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phl_nov08

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Posts posted by phl_nov08

    can you keep getting 10 yr card renewed every 10 years even if citizenship is denied?

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    hi everybody

    just a quick question:

    is it possible to keep getting your 10 yr card renewed every 10 yrs even if you are denied citizenship at the interview? is it a separate thing? or if you get denied citizenship you lose your 10 yr card too?

    thanks

    and how many times can you reapply for citizenship once you get denied the first time?

    Mostly no impact on GC...... but..... if the denial is for previous lies in the immigration process, or serious crimes committed, then bad things could happen.

    P

    Almost completed citzenship, need to travel. What to do?

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm a UK citizen, held green card for 10 years.

    I applied for citizenship earlier in the year and all proceeded well. My final interview was last week and I passed. Interviewing officer encouraged me to attend next available oath ceremony on Thursday of this week (day after tomorrow). I told him that the timing was not ideal because I am traveling to Europe the following day and therefore would need to use my UK passport to re-enter the country. He said that was not a problem so I went ahead and scheduled the oath taking.

    I just learned that at the oath taking they will hold my green card. I travel the following day, and I can't reschedule it. I have researched using my UK passport and citizenship certificate to reenter in 2 weeks, and it seems that's not possible.

    Can anyone tell me which is the least bad option:

    1. Apply for US passport expedited the day after the oath taking? I will have my certificate and have enough time in the morning before my flight to apply. I can have it shipped to my office and my assistant will FedEx it to me in Europe.

    2. Cancel and reschedule the oath taking ceremony? What about the question on the oath form asking 'have you traveled outside the US'

    3. Can I get an exemption at the oath taking such they will not remove my green card?

    My oath taking is this Thursday in the afternoon, my flight to Europe is the next day,in the late afternoon. I can't delay my flight.

    What to do?

    If you got to the passport agency first thing, they could probably get a passport done by 3pm. Sounds like that would be too late for you.

    I don't think 3 is an option. And 1 would make me too nervous..... what if it got lost in shipping. Can you be away for however long they take to process expedited passports at the moment.

    You could re-schedule the oath, I did that a couple of times because my wife and I couldn't get there on the same day. I sent the oath form back with a letter explaining why I couldn't make it and they were happy to re-schedule it for me. The question on the oath form isn't a problem, you just tell them where you went and how long. Assuming you are not near the limits on time out of the US etc. you would be fine.

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    Becoming US citizen - can you keep British passport?

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    Once you have been married to a US citizen for 3 years and get your citizenship, does this give you a US passport? And can I keep my original British passport?

    Also, in the future when we have children in the US, they will obviously be US citizens but are they allowed one day to also be British citizens?

    Thank you!

    After you submit the N-400 form, do the fingerprints, be interviewed by USCIS, and attend oath ceremony for Oath of Allegiance you become US Citizen and get passport.

    After that you have both passports, you do not lose UK citizenship by becoming US Citizen.

    http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/

    P

    Do I have to go to DMV after oath?

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi guys,

    I just had my oath ceremony (at last!) and I'm wondering if I have to go to DMV to update my information. I know that I will have to go to SSA office and get a passport, but I havent read anything here about updating my DMV information. What else is next after oath, SSA and passport?

    Thanks a bunch.

    Which state DMV?

    I don't think you would need to bother in Pennsylvania - they haven't asked for any immigration documents at all for my last two license renewals and there's no immigration status indication on a PA license. If in Texas then probably yes, I hear there's a different format for non-citizen license there. Very state specific....

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    November 2008 Filers

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    At last, the final steps are completed.

    On Saturday I got my updated Soc. Sec. Card with restrictions removed.

    Today my passport card arrived.

    Now I look forward to traveling somewhere I can use my passport.

    :mellow:

    P

    Question: Did you have to give them your naturalization certificate (the original) to send off with your passport application?! That scares me! Also, can you tell me how you went about changing the restricions on your SS card?! That would be so appreciated.

    I was able to get my passport at the Philadelphia Passport Agency, which involved me handing them the Certificate with my application, then coming back the next day to pick up the passport and Certificate. If done via other passport accepting facilities (e.g. Post Office) the Certificate will be sent off and later returned via USPS - I was glad to avoid that. However, I haven't heard of anybody having problems with this so it's probably not a high risk.

    The SS card was easy. Go to www.ssa.gov and find your nearest SS office. Then fill out the form (SS-5 I think it is - can be downloaded) and take it with you to the SS office. They will take a copy of the Certificate and give it back to you.

    P

    Fairfax Office - Question about original citizenship

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by phl_nov08

    When I had my interview in Fairfax, the officer asked me if I intended to keep my original citizenship in addition to the American citizenship. I found this odd, since I never heard of this question being asked before. The officer also was very well informed about the laws of my home country concerning this topic.

    Now I heard from another German, who had an interview at the same office with a different officer, that she was asked the same thing.

    And now I'm wondering if they only ask Germans about this or if anybody else has been asked during their interview, if they're planning on keeping their original citizenship.

    From what I have seen posted previously here, a German citizen needs to file a document and get approval from German government to retain their German citizenship before they take oath to become US citizen. Otherwise German citizenship is lost. My guess is the IO was inquiring about your intentions along those lines.

    P

    You're right. That's exactly, what he was asking. I was just wondering, if they ask only Germans, if they plan on keeping their citizenship, because they need to apply for a special authorization to apply for another citizenship, if they don't want to lose their German citizenship. Or if they also ask people from other nations, who can become dual citizens without any special paperwork, because they don't automatically lose their original citizenship when they apply for American citizenship. So, let's say you're British, have you been asked if you plan on keeping your British citizenship or if you will go the British authorities and renounce it?

    Didn't ask me anything about British citizenship.

    P

    Fairfax Office - Question about original citizenship

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    When I had my interview in Fairfax, the officer asked me if I intended to keep my original citizenship in addition to the American citizenship. I found this odd, since I never heard of this question being asked before. The officer also was very well informed about the laws of my home country concerning this topic.

    Now I heard from another German, who had an interview at the same office with a different officer, that she was asked the same thing.

    And now I'm wondering if they only ask Germans about this or if anybody else has been asked during their interview, if they're planning on keeping their original citizenship.

    From what I have seen posted previously here, a German citizen needs to file a document and get approval from German government to retain their German citizenship before they take oath to become US citizen. Otherwise German citizenship is lost. My guess is the IO was inquiring about your intentions along those lines.

    P

    Passport - Walk In

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    There is no exception for newly naturalized applicants. Does the letter somehow grant the new citizen an exception? May be worth trying when the time comes. Thanks:

    Yes, this is an exception for newly naturalized citizens (letter came in envelope with the certificate of naturalization at oath ceremony), and allows walk-in without appointment for 30 days after oath. Very handy if you live near a passport agency.

    P

    Passport - Walk In

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    Yes, it is available same day service from Regional Passport Application Center if you are close to those locations.

    I believe they MAY ask for supporting document such as travel itinerary or something like that. :whistle:

    http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/age...encies_913.html

    Here is the list of agency for walk-in same-day processing.

    Don't need any travel itinerary if you have the new citizen letter, and it's within 30 days of oath ceremony. Just walk-in, no appointment needed. This only works if you have the letter though, otherwise evidence of travel in next 14 days will be needed.

    P

    Passport - Walk In

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    When I completed my oath ceremony last week, there were letters in the envelope with the certificates authorizing new citizens to do walk-ins at the Philadelphia Passport Office (valid for I think 30 days).

    Not heard of this before, so might be new?

    I completed the process yesterday and today to get my passport. Cost is the same as doing expedited application at the post office, i.e. $180 (including the card), plus the costs to get to Philadelphia (train for me plus subway, x 2), plus the time to do it. Worth it to me to end this process, and without having to have the certificate or passport going through the post.

    Also, probably only useful (or available) if you are located near one of the regional passport offices. Or maybe only here in Philadelphia, I don't know. But I feel lucky!!

    P

    November 2008 Filers

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    The journey is finally over. I had the oath ceremony on the 8th in New Haven.

    When we got to the courts at 12.20pm the room was almost full and we barely managed to get three seat together. The USCIS officials had already started explaining the process ahead of the 12.30pm scheduled time. The process at the New haven courts seemed very organized. Citizens of 35 countries took the oath that day

    - Our names are called and we walk to the front of the room to handover form and green card.

    - Then the judge arrives and we take the oath

    - The judge then spoke for about 10 mins touching on her immigrant grandparent from Russia, congrats, welcome, etc

    - Each person's name is called up again to collect the certificate.

    The last person got the certificate by 2pm. There's lots of sitting around waiting for the next step while the USCIS folks sort out all the paperwork.

    After reading Phl nov08's comments about the signature, I have a decision to make. I signed my normal signature on the picture that's on the naturalization cert, but at the ceremony the USCIS handed out a sheet of paper that says the Nat. cert is invalid if it is not signed with the full name. It's good to know that the message was different in Philly.

    I have an appointment at the CT passport office next week to get a same-day passport as I have a trip at the end of the month. The signature decision will be made by then.

    Good luck to everyone still waiting to complete the process. I will miss checking VJ regularly, but see myself checking until all of us Nov08s get done. Cheers

    I have seen much conflicting info on this on the various forums and web pages I have searched. You should be able to track down a bunch of threads with the various forum searches and Google.

    The advice that I found most believable was that the signature on the certificate should be the same as how you signed the photograph. That just made a lot of sense to me because it's a good confirmation that the photo and the certificate belong together. I did ask before I signed it in Phily and the officers said to sign with normal sig.

    But usual cautions apply, I don't know absolutely for sure.

    miss oath ceremony

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    my sister in law just missed the oath ceremony she had to take today for her citizenship, but she thought it was on the 10th and she missed it. what can she do to reschedul it or she will ever be able to rescheduel it. is that some thing she can do..... she is crying and dont know what to do now. if someone know about it or been in simmiler situation please advice. please replay

    thank you

    Don't think that's the end of the world. I missed two Oath Ceremonies before I got to the third one.

    First one I did send back the form requesting another date, second one I was in contact with the officers organizing it and we arranged the third ceremony.

    What will happen is that you will get a NOA type letter stating that you missed the Oath Ceremony and that they will re-schedule.

    My experience is that they will be happy to make a re-schedule happen for you.

    P

    November 2008 Filers

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    OATH DAY Part 2

    Later.....

    Catch an earlier train that expected, it just rolled in so I hopped on, so I am down town earlier than planned. Hang out again at the Borders Books at Broad St and Chestnut in Center City Philadelphia.

    Arrive 15 minutes before start time. My wife beat me there, and was holding my place in the queue. Shock!! :)

    Proceedings were split into two phases

    Phase 1 - 2pm - Everybody was called up individually to hand in green card, completed oath form and to check and sign the certificate.

    Note on signature - I had previously signed my N-400 with my normal signature, so they said to sign the picture the same way, and finally sign the Certificate also with my normal signature (not full name).

    Phase 2 - 3pm - Director arrives, countries are called out and folks from each country stand up (there were about 60 people taking oath, from 30+ countries) today.

    Then we do the oath, YEAH!!!!

    After that there's some welcome speeches, a video from Janet Napolitano.

    Then the call up to get the certificate, followed by lots of photos. There were some folks handing out voter registration forms so I completed one of those and handed it in.

    It was a really nice ceremony, kudos to the staff at the Philadelphia office. A great experience..!!!

    Finally, we drive down to Rittenhouse Square, and sit outside of Rouge drinking expensive glasses of Champagne and basking in the sun........

    November 2008 Filers

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    OATH DAY PART 1

    8th May at 8 am, the day begins...

    It's been a long, grey, rainy and damp week here in Philadelphia. But today it's Oath Day and the sun is shining!!

    Plan for the day

    1. Head down into the Center City Philadelphia on the train

    2. Meet wife at USCIS office

    3. Oath Ceremony

    4. Champagne

    I am taking

    1. Camera

    2. Oath Letter, need it to get in and also need to answer the questions on the back

    3. Green Card

    4. Travel itinary, boarding passes and passport in case I need evidence for an international trip I did a couple of weeks ago. It was only 6 days so wont be any issue, but they might ask to see evidence - unlikely, but best to be over prepared.

    5. Two passport photos - they phoned me earlier this week, that was a stressful moment when I recognized the caller id, but they only wanted to tell me that they had misplaced my photos for the certificate and that I should bring two more on Friday just in case.

    6. Umbrella - chance of rain this afternoon

    Dress code - suit and tie for today.

    To be continued.......

    Nationality

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    I think it depends on context and who is asking for the info. If it's any kind of official/government type form I think it would be best to enter US Citizen in the USA, and British in the UK - not both. Don't want to make it more difficult for them than you need to, that way they have more chance to get it right first time :)

    P

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