MapleLeafBaby

I'm only going for 4 days. Almost every time I have crossed Canadian border, the officer has asked what my status is in U.S. and has asked if I have my PR card with me to gain access back into US... Some have asked for me to flash it and show them.

I would never dream about crossing without proper docs or the chance that I would have issues... Lol... I'm such a safety bear that I'm willing to jump through circus hoops this week ;(

I had to book hotel, pull my son from school... Get all these docs and haul butt to city on Monday. Fingers crossed that all will go well:.. One other issue is that I have full legal custody of my son and I'm hoping that the sep agreement I used for immigration will suffice for proof that I'm the only parent needing to sign passport for my son... If that becomes an issue I think I'll officially have a nervous breakdown haha...

Thank you all for your replies!

I called and double checked and they accept hotel reservations as proof of travel... So let's just say I have pending hotel reservations lol...

I also found out today at my oath, that if I expedite within the next 30 days, they waive expedite fee. They said that every field office is diff and has diff requirements. Philly is not like previous poster who said they are waiving need for proof

Oh well... I have appmnt for Monday... Fingers crossed!

Thanks to all who gave me great info and insight ?????

So I had my interview yesterday and had my oath ceremony today in Philly. I'm officially an American! My journey comes to a gratifying end.

Bet of luck to you all! ?????????????????

Thanks guys!

It was a pretty quick turn around. I don't follow the status updates on system cause they're often wrong and drive me batty. I did bio end of August, got my interview letter mid oct... Like 5-6 weeks later and interview was like 3 weeks after that.

They said they do oath ceremonies every couple weeks so there's probably not a long wait for that either... I just happened to be in office the day before cut off and she said they had a few spots... She also said that it looked like my nerves couldn't handle extra waiting time LMAO...

Good luck!

Congrats to those who are done!

I had interview today in Philly. All I have to say is that it started out so bad that I wanted to throw up!

Ended up waiting 3 hours past appmnt time cause someone passed out in their interview... Security running all over peramedics, stretchers lol.. As my luck should have it, that was the officer I was scheduled with so his whole day went in the shitter lol... I ended up with someone else after 3 hours and they didn't seem happy for the extra work load... Lol... I was nervous cause they seemed agitated and I honestly don't remeber any of the questions lol... I got them all right and she ended up laughing at my nervous ramblings lol... Long story short, it started out hellish, ended with a pass and I got scheduled for oath tmrw! I wasn't even thinking when I took the oath appmnt for tmrw cause we have a trip next week lol...

I posted a question about crossing border with certificate...

Anyways best of luck to everyone!

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!

@garfield529... Thanks for sharing your experience

It raises a question: if it's a marriage based timeline that we're filing under, does the spouse have to attend? Is it mandatory? Just wondering, because it's difficult for my husband to take time away from work. I was going to attend by myself, unless he needs to be there?

Thanks

They'll take your green card when you become a citizen at your oath ceremony. You can travel between the interview and oath ceremony using your green card and your current passport. After your oath, you'll need a US passport to travel.

Thanks for the reply ? This is something I didn't think about prior to all of this. I'm assuming that my oath will be after my Thanksgiving travel. However, I am traveling for Xmas, and Im assuming a US passport doesn't take more than a couple of weeks to get? My question is for my 11 year old son. When I get my citizenship and after my oath, can I apply for my sons US passport based on my docs? im assuming that I can apply for our passports together and hopefully prior to the holidays.

I rec'd my interview letter ☺️

My interview is on Nov 13th, 2014 in Philadelphia.

A previous question about travel reminded me of my upcoming travels. When we get approved and the ceremony is pending etc... Do they take your perm resident card? Can I still travel? Or do I have to wait to get my new passport? I'm scheduled to travel 2 weeks after my interview, so I'm curious.

Thanks!

I too got the yellow notice asking for additional docs to be brought to interview. I haven't received any 'in line waiting' notifications for interview, but I figured the yellow letter is an indication that things are moving along. Does anyone know what the importance of passports are at interview? Is it to prove identity or do they require you to turn them over as part as naturalization? I ask cause although US doesn't recognize duel citizenship, Canada does and I wanted to keep my Canadian passport. Any info on this would be appreciated. ?

Hey all! Just completed my biometrics today! It was easy and quick thank goodness.

I guess it'll be another month or so before we start getting interview appmnts. They did give me the civics book... A little intimidating lol... Good luck to all ?

Hello July Peeps

So I got my Biometrics letter. I'm scheduled for July 28th.

I'm traveling abroad right up until then... And I'm on my iPhone... I know if I try to update my info on the list, I'll mess it up lol... If any of u tech savvys wanna take a stab at it for me... It's much appreciated ?

Wow! Thanks for creating timeline list! ?

Good luck everyone!

I just for confirmation text and email today that they rec'd my packet. ?

I got no business to be here but BEST OF LUCK, MapleLeafBaby!!!

Thank you ?

I see a lot of people doing the name change thing. I'm assuming it's the last name? Like marriage wise? I already did that with my AOS so I have no change at this time.

5 months doesn't seem so bad. Anyone know how the civics test works? Like out of a possible 100 questions they ask you a random 10 questions? Gosh... I hate tests they give me anxiety lol....

Mind you I can't wait to finally be a citizen and feel like my journey is complete.

Good luck to everyone!

I've been popping in each day with the hopes that someone would have started a July Filers thread...but I haven't been able to locate one. If one does exist, my apologies... And if not, then I guess this served as the official July 2014 Filers? Lol

I actually sent my packet off in the last week of June, but I just rec'd tracking confirmation from FedEx today that it was rec'd. So I guess this will officially make me a July filer.

Good luck to everyone else filing this month! By the looks of it, the turn around is a lot better than I thought.

Anyone start studying already? I was just going to use those smart phone apps.

Thank you for the replies! Much appreciated! ?

I have prepared my entire package. I am aware that my 10 year old son is filing under me and does not need a sep app, nor will I need to file a biometrics fee for him. I have a draft for the filing fee and only bio fee for me.

My question is this... It asks for me to send 2x passport style photos with my app. I have done so for myself. Even though my son is a minor and not doing bio, do they also need 2 passport style photos for him? I just wasn't sure.

Your help is much appreciated!

Hi Poprocks! Nice to see you around again

That's just crazy. I can't believe they would make you do all that for no reason. Congrats on the approvals!

Hey girl!!!! Long time!!!! How is everything?

I know right? I'm not that bothered...I got an approval out of it lol... Now if I went home with an RFE...mama would not be happy! HAHA!

You doing citizenship? Or just chilling where you're at?

Hello...I'm hoping to clarify a few questions.

I rec'd my conditional GC on Sept/2009 based on marriage that took place 07/09. I just got approved for PR 10 year card.

I see that I qualify for 3 year based on marriage, correct?

I also can apply up to 90 days in advance to my Sept 2009 GC, so I can apply July of this year?

I came on a K1 and my son a K2. Is he able to naturalize under me if I file the additional form? My US Citizen husband is his step dad (not legal though)...but if I naturalize can my 8 year old do so with me?

It talks about previous divorce decrees... I provided divorce docs from my first marriage for my AOS/ROC... do I need to provide them again? Along with all the other docs they request like tax scripts etc...

Is there somewhere where I can find a specific list of all docs needed?

If I file for my son with me, is it just the additional waiver I file or do I have to file a whole sep 400 for him?

I am the only one that gets interviewed and tested, or does my son as well?

thanks for the help...I am just starting to collect everything now ...

Hey all! So I reported last week that I rec'd my approval 04/13 and my son was still pending. I went to my infopass today as instructed by USCIS on the phone... to find it he has been approved! I went for nothing lol..

So happy this part is over! I'm on a roll and will def do citizenship this summer to be done for good

Good luck to everyone else... it appears that we all should be done in the coming days

I know I will mess up the chart if I try to update it. Can you please mark us for approved 4/13

Thank you

Well, I wish I had a more definitive update for people interested. But in typical USCIS fashion, there was no real clarity lol..

I showed up to my InfoPass and advised her that I was advised by an agent on the phone that my file indicated that I had to bring two photos in for my son. She was confused saying that she didn't see anything of such nature on his file and his status appeared to show 'approved' lol... I was ready to hit my head on the wall... $25 later in photos and parking...a long drive down there and such circus like activity to find out he was approved.

I am not going to complain as I am happy we got approvals, but man what a pain. She informed me that she was not aware of a need for photos for the 8 year old...

Oh well.. and to add insult to injury, I get home and check my mail and I had his approval letter lol...

Good luck to everyone else

Has anyone else had to send passport photo's for their K2? I don't recall having sent any with my applications...

Not sure...but I sure hope they are not making me do this for no reason lol... It's a bit of a hassle taking my son into the city. I will confirm with the agent at my infopass appmnt..that it is standard... we will see. I will pass on any info I get for future reference.

Thanks Marina... I know! It was def not the norm im sure. The funny thing is that my husband wanted to use an app he has on his iPhone that takes passport photos an he used it for his passport with no problems. I told him no way! And that I was not taking any chances and going to Walgreens... Lol what a mistake! An hour of them retaking and retaking... Blurry and then the head was not centered... It was so frustrating! The notary part was easy so I don't regret the extra step... Just walk right in to TD bank and they do it on the spot.... For free.

My son also wears glasses and I wasn't sure if they allow eye wear... Passport requirements says they can wear them, so I also took one photo with and one without. Lol..

I'm sure I did over kill but I don't want to come home with an RFE...

The funny thing is, they never even sent us an RFE... I had to call to find out he was in limbo with additional requirements... I'm sure they are super busy... I'm just happy to have an infopass so soon and get it done

Thank you for all the info!

I went and got them, and all I have to say is that my Walgreens is useless and they are not qualified! I was there for an hour! And they tried to send me home with out of focus grainy pics! Worst experience ever! I think my location was a one off... Anyways I got the pics notarized just in case... I will also write his info on the back. Didn't want to take any chances, plus TD bank across the street from Walgreens notarizes for free.

So I have my infopass Tues... Fingers crossed its easy breezy and they put his card into production. If I got approved there really should be no issue for him.

Wish me luck!