LPR thru VAWA now ready to apply for Citizenship

[Langa 2]

Hello Everyone,

I apologize if I am going to ask what has already been asked before. I figured since our petitions differ maybe documentation needed differs too.

Anyway I need your help in putting together my application. I have filled out the application but I need guidance as to the documentation I need to enclose with the application. Here is my story.

I was married to a US Citizen in 2005 but because he was physically & emotionally abusive which started six months into our marriage, my daughter (who was not his) and I had to leave or should I say the police looked me in the eye and told me if I didn't leave something bad would end up happening to my daughter or me. Anyway, I ended up self-petitioning through VAWA. My I-360 was approved mid-2006 and then my greencard was approved mid-December of 2006. So my daughter and I have been legal permanent residents for 3 years and 8 months now and I plan to send in my Citizenship application beginning of October (I have been saving for the application fees). Anyway I need to know what documents I need to enclose with the application.

This is what I have so far:

N-400 - complete

2 passport size pictures with my name & Alien # in the back of each (do not have them yet but will get them done before I send the application)

Money order (will have it soon) payable to department of Homeland Security

1x G325 form (how many do I need to fill out)?

My birth certificate

A copy of my drivers licence (I still use his last name even though I dropped it on my divorce decree I have not changed it on my SSN card or anywhere else)

A copy of my approved I-360

A copy of my greencard (back & front)

A copy of my divorce certificate (finally divorced in 2008 after a 3-year seperation)

Marriage Certificate (not sure if I need it)

A copy if his birth certificate (not sure if I need it)

Tax Return/Transcripts for past 3 years

copy of my passport (not sure if I need it). I have travelled out of the USA twice since i have been LPR and trips only lasted 34 days in total for both.

Letter from work?? (do not have it but I can get it)

Letter/s of good moral character (I do not have but can get them - do i need these?)

Ok I think the above is all I have or I think I need to include. If you think I need to add / remove anything, please let me know. Also, I need to know since I dropped my former married name on my divorce decree should I go by my maiden name - I mean should I put my maiden name on the very first line of the application where it says "legal name"? I am a bit confused on what to do since I have not changed neither my SSN card nor my driver's licence to reflect my maiden name. What do you think guys? Oh I almost forgot - so when do I file for my daughter's citizenship?

I appreciate all your help, comments and suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to help me. God Bless!!

[Langa 2]

Anyone??

[guzzyron 0]

These documents you definitely need:

N-400 - complete

2 passport size pictures with my name & Alien # in the back of each

Check/Money order for the correct fee

A copy of my approved I-360

A copy of my greencard (back & front)

A copy of my divorce certificate

Current marriage certificate (if you've remarried)

Tax Return/Transcripts for past 3 years

Evidence of financial support for your children (if you have other children that do not live with you, say in your home country)

Court records (if you've been arrested, charged, convicted, jailed etc)

Not needed but won't hurt your application if you include them:

1x G325 form

My birth certificate

A copy of my drivers licence

Marriage Certificate

Letter/s of good moral character

Completely irrelevant:

A copy if his birth certificate

Letter from work

Hello Everyone,

I apologize if I am going to ask what has already been asked before. I figured since our petitions differ maybe documentation needed differs too.

Anyway I need your help in putting together my application. I have filled out the application but I need guidance as to the documentation I need to enclose with the application. Here is my story.

I was married to a US Citizen in 2005 but because he was physically & emotionally abusive which started six months into our marriage, my daughter (who was not his) and I had to leave or should I say the police looked me in the eye and told me if I didn't leave something bad would end up happening to my daughter or me. Anyway, I ended up self-petitioning through VAWA. My I-360 was approved mid-2006 and then my greencard was approved mid-December of 2006. So my daughter and I have been legal permanent residents for 3 years and 8 months now and I plan to send in my Citizenship application beginning of October (I have been saving for the application fees). Anyway I need to know what documents I need to enclose with the application.

This is what I have so far:

N-400 - complete

2 passport size pictures with my name & Alien # in the back of each (do not have them yet but will get them done before I send the application)

Money order (will have it soon) payable to department of Homeland Security

1x G325 form (how many do I need to fill out)?

My birth certificate

A copy of my drivers licence (I still use his last name even though I dropped it on my divorce decree I have not changed it on my SSN card or anywhere else)

A copy of my approved I-360

A copy of my greencard (back & front)

A copy of my divorce certificate (finally divorced in 2008 after a 3-year seperation)

Marriage Certificate (not sure if I need it)

A copy if his birth certificate (not sure if I need it)

Tax Return/Transcripts for past 3 years

copy of my passport (not sure if I need it). I have travelled out of the USA twice since i have been LPR and trips only lasted 34 days in total for both.

Letter from work?? (do not have it but I can get it)

Letter/s of good moral character (I do not have but can get them - do i need these?)

Ok I think the above is all I have or I think I need to include. If you think I need to add / remove anything, please let me know. Also, I need to know since I dropped my former married name on my divorce decree should I go by my maiden name - I mean should I put my maiden name on the very first line of the application where it says "legal name"? I am a bit confused on what to do since I have not changed neither my SSN card nor my driver's licence to reflect my maiden name. What do you think guys? Oh I almost forgot - so when do I file for my daughter's citizenship?

I appreciate all your help, comments and suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to help me. God Bless!!

[villavo1964 0]

if i am not mistaken you are not able to apply for n-400 because you are divorced. you will have to wait and apply under the 5 year rule. under 3 year rule you must still be married to the same us citizen for 3 years to be eligible for naturalization. i dont think its different for vawa cases but i could be wrong.

[Langa 2]

Guzzyron,

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my post, I really appreciate it. At least now I am clear on what is important to send with my application.

God Bless!

[Langa 2]

if i am not mistaken you are not able to apply for n-400 because you are divorced. you will have to wait and apply under the 5 year rule. under 3 year rule you must still be married to the same us citizen for 3 years to be eligible for naturalization. i dont think its different for vawa cases but i could be wrong.

Villavo1964,

You are wrong. I was married to a US Citizen therefore I qualify under the 3 year rule even if I am divorced. The 5 year rule applies if you obtained your GC via VAWA but were married to LPR instead of USC. Please see link below. Thanks though for taking the time to respond.

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/Static_Files_Memoranda/Archives%201998-2008/2005/sec319a012705.pdf