N-400 Filers @ New York City, Queens and Long Island Field Offices

[Going through 5,669]

1 hour ago, Kamsme said:

I have an issue and need advice. According to the Interview letter, I have to bring in my wife's Birth Certificate (Applying under 3 year Rule), the biggest problem is, we have been searching forever to find this document and cant find. The interview date is upon me and I have no Birth Certificate. Ordering one, according to the Information from the NYC Birth Records, it will take 28-35 days from the date of ordering to receive the Birth Certificate.

Anyone else had the same situation or what else can i show them?

You can't bring what you don't have.  The US passport also serves as proof of citizenship, and will suffice.

[sc_queens 14]

My 3 year Citizenship based on marriage was denied because we were not living together at that time. At that time she went abroad for job. I tried to convince the IO that we were still together and this was not a legal separation or any sort. She denied my citizenship because we are not living in a marital union anymore. Fast forward today, we got divorced couple of months ago (she decided to continue her life there). Would this be an issue for me applying citizenship based on 5 years?

[Kamsme 3]

On 5/13/2019 at 9:25 PM, sc_queens said:

My 3 year Citizenship based on marriage was denied because we were not living together at that time. At that time she went abroad for job. I tried to convince the IO that we were still together and this was not a legal separation or any sort. She denied my citizenship because we are not living in a marital union anymore. Fast forward today, we got divorced couple of months ago (she decided to continue her life there). Would this be an issue for me applying citizenship based on 5 years?

How did the IO know you were both living separately, unless they are USCIS plus FBI.

I heard about a similar case, don't remember where, but the lady was able to successfully able to apply for citizenship based on 5 year rule. 

[Going through 5,669]

On 5/13/2019 at 9:25 PM, sc_queens said:

My 3 year Citizenship based on marriage was denied because we were not living together at that time. At that time she went abroad for job. I tried to convince the IO that we were still together and this was not a legal separation or any sort. She denied my citizenship because we are not living in a marital union anymore. Fast forward today, we got divorced couple of months ago (she decided to continue her life there). Would this be an issue for me applying citizenship based on 5 years?

It shouldn't raise any issues, however expect the IO to question you on the initial greencard approval.  This is normal---even under applying with the 5-year rule, the IO will do some fact-checking to ensure that the green card was properly approved as part of their overall adjudication.

[Going through 5,669]

6 minutes ago, Kamsme said:

How did the IO know you were both living separately, unless they are USCIS plus FBI.

Could have been a few ways, I imagine:

 

The N400 application asks for the addresses of each spouse...could have been listed there.

Tax filings submitted with the application would have showed the separate addresses, depending on how it was filed.

The IO asked the applicant, and they answered truthfully.

[Kamsme 3]

1 hour ago, Going through said:

Could have been a few ways, I imagine:

 

The N400 application asks for the addresses of each spouse...could have been listed there.

Tax filings submitted with the application would have showed the separate addresses, depending on how it was filed.

The IO asked the applicant, and they answered truthfully.

Makes sense. I was reading this incident about a filer, on a different website called ***removed***, who's case was denied during the interview, as the IO called her husband prior to the interview and spoke with him, to make sure they both are together. I found this extremely strange and very unheard of.  Many reader, including myself were shocked to what extremes the IO's go to make sure they are doing the right thing. As per the lady, she was devastated. My curiosity ended as after that, she wasn't active on the form anymore. 

[Going through 5,669]

Usually if they have some suspicion of a less-than-bonafide marriage, they'll exhaust all avenues to dig up the truth, I guess.  It doesn't shock me---USCIS have been known to make surprise house visits too---seems mostly during the AOS stage.  There's a few threads on here from members experiencing those.

[Lemon23 400]

I went to Social Security Office to update my immigration status to US Citizen.

I highly recommend the one location at 123 William street downtown Manhattan.

They are open very early at 7am and the workers their and guards are really friendly. 

I was in and out for 15 minutes. I showed my US passport, SSN Card and DL and that was it really quick process.

Edited May 15, 2019 by Lemon23

[march16filer 153]

44 minutes ago, Lemon23 said:

I went to Social Security Office to update my immigration status to US Citizen.

I highly recommend the one location at 123 William street downtown Manhattan.

They are open very early at 7am and the workers their and guards are really friendly. 

I was in and out for 15 minutes. I showed my US passport, SSN Card and DL and that was it really quick process.

I believe that is the one I went to and it was a breeze. Applying for the passport without an appointment was painful, though. 

[sc_queens 14]

10 hours ago, Kamsme said:

How did the IO know you were both living separately, unless they are USCIS plus FBI.

I heard about a similar case, don't remember where, but the lady was able to successfully able to apply for citizenship based on 5 year rule. 

The IO asked me about our addresses and I told him where we both lived. 

[Lemon23 400]

30 minutes ago, march16filer said:

I believe that is the one I went to and it was a breeze. Applying for the passport without an appointment was painful, though. 

Yes, it was a breeze. I did not encounter any problem when applying for passport. The post office near at my work place don't accept appointment, they only accepts walk-in

When I walk-in and applied for passport, I was the only one there and that was around noon after my oath ceremony. I was in and out for 20 minutes because i have everything prepared in handy for my passport application before my oath taking.

The DOS took 13 days to finished the whole process for my expedited application, from applying until I got my passport book, card and naturalization certificate.

My next step is to renew my DL. I hope it will be faster and easy.

[march16filer 153]

2 minutes ago, Lemon23 said:

Yes, it was a breeze. I did not encounter any problem when applying for passport. The post office near at my work place don't accept appointment, they only accepts walk-in

When I walk-in and applied for passport, I was the only one there and that was around noon after my oath ceremony. I was in and out for 20 minutes because i have everything prepared in handy for my passport application before my oath taking.

The DOS took 13 days to finished the whole process for my expedited application, from applying until I got my passport book, card and naturalization certificate.

My next step is to renew my DL. I hope it will be faster and easy.

Yeah, you're lucky. I went to the post office on Church street and waited in line like 3 hours with no luck and just left. Then went to one in Jersey while visiting family and waited for hours and left for an hour and went back and they're like we can't take you because you weren't here. Some of the people working for USPS are just plain miserable to say the least. 

[Lemon23 400]

7 minutes ago, march16filer said:

Yeah, you're lucky. I went to the post office on Church street and waited in line like 3 hours with no luck and just left. Then went to one in Jersey while visiting family and waited for hours and left for an hour and went back and they're like we can't take you because you weren't here. Some of the people working for USPS are just plain miserable to say the least. 

Oh wow! that was horrible, well at least you're know done with all of these. I still have 2 pending items to do after being a US Citizen.

[march16filer 153]

Just now, Lemon23 said:

Oh wow! that was horrible, well at least you're know done with all of these. I still have 2 pending items to do after being a US Citizen.

Yeah, it wasn't fun at all to be honest, but that's all behind me now. 

[Going through 5,669]

Passport was pretty quick and painless for me...did it at the main post office in Manhattan, which had a separate area inside with agents specifically for passport applications only---so at least they knew what they were doing, knew the process in terms of what documents were required, what was acceptable info on the application, and moved the line pretty efficiently.

 

Updating my status with SS...truth be told, I only did this a couple of weeks ago---procrastinated on doing it for over a year!  At least that was somewhat painless once past security screening where their officers were barking commands at people and I witnessed them yelling/berating a few of the people (went to the notorious office from hell in Richmond Hill, Queens...closest one to me, unfortunately).   This, coupled with a 40 minute wait lined up outside because they don't allow people to just walk into the Social Security building...and then only let a handful in at a time for "crowd control".  Plus they also opened the office a good 15 minutes late, to top it all off. 

 

I don't think I ever in my life want to step foot in that building again. 

Edited May 15, 2019 by Going through