Bluegrass Lass

Well, everyone, I thought I would just post an update. My OH finally became a citizen on Friday, so we are officially done with USCIS forever!!

The ceremony was huge, apparently one of the largest in KY history, with 567 immigrants that represented 91 countries. Cuba, Mexico and India had the largest number of people. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the Worldfest festival that Louisville holds annually, to celebrate diversity in the community. The city mayor spoke, as well as an ex-House of Representative (who just so happened went to high school with my grandfather). It lasted about 45 minutes or so, and then all the new citizens and their family/friends paraded down the street from the Convention Center down to the riverfront, where we picked up the naturalization certificate, and they had cake & ice cream for everyone. Afterwards, we went to my grandmothers' house, where I surprised him with an ice cream cake (complete with a US flag) and we celebrated with my family. Then took him out to dinner to a great Persian/Italian restaurant (which had an excellent Chilean wine I might add). It was a fantastic day!

Next steps, he needs to register to vote, get a passport as he may have to travel to Germany for work, and notify the SSA of his status change.

Thanks for the help over the years everyone. Without the advice and knowledge he and I gleaned here over the years, we wouldn't have made it this far. Immigration stuff has sort of become a hobby for me, and now I suppose I'll have to find another hobby to fill up my excess time.

If anyone's interested, here's a brief overview of his timeline:

Aug. 2003 - I-129 filed
Dec. 2003 - I-129 approved
Feb. 2004 - K1 visa approved
May 2004 - Got married!
June 2004 - I-485 filed
Jan. 2005 - I-485 approved
Nov. 2006 - I-751 filed
July 2007 - I-751 approved
Nov. 2007 - N-400 filed
May 2008 - N-400 interview (approved)
Aug. 2008 - Oath Ceremony

Overall, it took 5 years from filing the I-129f to him becoming a citizen.

Thanks again y'all!!

~Jamie

ian-mstm

WooHoo! I've been waiting on your post all day! Congratulations to you both!

Ian

Kaffy Mintcake

Congratulations! It sounds like it was a wonderful day.

Ray

Congrats to you both ....Do stick around though !!

Bluegrass Lass

Of course I'll hang around. I'd miss the wit from you and Ian.

Eric S

Congratulations!

Just one thing, though. I don't think you need to notify SSA. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

- Eric S.

Rete

Congratulations Jamie's OH.

And yes, notify SSA. They need to update your records as to your status and be sure that there is no legend on your card.

Maggs

Congratulations sunflowergirl to you and your OH!

Maggie

meauxna

Congratulations, Mister Sunflwrgrl!!!!!

And to you too, Jamie.. it's a great feeling: ENJOY!

meauxna

SSA recommends that you notify them of immigration status changes, particularly to citizenship. It affects which benefits you're entitled to, and where in the world you can collect them.

Bluegrass Lass

Oh, and I how could I almost forget!! The day could have been a total loss because of one little thing. We traveled to the UK since his interview, so I had printed out the N-400 page which updated the dates outside of the US.

Well, apparently the check-in person gave him a really hard time. She told him that she needed his passport so she could see the stamps showing his dates spent out of the US. Of course, there was no mention of needing to see his passport on the appt letter, and I assumed that the N-400 page was sufficient so we didn't bring his UK passport with us. She did relent eventually, since it was only 14 days but said she really needed to see his passport.

I thought this was a total crock, as he wouldn't have had a stamp showing when he left the US, only a stamp showing when he returned, so I wonder what this lady was talking on about? Scott did me that she looked about 10months preggers, so maybe she was just feeling particularly irritable (though I hate to make comments like that)? Has anyone else had to show their passport for trips taken between the interview & oath?

Noorah101

Congratulations, Jamie and USC hubby!

Rene

Rete

Actually he should have brought his passport if he had traveled since the interview. He should have also brought any itinerary pages he had. Why do up a new N-400 page? That part is over and done with and was unnecessary.

Bluegrass Lass

Well, it wasn't stated anywhere on the letter that his passport was needed. Besides I read others on here that they simply took an updated N-400 page, so I figured that was all that was needed (of course I could have mis-read what others did). It simply didn't occur to me to bring the itinerary, so that was a big oversight for me.

How could they tell how long he was out by simply looking at his passport anyway? The UK does not put a stamp in UKC's passports, so how would the US know when he actually entered the UK?? They would obviously know when he came back because of the stamp from the US, but not when he went over originally.

Rete

I know that others have taken updated N-400 pages to the interview but don't recall anyone taking them to the oath ceremony.

Passport and itinerary says it all.

He got let him and sworn in and that is all that counts.