the Requesting Recognition as an American Institution of Research page.

I think you have to be assigned abroad not seeking a job abroad.

I have would leave around mid December, I could apply from the US before I leave. I still live with my parents here in the US and they would receive the mail and letters.

I believe the company is an US Company too (they are registered here and in Mexico), would that help?

4) Avoid trips over 6 months

When a resident takes trips outside the U.S.lasting between 6 months and 1 year, at the naturalization interview, the resident has the burden of overcoming the presumption of the loss of residence. See INA § 316(b). Factors which help establish continuity of residence are: (1) not terminating employment in theU.S., (2) presence of immediate family in theU.S., (3) keeping full access to your U.S. home (don’t rent out your house), (4) not obtaining employment abroad. Since trips between 6 months and 1 year require a lot more documentation for the naturalization application, I typically advise avoiding any trip over 6 months.

5) No absence of longer than one year (unless given an exception)

An absence of one year or more automatically disrupts residency for naturalization purposes, unless an exception applies. See 8 C.F.R. § 316.5©(1)(ii).

One of the exceptions to the disruption of residency for naturalization is when a resident works for a U.S.employer abroad. If you already have more than 1 year of physical presence after receiving your residency status, and you want to work abroad for a U.S.company you may be allowed to file a Form N-470 to prevent your disruption of residency. You must show the U.S.company is engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce, See INA § 316(b) – ©. In order to qualify for the exception as an employee of a privateU.S. employer, you will need to show either:

(a) Your employer is a subsidiary of aU.S.company, where more than 50% of stock is owned by theU.S.company, or,

(b) Your employer is a publicly held corporation that is incorporated in theU.S.and trades stock exclusively onU.S.exchanges, or,

© Your employer does not trade exclusively on theU.S.stock market, but 51% of ownership isU.S.

Moving abroad to work for a private non-U.S. employer will require the resident to follow all of the abandonment and preserving naturalization rules outlined above.

Hey Subaru4me, the same thing happen to me and I became a citizen yesterday, did your case status update? I believe they will soon send you a letter for your oath.

Congrats lovely boy!

Got notification today......On November 4, 2014, we scheduled you for your oath ceremony and sent a notice providing the date, time, and location...yeahhhh!!

Hi lovely boy,

Any update? you should have gotten your interview letter already. When is your date?

alicemgi, what happened? Did you get your issue resolved?

Have you called them? After a period has passed if they do not get the evidence - even if you did not get the request - they can deny your application for insufficient evidence. Please call and find out what is happening.

Thank u , actually today they put me in line for oath

congrats

I had my interview 2 months ago. I passed the civil test and I was told that I will receive a letter with list of additional paperwork I need to send them and after that I will have my oath ceremony.

Never got anything from them. I called and still nothing happening. ....

Online status : Request for Evidence

On August 26, ( day of my interview ) we mailed a notice requesting initial evidence in this case. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the evidence requested.

Anyone has similar experience? ??? Don't know what to do. ...

Have you called them? After a period has passed if they do not get the evidence - even if you did not get the request - they can deny your application for insufficient evidence. Please call and find out what is happening.

I found out my case is approve and just need verification , did some one know what this mean

It means that another person needs to double check - verify - that everything is in order with your case. The same think happened to me. They are just covering their bases that all requirements are met and waiting to put you in line for oath ceremony or schedule your oath date. If the time frame has passed for them to have gotten back to you, call and have them escalate it. But first of all check your state and see how long it was for others to get scheduled. Congrats!