online or paper

[anniesdream 5]

54 minutes ago, nickymicky said:

so when we send paper application to USCIS and after receiving first NOA and they put everything in their system it is same like we filled online application.. is this correct ? the process goes smoothly like online application

At least in my son's case, they did put everything in the system and set up an online account for him. But as far as the processing time compared to online filing, we'll still have to wait and see.

[Going through 5,671]

3 minutes ago, anniesdream said:

Right, it's not the uscis case status account for any case but a specific account @ myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov where he is able to check Case Status, Case History and view and download Notices. He filed in May 2018.

That is awesome paper filers are able to download/view documents sent out now!  When I filed last year, paper-based applicants were reporting they weren't able to even SEE the documents muchless print them out.

[anniesdream 5]

3 minutes ago, Going through said:

That is awesome paper filers are able to download/view documents sent out now!  When I filed last year, paper-based applicants were reporting they weren't able to even SEE the documents muchless print them out.

Yes, I guess we should give credit to USCIS for making technological progress:)

[nickymicky 58]

so to make it clear while filling paper the only time we loose is until they cash the check and issue NOA. and after issuing NOA its pretty much the same as online application

[Going through 5,671]

1 hour ago, nickymicky said:

so to make it clear while filling paper the only time we loose is until they cash the check and issue NOA. and after issuing NOA its pretty much the same as online application

I can only speak based on the July 2017 filers thread (which I am a part of)---almost every person who had submitted an online application received their interview date/became citizens several months ahead of the paper filers in the same field office.

 

Guess good way to judge it is to look at recent N400 filers threads for this year and see if online filing is still seeming to pick up speed compared to paper filing based on member reports.

[severinep 0]

I didn't know you could file online so I did the paper application. Once they receive your application, there is no other difference with the online application. You might save a week or two by doing it online.

I have some friends who filed it online (July 2017). They are still waiting for an interview. Mine was done October 2017 and I am still waiting for an interview.

 

[nickymicky 58]

just got the email:

 

Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS Harrisonburg Storage Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number IOE xxxxxxxxxxxx. With the official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you may visit www.uscis.gov where you can check the status of your case using My Case Status. We suggest you wait until you have received your Form I-797 before checking My Case Status.

 

and when I enter the receipt number at uscis.gov it says:

 

On June 27, 2018, we received your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, Receipt Number IOE xxxxxxxxxxx   and mailed you a receipt notice. It is being processed at our Integrated Operating Env location. The notice describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

 

but my check has not been cashed yet..

 

 

[CarlHamilton 252]

3 minutes ago, love_my_wife said:

The overall processing will however, take the same time as anyone else irrespective of paper or online processing!

What is your evidence for that?

[nickymicky 58]

called USCIS and they gave me account access code from which I was able to create online account and I was told paper and online filling is same once the case entered into their system.

[Going through 5,671]

1 hour ago, love_my_wife said:

There is no evidence needed. It is pretty logical. Online or paper filing are just options provided to you to file your forms as per your convenience. It doesn't affect your timelines. I submitted online and the ETA for my case completion is 27 months!

Not always the case.  Sometimes it can go faster.

Don't always take the ETA case completion times to heart.  

When I filed online, my ETA was 18 months to completion.

My *actual* completion time was 96 days.

 

Looking at various monthly filer threads (past and present),  there can be a noticeable difference in the processing speed between online and paper applications at times when comparing filers from the same field offices.  Speed also depends on the field office, straightforwardness of the application (by the way, mine was definitely not straightforward), speed of background check, etc.  

 

There does seem to be at least *some* correlation between how the N400 if filed with that, though...online or paper.

[CarlHamilton 252]

3 minutes ago, Going through said:

Not always the case.  Sometimes it can go faster.

Don't always take the ETA case completion times to heart.  

When I filed online, my ETA was 18 months to completion.

My *actual* completion time was 96 days.

 

Looking at various monthly filer threads (past and present),  there can be a noticeable difference in the processing speed between online and paper applications at times when comparing filers from the same field offices.  Speed also depends on the field office, straightforwardness of the application (by the way, mine was definitely not straightforward), speed of background check, etc.  

 

There does seem to be at least *some* correlation between how the N400 if filed with that, though...online or paper.

Of course, since there are so few paper filings reported on here these days it's hard to get a good data set.  But older evidence points to online being faster (of course USCIS won't officially tell you that). 

[Going through 5,671]

1 minute ago, shomer said:

Of course, since there are so few paper filings reported on here these days it's hard to get a good data set.  But older evidence points to online being faster (of course USCIS won't officially tell you that). 

Yep as word got out about online filing, a paper applicant seems to be the "odd-man-out" nowadays.

My heart went out to a few VJ members---and members from another forum I frequent----who (also filing from NY in the same month) decided to do the paper application instead of online like other NY'kers in the same filing month. 

 

By the time the NY online filers had all taken their oaths----the paper filers were still waiting for their interviews to be scheduled months later.  

[Going through 5,671]

20 minutes ago, love_my_wife said:

I wonder why given an option, people try to do the hard thing. Online N400 is so easy as it validates your application as you move forward assuring that you have filled your data correctly. 

Not everyone is eligible to file online.  Others don't even know the option exists.

[Going through 5,671]

1 hour ago, love_my_wife said:

My field office will be Dallas, TX (It is the closest to your place of residence, right).  And apart from the 3 traffic tickets (Speeding) in the last 8 years I have been in US, I don't have any thing else that is negative on my application. Does that count as straight forward. Current processing time for Dallas is 17 to 20 months.

With speeding tickets, the IO may want to verify proof of payment for them---but you should be fine.  Multiple traffic violations can impact the Good Moral Character requirement (if the IO wants to be a stickler about it), but if the tickets were "spaced out" over the last 5 years (if you are a 5 year filer), or the last 3 years (if you are a 3 year filer) then you shouldn't have any issues.

 

Yeah you're pretty much straightforward if only minor traffic violations, imo.

Edited June 30, 2018 by Going through

[nickymicky 58]

Hey I started this thread and today I got this email so tell me the difference between paper and online. I did paper and seems its going super fast..

 

On June 30, 2018, we scheduled you for a biometrics appointment and mailed you an appointment notice for Receipt Number IOE x x x x xx xxxx.  Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your appointment notice by July 30, 2018, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.