mam521

And the answer is the I-551 temporary green card in one's passport serves as their green card until the physical green card is issued. So, yes, one can travel to visit.

You may want to fill out your timeline to get the best answers: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=449595 Most people applying for spousal visas are recently married, so I don't know how exceptional your case is going to be perceived because getting married certainly isn't exceptional, nor is the end date to studying. As the others have said, all you can do is ask.

Create a MyUSCIS account. The documents post there as they are issued and before you'll receive them in the mail.

For a visit, yes. But to live, no. The expectation is when one receives a green card, be it the temporary I-551 in their passport or their physical card, they are to enter the US to become permanent residents of the United States. TIme spent away, irrespective of physical green card in hand, is still time away and impacts that residency status. If there is some compelling reason a permanent resident must be outside of the US for an extended period of time, they must apply and be approved for a reentry permit.

No difference in the actual green card, but the processing queues are very different as FP green cards (petitioners are LPR's) are subject to availability while CR/IR green cards (petitioners are citizens) are immediately available.

100% guaranteed!

There's nothing stopping you from applying. If they come back and say you need to be a citizen, then you know. No reason not to make the attempt.

I'm with @Loren Y - this is one you can totally DIY. I did my application myself and just naturalized last month. Never hurts to frontload the petition and avoid the RFE's Mike E mentioned.

It's a bit of a crapshoot. Could be a week, could be 6. Many people were stuck in a 6-8 week review loop, but it seems to be going a bit quicker now. I suspect there's scrutiny with all the WOM cases happening. Since you've already been through the interview, I'd file form AR-11. https://www.uscis.gov/ar-11

No phones in the USCIS interview area. I believe there's lockers. Easiest is to just leave it at your hotel.

Congrats to everyone who received interview letters, but PLEASE fill out your timelines so others can see your progress ( @Joel Craig @Nadzz @ROSALINDDELOST ). There is power in statistics when we have them and can track them. As per the FAQ's, it can take up to 48 hours before you are able to register your appointment.

As stated before, the thread is IR/CR-1 spouses of US citizens. You may not find answers here. If you fill out your timeline, it would be helpful. https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=447795 Is your FP category current for the country you're from?

If the baby was added to the petition, then baby has to go to the interview too. My other question would be (since you don't have a timeline filled out) does the baby qualify for CRBA? If so, then you need to file that ASAP and get the baby a US passport. An I-130 isn't the correct route for the baby if (s)he is already a US citizen.

Your interview letter will state the bare minimum of what you are required to bring, so read it (it's in the small print). Basically, bring anything that you submitted to petition your case. I'd definitely set up an IRS account and bring your tax transcripts. These prove not only that you did your taxes, but they were submitted and reviewed by the IRS. Just a little bit of extra reassurance that you did as you should. If you own a property and your tenant has violated the terms and conditions in your lease agreement, that's not a mark against you, so don't stress.

The only issue I see is that he is unlikely to be able to switch employers/TN visas until his EAD is approved. TN is a non-immigrant visa type and with a pending spousal visa in play demonstrating immigrant intent, he is highly unlikely to be granted a new TN for a different employer. If he's content with where he's at work wise and can deal with being in NY and not traveling back to Canada until his AP is granted, you should be fine. Just keep in mind the timelines on EAD and AP authorization...they might be tight if you plan a wedding for early summer in Canada. I'd definitely plan for later summer and keep in mind he may not be able to check out venues, etc in Canada with you until that AP is authorized.

That thread is from 2017 in San Diego and the last update in 2019 states that it wasn't happening any longer. I understand what you're eluding to, but the system was becoming more and more resource strapped prior to covid and covid just exacerbated the situation further. People are waiting 3 months or longer in some cases for passports, on top of the wait for an appointment. It's all gotten out of hand, especially for a document that all citizens are entitled to as long as they meet and follow the requirements. It's like a vortex that sucks you in. I just dealt with a 5 month passport delay with Canada for one of my kids and now I get to do it all over in the US. Bill Murray's Groundhog Day definitely applies!

As you've worked out, your son needs his own I-130. We were successful with providing a Parenting Agreement that was not formalized in the courts (this is recognized in our home province and can be filed in court if need be) and had a lawyer notarized letter dated just days before our interview from my children's father stating he was aware and in full support of the children obtaining their permanent residency and living in the US full time with me. The children's father and I work together and feel we can make decisions together in the best interest of the children without having to involve the courts. This letter was accepted and added to our file at our interview. When we had our interview, Kid1 was 13 and the interviewer did ask them if they understood what was going on and whether or not they were in support. Your 17 year old will have an interview and will also be able to communicate his wishes and being that close to 18 is likely to have some bearing.

No, there is not. As I stated, the DoS is not on site and there is a huge backlog for passports as you've discovered. They do not have the resources to service regular requests, let alone sit on site with USCIS at an oath ceremony.

No one but the person taking the oath. There just isn’t enough room. All told, it was about an hour from entering the building to leaving. The majority of the time was paperwork. Your first passport appointment requires you to be in person. Passports are handled by Department of State while Citizenship is handled by USCIS. They are different government entities. You will receive a passport application, but the appointment is up to you to do separately.

The unfortunate reality of these visa types. @Jalmin1892Wanna fill out your profile? It's helpful to others when answering questions: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=448499

Your husband has to follow the instructions in the link in the previous post you made that @appleblossom so graciously dug out above. If your husband has lived in the US for more than 5 years and meets the requirements, he can apply for a CRBA for the child. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/birth-abroad.html

No spouses. Hubs did his there and no spouses. I did mine at Gears - no spouses. His advice is get there EARLY because people line up way early despite being told to be there at a certain time. He also advises to sit close to an exit door if at all possible because you complete the oath and then have to rescind your greencard and exchange for your naturalization certificate. The closer you are to the front of the line, the shorter the wait for the great exchange at the end. I think he was there for 4 hours or something crazy. Campbell are definitely larger and longer.

Just for anyone wondering, I had my urgent passport appointment this morning in Houston. This likely applies anywhere - arrive early because you have to do security screening for any federal building and passports are a hot commodity. We were there by 8:30am for my 9am appointment, but didn't get through screening and upstairs until 8:55am. You NEED your confirmation number provided when you made your appointment. We got to the security agent who asked for the confirmation number and sent me into one line and hubs downstairs to wait for me in the café - there just isn't enough room. Even parents who were there with kids - they were sending one parent with the kids to the café with instructions for the parent in line to text the parent with children to come up when their number was called. If you do have kids and need to get their passports, even if they are infants, they have to be present. One couple didn't read instructions, didn't bring their child, so one parent got into line and the other had to go pick said infant up from child care and bring baby back. Got into line to get my number where the agent called me up, asked for my confirmation number, checked that I had my application and a legitimate travel need and handed me a number. I was told to turn around and join the next line of people with numbers. The place was pretty busy and only got busier. While we were waiting, the security agents started filling chairs in the room. Those people had to wait to even join the line to get a number to join the next line to visit a passport agent. Anyway, I was chatting with a pair of nice gentleman who were also waiting with me which helped pass the time. One was local, the other had driven down from Austin. The later had to dart out and pay the meter so his truck didn't get a ticket and a wheel boot. I suggest finding a longer term parking solution since it took about an hour and a half to get to the front of the line and we were "on time". The passport agent was really great - I was organized, had my application filled, my naturalization certificate and copy, my DL and copy and my record of travel. She asked for my confirmation number and took my paperwork. She then had me raise my right hand, declare I hadn't applied for another passport and that the photos were of me. She checked everything over, handed me back my DL and gave me a receipt to pick my passport up in 2 days time. I asked a couple of questions about getting my children's passports that she happily answered, I thanked her and off we went. Back I go Wednesday. The lovely agent did state that I may end up having to wait a bit to pick up if they didn't actually have the passport printed, so fair warning there. One step closer to the actual end of our immi journey! Just a passport pick up, 2 kid passports and 2 N-600's to go...

Congrats, @Murse10. Make sure you go into your profile and update your information and you may want to provide a review of the Montreal Consulate for other VJ members to view.

Call DoS and see if they will book you in. I have urgent travel for work and my appointment is Monday. I naturalized on the 27th, called the 28th and that's when they booked me for.