US Citizenship Process Time Frame Problem

[DallasSteve]

My wife is applying for US citizenship.  I'm told that they will contact her for fingerprints and an interview.  I'm told that the interview will include the civics test.  The USCIS website (below) says that citizenship cases (N-400) are being processed for July 20, 2007 for Dallas, Texas.  This is a problem because her daughter turns 18 on 4/4/09.  If her mother becomes a citzen before then she becomes a citizen automatically.  It looks like it will be next July before her mother can get it.  Is there any way to do a hardship exception to move us up in the line since we have a good reason?  At least I'm not full of too many regrets for being slow to file since she was only eligible about one month ago.

[I'm hoping Gary Bala reads this]   

Steve

USCIS Processing Times:

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp

[DallasSteve]

I think I've answered my own question.  I will post the information here in case it may help someone else.  I found this page on the USCIS website about Accelerated Processing:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=011a59f5eca9e010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=a9243529fdb7e010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD

It basically says that if you think you have an exceptional need for your case to be expedited you can "call customer service for information about how to request accelerated processing".  I'll do that and report back.  I may also try the sometimes helpful approach of contacting my congressman.

Steve

[singlefather no more]

DS,

All the best for you and your family and I hope you can get it expedited..


singlefather


..

[DallasSteve]

DS,

All the best for you and your family and I hope you can get it expedited..


singlefather
..

Thanks

I was just trying the citizenship flash cards online and I couldn't name all 13 original colonies.  I forgot that Vermont used to be part of New York and Maine used to be part of Massachusetts.  Below is the link to the PDF file page.  It's question 40 if anyone wants to see the map.  (Georgia was a lot smaller, too.)

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-623.pdf

Steve

[Dave H]

Hi Steve,

Can you refresh my damaged brain?  Is your wife's daughter already living in the US. If not your wife will have to petition her daughter as an adult once she becomes a citizen. Good Luck!

Dave

[DallasSteve]

Hi Steve,

Can you refresh my damaged brain?  Is your wife's daughter already living in the US. If not your wife will have to petition her daughter as an adult once she becomes a citizen. Good Luck!

Dave

Dave

I brought my wife and her two children over on a K1 visa.  They all have unconditional permanent residency now.  If my wife passes the exam (which she should, but with her you never know) her 11-year old son will be a citizen automatically.  But if her daughter turns 18 first she will have to do the process herself, including the test and another $675.  I explained this all to my wife tonight and she thinks she can get the process sped up.  She's talked to their customer service before and she sounds confident that she knows how to work the system.

Steve

[Dave H]

Hi Steve,

Thanks! Yep, that $675 is not chump change! The good thing is that your wife's children are already here and she is not trying to petition her daughter before she becomes an adult and/or married! Those new questions are a lot tougher than the old ones! We have a friend doing her interview this month. Good Luck!

Many people don't petition their spouse's children initially and have problems and more expense later. Here is the latest Visa Bulletin from The US Department of State:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4310.

Dave

[Ray]

Steve,

Good luck on the expedited processing. If it can’t be expedited then it isn’t really a big deal except for the additional N-400 processing fee. With the government and history classes offered in high school, her daughter should have no problem with the test if she has to apply on her own.

Keep in mind also that passing the test and interview doesn’t make you a citizen. You still have to wait for a scheduled naturalization ceremony to get sworn in and that may add several more months to the process. There are some exceptions to the ceremony requirements for special cases, but I believe you still have to be sworn in front of a judge.

When she gets her naturalization certificate, I would have her apply for a US passport along with any eligible children all together as a group. They will have to apply in person (at most post offices) and she may need additional documentation since only one parent will be present. Make sure the children have certified original birth certificates. You can download (or fill online) the Form DS-11 at the State Department web site.

The naturalization interview is conducted in English and she will be required to write a simple sentence in English from verbal dictation. She will also have to read a simple English sentence. When my wife went through the process, I think there were about 10(?) questions all taken from the list of questions and answers posted on the CIS web site. She also had a bonus question that she passed by naming the mayor of the city where the interview was conducted.

Though she can memorize the questions and answers for the test, I strongly recommend that she take a citizenship preparation class if at all possible. They are often offered free through local adult education programs. My wife’s class was really good and she learned a whole bunch about what it really means to be a U.S. citizen.

Ray

[DallasSteve]

If it can’t be expedited then it isn’t really a big deal except for the additional N-400 processing fee.

Ray

I guess it isn't a big deal when it's someone else's $675.    

Anyway, thanks for the tip about the ceremony.  You're right, if that adds a few more months to the process then it will be really difficult to beat the deadline.  None of this surprises me.  At almost every step of the way the government has gotten more of my money when they would've gotten less if they worked in a reasonable amount of time.  When I filed for her residency they dragged their feet until the fees about doubled.  I don't mind paying, but I shouldn't have to pay more because they're slow.  And the people paying in this process are often citizens like me.

Steve

[Dave H]

Hey Steve,

Maybe you should have brought them here illegally! There are organizations that provide free legal services (including representation), do the paperwork, and pay the fees for many illegal "immigrants"...all with government funds (our money).  Meanwhile, citizens get to bend over and take it without the vaseline my urolgist so kindly used on me today.`   Don't get me started!!!

Dave

[catz]

I'm with you Dave on that "don't get me started" about the USCIS.

They screwed up our son's 2 year GC THREE times and each time we had to refile and, of course, pay the fee again which put him out of sync with the 10 year card so we have to file separately, and pay separately, for that one!

I just LOVE USCIS (dirty rat bastards!)

[william3rd]

Sorry- an LPR child reaching the age of 18 and not getting a free pass is not considered a good reason to be expedited. There is no perceived hardship.

In the old days before citizenship 2000, it could take several years to process naturalization, leaving elderly and infirm relatives overseas to die. During the same time as the speed up to bring the backlog current, they allowed for hardship processing.

[Ray]

When I filed for her residency they dragged their feet until the fees about doubled.  I don't mind paying, but I shouldn't have to pay more because they're slow.  And the people paying in this process are often citizens like me.

Steve,

How did they increase the filing fee you paid by dragging their feet? I thought the fees were determined by fee structure in place when you filed, not by how long it took them to process the petition. Fees go up over time and nobody ever said this whole foreign bride thing would be fast or inexpensive.

I know it’s popular to blame the government for all of our woes but I don’t see you as the victim here. If the daughter turns 18, is a legal adult, and really desires to become a U.S. citizen and reap all of the benefits that come with it, then why can’t she pay her own filing fee? Can’t she get a part time job or something and save up for it? Or maybe you and mom could loan her part of the money? You can volunteer to pay her filing fee if you wish to, but I think it’s ultimately her responsibility.

I’m certainly not here to defend the government’s practices or their slow processing times, but I think if you put everything into perspective, $675 is a very small price to pay for American citizenship. If she doesn’t want to pay it herself or doesn’t believe that it’s worth the price of filing, then perhaps she shouldn’t become a citizen just now. It is optional after all, isn’t it?

Also, I personally don’t believe that you and your wife saving another $675 falls under the category of  â€œa life or death emergency, or some other exceptional emergent need” to allow her to jump ahead of others in line by granting her the accelerated processing you’re seeking. I don’t think that would be fair to others who filed ahead of her.



Ray

[DallasSteve]

Sorry- an LPR child reaching the age of 18 and not getting a free pass is not considered a good reason to be expedited. There is no perceived hardship.

William

Do you have a source for that statement such as a link on the USCIS website?

Steve

[DallasSteve]

Steve,

How did they increase the filing fee you paid by dragging their feet? I thought the fees were determined by fee structure in place when you filed, not by how long it took them to process the petition. Fees go up over time and nobody ever said this whole foreign bride thing would be fast or inexpensive.

I know it’s popular to blame the government for all of our woes but I don’t see you as the victim here. If the daughter turns 18, is a legal adult, and really desires to become a U.S. citizen and reap all of the benefits that come with it, then why can’t she pay her own filing fee? Can’t she get a part time job or something and save up for it? Or maybe you and mom could loan her part of the money? You can volunteer to pay her filing fee if you wish to, but I think it’s ultimately her responsibility.

I’m certainly not here to defend the government’s practices or their slow processing times, but I think if you put everything into perspective, $675 is a very small price to pay for American citizenship. If she doesn’t want to pay it herself or doesn’t believe that it’s worth the price of filing, then perhaps she shouldn’t become a citizen just now. It is optional after all, isn’t it?

Also, I personally don’t believe that you and your wife saving another $675 falls under the category of  â€œa life or death emergency, or some other exceptional emergent need” to allow her to jump ahead of others in line by granting her the accelerated processing you’re seeking. I don’t think that would be fair to others who filed ahead of her.



Ray

Ray

The fee increased because the first time I filed the applications for residency they sent them back for some reason that wasn't my fault as I recall.  I don't remember what the reason was and I'm not going to devote any time to researching it.  The fees went up almost double when I had to re-file.

As for her paying the citizenship fee instead of me, and her getting the benefits, and citizenship being worth more than $675 my response is: I had to sign an affidavit of support for them.  Have you ever read it?  Think about it and maybe you can guess why this is important to me.  I'd rather not bring attention to that here.   

As for what you believe or think is fair, that's not important to me; in the end only what the USCIS thinks and does will matter.  If you've got a resource on their website that tells me more specifically about their position then I'm interested. 

Otherwise, as I said in my second post, I think I've already answered my own question.  Their website says we can call customer service, explain our situation, and ask how we can request an exception.  It may be granted; it may not.  You can start a pool here if you want.

Steve

[Ray]

As for her paying the citizenship fee instead of me, and her getting the benefits, and citizenship being worth more than $675 my response is: I had to sign an affidavit of support for them.  Have you ever read it?  Think about it and maybe you can guess why this is important to me.

Yes Steve, I have read the Affidavit of Support. Have you?

Perhaps you can read it again and point out the part where it says you have to pay for her naturalization filing fee?

Once again, naturalization is an optional benefit. Paying for her filing fee is not a necessary expense in maintaining her at a minimum income level and she will not become a public charge simply because she doesn't file a naturalization petition.

 

[DallasSteve]

Yes Steve, I have read the Affidavit of Support. Have you?

Perhaps you can read it again and point out the part where it says you have to pay for her naturalization filing fee?

Yes, I have read it, very carefully.  If you can't see what I'm talking about then I'm going to leave you in the dark on this one.  Or send me a PM and I'll explain it.  I don't want to go over this issue in a public forum.

Adios

Steve

[Ray]

If you've got a resource on their website that tells me more specifically about their position then I'm interested.  Otherwise, as I said in my second post, I think I've already answered my own question.  Their website says we can call customer service, explain our situation, and ask how we can request an exception.  It may be granted; it may not.  You can start a pool here if you want.

Steve,

This is a direct quote from the link you listed in your second post:

“..we will consider taking a case out of order if there is a life or death emergency, or some other exceptional emergent need, if our processing the case out of order will have a direct effect on the situation. To be fair to everyone, we are very restrictive in granting this kind of preferential treatment, in part because it means other customers have to wait longer. By definition, most kinds of applications and petitions rarely, if ever, merit this kind of preferential treatment.”

That page also gives a related link “USCIS Expedite Criteria”.

I’m not interested in starting a pool and you certainly have the right to petition for accelerated processing. I just wouldn’t get your hopes up based on your stated reasons for your request.

Ray

[Ray]

I don't want to go over this issue in a public forum.

OK, that's fine with me. But just to set the record straight, it was your issue and you did post it here in an open forum.

 

[DallasSteve]

Steve,

This is a direct quote from the link you listed in your second post:

“..we will consider taking a case out of order if there is a life or death emergency, or some other exceptional emergent need, if our processing the case out of order will have a direct effect on the situation. To be fair to everyone, we are very restrictive in granting this kind of preferential treatment, in part because it means other customers have to wait longer. By definition, most kinds of applications and petitions rarely, if ever, merit this kind of preferential treatment.”

That page also gives a related link “USCIS Expedite Criteria”.

I’m not interested in starting a pool and you certainly have the right to petition for accelerated processing. I just wouldn’t get your hopes up based on your stated reasons for your request.

Ray

Ray

I read all of that before I posted it here.  And I wasn't asking whether I should get my hopes up; just how to make the request.  Since it appears that making that request is one of the few things that we can at the USCIS without paying $100 or more we'll go ahead and do it (with low hopes).  I even read on their website that in the case of one or two forms you can pay money to get expedited.  That is the kind of information I was looking for, but apparently we can't pay for expediting this form.

Steve

[DallasSteve]

OK, that's fine with me. But just to set the record straight, it was your issue and you did post it here in an open forum.

 

Ray

You seem to have trouble following a discussion and an intense need to show that you are right about everything.  For the record, that was not the issue I posted about here in an "open forum".  I posted a question about how to expedite the application.  Not whether I was required to pay for my stepdaughter's application.  That's an issue that you raised along with all of your negative opinions that I don't care about.

"But just to set the record straight...."  Sheesh!

Steve

[Ray]

Ray

You seem to have trouble following a discussion and an intense need to show that you are right about everything.  For the record, that was not the issue I posted about here in an "open forum".  I posted a question about how to expedite the application.  Not whether I was required to pay for my stepdaughter's application.  That's an issue that you raised along with all of your negative opinions that I don't care about.

"But just to set the record straight...."  Sheesh!

Steve

Actually Steve, it is YOU who is having trouble here. YOU made the point that YOU shouldn't have to pay more because they're slow in processing petitions. And it was YOU who posted about the affidavit of support and asked if I had read it.

Now you suddenly don't want to discuss it in an open forum? If you think you're right, then defend your position with facts instead of posting silly insults.

And if you don't want to hear others' opinions or comments on your post, then don't post it in an open forum...

SHEESH! 

[DallasSteve]

Actually Steve, it is YOU who is having trouble here. YOU made the point that YOU shouldn't have to pay more because they're slow in processing petitions. And it was YOU who posted about the affidavit of support and asked if I had read it.

Now you suddenly don't want to discuss it in an open forum? If you think you're right, then defend your position with facts instead of posting silly insults.

And if you don't want to hear others' opinions or comments on your post, then don't post it in an open forum...

SHEESH! 

Ray

Thanks for proving my point.  I offered to explain this to you if you would send me a PM.  You didn't.  I think that shows what your real motive is in continuing this discussion.  Don't bother to contact me now.  I no longer wish to discuss this with you.  I have a reason for not wanting to discuss this aspect of the affidavit of support in a public forum, and I have a reason for not wanting to disclose that reason in a public forum.  And none of it has a direct bearing on the question I asked (and answered) in starting this thread.

Adios

Steve

[Dave H]

I'm with you Dave on that "don't get me started" about the USCIS.

I just LOVE USCIS (dirty rat bastards!)

Hey Catz,

You said it! I could deal with the slow pace, it was incompetence that had me at my wit's end! Not having to continue dealing with USCIS was one of the biggest motivators in me encouraging my wife to apply for citizenship ASAP! I'm sure you feel the same way! The problems didnt end until my wife was finally sworn in, which was even rescheduled once, and got her Naturalization Certificate.

When my wife went for her citizenship interview, they said that our daughter (2 years old) could not go into the interview room with her. OK, rules are rules, no problem. We have no family or baby sitters here, so she had gone with us. My daughter began to cry and less than a minute later, 3 third world (Haitian - 2 men and 1 woman) security guards surrounded my daughter and me, screaming and demanding that I leave the building immediately. I said, no problem, please give me a couple of minutes to get moving. Having suffered multiple strokes a few months earlier, I was unable to walk very well. A USCIS supervisor said that we must leave the building immediately and would not give me a chance to consol my daughter in another area. The security guards escorted my daughter and me to the stairs, saying I could not use the elevator. I explained that I could not walk down 3 flights of stairs. Their screaming grew even louder, causing my daughter to cry louder. They opened the stairwell door and almost pushed my daughter and me in. The door was locked, so my only choice was to sit as I could not make it down the stairs. My daughter's crying echoed and was amplified in the stairwell. Two of the security guards returned and demanded that I go down the stairs "NOW!!!" I told them to F-off and try to make me! Altough I was very weak and dizzy, I was willing to take them out with my cane. (I now have a fighting cane for those times.) They changed their tactics seeing it was getting them nowhere. They allowed us to go to the elevator, with my now hysterical daughter. The USCIS supervisor told me to make her stop crying and "HURRY!" I told him "F'CK YOU AZZHOLE!" When we got downstairs, we were "escorted" outside the building like criminals! A Cuban-American security guard that I had a long conversation with when we first arrived upsairs in the waiting area, saw me. He was now outside checking documents of people standing in line. He stopped and came over quickly. He asked me what happened and why I was not back upstairs waiting in the air conditioning. He apologised and then left, returning  with a chair a few minutes later for me to sit in. He placed it in the shade in an "authorized personnel only" location. Next he called for a supervisor and explained what happened. I filed a complaint against the other 3 security guards. While the supervisor seemed genuinely concerned, I doubt that the US government elite would allow any of the 3 Third World neoNazi storm troupers to reprimanded or written up. It is all about hiring quotas, not quality hiring and being PC! While I was telling my story, my wife had finished and came outside looking for me. She turned pale, ran to me and began to cry when she saw me, thinking that I must have suffered another stroke. We thanked the Cuban-American security guard and the supervisor. I stood up and we out of there and Miami ASAP! So F'ck those Dirty Rat Bastards. While there are probably more A'holes working at USCIS, there are still some very good people as well...I keep telling myself. 

Dave

[Bob_S]

I guess it isn't a big deal when it's someone else's $675.    

Bank that stimulus check just in case, eh?