N-400 February 2024 Filers

[minivatreni 193]

1 minute ago, brazibride said:

Speaking of tax returns, my husband and I filed for an extension this year (before the deadline) and paid the estimated amount we owe. Do you think that's ok or do we need to file our full 2023 returns before my citizenship interview (which will happen before the extension deadline)?

 

Just bring proof of the extension being granted and proof that you already paid the estimated amount you owe. 

[brazibride 43]

8 minutes ago, minivatreni said:

 

Just bring proof of the extension being granted and proof that you already paid the estimated amount you owe. 

Awesome, thank you!

 

Also, for any of you who still have a I-751 pending (Removal of Conditions) and whose interview letter for the N-400 did not mention it being a combo interview / who did not get an I-751 interview notice... Did you request a combo interview? Via the portal beforehand? Or just brought your spouse and hoped for the best?

 

I saw the following template on a different thread and I'm considering submitting a modified version of it. Thoughts?

 

Quote

[NAME]
[ADDRESS]

[ADDRESS]

 

[DATE]

 

US Citizenship & Immigration Services

P.O. Box 25920

Overland, KS 66225

 

RE:     Notice of Pending I-751 & Request for Combo Interview

 

Dear USCIS Officer:

 

Thank you for scheduling the interview for my N-400 Application for Naturalization (Receipt # AAA##########), to be held at the [FIELD OFFICE] Field Office on [DATE AND TIME].

 

This letter is to provide notice that I currently have a pending I-751 Petition for Removal of Conditions, which was accepted on or about [DATE] with the receipt number AAA##########. Please consider this notice as an official request for a combination I-751/N-400 interview (or waiver of the I-751 interview, if applicable) if the I-751 is still pending at the time my Application for Naturalization is adjudicated and processed.

 

Thank you,

[NAME]

 

[YellowDuneBuggy 59]

5 hours ago, BlackPearl9 said:

I wasn't asked to upload any taxes on my N-400 application. It just ask for my greencard front and back. And some selective service that isn't applicable to person above 31.

 

Oh no... If I learned something from dealing with USCIS is to upload everything at once, even the things they didn't ask for.

 

Pictures of your family in front of your American house with your big American SUV and the American flag in the background? Upload it!

A bill of the water company sent to your address? Upload it!

Receipt of the 50-pound brisket and beer that you bought to celebrate July 4th? Upload it!

A video of you drunk shouting God Bless America while dressed as Lincoln? Upload it!

 

Of course, I'm a bit sarcastic here, but, believe me, when I asked for my I-130, I've uploaded what they requested and only after months I've been asked to upload other document because USCIS needed more proof!

[OldUser 6,455]

5 hours ago, YellowDuneBuggy said:

 

Oh no... If I learned something from dealing with USCIS is to upload everything at once, even the things they didn't ask for.

 

Pictures of your family in front of your American house with your big American SUV and the American flag in the background? Upload it!

A bill of the water company sent to your address? Upload it!

Receipt of the 50-pound brisket and beer that you bought to celebrate July 4th? Upload it!

A video of you drunk shouting God Bless America while dressed as Lincoln? Upload it!

 

Of course, I'm a bit sarcastic here, but, believe me, when I asked for my I-130, I've uploaded what they requested and only after months I've been asked to upload other document because USCIS needed more proof!

I'm surprised to see people filing thin cases. At N-400 stage I'd assume people learned by heart that burden of proof is on the petitioner and not USCIS. There must have been several interactions with USCIS at this point if somebody is naturalizing...

Edited May 14 by OldUser

[Valmabe 254]

Well, well a process I began in 2018 with an I-129 petition has come to and end today May 13, 2024 with a Naturalization ceremony in Philadelphia. It was a great learning experience, which I believe it’s been for all of us VJers. The waiting, the reading, the research we all did when not sure how to answer any of the many questions of the many forms we filled on each stage of the process will allow us to help the ones that come behind us. Because that’s what we do as Americans help each other and the ones that need our help. 
 

Thanks to all VJ members that helped and continue helping those at the beginning of the VISA JOURNEY. It’s great to find you guys. 
 

All the best for everybody and the most important thing PATIENCE, A LOT OF PATIENCE

 

VMB

[BlackPearl9 21]

7 hours ago, YellowDuneBuggy said:

 

For the tax transcripts, it seems the IRS only provide the recent 4 years transcripts. Is 5 the requirement for a single filer N-400 application? Where do I get transcript over 4 years old?

Edited May 14 by BlackPearl9

[minivatreni 193]

9 minutes ago, BlackPearl9 said:

For the tax transcripts, it seems the IRS only provide the recent 4 years transcripts. Is 5 the requirement for a single filer N-400 application? Where do I get transcript over 4 years old?

Yup, the only provide 4 years. If you didn't download the last one in advance there's other things you can download other documents on there, I think there's a summary and what not. It's not the exact same but it's better than nothing. 

[BlackPearl9 21]

6 minutes ago, minivatreni said:

Yup, the only provide 4 years. If you didn't download the last one in advance there's other things you can download other documents on there, I think there's a summary and what not. It's not the exact same but it's better than nothing. 

I don't want to flood them too much, but I do see other tax summary dating back almost 10 years. I see a 2019, guess I grab and see if they will review it at my eventual interview.

[minivatreni 193]

15 minutes ago, BlackPearl9 said:

I don't want to flood them too much, but I do see other tax summary dating back almost 10 years. I see a 2019, guess I grab and see if they will review it at my eventual interview.

That should be fine. 

[BlackPearl9 21]

51 minutes ago, minivatreni said:

That should be fine. 

I downloaded the Account Transcript (2 additional years). This seems like overkill.

[minivatreni 193]

31 minutes ago, BlackPearl9 said:

I downloaded the Account Transcript (2 additional years). This seems like overkill.

Just having something, 1 page that shows you filed for the 5th year. I remember downloading something which was not the tax transcript, but it was also one page summary. That should be fine. 

[Laure&Colin 557]

Just had my interview and was approved! I'm now waiting for my same-day oath ceremony. Will report on the whole process later - mostly waiting a lot.

[Laure&Colin 557]

And as I'm writing this there's an enormous cockroach cruising around the waiting area scaring people 😱

[brazibride 43]

22 minutes ago, Laure&Colin said:

Just had my interview and was approved! I'm now waiting for my same-day oath ceremony. Will report on the whole process later - mostly waiting a lot.

Congrats on the approval, and on getting same-day oath!

 

 

[Laure&Colin 557]

Back home and all done. I'm a US citizen now! 🥳

 

Full account of my experience below.

Tldr: I waited an hour for my interview, then an hour and a half for my same-day oath ceremony. Interview went well but the officer asked me multiple questions about my marriage, even though I applied under the 5-year rule, and looked at evidence of bona fide relationship when I offered. Oath ceremony took 5 min and was anti-climactic.

 

My appointment this morning was at 7:35am. Between being nervous about the interview and my pollen allergies being horrible this year, I barely slept. When I woke up at 6 I was glad I had prepared my folder with all documents the night before because my brain wasn't functioning! The field office is a 20 min walk from my building, and I arrived around 7:05 to a long line of people. Intake was chaotic to say the least. Some people had interviews as early as 7:15 but were stuck in the line. Eventually the security guard had all the people with interview times before 8am go to another entrance around the corner... and then we waited in line again.

 

Once inside it wasn't clear where to go, but I eventually found the check-in area. They took my picture and fingerprints and sent me to a waiting room on another floor. There I waited a whole hour, until being called at 8:35. I believe I was the last one remaining of the group of people with early appointments.

 

The officer who interviewed me was a pleasant and personable young man. I apologized for my raspy voice and we started chatting about allergies. It was all very casual and friendly. We started with the civics test, here are the questions I was asked: name one American Indian tribe; what is the name of the Vice President of the US; we elect US representatives for how long; if both the Vice President and President are unable to serve, who becomes president; what stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful; what is the capital of the US. Then we went through the reading and writing test and joked about the stylus on the tablet being so awkward. He informed me that I had passed the tests and he was now moving on to the application itself.

 

Here besides questions about my recent travel history and employment status, he asked a good number of questions about my husband and our marriage. I didn't expect that because I applied under the 5-year rule, and I went through the ROC process 10 years ago. I'm still happily married to my USC husband so I had no issue answering, but that was a bit of a surprise for me. For example he asked if we owned property together, if we had ever lived apart, if both our names were on our car title, if we were on the same health insurance, etc... I had brought a copy of my lease agreement so I offered to show him that it's in both our names, and he did look. I also offered to look up my health insurance information on my phone but he said it wasn't necessary. I didn't think about it at the time but I could also have mentioned that all our tax transcripts, which I had with me, show that we filed jointly.

 

Eventually he moved to the yes/no questions from the N-400 form. To the question "have you ever been a member of an organization or club?" I said no except if you count gym membership, and he said that since I said it he had to write it down. He then made me verify my information on the tablet, asked me if I agreed with the statements in the oath of allegiance, and congratulated me for being approved. He asked if I wanted to take the oath the same day and I said yes.

 

I was sent to another floor where I had to check-in and give my green card - fun fact, my 10-year green card had just expired yesterday. I was given an envelope containing a letter from President Biden, a guide about what to do after the ceremony (passport, SS, etc), and a voter registration form, together with a little flag. I was directed to a waiting area and told my oath ceremony would be at 10:30am. It was just after 9, and the coffee shop within the building was closed so I just sat there and waited. Everyone was silent until a giant juicy cockroach fell from the ceiling and started trotting around the seating area.

 

Eventually we were called by name and given our naturalization certificates. Interestingly it has my picture from my ROC biometrics 10 years ago, and not the picture they took of me when I checked in today. We were shown a video with President Biden congratulating us, then we had to repeat the Oath of Allegiance after the supervisor who was officiating the ceremony. Everyone in the entire room did it at the same time and because she spoke fast, we definitely missed some words. It was all over in 5 minutes. I did feel a little emotional when the video with the President welcoming us as new citizens started, but otherwise it felt like a formality and lacked the decorum I expected. Visitors and guests were not allowed. In the end we were able to take pictures in front of the flag, and people were all taking pictures for each other.