Orders to Europe and ROC

[R&OC 371]

We are probably going to Europe next year. Is there any advice you can give me for the ROC or naturalization process? 

 

The internet states that certain processes can be expedited for individual cases. I am not concerned about those but rather the process from abroad. Who would we file the ROC with? Would it be our last "local" USCIS? Or is there a international version such as the DCF process available via Frankfurt?

 

If anyone has done the process, please share with me. For all I know, I need to be on my husband's orders which I am assuming I will be. Secondly, we would have to inform USCIS, correct? Would we have to file a re-entry permit or do we carry a copy of my husband's orders when travelling to the US? I don't want to abandon the GC.

 

Will we be criticised for just getting the green card and already PCS'ing? 

 

 

[Roel 7,192]

You file RoC the same way you'd file it from within US.

You don't need re-entry permit AS LONG AS you're on your spouse PCS orders. You will NEED to update your address with USCIS and there will be an option to mark that you're overseas with military orders.

 

You won't have any local offices or DCF (there is no such thing for ROC...)

I did my ROC from Germany without any issues. Only thing different is that you will need to do biometrics on your military post and attach the small, sealed biometric envelope with your petition. You need to include fee for ROC + biometrics with the petition.

 

This is what I did.

It took bit over a year for approval.

 

edit: https://www.uscis.gov/i-751 

Check "Where to file" tab for address info.

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2018 by Roel

[Roel 7,192]

Just want to add that when you're on your spouse orders, you don't need to go to the US every 6 months to keep your green card. Your "US resident time" will just continue when you're in Germany.  So you can stay in Europe for 3 years (or however long it will be) and your status will not be considered abandoned.  That's why military spouses don't need a re-entry permits.