Confirmation and some additional questions please.

[Kan777 2]

Hi. I have thought of applying for citizenship since my mom passed last year. (she was generally against it). Im Canadian who entered the US (after 9 years in UK) in 1979. PR since 79( I was a dependent as I was 20). So 39 yrs being PR.  Married since 1980. Two American born adult kids. No legal issues except traffic citations. Owned same home since 1985. 

Questions.

From what I have read on these boards filling under the 5 year rule is faster due to not having to involve my American wife for verification?

Online seems significantly faster?

I was employed at the same company continuously from 1979 till 2012. (33 years). However since 2013 I have not worked full time and claimed some unemployment benefits. Ive paid into (and continue to do so)  SS, Medicare, and unemployment since 1979. Is claiming unemployment benefits  potentially going to hurt me?

Lastly. For a period of about 9 years starting in 79 (including mine) Green cards were for life never needing renewal. The A number sequence is slightly different. This was an issue on a another government website once (ACA) as it wouldn't take it so I uploaded it. Wondering if anyone can remember that section of the online process if it may not accept a different amount of characters? 

 

Thanks much.

[debbiedoo 2,339]

17 minutes ago, Kan777 said:

Hi. I have thought of applying for citizenship since my mom passed last year. (she was generally against it). Im Canadian who entered the US (after 9 years in UK) in 1979. PR since 79( I was a dependent as I was 20). So 39 yrs being PR.  Married since 1980. Two American born adult kids. No legal issues except traffic citations. Owned same home since 1985. 

Questions.

From what I have read on these boards filling under the 5 year rule is faster due to not having to involve my American wife for verification?

Online seems significantly faster?

I was employed at the same company continuously from 1979 till 2012. (33 years). However since 2013 I have not worked full time and claimed some unemployment benefits. Ive paid into (and continue to do so)  SS, Medicare, and unemployment since 1979. Is claiming unemployment benefits  potentially going to hurt me?

Lastly. For a period of about 9 years starting in 79 (including mine) Green cards were for life never needing renewal. The A number sequence is slightly different. This was an issue on a another government website once (ACA) as it wouldn't take it so I uploaded it. Wondering if anyone can remember that section of the online process if it may not accept a different amount of characters? 

 

Thanks much.

i cant help with your questions, but my ex had one of those permanent green cards. I always thought it was strange, since we had friends who had to renew theirs every 10 years.  We never knew why his didnt expire (he moved here as a child). 

 

i dont think youll have an issue with having claimed unemployment though. you certainly paid into it long enough and its not considered public assistance. 

[NikLR 13,227]

Was your card an I-151? If so the USCIS wanted you to replace it with an I-551 but never implemented a rule requiring you to do so.

 

Obviously you would apply under the 5 year rule considering the time frame you've been a USC and the fact that you did not come here originally as a USC spouse. 

 

Unemployment should not be an issue. It's not a means tested benefit for one, for two, LPR are entitled to use it, and three you've certainly passed the 5 year mark where you couldn't use means tested benefits anyhow.  

[Going through 5,671]

33 minutes ago, Kan777 said:

The A number sequence is slightly different. This was an issue on a another government website once (ACA) as it wouldn't take it so I uploaded it. Wondering if anyone can remember that section of the online process if it may not accept a different amount of characters? 

I don't remember having to enter in the number manually in the online system for the N400 (I would assume I did)...you do have to scan a photo of your GC (front and back), and then upload that scan.

 

Easiest way to figure it out would be just to start filling out the online submission and see if your A# will "take" as is....you don't have to fill out and submit the whole form right then and there----the system will save your info for up to 30 days.

Edited July 18, 2018 by Going through

[Kan777 2]

8 hours ago, NikLR said:

Was your card an I-151? If so the USCIS wanted you to replace it with an I-551 but never implemented a rule requiring you to do so.

 

Obviously you would apply under the 5 year rule considering the time frame you've been a USC and the fact that you did not come here originally as a USC spouse. 

 

Unemployment should not be an issue. It's not a means tested benefit for one, for two, LPR are entitled to use it, and three you've certainly passed the 5 year mark where you couldn't use means tested benefits anyhow.  

I just looked at my GC its says I-551. Interestingly my sister who has the same card was given a really hard time returning from a trip back to the U.S. 2 years ago. The officer apparently stated she had to change her card to a the newer style (which have ti be renewed). which is completely false. 

Edited July 18, 2018 by Kan777
spelling

[NikLR 13,227]

12 hours ago, Kan777 said:

I just looked at my GC its says I-551. Interestingly my sister who has the same card was given a really hard time returning from a trip back to the U.S. 2 years ago. The officer apparently stated she had to change her card to a the newer style (which have ti be renewed). which is completely false. 

I read that CBP give you guys hard times since you don't have an expiration.  They're generally not the brightest bulbs. Lol

[Going through 5,671]

The only thing I could find on the USCIS website regarding older GC versions was this:

 

Versions of Green Card That Are No Longer Valid

If you have a previous version of the alien registration card (e.g., USCIS Form AR-3, Form AR-103 or Form I-151), you must replace it with a current green card.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/renew-green-card#valid  (near bottom of that page)