ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Citizenship General DiscussionPR since 91, out 1+ yr, N400 or abandonment ? complicated
it is possible to get some 'entry/exit' dates at a Customs/Border Patrol Secondary Inspection Office.
see http://www.visajourn...34#entry4076334
(click the link, have a read?)
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-31 10:58:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPR since 91, out 1+ yr, N400 or abandonment ? complicated
how very strange.

well - here's some timeticks for you to evaluate, ya?

'current' green card issued in 2002.
LPR status maintained, for certain, since 2003, not leave USA borders since then.
'most recent' gc expires in 2017.

IMO, you've no abandonment issues and
you've met the 'current' 5 year rule to apply for US Citizenship.
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-31 19:20:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionBIO and interview at same place ?
Biometrics are usually done at an ASC (Application Service Center) office,
which is USUALLY
not the same office where the interview takes place.

There are variances, on this, sure - if any large 'federal complex', but even then, is different suite #, different security crew at the front door.
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-25 20:11:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNew-born citizenship??
Your wife does not qualify as a 'us citizen' for purposes of establish a 'Consulate Record of Birth Abroad' for the child.
'ready to send to Montreal' ? Not NVC ?

If she filed I-130 via DCF, then maybe you'll get some speed, with interview in October (maybe).
IMO, if you want the baby to have USA citizenship, have the baby in USA.

Will your wife have 're-establishing domicile' issues to overcome, prior to interview day, as well?
DarnellMaleChina2010-07-11 23:42:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionWhen to apply for citizenship
Wife of US Citizen - rule is 3 years -
from the 'as of' date on the first greencard.

So, check the greencard, what date you got there?

Break out the calendar, figure out the 3 year mark, then go backwards 89 days.
THAT day, is the first day that she can file for Citizenship.
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-11 16:32:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionWhen to apply for citizenship
6/28/06 ? Cool ! She's been eligible for a bit, already, then.

Yay !!!

http://www.visajourn...alization_guide
http://www.visajourn...ization_process

GoGoGadget FileTheN-400ThisWeek !

Edited by Darnell, 11 August 2010 - 05:49 PM.

DarnellMaleChina2010-08-11 17:48:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionWhen to apply for citizenship
no - the 'start date' is on the FIRST GREEN CARD, not the 2nd one.

The second green card, issued as 'no conditions, 10 year green card'.

The first green card, issued as 'conditional, 2 year green card'.

So, if the 'first date on the first green card' is 6/28/2006 - Congratulations ! She can apply for citizenship this week.

Prior 'steps' breakdown?

K-1 visa issued in Guangzhou , on some date
She arrives in USA, you guys marry, on some date
AOS filed, on some date
She received Conditional Green Card, 2 year duration, with 'as of ' date of 6/28/06.
I-751 filed, Removal of Conditions on Permanent Residency', on some date
New Green Card Issued, unconditional , 10 year duration, on some date.

So if you look at both cards, if you look at the first card, the 2 year CONDITIONAL card,
it's the 'as of' date on the FIRST card that's important, here - NOT the 'as of date' on the 2nd, 10 year card.

HTH?

FWIW, I'm mostly grasping at straws, but trying to imbue 'actual dates' on some template, with a process leading to citizenship based on 3 years of 'lawful presence' in the USA, married to a USCitizen. If you make the time to fill out yer official VJ timeline, over at http://www.visajourn...le.php?id=22610 , completely, then I could be absolutely certain of facts, then be able to say , with no uncertainty, what that 'first date' really is, as it would be listed in yer timeline. Sure, you've given us a date of 6/28/2006, and In My Mind™ - that's the first 'as of date' on the first green card - and with that date being accepted as 'fact' - hei ! She already qualifies to file for US Citizenship.

With that in mind, to 'be a citizen' - once she becomes a citizen, the priority date for the I-130 she's filed for the child, will be changed, put in different queue, with supposedly a bit more speed. She'll have to request the 'status change' once she has her citizenship certificate in hand, is a manual process for showing the change of status of a petitioner.

GOOD LUCK !

Edited by Darnell, 12 August 2010 - 10:00 AM.

DarnellMaleChina2010-08-12 09:44:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionWhen to apply for citizenship
Yes, she will. In consolation, perhaps prep life insurance policy, prior to revealing this to her?
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-12 12:34:00
US Citizenship General Discussioninterview letter
IMO, at 'that point' , when, after a phone call into USCIS, inquiring for case status -

a Tele-Operator tells you that yer husband has been denied.
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-15 19:36:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSad story

That is so sad to hear. What she can do is make an infopass appointment explaining her situation and ask to withdrawal the application. Unfortunately I don't think she will get her money back, however she can reapply for citizenship later on down the line no problem. She can also write a letter to her local office with a copy of the death certificate as well if she wants to.
Best of luck to her.
Lissa


I would tailor this a bit, as follows -

instead of 'withdrawing the application'
shift to
'postponing the interview' instead.

IMO, she might be in a different frame of mind 3 or 4 months down the road. Withdrawing the application is, again IMO, rather silly, as one has to start over with the filing process. She's really close to the 'end game' now, and a 'postponement' or 'reschedule' is actually straightfoward to get, during an infopass appointment.
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-01 15:11:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSad story

Thank you so much for your support! I have one more question. She ended up missing her interview. Because it's difficult for her to stay in the US, she wants to make a trip to her home country to spend a few months with her parents. She is planning to stay outside the US for 3 - 4 months. Will she have any trouble returning back to the US on her 10-year Green Card considering the fact that she missed her naturalization interview and never informed USCIS? We are worried that the border officials on her way back to the US may give her a hard time. Does anyone know what she should expect upon return to the US? Thank you for all your help.


She has a 10 year card, so that, in its-self, will be useful.

However, she missed the interview, so she really should set up an infopass appointment and ASK for another interview 6 months later. Get that done prior to leaving, so the USCIS staffer at the local office can 'clear up her file'. Sure, it's an easy thing to do, prior to her leaving, but if she DOES NOT DO IT, there will be some flag in her computer file, reviewed at the POE - and I've NO IDEA what will happen because of that flag. Really - NO IDEA.

Suggest you help her set up the infopass appointment, if you really are trying to help her, and you and yer wife go with her to the appointment.

see https://infopass.uscis.gov/info_en.php for setting up the appointment .

Good Luck !
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-01 15:15:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSad story
This question sorta lends itself to the concept of 'no infopass made and/or attended yet'.

Seriously.

If you are helping her, then get the infopass appointment made , get HER to the infopass appointment, suss out all, at the infopass appointment.

Why not take her to an infopass apppointment? She is your friend, yes? I know if my wife had this issue (with me being dead), a friend of mine or hers would handle all whilst she's grieving.

Look, you posted here on the 19th of July - and haven't done anything but ask more questions (here). Since then, she's missed an interview for her citizenship with no feedback to the USCIS on her behalf or yours. Not cool, man.

What's stopping you from making the infopass appointment?

What's stopping you from taking her to the infopass appointment?

Whatever 'is stopping you', please overcome it, today ?

Edited by Darnell, 05 August 2010 - 09:55 AM.

DarnellMaleChina2010-08-05 09:20:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSad story
'eligible to apply' and 'missed citizenship appointment'

are not the same things, at all. I do hope you 'see that', yes?
DarnellMaleChina2010-08-05 10:41:00
US Citizenship General Discussion5-year rule of applying citizenship
The child might qualify for immediate citizenship, as well - might want to look into that, via the USC Spouse.
DarnellMaleChina2010-07-27 00:14:00
US Citizenship General Discussionu.s citizenship for children born abroad
if they are already in the USA, there's a way. Can't for the life of me remember the 'thing' though - I wrote about it last week- I'll dig through my posts and see what I wrote :(
--here it is --> http://www.visajourn...dpost&p=4042524

But- if they are NOT in the USA - sorry, must do CRBA and passport issuance at the local US Embassy/Consulate.

Edited by Darnell, 16 July 2010 - 12:52 PM.

DarnellMaleChina2010-07-16 12:47:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionIRS Transcript
That form is always silly, to me.

However - the IRS online page for requesting transcripts actually gives definitions of both -
see 
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=110571,00.html


I am fan of calling, having them faxed in, not using 'this form', at all.
DarnellMaleChina2010-07-14 11:53:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAnybody else heard the rumor...?
Hopp - eh - if it's coming in as a rumour - maybe the magic boys and girls over at ilw.com will write up something about it, soonish ?

If it 'got in' to the Immigration Reform Bill, then maybe thats where the rumours are coming from? (thats a swag, btw).
DarnellMaleChina2010-02-19 14:22:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAnybody else heard the rumor...?
anyone find hard data to validate the rumour ? :D
Happy Monday !
DarnellMaleChina2010-02-22 13:41:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAnybody else heard the rumor...?

Don't waste your time on Rumours.... :whistle:

Im sure it be in the media today if there was any weight in such a thing...

IMHO....If they would change such law, i would think they would make it harder not easyer....


Oh - it's a rumour from Hopp - so I was just checking in, see if anything had been vetted, or no, on that date.

He's not reposted here since his original post , so I not worry about it.
DarnellMaleChina2010-03-29 02:21:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionI'm new :) Have a lot of (simple) questions..
Suggest you rethink 'coming to USA' - and instead - focus on the long term move to Australia or New Zealand.
Good Luck !
DarnellMaleChina2010-05-28 07:41:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionI'm new :) Have a lot of (simple) questions..
Suggest you focus on Australia and New Zealand, make some international applications into the uni's there, forget about the USA for a bit.

Strongly suggest.
DarnellMaleChina2010-05-30 18:14:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionI'm new :) Have a lot of (simple) questions..
SaChinKy )(@*#$ rude? Oh my - that was totaly uncalled for.
DarnellMaleChina2010-06-02 01:06:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionI'm new :) Have a lot of (simple) questions..

Why? You have absolutely no reason to tell me to do that. I was raised in the US and would like to move back, not just some random country I know absolutely nothing about.


University in Australia and New Zealand is much easier to get into , than a USA University. Level of live-ability, as a student, much higher also. Universities are interested in their students succeeding there.

If you go to New Zealand, after 2 years, you can apply for, and get, a residence permit. One year after that, you can apply for a New Zealand passport, then can go anywhere you want. If you hang on long enough, you'll have a bachelors degree .. and then... You should apply for a masters program in USA, play the F1 OPT game, get H1-B, then pray you can hang on for permanent residency. Then apply for USC after 5 years.

And that's about it.

Oh, you could do something with the Mormon Church, get a 2 year 'religious visa', but you'd have to convert, then beg 'for study' in Utah. The path is there, but I don't suggest you make that attempt - it's not for everyone.

There are also special 'page intern' programs - check with your country, see if there is one, then apply. AFTER the first year in your country, you can apply for the 'exchange program', work as a page intern with the US House or Senate. But these are extremely hard to get into, is not a paid position, and yer family has to have pull in yer home country. There's about 20 to 30 slots, each year. You could also apply to be a page intern at the UN in New York, after one year in your home country - they cycle apprx 350 to 400 pages per year.

In the meantime, remember this is a public forum, focused on immigration (usually spouse, fiance, or family) and the next time you think to label SaChinKy as @#$@# rude, in an upper forum - you would have crossed the line FOR THE 2nd TIME. That first time was a violation of the TOS here, did you know ? You owe her an apology, young man - bow in the dust kinda thing.

Slan !

Edited by Darnell, 02 June 2010 - 01:18 AM.

DarnellMaleChina2010-06-02 01:16:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNaturalization fall under the 5-year rule
http://www.visajourn...alization_guide and http://www.visajourn...ization_process

I'm surprised - you've been a member for 3.5 years - that guide section is always viewable here at VJ.

Sorry for yer loss, though.
DarnellMaleChina2010-05-26 00:22:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCase Status check online does not work
what to do ? wait for the next postal letter.

Good Luck !
DarnellMaleChina2010-05-20 14:25:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCan i apply for the Citizenship if my wife AF reserve
have yer wife contact the military immigration liason's office and inquire.
DarnellMaleChina2010-05-04 00:17:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionBenefits of Becoming a USC
I think it's great when a new citizen can run for public office !
DarnellMaleChina2010-04-28 11:55:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDetroit, MI Interview Experience
Hey - thanks so much for the write up !!!

Congratulations on passing it !

Martin Luther question? wow - that's strange, wasn't an American thing, at all. (Unless you meant to say 'Martin Luther King')
DarnellMaleChina2010-04-26 14:11:00
US Citizenship General Discussioncan i file with 5 year requirement?
tax transcripts can be had same day if they are faxed from the IRS. Good Luck !
DarnellMaleChina2010-04-09 14:51:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionANY EXPERIENCES WITH SAN ANTONIO CITIZENSHIP INTERVIEW
The last one that was reported on here at VJ was in 2008.
http://www.visajourn...le.php?id=47780

Good Luck !
DarnellMaleChina2010-04-04 16:17:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionProbably dumb question... am I already a citizen?
contact the office in OK again - inquire, again.

Once you have the birth certificate, you should be able to apply for a USA passport at a Consulate/Embassy in Canada (in person). Once you have USA passport in hand, you then have PROOF (worthy proof, even) that you are a USA citizen, can USE that proof in filing a I-130 for yer wife in Canada (via DCF, hopefully)



Good Luck !

Edited by Darnell, 23 March 2010 - 01:57 PM.

DarnellMaleChina2010-03-23 13:56:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionProbably dumb question... am I already a citizen?
what 'that page' is missing
is the exemption amount.
it ranges from 75,000 to 90,000, depending on year.

so - you'll be EXEMPT from paying tax on that first chunk.

IMO, filing is a good way to prove up to DOS/USCIS/DHS that you have enough income to support yer 'foreign spouse'.

It's a catch 22 - to be 'exempt' from paying income tax if you work overseas, but then to 'show income' - ya, you should file.

There are other ways to show income, irrespective of an income tax return.

Suggest you get some 1040 tax forms and instructions , practice filling them out in april, see what the numbers are, understand your tax liability or exemption from tax liability. you can file prior years returns anytime - but there is also 'penalty' to be paid, SOMETIMES, when filing 5 years out, or more. Don't sweat that part, just yet ...

Edited by Darnell, 26 March 2010 - 09:48 AM.

DarnellMaleChina2010-03-26 09:47:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionProbably dumb question... am I already a citizen?

I read into it some more and yeah, it looks like I would have been exempt and when not excempt, the credits from paying Canadian taxes outweigh the tax liability anyway... so OWING taxes isn't an issue. Its whether or not I get fined/jailed/sent to Iraq for not filing :whistle:

When you mention demonstrating income to support the foreign spouse... that raises two questions I suppose y'all probably know the answer to:

1) Does that imply that my wife wouldn't be allowed to work? (even if we're married > 2 years?)
2) Would they take savings in lieu of income? In other words if they want to see that I'm making $x per year but instead I show them $y in savings (enough to cover z years of $x... lol), is that acceptable?


1. no, no implication on this at all. She can work in USA as soon as she can fulfill the requirements of an I-9 form (usually, at minimum - an I-551 stamp in passport, given on POE, plus a SSN).

2. yes, - is usually 3 times the poverty guidelines annual income amount. this is rough calculation - is
3 x PGAIA X 1.25
the 1.25 represents 125 percent (a multiplier which must be used ) Check the instructions for the I-864 - review assets and cash assets.

You might have issue with re-establishing domicile in USA - don't sweat that for now - but have it SET prior to interview day, and be prepared to SHOW/PROVE UP USA domicile on interview day.

Good Luck !

Edited by Darnell, 02 April 2010 - 02:02 AM.

DarnellMaleChina2010-04-02 02:00:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionRe: My post on Feb 8th partially denied us citizenship
You made a post on the 8th of February, and this post partially denied you citizenship?

Really?

WOW !
DarnellMaleChina2010-03-20 00:49:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDeportable crimes
I thought the question on the form was for crimes you were either:
1. arrested for or
2. convicted of.

if you committed a crime and weren't arrested, then (unless I totally misunderstand the form) - you have nothing to report, yes?
DarnellMaleChina2010-03-22 00:15:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDeportable crimes
Lansbury - ah !
DarnellMaleChina2010-03-22 02:09:00
US Citizenship General Discussionis this normal?
was this 'right before lunch break', by any chance ?
DarnellMaleChina2010-03-03 23:41:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionOne Year & One day difference from marriage and GC, now what?
From what I understand, it's the initial date of the first greencard. I could be wrong, though.
DarnellMaleChina2010-02-21 12:31:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCitizenship Interview and Oath on Same Day
Hey - that's excellent news !!!

Was any family celebration, foodstuffs, etc ?
DarnellMaleChina2010-01-15 12:21:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionVoter's Registration Card.....How long for such?...
I say re-apply.
DarnellMaleChina2009-12-28 15:08:00