[email protected]

Hi, guys,

Congratulations to me I guess as today is the first day I'm eligible
for naturalization based on my 3 years of marriage.

I'm trying to figure paperwork requirements out on my own, but all I
get is conflicting information. Some people say it's another ton of
paperwork to file N-400 based on 3 years of marriage, but the official
instructions on USCIS website only stipulate for sending in the
documentation for criminal stuff, if any.

So if I don't have anything criminal, all I send is N-400, checks, and
that's it? Or is it another extra headache with preparing all those
documents we had to submit for I-751? What is 'required' to be brought
to the interview later on - I suppose the instructions for that come in
the interview appointment letter....?

Thanks for all your help and advice!!!

Costos.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

You are supposed to send a copy of your I-551 card.

At the time of interview, you will need certified copies of all criminal matters -- whether they involve moral turpitude of not.

On the three year issue, some evidence will have to be presented at the time of the interview, but usually not all that much.

ian-mstm

Just to clarify, it's not the years of marriage that's important. What's important is that you have been a permanent resident for 3 years while also married to a USC for 3 years.

All the paperwork requirements are clearly indicated in the "Guide to Naturalization".

Ian

shahrokh22

Hello Everybody,
I have another question for you.
My wife and I sent all the paperwork that we could thought of, when my wife filled out her N-400. She included everything (marriage certificate, tax forms, copy of her green card, copy of apartment lease, ...). When we received her interview letter, it repeated the same thing again which means to bring the same documents that we attached to N-400 again. The letter seems to be a general letter for all applicants. The letter does not seem to be prepared specifically for my wife. Other than her passport and green card (the leeter askes for original), do you think we should take with us the same documents that we already sent them with the form, again?

As far as your question is concerned, you are right. You do not need to send everything when you fill out the form. But you still need to send a few documents with your form. They will ask you to bring the rest when you receive your interview letter.
Your best bet is to ask your local immigration office (that is what I will do eventually) just to make sure.

ian-mstm

How many times, exactly, are you going to post the same question? I've seen it no fewer than 4 times in the last two days! People have already responded to you... are you not capable of reading and understanding those responses?

Here... let me make it simple for you. The letter says to bring the same stuff you already sent. This is not rocket science - for crying out loud... BRING THE SAME STUFF YOU ALREADY SENT!

Ian

[email protected]

Thanks, everyone! You're very helpful as always.

Believe it or not, neither my wife nor I are willing to put in more
effort than we have to into our immigration stuff (just like everyone,
I assume). Like we don't want to even bother to prepare that stack of
documents we sent for my I-751 not so long ago. I'm sure you, guys who
went through this or practice law, know what I mean. You want to
provide as much as possible. But in the case with N-400 I still have
an option of waiting two more years and avoiding all the hassle. So
the questions that still remains (and I know the subjective matter of
the whole business here) -

What are the minimum requirements for paperwork for N-400 filing based
on 3 years of marriage. It doesn't state anything about
mortgage/lease/etc. documents that we need to send in with the
application....does that mean that don't even want to see that at the
interview? Don't they want to see that somehow because otherwise what
would be the point to even differentiate between 3 and 5 year options
if they weren't asking for proof of it?

Oh, god, I just want this whole USCIS odyssey be eventually over and
done with. I guess that's the main motivation behind trying to find
out if paperworkwise it'd be reasonable enough to apply now or in two
years. Residence wise and marriage wise we (well, I - since I'm the
one looking into getting naturalized) qualify 100%.

Geez, am I the only one posting three huge paragraphs here? Sorry.

I REALLY appreciate all the advice/opinions.

Costos.

ian-mstm wrote:
    > > Hi, guys,
    > >
    > > Congratulations to me I guess as today is the first day I'm eligible
    > > for naturalization based on my 3 years of marriage.
    > >
    > > I'm trying to figure paperwork requirements out on my own, but all I
    > > get is conflicting information. Some people say it's another ton of
    > > paperwork to file N-400 based on 3 years of marriage, but the official
    > > instructions on USCIS website only stipulate for sending in the
    > > documentation for criminal stuff, if any.
    > >
    > > So if I don't have anything criminal, all I send is N-400, checks, and
    > > that's it? Or is it another extra headache with preparing all those
    > > documents we had to submit for I-751? What is 'required' to be
    > > brought
    > > to the interview later on - I suppose the instructions for that come
    > > in
    > > the interview appointment letter....?
    > >
    > > Thanks for all your help and advice!!!
    > >
    > > Costos.
    > Just to clarify, it's not the years of marriage that's important. What's
    > important is that you have been a permanent resident for 3 years while
    > also married to a USC for 3 years.
    > All the paperwork requirements are clearly indicated in the "Guide to
    > Naturalization".
    >
    > Ian
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

shahrokh22

Hi There,
I had the same problem as you do now regarding the related documents that we need to attach to our N-400. It used to be a requirement to send everything (Apartment lease/ proof of marriage, police records,proof of the termination of previous marriages ...) with N-400. I went to our local INS office and they gave me a sheet which indicated the neccessary documents that need to be attached to our application. Those documents were proof of name change, application fee, marriage certificate, 2 photos and a copy of both sides of the green card.
Before I went to the INS, I called the central office (there is a 1-800-... number for it). They told me to use the old guideline and send everything, So I went to our local INS office to make sure of what I need to send exactly. When the immigration officer handed me the new guideline sheet, she told me that I can still attach other documents. So I sent them evrything that I could think of. We just received the interview letter which is scheduled for Feb 14th. There was another letter attached to the interview letter which is asking us to bring to the interview the same documents that we already attached to the N-400 (everything will be redundant).
I opened a new threat regarding this matter for the people who have already completed thier interview. They are the only ones who can answer our questions. I do not mind to take the same set of documents with me to the interview again, the only problem I have is with one of the documents which is difficult to duplicate again since it is a translated and approved document.
I am going to our local INS where the interview will be conducted and I will ask them whether it is neccessary to bring that one piece with us or the one we already gave them will satisfy their requirement.
I'll keep you inform.

Noorah101

Hi Shahrokh,

When you sent in the backup info with the N-400, you should have sent photocopies of everything. Then you would bring the originals to the interview. If you mistakenly sent originals with the N-400, bring photocopies to the interview. It's not as difficult as you're making it out to be, really.

Best Wishes,
Rene

Rete

I'm sure that 99.98% of us guys who went through it did not feel the way you and your wife feel and felt about this immigration stuff. Most of us were more than willing to put as much time, effort and responsibility as possible into making an accurate and complete filing of any and all petitions. After all it involves your life's choices.

[email protected]

My question is totally different, though - what do I send with the
original N-400 application? What are the official requirements? What
are people's experiences?

Noorah101 wrote:
    > > Hi There,
    > > I had the same problem as you do now regarding the related documents
    > > that we need to attach to our N-400. It used to be a requirement to
    > > send everything (Apartment lease/ proof of marriage, police
    > > records,proof of the termination of previous marriages ...) with N-
    > > 400. I went to our local INS office and they gave me a sheet which
    > > indicated the neccessary documents that need to be attached to our
    > > application. Those documents were proof of name change, application
    > > fee, marriage certificate, 2 photos and a copy of both sides of the
    > > green card.
    > > Before I went to the INS, I called the central office (there is a 1-800-
    > > ... number for it). They told me to use the old guideline and send
    > > everything, So I went to our local INS office to make sure of what I
    > > need to send exactly. When the immigration officer handed me the new
    > > guideline sheet, she told me that I can still attach other documents.
    > > So I sent them evrything that I could think of. We just received the
    > > interview letter which is scheduled for Feb 14th. There was another
    > > letter attached to the interview letter which is asking us to bring to
    > > the interview the same documents that we already attached to the N-400
    > > (everything will be redundant).
    > > I opened a new threat regarding this matter for the people who have
    > > already completed thier interview. They are the only ones who can
    > > answer our questions. I do not mind to take the same set of documents
    > > with me to the interview again, the only problem I have is with one
    > > of the documents which is difficult to duplicate again since it is a
    > > translated and approved document.
    > > I am going to our local INS where the interview will be conducted and
    > > I will ask them whether it is neccessary to bring that one piece with
    > > us or the one we already gave them will satisfy their requirement.
    > > I'll keep you inform.
    > Hi Shahrokh,
    > When you sent in the backup info with the N-400, you should have sent
    > photocopies of everything. Then you would bring the originals to the
    > interview. If you mistakenly sent originals with the N-400, bring
    > photocopies to the interview. It's not as difficult as you're making it
    > out to be, really.
    >
    > Best Wishes,
    > Rene
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Just Jenney

To be honest, I actually find that attitude quite UNbelievable.

Mark and I feel exactly the opposite. His immigration status is of the upmost importance to us, and doing whatever is necessary to get things done thoroughly is a major priority. If it takes 2 hours, we'll spend 2 hours doing it. If it takes 10 hours, we'll spend 10 hours doing it. Whatever it takes. Is it a pain in the butt? Sure -- but that's what's necessary to obtain and maintain the privilege of living and working in the same country together.

Thus far, this approach has been successful for us. We've not had any RFEs and all our applications have been processed fairly promptly, without much hassle.

~ Jenney

Noorah101

Hi Costos,

Here's a link to what Rete and her husband did: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=410421

Rene

Rete

I was just going to post it, Rene, and you beat me to it.

I posted it for shahrokh22 who is posting the same question on the tail of old posts.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=410421

But for Costos, he is interested in doing as little as possible. So he can simply send his identification and copy of his green card as asked for and bring the rest to the interview.

shahrokh22

Hi Rene,
the problem is that I sent them a Persian to English translated/certified Marriage certificate. I do not have a copy of it anymore but I have the original marriage certificate (It takes a long time for me to receive another certified/translated marriage certificate from Iran again). I have also sent them oour US marriage Certificate (certified copy) which I have another certified copy of that in hand. We will take those items with us for the interview, I just hope those items will be enough and they wont ask me again for another translated one, since I dont have one. But reading your coments, gives me the impression that I do not need that one item anymore since they received it with N-400 (other than that, we have the originals and copies of everything else).
Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks Again.

Noorah101

Hi Shahrokh,

Are you saying you sent them the one and only original you had of a document? You should never send originals (especially ones that are so hard to obtain again). Always send a photocopy and show the original at the interview. I guess it's too late for that for you now, so just bring whatever you have to the interview.

By the way, the certified translations don't have to come from Iran. The original document, yes...but the translation of that document can be done in the USA, by anyone capable of translating it, even by yourself. There is a statement you make to the effect that this is a true and correct translation...there is a sample of it on the forum somewhere, I'm sure. I translated Sadegh's shenasnameh myself, and had no problem with USCIS.

Best Wishes,
Rene