CONFUSED !! /?????

[mavel 2]

Hello VJ''s . So my conditional GC expired on 02/04/18 i sent my package on Dec 2017 , I got my extension letter and June 18th 2018 i got  a notification saying that to process my case faster they have move it to California  Service Center. i have two question today . A couple days ago i was out the country when i was entering to US the officer say that she was going to send me to additional security checkup because my GC expired in Feb 4th 2018 and I still don't have my permanent GC.  I TOLD her that's why they gave me the extension letter while they process my case.  My question is,  can they do that? my Letter will expire Feb 4th 2019 I thought i was OK to travel with no problem. my SECOND QUESTION IS,  I have a friend that is going through the same process than me.  she got her extension letter and it will expired on august she hasn't gotten her permanent GC yet but she already applied for US citizenship . Is that possible or legal?

 

Thank you in advance

[Free Man 119]

Hi Mavel, 

I will leave the experts to answer the first part of your question. On the LAST part, I was told by an immigration attorney that once your apply to remove the condition on your GC, with or without approval, you can file for citizenship after 2.9yrs after receiving your First GC. 

In you case,  9 months after 02/04/18, you are eligible to apply for citizenship.

According to the immigration lawyer, USCIS may adjudicate both cases on the same date.  

So yes , it's possible and legal as long as you are eligible.

[Alabamak1 688]

3 minutes ago, Ras Ous said:

Hi Mavel, 

I will leave the experts to answer the first part of your question. On the LAST part, I was told by an immigration attorney that once your apply to remove the condition on your GC, with or without approval, you can file for citizenship after 2.9yrs after receiving your First GC. 

In you case,  9 months after 02/04/18, you are eligible to apply for citizenship.

According to the immigration lawyer, USCIS may adjudicate both cases on the same date.  

So yes , it's possible and legal as long as you are eligible.

agree on this too. it is possible to file for naturalization, before the ROC process is finished. the law allows this as long as you qualify and fulfill the timeline  of the 3 year rule.

[Alabamak1 688]

23 minutes ago, mavel said:

Hello VJ''s . So my conditional GC expired on 02/04/18 i sent my package on Dec 2017 , I got my extension letter and June 18th 2018 i got  a notification saying that to process my case faster they have move it to California  Service Center. i have two question today . A couple days ago i was out the country when i was entering to US the officer say that she was going to send me to additional security checkup because my GC expired in Feb 4th 2018 and I still don't have my permanent GC.  I TOLD her that's why they gave me the extension letter while they process my case.  My question is,  can they do that? my Letter will expire Feb 4th 2019 I thought i was OK to travel with no problem. my SECOND QUESTION IS,  I have a friend that is going through the same process than me.  she got her extension letter and it will expired on august she hasn't gotten her permanent GC yet but she already applied for US citizenship . Is that possible or legal?

 

Thank you in advance

are you talking about secondary at the airport? not exactly sure what your question is here

[EmmNM 179]

22 minutes ago, Ras Ous said:

Hi Mavel, 

I will leave the experts to answer the first part of your question. On the LAST part, I was told by an immigration attorney that once your apply to remove the condition on your GC, with or without approval, you can file for citizenship after 2.9yrs after receiving your First GC. 

In you case,  9 months after 02/04/18, you are eligible to apply for citizenship.

According to the immigration lawyer, USCIS may adjudicate both cases on the same date.  

So yes , it's possible and legal as long as you are eligible.

True. If she obtained her GC through marriage and is still married to that same person.

 

Additionally, she needs to meet these requirements:

- Not being outside the US for a year or more in a row

- Not being outside the country for a total of 18 months or more

- Must be living in the same place for at least 3 months before petitioning.

Edited July 20, 2018 by EmmNM

[FlashLG 152]

I would assume that sending you to the secondary security check is just part of the procedure given your circumstances and the fact your GC had expired. Even though you have the extension letter, they still have to confirm your status and it's easier for them to do that at the secondary security point than have them do it at the first point, as it saves holding up the line behind you. 

 

I was sent to secondary a couple of weeks ago when I re-entered the US using Advanced Parole. The lady at the Border Point said it was just the procedure as they need to confirm your status before they let you in and it takes a little while for them to go through the check. I suspect it's the same in your case.

[mavel 2]

2 hours ago, Ras Ous said:

Hi Mavel, 

I will leave the experts to answer the first part of your question. On the LAST part, I was told by an immigration attorney that once your apply to remove the condition on your GC, with or without approval, you can file for citizenship after 2.9yrs after receiving your First GC. 

In you case,  9 months after 02/04/18, you are eligible to apply for citizenship.

According to the immigration lawyer, USCIS may adjudicate both cases on the same date.  

So yes , it's possible and legal as long as you are eligible.

Which form do I need to fill out for U.S. citizenship

[mavel 2]

2 hours ago, Alabamak1 said:

are you talking about secondary at the airport? not exactly sure what your question is here

I was flying from DR to U.S. so as my first port of entry to USA I have to go through customs the officer told me that she will send for additional checkup because my green card expired long time ago Feb 4th. Even I show her the later she kept saying that they were taking too long with my case. My question for how long can I use my extension letter I thought since it's a year I'm still good ? The letter will expire 02/04/19 I'm planning to fly to DR in Dec coming back on January 2nd I wanna make sure I will be ok to enter to the country without any problems. The officer made me doubt about if the letter is really effective for one year 

[Unlockable 7,315]

4 hours ago, mavel said:

Which form do I need to fill out for U.S. citizenship

N-400

 

But keep in mind, you have to be eligible to file. If you obtained your GC through marriage and it has been 3 years (minus 90 days) from when you GC expires, you can file.

 

4 hours ago, mavel said:

I was flying from DR to U.S. so as my first port of entry to USA I have to go through customs the officer told me that she will send for additional checkup because my green card expired long time ago Feb 4th. Even I show her the later she kept saying that they were taking too long with my case. My question for how long can I use my extension letter I thought since it's a year I'm still good ? The letter will expire 02/04/19 I'm planning to fly to DR in Dec coming back on January 2nd I wanna make sure I will be ok to enter to the country without any problems. The officer made me doubt about if the letter is really effective for one year 

ANYONE that is not a US citizen can be sent into secondary for questioning. Even if you had a valid green card you could have been question in secondary. The officer was probably checking to make sure the letter was authentic. You should be fine if you travel with it again.

 

The only people who are guaranteed entry into the US are US citizens.

[mushroomspore 3,044]

13 hours ago, mavel said:

Which form do I need to fill out for U.S. citizenship

N-400.

 

But you need to verify you are actually eligible. Did you get your GC through marriage? If yes, are you still married to that American?

 

You're allowed to file for citizenship even if RoC isn't done, so long as you're fully eligible for citizenship.

[Loren Y 2,755]

8 hours ago, NuestraUnion said:

N-400

 

But keep in mind, you have to be eligible to file. If you obtained your GC through marriage and it has been 3 years (minus 90 days) from when you GC expires, you can file.

 

ANYONE that is not a US citizen can be sent into secondary for questioning. Even if you had a valid green card you could have been question in secondary. The officer was probably checking to make sure the letter was authentic. You should be fine if you travel with it again.

 

The only people who are guaranteed entry into the US are US citizens.

I am a USC and I have been sent to secondary multiple times in the past say 10 years. Granted I leave and enter the United States about 10 times a year. Being a USC doesn't keep you out of secondary inspection. I have heard all sorts of reasons, we need to check your bag, something's weird on your global entry, your coming back in from a high risk country. You name it, I believe anyone can be sent to secondary, a USC doesn't get a free pass, at least I don't. LOL

[shumway1756 304]

11 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

I am a USC and I have been sent to secondary multiple times in the past say 10 years. Granted I leave and enter the United States about 10 times a year. Being a USC doesn't keep you out of secondary inspection. I have heard all sorts of reasons, we need to check your bag, something's weird on your global entry, your coming back in from a high risk country. You name it, I believe anyone can be sent to secondary, a USC doesn't get a free pass, at least I don't. LOL

You are 100% correct, anyone can be sent to secondary. A USC is simply guaranteed entry. Granted, if the USC did something illegal that entry may be in handcuffs, but it's guaranteed nonetheless.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

15 hours ago, mavel said:

  I TOLD her that's why they gave me the extension letter while they process my case.  My question is,  can they do that? my Letter will expire Feb 4th 2019 I thought i was OK to travel with no problem.

Thank you in advance

 

In short, yes they can.  The only ones that are guaranteed entrance in to the U.S. are US citizens.  I was taken in to secondary inspection even though I had my 10 year green card.  Now the important thing is that you WERE admitted correct?  Next time you travel with your extension letter you may or may not have problems.  

 

Good luck 

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

For citizenship, just go here:

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/apply-citizenship

 

The website will guide you and inform you if you are able to file the n400 application, after asking you a series of questions. Good luck!

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

39 minutes ago, shumway1756 said:

You are 100% correct, anyone can be sent to secondary. A USC is simply guaranteed entry. Granted, if the USC did something illegal that entry may be in handcuffs, but it's guaranteed nonetheless.

 

Exactly. As the other poster, I worked internationally in Africa for 15 months so would be flying in and out frequently. My first rotation over I had to go to our HQ in Denmark, but that had a layover in Amsterdam... getting on the plane there were Customs officers asking everyone boarding where they were going, why, ect... Mine was a bit odd as had to tell them I was going to all these random places but soon as oil field work came out they were like "Oh okay have a good one". hah. Even coming back one trip I almost got held up when they asked where I'd been and said Africa, then they looked somewhat hesitantly and pointed at a map they had behind them on the wall about the ebola outbreak and asked if I had been anywhere there (luckily no but think they got worried).

The US seems like it may hassle people sometimes; but I've been pulled into secondary going into Canada.. fined for smoking with 20 other people outside an airport in Kazahkstan where only  got my passport taken, taken into an office and wouldn't be 'released' until i paid the fine which was only 20 bucks..Trinidad is always a fun experience(mostly slow)...and  Angola, man they hassle you all day long going in and going out hah. The US seems like a breeze in comparison.

Edited July 20, 2018 by Ben&Zian