N-400 April 2020 Filers

[Scandi 4,166]

1 hour ago, DavidX said:

 

Although, Yanisa didn't need to do an ROC interview, we did have to fly over to Honolulu for biometrics for her ROC. I remember you explaining that biometrics were only good for 18 months when we were wondering if they would be able to reuse the ones from AOS for ROC.

 

Yeah, I understand this is different.

 

-David

 

Yeah, biometrics are only valid for 15 months under normal circumstances. Who knows what happens during covid-19 though, during the time the offices are closed down. The office wasn't closed when I did mine in November so obviously I had to do them.

[abfar 119]

Just now, Scandi said:

Yeah, biometrics are only valid for 15 months under normal circumstances. Who knows what happens during covid-19 though, during the time the offices are closed down. The office wasn't closed when I did mine in November so obviously I had to do them.

So you're saying, if I forget to use my phone for 15 months, it will no longer recognize my finger print? 😮

[Scandi 4,166]

2 hours ago, Thelord said:

Regarding the timing of the previous biometrics, USCIS did not provide a cut off date that would invalidate the previous biometrics. as long as your name, your date of birth and your A-number matches exactly with the previous USCIS case that collected your biometrics then you satisfy the requirement. 

 

Regarding the interview actually that's a good point that eventually it is required and cannot be waived. But, maybe they do this to reduce the public load on the field offices so they can conduct interviews with social distancing. In any case, the fingerprints taken 5 years ago is as good as fingerprints taken now (it never changes that's the whole point). But for the photos if they need an updated picture happy to send one  

 

In other word, my understanding is as long as my interview can happen during July and August 2020 (before September 1, 2020) then there is no need for me to do a new biometrics.

Fingerprints do change sometimes, some people get scars that change the prints, some get burn injuries that change the prints etc. I know it didn't mention any "expiration date", but 5 years is a long time. I highly doubt a fingerprint waiver will happen for you (or me for that matter). I don't care either way, I live five minutes away from my office and it takes 10 minutes to get it done on a random walk-in. I still need to wait for the offices to open to get an interview, so can may as well get a bio appointment too.

[Scandi 4,166]

3 minutes ago, abfar said:

So you're saying, if I forget to use my phone for 15 months, it will no longer recognize my finger print? 😮

No, I'm saying USCIS needs updated biometrics if the previous ones are older than 15 months. 😆

[Puppy Popcorn 7]

Hey guys I need some help with filling out the N-400.

Part 12 - question 17 asks if you're ever in a group that held a weapon against any person. I wrote no.

Then questions 17a and 17b asks "if you answered yes..."

 

Since I answered no, do I just leave those A and B questions blank then? It makes it seem incomplete.

I would hate for USCIS to deny me because I'm misunderstanding something.😐

[Scandi 4,166]

2 hours ago, Puppy Popcorn said:

Hey guys I need some help with filling out the N-400.

Part 12 - question 17 asks if you're ever in a group that held a weapon against any person. I wrote no.

Then questions 17a and 17b asks "if you answered yes..."

 

Since I answered no, do I just leave those A and B questions blank then? It makes it seem incomplete.

I would hate for USCIS to deny me because I'm misunderstanding something.😐

I left those blank. The follow up questions don't apply to you if you answered no.

 

It sounds like you're filling out the paper form. Try the online form instead if you have the possibility, it's so easy and smooth to use. It also filters away some questions that don't apply to you.

[Puppy Popcorn 7]

8 hours ago, Scandi said:

I left those blank. The follow up questions don't apply to you if you answered no.

 

It sounds like you're filling out the paper form. Try the online form instead if you have the possibility, it's so easy and smooth to use. It also filters away some questions that don't apply to you.

Thank you Scandi, you're so smart for figuring it out 😄

I'm filling out the paper format and printing it out as reference, as a backup/hard copy.

Then I'll fill the online one 🙂 I like to play it safe like that.

[Puppy Popcorn 7]

I have a question about arrests/violations.

Somewhere in 2012 I paid an incorrect amount of bus fare and was fined $100, which I paid and that was that.

 

When I applied for the green card, a question which asked about violations mentioned "excluding traffic violations" so I didn't write about my bus story. But the N-400 didn't state the exemption.

 

Somewhere down the list of N-400 instructions it mentioned to bring evidence of any charges, documents, reports, etc. But it was literally a ticket that I had to give back once I paid that $100. I really have no evidence at all. What am I supposed to do?? 😐😐😐

[Scandi 4,166]

3 minutes ago, Puppy Popcorn said:

Thank you Scandi, you're so smart for figuring it out 😄

I'm filling out the paper format and printing it out as reference, as a backup/hard copy.

Then I'll fill the online one 🙂 I like to play it safe like that.

Okay, also know that once you have submitted the online application there will be something called a "snapshot", when you click on that one you will see your whole application on the form. It's a copy of the paper form and all your online application answers are in the form. So whatever you fill out right now on the paper form will automatically be done for you once you're done.

[Puppy Popcorn 7]

39 minutes ago, Puppy Popcorn said:

I have a question about arrests/violations.

Somewhere in 2012 I paid an incorrect amount of bus fare and was fined $100, which I paid and that was that.

 

When I applied for the green card, a question which asked about violations mentioned "excluding traffic violations" so I didn't write about my bus story. But the N-400 didn't state the exemption.

 

Somewhere down the list of N-400 instructions it mentioned to bring evidence of any charges, documents, reports, etc. But it was literally a ticket that I had to give back once I paid that $100. I really have no evidence at all. What am I supposed to do?? 😐😐😐

A pdf I read here mentions that you don't need documentations for fines less than $500. (Mine was $100)

But do I still say "yes" to  questions 22-25 then? It makes me feel like a serious criminal 😳

 

22: Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?

Yes. I paid for the wrong bus fare and had to pay a fine. I was pulled aside so they could write my name but did not get arrested.

 

23: Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including any immigration official or any official of the U.S. armed forces) for any reason?

Yes. The $100 fine.

 

24: Have you EVER been charged with committing, attempting to commit, or assisting in committing a crime or offense?

Yes. Didn't pay the right bus fare. I was 18 but paid the price of a 17-year old which was around $1.25 cheaper (that was a significant amount as an international student, shouldn't have done it though).

25: Have you EVER been convicted of a crime or offense?

Yes. The bus fare offense.

[Thelord 42]

47 minutes ago, Puppy Popcorn said:

A pdf I read here mentions that you don't need documentations for fines less than $500. (Mine was $100)

But do I still say "yes" to  questions 22-25 then? It makes me feel like a serious criminal 😳

 

22: Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?

Yes. I paid for the wrong bus fare and had to pay a fine. I was pulled aside so they could write my name but did not get arrested.

 

23: Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including any immigration official or any official of the U.S. armed forces) for any reason?

Yes. The $100 fine.

 

24: Have you EVER been charged with committing, attempting to commit, or assisting in committing a crime or offense?

Yes. Didn't pay the right bus fare. I was 18 but paid the price of a 17-year old which was around $1.25 cheaper (that was a significant amount as an international student, shouldn't have done it though).

25: Have you EVER been convicted of a crime or offense?

Yes. The bus fare offense.

 

You just failed to pay the right bus fee by mistake you did NOT COMMIT A CRIME man! The crime is something you do maliciously.

The only thing you need to say YES is Q23 and explain there why you were given a ticken. The answers to Q22, Q24 and Q25 should be NO. 

 

also while you don't need to submit supporting documents for traffic fines less than $500 you need to disclose them in Q23 as part of citation.

[Puppy Popcorn 7]

7 hours ago, Thelord said:

 

You just failed to pay the right bus fee by mistake you did NOT COMMIT A CRIME man! The crime is something you do maliciously.

The only thing you need to say YES is Q23 and explain there why you were given a ticken. The answers to Q22, Q24 and Q25 should be NO. 

 

also while you don't need to submit supporting documents for traffic fines less than $500 you need to disclose them in Q23 as part of citation.

Thanks Thelord

I ended up writing only a 'yes' for #23. But during the part with evidence they asked for a bunch of stuff (court arrest, convictions removed from record, etc) which weren't applicable. I wrote a document saying it wasn't applicable and uploaded that as 'evidence' instead because it wouldn't let me move on unless I uploaded something. Hopefully it won't cause a big issue in the future  

[millefleur 5,046]

On 5/10/2020 at 1:06 PM, Scandi said:

That was quick, they transferred immediately. Well it's always nice to see an update like that after a move, then you feel a little more "safe" that your case won't end up at your old field office and that it'll cause a delay.

Interestingly, I just checked the status on the "old" site and this is the info there:

 

As of May 5, 2020, your request to change your address, referral number CAXXXXXXXXXMSC, is currently not assigned for processing.

 

If anyone else does an address change, let me know if you get similar updates.

[sami5000 3]

Hello folks

 

I have submit my N-400 file by mail April,27  been received April,28 ,to AZ , as of today i have never received anything , 

 

Call USCIS and they said nothing in the system and asked me to send email to lock box ,but no replay so far , any one have similar issue ?

 

 

Edited May 13, 2020 by sami5000

[thongho2910 17]

2 minutes ago, sami5000 said:

Hello folks

 

I have submit my N-400 file by mail April,27  been received April,28 ,to AZ , as of today i have never received anything , Tracking show delivered  

 

Call USCIS and they asked me to send email to lock box ,but no replay so far , any one have similar issue ?

 

 

Did you get any text message or case #?