No Proof of Citizenship! Help!

[miyavi 0]

I received a letter that asked me for proof of my citizenship. I'm a naturalized citizen. I didn't send a copy of my naturalization because when i got naturalized i was told that making a copy of it was illegal and i thought that sending in my certificate isn't a good idea. In November i decided i wasnted to spend christmas with my fiance and but i didn't have my passport ready, so at that moment i started searching for my naturalization certificate and i couldn't find it. i felt very sad and worried since that very day. The first thing i did was file for a new certificate. I received the receipt for it in December and that's as close as it gets.

I called the uscis number to see if they could help me. i spent hours [literally] talking to different people and finally i talked to someone who told me that the only way to get proof to get a limited passport or for the proof their asking is by getting a Verification letter executed by a USCIS consulate and she told me to make an info pass because she doesnt have all the details. I immediately made an info pass online for the next day. When i arrived after paying $14 for parking and still having to walk i go in and wait my long turn to speak to someone only to be told that i can only get it from the court house in the state in which i was naturalized. Problem with this is that i'm in New Jersey and i got Naturalized when i lived in Louisiana. As we all who have tried know, there are no local numbers for the uscis offices, so i can't get in contact with anyone in Louisiana about this.

I was thinking about writing a letter to the USCIS in Texas [for my citizenship Certificate] to please hurry up with it, one to the USCIS in Louisiana [about a verification letter], and one to the Vermont one [i129f petition] with my receipt for my new Certificate and all the stuff i have that was giving to me when i became a citizen explaining the cituation. I don't believe they can extend time that long to wait for my certificate and since there's a new certificate coming out, i can already guess it's going to take longer than usual. I'm really afraid that they might cancel my petition for fiance. I don't know what to do. This is really stressing me out and they have to have that proof in their hands by February 15. I'm pulling my hair out because of this!

Please! suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

[RICARDO4EVA2 195]

I was thinking about writing a letter to the USCIS in Texas [for my citizenship Certificate] to please hurry up with it, one to the USCIS in Louisiana [about a verification letter], and one to the Vermont one [i129f petition] with my receipt for my new Certificate and all the stuff i have that was giving to me when i became a citizen explaining the cituation. I don't believe they can extend time that long to wait for my certificate and since there's a new certificate coming out, i can already guess it's going to take longer than usual. I'm really afraid that they might cancel my petition for fiance. I don't know what to do. This is really stressing me out and they have to have that proof in their hands by February 15. I'm pulling my hair out because of this!

Please! suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

I'm sorry to hear of this. It's the petitioner's/applicant's responsibility to ensure that all the necessary documents were submitted as stated on the form/s that will be used. The Instructions does give examples of how once can verify resident status.. copy or unexpired u.s. passport, birth cert., Naturalization cert. or copy of green card if LPR. IF a RFE is given by USCIS it's there for 30 days.

You can write a letter to the service center but keep in mind the only address posted as those for the Lockbox etc. I can forward you an email and you can send a rather brief email stating that your are awaiting your proof of Citizenship and make reference with the receipt number you mentioned but this maybe the best way.

hope someone will have a better answer

Edited January 23, 2011 by RICARDO4EVA2

[sciencenerd 56]

Maybe you can at least send a copy of the receipt so they know that you are in the process of getting it. Good luck.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

I received a letter that asked me for proof of my citizenship. I'm a naturalized citizen. I didn't send a copy of my naturalization because when i got naturalized i was told that making a copy of it was illegal and i thought that sending in my certificate isn't a good idea. In November i decided i wasnted to spend christmas with my fiance and but i didn't have my passport ready, so at that moment i started searching for my naturalization certificate and i couldn't find it. i felt very sad and worried since that very day. The first thing i did was file for a new certificate. I received the receipt for it in December and that's as close as it gets.

I called the uscis number to see if they could help me. i spent hours [literally] talking to different people and finally i talked to someone who told me that the only way to get proof to get a limited passport or for the proof their asking is by getting a Verification letter executed by a USCIS consulate and she told me to make an info pass because she doesnt have all the details. I immediately made an info pass online for the next day. When i arrived after paying $14 for parking and still having to walk i go in and wait my long turn to speak to someone only to be told that i can only get it from the court house in the state in which i was naturalized. Problem with this is that i'm in New Jersey and i got Naturalized when i lived in Louisiana. As we all who have tried know, there are no local numbers for the uscis offices, so i can't get in contact with anyone in Louisiana about this.

I was thinking about writing a letter to the USCIS in Texas [for my citizenship Certificate] to please hurry up with it, one to the USCIS in Louisiana [about a verification letter], and one to the Vermont one [i129f petition] with my receipt for my new Certificate and all the stuff i have that was giving to me when i became a citizen explaining the cituation. I don't believe they can extend time that long to wait for my certificate and since there's a new certificate coming out, i can already guess it's going to take longer than usual. I'm really afraid that they might cancel my petition for fiance. I don't know what to do. This is really stressing me out and they have to have that proof in their hands by February 15. I'm pulling my hair out because of this!

Please! suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

I wish I had a helpful suggestion for your problem, but as you know the only way to prove citizenship accepted by USCIS is by submitting a birth certificate (if born in the US), submitting copies of all the pages of your US passport, or by sending a copy of your naturalization certificate (if naturalized). When you call USCIS, do they give you an estimate of when your duplicate naturalization certificate might be ready? Still, the deadline for the RFE is coming up so it is likely that you will not get it in time. Maybe send a copy of your USCIS receipt that shows you are processing a copy of your naturalization certificate? Keep looking around your house and papers to find your certificate?

Best wishes!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

If you do not respond with the necessary information by the date on the RFE your case will be denied. It matters not that you are "in the process" of getting the documents. An RFE is asking for documents that should have been provided with the original petition. The time to get a passport to copy or the naturalization certificate was BEFORE you filed the petition.

They are not understanding about such things.

If your petition is denied, you can file another.

[miyavi 0]

Thank you for the encouraging words.

Is there an e-mail address of some sort for the Vermont field office and the one in Metairie, Louisiana?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

I thought sending a copy of the passport was proof of citizenship....................

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I thought sending a copy of the passport was proof of citizenship....................

It is.

her first post mentions that she does not have a passport. if I misread that, and she now DOES have a passport, then she can make a copy of all pages and send that.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thank you for the encouraging words.

Is there an e-mail address of some sort for the Vermont field office and the one in Metairie, Louisiana?

Facts is facts, sometimes it is not encouraging, but it is still fact

[RICARDO4EVA2 195]

Thank you for the encouraging words.

Is there an e-mail address of some sort for the Vermont field office and the one in Metairie, Louisiana?

check your email.. i sent it to you. didnt know you were interested.

[miyavi 0]

Thank you so much. And Gary, i don't know if you took what i said to be sarcasm, but i really am thanking all of you for the information you gave me willingly.

I email them today.

And speaking of verification, have any of you seen this form for USCIS about verification. I just found it. Do you think maybe this might help my situation?

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b79e4154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

[RICARDO4EVA2 195]

Thank you so much. And Gary, i don't know if you took what i said to be sarcasm, but i really am thanking all of you for the information you gave me willingly.

I email them today.

And speaking of verification, have any of you seen this form for USCIS about verification. I just found it. Do you think maybe this might help my situation?

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b79e4154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

It will not help you.. The people that use the G-845, Verification Request (SAVE agencies) .. are the "AGENCIES" like social security offices, CBP etc..

Edited January 23, 2011 by RICARDO4EVA2

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thank you so much. And Gary, i don't know if you took what i said to be sarcasm, but i really am thanking all of you for the information you gave me willingly.

I email them today.

And speaking of verification, have any of you seen this form for USCIS about verification. I just found it. Do you think maybe this might help my situation?

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b79e4154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

You could try it. The requirement is to submit proff of citizenship. A passport or naturalization papers or birth certificate are ways to do that. This could also be accepted. If you can get something sooner, why not try?

Sorry I mistook your comment. My experience with the RFEs of a few other people I worked with was that if the response was late, in one case by 1 day, the case will be denied.

If that happens, and my experience was limited to AOS filings, there is an I-290 form "motion to re-open". Filing fee is more than the I-129f ($535 if I remember correctly) but it can get the case re-opened and reconsidered immediately. I do not know if it applies to the I-129f. Check, because there is no money back guarantee and if they decide NOT to re-open (which they can) you are out the $500+

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The first thing you do when you get your certificate of naturalization is to sign it. Immediately afterward you make 2 or 3 copies of it. It's unlawful to make unauthorized copies of it but you are authorized to make copies of your own certificate for lawful purposes.

http://www.newcitizen.us/after.html

The next day you get a passport, as this is your second proof of citizenship. I also got a passport card (still waiting for it to arrive), so I have 3 "class A" proofs of citizenship.

Replacing a lost or damaged certificate costs $345. No big deal. The big deal is that it takes "at least a year" to get it! Luckily, the passport serves as proof of citizenship until it arrives.

If you do not have the certificate, do not have a copy of it, do not have a passport, and do not have a passport card, you did everything humanly possible to sabotage yourself to the fullest.

[miyavi 0]

If i try to get a statement executed by a US consular officer certifying that i'm a US Citizen, could that maybe help? Or maybe if i get a G845 filled out by a consular officer? Would that help the situation?