N-400 Online Filing Required Docs

[Loren Y 2,755]

I uploaded 3 years of transcripts with my wifes N400, but she was 3 year rule. Still, save the money and do it yourself, The N400 was the easiest part of the whole process.

[mam521 2,062]

I'm with @Loren Y - this is one you can totally DIY.  I did my application myself and just naturalized last month.  

 

Never hurts to frontload the petition and avoid the RFE's Mike E mentioned.  

Edited May 23, 2023 by mam521

[GEOntificator 281]

2 hours ago, mam521 said:

I'm with @Loren Y - this is one you can totally DIY.  I did my application myself and just naturalized last month.  

 

Never hurts to frontload the petition and avoid the RFE's Mike E mentioned.  

Makes sense to me. Thanks all for weighing in.

[Crazy Cat 41,856]

20 hours ago, kvito28 said:

Is it odd that my attorney does not want to submit taxes with online filing? I don't know what the disadvantage can be..

There are no disadvantages.  We uploaded 5 years tax transcripts when wife applied online.  The USCIS officer never even asked for them.  I am 100% certain he would have asked for them had I not already uploaded. 

Edited May 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,856]

4 hours ago, Loren Y said:

The N400 was the easiest part of the whole process.

Ain't that the truth!!!  The N-400 was actually a piece of cake.  I uploaded only a few items.  The I-751, on the other hand, was a gigantic pain in the neck.

Edited May 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[GEOntificator 281]

6 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Ain't that the truth!!!  The N-400 was actually a piece of cake.  I uploaded only a few items.  The I-751, on the other hand, was a gigantic pain in the neck.

Same here. I-751 took 28 months and two driver's license renewals. Thank god that is behind.

[mam521 2,062]

18 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

There are no disadvantages.  We uploaded 5 years tax transcripts when wife applied online.  The USCIS officer never even asked for them.  I am 100% certain he would have asked for them had I not already uploaded. 

100% guaranteed! 

[GEOntificator 281]

On 5/22/2023 at 9:02 PM, Mike E said:

It is in the check list:
 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/attachments.pdf

 

 

If you have taken any trip outside the United States that lasted 6 months or more since becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident, send evidence that you (and your family) continued to live, work and/or keep ties to the United States, such as:

 

An IRS tax return "transcript" or an IRS-certified tax return listing tax information for the last 5 years (or for the last 3 years if you are applying on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen).

 

 

Now granted it says to do this only of there were trips exceeding 6 months. However, when I filed my own N-400, DIY,  I lurked here for months, and the advice was to include tax transcripts.

 

There are enough other conditions listed in the check list that it is not surprising some applicants can blind sided by some ISOs. 

 

 

Doesn't the Transcript part apply only if one took 6+ month trip outside of the country?

 

[Crazy Cat 41,856]

I think submitting tax transcripts adds to the good moral character requirement.

[GEOntificator 281]

29 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

I think submitting tax transcripts adds to the good moral character requirement.

I don't disagree at all. It makes complete sense that one would. I did for all my other applications so I am familiar with it.

 

my attorney who is very reputable in the area and has recently done hundreds of N400s did not send any taxes. She says the local office never asked them and doesn't really look at them. I am going to bring them to my interview. I mentioned it to her but she said we did not need it during filing. I guess she gets paid to do her job so I did not object. This attorney is the same one who handled my I-751 WAIVER case and I got approved without an RFE or interview. I trust her way..  
 

 

Edited May 24, 2023 by kvito28

[Mike E 11,739]

37 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

Doesn't the Transcript part apply only if one took 6+ month trip outside of the country?

 

Several ISOs disagree.

[Mike E 11,739]

4 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

am going to bring them to my interview. I mentioned it to her but she said we did not need it during filing. I

I saw a case where tax returns were not submitted, and the applicant instead brought them to interview. The ISO still issued an RFE, claiming that there was a new policy that said tax return evidence cannot be collected at interview. The RFE was sent, replied to, and months later oath has not been scheduled. 
 

I hope you bring your lawyer to the interview.

 

I fail to understand the persistent resistance to

 

* filling tax returns even when there is no taxable income

* submitting tax return transcripts with N-400

 

To me USCIS is like a casino and the rules are rigged so the house always wins. No tax filing and no tax returns is like saying “hit me” when you are sitting on 17 and the blackjack dealer is showing a 3.

 

  

[GEOntificator 281]

Just now, Mike E said:

I saw a case where tax returns were not submitted, and the applicant instead brought them to interview. The ISO still issued an RFE, claiming that there was a new policy that said tax return evidence cannot be collected at interview. The RFE was sent, replied to, and months later oath has not been scheduled. 
 

I hope you bring your lawyer to the interview.

 

I fail to understand the persistent resistance to

 

* filling tax returns even when there is no taxable income

* submitting tax return transcripts with N-400

 

To me USCIS is like a casino and the rules are rigged so the house always wins. No tax filing and no tax returns is like saying “hit me” when you are sitting on 17 and the blackjack dealer is showing a 3.

 

  

I agree with you and wanted to send taxes with my application. At the same time I did not push on it since she is the expert and gets paid for it. I really hope my case goes as well as her other N400s. 
 

experiences vary largely. My other friend who naturalized sent nothing except the GC copy and brought nothing to his interview. He even forgot to include employment info and apparently the interviewing office joked about it and asked him to help fill in at least something. He got approved on the spot. Like you said USCIS rules vary wildy.. 

[springguy 33]

21 hours ago, kvito28 said:

I agree with you and wanted to send taxes with my application. At the same time I did not push on it since she is the expert and gets paid for it. I really hope my case goes as well as her other N400s. 
 

experiences vary largely. My other friend who naturalized sent nothing except the GC copy and brought nothing to his interview. He even forgot to include employment info and apparently the interviewing office joked about it and asked him to help fill in at least something. He got approved on the spot. Like you said USCIS rules vary wildy.. 

My wife and I filed N-400 through our company attorney  (Employment based GC, 5 yrs rule). through  paper mail and sent only  GC copy along with the application. No marriage certificate, no tax transcripts, no residence proof9. We pushed our attorney to add it but they simply refused. We took those items for interview but the IO did not ask us for anything. The IO only wanted to verify and crosscheck  the original  GC, passport and state ID. 

Just sharing our experience 🙂

[GEOntificator 281]

35 minutes ago, springguy said:

My wife and I filed N-400 through our company attorney  (Employment based GC, 5 yrs rule). through  paper mail and sent only  GC copy along with the application. No marriage certificate, no tax transcripts, no residence proof9. We pushed our attorney to add it but they simply refused. We took those items for interview but the IO did not ask us for anything. The IO only wanted to verify and crosscheck  the original  GC, passport and state ID. 

Just sharing our experience 🙂

Thanks for sharing it! That what my attorney did. I think the rationale is that don't send something unless it is specifically asked to do. This avoids any unnecessary scrutiny of your documents. On the flip side you run the risk of getting an RFE or delay. I think it is always good to err on the side of caution and provide more rather than less. At this point my application is in. I think I will be fine. The last journey to never have to deal with the USCIS again!