eau_xplain

No wonder my 17yo son calls them "brain ninjas"

I too brought all the originals of the supporting documents I sent in with my N400. In addition I brought updated versions of the documents I sent. For example, I brought the latest power bill, bank statement, mortgage statement, etc.

So if you don't get one, it's actually a good sign?

not true always - but yes I will take it as more of a good sign

I agree. I got the yellow letter but we weren't asked for any additional document. I just got the interview letter, got interviewed, was approved and took the oath. No hitches, no problems.

But yes, not getting the yellow letter could be an indication that everything is good.

Fill out the form but wait until you get to the place for the oath ceremony to sign it in front of an immigration officer.

As soon as you complete the naturalization process and receive your Certificate of Naturalization, you can apply for a Certificate of Citizenship for your daughter using form N-600 (assuming she's still under 18 at the time). You can also apply for her U.S. passport anytime after you become a citizen. You should also stop by the Social Security office to update their records for both of you to reflect your new citizenship status. Good luck!

We haven't filed the N600 for my son yet but he got his US passport the same time that I did. Just waiting for school to be out and then I'll be taking him to SSA to update his SS record.

That is correct. The sponsoring employer files an I-140, instead of the I-130 that an immediate relative would file, to petition the immigrant-employee.

It is a sad reality that, in spite of the college (and some even post-graduate) studies, Filipinos cannot find enough employment opportunities in the Philippines that would allow a good quality of life. This "brain drain" has been a long-standing issue as a lot of the educated are leaving the country.

As to the issue of the Spratly Islands, that too is a long-standing "It's mine! No, it's mine!" game that the Philippines, China and a few other countries have played.

Here's more info about this controversial group of islands.

I got here on a K3 visa last April this year and Im about to file for my AOS together with my EAD. However, I found this statement from the guidelines:

"If the beneficiary and petitioner have been married less than two years at the time the I-485 is approved then the beneficiary will receive what is called a "conditional" legal permanent residence. This simply means that the beneficiary will have to renew his/her greencard 2 years from the date it was originally "issued" by filing an I-751 to remove conditional status. When filing this form you will need to again show proof of your valid and ongoing marriage"

We will be having our 2nd year wedding anniversary on December 2009. My question is, will it be better if I just wait for a few months before our 2nd year anniv. to file for my AOS so we wont be filing for I-751 to remove conditional status anymore and just file for my EAD first? Well I dont have an idea or maybe some of us here knows how long exactly the AOS will be approved thats why I'm a little bit confuse. My visa expires on 2011 anyway. Im not into rush for my AOS, I just want to save some fees and time in filing all this stuff and I dont want to be paying another fee for the I-751 either. Your advice and opinions are highly appreciated. Thanks!

File the EAD now and file for adjustment of status shortly after your second anniversary.

Your K3 status is good for two years from the date on your I94. In other words, you run no risk of being out of status or accumulating overstay by delaying your adjustment.

Haole is right. A GC holder does not need advance parole to travel. Although a stamp in the passport is nice to have, it's not necessary. Your friend's sister-in-law can come back showing her Philippine passport, the expired GC and the extension letter.

Hi I am from Thomasville North Carolina, just got here last april 28.

Hi ShdwKnght! I'm in Winston Salem, NC...not far from Thomasville, NC. In fact, my son's school says it's in Thomasville, NC but it's really halfway between Thomasville and Winston Salem.

Sheila (bayview) and I have hooked up and been out and about a couple of times. Let us know if you'd like to meet up.

-Xenia

I ordered the flash card and studied it. Was very helpful as I could trim out those questions that I already knew by heart and just focused on those that I need to keep reviewing.

Also, during the fingerprinting, the ASC gave out a study CD. Played that on the drive to and from work to help with the studying.

I went alone to my interview and wasn't even asked if my husband was with me.

Yes, you have to pay the biometrics fee and your husband will still probably be required to have biometrics done. Take my case for example. My I-751 biometrics in Oct 2007. I filed the N400 in Aug 2008, went for biometrics in Sept 2008 and had my interview in December of the same year.

I signed with my usual signature (not my full name). When I got to my interview, the IO asked me to sign the 2 pictures I submitted. When I asked whether I should sign with my full name or my usual signature, she said to go ahead and use my usual signature.

When I got my naturalization certificate, I signed it the same way I signed my pictures so that my signatures are consistent.

Yes, they will send your naturalization certificate back in a separate packet.

His oath ceremony will probably be held pending if the USCIS really needs the additional documents that they requested. I agree with moonhunt that an InfoPass will help clarify things and probably set your mind at ease about what's happening and what is really required. USCIS usually wants all loose ends to be tied before they administer the oath.

Yes, they wait until your FP and name checks are completed before they put you in queue for interview dates.

Your biological daughter will automatically get US citizenship if:

a ) you become a USC before she turns 18;

b ) she has a green card;

c ) she is living in the US in your custody and care

You just present your naturalization certificate and her green card to the passport application office when you are ready to get her passport.

I just got naturalized myself and I have a 17 y.o. son who automatically became a USC when I did. We're going to apply for our US passports together so that my naturalization certificate only gets sent once to the passport processing center.

Congratulations!! Hope you get your oath letter soon!

I am a little confused on the questions, obviously the ones that need one or more answers do state that so I am ok there, but the ones that have eg 4 responses do you only need to know one.

I think it will depend on your IO. When I had my interview, I was asked to name one benefit of being a USC although the guide shows more than one.

As to the flashcards, I went ahead and got them for the same reason...to see my "for review" pile reduce as I go further along in my studying. The flashcards also proved a useful (and fun) decoration when we had our celebration party. Our guests had lots of fun quizzing each other and finding out how much they know/still remember.

When is his birthday?

If the super bowl is too expensive, perhaps you can get tickets to one a Carolina Panthers' play-off game. They are playing Arizona tomorrow (Jan 10) in Charlotte. Hopefully they'll have another game after that! Go Panthers!!

As a K3, you may file for an EAD without filing the AOS. You will have to pay the EAD fee. Check the USCIS website for the most recent fee rate. I believe they will give you a 2yr EAD. You then have the option to wait until it's almost or just after your 2nd wedding anniversary to file the AOS so that you get the 10yr green card (no need to file for removal of conditions). The only downside to this is that you will also have to wait a bit longer to file for citizenship as you only become eligible on the 90 days before the 3rd year anniversary of the green card.

If your husband wants to file his taxes early and you don't have your SSN yet, you will submit the form W-7 together with his tax filing and IRS will issue you an ITIN. Read here for more details.

Filing the I-130 will not grant her any legal immigration status in the US. Filing the I-130 in advance will not speed up approval of a subsequent AOS filing. So, although you may file the I-130 for her (as a spouse) while you are still an LPR, she will still be racking up days of overstay and there is really no clear impact on any of her future filings.

I've read of a case here on VJ where they submitted their I-751 after the 2yr GC had expired. They included a letter explaining the delayed filing. USCIS accepted their application.

Hope your friend has submitted his/her application already.