Citizenship application dilemma

[Dale Gribble 0]

Hi,

I am eligible to apply for citizenship at the end of March by being a permanent resident through marriage to a US citizen. I would prefer to apply as soon as I can but here is my dilemma. My wife is pregnant and due at the beginning of August. I don't want to apply and then find out my interview date could be right around the due date. Also, would it make any difference if I applied before the baby is born and therefore list no children, and then when I attend the interview the baby has been born?

Basically, I'm wondering if others have faced the same decision, and would you delay the application, or go ahead and file at the end of March?

Thanks

[Old Dominion 26]

Without any personal experience in this, it seems best to go ahead and apply whenever eligible. Your family size is of no concern to USCIS. Too, they're flexible if there is a medical conflict with your interview date.

[lucyrich 20]

They only care that you put down correct information as of the date you sign the paperwork. If you had no children on the date you filed the N-400, then you won't get in trouble for not listing any children, even if you later had one. If you already had a child on the date of the interview or oath, you should probably bring a birth certificate and update them, but I wouldn't expect any problem.

I can fully understand the stress of having life on hold waiting for an immigration appointment and having life on hold waiting for a baby to be born, and the conflict between the two. It's a personal decision you'll have to weigh, but if you're not in a huge hurry for citizenship, I wouldn't fault you for postponing the N-400 until after the baby is born and things are a bit more settled down.

On the other hand, it shouldn't be too hard to reschedule immigration appointments for the delivery of a baby, and the worst possible thing they'll do is cancel your N-400 (I don't think they'll do that). It's not like you'd lose your green card. So if you want to go for citizenship asap, go for it!

[NickD 203]

We applied the last day of March, wife's interview was July 7, 2008, if the oath ceremony came as promised, would have been done before August. Judging by other peoples time lines, seems like they are moving quicker now. If your wife is already a USC, baby will be a USC with or without you, actually, if the baby is born in the USA, it will be a USC. Now do you want your baby to become a USC before you do?

[Kanyiri 0]

It shouldn't effect anything. I'm due around the same time my husband should be having his interview. If I go into labor the same day, we'll figure something out.

[Dale Gribble 0]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not bothered if I'm a US citizen before my child or not, but having thought about it some more I think I am more inclined to apply as soon as I can to at least get the application started, and then see what happens with the interview date. I think just by putting my question out there it has helped me, so thanks again.

[antda 13]

Hi Dale Gribble,

Congrats on the new addition in August and good luck with your wife's citizenship application too..

If I were you, I would apply as soon as possble....

After all, she is eligible to apply for such, then why not go for it!

And also include a medical note of your wife's pregnancy, stating when her due date is..

And also include a personal note to these lines..."schedule an interview and oath date as soon as possible, before the baby is due....."

Lol..after all, you don't want your wife to be in labour during the interview and/or oath ceremony!

I'm sure they can accomodate for such a request...

Lol..If it makes you feel any better.....my I-751 timeline (June done) and baby timeline (July done) and citizenship timeline (November done) were pretty close together...(see my timeline for more info)

Lol..Needless to say...my baby beat the USCIS to the punch!..and was faster than the I-751 and ended up getting citizenship 3 months before I did....lol.....Despite me applying for citizenship as soon as I could, after I got his birth certificate...lol.....

So here are your options basically...

1) Apply before the baby is born...and hopefully get approved and be a USC before the baby is born..(I recommend this route...less worries, focus on the baby and the preganncy instead, and is faster this way)

2) Apply after the baby is born.....wait for the birth certificate.....submit the forms and certificate...then say...'the baby beat me to the punch!...lol.....

When you fill out the forms...If I were you this is what I would say in terms of children...

"Child on the way...due in August 2010.....See attached notes for further details...."........(or something like that)

A baby on the way is just as equal as a baby born, in my opinion.....Yes they are children too! And it does show a 'genuine relationship/marriage'...lol...

They will also make the changes accordingly and update the info during the interview too....(for example, if you get the birth certificate by then)

Why deal with the USCIS later on, when you can focus on the new pregnancy and the baby instead...Worry-free..All as USCs!

Might as well get it over with while you still can!...Goodbye USCIS...Hello Baby....lol...

Hope this helps. Good luck on the baby and the rest of your journey too.

Ant

Hi,

I am eligible to apply for citizenship at the end of March by being a permanent resident through marriage to a US citizen. I would prefer to apply as soon as I can but here is my dilemma. My wife is pregnant and due at the beginning of August. I don't want to apply and then find out my interview date could be right around the due date. Also, would it make any difference if I applied before the baby is born and therefore list no children, and then when I attend the interview the baby has been born?

Basically, I'm wondering if others have faced the same decision, and would you delay the application, or go ahead and file at the end of March?

Thanks

Edited February 4, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA