Langa

I became a Naturalized US Citizen on February 4th of 2011 and today I voted for the first time. I hope my vote was enough to give the President another 4 years in the office. I must say it felt so good and gave me so much pride and made everything that I went through to get to my Naturalization all worth it.

So for those going through the process of trying to get your citizenship, hang in there. Soon you will be voting too

All the best everyone :)

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. Hang in there and take care of you first.

Ezzie, you are welcome. I hope all goes well and you will be glad you took this route as I am very happy I did.

Good luck and all the best for you and your son. Feel free to contact me privately should you have questions specific to my daughter's interview.

Thank you, Langa, for posting about your daughter's interview experience. Just filed the N600 for my son; went ahead and did that after much contemplation on PP and N600 vs only PP. $600 for the N600 ( nice and easy to remember- thanks, Bob!) is a lot of money, but for my peace of mind, I decided to just do it since he's turning 18 pretty soon.

Thanks again!

ezzie

So sorry you are going through this. Hang in there and do what you need to do to be happy and safe again.

Stay strong!!

I beg to differ with Just Bob and Nick D on the N600 situation. I say when your wife has her citizenship she should apply for the N600 for your daughter. Your daughter will be sworn in on the day she gets her certificate at the local office (at least my daughter did go through all that). Honestly, if you really didn't need it, there would be no reason for USCIS to put it out there. I feel that it is one document that your child will always have besides her passport as proof of her Naturalization. So I say get it, later on in life you will all be glad you did it. You never know when someone will ask for more than just the passport as proof of Citizenship. I'm glad I did it for my daughter, it was painless and yes it cost me an additional $600 but I would rather do it than regret later and I'm sure by then it will be costing a whole lot more.

A woman knows best so don't listen to Just Bob and Nick (just kidding) seriously though, I say go for it.

Good luck.

I say you should apply for the ceritificate. It will cost you $600. You/your child may need it in the future so why not just have it. Please search for my previous postings I made starting February 7th and nding March 24 under this forum if you want to know what the process involves (atleast what I went through for my daughter's application). Search under my username or look for topic N-600 under this forum.

For anyone who come across this in future, the lady at passport office told me to put "Unknown" for DOB.

Thank you for the information. I was wondering about that myself.

Ok so my daughter's who is 14 years old had her N-600 interview on March 22, 2011. I sent the application February 5, 2011 to the USCIS local office.

I am posting this just incase there is someone out there who is curious about the process.

Well this is how it went. We were in the lobby then the IO came out and called out my daughter's name after about 10 minutes of waiting and then of course as her mom I was allowed to be with her. The IO asked my daughter her name and went through the whole application and made a comment that I had provided a complete application therefore he did not require much from her/us. The IO then asked for my daughter's passport and greencard which I handed to him. He went through the all the pages of the application, asking my daughter to confirm her name, date of birth, what school she attends, who does she live with (interesting), asked her to confirm our home address and her age. He also asked if she was married or single, I was shocked by that question and asked him why they ask that. Hesaid they are required to ask it because some kids 16 or 17 years old are married and if they happen to be married then N-600 process cannot go forward. I didn't bother to ask how then do they get their proof of citizenship. Anyway my daughter answered the question politely. He went through all the support documents I sent in with the file. After that he then asked my daughter to sign her 2 pictures that we sent with the application then he gave my daughter a printed paper with the Pledge of Alligiance to read and understand before he administers the aoth and said that we should go and wait in the lobby whilst they process the certificate. We waited for about 15 minutes and then we were called back in his office. He asked my daughter to stand up (funny I stood up too then he told me to sit down as I had already taken the oath). So my daughter was sworn in and then my daughter had to sign a few documents including her Citizenship Certificate. I asked if I it was okay with him to take pictures and he said it was fine, so I took some lovely pictures and he also took pictures of me and my daughter in his office (holding the flag of course) and it was over.....phew!

All I can say to those contemplating on sending their N-600 applications for their kids, I say do it now. Laws change everyday. Having the certificate makes life easier for you and your child and when you do it soon after you naturalize you don't have to worry about it later on in the future. You don't really want your child getting married etc and then that complicates the process. The IO also told me that before 2001 a child could not become a US Citizen unless both parents (even divorced) were US Citizens (interesting). So Congress changed the law in 2001. I'm glad the law changed because it would have definitely affected my child.

I can't tell you all how glad I am that this process is over. I'm done...yeah!! All I need to do now is apply for our passports.

Thank you all lovely people for your help and I hope I can give back what you all have give me. Stay Blessed!!

Congratulations!!

Ok people, so I got a letter addressed to my daughter (14 yrs old) asking her (and me I guess, since she is a minor) to attend an interview at our local USCIS office in March. In the letter it says I should bring all supporting original documents which includes my Naturalization Certificate of course submitted with the application.

Ok so, I'm just curious if they will interview her or they just want to see her cute little face and know that she exists. I just don't see why else they would be calling her for an interview. I thought I was just applying for her Naturalization Certificate and didn't need to take a day off from work and pull her out of school for half the day.

Just when I thought I didn't have to visit that office again....uuhh. You know what though, I'm not complaining, I was just hoping her process wouldn't feel like a another application process and the way things are going .....it sure does feel that way.

Anyone who has been through this with their kid/s, please fill me in on what really happens.

Just Bob..thank you for taking the time to respond. You always crack me up with the way you respond but you are always on point! Humor is definitely needed here.

Nick D....thank you also for your response. My daughter is only turning 14. I had to fill out the form, attach supporting documents, $600, pictures (which they already have but says on the instructions "if you don't want your application delayed you may as well attach supporting documents so we do not have to go pulling them out of your or her old file). So I figured I might as well send the documents again. My question is, why on earth do they need us to pay an extra $600 when technically my child is a US Citizen? Honestly does a certificate cost that much? Well, I have come this far and grateful that the process is almost over so I am not going to complain. I have to tell you, as a single mom and in this economy, it is painful to pay another $600 for a "certificate" considering I still have to pay for the passports.

Good luck to everyone still going through this journey. The anxiety, expense and joy that comes with this process is something else!!

bonnerbonner and Nigel,

Thank you!

Its great to know I don't have to wait to have her N-600 processed to send in our passport applications. I will go ahead and send them in now. I am still curious though as to how long it takes USCIS to process a N-600 appplication. Does anyone out there has an idea how long it takes?

Hello good people,

I just became a US Citizen this February. The day after I was sworn in, I mailed my minor child's application (certificate of citizenship) to the local USCIS office. Does anyone know how long it takes for them to process a minor child's application and also, once processed, will my child have to attend an Oath Ceremony at the Courthouse or will it be done at the local USCIS office? I would like to apply for our passports at the same time but if the N-600 process takes too long then I would like to go ahead and apply for my passport (might be travelling abroad in a few months)and then apply for hers later.

I would appreciate any response I can get from those that have been throught N-600 for their minor child/children.

I guess its not over until its over!

Thank you in advance.

I am so happy for you and believe me I know the feeling of having an I-360 approved.

Good luck with the next step, stay strong and keep believing in yourself!!

This is awful. Please get help as soon as you can. It is not fair to live in such conditions. I know you love your husband but you know emotional abuse is worse than physical abuse, the damage is so much more. I believe it always starts with emotional/mental abuse then it escalates to physical abuse (at least that's what happened with me so I'm telling you from experience). Please call the domestic violence center or see if someone there can get you help. I wish you well and hope that things get better for you soon. Stay strong and believe in yourself.

Good luck

Congrats on your 1-360 approval.

I went through the same process in 2006 and I just became a US Citizen beginning of 2011....what a journey!!

After my I-360 was approved I only waited say 3 months if not less for my I-485 interview and the interview was so easy (I thought I would be grilled about the marriage, etc) and the I.O was very nice. I was so scared of course but it only lasted about 10 minutes most. The I.O. only asked me questions on the I-485 (mostly the questions relating to me and my background none about my abusive spouse or the marriage). So it shouldn't be too long for you before you are called in for your interview. At the interview answer what you have been asked truthfully and to the point (Yes or No) and don't start going into story-telling unless asked specifically to explain. Remember you are being recorded, there is a camera in each I.O's office. As I always say, each case is different and also depends on who is interviewing you. If you get approved and you get your greencard, remember that under VAWA you are eligible to apply for Citizenship after 3 years of becoming a permanent resident (I applied after 3 years and 11 months only because I didn't have enough money at 3 years to apply).

Please feel free to email me privately if you have specific questions.

GOOD LUCK AND ALL THE BEST. I HOPE THIS HELPS TO CALM YOUR NERVES

HI EVERYBODY,

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS SITE, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN APPROVED AND WHO IS WAITING FOR APPROVALS I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK!!!

I AM WAITING FOR THE INTERVIEW FOR I485 BASED ON APPROVED I360, IT'S BEEN ALMOST 4 MONTHS SINCE THEY RECEIVED MY CASE, AND I WAS WONDERING IF ANYBODY HAS SAME SITUATION PLZ WRITE ME BACK, I LITTLE WORRIED, HOW LONG IT'S USUALLY TAKES TO PROCESS THE I 485??? I CHECKED THE TIMETABLE ON USCIS SITE AND IT'S 4 MONTH.

THANKS

NATASHKA

Hi Everyone,

I had my interview today and I was approved and now I have to wait for the oath letter . Forgive me for not posting my time line. My N-400 application was received on November 1, 2010 and my interview was today (that was fast). I must say I am impressed with USCIS's efficiency. My IO was very nice and very professional and the interview was over before I knew it. He asked me 6 questions, read a sentence and had to write a sentence. He then went through all the questions on the N-400 form.

A little background: My Naturalization application was based on a 1-360 (VAWA)petition greencard approval. The I-360 VAWA petition was approved sometime in 2006 and the I-485 was approved end of 2006. I was eligible to apply for Cizitenship in December of 2009 but had to wait till November 2010 when I had all the money in place. One interesting thing that the interviewing officer pointed out to me during the interview today was that he hardly sees VAWA applicants apply for Citizenship within the 3 years they qualify to apply. He said he thinks most of the eligible applicants (VAWA Greencard holders) do not know that they qualify in three years. He said I was the first early VAWA based N-400 applicant he had seen in a long time. I had no attorney from start to finish. I did consult a few attorneys but was told my case was complicated and needed to pay alot of money so i decided to do everything on my own.

I thought I would share the information might be useful to someone out there.

Visajourney family you are the best. I might not log in all the time but i am here to answer any questions relating to my immigration journey.

[hello, iam new here, iapplied for my i 360 months ago... i got prima facie and approval notice for work permit, but havent yet received the card. i also got fingerprinted ...what is usually next after biometrics??/ can they send you for biometrics if you are not approved for vawa case?? i dont understand.

Hi, I think the fingerprints are to enable you to get the work permit. I remember my work permit had my fingerprint on it. For some reason I can't remember if I got the work permit after my 1-360 approval or before. I would like to think though that you have to be approved first. The only reason why I am confused is that my case started off as being married to a USC then I had to refile under VAWA. I already had a work permit which was valid for a year from my initial application at the time I filed the I-360. I remember I had to renew my work permit (and now had to be based on the VAWA and had to send it to Vermont) in the middle of the whole process and by then I had already been scheduled for my I-485 interview which comes after the I-360 approval. I will check my paperwork and let you know but I think you get the work permit after your I-360 approval then again I could be wrong.

If someone knows the answer, please help. My memory is failing me at the moment.

<!--quoteo(post=3155469:date=Jul 27 2009, 12:39 PM:name=MNCouple)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MNCouple @ Jul 27 2009, 12:39 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=3155469"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I haven't read all 8 pages yet<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Sorry, my friend, but you need(ed) to, before responding.

I have been following your story and all I can say is Wow!! Sorry you had to go through all this, I say don't give up though on finding true love.

Well boys and girls, I have been away from here for over 1 year, but I felt I would log on this evening and give an update. I don't know if I still have the same username, but I am paidplayed.

The divorce has been finalized and entered into the court system, so I feel I can write pretty candidly now. Call me paranoid, but it's a fact that attoneys surf websites like this to try and gain information. Remember the guys who just got busted on facebook, etc? So,....be careful what you write if you're up to your neck in sh!t. That's why the last few posts I made were somewhat nieve.

After I ditched my new foreign wife in Hong Kong when I finaly accepted the fact that I was only a tool for her, (yep that's what happened), she showed back up in the USA and at my house.....that was mind-blowing.

I had her removed from the house via a retraining order. Let me tell you, that was the BEST move I made!

I filled for the divorce and stood in the waiting llne to get dragged through the court system. What fun.

She accussed me of EVERYTHING under the sun. From yelling at her, to holding a gun at her forcing her to perform oral sex, to threating to drug her and sell her into prostitution. And everyting in between.

The judge shook her head did not believe her story. Had she just made more believeable false accusations, things would have turned out much more in her favor.

I took a polygraph test which was administered by the compoany that has the major police and sheriff contract, and naturally in poved that her accusations were false.

Man oh man, how the months rolled on waiting for the trial date.

Any way, the court granted her $2000 per month in maintenace for 6 months, then another $1450 for 5 additional months

so I racking up some pretty good expenses with this on top of attorney fees.

She got an attorney but he refused to represent her after a few months because it was quite obvious her intention was to prolong the entire ordeal to extort as much $$ as she could from me. I had to pay him #2500 also, (her legal fees) Then come the trial date, and suddenly,...she has to leave the state for 60 days of job training to continue her PART-TIME job. Nobody believed this but what does our wonderful court system do? Why, they grant her the extension.(maintenance $$ had ended at this time) So as the whole ball of sh!t gathered steam towards trial, she caved when the facts remained standing and accepted a negotiated settlement for $6000 and the divorce was finalized. No protection orders or anything issued. Just the standard mutual restraining order post divorce.

Let me state something here and now. The Family Court system is all about who has the $$ and who can the court get to pay. (The states are broke and they're NOT going to foot the bill for squat). My visa journey cost north of 30K to her and just about the same for all the attorneys. Mind you, we're talking about a 6 month marraige which ended when she became violent towards me.

I'm a little bummed about the $$ I had to pay out but so what. Big deal. I'm very fortunate to have a job which compensates me better than double that per annum.

I never did show her the safe deposit box containing about 200K in gold/silver bullion. Nor did we ever really discuss retirement accounts in detail. During the divorce proiceedings she kept on refering to the K1 visa application listing my assets. Even my cheesball attorney tried to get me to divulge my net wealth. Sorry charlie.

Lost it all in the economic crash is what I told him. Look, bank account is almost.

ANYONE who sees even the slightest red or even pink flag, man,....you had better NOT disclose assets to your K1 finance. Yea, I know separate and community property definitions, but if the court discovers you have the ability to ppay, you WILL pay. End of story.

I ended up closing the safe deposit box at the beginning of this nonsense and getting a buried floor safe just in case "Discovery" was issued but it wasn't,(No, it's not in my house. Sorry honey. Move along with your life).

Someone mentioned wife abandonment with this mess, but that doesn't qualify until after 1 year has past.

A few people said it was Miller Time, and baby,...I salute you.

Bottom line and lesson learned, don't reveal or discuss assets or wealth. It is only a temptation for your new foriegn spouse to become an opportunist. They either love you or they don't. All that other stuff can come later.

Where is she now? Probably in deportation hearings, I hope, but don't even bother inquiring with USCIS. They won't tell you. It's between her and them now.

I'll be around the forum for the weekend or so.

Good luck to everyone, and I hope your journey works out better than mine.

I have been following your story and all I can say is Wow!! Sorry you had to go through all this, I say don't give up though on finding true love

hi tuckahoe8,

looks like your case qualifies for 360 and as long as all the evidence required is presentable you should be ok.I do not know if the group would agree with me but my case went smooth because i used an attorney, if you are working and can afford it, i would recommend it.

Others in the group who filed by themselves can share their opinion so you could make an informed decision on how to file.good luck to you.

I say you don't need a lawyer you can do it on your own. Everything you have so far is good. It's the same as what I submitted with my application and I was approved without a lawyer. If you feel you need a lawyer and have the money then go for it. I saved myself money that I did not have by doing it myself. I was scared during the whole process but it worked out. I am now elegible to file for my citizenship and again I am going for it on my own. I think really help when you have a complicated case or criminal background. I would like to also say that, you should not be afraid to go to your local USCIS office to ask questions about filling out the forms, etc (schedule infopass). I used to do it and they were really nice and helpful (then I did not know about VJ I felt alone). I know this process can be so overwhelming and scary. Good luck.

if i am not mistaken you are not able to apply for n-400 because you are divorced. you will have to wait and apply under the 5 year rule. under 3 year rule you must still be married to the same us citizen for 3 years to be eligible for naturalization. i dont think its different for vawa cases but i could be wrong.

Villavo1964,

You are wrong. I was married to a US Citizen therefore I qualify under the 3 year rule even if I am divorced. The 5 year rule applies if you obtained your GC via VAWA but were married to LPR instead of USC. Please see link below. Thanks though for taking the time to respond.

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/Static_Files_Memoranda/Archives%201998-2008/2005/sec319a012705.pdf

Guzzyron,

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my post, I really appreciate it. At least now I am clear on what is important to send with my application.

God Bless!

Anyone??