-Black

Hi Folks,

I am applying for citizenship in the next 2-3 days and wish to get
some information about the process and the times that it is taking
right now. I have seen the tracker and realize that processing times
have improved. I would appreciate it if folks out there can relate
their experience. Thanks

I have the following questions:

1. My GC is expiring next month and I am applying for citizenship now
(yes, I know about not having given that a thought. But I have had
some huge personal problems and work that required attention and hence
the delay). Do I have to renew the GC or should I just wait until the
citizenship process takes its course. I do not have to travel (knock
on wood) and hence wondering about the pros and cons of applying for a
GC renewal.

2. I am applying here in Dallas, TX. Would appreciate any recent
processing times and length of time it is taking to acquire
citizenship.

3. I entered this country when I was 24 and as a student on F1. I did
not apply for SSS. However, I had a couple of semester where I took
less than the full course of study and 1 semester where I did not
enroll due to health reasons. Due to those reasons, the INS extended
the length of my stay on F1. If I apply for SSS now with a transcript
showing those 3 semesters, what will the SSS have to say about my
enrollment requirement. How should I explain it.

4. I am 42 now and would the SSS requirement (in the event SSS says
that I was required to enroll) disrupt my application for citizenship.

5. Do I need to send them an affidavit along with the N-400
application to indicate that I did not know of the SSS requirement
back then (1988-89).

6. I got my GC based on my wife being a citizen and I am currently
applying for citizenship based on that as well. Any ramifications?

Thank for your time and help.

bl

Bob LittleDeer

On May 25, 6:23 pm, black <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> I am applying for citizenship in the next 2-3 days and wish to get
> some information about the process and the times that it is taking
> right now. I have seen the tracker and realize that processing times
> have improved. I would appreciate it if folks out there can relate
> their experience. Thanks
>
> I have the following questions:
>
> 1. My GC is expiring next month and I am applying for citizenship now
> (yes, I know about not having given that a thought. But I have had
> some huge personal problems and work that required attention and hence
> the delay). Do I have to renew the GC or should I just wait until the
> citizenship process takes its course. I do not have to travel (knock
> on wood) and hence wondering about the pros and cons of applying for a
> GC renewal.

Absolutely do renew the GC. It will take more than a month for your
application, and you cannot be with an expired GC, besides, you will
need a valid GC at the oath ceremony. You will turn it in, in exchange
for the Citizenship Certificate.


>
> 2. I am applying here in Dallas, TX. Would appreciate any recent
> processing times and length of time it is taking to acquire
> citizenship.

Just browse the group, or go to
http://immigrationportal.com/

more specifically,
http://immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t6214

>
> 3. I entered this country when I was 24 and as a student on F1. I did
> not apply for SSS. However, I had a couple of semester where I took
> less than the full course of study and 1 semester where I did not
> enroll due to health reasons. Due to those reasons, the INS extended
> the length of my stay on F1. If I apply for SSS now with a transcript
> showing those 3 semesters, what will the SSS have to say about my
> enrollment requirement. How should I explain it.
>

IMHO that could be an issue, I would consult an immigration attorney
on this.

> 4. I am 42 now and would the SSS requirement (in the event SSS says
> that I was required to enroll) disrupt my application for citizenship.
>

As I said above, yes,definitely.

> 5. Do I need to send them an affidavit along with the N-400
> application to indicate that I did not know of the SSS requirement
> back then (1988-89).
>
> 6. I got my GC based on my wife being a citizen and I am currently
> applying for citizenship based on that as well. Any ramifications?

Not, really. I was in the same situation, and applied based on 5 years
of PR alone, and had no problems whatsoever.

>
> Thank for your time and help.
>
> bl

You are welcome. feel free to email me, or better, read my posts, you
can only learn from the experience of who has already been there...
BL

Rete

For inquiring minds, Selective Service blackmark has been "erased" from your good character/good moral conduct record and 5 years if applying for USC and 3 years if applying based on marriage to a USC. After age 31/age 29 it ceased to be an issue. I don't believe F-1 visaholders are required to sign up for the SS.

I would suggest that you renew the green card or at the very least make an infopass appointment and go to the district office and obtain the I-551 stamp in your passport. That is also a green card but a paper one rather than plastic. You can then apply for a new plastic green card or not. Your status will not have ended with the expiration of the green card and the I-551 is your proof of that.

At the ceremony you can give back the expired green card and show them the passport stamp. It will be marked void.

-Black

On Sat, 26 May 2007 12:19:08 +0000, Rete
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>
>>
>> bl
>
>For inquiring minds, Selective Service blackmark has been "erased" from
>your good character/good moral conduct record and 5 years if applying
>for USC and 3 years if applying based on marriage to a USC. After age
>31/age 29 it ceased to be an issue. I don't believe F-1 visaholders are
>required to sign up for the SS.
>
>I would suggest that you renew the green card or at the very least make
>an infopass appointment and go to the district office and obtain the I-
>551 stamp in your passport. That is also a green card but a paper one
>rather than plastic. You can then apply for a new plastic green card or
>not. Your status will not have ended with the expiration of the green
>card and the I-551 is your proof of that.
>
>At the ceremony you can give back the expired green card and show them
>the passport stamp. It will be marked void.


Rete,

Thanks for your response. Your response is exactly the same as you
have rightfully answered other questions in this forum.

One of the conditions for being a full time F-1 student is the full
course of study that one has to enroll in. Although, I enrolled in a
full course of study each semester, I was allowed to withdraw from the
course due to some health issues. It was the same health issue that
made INS extend the F-1 duration so that I had another 1 year to
finish my course of study. I did not enroll one semester due to INS
delaying the confirmation for the extension. Since I will get a
status letter from SSS either way, would it be a good idea to include
all the details (including health situations) to get SSS to consider
all the issues before issuing a letter stating that I should have
enrolled.

Also, will CIS stamp my passport with a I-551 stamp even if I don't
renew my passport?

Again, thanks for your help. Its appreciated!

bl

ian-mstm

You are applying for citizenship based on your PR status and marriage to a USC. At this point in time, that's all that is important. Except as it pertains to how you entered the US, your prior F-1 status is irrelevant, and you have aged out of the SS requirement. IMHO, these are non-issues.

Ian