when to apply a citizenship

[honey19_sweety28 0]

its been 8 months now I am waiting for my 10 year green card from the time i submitted my paper works last activity was my biometric last march 2008.

we bought a house last june same location and filed online for change of address but till now we never heard anything or not even get a letter from uscis bout it..is it really like that? or do i need to call them? my next question is my 1 year extension will expire may 2009...can i apply for my citizenship feb. 2009 even i didnt hear from my removal of condition yet? comments and usggestions are appreciated...thanks

[YuAndDan 153]

You wont get an notice about AR-11 filing, also did your SPONSOR/SPOUSE file I-865??

If you have a pending I-751, it would be a good idea to call USCIS and confirm address change.

You can file N-400 one year after you filed the I-751 or 90 days before your 3rd year of getting approved for your CR-Green-card, and I-751 does not need to be approved before you file N-400, filing for citizenship tends to jumpstart them on the I-751.

[honey19_sweety28 0]

You wont get an notice about AR-11 filing, also did your SPONSOR/SPOUSE file I-865??

If you have a pending I-751, it would be a good idea to call USCIS and confirm address change.

You can file N-400 one year after you filed the I-751 or 90 days before your 3rd year of getting approved for your CR-Green-card, and I-751 does not need to be approved before you file N-400, filing for citizenship tends to jumpstart them on the I-751.

thank you...we didnt file I-865 what is that?

[NickD 202]

You wont get an notice about AR-11 filing, also did your SPONSOR/SPOUSE file I-865??

If you have a pending I-751, it would be a good idea to call USCIS and confirm address change.

You can file N-400 one year after you filed the I-751 or 90 days before your 3rd year of getting approved for your CR-Green-card, and I-751 does not need to be approved before you file N-400, filing for citizenship tends to jumpstart them on the I-751.

thank you...we didnt file I-865 what is that?

We had an incident where my son sold an old motorcycle to a college classmate for 50 bucks, the kid never registered the cycle, son just signed over the title. Two years later, he gets a fine from Madison, they found the bike abandoned and hit my kid for a 800 buck fine. He gave the police the name of the kid, but that wasn't good enough for them, they wanted his current address, took us a couple of days to find that. That taught us never to sign over a title that just about everybody does, but to back it up with a notarized bill of sale with full name and current address. The DMV does not warn this, and the police couldn't find anybody if that person was right under there nose. We either had to find him or pay the fine, we found him.

USCIS is that way also, ha can't even find a file on their desk at times. As typical with USCIS forms, they never come out in plain language and state exactly what a form is for. I-865 is such a form, but we all had to sign an I-864 to bring our spouses here, but this form infers that you may have sponsored someone that does not live with you. So as the sponsor, have to tell them exactly where you are.

I am no legal expert on this, but seems that if your spouse is living with you, the AR-11 should be sufficient for an address change, it appears that the I-865 is just to inform the USCIS where you live if you sponsored a person with an I-864 that doesn't live with you, others may want to comment on this. Was told by our attorney to keep a copy of the AR-11 handy in case we move, but he never mentioned the I-865, but I suppose if you are separated or divorced and your spouse is not yet a USC or meets the other conditions for I-864 dependency, you would have to file an I-865 so they can come and get you if your former spouse seeks state or federal aid.

Seems like just about everyone takes the I-751 seriously except the USCIS, still have bad feelings on that event, letting that one year extension expire because of their excessively long uncalled for delays making you panic for an infopass appointment and the like just so you can keep your job. And in many states including ours, keep your driver's license. If you forget to file, you can be deported, if you do file precisely 90 days in advance, get that stupid extension notice that means carrying two pieces of paper with you and you can't lose either one.

Still very bitter about this which is one reason we instantly applied for USC at the very earliest date, and they sure in the hell don't remind you to renew your ten year card, like you have a calendar that goes out that far. I posted my wife's I-751 filing date on our refrigerator door, got tired of looking at it. But after that is was following through, they don't tell you #######, but awfully damn quick to cash your check. Not a damn reason in the world they cannot issue that ten year card that use to be a lifetime card within the 90 days they ask for.

[honey19_sweety28 0]

You wont get an notice about AR-11 filing, also did your SPONSOR/SPOUSE file I-865??

If you have a pending I-751, it would be a good idea to call USCIS and confirm address change.

You can file N-400 one year after you filed the I-751 or 90 days before your 3rd year of getting approved for your CR-Green-card, and I-751 does not need to be approved before you file N-400, filing for citizenship tends to jumpstart them on the I-751.

thank you...we didnt file I-865 what is that?

We had an incident where my son sold an old motorcycle to a college classmate for 50 bucks, the kid never registered the cycle, son just signed over the title. Two years later, he gets a fine from Madison, they found the bike abandoned and hit my kid for a 800 buck fine. He gave the police the name of the kid, but that wasn't good enough for them, they wanted his current address, took us a couple of days to find that. That taught us never to sign over a title that just about everybody does, but to back it up with a notarized bill of sale with full name and current address. The DMV does not warn this, and the police couldn't find anybody if that person was right under there nose. We either had to find him or pay the fine, we found him.

USCIS is that way also, ha can't even find a file on their desk at times. As typical with USCIS forms, they never come out in plain language and state exactly what a form is for. I-865 is such a form, but we all had to sign an I-864 to bring our spouses here, but this form infers that you may have sponsored someone that does not live with you. So as the sponsor, have to tell them exactly where you are.

I am no legal expert on this, but seems that if your spouse is living with you, the AR-11 should be sufficient for an address change, it appears that the I-865 is just to inform the USCIS where you live if you sponsored a person with an I-864 that doesn't live with you, others may want to comment on this. Was told by our attorney to keep a copy of the AR-11 handy in case we move, but he never mentioned the I-865, but I suppose if you are separated or divorced and your spouse is not yet a USC or meets the other conditions for I-864 dependency, you would have to file an I-865 so they can come and get you if your former spouse seeks state or federal aid.

Seems like just about everyone takes the I-751 seriously except the USCIS, still have bad feelings on that event, letting that one year extension expire because of their excessively long uncalled for delays making you panic for an infopass appointment and the like just so you can keep your job. And in many states including ours, keep your driver's license. If you forget to file, you can be deported, if you do file precisely 90 days in advance, get that stupid extension notice that means carrying two pieces of paper with you and you can't lose either one.

Still very bitter about this which is one reason we instantly applied for USC at the very earliest date, and they sure in the hell don't remind you to renew your ten year card, like you have a calendar that goes out that far. I posted my wife's I-751 filing date on our refrigerator door, got tired of looking at it. But after that is was following through, they don't tell you #######, but awfully damn quick to cash your check. Not a damn reason in the world they cannot issue that ten year card that use to be a lifetime card within the 90 days they ask for.

thank you very much for the clarification...my hubby and i are living together so i think ar11 is fine it shows the confirmation number in it..we decided if we didnt hear anything by february 08, 90 days before my extension expire I will file for n-400...i hope anyone here tried this kind of arrangement and become a citizen without a problem, please tell me if it is possible

[TayRivers 4]

You wont get an notice about AR-11 filing, also did your SPONSOR/SPOUSE file I-865??

If you have a pending I-751, it would be a good idea to call USCIS and confirm address change.

You can file N-400 one year after you filed the I-751 or 90 days before your 3rd year of getting approved for your CR-Green-card, and I-751 does not need to be approved before you file N-400, filing for citizenship tends to jumpstart them on the I-751.

thank you...we didnt file I-865 what is that?

We had an incident where my son sold an old motorcycle to a college classmate for 50 bucks, the kid never registered the cycle, son just signed over the title. Two years later, he gets a fine from Madison, they found the bike abandoned and hit my kid for a 800 buck fine. He gave the police the name of the kid, but that wasn't good enough for them, they wanted his current address, took us a couple of days to find that. That taught us never to sign over a title that just about everybody does, but to back it up with a notarized bill of sale with full name and current address. The DMV does not warn this, and the police couldn't find anybody if that person was right under there nose. We either had to find him or pay the fine, we found him.

USCIS is that way also, ha can't even find a file on their desk at times. As typical with USCIS forms, they never come out in plain language and state exactly what a form is for. I-865 is such a form, but we all had to sign an I-864 to bring our spouses here, but this form infers that you may have sponsored someone that does not live with you. So as the sponsor, have to tell them exactly where you are.

I am no legal expert on this, but seems that if your spouse is living with you, the AR-11 should be sufficient for an address change, it appears that the I-865 is just to inform the USCIS where you live if you sponsored a person with an I-864 that doesn't live with you, others may want to comment on this. Was told by our attorney to keep a copy of the AR-11 handy in case we move, but he never mentioned the I-865, but I suppose if you are separated or divorced and your spouse is not yet a USC or meets the other conditions for I-864 dependency, you would have to file an I-865 so they can come and get you if your former spouse seeks state or federal aid.

Seems like just about everyone takes the I-751 seriously except the USCIS, still have bad feelings on that event, letting that one year extension expire because of their excessively long uncalled for delays making you panic for an infopass appointment and the like just so you can keep your job. And in many states including ours, keep your driver's license. If you forget to file, you can be deported, if you do file precisely 90 days in advance, get that stupid extension notice that means carrying two pieces of paper with you and you can't lose either one.

Still very bitter about this which is one reason we instantly applied for USC at the very earliest date, and they sure in the hell don't remind you to renew your ten year card, like you have a calendar that goes out that far. I posted my wife's I-751 filing date on our refrigerator door, got tired of looking at it. But after that is was following through, they don't tell you #######, but awfully damn quick to cash your check. Not a damn reason in the world they cannot issue that ten year card that use to be a lifetime card within the 90 days they ask for.

thank you very much for the clarification...my hubby and i are living together so i think ar11 is fine it shows the confirmation number in it..we decided if we didnt hear anything by february 08, 90 days before my extension expire I will file for n-400...i hope anyone here tried this kind of arrangement and become a citizen without a problem, please tell me if it is possible

No you are not fine. Your sponsor must notify USCIS that they have moved. Your husband need to complete the I-865 it is a legal requirment it does not matter if they are living with you or not. The instructions clearly state it should be completed by the sponsor within 30 days of changing address.

[eau_xplain 2]

Make sure that the USCIS confirms that they have your new address in their system. You don't want your 10yr GC to be missing because USCIS sent it to your old address.

As to filing the N400, as long as you meet the other eligibility requirements, you will be able to file 3 months prior to the 3rd anniversary of you green card even if your I-751 is still pending.

[mooninlove 1]

its been 8 months now I am waiting for my 10 year green card from the time i submitted my paper works last activity was my biometric last march 2008.

we bought a house last june same location and filed online for change of address but till now we never heard anything or not even get a letter from uscis bout it..is it really like that? or do i need to call them? my next question is my 1 year extension will expire may 2009...can i apply for my citizenship feb. 2009 even i didnt hear from my removal of condition yet? comments and usggestions are appreciated...thanks

While my case was pending, I filed changed of address both AR11, a call to the USCIS confirming I had I-751 pending at that time and my ex I-865. I received a notice from USCIS about my change of address and the receipt number too. You filed online so did you made a copy of it? Even if your I-751 is pending if you're qualified to file the N400, you can do so. Make sure you are, the fees are non-refundable..

[NickD 202]

Strange I was the I-864 sponsor of my wife, but was never made aware of the I-865, sure was about the AR-11. But all that is history now that she is a USC, the AR-11, the I-864, the I-865, the I-90 can all be forgotten. We certainly applied well before her ten year green card came in, was accepted and she is now going on two months as a USC. It's a relief when it's all over, make a poster for your refrigerator door for your earliest application date, have all of your evidence gathered, read the M-476 manual and N-400 instructions, and save up the 675 bucks unless they have yet another fee increase, and get it over with.

[ilovecookies 0]

thank you very much for the clarification...my hubby and i are living together so i think ar11 is fine it shows the confirmation number in it..we decided if we didnt hear anything by february 08, 90 days before my extension expire I will file for n-400...i hope anyone here tried this kind of arrangement and become a citizen without a problem, please tell me if it is possible

yes i filed for citizenship (and am now a citizen) while my I-751 was pending. i had no problems!

[NickD 202]

thank you very much for the clarification...my hubby and i are living together so i think ar11 is fine it shows the confirmation number in it..we decided if we didnt hear anything by february 08, 90 days before my extension expire I will file for n-400...i hope anyone here tried this kind of arrangement and become a citizen without a problem, please tell me if it is possible

yes i filed for citizenship (and am now a citizen) while my I-751 was pending. i had no problems!

Wife uses that word, "pending" quite a bit, I prefer stagnating, decaying, rotting, or lost instead.

[lucyrich 20]

Strange I was the I-864 sponsor of my wife, but was never made aware of the I-865,

Yes you were. The I-864 says

Do I Have to Report My Change of Address If I Move?

Federal law requires that every sponsor report every change ofaddress to the USCIS within 30 days of the change. To do this, send a completed Form I-865, Sponsor's Change of Address, to the Service Center having jurisdiction over your new address.

That text appears right on the I-864 instructions, which are part of the I-864 pdf that you download and fill out. You can see it here:

USCIS I-864

Also, note that, just a wee bit above your signature on the I-864, it says:

If you do not file a properly completed Form I-865 within 30 days of any change of address, USCIS may impose a civil fine for your failing to do so.

The requirement for the I-865 is separate from the requirement for the AR-11. If both the sponsor and beneficiary move, they've got to submit both forms, even if they're sharing the same household both before and after the move.

[NickD 202]

Strange I was the I-864 sponsor of my wife, but was never made aware of the I-865,

Yes you were. The I-864 says

Do I Have to Report My Change of Address If I Move?

Federal law requires that every sponsor report every change ofaddress to the USCIS within 30 days of the change. To do this, send a completed Form I-865, Sponsor's Change of Address, to the Service Center having jurisdiction over your new address.

That text appears right on the I-864 instructions, which are part of the I-864 pdf that you download and fill out. You can see it here:

USCIS I-864

Also, note that, just a wee bit above your signature on the I-864, it says:

If you do not file a properly completed Form I-865 within 30 days of any change of address, USCIS may impose a civil fine for your failing to do so.

The requirement for the I-865 is separate from the requirement for the AR-11. If both the sponsor and beneficiary move, they've got to submit both forms, even if they're sharing the same household both before and after the move.

See you also had a long timeframe with the I-751, completely forgot about that section in the I-864 instructions, it wasn't a very comforting form to read, kind of like sticking your head in a guillotine. Ha, did put a note on my refrigerator door in case we moved, but didn't for the I-865, but no problem, never moved.

But probably would have if I recalled the I-865, first, I have this insatiable urge to fill out forms, and second and most important, the filing charge for the I-865 is $0.00, you don't see very many USCIS forms with a zero dollar filing fee.

Shame the USCIS doesn't print out a huge poster in red print with all the things you have to do, really have to dig deep to find this stuff. Like they are trying their best to hang you.

[lucyrich 20]

Shame the USCIS doesn't print out a huge poster in red print with all the things you have to do, really have to dig deep to find this stuff. Like they are trying their best to hang you.

It would be nice if they highlighted the important stuff.

Problem is, there's too much important stuff to highlight. And if everything is highlighted, the result is that nothing stands out.

Furthermore, some of it only becomes important under some circumstances. In our case, we didn't move between the first visa and the final citizenship oath, so the I-865 wasn't something we needed to know about in our circumstances. So they shouldn't have highlighted the I-865 for us, but for others, it deserves more emphasis. And on the day they fill out the I-864, many people don't know whether or not they'll be moving before the I-864 terminates.

It's like tax forms. I wish they'd make a form that highlights all the deductions I qualify for, and leaves out all the stuff that doesn't apply to my situation, so I know what to skip over. But they're not going to do that.

[honey19_sweety28 0]

thanks for all the input i just called the uscis they told me that i only have to do is filed the ar11 online then after that look at the lower right corner it will i ask me if i have a pending application and what is it I-751 put my receipt number and new address, then lady said to call back again after 2-3days to make sure I am on the system. my mistake was i just filed the ar11 i didnt read the choices below if i have a pending application or not...she said it has two different system ar11 and my pending application... and wait for the confirmation number in my mail box... That's all