lissa04

I grew up along the Canadian/American border and would cross the border 150+ times a year, so I remember the days when you were able to cross with no border guards at some stations. All you had to do was drive the next customs and report in. As I have been told by Canadian customs several times, Americans are not required to have a passport entering by land or sea. Now coming back into the US I have had several custom officers and supervisors tell me as long as you can prove your citizenship "you're fine." So technically as long as your traveling by car/sea your drivers license and original copy of your birth certificate is all you need to get back in. The US can't refuse you entry into your own country. Now I am not saying they cant hassle you, they can, but all this hype about a passport is hogwash( unless your traveling by air, and well you have no choice you need it.)

Yes but in the US they no longer consider your Canadian citizenship. That is why on your naturalization certificate it shows your FORMER country of citizenship. When you take your oath you actually renounce your citizenship or titles that you have in any other country. Canada will consider dual citizenship but the US won't!!!!

It is dual citizenship for an adult applying for it since there was no CRBA at the time of birth.

Canadians are allowed dual citizenship, it is CALLED dual citizenship because you hold 2 citizenships.

I know I don't know you from Adam, but I can tell you from my own experience my step father now ex step father was from Egypt and he was a tyrant. Always yelling and screaming with that glaze in his eyes. If I were you I would get divorced and let him worry about his own immigration status. You don't need to be mentally abused by anybody. You're a person who deserves to be treated with respect. Although he hasn't been physical with you doesn't mean he won't. Women in Middle Eastern countries are nothing to men like that. If he can talk about what he has done to his own mother and EX there is a problem. I hate to say this but have you ever thought he only married you for the green card. He may not have but I wouldn't be surprised since he doesn't like where he comes from.

If she is leaving you and your talking about divorce, then I would wait till you have been a permanent resident for 5 years minus the 90 days. What most people don't know is at this stage of the game you will be scrutinized to the maximum. More so now then with the green card application. If you lie and it is found out your naturalization can be stripped from you. I have heard people say that it is a much easier process when you apply based on 5 years vs. 3 years. When I sent in my N-400 I sent all the same evidence and more then when I removed my conditions. The officer was happy that I had everything in order and didn't have to verify anything like joint bills since it was already submitted. Remember you are under oath when you go for your interview and these guys/girls are trained in deception. Don't risk it. It took you a long time to get where you are, you don't want to lose it all for a stupid lie.

Lissa

PS: don't be surprised if you have immigration checking with your neighbors or knocking on your door. It happened to me, I just wasn't home when they stopped by, my neighbor Charlie told me when I got home. The hubby and I went to go get groceries, and missed them by 15 mins.

Well it was a nice ceremony. I had to be there for 9am. Poor hubby feel down the stairs just as we were walking out the door. He hurt his arm pretty badly, but he didn't want to go to the hospital. We went through the metal detectors and into the federal court room. We took a seat and at 9am USCIS started calling people's name. When they called your name you collected your packet of information and signed your certificate. After that you were free to go upstairs to the cafeteria till 10:30 am. After having a bite to eat we came down stairs and were seated by numbers. I thought for sure they would have sat us alphabetically. Then our names were called and each one of us stood up and said what country we were from. In all 52 people from 31 countries were naturalized. I was the only one from Canada. In all from start to finish it took about 2 1/2 hours.

Well after a fun filled adventure of ripping my hair out, worrying myself to death over the last 6 years, hopefully today it comes to an end. My naturalization ceremony is at 9 am. I will be so happy not to have to deal with USCIS anymore. I will give everyone an update after I am done with my ceremony.

Thank you to everyone that has helped me through this journey.

Lissa04

Congrats on taking your oath and becoming a US Citizen. I remember from some of your posts the hell you were going through with USCIS. Congrats once again. I will be done with them as well on the 17th. I can't wait!!!

You can go to the court house where your grandmother was married and request a copy of the marriage certificate. I am sure they will be able to look her up by name.

Oh good gosh I know how you feel Jo Ann, take a look at my timeline. I am so sick of dealing with USCIS it's not funny. I will be so glad never to have to deal with them again!!! Good luck on your interview.

Lissa

I have no dispute with the USCIS about when the oath can be made and this was never discussed in my conversation with the person in the Washington office this morning. We were "discussing" the date on which one can apply for naturalization. I have written to the Associate Director for Field Operations three times and she keeps pawning me off to this same underling who is totally clueless. I don't have to tell the people on this website how frustrating it is to deal with these people. It really is like talking to a wall (or park bench). At any rate, if I'm successful at my interview in two weeks (this will be my second and last attempt), [b]like you, my joy will be all about never having to deal with the USCIS again. Unfortunately they have tainted any happiness I may have felt about becoming a citizen. I always thought the oath day would be such a joyous occasion and now it's just the marking of the end of a long, horrible experience. [/b] Maybe I'm just in a bad mood due to the call today but I"ve gotten to the point where I'm wondering why I just didn't stop at becoming a permanent resident.

Thanks for weighing in.

You have nothing to worry about letting them know you got married. When I went for my interview I messed up on the date we got married cause I was so nervous

Just let them know when you got married and give them the marriage certificate. Good luck on your interview.

Congrats :dance:

I think it has to be either an emergency or that you are traveling fairly shortly. I am not sure if either office offers that service but if you do a google search for the passport offices, I am sure that can give you more information.

Congratulations :dance:

I literally traveled to and from Canada hundreds of times, never asked for passport nor any form of ID. Both by car and plane. What I don't understand is what changed! Can someone explain that to me?

When is the last time you traveled to Canada? I know when I flew home last year they asked for my passport. You don't need a passport to get into Canada as long as you can prove that you are American.( By car not by air.) This is what I have been told several times by Canadian officials. I traveled back home last month and asked the same question. Unfortunately what has changed is 9/11 that made things more stringent when it comes to crossing the border. I grew up on the Canadian/American border and I remember the days where you could just drive across. There was no guard and It didn't say welcome to the US. The only way you knew you were in the US was that the roads were better but the houses were debilitated ( because of high NY state taxes.) You did have to check into the next customs office though. Today that is changed. Coming into Canada is a little easier I think then crossing into the States, but your still gonna be asked questions and ID.

Ya well it hasn't been an easy journey. I think the thing that pisses me off the most is that someone in the Washington DC office couldn't read English. What part of I don't have a criminal record do you not understand? After reading other posts and doing some researching myself, they really scrutinize you from head to toe during the N-400 process. So your time line is a little confusing. Are you a citizen as of the 14th of June or are you eligible to apply as of the 14th of June? Reason I ask is because it says on your profile naturalization pending. Hopefully our journeys will be over with soon, and we won't have to deal with immigration ever again!!!! (Touch wood of course).

Lissa,

your N-400 timeline makes my skin crumble . . .

I am so sorry. If I were you I would contact Canadian immigration and explain to them that he used you to get immigration benefits and that he is using this other woman to get immigration benefits in Canada. I am sorry but he doesn't deserve to be in the two best countries in the world. I feel bad that you have to go through this, but I honestly feel he should not gain any benefits as he was trying to commit marriage fraud. If you go to the embassy or immigration and report him, hopefully they will put a big red flag and deny him permanent residency. I would also contact US immigration as well and let them know this as well since it is a crime. If he is convicted of immigration fraud he can kiss his Canadian residency goodbye. Canada is very strict on people who have criminal records. I know deep down in your heart you still care, but he played you for a fool. You should be proud that you are a US citizen, it's just sad that so many are taken advantage of only for immigration benefits.

Congratulations you must be so happy!!!! :dance:

That is so sad to hear. What she can do is make an infopass appointment explaining her situation and ask to withdrawal the application. Unfortunately I don't think she will get her money back, however she can reapply for citizenship later on down the line no problem. She can also write a letter to her local office with a copy of the death certificate as well if she wants to.

Best of luck to her.

Lissa

First off they do not stamp your passport going into either country. Depending on how you arrive in Canada they may swipe your passport. Normally when I go home they just type in my license plate number. Second off if you hold both passports does it really matter how long you were gone? You are a citizen of both countries. The only time I think it would matter is if you are bringing items into either country as each one has a limit amount. If asked the question how long have you been gone just be honest. If the US really wants to know how long you have been gone, I am sure they can ask the Canadian side since the US/Canadian borders help each other out.

If you hold both a Canadian passport and a US passport - won't it create problems along the lines of the stamps in your passport? Also for records of entry and exit (I assume they record your history of travel electronically).

If I travel from the USA to Canada and enter Canada on a Canadian passport - then the Canadian passport will have the entry stamp and an electronic record of my entry will be created.

Then later when I travel back from Canada to the USA and I present a USA passport - the USA passport will have the entry stamp and an electronic record of my entry will be created.

Will this create a problem in general? That is, the USA will not know when exactly I left the country because there will be no record of my having entered into the foreign nation. There will be no electronic record in the foreign country's travel history and no stamp on my USA passport showing entry.

If the USA asks the question "How long were you away" is it possible they may flip through the passport book to verify your answer? When your answer does not produce a match electronically or in the book and they want you to satisfy the answer - what will happen when you show that you traveled on your Canadian passport to Canada, and traveling back to the USA using the USA passport?

Thanks Cindy and congratulations!!!! :dance:

Ok so after many months of BS I find out that I am approved for citizenship on 6/23/10. I called USCIS today and found out that I was placed in que for my oath on 7/12. I was informed that it is all computer generated. I explained to the officer that we only have a couple of oaths a year in my area. The next one is September 17th and November 19th. She figured that it would be September. So my question is how long did it take from the time you were approved to receive your oath letter?

Thanks

When I sent my application I sent everything like when I did my removal of conditions. Personally I didn't want a RFE. Hopefully you sent enough, if not you will be informed.

Document Checklist for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

All applicants must send the following 3 items with their N-400 application:

A photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as the Alien Registration Card or "Green Card"). If you have lost the card, submit a photocopy of the receipt for your Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card; and

Two identical color photographs, with your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) written lightly in pencil on the back of each photo. For details about the photo requirements, see Part 5 of Form M-476, A Guide to Naturalization, and the Form M-603, USCIS Making Photos Simpler, instructions distributed with your application. If your religion requires you to wear a head covering, your facial features must still be exposed in the photo for purposes of identification; and

A check or money order for the application fee and the biometrics services fee for fingerprinting. (Applicants 75 years of age or older are exempted from fingerprinting and the biometrics services fee). Write your A-Number on the back of the check or money order. The application fee is $595 and the biometrics services fee is $80. You may combine the fees into one check or money order. Make your check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security."

Send copies of the following documents, unless we ask for an original.

If an attorney or accredited representative is acting on your behalf, send:

A completed original Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative.

If your current legal name is different from the name on your Permanent Resident Card, send:

The document(s) that legally changed your name (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document).

If you are applying for naturalization on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen, send the following 4 items:

Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the last 3 years:

- Birth certificate (if your spouse never lost citizenship since birth); or

- Certificate of Naturalization; or

- Certificate of Citizenship; or

- The inside of the front cover and signature page of your spouse's current U.S. passport; or

- Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America; and

Your current marriage certificate; and

Proof of termination of all prior marriages of your spouse (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificate(s)); and

Documents referring to you and your spouse:

- Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or

- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or

- An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years.

If you were married before, send:

Proof that all earlier marriages ended (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificates(s)).

Best of luck.

Where you applying under the 3 year or 5 year rule?

Ops sorry just noticed it was a (319B), in that case I am not sure. When I went I was told it had to be my local federal court to do my oath. In my opinion I thought that was crazy since you made me drive all this way here in the first place. What you may want to do is when you send in you N400, perhaps send them a letter along with your application asking to have your oath ceremony scheduled at the local office of your choice. Worst case is that they say no and send you to another office.

Best of luck,

Lissa

Fairfax, VA offers same day service, however I believe you have to be from that area. I couldn't have same day service because I lived 4 hours south even if my case wasn't complicated.

Fairfax, VA offers same day service, however I believe you have to be from that area. I couldn't have same day service because I lived 4 hours south even if my case wasn't complicated.