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Yagisama

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Posts posted by Yagisama

    A foreign couple's perspective on our Oath of Citizenship

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    Although I know the premise of your topic is Citizenship by marriage I looked into the requirements of Swiss Naturalization. From the Wikipedia article on the subject of Swiss naturalization:

    • integration into the Swiss way of life;
    • familiarity with Swiss habits, customs and traditions;
    • compliance with the Swiss rule of law;
    • no danger to Switzerland's internal or external security.

    Considering how many cultural enclaves there are in the US, I'd wager that for many, these requirements are more stringent than saying the oath of citizenship.

    As to my own personal opinion, I never understood the "very proud of being" X Nationality. I can understand being very proud of ones individualism and/or accomplishments. But very proud of being associated with a Nationality or country, that I can't really grasp.

    So to that end, if someone applies for citizenship of a given country, I don't think the following principles are too farfetched:

    • allegiance to the United States Constitution,
    • renunciation of allegiance to any foreign country to which the immigrant has had previous allegiances
    • defense of the Constitution against enemies "foreign and domestic"
    • promise to serve in the United States Armed Forces when required by law (either combat or non-combat)
    • promise to perform civilian duties of "national importance" when required by law

    That being said, my wife and I have talked about it and we have agreed that it would be best for her to keep her Japanese citizenship since we plan to stay in Japan in the future for longer than 90 days.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_nationality_law

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_Allegiance_%28United_States%29

    EAD/AP combo card - Get notified for one or both?

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Thank you!!

    What a crazy moment that was. Big project deadline day today and I was literally hiding out in a random office area eating lunch when my phone vibrated. I assumed it was the program manager so of course I ignored it. ;)

    So 10 minutes later I finally checked it and it was USCIS, I left all my lunch in the random office location, ran to a PC and checked the Case status page!

    Flight is on December 26. Now to check the mail daily!

    Of course we COULD have applied for AOS back in August when we got our marriage certificate, but we'd miss all this excitement! :energy:

    EAD/AP combo card - Get notified for one or both?

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    We are waiting for our AP document and are cutting it really close since our scheduled trip to Japan is on 12/26.

    I just received a text from USCIS. I was hoping that it was the approval of AP.

    However it turns out that it's just for the EAD.

    Now, can this be a EAD/AP combo card? Or would I have to get a separate approval notice for the AP as well regardless whether there is a combo card or two separate card?.

    On November 28, 2011, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

    "CHEATING" checking your visa status

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    When you log into the case status web site you are greeted with the following warning:

    YOU HAVE CONNECTED TO A U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPUTER. IF YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO ACCESS THIS SYSTEM, DISCONNECT NOW. All attempts to access and use this system and/or its resources are subject to keystroke monitoring and recording. Everyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such reveals possible evidence of criminal activity or abuse of authority, the information will be reported to authorities for action. Unauthorized access attempts or use in excess of documented authority may subject you to a fine and/or imprisonment in accordance with Title 18, USC, Section 1030 or administrative penalties or dismissal.

    Now, there will probably be no issues with checking a few others' case numbers, but it's not like there is anything to be gained by doing so either.

    back to school

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    when can i apply to go back to school?? i arrived on a K1 visa from U.K and we are now married, do i have to wait until i have completed AOS before i can study? i know the employment rules(EAD) but nothing mentions school?? anyone know please :wacko:

    I assume that you already have a social security number. The only issue I can think of is being classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes.

    She said she can't wait for me..

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    Thank you everyone for your responses. I read all of them even if I did not respond and I noticed a pattern. There are those replies that have the school of thought that getting my degree first is the best option. On the other hand, there are those replies that have the school of thought that being with my fiancee is the best option because who would want to wait two years, even if they are in love. This is exactly the reason why I am struggling with what the right decision is. I can go either way, and neither option is right or wrong. Deciding the correct course of action has been overwhelming for me. I don't want to extend my college career any further since I am 34 right now, however, I don't want to be away from the woman I love any longer. I have a history of acting on impulse and I do not want this to be one of those impulsive decisions. I go back and forth in my mind on deciding what to do, and have lost many hours of sleep over this. I want to have a career AND I want to be with Haidee. I don't want to have to choose between the two, or prioritize one over the other.

    IMO, the choice is obvious, you should focus on finishing your degree first.

    Avance Parole - Am I worrying my wife needlessly?

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Here is our data:

    Date of Entry: June 11

    I-94 expired : September 9

    I-485 NOA : October 5

    Number of Unlawful Presence days = 26

    Now 26 is obviously less than the 180 days mentioned in the I-131 instructions so I proceeded with applying for Advance Parole. However, with immigration, nothing is certain so I'm having some cold feet regarding using the Advance Parole document.

    CBP won't give me a clear answer, and I even made an infopass appointment which I'm not sure if it will be of any help since CBP has final say. I have also contemplated asking an immigration lawyer.So once again, I find myself making a post in visa journey regarding Advance Parole. :blush:

    We have a plan to visit Japan for New Year, from Dec 26 to Jan 8. I bought the tickets last month with the expectation that Advance Parole would be granted Late November/Early December. The tickets are refundable so I can cancel them if needed.

    Anyhow, I'm interested to see what the consensus here is.

    I-131 instructions :

    A. Travel Warning Regarding Unlawful Presence

    Before you apply for an Advance Parole Document, read the following travel warning carefully:

    1. If you have been unlawfully present in the United States for more than 180 days but less than 1 year, and you leave before proceedings are started against you, you may be inadmissible for 3 years from the date of departure.

    5. Although advance parole may allow you to return to the United States, your departure may trigger the 3 year or 10-year bar, if you accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence BEFORE the date you were considered to be in a period of authorized stay.

    http://www.uscis.gov.../i-131instr.pdf

    October 2011 AOS Filers!

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Can you not drive on your Swiss licence? I am driving on my UK licence.

    In another thing... I had my Bio, been transferred to CSC but my EAD hasn't been touched since 10/19/11.

    I got a 'false' RFE notice in email but nothing in regular mail and both my cases are Initial Review. Should I talk to USCIS or just forget about it for a while.

    I would follow up just to be sure, in case the mail was lost or misdirected. There is a timed (30 days?) window of opportunity to reply to an RFE. In the case where a response to an RFE is not received in that timeframe, the application is denied. It's denied without prejudice so it can be opened again but that just adds more expenses and time.

    K-1 Interview - What Evidence to Bring?

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    I attended the K1 interview with my fiancee in the US Embassy in Tokyo.

    This list contains what she needs to bring:

    http://japan2.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-niv-kchecklist.html

    I had front loaded our 129F with copies of visa stamps (me visiting Japan and she visiting the US), copies of boarding passes, copies of hotel receipts, and lots of pictures throughout the previous 3 years. I took copies of all that to the interview. The interviewer didn't ask for any of it.

    Personally I never considered letters, email, phone bills,etc to be very useful. That goes triple for chat logs. So I never included any of that.

    Obviously, birth certificate, police certificate, etc, you're going to need originals. The rest of the stuff we just used copies.

    Japan is an extremely low fraud country so the interview should be very simple and fast. The interviewer even called me up to the window and just asked me where I worked and for how long. A couple minutes later he said congratulations and we were on our way to get breakfast. It was easier than any trip I had to the California DMV.

    October 2011 AOS Filers!

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Did everybody receive their biometrics appointment letters? I still didn't receive mine :( It's been 2 weeks since NOA, I know, it's not too long, but I'm a little worried.

    Check your NOA. I believe 2 weeks is still within the standard timeframe.From what I remember the NOA states that if it's been more than 30 days and you still haven't received the biometrics appointment letter, then you should call the service line.

    October 2011 AOS Filers!

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    So far the projections here have been fairly on track...hopefully no surprises. :lol:

    November 10 : Based on timeline data, your AP may be adjudicated between November 30, 2011 and December 5, 2011.

    November 9 : Based on timeline data, your AP may be adjudicated between November 30, 2011 and December 5, 2011.

    November 8 : Based on timeline data, your AP may be adjudicated between November 30, 2011 and December 5, 2011.

    November 4 : Based on timeline data, your AP may be adjudicated between November 29, 2011 and December 4, 2011.

    October 14 : Based on timeline data, your AP may be adjudicated between November 29, 2011 and December 4, 2011.

    October 13 : Based on timeline data, your AP may be adjudicated between November 28, 2011 and December 2, 2011.

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