General questions

[sjoefl01 1]

We have been here on VJ for quite some time. We have worked our way through each section. Hopefully this is the last one. I've read the guides and have a good idea about the citizenship process.

We are waiting on the removal of conditions on a LPR from K1. My wife s about a month out from the (3 years) date to file. She has been studying but is not ready for the test.

I know people here don't like to answer questions about how long things will take but usually sombody will step up sooner or later. I know also that there are wild variations in the times. I want to get a feel for the times so I can determine if my wife should file soon or wait until she feels like she is ready for the test. My guess is "file now".

We live in Northwest Florida (Pensacloa area).

Does anybody know what office will handle the application and about how far behind they are ?

If you don'tt mind, while I am here can you please tell me what the current fees are?

Thanks ahead of time. If it hadn't been for VJ I would have screwed this up so bad.

[payxibka 10,047]

google "USCIS office locator" and go to the website , put in your zip code and it will tell you your local office

your local office will have a lot to do with the speed in the processing of the applicaiton

[antda 13]

Hi Sjoefl01 and Everyone,

In answer to your questions about US Citizenship:

1) When to file:

According to the USCIS, one has to meet all of the following conditions in order to become a US Citizen (based on marriage):

-Been a permanent resident for 3 years

-Been married to the same USC for 3 years, and that spouse has to be a USC for 3 years or more

-Been residing physically in the USA for 3 years, with no absences longer than 6 months outside of the country

**For most people, if they have met all the conditions above, the earliest they can file for US Citizenship is "90 days before 3 years" after the "residence since" date on their 10yr green card**

2) Where to file and How far behind they are:

-Depending on where you are in the USA, you send your application to either the Texas lockbox (east coast) or the Arizona lockbox (west coast) or the Nebraska lockbox (military)

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

-The application is then forwarded to your local office for the N-400, which you can find your specific office here (under the "office locator" section):

https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices

Biometrics, Interviews, Oaths, etc. are scheduled and held at your local office.

-Generally, USCIS processing time goals for the N-400 are as follows:

"Other Naturalization-->Current Active Case Processing Times-->National Average as of February 28, 2009-->6.7 (months)

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

3) Current Fees for the N-400:

-"$595 plus a biometrics fee of $80; the fee total is $675. Applicants 75 years of age or older are not charged a biometric fee; their fee total is $595. No fee is required for military applicants filing under Section 328 and 329 of the INA."

-For more information about the N-400 forms and fees, you can look here "Application for Naturalization":

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

Hope this helps you and everyone else here on VJ. Good luck on the rest of your N-400 immigration journey too.

Ant (N-400 August 2009 filer....)

We have been here on VJ for quite some time. We have worked our way through each section. Hopefully this is the last one. I've read the guides and have a good idea about the citizenship process.

We are waiting on the removal of conditions on a LPR from K1. My wife s about a month out from the (3 years) date to file. She has been studying but is not ready for the test.

I know people here don't like to answer questions about how long things will take but usually sombody will step up sooner or later. I know also that there are wild variations in the times. I want to get a feel for the times so I can determine if my wife should file soon or wait until she feels like she is ready for the test. My guess is "file now".

We live in Northwest Florida (Pensacloa area).

Does anybody know what office will handle the application and about how far behind they are ?

If you don'tt mind, while I am here can you please tell me what the current fees are?

Thanks ahead of time. If it hadn't been for VJ I would have screwed this up so bad.

Edited June 28, 2009 by AntandD

[sjoefl01 1]

Thanks a lot,

Please confiem that we don't have to wait for the 10 year card to file. It has taken forever and as with all things USCIS there is never an end in sight.

[payxibka 10,047]

Thanks a lot,

Please confiem that we don't have to wait for the 10 year card to file. It has taken forever and as with all things USCIS there is never an end in sight.

you do not to wait for the card

[MaryandMian 1]

My husband did not have his 10 year card when we filed. I typed a letter of explaination as to why we did not have the card, attached a copy of the NOA 1 and took the copies of the CR-1 card that we had and attached to the petition. No questions were asked and hubby got his citizenship.

[sjoefl01 1]

That is a really fast timeline. I was looking at the processing dates for Jacksonville and they claim to be on November 08. Is this normal?

My husband did not have his 10 year card when we filed. I typed a letter of explaination as to why we did not have the card, attached a copy of the NOA 1 and took the copies of the CR-1 card that we had and attached to the petition. No questions were asked and hubby got his citizenship.

[NickD 203]

It was because of the stress of that I-751 process we elected to file for USC at the earliest possible date. For proof of being a LPR, instead of a copy of a current green card, we sent in a copy of her expired green card and the one year extension notice with no letter of explanation. How would one explain to the USCIS that they are so darn slow? Having a valid green card is mandatory, that was a sweat, USC is strictly optional, but that moved quickly for us. Wife only had her ten year card for seven weeks out of 520 weeks. Not prorated with no refunds for those extra 513 weeks we paid for.

In regards to studying for the test, easy way for me was to make an MP3 file of it and put that on her player, but we just studied the test together. Took some research, but we found out our TV set has an OFF switch. While the USCIS loves to forget completely about the USC spouse, both spouses are deeply affected by this agency, IT'S A FAMILY with FAMILY VALUES politicians love to talk about but don't do a damn thing about it. Her being free of the USCIS, also freed me. On our trip to her interview, 4 1/2 hours, I drove, wife asked me all the questions twice and corrected my errors, good way to learn, she fired back the six answers during her test, ironically, four of them were on our city and state government, so you do not know what to expect.

Go for it, then both of you will be free! At least from the USCIS, too bad their isn't a test you can take to free us from the IRS.

[MaryandMian 1]

The field offices vary at how quickly they are processing. I know our I-751 was one year and the N-400 was so easy and from the timeline of others going through Atlanta they are trying to have everyone done within 6 months if they can.

[sjoefl01 1]

Would somebody please cut through this and explain how the test works. I can determine that they choose 10 of the 100 civics questions and spend a few minutes making sure you know some English. I can't find much past that. I see something about a reading, writing, and history portion.

Could somebody please spell this out for me? I am not that bright and I have been searching around and can't seem to find a single answer. How does the test work?