N-400 JUNE 2012 Filers

[nycfeng 2]

Same for me..

Took utilities bills, bank statements, apartment insurance.. although i submitted before.

Spouse being there is not required...

GOOD LUCK, everyone..

Btw, for those applying by marriage, don't forget to print your latest/recent bank accounts/joint accounts. I only have the copies of what I submitted with the application but the IO requested for the most recent. I said I wasn't able to print them, anyway these are online billings. I thought she she will give me RFE papers/ good thing she said "It's okay if you don't have it".

[kiwiana 2]

Congratulations Charramal and On-Queue!! :dance:

[On-Queue 3]

Congrats thank you on-que I didn't summit neither bank account, tax return, only marriage certificate, birth certificate of both and the money... I will bring all the paper work in case they ask me.

I submitted everything but on the bank statements I only submitted until the month I applied the N-400 which is June so she's asking for July to Nov. I know I printed them and I have it in my binder in the interview but for some reason I can't find it during that moment, hahaha. Nervousness I guess. LoL

So for all of you out there on queue for interview, good luck and don't forget to come prepared.

[coloso 6]

10 more days basically for me. O gosh...

[Wilerao59 10]

Before I go further in describing my wife's interview-experience on her naturalization application, I would like to clear up some misunderstanding. Some posters think (obviously mistakenly) that my wife still has an outstanding warrant for her arrest on a criminal case in Las Vegas which has made a poster to suggest to take care of that first than anything else then I would like to say that all that criminal case situation occurred before she even applied for a green card which was 3 years ago and we took care of it before she even filed the application for LPR, in addition to sealing the record completely. That's why nothing showed up in her background check for the green card application and it didn't cause any problem whatsoever at that time.

As I stated in my other posting yesterday that DA (District Attorney) in Las Vegas right away quashed the warrant for her arrest and dismissed the criminal charge/case against her after knowing that someone stole her identity to commit the crime. So that criminal case was dismissed and all the record related to it was sealed. My wife was never arrested nor fingerprinted. We were not much worried about that criminal case in itself but we were so much worried about not disclosing it on both applications- for green card and naturalization. I know so well that USCIS conducts extensive background checks on naturalization applicants than relying solely on FBI report alone. And I was also aware of the consequences of deliberately concealing a material fact for immigration benefit. Thus, I was worried to the hell if USCIS somehow finds out about it then not only my wife's application for naturalization could get denied but also she could risk losing her LPR as well.

That's why I couldn't sleep whole night long last night as couldn't decided what should we do, but this morning we both decided to tell the officer voluntarily about it and let USCIS to decide my wife's immigration fate, which is exactly we did this morning, but to my surprise officer made a very short and simple comment by saying-"I'm glad everything worked out fine for you". We couldn't believe what we heard from the officer as we were expecting us to be dragged out in govt. case for life. However, officer did ask for certified copy of Police Report, outcome of the case (dismissal order) and court order relating to sealing the record. Afterwards, officer didn't ask anything about it. Very surprising.....God bless this officer....

My wife's interview on her naturalization application:

My wife filed her N-400 on June 14, 2012 and did fingerprinting on July 9, 2012. After that she received nothing except a notice for interview appointment on October 5, 2012 for the interview on Nov 9, 2012. She filed her application based on 3 years' marriage to a US citizen (me). Knowing that we had to be up by 4am, I couldn't be able to sleep last night especially when a lots of negative thinking were coming into my mind about my wife's application particularly her criminal case and her remarrying me. Time went by so quick and it was 3:30am when I found that my wife was waking up too. I asked her why she woke up so early when we had to leave the house by 6am, to which she answered that she couldn't sleep anymore. So we started getting ready, ate breakfast and had coffee. We left the house exactly 6am in the morning even though our district office in Long Island City, Queens, NY is just a 15 blocks away from our house. We wanted to go there early so that we could find a place to park the car and get calm and relax before entering into the building. We could have walked there, but since it was a very chilly and windy day, so we decided to take the car. Besides, I had to drive my wife to her work after the interview.

It took us more than 45 minutes to find a place to park the car for free. We had almost given up and were going to a paid parking which is right in front of USCIS building where they charge $10 for the whole day which wasn't that bad but I didn't about it until I already found a place right close to it. It was by just luck when someone just pulled off and I just mistakenly drove in that one way street. We stayed in the car for another 10 minutes and my wife reviewed the history and civics questions again. Then we entered into the USCIS building where we found 3 security guards. One of the guards didn't like me wearing sunglasses on and having chewing gum. He asked me to throw out the gum and take off my glasses which surprised me but I didn't want to ruin my day, so I just followed.

After done with security checks, we approached a window right in front of the security check point to get a stamp on my wife's interview letter and then we were told to go up to second floor. We took elevator to second floor. Once elevator opened, a Spanish lady security officer was there who advised us to drop the interview-appointment letter in the tray and take a sit. We took a sit and noticed only 12 people altogether there. Office was so calm which I'm not used to see any USCIS office while dealing with them for the last 21 years. So it was nice to see so much "peace" in there. It's probably because it was too early in the morning. We were inside the office on our seat around 7:10am. We totally ignored the advisory statement on my wife's notice for the interview about not coming into the office 15 minutes before the scheduled time because we knew that this kind of warnings are applicable to applicants who are scheduled after 9am when offices get crowded. And our guess was so right as we didn't have any problem getting into the office at 7:05am even though we were 25 minutes ahead of our scheduled time.

The sitting hall has two doors, one on each side. We saw officers coming out from both doors and calling out names of applicants. There were 6 Chinese-American officers, 4 White Caucasian women officers, 2 African-American officers and one Filipino-American lady officer. All seems nice and jolly except two. One was Filipino-American lady officer who doesn't smile and seemed tough; while other one was White lady officer who was quiet old and this the same officer interviewed my wife today. We also noticed that many people were already called on even though they came after us, so we couldn't understand what was going on. Suddenly my wife's name was called on by this old White lady officer. I purposely tried to get up from my seat to go with my wife knowing so well that they won't allow me because citizenship application is interviewed individually and only with the applicant, but then I wanted to make sure officer to know that I was there because it does make a big difference if officer would know that applicant's other significance is there which makes officers not to grill alien-spouse that much on the ongoing marital union which I have learned over the years after reading thousands of postings/experiences. Anyway, my wife asked the officer if she would like me to be there with my wife, but officer said no and escorted her inside to her desk/cabin.

According to my wife, even though officer was old but was very energetic and active. She right away and very quickly asked my wife to raise her right hand to take the oath of telling the truth. Right away my wife was asked to provide passport and green card. Surprisingly she wasn't for a State ID or Driver License which most officers do ask along with passport and Green card as I was asked too when I went for my interview on my naturalization application. Afterwards, rather than going over the application, officer shoot 6 history and civics questions which are as follow-

(1) Name one branch of US government.

(2) How long is the term for US Senator?

(3) What does Cabinet do?

(4) What did Declaration of Independence do?

(5) If President and Vice-President could not serve, who would become the President?

(6) Who is head of Executive branch of US government?

She was asking all these questions from a print-out that she pulled off from the computer. After she got all six questions answered right, she stopped and marked checked-in by red pen and put that paper in my wife's file folder. Then she asked my wife to read loud and write down- Columbus Day is in October. She placed that one also in my wife's file. Then she went over the application. The first thing she questioned right away as to why my wife's name is so long and changed my wife's name. She made my wife's middle name and her last name as her new last name and leave her middle name empty which makes me very angry because who she was to decide what and how a person keeps a name especially when a person's consent is not taken nor any court order. She now added my wife's father's last name and my last name as her last name. And all this not because my wife's name doesn't fit in their data system, rather it is because she didn't like how my wife's name sounds like it. All this wasn't a problem at all during the time obtaining LPR, so what was the big fuzz about it now? My wife couldn't say anything because she is a very quiet person and besides she doesn't want to argue with the officer as she was afraid that officer might get upset or something like that. But I strongly believe that officer had no right to change my wife's name.

After that she went over the whole application, line-by-line and question-by-question, just re-confirming. After that she asked my wife to sign the application, 2 photos that we submitted with the application and one more paper which had the information that would be put it on the naturalization certificate. After that she asked my wife if she has any latest/recent bank statement of joint bank account, recent utility bill, and the lease documents, and while my wife was pulling out all these documents from a folder that contained all the documents related to our marital union for the last 3 years, officer noticed (with her sharp eyes) that we had car insurance document too, so she asked that one too. My wife was also asked to show her social security card. Don't know why, but I assume it was because of name verification with another govt. agency as my wife overheard the officer talking with her supervisor about not having my birth certificate; instead only the affidavits that we submitted during green card application. Supervisor told her that its okay. So I believe people should have their birth-certificate or affidavits and social security card as well.

After that my wife was told that her application is approved and that she would get oath notice in the mail within 2 weeks. My wife requested if she could get it today, but she was told that since there a name-change correction needs to make in her entire file then its not possible today to give her the oath notice; rather just wait for the mail. So, wifey had no other choice. No other document was asked aside from what I've stated above. My wife had two new photographs ready as per the instructions on her interview notice but wasn't asked which I knew so well but my wife always follows all the instructions as stated on any govt. stationary..

She was out in 13 minutes and we were in the car around 8:15am. Overall, it was a nice experience and a wonderful day; otherwise we were not able to sleep yesterday because of all the worries and huppa-duppa could-be, would-be....etc. Office seemed tough as she was certainly not a friendly and jolly person but then she turned out to be a nice in heart and professional. God bless her. Now my wife is just one more step away from closing down the last chapter of her life with USCIS. I believe we would receive her Oath notice much sooner than 2 weeks. I'll update you guys with that experience as well. I have described my wife's interview experience in detail hoping it might help someone somehow. I'm just very happy that everything has turned out just fine; otherwise I know how things could play out with USCIS especially when I've been dealing with this bureaucratic agency of US government for the last 21 years. I guess time has come pretty soon for us to be done for good with USCIS. I wish everyone to keep patience and good luck as they will get through too.....

Good luck...

[shashar 0]

Hello All! I had my Oath this morning. I am now a Citizen

Congratulations on your citizenship ceremony.Same here,the ceremony was scheduled for 9AM,79 people were sworn in from 22 countries.Four people offered to share their experince to the whole audiance .Super happy that this show is finally over for me.I did filled an application to update change of status with social security and will wait to have that updated before applying for a passport.

On the other hand i will start the N600 process for my daughter from Cameroon by the end of the month.

I have no idea what documents to summit ?How long will it take? She is under 18 years ,so interview not required,right? I read somewhere that i will have to summit documents of financial assistance over the years to my daughter?And because i had her out of wedlock and her father has never been in her life ,a letter from him giving his authorization for her to leave Cameroon is not needed?

Please guys,if anyone has been through this process ,please give me a helping hand.I know its a straight and faster process if the under age child was living with the parent already,but this is not the case as she lives with my sister back in Cameroon.

Thank you all in advance.

Mezoh

[coloso 6]

Congratulations on your citizenship ceremony.Same here,the ceremony was scheduled for 9AM,79 people were sworn in from 22 countries.Four people offered to share their experince to the whole audiance .Super happy that this show is finally over for me.I did filled an application to update change of status with social security and will wait to have that updated before applying for a passport.

On the other hand i will start the N600 process for my daughter from Cameroon by the end of the month.

I have no idea what documents to summit ?How long will it take? She is under 18 years ,so interview not required,right? I read somewhere that i will have to summit documents of financial assistance over the years to my daughter?And because i had her out of wedlock and her father has never been in her life ,a letter from him giving his authorization for her to leave Cameroon is not needed?

Please guys,if anyone has been through this process ,please give me a helping hand.I know its a straight and faster process if the under age child was living with the parent already,but this is not the case as she lives with my sister back in Cameroon.

Thank you all in advance.

Mezoh

Your visa journey is over.....

[MayLiana72 2]

Tried to fix my mistakes in the chart but I ran out of time to edit...I'll fix it again when I've had some coffee... there is red where red doesn't belong yet :-/

Grashoppr, you're funny

On-Queue, charramal, shashar - congratulations!

shashar, is your daughter here, in the USA now?

Edited November 10, 2012 by MayLiana72

[shashar 0]

Grashoppr, you're funny

On-Queue, charramal, shashar - congratulations!

shashar, is your daughter here, in the USA now?

Thank you for the congratulations..No,my daughter is in Africa.I want to start the application now if anybody could help,please.

Thank you.

[MayLiana72 2]

Thank you for the congratulations..No,my daughter is in Africa.I want to start the application now if anybody could help,please.

Thank you.

Okay, the best from that I know - you should start with filing the form I-130. Go to HERE. Better to do it before she will be 18, this is a shorter line for kids (after 18 all process can take years!).

Read instruction, fill out and print the form, and send it with payment ($420 for today). After 2-5 months you will have it approved, and they will write you what to do next. And, you can find same stories here, on VJ, and study what to do. Just send the form to start it first.

As for her father and his authorization, it depends of Cameroon law and American Embassy's rules when your daughter will go there to her visa (or Green card) interview. Find their website to find out more.

Good luck!

[coloso 6]

I have a question the only cost to petition a family member is the form I-130 ? after I become a us citizen I want to petition my father.

So I send the I-130 and then what other cost after that?

What are the next stepts mayfiler?

Thank you...

Does the next steps cost money as well?

[shashar 0]

Okay, the best from that I know - you should start with filing the form I-130. Go to HERE. Better to do it before she will be 18, this is a shorter line for kids (after 18 all process can take years!).

Read instruction, fill out and print the form, and send it with payment ($420 for today). After 2-5 months you will have it approved, and they will write you what to do next. And, you can find same stories here, on VJ, and study what to do. Just send the form to start it first.

As for her father and his authorization, it depends of Cameroon law and American Embassy's rules when your daughter will go there to her visa (or Green card) interview. Find their website to find out more.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for the information..So,here is what i have so far,,,,

I filled ,printed and signed form I-130.

A large folder of western union transactions to Cameroon (prove of financial assistance to my daughter ).

A copy of my naturalisation certificate.

My daughter,s birth certificate that showed me as her biological mother .( on her birth certificate the space for father,s name is blank because he abandoned me when i told him that i was pregnant ,he was not there during birth and has never expressed any form of serious interest in us.He did came by a couple of times when my baby was around four years old and that was it.Fortunately my family was financially capable of supporting us and has continue to provide for her till today.)The American embassy in Cameroon webside does not provide any information regarding getting permission from her father inorder for her to leave Cameroon.

On tuesday,i will get a money order for the application fee and i think that is about it???Will take another look at the guide before sending the application into phoenix lockbox office.

Do i need to send a copy of my marriage certificate?

[MayLiana72 2]

Do i need to send a copy of my marriage certificate?

It is not in the list, but if there is a difference between your name in daughter's birth certificate and your certificate of naturalization, better to send a document about name changing - for example, copy of marriage license. You don't have to have anything from your daughter's father if she has a blank in her birth certificate.

So I send the I-130 and then what other cost after that?

After approval USCIS will send petition to National Visas Center, and then it will go the Embassy of the country where your father lives. He will have his interview there. It will cost more - I don't know how much, but it can be around 1-2 thousand dollars like people pay here for their first green card.

Processes for young kids and parents pretty much the same and less than 1 year now; but who will petition for their older kids, married kids, or siblings, should wait several years because of quotas.

Edited November 11, 2012 by MayLiana72

[coloso 6]

Aww that's quite a lot of money. I hope it is not that much. I haven't been able to find specific information as how much it will exactly cost once in the embassy. Does that apply for my brother and sister? I just have to file the I-130 as I would do with my father? or my sister and brother would be another paper work?

[No-Where-Man 147]

Congratulations everyone . I'm pleased everytime I come here with the progress of members.

As far as I-130, please follow the following link:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

also, make sure you are up to date with all the fees:)

Good luck