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cindaroo64

Sharing my experience/children with disabilities

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline

Hi, just wanted to share my experience with the N400 process and help if I can. I came into the United States from Canada in 2001, bringing my 3 children with me. Married my American husband in October 2001. We went through the process and myself and my 3 children received our green cards in April 2004.

I have not applied for citizenship yet, however my two oldest sons (who are twins and are 20 years old)) were eligible to apply in Feb. 2009. I made the decision to send in their applications first because they have autism and do not qualify for any services or disability benefits unless they are American citizens. I could not afford to apply at the same time, but plan on doing so within the next year. My daughter is still a minor.

When filling out the appilcations for my boys I wrote that they have autism but the only accomadation they would need would be navigating through the building/interview (following multiple directions, etc.) they would both be capable of taking the oral test.

Their applications were sent in October 2009, fingerprinting done in Dec. 2009 (all in Illinois, thru Chicago) When I did not hear anything after fingerprinting I found the site that gives updates on your status (thanks to this site!) and found out that their applications were SUSPENDED and would be until they received more evidence. It also stated that a letter had been sent out November 12th requesting this evidence! I DID NOT receive any said letter! Needless to say I called customer service! My son had to give permission for the service rep to give me his information over the phone but once he talked to her she was most helpful. She plugged in all our information and said she would resend the letter. The next day I received an email, apologizing for the "service error", that there HAD NOT BEEN a letter sent out requesting more information, please disregard! Four days later, I received letters in the mail giving us a date for our interviews!

So, I cannot help but wonder, had I not called, would we still be sitting here waiting to hear something??

My advice, CHECK YOUR STATUS ONLINE! and if there are any questions, CALL!

So the boys interviews are scheduled for March 30th....I hope that we don't have any issues with me advocating for them, has anyone had experience with the process and people with disabilites?

Thanks so much!

Good luck to everyone!

Cindy

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cindaroo64,

I have no experience in this matter, just wanted to wish you good luck with your sons' naturalization interview. I'd suggest contacting your representative/senator in IL and asking them for any information they may get from the USCIS for the sons medical issues.

I found this in the M-476 guide for naturalization:

We are continuing to work on better ways to make the naturalization process easier

for applicants with disabilities. If you know in advance that you will need some

kind of accommodation, write a letter explaining what you will need and send it to

the USCIS district office that will interview you after you receive your interview

notice. If you have a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment so

severe that you cannot acquire or demonstrate the required knowledge of English and

civics, you may be eligible for an exemption of those requirements. To request an

exemption, you must file a "Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions" (Form

N-648). See page 26 of this Guide for more information.

More from page 26:

Disability If you have a physical or

developmental disability or a mental

impairment so severe that it prevents

you from acquiring or demonstrating the

required knowledge of English and civics,

you may be eligible for an exception to

these requirements. To request an exception,

you must file a “Medical Certification for

Disability Exceptions” (Form N-648). If

you believe you qualify, contact a licensed

medical or osteopathic doctor or licensed

clinical psychologist who will need to

complete and sign your Form N-648.

To apply for a disability exception, your

disability:

• Must be at least 1 year old (or be

expected to last 1 year); and

• Must not have been caused by illegal

drug use.

If you qualify for this exception, an

interpreter, who is proficient in English

and the language of your choice, must

accompany you to the interview.

If you qualify for a medical exception from

the English and civics requirement, you

must still be able to take the Oath of

Allegiance to the United States. If you

cannot communicate an understanding of

the meaning of the Oath because of a

physical or mental disability, USCIS may

excuse you from this requirement.

Disability Accommodations — Under

section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of

1973, USCIS provides accommodations

or modifications for applicants with

physical or mental impairments that

make it difficult for them to complete the

naturalization process. In order for USCIS

to have enough advance notice to respond

to accommodation requests, applicants

are encouraged to state their needs on the

place provided in the “Application for

Naturalization” (Form N-400).

Hope this helps. Since the interviews are on March 30th, now is the time to send the letter requesting the exception or accomodations for your sons.

Please do let us know how it goes, we don't seem to get many Chicago interview experiences here.

Edited by milimelo

ROC 2009
Naturalization 2010

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Filed: Other Timeline

Hi Cindy, (nice to meet another fellow Canadian too)

Thanks for sharing yours and your sons' story/situation here. Sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced with your sons' citizenship application. Good luck for their interviews coming up too, nevertheless.....

If it makes you feel any better, yes, the USCIS can be accomodating for people. For example, in my situation, I requested for a private oath ceremony (for several reasons...can't discuss here), and they did accomodate for such, after I had provided a letter and evidence for such. The key here, is to advocate, advocate, advocate! And as well, provide medical and/or other evidence as to why you/your sons need such an accomodation too.

And if all else fails, contact your local senator/congressman/ombudsman for more help too.

Hopefully, in your situation they all goes well for you and your sons there, and that they do become US Citizens soon.

And most importantly think....Disability=Ability! And all have the Ability to be US Citizens, regardless!

Hope this helps. Good luck with the rest of yours and your sons' journeys too.

Ant

P.S. Lol....Don't rely on the online status for updates.....The system is not updated (lol...for example, mine still says "scheduled for interview" even though I've been a US Citizen for several months already...)

P.P.S. Lol....The USCIS is just the beginning....The disability process....That's another story.. (PM me if you want to chat more about that..as I know several people who have gone through this process.....it can be quite long indeed.....)

Hi, just wanted to share my experience with the N400 process and help if I can. I came into the United States from Canada in 2001, bringing my 3 children with me. Married my American husband in October 2001. We went through the process and myself and my 3 children received our green cards in April 2004.

I have not applied for citizenship yet, however my two oldest sons (who are twins and are 20 years old)) were eligible to apply in Feb. 2009. I made the decision to send in their applications first because they have autism and do not qualify for any services or disability benefits unless they are American citizens. I could not afford to apply at the same time, but plan on doing so within the next year. My daughter is still a minor.

When filling out the appilcations for my boys I wrote that they have autism but the only accomadation they would need would be navigating through the building/interview (following multiple directions, etc.) they would both be capable of taking the oral test.

Their applications were sent in October 2009, fingerprinting done in Dec. 2009 (all in Illinois, thru Chicago) When I did not hear anything after fingerprinting I found the site that gives updates on your status (thanks to this site!) and found out that their applications were SUSPENDED and would be until they received more evidence. It also stated that a letter had been sent out November 12th requesting this evidence! I DID NOT receive any said letter! Needless to say I called customer service! My son had to give permission for the service rep to give me his information over the phone but once he talked to her she was most helpful. She plugged in all our information and said she would resend the letter. The next day I received an email, apologizing for the "service error", that there HAD NOT BEEN a letter sent out requesting more information, please disregard! Four days later, I received letters in the mail giving us a date for our interviews!

So, I cannot help but wonder, had I not called, would we still be sitting here waiting to hear something??

My advice, CHECK YOUR STATUS ONLINE! and if there are any questions, CALL!

So the boys interviews are scheduled for March 30th....I hope that we don't have any issues with me advocating for them, has anyone had experience with the process and people with disabilites?

Thanks so much!

Good luck to everyone!

Cindy

Edited by Ant+D+BabyA

**Ant's 1432.gif1502.gif "Once Upon An American Immigration Journey" Condensed Timeline...**

2000 (72+ Months) "Loved": Long-Distance Dating Relationship. D Visited Ant in Canada.

2006 (<1 Month) "Visited": Ant Visited D in America. B-2 Visa Port of Entry Interrogation.

2006 (<1 Month) "Married": Wedding Elopement. Husband & Wife, D and Ant !! Together Forever!

2006 ( 3 Months I-485 Wait) "Adjusted": 2-Years Green Card.

2007 ( 2 Months) "Numbered": SSN Card.

2007 (<1 Months) "Licensed": NYS 4-Years Driver's License.

2009 (10 Months I-751 Wait) "Removed": 10-Years 5-Months Green Card.

2009 ( 9 Months Baby Wait) "Expected": Baby. It's a Boy, Baby A !!! We Are Family, Ant+D+BabyA !

2009 ( 4 Months) "Moved": New House Constructed and Moved Into.

2009 ( 2 Months N-400 Wait) "Naturalized": US Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization. Goodbye USCIS!!!!

***Ant is a Naturalized American Citizen!!***: November 23, 2009 (Private Oath Ceremony: USCIS Office, Buffalo, NY, USA)

2009 (<1 Month) "Secured": US Citizen SSN Card.

2009 (<1 Month) "Enhanced": US Citizen NYS 8-Years Enhanced Driver's License. (in lieu of a US Passport)

2010 ( 1 Month) "Voted": US Citizen NYS Voter's Registration Card.

***~~~"The End...And the Americans, Ant+D+BabyA, lived 'Happily Ever After'!"...~~~***

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