stavroula58

Hi everyone. I am so happy, for the following message :

Case Is In Line For An Interview

On April 26, 2016, we started the interview scheduling process for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization , Receipt Number NBC*00********. We will send you an interview notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. If you move, go towww.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

Please note that I haven't submit any request. I just wait to see what is going to happen.

Good luck to the last one Spmaria!!!!!!!

Ah ok. I understand. I don't know how it'll play out at the interview with him living abroad. But I'm definitely hoping for the best for you.

Thank you. My husband will come and be with me at the time of interview and oath when it happens.

You've been a resident since 2009. Surely you applied under the 5 year rule and not the 3 year rule. If you chose to apply under the 3 year rule, then I would suggest that at the beginning of your interview you tell your interviewer that you want to change the basis of your application to 5 years of permanent residency.

If you are applying under the 5 year rule, it doesn't matter where you spouse lives. Of course, you have to meet the physical presence and continuous residence conditions for 5 years.

I meet the continuous residence and physical presence for 3 year rule due to my long trips abroad to be with my husband so I applied under 3 year rule.

I had my interview today at the USCIS Oakland Park, Florida office. Interview was for 8:30 am. I arrived at 8:00 am. Was called in by the IO at 9:40 am. She looked pleasant. I was sworn for the oath for the interview. After which she told me that I have the option to withdraw my application or go through the interview process and be denied at the end because technically she thought i am not eligible to apply under the 3 yr rule bcos I live apart from my wife. I work as an inspector and my job takes round the southern part of Florida. My company insisted that i maintain a residence in the Miami area. My wife works for the VA and she resides an 8 hr drive away from me in Florida. She has tried to transfer to a VA facility in the Miami but we have been unsuccessful. I presented evidence to support my claims. We have been in bona fide marriage.

I insisted that I duly qualify to apply for naturalization under the 3 yr rule since we are living apart for career reasons. I told her I cannot make the decision to withdraw my case without speaking with an attorney. At that point she told me she was going to call her supervisor to explain the law to me. A lady came who introduced herself as acting supervisor. She tried to clean up the statement made by the IO by saying that they will set up a committee to see whether there are exceptions in the provision that might apply to my case.

So they went ahead and tested me on the civic and all the interview questions. Civic questions were straightforward.

Long story short, the IO gave me a piece of paper saying decision cannot be made at the time and that I will be contacted in the mail. So my fingers crossed at this time.

I am on the same boat. My husband lives and has a job contract abroad in order to support our family. I live in Chicago some part of the year with my sons and some part abroad with my husband. How can I proof USCIS that we have been in bona fide marriage? We have been married for almost 28 years. I thought that was the problem I am not inline for an interview yet but I saw that they placed you inline after a month or so after your biometrics. About criminal history, there is nothing about me. Not even a speeding ticket. I don't know what to think of this delay. Anyway, I wish you the best results and please keep post anything new you have from USCIS. Good luck.

Unless you have a situation that requires a lawyer I certainly would not waste the money!

Thanks for your reply. I don't think that my case requires a lawyer but I don't know what USCIS believes.

I think that the overwhelming majority of N400 applicants don't use lawyers.

We have a lawyer at work who can help if needed, but I don't plan on having a lawyer with me at the interview.

If you hire a lawyer now, all he'll do is call USCIS, tell you that your application is within normal processing times, and then charge you $300.

If you look at today's updates for the June 2015 thread, you'll see that two applicants (one in Chicago and one in St. Louis) were just placed inline... and they applied 6 months before us. Those are unusually long cases, but it just goes to show that this does happen sometimes and if we are not placed inline until August, our cases will still have moved faster than theirs. That doesn't mean that that is what's going to happen, or that you shouldn't follow up on your case, but it does mean that it's way too early to worry.

I see nothing wrong in calling USCIS when it's been 90 days since biometrics, or 120 days, or whatever you feel is reasonable. I'll probably do that myself if I haven't heard anything by then, because I do think that in some cases, it makes a difference.

But I would only use a lawyer in two situations: if there's a complication in my case (like criminal history or immigration violations) or if USCIS has failed to act well beyond the normal processing time (over a year). If there's something odd about your case, then you should consider hiring a lawyer.

You're right. I will wait 120 days since biometrics and I will re-think what to do.

UserName......... |GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd |NOA.. |Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr.. |Intview..|Oath.... .|Field Office

JimmyHou.........|03/15/11|12/17|12/23|12/22|01/13/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
Spmaria..........|04/26/12|12/19|12/29|01/02|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ
Groovyaardvark...|02/15/11|12/08|12/15|12/14|01/07/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Denver, CO
Stavroula58......|01/31/09|12/10|12/18|12/17|01/11/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL

Hi co-applicants. I just wonder if you have a lawyer. I don't have one and I am thinking if it is better for the N-400 process to hire one, even now.

Some of the people who file N400 to Chicago field office and their cases still pending.

Stavroula58, Sassiringa,Jeanycnd ,GOLFER ,chicagoapplicant , neoes , simplynice12

I wonder if it is something we can do, in order to have information from USCIS about our cases.

If you do decide to call them, be sure to come back and let us know what they say.

I'm curious for the 4 of us placed not placed inline... four questions (don't sweat it if you don't want to answer)...

Stavroula58, Groovyaardvark, JimmyHou, Spmaria

-What's your nationality?

-How long have you lived in the US?

-Do you travel internationally often?

-Do you have what you'd consider a common first or last name in your home country?

I'm not sure what you mean by normal... from the table, you can see that four of us are in the same situation (including me). Two others are not updating their status. Everyone else is ahead of us. So you can say that out cases are special. We are almost certainly in extended background check review. This can take weeks or months... going by recent trends, it should take 6-10 months from the date of the application to the interview, but each case is different and that guess could be wildly wrong.

Thank you JimmyHou, at least I am not the only one still waiting to hear from USCIS.

I had my biometrics on January 11th, since then no news. My case status still says : "On December 17, 2015, we received your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization , Receipt Number NBC*00*****, and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your receipt notice by January 16, 2016, please call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address."

Is that normal?

Thank you JimmyHou for your answer. Do you have any clues for time frame of Chicago office?

After bio, these are the next steps:

You will be placed in-line for interview. This will happen after they complete your background check. If you created an account at uscis.gov, you will be able to check your status to see when you are placed in-line. If you turn on text and email notifications, you should get a notification when this happens. The notification or online status will say that they have "started the interview scheduling process". There will be no letter sent out when you are placed in line. This may be a day or two after your bio or may be several months later.

You will have your interview scheduled. If you are getting notifications, you should get a text and an email, but for this step, they will send you an interview letter in the mail. You will usually have 3-5 weeks between the letter and the interview date. This can be a few days after being placed in-line, but depending on how busy your field office takes, it can be much longer. Some people are in-line for 3 or 4 months.

You will be placed in-line for oath ceremony scheduling. This usually happens within a day or two of passing an interview. No letter, just email/text notification if signed up. This is usually pretty fast.

You will be scheduled for an oath ceremony. You will get an oath letter in the mail. You may have as little as a few days or over a month between the letter and the oath date. This depends on how often your city has oath ceremonies and if you requested a name change, which would limit your options to Judicial Oath ceremonies only (these may be less frequent in some cities).

Sometimes status goes straight to "interview scheduled" and doesn't show "interview scheduling started" so you may skip the in-line for interview stage.

Sometimes you are given the oath letter right at the interview; so you may skip a few steps.

Some offices (not most) conduct same day oath ceremonies, so you may become a citizen the day of your interview.

Hallo everyone,

What I have to wait after bio and when?

Biometrics scheduled, January 11, 2016!

Today I received my NOA dated 12/17/2015. Could you please add this information?

Hi, can someone add me to the list please? Mailed my N-400 on 12/10/15, (USPS priority mail) check cashed 12/18/15. GC since 01/31/2009. Thank you

In my honest opinion ?

you are eligible big time for an american citizenship, you are and I dont see any issue with this

let me put it to you this way:

one of the main reasons for a N400 to be rejected is the lack of morals or so... but yet they ask for your criminal records and court records, why do you think is that?

it is because the officer will have the superior hand in accepting or rejecting, he puts the law at one hand but his discretion has the powerful weapon!

so even if the law says you have to establish few things about residency... it also said you can submit proof and documents regarding those trips, one of those documents is a reason of those trips!

yet I need you to clarify to your self one thing, is your husband really tied to the US? I mean is he really residing in the US and only goes to europe for work?

to answer this to the IO he will ask about his status abroad, does he have a house abroad? did you guys establish a life over there?

if you can prove to the officer that your life in europe is work related only? you are fine

your husband is a great professional, he has a phd, he works a good job, you have 2 kids, been married for 27 years

do you think the IO will disregard all this, and then tell you 'you had few long trips, you dont qualify'?

as i said, if you can prove that you both had ties to the USA, (paying taxes, owning a home, paying bills) you are fine

Thanks for your reply.

It is very encouraging to proceed with my N 400 application. But I have one more question. Does my husband need to be with me on my interview date?

Why do you think there will be any issue? The only thing the long trips mattered for is breaking continuous residence, but you meet the continuous residence requirement despite that. By the way, after a trip abroad of more than 1 year, you are considered to meet the continuous residence requirement 2 years + 1 day (if applying under the 3-year rule) after returning from that trip (which happened on 1/11/2015). So once you met the physical presence requirement (18 months in the last 3 years), which should have happened in the middle of 2015, you were eligible to apply for naturalization.

Thank you for your reply. My problem is my marital status because my husband works and live abroad. In the first paragraph of the following portion says that "to live in marital union with his or her citizen spouse if the applicant and the citizen actually reside together.

"

​

​

In general, a​ll naturalization applicants filing on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen must ​be the spouse of a U​.S. c​itizen from the time of filing the ​A​pplication for ​N​aturalization until the applicant takes the ​O​ath of ​A​llegiance.​ ​In addition, some spousal naturalization provisions require that the applicant “​live in marital union” with ​his or her ​citizen spouse ​prior to ​filing​ the ​A​pplication for ​N​aturalization​.​ [19] ​USCIS considers an applicant to ​“​live in marital union​”​ with his or her citizen spouse if the applicant and the citizen ​actually ​reside together​.​

​

A​n ​applicant under the special provisions for spouses ​is​ ineligible ​for naturalization ​if​:​

​

•The ​applicant is not residing with his or her ​United States citizen ​spouse​ at the time of filing or during the time in which the applicant ​is required to be living ​in marital union with the citizen spouse; or​

​

•If at any time prior to taking the Oath of Allegiance, the ​spousal relationship is terminated or altered to such an extent that neither the applicant nor ​the United States ​citizen spouse can be considered to be residing together as husband and wife.​

​

There are ​limited​ circumstances where an applicant may be able to establish that he or she is living in marital union with his or her citizen spouse even though the applicant does not actually reside with the citizen spouse​.​ [20]

​

In all cases where it is applicable, the burden is on the applicant to establish that he or she has lived in marital union with his or her ​U.S.​ citizen spouse for the required period of time.​ [21]

​"

I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction because it seems like the long trip in 2011 could be an issue so I am going to suggest that you also post your question on www.avvo.com. It's free to ask questions and mostly attorneys respond. Many of them locally based just in case you need a referal if you decide to hire an attorney. Best of luck with your application.

Thanks a lot for the quick reply. I will post my question to www.avvo.com as you said.

Hi everyone,

I became a LPR on January 2009. I am married to an American citizen for more than 27 years. We have two sons both American citizens, permanent US residents. We have our own house (no mortgages) in the States for more than 7 years (it belongs to my husband). We never fail to file taxes. We have a joint back account. Home insurance in both names.

During the last 5 years I have multiple trips abroad. One of them is 510 days (8/18/2011-1/10/2013) and I have a re-entry permit for this. Since then I have one trip in 2013 for 74 days, one in 2014 for 166 days and 2 in 2015 for 82 and 52 days. Total days abroad 1054 for the last 5 years. My most recent arrival is on 8/20/2015.

I know I met the continuous residence and physical presence criteria on 3 years base of an American citizen spouse.

But my problem is that my husband has a job contract abroad (he is a PhD biology scientist) in a European research institute for 2-3 more years. (Nonfederal, nor military or even in an American company). After my husband's job contract ends, we plan to return permanently in the States to be with our sons.

I have many long trips abroad as you can see, in order to be with my husband.

Do you think that this will be an issue on my interview? Do I have any possibility to get the citizenship?

I already put the same question to "Ask a Lawyer" about one hour ago. They already charge me $5 and I have no answer yet.

Hi anyone.

I became a LPR on January 2009. I am married to an American citizen for more than 27 years. We have two sons both American citizens, permanent US residents. We have our own house (no mortgages) in the States for more than 7 years (it belongs to my husband). We never fail to file taxes. We have a joint back account. Home insurance in my husband’s name.

During the last 5 years I have multiple trips abroad. One of them is 510 days (8/18/2011-1/10/2013) and I have a re-entry permit for this. Since then I have one trip in 2013 for 74 days, one in 2014 for 166 days and 2 in 2015 for 82 and 52 days. Total days abroad 1054 for the last 5 years. My most recent arrival is on 8/20/2015.

I know I met the continuous residence and physical presence criteria on 3 years base of an American citizen spouse.

But my problem is that my husband has a job contract abroad (he is a PhD scientist) in a European research institute for 2-3 more years. (Nonfederal, nor military or even in an American company). But his boss has a grant from an American Association, which is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicating to finding treatments and cures for neurology diseases. After my husband's job contract ends, we plan to return permanently in the States to be with our sons.

In N-400 I have to and I intent to tell the truth for my husband residence and work. I also have many trips abroad as you can see, in order to be with my husband. Is anyone think that this will be an issue on my interview? Do I have any possibility to get the citizenship?

Another question please. As I am going to file as US citizen spouse on 3 years term, do I have to apply information for my employment history (which is poor due to my trips) and my trips for 5 years, or for the last 3 years?