Notification

[deborabr 16]

Is it normal for them to process your payment before they send out any notification? I haven't heard anything even though I filled out the form G-1145 But I can see they already processed the payment. Does that mean the application was already accepted? Thanks a lot

[Texaco5 32]

Yes, if they process the payment, your application has been accepted and you should get the notice in 4-5 days via the mail

[deborabr 16]

3 hours ago, Texaco5 said:

Yes, if they process the payment, your application has been accepted and you should get the notice in 4-5 days via the mail

Thank you so much!!! 

[charmander 692]

Payment is good. The notifications would follow. If you signed up for the text/email notifications, they'll come next. Otherwise, you will need to wait for the NOA letter, which could take a few more days.

[CarolineNC 0]

I have a question. If you sign up for text / email notification, do they notify you of your biometric appointment by email / text? I am hesitating sending my package now since I am going out of the country for 2 weeks. Is it risky? Can I do that? How about if I miss my biometrics appointment?

[Texaco5 32]

40 minutes ago, CarolineNC said:

I have a question. If you sign up for text / email notification, do they notify you of your biometric appointment by email / text? I am hesitating sending my package now since I am going out of the country for 2 weeks. Is it risky? Can I do that? How about if I miss my biometrics appointment?

Biometrics appointments normally happen 2-3 weeks after you apply and the biometric appointment letter is normally mailed out quite quickly after the application is received. I have seen instances where people have simply shown up at the biometric service center with their appointment letter in advance of their appointment and they have been processed as a 'walk in' as they were facing similar travel deadlines.

 

If you are eligible to file the N-400 online, I can recommend that approach over the paper filing. I filed a marriage-based app online after 10 years of having a green card in early February and was a citizen by mid April (68 days). All you will need is a scanner to turn the supporting evidence docs (tax returns, marriage license etc.) into PDFs to attach to the application. If you file online, you will set up a dhs.gov account in order to do this (more on this below).

 

If you are filing using the paper N-400 forms, then you need to submit a Form G-1145 with your N-400. They will then send you back a PIN so you can set up an online account at https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/

 

This is the better of the two online tracking systems since they load PDF scans of the letters they send you into this account which are typically available 4-5 days before they arrive in the mail.

 

There is also a separate tracking system at https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

 

This one only sends email/text notifications when your case status changes and I found the dhs.gov version to be much more helpful.

 

If you want to figure out if you are eligible to submit the N-400 online, you can use this link (they are only accepting online applications from a small number of applicants at this time, so this may be why I ended up being processed so quickly). I have seen a few others who have qualified to file online and they have been processed inside of 3-4 months too. Just scroll to the top of the page at the link below and hit the green 'Apply' button and answer the questions they ask (I stumbled upon it by accident in early February when I was researching the USCIS website to see what was required to apply).

https://my.uscis.gov/exploremyoptions/us_citizen_through_naturalization#benefit-related-content-2

 

If you decide to apply online, just be sure to read the Instructions on how to fill in the form N-400 at the link below and make sure you have scanned PDFs of the supporting evidence documents available to attach to the online application as you are answering the questions. It sounds like you may already have prepared most of this if you already have a package ready to go.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/n-400

 

If you apply online, you can pay with your credit card and the priority date is the date on which you apply (as opposed to the date on which they receive your paper application and cash your check), and it circumvents the need for the USCIS to transcribe the information you submit on the paper N-400 form into their computer system too. You can also log out of the application and it will save the information you have entered so that you can come back to it later and finish it off.

 

[CarolineNC 0]

Oh My! I had no idea you could do all this only. It is awesome. Thanks for letting me know. I think I am gonna go that. Does that mean that they email you updates instead of sending them to you?

[TBoneTX 46,297]

*** Thread is moved from the US Citizenship main forum to the Case Progress subforum. ***

[deborabr 16]

I did not know we could apply online. I never got a notification that they received the package like I did for green card application but today I received a letter saying my application was received with exception because is missing evidence. What does that mean? I sent the package with everything they have listed on their checklist.

[Texaco5 32]

On 6/2/2017 at 6:04 PM, CarolineNC said:

Oh My! I had no idea you could do all this only. It is awesome. Thanks for letting me know. I think I am gonna go that. Does that mean that they email you updates instead of sending them to you?

If you are able to apply online, they will place downloadable/printable PDFs of the notices in your online myuscis.dhs.gov account which you can download AND they will also mail them to you in which case they arrive in your mailbox about 4-5 days later. Obviously you see them first in the online account. This is why it is a good idea to send in the form G-1145 with the N-400 application so you can set up an online account if you decide to apply using the paper forms (if you are not eligible to file online).

Edited June 6, 2017 by Texaco5

[deborabr 16]

9 minutes ago, Texaco5 said:

If you are able to apply online, they will place downloadable/printable PDFs of the notices in your online myuscis.dhs.gov account which you can download AND they will also mail them to you in which case they arrive in your mailbox about 4-5 days later. Obviously you see them first in the online account. This is why it is a good idea to send in the form G-1145 with the N-400 application so you can set up an online account if you decide to apply using the paper forms (if you are not eligible to file online).

I sent the G-1145 form with my application but never received any messages over email or phone =( I have an account created here Case Status Online - USCIS (https://egov.uscis.gov/) what is the difference between both websites? I created an account n this one you sent but I still don't have an Online Access Code that will probably come with the biometrics letter?!

[lovelyalex 99]

There is also the option of going to do your biometrics as a walk-in once you have your NOA (and not waiting for the biometrics appointment to be scheduled).

[Texaco5 32]

19 minutes ago, deborabr said:

I sent the G-1145 form with my application but never received any messages over email or phone =( I have an account created here Case Status Online - USCIS (https://egov.uscis.gov/) what is the difference between both websites? I created an account n this one you sent but I still don't have an Online Access Code that will probably come with the biometrics letter?!

Does your receipt number from the Receipt Notice start with NBC or IOE? It is unusual that you didn't get a text or email to confirm receipt of your application if you filed the G-1145.

[deborabr 16]

27 minutes ago, Texaco5 said:

Does your receipt number from the Receipt Notice start with NBC or IOE? It is unusual that you didn't get a text or email to confirm receipt of your application if you filed the G-1145.

Mine starts with LIN* 
The only email confirmation I received was for the payment.
I received confirmations when I applied for AOS but not this time for citizenship.

[Texaco5 32]

4 minutes ago, deborabr said:

Mine starts with LIN* 
The only email confirmation I received was for the payment.
I received confirmations when I applied for AOS but not this time for citizenship.

I think the Form G-1145 will only work for applications filed at the three USCIS Lockbox facilities located in Lewisville, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and Phoenix, Arizona. Your receipt number suggests the application is in LINcoln, Nebraska and therefore probably explains why there were not texts or emails. The USCIS My Case Status account you set up will text and email you when your case status changes, but unfortunately you won't be able to see online copies of the notices they send before they arrive in the mail a few days after the notifications are sent.