OldUser

I'd answer "no" since you were not a subject and attach scan of J1 visa or DS-2019 (this might be even better)

@MMara here is why:

You absolutely should bring your spouse and be ready for combo.

Not sure where this comes from. Before the oath you will be asked whether you had any trips between interview and oath date. You can list those. As long as you're not barely meeting physical presence and continuous residence requirements that a short trip would disrupt, you should be fine. I wouldn't travel, but you're free to if you need to.

Gotta file I-90 ASAP

Don't you have an old GC + extension letter? You can travel with those no problem

No. But is her GC already expired or about to expire? No

Resident since date + 2 years - 90 days If Resident Since date on GC is April 25 2024, then you should file I-751 no later than April 25 2026. Ideally within 90 days window prior to the date, which would any time after January 25, 2026. I'd recommend aiming for first week of February 2026.

No issue at all. As everybody already said, GC supercedes any US visas in your passports. You can also safely renew your passport if it's close to expiration. Majority of European countries will allow to renew passport online and will return your old passport by post if it has any active visas. And make sure to file I-751 sometime in April / May of 2026 depending on Residence Since date on GC (within 90 days of 2 year anniversary)

This should not be an issue if you carry your receipt for I-485. Yes, name should match the ID.

Your entry to Mexico depends on passport. If passport requires visa, you need to get visa first. Based on the name, I made an assumption you're a Indian national. Indian passport does not grant visa free travel to Mexico, so visa is needed to enter Mexico. Advance parole generally allows reentry to the US while I-485 is pending.

I think you should be fine travelling, but nobody can give you 100% guarantee it will be smooth. Especially lawyers because their reputation is on the line.

Why do you want to work for a company that laid you off?

Attorneys always suggest the safest approach. If I understand correctly, if somebody's I-485 is denied while they're out of the US, they'd have to council process. In addition, any time they waited in the US solely on I-485 and didn't have any other status, they'd accrue unlawful presence. Given OPs long history in the US, there's also always a chance a CBP in bad mood can treat such returning alien poorly. Once OP gets GC, they're in much better place. No travel = 100% no issue Travel = Some chance of issue Given OP already spent 13 years in the US continuously, spending another 6-12 months until GC in hand doesn't seem out of place.

It's always best to find a third party without conflict of interest. I don't believe it's an official requirement but it just makes sense. Spanish is a wide spoken language. You can certainly find somebody speaking both languages. Online translation agencies should not cost a fortune (probably under $50)

1. Was marriage certificate provided? 2. Have you ever lived together? 3. How many times did you visit each other in the last year or so?

The reason it is asked for, so letters can be delivered to the beneficiary.

Those estimates are largely inaccurate. Good luck!

But how did you get any official documention in this name that didn't match your legal name at birth? Say your passport... Did you just use different name and whoever issued your passport was OK with name not matching birth certificate?

No, you're missing important piece - your physical GC. You need that in addition to valid passport and original extension letter. Otherwise people travel while their I-751 is pending, there's nothing extraordinary about it. You'll be fine. Good luck!

It's not necessarily wrong. Probably nobody looked at it just yet.

Yes, endorsed visa is valid for a year for travel. GC can take longer than 90 days to arrive. Few things to consider: 1. Travelling will likely delay your eligibility for naturalization. Say your card will say Resident Since 07/01/2024. But if you left on 07/10/2024 with stamp and entered on 10/10/2024, I'd count 5 years from October 2024 to submit N-400. Otherwise USCIS can say you never started residing in the US until October 2024 and deny N-400. 2. You need to have firm address. If your GC doesn't ger delivered or you don't have access to mail, you'll have to file I-90 and potentially wait long time to get GC replaced. 3. (Only a theory) USCIS now has better awareness of people leaving the US. I won't be surprised when they play games of "sending" GC, but in reality redirecting it back to USCIS knowing you're not in the US. It's always best to have GC in hand before travelling. But if it's urgent - you can travel before.

Student visa? Either way overstay should be forgiven for spouse of US citizen. Yes

Was the beneficiary in status all this time? Is I-485 pending? Just write a letter and attach copy of your naturalization certificate.