We filed the N-400

[jb]

Yes, sounds about right.  We might have actually moved slightly ahead by doing the K-3, because we never had the 2 year conditional GC.   Due to the delay with AOS in our case we had already been married over 2 years by the time the dust settled, so she got the 10 year GC straight away.

FWIW, so far we have not received acknowledgment from the USCIS that they have the N-400 in hand.  The only way I know they have it is because I sent it Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested.  We got the little green slip back in the mail showing they signed for it.

Oh well,,,,,

[Wayne B]

Ken, after filing for AOS, about when did ya'll have your interview? and if all goes well at that time...do they stamp her passport? and does this stamp allows her to come and go from the U.S.?

[jb]

Form     Form Name     Now Processing Cases with Receipt Notice Date of:
I-131    Application for Travel Documents    April 14, 2007
I-485    Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status    January 13, 2007
I-600    Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative    April 14, 2007
I-600A    Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition    April 14, 2007
I-765    Application for Employment Authorization    April 28, 2007
N-400    Application for Naturalization    December 12, 2006
N-600    Application for Certification of Citizenship    November 24, 2006

Wayne,

The above times are listed for the Houston, TX USCIS office.  If you can believe their numbers, you can see that it is taking them approximated 7 months to process the AOS (I-485).

Edit:  To answer your question, after the AOS interview she will be issued a Conditional GC, good for 2 years.  With that in hand she can freely travel back to Ukriane and return.  It is not good for travel to other countries.

Reference: http://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/officeProcesstimes.jsp?selectedOffice=37

 

[Wayne B]

Thank's jb, we received our receipt notice yesterday....They now have the money and can relax....let the waiting begin

[catzenmouse]

Wayne,

 IIRC our AOS interview was in late July or early August. There was a bit of delay (a month or so) for one of the requests for more information which began our experience with USCIS ineptitude as they already had at least two copies of the document. Hopefully you will find the one person who works there that actually knows what they are doing and will have a smooth process!

Ken

[Wayne B]

Ken, maybe I missed it but. I don't think that I did.....On the I-485, somewhere in the line of questions....The form asked...what is the visa # Of the non immigrant....So as stated so, there is no so called # ???  So I called to the USCIS.....After several minutes off really bad music....a white man answered ....I am thinking ya...hoo... I asked him, what specific # do you want us to write here.....His answer....sir we are not at liberty to give you such information......I replied... you are kidding of course....he said no sir....we cannot give you such information :noidea:   So, I told him that it was your agency that gave us the # in the first place.....Again,...sir we cannot give you such information...you can either retain a lawyer, or there are online groups that can answer your questions....I said ok, think you for nothing...and I am very 'not'  proud of my Government.....His closing statement was as follows....Sir, thank you....and in the future, if you have any more questions for the USCIS, please feel free to call us again :noidea:

[catzenmouse]

Wayne,

 I can only think that it would be one of two things. The number of the visa in her passport or the A-Number from her I-90 (I think it is called) which they stapled in the passport when she came through customs.

 I've had a couple of those types of phone calls with them as well along with some where the accent was so thick on the employee that I could not understand a single thing they said and had to call back to hope that I could get someone that I could understand. I've worked with and around foreigners most of my life and have been pretty good at picking up what was said so they must look pretty hard to find someone who is that difficult to deal with.

USCIS - Helping You Support Rogaine and Blood Pressure Medication!

Ken

[BC]

Yeah.. like the rep I got the other day that promised delivery of the goods on monday..

His answer:

"I am sorry about the delay, but it is out of my control."

Well at least he gave an honest answer..

[jb]

On the I-485, somewhere in the line of questions....The form asked...what is the visa # Of the non immigrant....

Yes,,, the A# she was assigned upon arrival is what they are looking for.  That number will be used to identify your wife all through the immigration process,,, right up to the point where she raises her right hand and swears allegiance to her new country.

[groovlstk]

Wayne, I had this same problem, also. If you're filling out the I-485 and are looking for the NON IMMIGRANT VISA NUMBER, you can find it on your wife's visa underneath the Expiriation Date and printed in RED. The A# is not the same, and it's requested on another part of the I-485.

Here's a copy of my wife's visa (and no, she's not a Muslim  , her NON IMMIGRANT VISA NUMBER is covered by my amateur Photoshop job but you can see one numeral (7) peeking out.

[Wayne B]

Guy's, thank you all very much....groov, I am still laughing my ass off....this photo reminds me of Blues Fairy.....groov please do not take offence...but once again ....and yes the red # is what I wrote on the form.....then again...our government wants a photo copy of her pass port and visa page.....this is our government....then again I can understand.....from the now days that we live in...it is like a riddle....one wrong answer...then 'STOP' the process.....again groov...I think I just pee'd on myself TFF

[Rags II]

JB FWIW, she wasn't ready yet.

[jb]

We finally received the NOA that acknowledges the N-400 filing.  The NOA states that we will be contacted within 90 days for an interview at which time she will have to take the English language and civics test.  She's been boning up on American history and government, and the next step will be to build a set of flash cards based on the questions listed in the sample test.

If anyone has any experience on this I'd love to have your input.

[Randy]

We finally received the NOA that acknowledges the N-400 filing.  The NOA states that we will be contacted within 90 days for an interview at which time she will have to take the English language and civics test.  She's been boning up on American history and government, and the next step will be to build a set of flash cards based on the questions listed in the sample test.

If anyone has any experience on this I'd love to have your input.

My wife used a practice test we found online (I think a link was on the USCIS website but I can't swear to that). If her English is good and she knows the colors of the flag and a few other simple questions it won't be a problem.  The woman who tested before her didn't pass and we heard the tester tell her daughter to make sure she practiced her English before trying again.

There is a PDF guide here that may help you:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/M-476.pdf

Randy

[jb]

Thanks, Randy,,, we'll have a look at that.

[jb]

Well,,, things seem to be chugging right along.  Etna goes for her N-400 biometrics tomorrow.  The next step will be her interview with the English and civics test.

I'll keep you posted.

[Vaughn]

jb, Randy and anyone else who might know,

Not to change the direction of this thread, but I've got a question:
does anybody have the definitive answer as to whether a Russian
woman (like my wife) who is granted United States citizenship
will retain her Russian citizenship (at least in the eyes of the
Motherland) as well?

Funny, we were driving home from Atlanta this afternoon, and
the very subject of citizenship came up out of nowhere, and this
thread flashed brightly in my mind's eye.

jb, good luck as the process rolls on....

Vaughn

[jb]

Va-gun,

US law requires a new citizen to swear an oath of allegiance to their new country, it doesn't require them to surrender their old passport.  Most RWs we know who become USCs keep the red passport active in the old country.  When they visit the Rodina they travel on the Red, when it's time to come home they travel on the Blue.  It's a matter of ease in travel,,, no Russian visa required.  Simple really.

[jj]

jb - so now there is light at the end of the tunnel for this whole crazy legal immigration process.  I am sure congrats will be in order as I am sure she will do fine.  My Marina and her daughter just got k-1 visa approval yesterday in moscow embassy in only a 6 or  7 minute interview. Now we wait for visa by DHL to her place. I will leave next Weds to go pick them up .  Then hope customs go's ok in Atlanta. I think we will consider student visa for her 20 year old daughter during the 90 days, as AOS time frame may not be realistic by her 21st birthday.  I am having atty check into it.  Good luck on the N-400!

[Bruce]

Best of luck with the N-400 process.  Just pray the ineptitudes of the average BCINS "worker" does not decide that your wife needs her case reopened so she can go through FBI scrutiny. 

[jb]

Best of luck with the N-400 process.  Just pray the ineptitudes of the average BCINS "worker" does not decide that your wife needs her case reopened so she can go through FBI scrutiny.

Oh,,, but she will~!  It's my understanding that the next name check will be confined to her activities while/since here in the USA, but there will be another security background investigation done before her final interview.  I just hope they don't hold speeding tickets against her.