Callie
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Posts posted by Callie
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Dear friends,
Finally I got to say goodbye to USCIS once and for all!
I received my oath ceremony letter yesterday and the event is on next Wednesday!
I'm sort of new here, yet ever since my journey started back to 2006, me and my Huby came here whenever we have problems, it's such a nice place and now I'd like to share with you my timeline and experience! It's quite a smooth journey and by the way, I did not take another biometrics before my N-400 Interview, so for those who may have the same situation as me, just relax and it may save you a big trip! However, they still charge you even you are not required to take it...
The interview process is super easy, just similar to what the others have posted here. Questions I can still remember:
1. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
2. what is the political party of the president right now
3. what are the two political party in the U.S.
4. Name 3 original states
5. Name one state boarders Mexico
6. can't recall...
Okay, hope my experience helps and wish all of you good luck!
My timeline:
Nov.2006: came to U.S on K1
Dec.2006: getting married
Jan.2007: apply for adjustment
Feb-March/2007: biometrics & Interview
April.2007: received 2-yr PR Card
Jan.2009: apply for 10-yr Green Card
Feb.2009: Biometrics
April.2009: 10-yr PR Card mailed to me
Jan.2010: apply for N-400 based on 3-yr requirement
Feb-Mar.2010: received NOA & Interview Appointment Letter
April/2010: Interview passed
Received Oath Letter
May.5,2010: Oath Ceremony
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Callie-Lol....At least you got to use your 10yr card to travel...Likewise, I got the same use out of my card too..Only used it once...lol..for a 2 day trip to Canada while I was 8 months pregnant....Could have used it more...but umm..I wasn't allowed to travel any further along in the preganancy than that....
If you don't mind me asking, how long did you wait for your 10yr card? (I can't find your timeline here...)
And yeah, I could have waited for citizenship..But I really wanted to get rid of the USCIS...So I did it as soon as I could....
Glad that I went for citizenship asap..Happy to get rid of the USCIS once and for all! Lol....Now if only I can get rid of my USCIS debt! (yes, I'm broke after this!)
Oh and here is another insult..They take the green card away when you get your naturalization certificate! Gee, you would think they would let us keep it or something, and mark it invalid or something, for the hardship we had to go through to get it....Oh and that piece of naturalization paper..Can't travel out of the country with that....So would have to spend more on a passport, or other travel compliant document...lol...
Oh yeah..I understand about the 1hr trip too..As likewise, it takes 1-2 hours for me to get to my local office of Buffalo, NY too...
Sure could have saved the $20+ gas and time to get there!...Lol..And it's no easy task travelling with a baby on board either...
Yeah..you can download the booklet online...But if you go for your fingerprints..Do ask for it (the booklet and CD)..As you paid $675 for citizenship..So why not get such too?...lol..
Good luck on your journey too.
Ant
Oh yeah right i didn't put my timeline here since I was about to do that as soon as my journey is over, LOL, it was quite smooth to me though: I got to the US at the end of 2006 on K1 and applied for 485 on Jan 2007, received the 2-yr green card on April....two years later... Jan 2009 I applied for 751 and received my 10yr green card on April, and this year on 1/10 I sent out my N-400 and here I am, received the interview letter a few days ago. Quoting what they said about this 15-month time period regarding biometrics, I guess I do not need to take it again before interview? Not sure, maybe another letter will show up in my mail box tomorrow, see here's the thing, on one hand you wish you could at least get some use out of that 80 bucks and on the other you dont want the hassle to go all the way there for fingerprinting! LOL!
Like you said I could have waited for this citizenship thing too, and yes I just want to say GOODBYE to them once and for all, who knows when they are gonna increase the charge again... and yeah you are definitely right, I thought they would let us keep the card, at least it's not that bad looking and hey we paid for it... yet they have to take it back... And honestly saying, green card is more convenient in the sense that if we are not travel once a month all over the world, LOL...
Oh and for that booklet, I still recall when I went to the office for the 1st biometrics back in 2007, I saw this stack of booklets for citizenship thing laying on the desk and I thought I could use it someday so I asked the officer sitting back there if I can take one, she looked at me with that cold and confusing face saying "oh no dear, this is not for you"...WHAT? We pay hundreds of dollars for this and we couldn't even get a booklet? OK~~
you are the BOSS... Well your journey is finally over and you have these cute babies, so enjoy your life in NY! I'm not yet about to have a baby any time soon since the living expense is so high in CA here...
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Lol...Yeah...I want my money back too..
I wasted $545 on a 10yr green card that I only got to use for 5 months (and waited 10 months for...lol..see my timeline)
And I seriously think that the citizenship certificate is not worth $675...Just a lame piece of paper and a photo glued on it....I could have made one for a lot less than that...lol....Oh well....
On the bright side, at least you might not have to spend the extra time and gas/transportation money to get your biometrics done if you they accept your previous fingerprints..Lol...And if you are far away from your local office..It definitely makes a difference there..
And if you have ot go for your fingerprints, make sure you pick up your study guide/booklet too...lol..worth something there...
Nevertheless, good luck with your N-400 too.
Ant
LOL, can't agree more! And yeah we're kinda have a similar timeline here, I couldn't say I WASTED $545 for the 10yr card since I went out of US for vacation for 2 months last year right after I received it, but hey, $545 for a plastic card and only used it for less than a year and now we've got to throw another $700 for a piece of paper... and they are just
like this since they are the boss here! LOL..Yeah probably this extra $80 could save me a 1-hr round trip to SanFrancisco office and waited for couple hours just to press my 10 fingers on that machine, but it definitely an expensive one..
As for this booklet, I think we can simply download it from the web site- resource page..Anyway, thank you and wish you ###### luck too!
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If you sent your application without the $80 fee, they will return it and state that you did not enclose the proper amount.
This is a classic move by USCIS with people and children under 14 - children under 14 usually don't require a biometrics for removing conditions, but they still request you include the fee.
Good luck on getting back your $$$
Thanks for helping me clarify, I guess I'll just need to study really hard for those 100 questions AND if I'm REALLY lucky I may get the $$ back but I doubt it.. 
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What does your online status say? Typically, it will indicate that a request for evidence was sent to you (for biometrics). Also, if you've done biometrics within the past 15 months, then USCIS can use your fingerprints from before to satisfy the requirements for your N400.
Uh the 800- customer service system says that USCIS office will send me a letter indicating the interview date and location and yes I've already received it. If like you said they can use my fingerprint that is taken within the past 15 months, then I don't need to pay the $80 for the biometrics service when I applied for this N-400....I guess I should ask for a refund : )
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OK I just go through all the letters since I applied for my 2-yr green card(Jan. 2007), here's my time period:
I had my biometrics taken on 2/13/2009, and I received the approval for the removal of the conditional basis of PR status on 3/20/2009 and the 10-yr green card arrived on 4/1/2009. If I remember correctly, the only time I went to the immigration office for biometrics was for the 2-yr green card, and after that my 10-yr green card was mailed to my home, I don't think I have another biometrics in between...
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Hi guys, I received my 797-C NOA Receipt in January, and yesterday I received this interview letter specifying the interview date(next month) and location, I am kinda confused cause' I am supposed to received another letter for biometrics before interview letter. I called the 800-customer service number asking them, but the guy told me that he didn't know either and he suggested I going there for interview directly... Anyone has any clue or suggestion? Appreciate your help!
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Yes, you are eligible to file 90 days before the third anniversary of receiving your greencard as long as you have also been married 3 years at the time you submit the application. If you have not been married 3 years when the 90 day 'window' opens, then you can file when you do reach the 3 year anniversary of the marriage even if it is prior to the 3 year anniversary of the green card. If they are quick in processing your application and you have your interview before your 3rd year green card anniversary, they will hold off on finalizing the decision until you actually have 3 years as a permanent resident.
Yes, that looks like all you need to file. You can bring additional evidence of your marriage to the interview in case they do request it but they generally don't.
Good luck.
Thank you Kathryn, your explanation sounds clear enough, and yes I've been married for 3yrs plus 1 month, so I guess I can pack all things up and send it out next week, thank you again!
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Hello all! I became PR(2-yr) on 4/7/2007, and am about to file for N-400 based on 3-yrs marriage to US citizen now, although I had a trip of 60 days out of U.S this year.
My 1st question is, based on the requirement for PR and continuous residence, I will be eligible to file for naturalization on 1/7/2010, which is 90 days before my official PR status, is that right?
My 2nd question is, since my case is pretty simple: it is our 1st marriage, we dont have kid yet, haven't moved to other places since I came here, all I need to submit include: form, 2 photos, copy of my PRC, copy of my husband's passport, copy of marriage certificate, IRS transcript, and check of $675, do i miss anything deemed necessary?
Thank you so much in advance!
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You're not actually moving to Nevada, right? No break involved with a trip for a couple of days.
No I'm not, thank you so much!
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Hi guys, I'm preparing for the N-400 based on 3-year PR, yet I'm not so sure about the 3 months requirement of "Time in USCIS District or State", so here's my timeline: I became PR in April 2007 and was out of U.S on vacation for 2 months (6.26-8.23) in 2009, then I plan to send out my application on Jan 2010. I live in California and now my friends invite me to Vegas for couple days, which means I've got to leave the state where I live in. My question is, will this trip break the 3 month requirement? Thank you in advance! Callie
Oath ceremony is coming next week!
in US Citizenship General Discussion
Posted
Hi Cindy, yeah I guess waiting time mostly depends on the process time of the Office you applied with, and waiting seems longer when you count on days. My interview is on 4/6 and the lady told me I'd get my letter around 5/4, and the letter did arrive on 5/5. Another reason that may cause the delay is they kind of intentionally do this, because on my letter it says there'll be around 1,300 ppl attending the ceremony, so the office in your area may wait until a specific number is reached to send you the letter. So.. relax.. it's coming soon!