Finally going to apply

[angel_28 1]

First time poster here and just wanted to say what a great forum!

Well after 36 years I am finnaly going to apply for citizenship.

I got my PR when I was 1 year old but was then taken back to Tijuana at around 13 years old.

After living in TJ for a while, i finally have my 5 years of continous residence and will apply as soon ss I get my tax refund.

I plan to write a brief letter explaining why i go to Mexico almost twice a month for more than 24 hours, do you think that is a good thing to do?

I'm kind of nervous and scared about being denied. I always have considered myself a USC, but never applied since I knew I was not a resident.

[sunny808 1]

First time poster here and just wanted to say what a great forum!

Well after 36 years I am finnaly going to apply for citizenship.

I got my PR when I was 1 year old but was then taken back to Tijuana at around 13 years old.

After living in TJ for a while, i finally have my 5 years of continous residence and will apply as soon ss I get my tax refund.

I plan to write a brief letter explaining why i go to Mexico almost twice a month for more than 24 hours, do you think that is a good thing to do?

I'm kind of nervous and scared about being denied. I always have considered myself a USC, but never applied since I knew I was not a resident.

First, congratulations on your decision to turn USC. Second, if your trips to Mexico do not have any major impact on the physical presence requirement, you don't really need a letter of explanation at this point but that would be helpful to prepare you for interview in case the immigration officer asks you to explain. Third, don't worry. As a long time GC holder myself who put off applying for naturalization, it feels like a really big step to take. So just be truthful, stay relaxed and you should be fine. Fourth and last, and I'm just curious and you might have already ruled this out, did any of your parents (or grandparents for that matter) naturalize when you were 18 or younger? If so, then you might have a claim for citizenship. Good luck!!!!

Edited March 10, 2010 by sunny808

[sunny808 1]

My bad, I was thinking of the Child Citizenship Act and did the math in your situation. Since you were over 18 at the time of the CCAs cutoff date (2/27/01), it doesn't apply to you. Sorry if it caused any confusion.

[aleful 1,905]

just one question,

how long did you live in Mexico? be careful with that. Someone with more experience should chime in if you lived more than a year without returning to the US.

[angel_28 1]

just one question,

how long did you live in Mexico? be careful with that. Someone with more experience should chime in if you lived more than a year without returning to the US.

I lived in Mexico for several years and was under "commuter" status. Status was changed when i began to live full time back in 2005. This status was used to cross the border everyday for school and then work.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Forget the letter; it's no good.

Since you will have to state any absence from the United States since you have become a LPR, I also wonder what was the longest time you have been outside the US without coming back?

[angel_28 1]

I was in and out since we lived in a border town. I went o college in San Diego and worked everyday crossing the border everyday.

i now have 5 years of steady residence and prrof of it with lease and utility bills to back it up. All that time i have paid taxes as well, since 1991.