Help! N-400 PDF glitch in newest version! What to do!?

[dave2 4]

I am filling out N-400 paper form (Edition 04/01/24) in Adobe Reader. It has a glitch where if you fill in the Yes/No checkbox in Part 5 Question 4d then it also checks off the same Yes/No box in Part 10 question 1. Both questions are completely unrelated to each other:

 

Part 5 Question 4d

Is your current spouse's present physical address the same as your physical address?   Yes / No

 

Part 10 Question 1

My household income is less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.   Yes / No

 

I have tried this on different computers with different versions of Adobe and by downloading fresh N-400 PDF forms and it's the same behavior. I'm finding it hard to believe such a glitch exists.

 

I even tried disabling javascript but still the same behavior occurs! Unfortunately there is a barcode at bottom of each page which captures all the information filled in on that page and used for intake of the form into USCIS system. Due to that I want to either fill out the entire PDF form via Adobe Reader or else just print out the blank form and fill it out entirely by hand in black ink. However, I don't want to mix the two ways because that would mean the barcode on each page captured some info (the typed in portion) and missing other info (the handwritten portion). I'm able to bypass this problem using a browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) to check off the correct box for each question without affecting the other box, but USCIS does not recommend using browser to fill it in and I'm afraid that the barcode on those pages may not be getting updated correctly when doing it via the browser so again the same issue may be there that when USCIS scans the barcode they may not see the checkbox answer captured as part of that particular page's information.

 

I've the following questions:

 

1) Has anybody encountered this glitch with the PDF form and know a solution?

 

2) Are most people on here just doing the online version of N-400? I have read that the online system has its own glitches and drawbacks. And some lawyers say it's preferable to keep a paper trail of the N-400 application and don't recommend the online way.

 

3) If I do fill it out all by hand then will it cause any significant delays in processing as compared to the typed in way?

 

4) My I-751 is still pending. Not sure if that affects which option I use (paper vs online).

[oneoftheunderdogs 86]

I have encountered a similar glitch as well. I have not been able to resolve it. I don't think it matters whether you fill it out by hand or not. Also should have no effect on your I-751

 

[dave2 4]

@oneoftheunderdogs Ok wow I saw your original post and it is the same issue. So it's not just me. Are you still planning to file online?

[Crazy Cat 41,772]

12 hours ago, dave2 said:

And some lawyers say it's preferable to keep a paper trail of the N-400 application and don't recommend the online way.

You can print out a copy of the completed N-400 after submission online.

[oneoftheunderdogs 86]

1 hour ago, dave2 said:

@oneoftheunderdogs Ok wow I saw your original post and it is the same issue. So it's not just me. Are you still planning to file online?

yes I will be filing online.

[dave2 4]

@Crazy Cat One user on VJ said that they filed online but when they printed out a copy of it some section were missing data that they know they had filled in for sure. But it sounds like only some people encounter a glitch with the online system. Most seem to be doing okay.

[Dashinka 24,466]

14 hours ago, dave2 said:

I am filling out N-400 paper form (Edition 04/01/24) in Adobe Reader. It has a glitch where if you fill in the Yes/No checkbox in Part 5 Question 4d then it also checks off the same Yes/No box in Part 10 question 1. Both questions are completely unrelated to each other:

 

Part 5 Question 4d

Is your current spouse's present physical address the same as your physical address?   Yes / No

 

Part 10 Question 1

My household income is less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.   Yes / No

 

I have tried this on different computers with different versions of Adobe and by downloading fresh N-400 PDF forms and it's the same behavior. I'm finding it hard to believe such a glitch exists.

 

I even tried disabling javascript but still the same behavior occurs! Unfortunately there is a barcode at bottom of each page which captures all the information filled in on that page and used for intake of the form into USCIS system. Due to that I want to either fill out the entire PDF form via Adobe Reader or else just print out the blank form and fill it out entirely by hand in black ink. However, I don't want to mix the two ways because that would mean the barcode on each page captured some info (the typed in portion) and missing other info (the handwritten portion). I'm able to bypass this problem using a browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) to check off the correct box for each question without affecting the other box, but USCIS does not recommend using browser to fill it in and I'm afraid that the barcode on those pages may not be getting updated correctly when doing it via the browser so again the same issue may be there that when USCIS scans the barcode they may not see the checkbox answer captured as part of that particular page's information.

 

I've the following questions:

 

1) Has anybody encountered this glitch with the PDF form and know a solution?

It appears so.  So AR will not allow you to switch the answer in Part 10?  Also keep in mind the IO will review the N400 with you at the interview, so any glitches can be corrected at that time.  It is also an opportunity to inform USCIS of their issues.

14 hours ago, dave2 said:

 

2) Are most people on here just doing the online version of N-400? I have read that the online system has its own glitches and drawbacks. And some lawyers say it's preferable to keep a paper trail of the N-400 application and don't recommend the online way.

IMO most people are doing the online filing, but it is a personal choice.

14 hours ago, dave2 said:

 

3) If I do fill it out all by hand then will it cause any significant delays in processing as compared to the typed in way?

Shouldn't as processing timing is based on your local office.  To the best of my knowledge, paper forms are scanned so by hand or using AR should not impact processing.

14 hours ago, dave2 said:

 

4) My I-751 is still pending. Not sure if that affects which option I use (paper vs online).

No impact.

 

Good Luck!

[dave2 4]

@Dashinka Correct in AR if I try to switch the answer to either question the other one automatically updates to the same. So if I change Part 10 Q1 to No it will also change Part 5 4d to No as well, and vice versa. If I uncheck either one it will uncheck the other one as well. This new version of the form came out last month (Apr 2024) and I'm guessing it's a new glitch that's been introduced in this new version of the form. And I wonder if nobody is even using the PDF form in favor of online and maybe this glitch hasn't been reported to them.

 

I guess I will think about either doing it online like everybody else and hoping I don't get hit with a glitch or just filling it out all by hand in black ink and submitting it that way.

[Scandi 4,166]

7 hours ago, dave2 said:

@Dashinka Correct in AR if I try to switch the answer to either question the other one automatically updates to the same. So if I change Part 10 Q1 to No it will also change Part 5 4d to No as well, and vice versa. If I uncheck either one it will uncheck the other one as well. This new version of the form came out last month (Apr 2024) and I'm guessing it's a new glitch that's been introduced in this new version of the form. And I wonder if nobody is even using the PDF form in favor of online and maybe this glitch hasn't been reported to them.

 

I guess I will think about either doing it online like everybody else and hoping I don't get hit with a glitch or just filling it out all by hand in black ink and submitting it that way.

I don't think you'll encounter a glitch, and even if you do, that will be corrected at the interview. So no worries about that at all. Definitely file online, it's so easy. 

[dave2 4]

@Scandi Thanks. Yes I am now leaning towards going the online route.

[Scandi 4,166]

21 minutes ago, dave2 said:

@Scandi Thanks. Yes I am now leaning towards going the online route.

You'll like it, you'll notice immediately when you start to fill out the "form" online that it is much less confusing than the paper form. And once you submit your petition you will get your receipt notice ASAP in your online account. When filing online you don't have to sit around and wait for the post office to deliver it to a lockbox (hoping that it won't get lost on the way), and then wonder when and/or if USCIS will accept it. Or reject it for some ridiculous reason or error of theirs. Much less stress with the online filing. 

[OldUser 6,589]

4 hours ago, Scandi said:

 Definitely file online, it's so easy. 

So easy to file, so easy to make a mistake. I'll likely go paper for my filing, even though I like technology in general and work in tech 😃

Edited May 9 by OldUser

[dave2 4]

@OldUser What do you suggest is the solution to the original problem described with filling out the PDF form in Adobe Reader? Just fill out the entire form by hand and submit it that way?

[Scandi 4,166]

12 hours ago, OldUser said:

So easy to file, so easy to make a mistake. I'll likely go paper for my filing, even though I like technology in general and work in tech 😃

It's the opposite, much easier making a mistake on a paper form that doesn't direct you. The online form removes things that doesn't apply to you based off of your age, if you don't have children etc, it also tells you if you haven't been an LPR long enough to file etc (while with the paper form you can still send it in not knowing you're not eligible yet, and your petition fee is in the hands of the lockbox people - will they accidentally accept your filing or not? Will they cash your check or not? You get denied later on, you don't get your money back). And if you happen to misspell something or not get something right (same with the paper form, people make mistakes on those all the time), the IO manually corrects that at the interview. The online filing is several times better and safer than paper filing.