avanutria

The final stage is upon us...DH will be applying for his citizenship soon. We hit three years residency last December. I'll post on our progress in this thread for anyone who is headed toward similar activities.

Our application package will have the following:

• Form N-400
• Two passport photographs
• Front/back photocopies of his green card
• Front/back copies of his driver's license (for state identification)
• Check for fee, $680 currently
• Copy of my (USC) birth certificate
• Copy of our marriage certificate

He doesn't need to include a copy of his passport, right? Just bring it to the interview? Or should we include a copy anyway?

Here's what we're sending in for proof of living together:

• IRS tax transcripts for 2010, 2011, and 2012 (joint filing)
• Copy of the apartment lease we had when we first arrived
• Copy of our son's birth certificate
• Ideally a copy of our house purchase papers, I just need to find it

He's got a printout of the 100 questions for studying. He's nervous, but he really already knows most of the answers, and it'll be easier than the Life in the UK test I had to take! Looks like the current wait for interview is about five months, and I think we'll need to go to Portland for it.

Are the biometrics taken at the Portland field office too, or can those be done closer to home and mailed in to USCIS?

ian-mstm

Biometrics are usually taken at the closest ASC. If that's Portland, that's where you go. If it's someplace closer, then that's where you go. For me, the closest ASC happened to be in a different state... and that's where I went.

Ian

Noorah101

What do the N-400 instructions ask for?

Biometrics are usually done at an ASC location, which is not the main USCIS building. The biometrics appointment letter will have the address of the nearest ASC location to you, based on your zip code.

Rene

avanutria

I knew someone would say that, lol. Thanks for the reminder to check the document checklist in the back of the M-476 Guide to Naturalization. No mention of applicant passport there at all.

jeffreyhy

Biometrics are done at USCIS Application Support Centers (ASCs). Some ASCs are co-located with field offices, some are stand-alone. Either way, you do not mail anything in - you go there and have your photo and fingerprints taken.

Regards, JEff

avanutria

Oh, and I remember now a question that I had, though I am reasonably sure I know the answer. Although the questions on the N-400 refer to "trips in the past five years" etc, we just answer them in terms of the last three years since we are applying through marriage, right?

avanutria

Ah, thanks. Found the locator function of the website and it looks like we will indeed be going to Portland for it. I'll give DH the choice of going alone or having me and the baby come along for the day trip.

jeffreyhy

Note that Rene did not remind you to check the M-476 document checklist, she reminded you to check the application instructions. Although, checking both is an even better idea.

Regards, JEff

Noorah101

That's correct. I actually crossed out all the references to 5, and wrote 3, just to make it extra clear. LOL

Rene

avanutria

I did check the application (N-400) instructions and it told me to check the Guide to Citizenship

sir_eccles

Hopefully he only printed them off the USCIS website, I saw some apps and websites that seem to have odd questions and more importantly odd answers. You generally get given a copy of the current list of questions and answers at the biometric appointment. I don't know if they change often but some answers will change based on elections, location etc.

avanutria

Yeah, I got them from USCIS and then added in the correct answers for our state representatives. Good to know that we get a copy at the biometrics too.

lansbury

I am reasonably sure the biometrics are all done at the office in Portland. Not the main USCIS office in the Federal Building, but the ASC office about three blocks from Jeld-Wen Field.

Portland do same day and next day oath ceremonies. The morning interviews before 11am (think that time is right) they will offer you that afternoon if you are approved. Otherwise they will offer the next day. If still the same the oath ceremony is at 2pm at the Federal Building, where everything apart from the biometrics is done. You don't have to accept the ceremony they offer, you can schedule a date if more convenient.

avanutria

Good to know, thanks! Maybe we will aim to have an overnight stay in Portland - either for a next day ceremony or for the night before a morning interview.

avanutria

Timeline thus far. We mailed in the packet on May 4th. On May 13th DH got an email confirming receipt, and our check has been cashed.