N-400 February 2016 Filers

[renovatio_007 7]

Hi All,

We're getting anxious, we keep checking online and our case status still says it was received and no movement from there. No emails about being inline nor any letter with interview date. My wife had her biometrics appointment back on 3/7 and radio silence ever since. What is the customary wait time before we call the hotline or get senator assistance?

[Iwo_Jima 119]

What is the customary wait time before we call the hotline or get senator assistance?

Wait at least 3 month. Even if you call they would answer that your application is within timeframe.

As for senator assistance after 10 months.

[Iwo_Jima 119]

Hi All,

We're getting anxious, we keep checking online and our case status still says it was received and no movement from there. No emails about being inline nor any letter with interview date. My wife had her biometrics appointment back on 3/7 and radio silence ever since. What is the customary wait time before we call the hotline or get senator assistance?

You are early filer. Wait at least till your GC anniversary which is May 08.

[AlexHamilton 1]

You are early filer. Wait at least till your GC anniversary which is May 08.

Umh... what happened to being put "in-line for interview" 30 days before the GC anniversary? I know is not a rule but appeared to be a ~90% occurrence, so clearly they have (had?) it built in some sort of system scheduler.

I too was sort of expecting to see it yesterday (anniversary is 5/12) and... crickets. It's San Francisco Office, to begin with a... err... winning turtle (I think they last posted some neat 195 days processing times). It looked like they take 8-9 weeks AFTER in-line for interview LETTER, so basically 3 months to interview date from "in-line". But then again I thought the "in-line" is Processing Center release (e.g. Arizona), hence my expectation that it would happen "on time", i.e. 30 days before GC. My biometrics were March 9th, the ink has thoroughly dried

(amazing how expectations work, nobody promised me GC-30)

ARGH

Edited April 14, 2016 by AlexHamilton

[ryna 132]

Thanks. I guess that'll be as soon as I put my hands on that passport!

I've never been either and we've been putting off visiting some (USC) friends who are living in Europe until my wife becomes a USC because it would be "easier" then. Now, who knows???

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Also, and I know that this is a moot point by now, but I was looking at the timelines for folks applying early. Yanndny and us both applied for New York, we did it early and Yanndny didn't. Yanndny got his 'In-Line' notice shortly after doing biometrics, but it was almost another month before he got his interview date. We didn't get our 'In-Line' notice until the Green Card anniversary date, and then got the interview date immediately thereafter. So, Yanndny and us applied at the same time (early February) and we're basically on the same track, just he waited longer in the 'In-Line' status and we waited longer in the 'Case Received' status. Thus, I think applying early does help get the process moving sooner, but just know that you can't get your oath before the actual anniversary date, and probably won't get your interview until sometime the month before at the earliest.

Apply earlier definitely helps...my greencard anniversary is in 2 weeks and I already have an interview appointment.it was definitely worth it! I dont even have to wait until my anniversary to get the appointment

I always try the machines in Atlanta but always get a big fat "X" on the receipt that means that I have to go through inspection

THAYT'S EXACTLY MY CASE!

[Andrea&Henry 311]

FOR THE FOLKS THAT GOT THEIR INTERVIEW LETTER

HOW MUCH TIME IT TOOK TO GET THE LETTER IN THE MAIL?

DO THEY REQUEST TO BRING DOCUMENTS OR FORMS FOR THE INTERVIEW?

[akihon 129]

FOR THE FOLKS THAT GOT THEIR INTERVIEW LETTER

HOW MUCH TIME IT TOOK TO GET THE LETTER IN THE MAIL?

DO THEY REQUEST TO BRING DOCUMENTS OR FORMS FOR THE INTERVIEW?

Look at the new form n400 instructions. It has a list of things they tell you to bring to the interview.

[gg77 0]

This is taking too long. Month and a half after biometrics and still no "in-line". The online status still shows "Case Received". Do you'll think visiting the local office with an infopass would help ?

[Helpme123 9]

Below is a list of documents to bring with you to your Form N-400 interview.

1. Permanent Resident Card.

2. State-Issued Identification. Bring a valid State-issued identification, such as a driver’s license.

3. Passports and Travel Documents. Bring valid and expired passports, as well as any travel documents issued by USCIS.

4. Evidence of Your Current Legal Marital Status. Bring the original of all marriage certificates, divorce or annulment decrees, death certificates, and other official records to confirm your marital history and your current legal marital status.

5. Evidence of the Termination of Your Spouse’s Prior Marriage(s). Bring the original of your current spouse’s divorce certificate. If your spouse is widowed, bring the original of his or her former spouse’s death certificate. If neither of these are available, bring any other evidence that indicates the termination of your spouse’s marriage for consideration.

6. Name Change(s). If you have changed your name at any time, bring the document(s) that legally changed your name(s), such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, name change petition, or other official record if you ever changed your name.

7. Other Documents. Depending on the circumstances, you should bring certain documents to your interview. You may also submit copies of these documents with your application. For example:

A. Spouse of a U.S. Citizen. Bring the following items to your interview if you are applying for naturalization on the basis of your marriage to a U.S. citizen:

(1) Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include: a birth certificate (if your spouse never lost U.S. citizenship since birth), Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Form FS-240 Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America;

(2) Evidence of the termination of all your prior marriages; and

(3) Evidence that you and your spouse have lived in marital union for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include:

(a) Joint bank and credit card statements;

(b) Leases or mortgages;

© Birth certificates of children;

(d) Insurance policies; and

(e) Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you and your spouse filed for the past 3 years (or an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years).

B. Spouse of a U.S. Citizen Who is Regularly Stationed Abroad. Bring evidence demonstrating your U.S. citizen spouse’s qualifying employment abroad if you are filing under section 319(b). Such evidence may include:

(1) The employer’ name and nature of the employer’s business;

(2) The nature of the work the U.S. citizen spouse is performing;

(3) Documentation to establish the employing entity is owned in whole or in part by U.S. interests; and

(4) Documentation to establish the employing entity is engaged in whole or in part in the development of the foreign trade and U.S. commerce.

In addition, bring the following:

(1) Your U.S. citizen spouse’s travel orders which include your name as a spouse;

(2) Documentation to establish your spouse’s employment abroad is scheduled to last for at least 1 year from the date you filed Form N-400; and

(3) A written statement of your intent to reside abroad with your spouse, and to live in the United States immediately after your spouse’s employment abroad ends.

C. Children and Support of Dependents. Bring evidence that all of the children listed on your Form N-400 are your children.

Such evidence may include:

(1) Birth certificates for all children you claim, or a court order naming you as the parent; or

(2) Final adoption certificates or decrees for all children you have legally adopted.

In addition, if you have dependent children living apart from you, bring evidence that you support each dependent child and that you have complied with child support obligations. Bring photocopies of the court or government order and evidence you have complied with the order if a court has ordered you to provide financial support for a spouse, ex-spouse, or children. Such evidence may include:

(1) Cancelled checks or money order receipts;

(2) A court or agency document showing child support payments;

(3) Evidence of wage garnishments; or

(4) A notarized letter from the parent or guardian who cares for your children.

D. Tax Returns and Overdue Taxes. Bring photocopies of income tax returns that you filed with the IRS for the past 5 years, or 3 years if filing for naturalization on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen. Tax returns are not required for every case. However, USCIS strongly encourages you to bring your tax returns; especially if you are filing based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or have traveled outside the United States for a period that lasted 6 months or more. You can request copies of Federal tax documents at your local IRS office or www.irs.gov.

You may also bring an original IRS tax transcript listing tax information for the past 5 years (3 years if filing on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen). To obtain a free IRS tax transcript, visit www.irs.gov. Select “Tools” and then select “Order a Return or Account Transcript.” For assistance, you can also call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946.

If you have any Federal, state, or local taxes that are overdue, bring:

(1) A signed agreement from the IRS, state, or local tax office showing you have filed a tax return and arranged to pay the taxes you owe; and

(2) Documentation from the IRS, state, or local tax office showing the current status of your repayment program.

E. Trips Outside the United States. Bring evidence that you maintained your continuous residence in the United States if you have taken any trips outside the United States that lasted more than 6 months but less than 1 year. You may submit documentation which includes, but is not limited to, evidence that during the absence:

(1) You did not terminate your employment in the United States or work overseas;

(2) Your immediate family remained in the United States; or

(3) You retained full access to your place of residence in the United States.

For example:

(1) An IRS tax return transcript or an IRS-certified tax return listing tax information relevant to your absence for the last 5 years (or 3 years if you are applying on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen);

(2) Rent or mortgage payments and pay statements;

(3) Bank, credit card, and loan statements showing regular transactions;

(4) Proof of car registration and insurance;

(5) A photocopy of your passport showing entry and exit stamps; or

(6) Any other document that shows you have not abandoned your residence in the United States.

F. Selective Service Registration. If you are a man between 18 and 26 years of age, provide proof of your registration with the Selective Service. If you are 26 years of age or older, provide proof that you registered with the Selective Service when you were required to do so between 18 and 26 years of age.

If you were required to register and did not, provide a typed or printed statement explaining why you did not register and provide a status information letter from the Selective Service. For more information about Selective Service registration, or how to get proof that you registered, visit www.sss.gov or call 1-888-655-1825.

G. Arrests/Convictions. If you have ever been arrested or detained anywhere in the world, by any law enforcement officer, for any reason, and no charges were filed, bring:

(1) An original or court-certified arrest report; and

(2) An official, certified statement from the arresting agency or applicable court confirming that no charges were filed.

If you have ever been arrested or detained anywhere in the world, by any law enforcement officer, for any reason, and charges were filed, bring:

(1) Certified photocopies of all arrest reports, charging documents, court dispositions, sentencing reports, and any other relevant documents.

(2) You may include any additional evidence in your favor concerning the circumstances of your arrests or convictions that you would like USCIS to consider.

(3) If you were placed on probation, you must provide evidence to show that you completed your probationary sentence.

If you have ever been convicted or placed in an alternative sentencing program (such as diversion) or rehabilitative program (such as a drug treatment or community service program), bring:

(1) An original or court-certified sentencing record for each incident; and

(2) Evidence that you completed your sentence, such as a probation record, parole record, or evidence that you completed an alternative sentencing program or rehabilitative program. Copies must be certified by the issuing agency.

If you have ever had any arrest or conviction vacated, set aside, sealed, expunged, or otherwise removed from your record, bring:

(1) An original or court-certified court order vacating, setting aside, sealing, expunging or otherwise removing the arrest or conviction from your record; or

(2) An original statement from the court that no record exists of your arrest or conviction.

NOTE: You must provide the documentation even if someone including a judge, law enforcement officer, or attorney told you that you no longer have a record or told you that you do not have to disclose the information.

NOTE: You must submit documentation of traffic incidents if:

(1) The incident involved alcohol or drugs;

(2) The incident led to an arrest; or

(3) The incident seriously injured another person.

You do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines or incidents that did not involve an arrest or did not involve drugs or alcohol, if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 or points on your driving record.

GOOD LUCK

Edited April 14, 2016 by Helpme123

[ryna 132]

Below is a list of documents to bring with you to your Form N-400 interview.

<snip>

GOOD LUCK

Thanks for posting this. It will definitely be helpful as my wife gets ready for her interview, whenever it may be...

Also, it is a very good reminder that I am ready for USCIS to finally get out of my business and let me go back to being able to forget they even exist!!

[Helpme123 9]

Thanks for posting this. It will definitely be helpful as my wife gets ready for her interview, whenever it may be...

Also, it is a very good reminder that I am ready for USCIS to finally get out of my business and let me go back to being able to forget they even exist!!

The list looks pretty extensive but a lot of things don't apply to everyone.

What will you fill your USCIS void with once it's all over? There's plenty of people on here that linger long after their US citizenship is granted haha!

[akihon 129]

I really hate that it's AOS/ROC all over again.

[ryna 132]

The list looks pretty extensive but a lot of things don't apply to everyone.

What will you fill your USCIS void with once it's all over? There's plenty of people on here that linger long after their US citizenship is granted haha!

I'll find something!

I still haven't forgiven them for making me accept the job from Hell (even though we were financially OK) because they dragged out my wife's AOS for over 8 months and the contract I was on when we filed finished 2 months before her AOS interview. I had to scramble to find something, anything, just to make USCIS happy with their >125% poverty-level income requirement for AOS. It didn't help that the jerk of a boss that I had, after suffering at that miserable place for 2 months, let me go 7 days before her AOS interview when I told him I needed at least the morning off to attend with her, so it was all for nothing!!!

But, everything turned out OK!

[Helpme123 9]

I really hate that it's AOS/ROC all over again.

Doesn't bother me. If it did, I would wait 2 years and apply using the 5 year requirement. I don't necessarily need my US citizenship status at this time. Had no issues leaving/entering the US using my Green card and one of my foreign passports.

I'll find something!

I still haven't forgiven them for making me accept the job from Hell (even though we were financially OK) because they dragged out my wife's AOS for over 8 months and the contract I was on when we filed finished 2 months before her AOS interview. I had to scramble to find something, anything, just to make USCIS happy with their >125% poverty-level income requirement for AOS. It didn't help that the jerk of a boss that I had, after suffering at that miserable place for 2 months, let me go 7 days before her AOS interview when I told him I needed at least the morning off to attend with her, so it was all for nothing!!!

But, everything turned out OK!

Wow, sorry to hear about that! Never had any issues with USCIS...just didn't like taking days off work to go to interviews and writing checks for 100's of dollars

On a brighter note..just got a text message from USCIS

Interview Was Scheduled

On April 14, 2016, we scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization , Receipt Number NBC*011111011111. We will mail you an interview notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. If you move, go towww.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

Edited April 14, 2016 by Helpme123