The Long and Short of It

[ms514 0]

Alrighty then...after all the multiple fingerprint nonsense and the frustration/anxiety, my wife is a citizen.

YAY!!!

Anyways, the true reason of posting this was to complete the story.

In the previous post, I had vented about my wife receiving a letter that stated she had to get police clearance letters foe the past 5 years of resident cities. Well, we got one from Fresno and were awaiting the others and the interview date came up. She went with the usual paperwork (originals of stuff, etc.) that the letter for the interview said to bring and also took the Fresno letter with her.

As an aside, Fresno requires that the application be filed in person...which means that you have to go to their Records building, sit there for 2 hours among the plentiful just released criminals of Fresno (they meet and greet with "When did you get out"), only to go to the window and fill out a form that takes 5 minutes. No, you cannot take the form and simply mail it in, it has to be in person (supposedly so that the ID and the person can be matched in person by the clerk...ok then). Then, you get a call after a few days that says it is ready and you can go back to the same Records building and do some more waiting to get the letter. I think the cost was like 20 dollars.

Anyways, so she proceeded to the interview. The door was closed (???) and she knocked and a security guard let her in (standard TSA-like security). She dropped her paperwork into the dropbox and was called quite quickly. The USCIS agent she was assigned was quite nice and the interview was more of a friendly chat. She verified all of the paperwork, made some copies. When it came to the police cleearance letter, my wife told her she only had the Fresno one as the letter from USCIS said to bring 5 years worth. The USCIS agent said "I don't know why they say that on the letter...it is supposed to be for 3 years for marriage based applications". My wife went on to say she also filed with the other places of residence and the agent apologized for the confusion. The questions were all the way at the end and my wife got them all right (forgot what they were...her interview was the beginning of March).

The, while I am at work, my wife calls me during the interview (unique) to consult as to whether she should file a name change (random...earlier she had decided no, but then changed her mind during the interview). The agent let my wife use her phone and she decided to change it (it was her choice and we had discussed earlier). I bring this up because when she got home, she told me that she would be sworn in with everyone else and not at a separate ceremony at a Federal Court.

Sure enough, at the swearing in ceremony, the certificate had her changed name and another paper which combined together provided proof of her changed name. So for Fresno, it seems that name changes are not a separate procedure, but done altogether at the same ceremony. The ceremony had nearly 1000 people and took 2 hours. The Fresno Convention center is a great place to have it, but my wife was disappointed because it was a bit haphazard - the microphone was not working, there were really no introductions, the judge was never introduced. It was more or less, everyone come in, so and so, please come to the front, rinse and repeat, raise your right hand, get certificate and go home.

But she got the paper(s), which is the important thing!!!

Also, Fresno is still issuing the comical glued on picture certificates, not the embedded picture certificates.

She was also told to wait 3 weeks (!!) to update social security due to the name change and then follow suit with others to inform about name change, which we will be looking into soon.

So, hopefully, this will help anyone applying/interviewing in Fresno with bad fingerprints and/or a name change.

Lemme know of any questions and I can get them clarified by my wife.

And it goes without saying:

THANKS TO VISAJOURNEY.COM FOR EVERYTHING - YOU ARE THE ONLY REASON I AM NOT ON MEDICATIONS FOR "TEH CRAZEEE"!!!

Edited April 1, 2011 by ms514

[N400-2011 24]

What a relief for you guys! You are done! Congratulations!!!

[Caroline and Phil 14]

Congratulations!!!

Thanks for sharing!

I also have issues with my fingerprints. To some people they only ask for the clearance letter from the Police on the interview (those "decision could not be made" cases) and this delays the Oath Ceremony. This was great that they requested it before the interview so she could bring it. I wish they do this when it's my time and I was wondering if they don't, do you think I could get the clearance letter before and bring it to the interview?

[ms514 0]

Having the letter "on standby" does not hurt, but the place where you request it may need a reason for it - maybe. My wife's case was such that she received a letter that stated her fingerprints were rejected and she just showed that to the clerk. If you do not fancy a delay, it may be worth it to call them if possible to see if they can issue it. Say that you need the letter and see what they say. They may need an explanation and may need something in writing - I get the feeling each place varies. Be careful what you call it as well - it may be referred to as a letter of good conduct, local criminal record or otherwise. Check online, because if you use the words police clearance, they may just shut down and say they don't do that.

Example:

How do I obtain a police clearance letter for immigration or visa purposes?

•The Fresno Police Department does not provide fingerprinting for immigration or visa purposes.

•You will need to contact another local law enforcement agency or a private company that provide such services.

whereas:

3) How do I obtain a copy of my local criminal record?

•Come to the Records Bureau Public Window, located at 2323 Mariposa Mall.

•Please have a current, valid identification.

•The cost for this service is $30.00, payable by money order or credit card.

•No one can obtain or review your local criminal record but you!

This criminal record (or lack thereof stated in the letter) was adequate for USCIS.

http://www.fresno.gov/Government/DepartmentDirectory/Police/AboutFresnoPD/PoliceServicesandSpecialUnits/RecordsBureau.htm

All USCIS is looking for is a letter that states that you have no criminal record by some governmental agent, signed, dated, and sealed (maybe).

And if the fingerprints do get rejected and the agent says you need to get this letter, I doubt they would reject you have one prepared just in case.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Congratulations to the Missus!

I updated my SSA information the next morning after the Oath Ceremony, right before applying for passports (book and card--really important!) and know of 3 fellow VJ members who did the same . . . no problems. I did a name change as well, by the way.

Now . . . due to the new California driver license which is so fuggin' safe that not even the original manufacturer in Con-necti-cut can get it done right, calculate in 2 to 3 months (not weeks !) of wait. No, it ain't an April fool's day prank. Google is your friend.

[Caroline and Phil 14]

Thank you for the reply!

Yes, every time I need a certification of good conduct I bring the letter from immigration to the local Police, pay the fee and get it easily. So, if i don't get it before the interview this time I can ask them if I can get it without a letter. Anyways, I think they should request it before the interview, it would make things a lot easier.

Having the letter "on standby" does not hurt, but the place where you request it may need a reason for it - maybe. My wife's case was such that she received a letter that stated her fingerprints were rejected and she just showed that to the clerk. If you do not fancy a delay, it may be worth it to call them if possible to see if they can issue it. Say that you need the letter and see what they say. They may need an explanation and may need something in writing - I get the feeling each place varies. Be careful what you call it as well - it may be referred to as a letter of good conduct, local criminal record or otherwise. Check online, because if you use the words police clearance, they may just shut down and say they don't do that.

Example:

How do I obtain a police clearance letter for immigration or visa purposes?

•The Fresno Police Department does not provide fingerprinting for immigration or visa purposes.

•You will need to contact another local law enforcement agency or a private company that provide such services.

whereas:

3) How do I obtain a copy of my local criminal record?

•Come to the Records Bureau Public Window, located at 2323 Mariposa Mall.

•Please have a current, valid identification.

•The cost for this service is $30.00, payable by money order or credit card.

•No one can obtain or review your local criminal record but you!

This criminal record (or lack thereof stated in the letter) was adequate for USCIS.

http://www.fresno.go...cordsBureau.htm

All USCIS is looking for is a letter that states that you have no criminal record by some governmental agent, signed, dated, and sealed (maybe).

And if the fingerprints do get rejected and the agent says you need to get this letter, I doubt they would reject you have one prepared just in case.

[OBX 51]

Congratulations!