My husband is no longer married to an alien

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

Woo-hoo, break out the bubbly! Thanks for sharing your oath ceremony story Kathryn. I'm right behind you sister! Can't wait.

It's great news for everyone who participates in these forums that you are staying on as a moderator. You have personally helped me with this seemingly never-ending journey many times. You are always the voice of reason who gives thorough and accurate responses to those in need of information or simply to offer a shoulder to cry on.

[Carlawarla 1]

Congratulations Kathryn! I hope to follow you in less than a year. I know this was a proud event for you, and I'm sure Joe! x12

[NickD 202]

The latest version of the I-130 is Acrobat ver. 7, I have version 6 on my computer, won't load it, using the free reader, it only lets me type in courier print. While I have an earlier version of that form on my computer, can select both the font and its size, can't do that with the reader. Step son doesn't have an address like we do here, he has a book to type in that small space. Adobe wants another couple of hundred dollars to stick with the Pro version. Maybe I will use a separate piece of paper.

That sucks. Why not download ver. 7 instead of the Pro version? Separate piece of paper should work.

Went back to the forms site and found this about the I-130:

Petition for Alien Relative I-130 $35505/27/08. Previous editions accepted.

I do have a previous edition of the I-130 form on my computer I can do anything with, type of font, font size.

Acrobat Reader, ver. 9.1 is what is using the large courier font, what I meant is that the latest version of the USCIS form I-130 is based on Acrobat ver 7 and Adobe is not backwards compatiable. My reason for using the Pro version is unlike the free reader, you can change both the font type and size, but yearly upgrades are around 200 bucks that I really don't want to spend to fill out one form.

The older form I have on my computer is compatible with my Pro version 6, so I can use that, as long as the USCIS is accepting previous editions.

Have always bent over backwards to present the USCIS with razor sharp clean forms and well organized evidence. Get a bit tired with Adobe on their constant upgrades. I have versions 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the Pro version, all the same program, just not backwards compatible, so they force you to send another two hundred bucks each year.

USCIS could use version 3 for all their Adobe generated fillable forms so all later versions of Adobe Pro would work and would be perfectly fine. Wonder if the USCIS is getting a kickback from Adobe.

[Ju&Ja 1]

Voici la reponse en francais (plus facile pour moi): pour les US tu ne peux plus arguer de ta nationalite francaise. Tu as prete serment d'allegance aux US et repudie tout lien avec ton ancien pays. C'est pour cela que tu dois voyager avec un passeport US quand tu rentres ou sort des US.

Pour la France, la situation est differente. Il faut se porter vers les articles 23-5, 26 et 27 du code civil. (visible ici http://legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexteArtic...=cid)  En gros, tu ne perd pas ta nationalite francaise a moins d'etablir les demarches prevues dans ces articles au pres du tribunal d'instance ou du consul.

Le seul cas de perte automatique de la nationalite francaise est prevu a l'article 23-8: "Perd la nationalité française le Français qui, occupant un emploi dans une armée ou un service public étranger ou dans une organisation internationale dont la France ne fait pas partie ou plus généralement leur apportant son concours, n'a pas résigné son emploi ou cessé son concours nonobstant l'injonction qui lui en aura été faite par le

Gouvernement. L'intéressé sera, par décret en Conseil d'Etat, déclaré avoir perdu la nationalité française si, dans le délai fixé par l'injonction,

délai qui ne peut être inférieur à quinze jours et supérieur à deux mois, il n'a pas mis fin à son activité. Lorsque l'avis du Conseil d'Etat est défavorable, la mesure prévue à l'alinéa précédent ne peut être prise que par décret en conseil des ministres." Il faut que tu recoives une injonction du gvt.

Le seul point a prendre en consideration: c'est qu'il ne s'agit que de lois et donc elles peuvent etre modifiees facilement.; Par exemple il y a peu la France ne reconnaissait pas les double nationalites.

Thanks a lot ! C'est une info précieuse pour moi So I think that I will get the US citizenship ! Dans tous les cas mon coeur restera tours français !

[Heracles 417]

Congrats, you're now officially a bloody yank.

[FormerBrit 0]

Many congrats!

[jeangab75 0]

Thanks a lot ! C'est une info précieuse pour moi So I think that I will get the US citizenship ! Dans tous les cas mon coeur restera tours français !

Yes I just got mine and I love it. Not being an Alien makes me feel good.

[TracyTN 237]

Congrats Kathryn!!!

[TimandJoyce 1]

Congrats!! Glad to hear you are done!! I feel like such a baby; I just got here and I'm not married yet! Can't even apply for AOS!!

[Milili78 0]

Congrats

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congrats!! Glad to hear you are done!! I feel like such a baby; I just got here and I'm not married yet! Can't even apply for AOS!!

Heheh thanks - oh it will all happen in good time, don't worry. Good luck on your own visa journey!

[Jenn! 918]

Just seeng this now.....CONGRATULATIONS!

[antda 13]

Hi Kathryn,

Sorry that I didn't reply here earlier, as I've only recently been back on VJ and am catching up on past posts...Better late than never, I suppose?

Congratulations on being a dual Canadian/US Citizen, Kathryn!!!!....

Thanks for sharing in detail about your oath experience here on VJ, as that's definitely helpful to everyone here on VJ. It sure did help me, as I now know more what more to expect during an oath ceremony. 3 hours..oh my...worth it, nevertheless. Cute story about the little girl too...

What a great and memorable oath ceremony that you had indeed! Wow!

Good luck with your SSA update and US Passport application. Hmm...are you planning on going back to Canada for a visit now that you're dual?

Lol...and no, you're not an anymore! (but you get to keep the number for the rest of your life). Enjoy your celebrations, now that you don't have to deal with the USCIS anymore!

Thanks too for your work here on VJ as a moderator and help here. And yes, do stay, even though you're a US Citizen already.

Good luck with the rest of your life journeys as a dual citizen too.

Ant (hoping to be a dual Canadian/American soon too...)

Well, I just got back from my oath ceremony this afternoon in Atlanta and I am officially a US citizen.

We were told to arrive at 1 pm and when we got there at 12:45, the line was already down the sidewalk and around the corner! We made our way in, through security, then upstairs to the Ceremony waiting room. My husband who was with me wasn't allowed into that waiting room and he along with all family members of other applicants were directed to a waiting room on the 3rd floor. We were 'assigned' the next seat available in the rows and as the rows filled up, USCIS Immigration Officers started going down each row asking for the oath letters, reviewing all of the questions on the back one by one, verifying names and addresses, then checking them off. For those who had travelled since their interview, they made notations of the dates out of the country on the forms. Just down from me was a little girl about 3 years old with her mother. The IO knelt down in front of her and smiled at her and said 'do you want to answer my questions too?'. The little girl nodded her head up and down vigorously, smiling really wide. So the IO asked, 'so, did you get married since you were last here?' and the little girl nodded her head up and down again. everyone laughed and the IO smiled and said "So, you are married now?' and the little girl smiled back and nodded. Anyway, it was really cute.

We waited for quite some time as the room filled to capacity. At about 2 oclock they started moving people into the ceremony room one row at a time. When it was our turn I found out they were having every individual check over their citizenship certificate for accuracy and then turning in their green cards. We each received a number and if we needed to leave the room (ie go to the restroom, etc. ) the number let us back in. Finally, the room was full so they then let all of the family members who had been waiting upstairs into the room. There were almost no seats left so everyone stood around the outside of the room. It was packed. On each seat was a package that contained a small flag, the oath, information about what to do next (re passport, SSN, etc.), a small booklet containing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and a really nice book containing excerpts of famous American speeches, documents and information about American symbols.

The Head of the Atlanta USCIS office then welcomed us, said a few words about the importance of immigration. She said that there were 190 people from 70 countries receiving their citizenship today, then alphabetically called out each country and asked its citizens to stand. There were 2 other Canadians along with me. While standing we then recited the oath and pledged allegiance to the flag. After the Oath we then watched a video on the Faces of America, a welcome video from President Obama, and a video entitled "Proud to be an American'.

Family members were then asked to leave again, and the rest of us filed out row by row, receiving our citizenship certificates as we left. We were advised that if they needed any corrections try to do those today but that our files would remain at the Atlanta office for 30 days so corrections could still be made then. The Director also said to make a good copy of the certificate even though it says on it not to copy it - she said we were authorized to make a copy to keep safe so we would be able to send off the original for the passport and such.

She also gave information about children under 18 who would receive derivative citizenship through their parents - and I found this information very useful and wanted to share it here. For such children, the parents need to file an N600 form with the necessary documents and fee. For children 13 years and under, their certificates would be mailed to them. For children 14 to 17, they would need to appear in person at the USCIS office to actually take the oath.

So that was it. They said to allow 3 hours and that was about right what with all of the waiting and such.

So, tomorrow I'm off to SSA and the Post Office to apply for my passport - after I make a copy of my certificate. Now we're going to go out to dinner and celebrate!

Edited September 18, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[Mountain Climber 186]

Awesome news!!!! :dance:

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Thanks Ant ,

Good luck to you as well on your path to Citizenship. I am just waiting for my passport to come back - it is on its way in the mail apparently - then when I get it or the certificate back I am going to go and register to vote. Hehehe have to add at least one more sensible voice into the current system to help President Obama try and get the US back on course. Joe and I don't have any travel plans as yet, although we hope to visit his family in Houston sometime this fall and possibly my family in Canada over Christmas. We'll see.

Thanks for your kind words about my work as a moderator as well. I am happy to be able to 'give back' to Visa Journey as this site has been so helpful to me during my own Visa Journey. I intend to stick around for a while, at any rate.