N400 submitted, forgot to include evidence

[Diamond 0]

Hi everyone,

I know I came here too late with a question, should have looked here before sending the package, but I hope you can still advise something. I already submitted N400 based on marriage and just learned that I should have put marriage certificate, my husband's US passport and other proof. Silly me for not reading the guide till the end, but only the instructions to the form.

I only submitted the form, pictures, copy of the g card and the fee that's it.

What should I expect to happen? Will they return the package or send me an RFE? Did anyone have similar experience? I could not find any similar topic here, I might be the only one to not have followed the instructions properly

Please advise, what I should expect and what can possibly happen now.

Thank you.

[NickD 203]

Hi everyone,

I know I came here too late with a question, should have looked here before sending the package, but I hope you can still advise something. I already submitted N400 based on marriage and just learned that I should have put marriage certificate, my husband's US passport and other proof. Silly me for not reading the guide till the end, but only the instructions to the form.

I only submitted the form, pictures, copy of the g card and the fee that's it.

What should I expect to happen? Will they return the package or send me an RFE? Did anyone have similar experience? I could not find any similar topic here, I might be the only one to not have followed the instructions properly

Please advise, what I should expect and what can possibly happen now.

Thank you.

It's difficult to determine who looks at your application at one of the service centers, may reject it or simply forward it to your field office. You still can forward your missing evidence to your service center, if you don't hear anything, or may have your package returned to you. If you do get your biometric appointment that you may not even get, they don't tell you if they are going to use your last one or not, that would be a sign they forwarded your application to the field office where you may get your interview notice from. If that happens, you can gather all of your evidence and even make corrections to your N-400. To the best of my knowledge, they don't even check everything out until your interview. Another thing that seems to happen, is that your application can be filed in some deep hole, and you don't hear anything, whether it's complete or not.

We always paid by personal check from our joint bank account that should be a form of evidence, that way, we could check our bank account to see if they cashed our check. They normally write down the Application Receipt Number if you can read scribbling to know at least if they received and accepted your application. Even had better results by sending in the application first class mail, wondered if they were offended by having to sign a receipt as proof that you sent it.

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

Hi everyone,

I know I came here too late with a question, should have looked here before sending the package, but I hope you can still advise something. I already submitted N400 based on marriage and just learned that I should have put marriage certificate, my husband's US passport and other proof. Silly me for not reading the guide till the end, but only the instructions to the form.

I only submitted the form, pictures, copy of the g card and the fee that's it.

What should I expect to happen? Will they return the package or send me an RFE? Did anyone have similar experience? I could not find any similar topic here, I might be the only one to not have followed the instructions properly

Please advise, what I should expect and what can possibly happen now.

Thank you.

While I unfortunately don't know what will happen to your application, I can only say that I'm sure you aren't the only one in this situation. We almost did the same thing. We had application all filled out and prepared couple of weeks before sending and it wasn't until last night when we accidently read the guide and found out about it.

We both were pretty pissed - I think this is really crappy on their side to treat honest people this way and tuck this important part of the instructions in the middle of the long guide which is mostly filled with useless info. They should AT LEAST have a reference on the form instructions saying something like "In certain cases you must send supporting documents along with your application. For the list of supporting documents refer to page XX in Naturalization guide". I almost think they do it on purpose...

[NickD 203]

Hi everyone,

I know I came here too late with a question, should have looked here before sending the package, but I hope you can still advise something. I already submitted N400 based on marriage and just learned that I should have put marriage certificate, my husband's US passport and other proof. Silly me for not reading the guide till the end, but only the instructions to the form.

I only submitted the form, pictures, copy of the g card and the fee that's it.

What should I expect to happen? Will they return the package or send me an RFE? Did anyone have similar experience? I could not find any similar topic here, I might be the only one to not have followed the instructions properly

Please advise, what I should expect and what can possibly happen now.

Thank you.

While I unfortunately don't know what will happen to your application, I can only say that I'm sure you aren't the only one in this situation. We almost did the same thing. We had application all filled out and prepared couple of weeks before sending and it wasn't until last night when we accidently read the guide and found out about it.

We both were pretty pissed - I think this is really crappy on their side to treat honest people this way and tuck this important part of the instructions in the middle of the long guide which is mostly filled with useless info. They should AT LEAST have a reference on the form instructions saying something like "In certain cases you must send supporting documents along with your application. For the list of supporting documents refer to page XX in Naturalization guide". I almost think they do it on purpose...

My eye happened to catch this on the USCIS form page.

"Please note: A Guide to Naturalization (Form M-476) provides important information about citizenship eligibility requirements and processing procedures. The Form N-400 application instructions often refer to information in the Guide. Therefore you should read the Guide carefully before filing this form. You may view and print the Guide from the Related Link on this page."

With the fine print just about as small, while I had the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Professional on my computer, still had a lot of problems printing out the M-476 68 page instruction book. But had to do it ten pages at a time. Sat down and read the entire manual with a red pen to circle exactly what applied to us, got back on my computer and copied and pasted out what just applied to us and printed out a more comfortable 3-4 sheets to use as a check list.

Even at that, my wife's friend was delayed because she didn't include a utility bill, what? That wasn't even listed, so I called my local electric company and had my wife's name added to the bill. She took that in with her interview and as sure as hell, she was asked for it. IO was surprised when she presented it.

Have to agree, they do not make it easy.

This is a joke in the N-400 instructions:

"An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information collection and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 6 hour and 8 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing, and submitting the form. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529. OMB No. 1615-0052. Do not mail your application to this address."

By the time you read the manual, ask questions about what pertains to you, chase around and gather all the evidence, make copies of it, bust your brain trying to figure out what they are asking for with very nebulous questions, 40 hours is more like it.

[Diamond 0]

Thank you for your responses, I'll post here if I hear anything about my paperwork soon. It's my fault for not reading all the instructions, it was my responsibility to read them carefully. Keep blaming myself.

I guess all I can do now is just wait and see what happens. I may try give them a call as well.

If anybody had any similar experience please post. I still hope that I can just bring the missing stuff to the interview.

Edited July 30, 2009 by Diamond

[NickD 203]

Dream on,

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for considering citizen to the United States of America and thank you for your check. The USCIS is a tax dependent agency and depends upon your check for our very existence.

Ms. Smith that can be contacted at 1-800-555-5555, extension 555 that will be your case coordinator, fill free to call her if you have any questions on how to fill out the form or what evidence you need to provide. We want your application to be a very pleasant experience.

Thank you for considering the USCIS.

[wifey246 0]

Thank you for your responses, I'll post here if I hear anything about my paperwork soon. It's my fault for not reading all the instructions, it was my responsibility to read them carefully. Keep blaming myself.

I guess all I can do now is just wait and see what happens. I may try give them a call as well.

If anybody had any similar experience please post. I still hope that I can just bring the missing stuff to the interview.

I've read a lot of posts where marriage-based applicants did not include any proofs. I actually thought I went over the top by including half an inch's worth.

Don't worry too much. If they need it, they will ask you to bring it to the interview by sending you the "yellow letter". There's no such a thing as an RFE for N400 process.

Yellow letter or not, gather the documents and bring them to the interview.

Good luck!

[cyph0r 0]

Oh dear.. if it's any consolation, I did not realize that you had to submit evidence of marriage. My cheque was cashed though and I got my NOA1.

[Diamond 0]

Oh dear.. if it's any consolation, I did not realize that you had to submit evidence of marriage. My cheque was cashed though and I got my NOA1.

Hi CyphOr,

you mean you didn't include any proof of marriage in your package as well? If it happened to you too, I'm glad I'm not alone If I get my NOA1 I'll be happy. What docs did you submit with your application?

[Apio 0]

Hi everyone,

I know I came here too late with a question, should have looked here before sending the package, but I hope you can still advise something. I already submitted N400 based on marriage and just learned that I should have put marriage certificate, my husband's US passport and other proof. Silly me for not reading the guide till the end, but only the instructions to the form.

I only submitted the form, pictures, copy of the g card and the fee that's it.

What should I expect to happen? Will they return the package or send me an RFE? Did anyone have similar experience? I could not find any similar topic here, I might be the only one to not have followed the instructions properly

Please advise, what I should expect and what can possibly happen now.

Thank you.

I dont think there should be a problem.

a friend did the same. He sent the N400, pictures, copy of GC, copy of MC . that was all. he well through and sworn in last week. I just sent mine the same way.

[cyph0r 0]

Oh dear.. if it's any consolation, I did not realize that you had to submit evidence of marriage. My cheque was cashed though and I got my NOA1.

I sent in the pictures, copy of my green card and the application. I really should have read it more thoroughly. I figured I would get an RFE or something if I forgot anything but I now read that they don't do this for N-400s so I am not sure how this is going to work out. I did get my NOA1 a week after submitting and they cashed my cheque. I am now stuck with the biometrics. I rescheduled and now I pay the price. I am not going to stress about this, I have other things in life to worry about.

[allycat 0]

I did the same thing and have received a yellow letter telling me to bring tax info and other items to the interview. The interview letter I got lists some other items. I'm not worried about it in the least; they've told me what to bring and I'm sure it will be fine. I can't imagine a qualified person who brings the proper paperwork they are asked to bring will be rejected.

I guess I'll find out soon enough.

[Apio 0]

Hi everyone,

I know I came here too late with a question, should have looked here before sending the package, but I hope you can still advise something. I already submitted N400 based on marriage and just learned that I should have put marriage certificate, my husband's US passport and other proof. Silly me for not reading the guide till the end, but only the instructions to the form.

I only submitted the form, pictures, copy of the g card and the fee that's it.

What should I expect to happen? Will they return the package or send me an RFE? Did anyone have similar experience? I could not find any similar topic here, I might be the only one to not have followed the instructions properly

Please advise, what I should expect and what can possibly happen now.

Thank you.

Hi once again.

infact i sent mine the same way 27th july, and they received it the next day 28th july. I just realized that they cashed my check on 30th july. I bet they need the cash more than anything. I hope they use the same speed in processing my stuff.

[Diamond 0]

Thank you everybody for your responses. They made me feel better.

Now I think I'll be fine.

[Journey05 1]

Ditto to Diamond and few others in here. I did the same exact thing this past saturday 27, November.

I included everything for my wife but forgot to send in the marriage evidences for marriage for the last three years.

I try to do a recall from the the local post office but they gave me a lot of hassles since they they did not want to to the paperwork for recalling the the N-400.

Guess I have to wait and see.