OldUser

You got a very slim chance with a lawyer by filing late I-751 (consult first and find if you were put in removal proceedings) Otherwise...

We pay those $$$$s after all 😃

Separate

Depends on service center

He did mention "giving it a try" for some new cases in one of the episodes. I personally don't want to be a beta tester of online system written by cheapest contractors USCIS hired. Remember, it's a government agency and they cannot afford FAANG level software engineers with 300K+ salaries. I'm sure it will get better over time, it's just not there for me yet.

And another case. Somebody filed I-130 online for mom in the US... I heard several of these stories on YouTube immigration show by Jim Hacking. People call him to ask for info on US immigration. I filed my entire AOS on paper and will file N-400 on paper too, unless USCIS significantly improve their online system.

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I know this can happen when filing on paper too, but stories like that make me not fully trust the online filing process: https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/104fxyu/comment/j37ov9d/ I am an IT professional and still prefer paper over that buggy online system. Personal choice though. In addition, my lawyer and several other lawyers suggested doing it on paper (OK, maybe they had conflict of interest). Out of curiosity, @Family can the filer easily download the copy of submitted form? One thing I hated about online filing of DS-160 years back was that I had to take browser page screenshots to have a copy of all entered info for my records.

Yes, he is not required to have an unexpired passport for AOS. He will need it later to travel though.

If this is the only passport he has, e.g. he didn't get a new one, use the expired passport details. If he got a new passport, put its details in the current passport question.

Once your parents get a green card, they'll have to maintain their LPR status for the rest of their lives or get naturalized. If they get green card, and use it as visitor visa, they'll lose it. Once they lose it, it's going to be difficult for them to ever get a visitor visa (B1/B2) because of demonstrated immigration intent in the past. And yes, even green card holders and US citizens can be put in secondary when arriving to the US. Make sure you all think it through before applying for AOS!

The least painful process for you to change the name is during N-400 application when you apply for naturalization. I-90 takes a long time nowadays, and you may not get your conditional Green Card replaced before you need to file I-751. Also, think about your Indian passport. You are required to change your name on it. How easy would that be? Summary: I'd suggest waiting until you file N-400. You'll become a US citizen with new name and will lose your Indian citizenship at the same time, so wouldn't have to worry about renewing your Indian passport.

Seeing more approvals and RFEs for WAC filers in 21XXX range today and yesterday.

Here is PDF for convention: https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/6_1_1961.pdf People with legal background may be able to interpret it better than I can do 😃

Update: actually found something related. Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. It does mention 5 and 10 year periods of being LPRs in various situations in Article 1. So I think it is used by many countries as naturalization prerequisite. Fun fact: US did not ratify it.

That's a very good question, which I do not have an answer to. Maybe somebody with more knowledge can explain. My observation is that a lot of developed countries require 5 or 10 years living as permanent resident before naturalizing. It kinda makes sense, it takes time for a foreigner to learn language, customs and become integrated into society. Imagine if countries allowed naturalizing after 6-12 months and what this would mean. E.g. citizens can change a lot of policies and laws by voting. If they haven't lived much in the country, how can they make a good, informed decision when voting? I wonder if there are some international treaties, suggesting 5-10 years terms as LPR for naturalization as a general rule. Though of course there are plenty examples of citizenship by investment in Carribbean countries where people can naturalize without ever stepping their foot on that country's soil.

Absolutely agree with this statement. My understanding is application after 5-10 years of being LPR is a sweet spot. Only a personal (perhaps unpopular) opinion, but 3 year rule applicants may be held to a higher standard, e.g. IO has to answer these questions in his or her head: 1. "what's the rush for this person to become a US citizen?" 2. "was US citizenship the ultimate goal for this LPR, and not the marriage to US citizen?" Immigration is not only expensive from financial point of view, but also from time investment view. Fraudsters wouldn't usually bother waiting extra years to get immigration benefit. They want it ASAP and move on with their lives (e.g. divorce the US citizen spouse soon after becoming citizen etc.). So it makes sense that marriage based citizenship would attract them and incentivize to apply 2 years 9 months early instead of after 5 years. I'm not having prejudice towards 3 year filers, just speculating it's a more attractive option if the end goal is naturalization.

Pretty much every thread in this forum has somebody who filed for N-400 while waiting for their I-751 approval. Just check threads for December 2021 filers or earlier. Here are some possible outcomes when filing N-400 while I-751 is pending: 1. You get I-751 approved without interview, followed by N-400 interview 2. You get combo I-751 and N-400 interview 3. You get I-751 interview one one day, followed by N-400 on some other day 4. You get N-400 interview, but decision cannot be made because I-751 is not yet adjudicated.

What's your view on it? It does make sense that applicants under 5 year rule get processed more efficiently. 1. Most of them either have I-751 already approved or never had one 2. No bonafide marital evidence is needed. This means no need for reviewing all of it. Also fewer agents are trained to deal with applicants under 3 year rule. 3. Complexity of the case is reduced under 5 year rule. Let's not forget that 5 year rule is the default naturalization path. 3 year rule or marriage to USC in military are special cases.

What do you mean by that? Whatever is your current passport's number.

Yes, always update your DL after moving to a new address. Many, if not all States, require you to do that.

Mention your service center

@Elixz2 I checked flights from Tobago to Dubai and it does look like majority of flights involve transit via USA. Despite your country's visa free access to EU countries and UK, it doesn't help you much. It does look like you would need a visa to transit via USA. It also looks like transit visa C-1 is not much different from B1/B2 in terms of efforts required from you. In this case, I'd just apply for B1/B2. It would give you more options, in case if you want to visit USA as a tourist on your way to final destination or on your way back.

Congratulations! Yes, do include your first kid's birth certificate with both of parent's names on it. Could also include second child's BC after birth 🙂

I hope you've included I-130 receipt in your I-485? Some people here said it worked for them just fine, so don't get worried ahead of time. Maybe it'll be just fine!