dvensel1

Hi gang. I'm appealing to you all for more knowledge for a friend. My friend became naturalized on Oct. 10th of this year (along with my wife). Now she has applied for the same thing for her 16 year old son who has been here since he was 8. She was told the cost form the process with USCIS would be $1385! Can this be right?? Also, which form does she need to use? I thought the 600 but now I'm not sure. Anyone? He turns 17 in January and I suggested she wait till he's 18 in another year and let him apply on his own like his brother did. Good idea or not? She may not want to wait though. So, anyway, I tried to find costs for her but have yet to find anything concerning it. Any input from you folks would be great. Doug V.

She owned property prior to her citizenship. I think she's all right. In fact, I suggested she sign it over to her son and DIL who now live in the house we repaired after the 2013 quake destroyed it. They have 3 little girls too. So, she's thinking of signing it over to them when we go back next March or so. I think bank transfers are the way to go too. I worry about a debit card failing of breaking, plus not to mention aging out after every 5 years. She have to have someone in the states act on her behalf to activate the new replacement card and fed ex it to her (not cheap to do either). Bank transfers are so much better. What do you think? Doug V

Thank You very much. You helped me out a bit more. The property thing was an issue for her so it was nice to learn that it is unaffected by her new citizenship. She was worried. Thank You again. Doug V.

Hi and many Thanks. I hadn't considered the tax part of this. My wife is really not sure she would move back, so I'm trying to cover both scenarios. Others have stated that keeping the accounts in the USA is better for the rates. I agree. So does my wife. She seems to think she'd be fine, but I worry about her. She will continue to get my social security and a pension I receive from NY state employment for 28½ years. If she moved back to Philippines, she surely would be financially secure - as long as nothing interfered with money transfers of course. If she took a debit card, it would be hard to renew it after it ages out. Some suggested I set someone up who can handle things when a new debit card is sent to them and then they can activate it and Fed Ex it to her. OR, another suggested opening a bank account in Philippines and simply transfer funds via wire. That way the deposits (from my retirements) would remain in place and it would simply be a bank transfer. Thanks so much for your input! I appreciate it. You gave me a few ideas too. Doug V.

Not dual yet. She just got her USA passport today. Hopefully I keep living for awhile longer. She says she knows what she can do but I still worry about her. I want her to be able to handle things if and when she moves back to Phil. Getting my retirement funds is so important. So far, one guy said to just leave everything in a bank in the states and draw money out as she needs it - like with a remitting company. Then she could open a bank account there and deposit it in that account and use their debit card system of that bank. I'm just afraid the remitting company might shut her off like one of them did to me twice. Western Union shut me off with no explanation until one of them finally told me it was because they thought I was some terrorist transferring money to Phil. for some reason. WU has done that twice to me now. No more WU! Anyway, she might not even move back to Phil. at all but I want to be informed on what she might have to do. I really appreciate all the help people are offering too. I thank you! Doug...

Been a while since I was on here and I'm having a hard time trying to find my post that was moved. Can anyone help me here?

Where is it? I see it was moved but failed to find its new placement. Help?

Hello my friends I have a need for advice and hopefully hear from some experienced folks who have gone through this is will in the future. My wife became a US citizen on 10/10/25. This is not a problem but I asked her what she would plan to do if she decided to move back to the Philippines when I die. I have no problem with it of course because I'd be gone. BUT - i worry that if she indeed moves back, will she be able to continue to access my retirement checks (which she will receive when I die) and that are direct deposit into a local USA bank. I have many questions because I don't want any snafus after I'm gone. SO: 1) What's the best way for her to handle this? Leave the money going into the same bank it always goes into or try to set up an account with a Philippine bank and have the deposits changed to be sent to that new one? I'm not sure at this point that a Philippine bank could or would receive those 2 checks every month or if there's a way to find out. 2) My wife thought leaving the money alone as it is would be the best option. Then she could continue transferring the money every month as needed to a bank account in Phil. In the past I've actually had some remittance companies cut me off because they thought I was a terrorist (Western Union did this to me twice!!) and thought I was moving terrorist money around (yes - that's what they told me!) Anyway, she can't afford to lose access to her money in the USA. I am beside myself worrying about this. I'm 73 and in pretty good shape but you never know. I want to be sure she will have access to those 2 checks until,her passing as is her right to do, and without some silly bank rule or screw-up suddenly denying her her rightful funds. 3) She would likely pull most of the money out of 2 accounts (and close them) and place it in the one account left to make things simpler for her. My 2 retirements would go into that one account. My question now: Does this sound problematic to anyone? Do you have a better way of doing it? She is a US citizen now and could fly back to NY if needed to fix something but it would cost a lot obviously. We want to look into banks in Phil. where she could open an account there but we're not sure both my social security check and my New York State retirement check could be sent to a foreign bank like that. I think social security can be though. Okay - so I'm sure I've confused several people. But if I know one thing about the folks on this site, they're always helpful and have been for me for 11 years. You all got us through this and I trust you all. Best site on the internet in my opinion!! Thanks for your input and as always, I'm all ears and open to advice of any sort. Using my email would be best to respond but I'll check back here on a regular basis. Doug [last name & e-mail removed from this VERY public forum]

Crazy Cat: Thanks a bunch! That's what I told my wife but she didn't believe me. Sometimes thing get lost in the translation. I appreciate your input Doug....

Hi Everyone. Once again I turn to you all to help me out. My wife just received her appointment for her citizenship interview. It will be on Sept. 2nd in Vermont office. Here's the problem: We were told by a friend of my wife's that as soon as you have the interview, they pull your green card. Is this true?? It doesn't make any sense. But her friend said they did it to her. She couldn't even go to Canada (we all live about 10 miles from Canada and go often to Montreal). I think her friend is thinking of when she took the oath. Anyway, has anyone gone through this recently and/or is there any legal lurkers out there that might know for sure? We had been making plans to go home to Bohol Philippines for 30 days to meet our 3rd grand daughter in Sept. I'd hate to cancel plans as I'm already 73 and don't know how many more trips I have in me, so I'd really like to go. Been 2 years for us. Any insight you can give me is appreciated. This web site has never let me down, so I know I'll get the right answer. Thanks so much to you all. Doug Vensel Malone NY

Hello everyone. Been a while for me on here. I have a questions for those of you who have recently acquired US citizenship and are Filipina. 1) We are ready to send in her N400. We would also like to go back to Phil. for about a month in mid April. If we sent the N400 in on Monday, 2/12/25, about how long would it be before we would hear back on anything? Here's what we want to do: Our travel plans hinge on this and we had hoped to go visit our kids while we waited to hear from USCIS, but also don't want to be in the Philippines when they respond. I know it's not very likely that if we sent it in on 2/12, it's probably not going to get a response for several months after. Right???? Like maybe 6-9 months?? Do you think we'd be safe if we sent it in now (2/7/25) and booked flights for mid April thru May? I trust all of you because you've been good to us over the years. Maybe give us examples of the wait time between mailing the N400 and when you first heard back on it?? It's not like we mail it on, say, April 10th, for example and hear back in like 3 weeks is it?? If we mailed it as I mentioned, on 2/12/25, about how long would it take t hear ANYTHING back on it. We want to make sure we're here and not in Phil. I really appreciate everyone's answers if you respond. Maybe mention your experience if you did the N400 recently and mailed it. I told my wife I would ask all of you because we trust you all Thanks a bunch gang. Doug