MarryMe987654

Hello, So I come across a post on Facebook about a tourist visa holder who is adjusting after marring an LPR. Is that possible? I thought you can only adjust through marriage to a USC? I tried looking for reference on the USCIs website but I can't find a solid reference. What do you guys think?

Hey @Bernese! I am sorry that you are uncomfortable with the situation with your stepmom right now. Unfortunately, we don't know their side of the story so we can't really tell for sure what's happening. It might be a cultural thing, it might be an ulterior motive, it might be something else, we can't tell. If I were in your situation, I will talk to them directly to ask if there's anything that I did to make them feel uncomfortable in the house. Hear what they have to say and try to resolve it. Cultural difference is a real thing and can prove to be an issue. I wouldn't leave my dad with them because dad is adjusting as well and my support is important under these circumstances. He is in denial now but he'll come to his senses. It's important to always have his back. Goodluck

I had this same thoughts when I applied for N400. After applying for N400 in December 10, 2022, I planned on traveling to the Philippines for 6 weeks because the processing time says 11 months. I started following other people's N400 timelines and I have been seeing N400 movement as fast as 3 months so I thought, if there's no update by March 2023, I will book my ticket. My assumption was from getting interview notice to actual interview would happen around June-July. Then Feb 27, 2023, I received a notification that interview has been scheduled--that's only 2+ months since I filed for N400. My interview schedule is on April 5th--that's less than 2 months from getting the interview notification. I'm glad I did not book anything in May because there's no way that I could do the oath taking and passport right after the interview. I assume that post-interview process will be done by July. So it looks like I can't plan any trip until then. So personally, I think you are risking it by going overseas while with pending N400. But if you just filed yesterday and you plan to travel for a month tomorrow, you might be fine. Other than that, I would be very careful about setting travel plans because the estimated time published is only 80% of the cases... you might fall on the top 20%. Goodluck!

I've been an LPR since 3/3/2020 and I've already applied for N400 on the basis of being married to the same USC for 3 years; I've been out of the country once for only 3 months since I immigrated in 2019. Your LPR date is older so you should qualify now. Of course, make sure that you meet the requirements for applying for N400 (no excessive stay overseas, and married to the same USC). Goodluck!

I received my 48-month greencard extension mail today. I saw the mail in my USPS Informed Delivery email and we were so nervous about it because we don't know what could they be sending me a month after my N400 was scheduled. I thought it was an RFE so I went in my USCIS account to see if there was any sent correspondence--nothing! USCIS mail could make you sad, mad, and/or glad all at the same time,. LOL.

Is the mom a senior citizen? If so, I think they allow walk-ins.

If you still can, I suggest trying to get the PSA copy updated to the more legible version of the birth certificate because she will end up needing it even after the K1 process. Just get it all fixed once and for all. Birth certificates are one of the most basic and important documents for an individual.

Unfortunately, PSA copies are notorious for having really bad print because they are usually a copy of the handwritten document which is the original birth certificate from the hospital, then submitted to the city hall. If you notice, the original birth certificate is copied and resized to fit the PSA security paper. Since she already got a better version of her birth certificate from her LCR, ask them (the LCR) to submit it to PSA to update her record. It should be available for ordering via PSA after a month or so.

Thank you Montgomery, Alabama.

I just got an update on my N400 saying that my interview was scheduled for April 5th today. My ROC still says fingerprint was reused. N400 filed on December 10, 2022; ROC filed on December 22, 2021. I might have to add a letter to my application to request for a combo interview. Gotta start studying now... 😬

I just got an update on my N400 saying that my interview was scheduled today and that they will mail out the details. My ROC still says fingerprint was reused. I might have to add a letter to my application to request for a combo interview. Gotta start studying now... 😬 Edit: logged in to my USCIS account and the interview date is on April 5th . N400 filed on December 10, 2022; ROC filed on December 22, 2021.

Given your travel situation, I would say just got for K1. You already have the necessary evidence to file right now. I understand that people are saying that spousal is better than K1 and while that is true because of skipping some immigration steps which saves money and time, these benefits might not be good for you because 1) you have to fly back in to the Philippines to get married, which you are not keen on doing; 2) I doubt if not being able to work right away matters to you guys because you are already supporting her now, there's no rush to get a job after entering the U.S.; 3) The time of not being able to do anything on K1 because of lack of AP and EAD can be used to adjust to the U.S. and gather all the other docs as well. I know that they say that sometimes, there are problems with getting any done when one entered in K1 but some people was able to do things without any issues (like me). Forget about the tourist visa. She has very slim chance of getting approved. It's going to be a waste of money and time waiting. So yeah, just start the K1 now

It's true. I don't think much about "the sacrifice" that I made to be with my husband because he always felt guilty about that part and I told him not to because it was a choice that I made and my family respects that choice. I like how my husband loves my family and how he's very understanding about our ways. Four years in the U.S. and I still don't have Filipino friends... I seem to be getting more American friends because of school and work. I miss my old Filipino friends back home

I know. It's a personal choice. I like what it means and how it feels to have my husband's last name

I plan on becoming a USC only because I don't want any miniscule threat of being taken away from my husband--that's all. If it's not for that, I don't think I'll want to be a citizen out of patriotism. The U.S. is great and all, and the Philippines has issues, but it will always be home. Prior to actually applying for naturalization, the idea of renouncing my Filipino citizenship does hurt. I honestly do not mind the paperwork anymore. I'm not concerned about having a "weak passport," because I've traveled extensively and am satisfied. I'm not entirely sold on SSS benefits because I can earn and save money on my own. My point is that all the advantages that you mention are not really much of a big deal because, as an immigrant, I am surrounded by people that look and sound nothing like me. The emotional toll of constantly missing my family and homeland cannot be compensated for by the convenience of dual citizenship, but it's a choice I made because cupid got me good. Lol. And I know I am lucky to have the option of dual citizenship, but it's not quite the same, to be honest. I will always have that American last name, and when I am in the Philippines, they look at me funny for having an American name (I experienced this last year when I traveled home). Then I have to explain why, and I know that I am judged just based on that small backstory.

Cell plans in the Philippines are either 1) No load = no outgoing minutes, no outgoing sms, and very limited (free) data but incoming calls and texts are working; 2) Call and text only = prepaid plans that are only for making outgoing calls and texts to all or some networks; it may come with very limited data. 3) Data only = no calls or texts, just a little more than the limited free data (maybe 500MB or 2GB-- it varies). Facebook messenger works for all plans--the only difference is one cannot see images or videos on free data plan but messaging works fine. WhatsApp will not work on the free data plan. One needs to subscribe to data plan to use WhatsApp. The problem is, when one has data plan, other apps uses the data too so a 2GB data plan may not last long especially if the user does not know how to turn it off when there's wi-fi around. The allowed apps that works with free data is controlled by the cellular network and because Facebook is the most popular app in the Philippines, cell usage comes with it for free. Is she bsing you about WhatsApp not working outside wifi area? No. Is there any messaging app that she can use in lieu of FB messenger? No.

That's what I thought too! But nope... @OldUser is right--it's like I-751 all over again. I have to collect financial statements, old addresses, old school records, old employment, insurance.

My window opened on December 3rd but ended up submitting on December 10th because they require so much evidence (I filed online). I had to collect all the co-mingling evidence, my spouse's divorce decree, etc. (since I am naturalizing based off of my 3-year marriage to a USC). My printer/scanner breaking did not help either. I had to buy a cheap one from Walmart for $50. The good thing about it though is they sent me the Receipt Notice and Biometrics Reused communication online (just few minutes after I submitted my N400). I now have my case number and says that the process will take approx. 11 months.

Congratulations! I am preparing to file for N400 too since I become eligible on December 3rd (I will wait until December 5th to file). It might be the end of the journey for me but it is just a start of the journey for my mom and siblings... It's going to be a long and expensive journey and I have been saving up Can you give an idea on how long it took? I am hoping to travel to the Philippines in May/June for a month and wouldn't want any interview notice to come in while I am overseas. Thanks!

Anyone getting ready to file for N-400 this December?

Hello, I am hoping that one of you can give me an idea of what to do. I am going to be a U.S. citizen soon, and I am planning on petitioning my 63-year old mother. However, I can not find any record of her birth certificate. I tried getting her record using different possible names and years of birth, but no luck. All I have are negatives saying that she has no record. Anyway, with the negative birth certificates, we have been trying to do a late registration for her, but this is taking too long and the effort is too much (we got to do the registration of her birth certificate in Eastern Samar and we just don't have anyone reliable to help us with it). I am also not looking forward to getting her passport and other immigration-related papers with a late-registered birth certificate (they are prone to extra scrutiny). Does anyone else have other ideas on how to go about it? I'm not asking for anything illegal, just another option for registering her birth certificate or maybe an agency that can help? Your experience in dealing with a birth certificate that is 63 years old would be helpful. Thank you all for your help.