Biometrics

[Kimjeff 0]

Wife from Philippines. Sent I-751 on Feb. 5th. Received I-797(Noa 1) on Feb. 12th. Anybody know when we might get Biometrics appointment or how long normally until actual Biometrics date? 

[j&ana 363]

It should not take that long. I think my wife got her in a couple of weeks a month at the most. We filed for ROC in may of 2017

[Hank_ 9,174]

4 hours ago, Kimjeff said:

Wife from Philippines. Sent I-751 on Feb. 5th. Received I-797(Noa 1) on Feb. 12th. Anybody know when we might get Biometrics appointment or how long normally until actual Biometrics date? 

No one really knows, you will receive a notice in the mails ... relax .. .patience.   USCIS moves much slower now a days.

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

7 hours ago, Kimjeff said:

Wife from Philippines. Sent I-751 on Feb. 5th. Received I-797(Noa 1) on Feb. 12th. Anybody know when we might get Biometrics appointment or how long normally until actual Biometrics date? 

My wife filed for ROC over two years ago, and her 2 year GC is expired, she has extension letter.

 

Still no appointment letter for Biometrics...

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 minute ago, Chris Duffy said:

My wife filed for ROC over two years ago, and her 2 year GC is expired, she has extension letter.

 

Still no appointment letter for Biometrics...

When did you file though?

7 hours ago, Kimjeff said:

Wife from Philippines. Sent I-751 on Feb. 5th. Received I-797(Noa 1) on Feb. 12th. Anybody know when we might get Biometrics appointment or how long normally until actual Biometrics date? 

You will get that appt. letter about 1 month after submitting all the documents.

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

21 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

When did you file though?

 

She received her two year greencard, and it is now expired, We have extension letter which is about 6 months old.

 

I would say at least 6 months ago.  

[payxibka 10,045]

41 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

When did you file though?

You will get that appt. letter about 1 month after submitting all the documents.

The biometrics appointment will be based on how busy the local ASC is and how many slots they have available for the applications type, and how long the queue is for that type.  They schedule only a few weeks in advance.

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, Chris Duffy said:

She received her two year greencard, and it is now expired, We have extension letter which is about 6 months old.

 

I would say at least 6 months ago.  

USCIS has slowed down dramatically in the past couple years.  ROC is now taking close to a year, and even longer with some.  I think Greenbaum broke through the 1 year barrier with their wait on ROC.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

5 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

USCIS has slowed down dramatically in the past couple years.  ROC is now taking close to a year, and even longer with some.  I think Greenbaum broke through the 1 year barrier with their wait on ROC.

Gosh I am so thankful that ours did not do that for my wife's. It went on for like 9-10 months thank God.

[Hank_ 9,174]

4 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

Gosh I am so thankful that ours did not do that for my wife's. It went on for like 9-10 months thank God.

We were right on the edge of all the slow downs, ROC took 4 months, Naturalization took about 4 months also.  Few months after my wife complete ROC others I talked with were at the 7-10 mo range, and the same with Naturalization.   Now it is taking even longer.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

3 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

We were right on the edge of all the slow downs, ROC took 4 months, Naturalization took about 4 months also.  Few months after my wife complete ROC others I talked with were at the 7-10 mo range, and the same with Naturalization.   Now it is taking even longer.

I keep pushing my asawa to do Naturalization but she is so scared to do it(I don't know why), that I am literally thinking about signing her up to do it since I am the one that fills out all the paperwork anyways. Which will give her no choice but to do it.

But she is a bit of slacker sometimes in regards to paperwork and other stuff like that while I am not. Just like yesterday I found out that they are doing a Consular Outreach in NC on April 22-23rd, and I brought up the issue of her passport and how we can file for dual citizenship for our kids. She was asking me "Why do they need dual citizenship and not just be USC's". I don't know why she is like that but it is what it is.

[Hank_ 9,174]

27 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

I keep pushing my asawa to do Naturalization but she is so scared to do it(I don't know why), that I am literally thinking about signing her up to do it since I am the one that fills out all the paperwork anyways. Which will give her no choice but to do it.

But she is a bit of slacker sometimes in regards to paperwork and other stuff like that while I am not. Just like yesterday I found out that they are doing a Consular Outreach in NC on April 22-23rd, and I brought up the issue of her passport and how we can file for dual citizenship for our kids. She was asking me "Why do they need dual citizenship and not just be USC's". I don't know why she is like that but it is what it is.

The testing may be the road block for her; correctly answering 100 questions regarding the USA.  I know my wife got nervous, plus very intense with studying for this long before she filed the papers (and yes I completed most of the forms and she signed them)

 

 https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/study-test   

 

By the time the N-400 was filed my wife knew all 100 questions forewards and backwards.  Of course for the actual test they only ask you 10 questions out of the 100, if you get 6 correct in a row the testing is done as you only need to get 6 out of 10 questions correct.

 

Process is like this:  The official will have you read a question that is printed on a randomly selected sheet of paper, then you will next write the answer to the question... that completes the reading and writing requirement.   Then they grab another sheet of paper from the stack with 10 randomly selected questions printed on it, they will read this to you and you must answer them in English .. get 6 out of 10 correct and you have completed the speaking English requirement along with the actually testing.  DONE.   About a month after that is the oath taking and you go home with a shiny new Certificate of Naturalization.

 

Wait about 7-10 days after naturalization to take the certificate down to SSA so they can update your status in their system showing you are a USC now.    Of course you can now apply for a U.S. passport as well.

 

Why dual citizenship?  For your wife there may be little reason to be a dual citizen, even if you plan to move to the Philippines one day.  Unless owning large amount of real estate is on her list or voting in Philippine elections dual citizenship has few perks.   For the kids, if they planned to attend college in the Philippines one day, dual citizenship removes all the visa requirements and ECC issues.  But I must ask -  Didn't you report their births abroad to the Philippines consulate?  Or are they step-children?

 

In fact there are certain perks even if not a dual citizen.   Want to live in the Phils, have your former Filipino wife get an SSRVisa (this version is the cheapest offering of this type of visa), you as spouse can get this as well, it is like a BB stamp without limitations, plus perks.  Even the kids can get the SSRV through their mother.   Land ownership is limited with a former Filipino; 1,000 sq.m. urban, and up to 3 hectares rural.  

 

 

Edited February 14, 2018 by Hank_

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

6 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

The testing may be the road block for her; correctly answering 100 questions regarding the USA.  I know my wife got nervous, plus very intense with studying for this long before she filed the papers (and yes I completed most of the forms and she signed them)

 https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/study-test   

By the time the N-400 was filed my wife knew all 100 questions forewards and backwards.  Of course for the actual test they only ask you 10 questions out of the 100, if you get 6 correct in a row the testing is done as you only need to get 6 out of 10 questions correct.

Process is like this:  The official will have you read a question that is printed on a randomly selected sheet of paper, then you will next write the answer to the question... that completes the reading and writing requirement.   Then they grab another sheet of paper from the stack with 10 randomly selected questions printed on it, they will read this to you and you must answer them in English .. get 6 out of 10 correct and you have completed the speaking English requirement along with the actually testing.  DONE.   About a month after that is the oath taking and you go home with a shiny new Certificate of Naturalization.

Wait about 7-10 days after naturalization to take the certificate down to SSA so they can update your status in their system showing you are a USC now.    Of course you can now apply for a U.S. passport as well.

Why dual citizenship?  For your wife there may be little reason to be a dual citizen, even if you plan to move to the Philippines one day.  Unless owning large amount of real estate is on her list or voting in Philippine elections dual citizenship has few perks.   For the kids, if they planned to attend college in the Philippines one day, dual citizenship removes all the visa requirements and ECC issues.  But I must ask -  Didn't you report their births abroad to the Philippines consulate?  Or are they step-children?

In fact there are certain perks even if not a dual citizen.   Want to live in the Phils, have your former Filipino wife get an SSRVisa (this version is the cheapest offering of this type of visa), you as spouse can get this as well, it is like a BB stamp without limitations, plus perks.  Even the kids can get the SSRV through their mother.   Land ownership is limited with a former Filipino; 1,000 sq.m. urban, and up to 3 hectares rural.  

We reported for my 4 year old daughter but the 1 year old. Sorry I thought there was something else I had to for them to be Dual-citizens. I do plan on retiring in about 14 years when I am around 50 years old. Then I want to retire back to the Philippines hopefully and live off of my VA money until I reach the age of SSA. Then my kids could go to college in the Philippines if they want as well. I heard about the 3 Hectares part a couple years back when I was talking to an Australian. He and his wife "owned" a large coconut plantation in Northern Mindanao when actually it was his money but legally owned by different family members to get around the 3 hectare rule.

 

That is the plan right now but you know it all could change in the next 10-15 years.

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 minute ago, cyberfx1024 said:

We reported for my 4 year old daughter but the 1 year old. Sorry I thought there was something else I had to for them to be Dual-citizens. I do plan on retiring in about 14 years when I am around 50 years old. Then I want to retire back to the Philippines hopefully and live off of my VA money until I reach the age of SSA. Then my kids could go to college in the Philippines if they want as well. I heard about the 3 Hectares part a couple years back when I was talking to an Australian. He and his wife "owned" a large coconut plantation in Northern Mindanao when actually it was his money but legally owned by different family members to get around the 3 hectare rule.

 

That is the plan right now but you know it all could change in the next 10-15 years.

Philippine citizens don't have a "hectare rule" that only applies to former Filipinos.     

 

*If you reported the birth of your children to the Philippine consulate they ARE dual citizens .. nothing else to do.   Children born of at least on Filipino parent are dual citizens by birth.    Now what the children will need are Philippine passports .. one day.

 

OK .. from your perspective, if you want to avoid all the B-S of ACR cards and 13A visas (and you don't plan on having large real estate holdings), you wife NOT being a dual citizen is a big plus.  She can get the SRRVisa, as can you, it only needs renewal once a year for a modest fee through the PRA (not B-I).  You, on your own, can exit and enter the Philippines without limitations,  there are no ECC fees to consider when leaving the Phils.. no ACR cards, no visits to B-I.   A BB stamp offers most of this but you must enter the Philippines accompanied by your spouse, and this must be done yearly.

 

Your children are already dual citizens*, when staying there for extended time they should enter using Philippine passports.  For short stays they can avail to the BB stamp with the U.S. passport, (my wife does this.. yes she is a dual)

 

Oh, you as a veteran can get a variation of the SRRVisa on your own simply produce the DD-214 to PRA for application, this version is cheaper than the standard SRRVisa also.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

5 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Philippine citizens don't have a "hectare rule" that only applies to former Filipinos.     

 

*If you reported the birth of your children to the Philippine consulate they ARE dual citizens .. nothing else to do.   Children born of at least on Filipino parent are dual citizens by birth.    Now what the children will need are Philippine passports .. one day.

OK .. from your perspective, if you want to avoid all the B-S of ACR cards and 13A visas (and you don't plan on having large real estate holdings), you wife NOT being a dual citizen is a big plus.  She can get the SRRVisa, as can you, it only needs renewal once a year for a modest fee through the PRA (not B-I).  You, on your own, can exit and enter the Philippines without limitations,  there are no ECC fees to consider when leaving the Phils.. no ACR cards, no visits to B-I.   A BB stamp offers most of this but you must enter the Philippines accompanied by your spouse, and this must be done yearly.

Your children are already dual citizens*, when staying there for extended time they should enter using Philippine passports.  For short stays they can avail to the BB stamp with the U.S. passport, (my wife does this.. yes she is a dual)

Oh, you as a veteran can get a variation of the SRRVisa on your own simply produce the DD-214 to PRA for application, this version is cheaper than the standard SRRVisa also.

Daghang Salamat sir.