N-400 February Filers 2018

[shell20 746]

16 hours ago, Dualie said:

@PositiveThinker Hi back!, I only have the two case numbers plugged into both sites. The I 751 just said fees waived. The online site where I filed N400, I plugged the i751 case number into it and it tells me that my case has been transferred to my local office. I have the USCIS Case Tracker app on my phone and it says my case was received at my local office. Haven’t seen anything about the NBC yet though, have you?

I had a similar experience yesterday, although I am already approved, was on the 20th of Feb, i was alerted to my N400 account and it said card being produced. However, when I looked at the USCIS homepage case status it has not changed, it still says case received from a year ago.  My 2nd number works in neither as I was approved before we found out about these numbers or before they worked for us. My USCIS case tracker also still says case received.  So I do believe we are seeing things moving with these updates, its not a computer glitch, its the fact its for their eyes only and we can suddenly see what is happening.

[evapaula 230]

I have a somewhat non-related question but maybe some of you can help. I applied for naturalization on Feb 26 (which is why i follow this thread) with a ROC still pending. 

I'm looking to travel abroad in September, but I wonder if there's any chance I may have a blue passport by then. If I do get naturalized and get an American passport, I legally have to use that one to leave and enter US. My current passport has my maiden name, while my next passport will finally have my married name. I'm planning to buy my ticket to match the name on my current passport, but if I get a new passport, the names will no longer match - does anyone have any experience with traveling in such a situation? The Delta rep I talked to could not give me a definitive answer. I guess I could carry both passports and my marriage certificate, hoping that would be enough. 

Of course, there's an even bigger chance that my N400 won't process until after I travel, but I like to think of all possible scenarios. 

[corvusheart 163]

If we filed in Feb but don't get our first Noa till this month does that make us March filers? We paper filed.

Edited March 16, 2018 by corvusheart

[corvusheart 163]

22 hours ago, Haji delco said:

Very trivial error. You should be fine. Just clarify at interview if/when it is brought up. 

Also our flight e-ticket print outs were in the packet as well showing both trips. Do you think they'd correct it automatically then or will he still need to bring it up in interview?

Edited March 16, 2018 by corvusheart

[Haji delco 103]

10 minutes ago, evapaula said:

I have a somewhat non-related question but maybe some of you can help. I applied for naturalization on Feb 26 (which is why i follow this thread) with a ROC still pending. 

I'm looking to travel abroad in September, but I wonder if there's any chance I may have a blue passport by then. If I do get naturalized and get an American passport, I legally have to use that one to leave and enter US. My current passport has my maiden name, while my next passport will finally have my married name. I'm planning to buy my ticket to match the name on my current passport, but if I get a new passport, the names will no longer match - does anyone have any experience with traveling in such a situation? The Delta rep I talked to could not give me a definitive answer. I guess I could carry both passports and my marriage certificate, hoping that would be enough. 

Of course, there's an even bigger chance that my N400 won't process until after I travel, but I like to think of all possible scenarios. 

Your issued ticket MUST match the details in the passport that you wish to use to travel. Don't get trapped by them telling you that its you will need such and such documents to prove they'll make it very difficult for you. If you can give it a little more time in a couple months and see what happens with your N400 application which should receive an interview date by then and you will have an idea of what to do whether to use maiden name or married name. 

[Haji delco 103]

5 minutes ago, corvusheart said:

If we filed in Feb but don't get our first Noa till this month does that make us March filers? We paper filed.

How did you file? 

2 minutes ago, corvusheart said:

Also our flight e-ticket print outs were in the packet as well showing both trips. Do you think they'd correct it automatically then or will he still need to bring it up in interview?

They won't update anything for you. But if you had the print outs why didn't you take your time and put in the correct info? 

[Derwood 203]

Estimated Completion Time got pushed back to March 2019 today. GMS.

[nightingalejules 678]

1 hour ago, evapaula said:

I have a somewhat non-related question but maybe some of you can help. I applied for naturalization on Feb 26 (which is why i follow this thread) with a ROC still pending. 

I'm looking to travel abroad in September, but I wonder if there's any chance I may have a blue passport by then. If I do get naturalized and get an American passport, I legally have to use that one to leave and enter US. My current passport has my maiden name, while my next passport will finally have my married name. I'm planning to buy my ticket to match the name on my current passport, but if I get a new passport, the names will no longer match - does anyone have any experience with traveling in such a situation? The Delta rep I talked to could not give me a definitive answer. I guess I could carry both passports and my marriage certificate, hoping that would be enough. 

Of course, there's an even bigger chance that my N400 won't process until after I travel, but I like to think of all possible scenarios. 

Ok. So let's assume that by September you have your naturalization and new passport, and you have tickets under your maiden name. You will need to bring both passports with you on the trip. You will use your Romanian (I'm assuming) for ID to board the planes. You will probably not be asked for your US passport at that point, but you will have it in case you are asked for it. I'd also have my marriage license with me if anyone asks about the name difference. 

You will continue to use your old passport throughout the trip, until you return to the US, where you will have to use your US passport to prove that you are a citizen.

 

My husband is a dual US-Canadian citizen (and I will be, soon, as well) but we often book his tickets to visit Canada using his Canadian passport information (since you must show that passport on the way into Canada). Then when we're clearing customs on the way home to the US, he shows his US passport to the border guards. 

 

I don't know what the procedure is to change the name on your old passport, but that might be the most straightforward thing. Have all your passports in your married name, then the tickets will match either way and you don't have to carry your marriage certificate.

 

The only serious issue that might occur is that you have your interview and oath (where you have to surrender your green card) but you don't yet have your US passport. Then you would have difficulty being re-admitted to the US when you return.

[Haji delco 103]

35 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Estimated Completion Time got pushed back to March 2019 today. GMS.

Yep; estimated completed have just been increased for mine too and a couple other people that I know.

[Haji delco 103]

2 minutes ago, nightingalejules said:

Ok. So let's assume that by September you have your naturalization and new passport, and you have tickets under your maiden name. You will need to bring both passports with you on the trip. You will use your Romanian (I'm assuming) for ID to board the planes. You will probably not be asked for your US passport at that point, but you will have it in case you are asked for it. I'd also have my marriage license with me if anyone asks about the name difference. 

You will continue to use your old passport throughout the trip, until you return to the US, where you will have to use your US passport to prove that you are a citizen.

 

My husband is a dual US-Canadian citizen (and I will be, soon, as well) but we often book his tickets to visit Canada using his Canadian passport information (since you must show that passport on the way into Canada). Then when we're clearing customs on the way home to the US, he shows his US passport to the border guards. 

 

I don't know what the procedure is to change the name on your old passport, but that might be the most straightforward thing. Have all your passports in your married name, then the tickets will match either way and you don't have to carry your marriage certificate.

 

The only serious issue that might occur is that you have your interview and oath (where you have to surrender your green card) but you don't yet have your US passport. Then you would have difficulty being re-admitted to the US when you return.

The bolded is because your husband has the same name on both his passports. So that will not present a problem whatsoever. 

 

IF you book your tickets in one name and want to fly with a different name even when you are naturalized and have a name change you will have big problems at the airport. I am not saying you will not fly but you will have to show a lot of documentation for them to even consider letting you board the flight.   

[Sukie 1,454]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.  Our ECD just got changed to the ORIGINAL one - February 2019 - 11 months.  We had been at October.

 

I guess they are making sure we can't vote in November....

 

Sukie in NY

[corvusheart 163]

2 hours ago, Haji delco said:

How did you file? 

They won't update anything for you. But if you had the print outs why didn't you take your time and put in the correct info? 

I'm not even sure I took an hour doing it. I can't even believe it myself. Hopefully everything will be alright. : /

[Haji delco 103]

6 minutes ago, corvusheart said:

I'm not even sure I took an hour doing it. I can't even believe it myself. Hopefully everything will be alright. : /

I know that feeling lol. Getting excited filling the forms which is 100x easier than the paper. Well hopefully they will give you the benefit of the doubt as it is only a couple of days off either side and you have proofs to corroborate. But with USCIS do not give them any reason to doubt or scrutinize anything. But with the proofs you have, you just need to be strong in the interview if it comes up and answer boldly and confidently that its an honest mistake. 

[evapaula 230]

47 minutes ago, nightingalejules said:

Ok. So let's assume that by September you have your naturalization and new passport, and you have tickets under your maiden name. You will need to bring both passports with you on the trip. You will use your Romanian (I'm assuming) for ID to board the planes. You will probably not be asked for your US passport at that point, but you will have it in case you are asked for it. I'd also have my marriage license with me if anyone asks about the name difference. 

You will continue to use your old passport throughout the trip, until you return to the US, where you will have to use your US passport to prove that you are a citizen.

 

My husband is a dual US-Canadian citizen (and I will be, soon, as well) but we often book his tickets to visit Canada using his Canadian passport information (since you must show that passport on the way into Canada). Then when we're clearing customs on the way home to the US, he shows his US passport to the border guards. 

 

I don't know what the procedure is to change the name on your old passport, but that might be the most straightforward thing. Have all your passports in your married name, then the tickets will match either way and you don't have to carry your marriage certificate.

 

The only serious issue that might occur is that you have your interview and oath (where you have to surrender your green card) but you don't yet have your US passport. Then you would have difficulty being re-admitted to the US when you return.

I can't use my Romanian passport to board a plane to the USA without showing a visa or a GC or another document that shows I am allowed to enter the US. That's the problem. Canadians don't have to deal with this because they don't need to visa to visit. I'll board the plane in Budapest and then have a layover in Amsterdam, where they interview all passengers boarding a flight directly to the US. I'll have to show them my US passport at that point, with a different name on the ticket. 

Changing the name on my Romanian passport is impossible right now, since the Romanian Consulate in LA requires proof of my status in the US valid for another 6 months - my GC is expired and my extension letter is about to expire. I guess I could wait for a couple months, but I'm afraid prices might go up.  

[corvusheart 163]

3 minutes ago, Haji delco said:

I know that feeling lol. Getting excited filling the forms which is 100x easier than the paper. Well hopefully they will give you the benefit of the doubt as it is only a couple of days off either side and you have proofs to corroborate. But with USCIS do not give them any reason to doubt or scrutinize anything. But with the proofs you have, you just need to be strong in the interview if it comes up and answer boldly and confidently that its an honest mistake. 

I heard even if you file by paper they still scan it in electronically and make it a electronic file that you can sign into and check. Would there be a way to correct it that way? Surely uscis realizes it's only human to make mistakes. Its only two days off. Otherwise we could abandon the application by not going to biometrics and refilling. But we'd have to pay the fee again. I wonder if there is anyone else on VJ that has made a similar mistake.