ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Citizenship General DiscussionDual Citizens Traveling after Naturalization
QUOTE (Neonred @ Dec 6 2009, 03:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The airlines are the only ones that check when leaving the US. There is no immigration exit check.


Yes the airlines are the only ones gathering the information. They are then required to send some of that information to Homeland Security. To be correct there are no immigration exit controls there are certainly immigration checks of the exit information.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-06 11:30:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDual Citizens Traveling after Naturalization
QUOTE (Just Bob @ Dec 5 2009, 11:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I feel you overthinking the issue. Homeland Security is mostly concerned with people entering the US, not those leaving.


Actually you are wrong on that point. Having done similar work in the UK and worked closely with my counterparts in the USA they monitor all travel into and out of the USA. They can also produce a record of your travel showing quite detailed information including passport use. It certainly doesn't concern me how people overcome problems and I'm all for the easiest way for the individual but there are potential pitfalls.

It is not just countries that require visas which are going to cause problems. As more and more required electronic manifests to be sent before flight departure there are potential problems about to arise. The UK is one as this article in the Telegraph points out. http://www.telegraph...ationality.html Knowing the record in the UK for getting large IT system working properly I'm not going to hold my breath that problem is solved. When I was still working in the UK there were plans for all these systems to eventually link together worldwide and all visas and travel history would be available just about anywhere. At that time it was called Border Guard. Be interesting if that ever gets off the ground.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-06 11:22:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDual Citizens Traveling after Naturalization
QUOTE (AusCal @ Dec 5 2009, 07:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Since my home country (Australia) requires a visa from US travelers, the airline at US check-in needs to see my Australian passport - at Los Angeles airport, you don't pass through US immigration at exit s0, I don;t use my US passport when I leave). If your home country requires a visa from US visitors, you may find a similar situation.


But the airline gathers all your passport information and forwards it with the flight manifest and other details to Homeland Security. So technically you break the requirement for a US citizen to exit on a US passport. What if anything will ever come of it who knows, until one day something goes tits up.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-05 23:44:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDual Citizens Traveling after Naturalization
QUOTE (Just Bob @ Dec 5 2009, 10:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You withheld the other country from us, which makes answering more time consuming. Thank you for that.

1) Leaving US
a) Normally US Passport.
B) If the country you are traveling to requires visa from USC, but not from your other country, you need to use other passport for one in order to be allowed to board.


In B you would in fact have to get a visa for your US passport as the US require you to exit the US only on a US passport.

Except of course if you are traveling to your own country and they require a visa for US citizens but your own country wouldn't give you a visa if they know you are a citizen. So in those circumstances you wouldn't be going anywhere. devil.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-05 16:16:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDual Citizens Traveling after Naturalization
1 to 4 are correct. Not having a stamp will not effect entry back into the US. My wife a USC by birth and a UK citizen by naturalization did this regularly for about 5 years.

People are subjected to examination if the CBP officer thinks the passport has been illegally obtained or altered, by that doesn't effect the vast majority of people. Go to your country of origin and come home and don't worry about what will almost certainly not be a problem.

Enjoy your visit.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-05 11:10:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionInterview & Oath Ceremony Portland Oregon
QUOTE (elishav @ Dec 5 2009, 02:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The constant warmth and sunshine into November is beginning to wear on us blink.gif


You'll like it here then it's 26 degrees at the moment
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-07 13:31:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionInterview & Oath Ceremony Portland Oregon
QUOTE (elishav @ Dec 5 2009, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Maybe we should start an annoying support group. star_smile.gif


Yes help is always most welcome. There are still quite a few people I haven't pissed off yet who really are deserving of the attention. good.gif

Where abouts in Oregon are you thinking of moving to.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-05 17:19:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionInterview & Oath Ceremony Portland Oregon
QUOTE (~krakatoa~ @ Dec 4 2009, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Details! Gotta love 'em details (specially the part about the tie).


You have to do something original, can't just blended into the crowd. innocent.gif

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-04 15:24:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionInterview & Oath Ceremony Portland Oregon
This is a report of my naturalization interview and oath ceremony at Portland, Oregon. I have included parking information which I couldn't find out beforehand and which would have been useful to know.

The interview was at 1.30pm on December 1st and as just about everyone else in Oregon the only practical way to get to the office was to drive. However the office is situated an easy walk 2 or 3 blocks from the Portland Greyhound bus station, the Amtrack station and light rail if you choose public transport. As I was driving I looked before hand for parking information and all I could find was there are parking meters and parking lots nearby. There are indeed meters all around the office and surrounding streets but I couldn't find an empty parking space, so I used the parking lot one block from the USCIS office on NW Glisan. If you decide to park there it is cheaper after 1pm but still more expensive than meter parking. The address of the USCIS office is 511 NW Broadway but the entrance on The Broadway isn't used so you go in at the other side of the building on NW 8th. You go through the large entrance doors and immediately are in front of the security scanners. The hardest part of the interview day was getting past the metal detector, after 4 attempts I finally remembered everything I had which was metal including my pants belt. There didn't seem to be any problem with taking a cell phone into the building. In front of you is a corridor stretching the whole length of the building and room 106 is about half way down on the right. As has been said many times before place your interview letter in the box to the left of the door, amazing how many people I watched have a problem with that, and take a seat in the waiting room. The time past watching a woman who every time someone put their interview letter in the box casually walked out the waiting room and moved her letter back to the front of the pile. of course it made no difference the interviewing officers all had a list of their own to determine the order people were called in.

At various time officers would come into the room and call out a name and at 1.45pm my name was called. As we left the room the officer apologized for keeping me waiting which I thought was very nice and anyway I had expected to wait longer than I did. We walked to her office and when we got inside she said something with her back to me which I didn't hear apart from "Before you sit down" the rest apparently was raise your right hand. It became apparent that part of the reason I didn't hear was because she was chewing gum which made her mumble at times when she spoke. I was able to understand her but for someone who had problems with English it would have been hard for them to do so. After I sat down she asked for my Green Card so I had to stand up again to get it out my wallet. She did the test first. Name 3 of the original Colonies, a State which borders Mexico, Who is the Commander-in-Chief, What party does the president belong to, Name 2 US political parties and who wrote the Constitution. She had the questions printed on a sheet of paper and wrote my answer by each question. Only she started to write the answers before I said them so if I hadn't of known the answers I could quite easy of read what she put down. I then had to write The people elect Congress and read Who elects Congress. She then went through the N-400 very briefly and got to my occupation and was surprised to see what I done in the UK. Her tone gave me the impression this was the first time she had read the N-400. She said no point in asking if you have ever been arrested or joined a terrorist organization is there picked up a stamp and stamped a large red "Approved" on the form. At no time did she ask to see any of the documents that USCIS had instructed me to take in fact the copies sent with the N-400 were all she looked at. All done in about 10 minutes. She said "Would you like to attend tomorrows oath ceremony" as if I would say no and gave me the letter to came back at 1.45pm the next day.

The oath ceremony. Again no space on the parking meters was back into the small parking lot I used yesterday which again had ample space. Through security, easier this time I left my belt at home and turn left into room 117 which is the officer where the infopass and other enquiries are done. There is a waiting area for people attending the ceremony in that room. Being English I completely overdressed for the occasion wearing a sport jacket, shirt and my Zimbabwe tie with elephants and giraffes all over it. Some were in jeans and tee shirt. One guy wore a suit, he turned out to be the only other Brit there most were quite casually dressed, which is the norm in Oregon even for weddings and funerals. At 1.50 we were taken upstairs to where the oath ceremony is held. The guests, of which there quite a few, were taken into the room while those taking the oath remained outside to have our interview letters checked that we had signed the back to say we hadn't got divorced, joined the communist party or changed our minds since the interview. The GC were taken and we sent into the room in order and there matched against the photograph on our certificates and ask to sit. The ceremony was conducted by the USCIS Director at the Portland office and started with a speech of welcome, what it means to be a US citizen, how we should strive to defend our rights and the constitution and the opportunities open to us as soon to become citizens. A short video of still photographs was then played showing immigrants arriving in the US from the late 1800 and early 1900 hundreds which written comments from some about their hopes and achievements in their new life. She then said there were 34 people being sworn in from 20 different counties and asked us to stand as she read the list of countries out. She then lead the oath swearing us in as US citizens and at the end said "You are now all US citizens" which was greeted with applause and handshakes. She then invited everyone in the room to take the Pledge of Allegiance after which the certificates were presented along with of course a flag. We were told to check the certificates were correct, because any errors would be corrected before we left without a fee but once we had left it was a form and fee and wait for it to be done, and to then sign the certificate with the same signature we had signed the photograph attached to it with. The ceremony concluded with a video of President Obama welcoming us as new citizens and that was it. I celebrated by taking my 5 year old grandson who had come to see "Poppy" become an American for a Slurpee.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-04 13:39:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDo I understand requirements for N-400 correctly
IRS transcripts for the last 3 years will suffice with the N-400.

However you might want to keep some items from the first line as well as extra proof if required. You don't need to send those in with the application just take them to the interview when that time eventually comes.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-09 12:15:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionLost my passport? What can I do? Help????
QUOTE (joetruk @ Dec 8 2009, 03:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm going to apply for my citizenship on December 2009(90 days prior my 3 years married to my husband who is a US citizen)


You cannot apply 90 days prior to being married 3 years, you must have been married the full 3 years. It is only the 3 year residence requirement that you can apply 90 days before reaching.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-08 19:27:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSame day travel as oath ceremony
Someone I know of went to Canada last week using their UK passport and Naturalization Certificate. They got sent to secondary and spoken to for about 10 minutes but it wasn't much of a problem. They were told if they did it again there would be a $545 "fine".

Don't think I would do it, you may meet a CBP officer who wants to make it a problem. They cannot deny you entry into the US as you would be a citizen but there is a US law that requires you to enter and leave the US on a US passport.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-23 11:19:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionQuestion about the N-400
QUOTE (Dakine @ Dec 24 2009, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Have you ever committed a crime you HAVEN'T been arrested for? YES NO

That's on the N-400 naturalization application.


and they ask you that again at the citizenship interview. Another question they ask is "Have you ever lied to a Federal Officer". Are USCIS interviewers Federal Officers?

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-24 15:21:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionQuestion about the N-400
If you lie on your citizenship application and it subsequently comes to light you can have your citizenship taken away from you. Now you know the possible consequences make your choice as to what you do.

Edited by Lansbury, 24 December 2009 - 12:43 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-24 12:42:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionShould I apply for US Citizenship now?
QUOTE (Ant+D+BabyA @ Dec 27 2009, 10:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
As well, if you are able to file for the N-400/US Citizenship, when you meet ALL those requirements mentioned above, by all means, go for it, despite your I-751 still pending. This will "force" your I-751 to be approved so that your N-400 can be approved too.


and you know all their personal circumstances as well as the lawyer they are employing and who is advising them, as the lawyer seems to disagree with you?

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-27 13:57:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionShould I apply for US Citizenship now?
I think Anh map is right in these circumstances. You are employing an immigration lawyer follow their advice it is what you are paying them for and they know all your circumstances, posters on here do not.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-27 13:51:00
US Citizenship General Discussionn-400 FORM
If that is the form currently on the USCIS web site when you send it yes. If it isn't then personally I would use whatever is the current one on their site to be safe. Probably would not make any difference but why give yourself something else to worry about.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-31 18:38:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionWhen options if N400 based on marriage is denied?
They wait until they have been a LPR for 5 years meet all the required qualifications and apply again using that criteria I guess.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-31 13:56:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSent out N-400 w/o supporting documents
It will cause a delay as I guess they will send you a RFE for the missing documents. All they need will be copies, originals you take to the interview.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-07 18:16:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionJury duty and Citizenship
For Christ sake why are people making this so complicated.

He told the people at the Court he wasn't a US citizen and hence wasn't eligible for jury duty. That has no effect on his citizenship application doesn't even need to be mentioned. It has no bearing in any way shape or form.

Edited by Lansbury, 05 January 2010 - 06:35 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-05 18:34:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionJury duty and Citizenship

Correct me if I'm wrong but I've never seen info where a immigrant would be informed or made aware of they should not do jury duty until you study for US citizen.


On the ones I have received it is stated on the form that you must be a US citizen. It is on the County web site and the Court web site couldn't be clearer than that.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-05 18:30:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionJury duty and Citizenship

So, I will have no problem applying for my Citizenship am i Correct?


The jury duty wouldn't cause a problem as you correctly informed them you were not a citizen. In your case you did this in person by attending the court, I did it by sending the card back, on 2 separate occasions. I am a citizen now no problems, the jury summons doesn't need to be mentioned at all anywhere it is irrelevant to your application. Good luck.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-04 13:04:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionJury duty and Citizenship

I think JustBob is being a little too harsh here. If he had participated as a juror, he should still apply for citizenship if he is eligible. He did not have to know that he shouldn't be at a jury duty. Mistake was made by the failed system that sent him (and myself once) a jury duty notification. Mistake would be much worse if the system had called his name and allowed him to be at a jury duty.


I think JustBob is spot on. It is up to the individual to know if they can serve on a jury as a US citizen or not. The requirements for jury service are publicly available. People have mistakenly registered to vote because they did not know that argument didn't wash either.

I disagree with JustBob on one point. By attending for jury service whether he was on an actual jury or not he has implied to the Court he is a US citizen. That could have been a big problem if he hadn't mention then he wasn't a citizen.

Edited by Lansbury, 04 January 2010 - 12:26 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-04 12:24:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionInterview questions failed but passed on written and reading
As they tell you the answers to the questions long before your interview unless you do no study at all it is very hard to fail.

If you do you have to go back for another interview and do it again.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-14 13:59:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionHow does Fairfax D.O handle "early" interview cases

That's what has been reported here. I'm only applying this March so I don't have personal experience.

You go for an interview and if you pass you get the approved paper but not the oath ceremony invitation until you have met the 3yrs residency.


OK I was just checking that your reply was specific to the Fairfax D.O and not a generic answer about any office.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-14 14:29:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionHow does Fairfax D.O handle "early" interview cases

You get interviewed and if you pass they put you on hold until the anniversary. You get an oath ceremony letter for a time after the anniversary date.


Is that a fact for that office because some offices will not do the interview before the 3 years is up. I know people have had their interviews canceled in those circumstances and rescheduled for after the anniversary date.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-14 13:19:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionQuestion 16 part 10
Not sure I understand when you were cited.

If it was before you submitted the N-400 at the interview when you are questioned about the details on the N-400 you will have to explain why you left them off.

If after then you will have the chance to update the information.

If the fine was more than $500 you will need to take the documentation to show what it was. If less than $500 you don't need any extra paperwork.

This is what the Guide says:-

Note that unless a traffic incident
was alcohol or drug related, you do not need
to submit documentation for traffic fines and
incidents that did not involve an actual arrest
if the only penalty was a fine of less than
$500 and/or points on your driver’s license.

Edited by Lansbury, 16 January 2010 - 04:32 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-16 16:30:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAnt's Voter's Registration Card Received!

Im very happy to hear that you are excited about voting, People that don't vote have no right to complain about anything.


The right to abstain from voting and show your dissatisfaction with any of the candidates is just as an important right as choosing one over the others. It is part of the process. It is not being a bad anything to do so.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-07 17:46:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionN400 Question Part 7
Somewhere it is stated that when you file using the 3 year rule, everywhere a question says 5 you read it as 3 and answer accordingly. Just list the trips for the last 3 years.

I found that when I filed my N-400 but trying to find the source just now I can't find it again.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-19 09:25:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCitizenship Interview
RFE - Request for (further) Evidence
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-23 16:56:00
US Citizenship General Discussionfingerprint appointment letter for n400
It's only been four days even if it did get in the mail on the 14th. Give it a few more days yet.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-22 12:44:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionInterview is very near
Quite natural to be nervous but don't be. Of all the steps this one is the easiest, very friendly and you only have to get 60% of the questions right.

Good luck, not that you will need it.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-29 12:19:00
US Citizenship General Discussionno military service
If he is between 18 - 26 since he came here you can check his Selective Service status here https://www.sss.gov/...rification.aspx

If he should have registered and didn't the chances are he will not be able to become a citizen until he is 31. If you fail to registered I have seen people be required to show 5 years of good character after the requirement for Selective Service would have ended. Of course if he isn't 26 yet and hasn't registered he should do so straight away.

Edited by Lansbury, 29 January 2010 - 12:28 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-29 12:26:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDS 1722
That is what USCIS refer to the IRS tax transcripts as. If you take the IRS tax transcripts for the years they want the 1722 for you will be OK.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-02-08 16:51:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionN-400: Yellow Letter vs. White Letter...
The yellow letter told me specifically that they want me to take specific documents to the interview which they had only generally mentioned in the white letter to take.

Hope that makes it clear, specifically the difference between the white and yellow letters. rolleyes.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2009-11-06 15:07:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionTimeline for N400
I would think 3 months is a bit optimistic. Anything from 4 - 6 months from sending N-400 to oath ceremony. Some wait 4 - 6 weeks after the interview for the oath. Around 5 months start to finish is a good average.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-02-16 16:09:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCitizenship based on Marriage, or 5-Year Rule
File after 3 years. I did certainly no massive scrutiny, if fact hardly much of any sort of scrutiny.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-02-18 16:02:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAdditional Documents Requested
Did you send copies of your actual tax returns. If so they want to see the originals to check the copies are genuine. Tax transcripts are free, what USCIS calls the IRS form 1722, takes about 2 weeks to get and personally I would get those and take them. I submitted copies of the transcripts and was asked to take the originals of them that came from the IRS, they were never looked at when I was interviewed.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-02-22 10:30:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionRFE
QUOTE (Ant+D+A @ Nov 6 2009, 08:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Lansbury- I also said the following, in my previous post:


Different thread and may not be seen by someone reading this one.

To me this is one of those issues which should be made clear every time a post is made. Yes I agree it is 99% to be the biometrics letter, but it should also be pointed the slim chance it isn't and if an RFE is not answered in the required time the case is closed and it is quite difficult to get them to reopen a closed citizenship application. Then the person can choose to do what they want.

On the plus side if USCIS get enough inquiries caused by them saying the biometrics letter is an RFE when it isn't perhaps they might even change the word in the status checks.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-11-06 11:38:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionRFE
QUOTE (Ant+D+A @ Nov 5 2009, 03:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
snipped


I wish when you post this you would make it clear that while highly unlikely there could be an RFE. You do not know that what you say applies in all cases, and could be very damaging to someones application if they ignore a non received RFE thinking it was the biometrics letter.

Otherwise please explain why I had the exact same entry on my case status but got the biometrics letter first and a delayed RFE (dated before the biometric letter) after it only after I made a phone call and subsequent Infopass appointment to follow it up.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-11-06 10:32:00