BillV 8-16-2004

My wife had her biometrics done on October 25th, the USCIS online account doesn't show this or have had any other updates since the initial filing, we have yet to hear anything and did not receive a notice showing that the biometrics had been done is this common? currently our center is showing as of September 30th as working on April 6th, all we can do is wait I quess? many who file around the same time have either receive their interview date or have been interview.

This is the first I had heard of the N-659 Checklist. I take it, not all applicates get one of these when they receive their interview letter? Is this only if your required to bring additional information? or maybe left something out when you submitted your N-400? My wife is still waiting for her interview date it wil be interesting to see if she gets one.

My wife went to her biometric appointment October 25th at 10:00 we arrived early and one couple had just walked in before us the place was otherwise empty. We got our paperwork and filled it out my wife took it to the roped area, I waited by the counter I guess I was blocking the numbers the lady helping us asked me to take a seat, the # was 18. My wife finished the woman gave her #18 as she was going to sit down they called #18. The woman that took her fingerprints was busy talking to her co-worker the whole time about shopping at Mervyns and the 99 cent store not paying much attention to my wife and doing her job. As we were leaving they gave my wife a study booklet, I asked if they had a CD the lady said no and would not elaborate, customer services was very poor, I'll be glad when this is over.

My wife can now read and write 44 sentences, she has been listening to the CD Carl sent, she understands most of the questions, I will be reviewing the N-400 with her so she has a full understanding of it along with paperwork she will take with her to the interview. I will do mock interviews with her so she has the basic understanding of what the IO will be asking her. I also made flash cards off the computer so that she recognizes individual words included in the sentences.

That is very quick, my wife goes for her biometics Saturday, October 25th, my wife is hoping for a December or January interview, she has been studying very hard, good luck to your wife, Congratulations! I agree they need some time off and take a break for a day or two.

We found some phone books from 2008 at the Chinese (Asian) market that list business names, in the back of the book they have the old test for the citizenship test in Chinese and English, along with sentences ask during the interview, they usually have pallets of them available for the Asian community. What we did is just cut out that particular section otherwise you have to lug around the whole book.

Hi Carl, received Thanks! we listen to the CD while driving to the Asian market Saturday it will be very helpful for her along with her writing and studying for her citizenship test.

Do you know if the CD and study guide addresses the the old or new citizenship test ? or is it just general questions and sentences? also the study guide I wonder if you will have a choice? I quess well find out soon enough, it is like were on the last lap. Thanks!

Received biometrics appointment October 25th.

Yes that is what were hoping for is an interview prior to October 9, 2009. My wife will be more comfortable with the old test. I am being told it is taking between 6-7 months normally? I don't know if many others are submitting applications to beat the deadline so as to tie up the process and make it go slower? similar to when they increased the filing fees causing a backlog.

Thanks for the link to your cover letter. With a little cut and paste, change the name to protect the innocent and wahlah Lisa now has a short, sweet and complete cover letter. Sent the app in Sat 9-20-2008. Now we sit and wait. Since it should beat the Oct-1-2008 deadline and they have been averaging six months and show seven months processing time, she should get her choice of tests. I mailed my wife's N-400 in on Friday September 19th, certified and return receipt. Were in California, I haven't view any time frames as of yet, my wife hope's to also beat the deadline October 1, 2009 to take the old test. Received September 22th at 10:22 a.m. the wait has started. Cashed check September 24th were in under the deadline, now the preparation continues for the interview.

My wife was wondering if she had mentioned what the questions were and which one she had to read and write. She was hoping to get a example of the citizenship test, also do you know how it last? Thanks

Thanks for the link to your cover letter. With a little cut and paste, change the name to protect the innocent and wahlah Lisa now has a short, sweet and complete cover letter. Sent the app in Sat 9-20-2008. Now we sit and wait. Since it should beat the Oct-1-2008 deadline and they have been averaging six months and show seven months processing time, she should get her choice of tests. I mailed my wife's N-400 in on Friday September 19th, certified and return receipt. Were in California, I haven't view any time frames as of yet, my wife hope's to also beat the deadline October 1, 2009 to take the old test. Received September 22th at 10:22 a.m. the wait has started.

Thanks for the link to your cover letter. With a little cut and paste, change the name to protect the innocent and wahlah Lisa now has a short, sweet and complete cover letter. Sent the app in Sat 9-20-2008. Now we sit and wait. Since it should beat the Oct-1-2008 deadline and they have been averaging six months and show seven months processing time, she should get her choice of tests. I mailed my wife's N-400 in on Friday September 19th, certified and return receipt. Were in California, I haven't view any time frames as of yet, my wife hope's to also beat the deadline October 1, 2009 to take the old test.

I am mailing my wife's N-400 and documentation today USPS priority mail, certified, return receipt. Her 3 year anniversary is December 21st. She was concerned about taking the old test which the deadline for submitting is October 1st, how do you know she is elgible does it state somewhere in writing from the USCIS or do you go by the receipt date? I did take your advice on the documentation and gave them everything they requested and more. On the USCIS website it says if you file before Oct 1st 2008 and your interview is before Oct 1st 2009 you can take your choice. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD Were in California does anyone have an estimate on how long it is taking for the testing, I saw on the web site it takes 3-4 week for the FBI background check then the biometrics then they schedule your interview or test.

I am mailing my wife's N-400 and documentation today USPS priority mail, certified, return receipt. Her 3 year anniversary is December 21st. She was concerned about taking the old test which the deadline for submitting is October 1st, how do you know she is elgible does it state somewhere in writing from the USCIS or do you go by the receipt date? I did take your advice on the documentation and gave them everything they requested and more.

This is effective October 14, 2008, so until then I would believe you would still send it to the original address? I read where they are going to request passport style pictures I guess this will be effective at a later date?

I took my wife after she first arrived to an American/Chinese dentist who could speak some Cantonese. He was fairly rough during the cleaning and I questioned his denistry skills. I then took her to a specialist to have a wisdom tooth pulled since he said the tooth in front of it needed a filling but drilled though the tooth,so she had to have crown, the wisdom tooth was a bad experience for her since they use some kind of gas she was allergic to. Now she goes to my dentist and hygientist who she likes as far as cleaning, she goes three times a year. She has had around 6 cavities fixed, one crown and a wisdom tooth pulled and many cleanings now, she even flosses her teeth now and knows the importants of good dental hygiene.

My wife was talking to a family member the other night, from what she tells me they are following our political race like many other countries. Since they are a communist county they have no elections. She was telling me they see some humor in the fact that Obama a young man picked a older man for his VP selection and McCain an older man picks a young woman for his VP choice. I don't want this to turn into a debate, but what have you heard from your spouse and the feelings from their family and friends in China in regards to our election.

Here is a copy of the cover letter I sent with the N-400 which lists all the documents we sent. good luck 8/18/2008 USCIS Nebraska Service Center PO Box 87751 Lincoln, Ne 68501-7751 RE: N-400 Application for Naturalization Bing X XXXXXXXX A # XXX-XXX-XXX Dear USCIS examiner: Enclosed please find an N-400 Application for Naturalization. Please also find a check for $675.00, the fees for this form and Biometrics. I have been a continuous resident since Oct 12th 2004. I am still happily married to the same US citizen since June 1st,, 2004 and we are still living together. Enclosed also please find the following documents to verify my eligibility, the status of our marriage and ongoing relationship: • Copy of a certified copy of our marriage license. • Copy of my passport • Copy of both sides of my green card • Copy of both sides of my Social Security card • Copy of welcome letter for the construction loan on our new house showing joint ownership. • Copy of Notice of Transfer for our mortgage showing joint ownership. • Copy of recent bank statement which we received for our joint account at US Bank. • Transcripts of our joint US tax returns for 2004, 2005 and 2006 • Copies of my husband¡¯s birth certificate and passport. • Copy of my husband¡¯s divorce decree from prior marriage. • Copy of notarial translation of my divorce decree from prior marriage • Copy of notarial translation of my birth certificate. You may feel free to inquire at any of the sources of enclosed documentation for validity of their statements, and you are always welcome to visit our home should you ever desire to do so. Please advise me if you have any further questions or problems related to this petition. Sincerely, Bing H. XXXXXXXX XXXX SE XXth Ave Portland, Or. 97206 503 XXX XXXX I understand a cover letter is important but is it necessary to send all of these documents along with your application?

My wife has a separate savings and checking account which is what I preferred. I make all of her deposits and most of her withdraws she gives me her ATM card and I set up her password. I don't ask my wife for anything I pay all the bills, groceries and any other expenses. She will use her (our) money for buying furniture, China cabinet, couch, table, rugs, entertainment center, bed frame, she is currently upgrading our kitchen tile, having hardwood floors installed in our living room and dining room, it makes her feel like it is her home and makes her comfortable. She will also pay for the up keep of our home in China and is sending her nephew to private school. As far as pets my lab made the mistake of marking one of the chairs in our dining area and he has been banished from our home.

My wife still uses her umbrella, she is very concerned about her skin. She sees the effects of expousure from the sun on Americans and the damaged it has caused them. She has fair skin and when she walks to work she will use her umbrella, she avoids contact as much as possible, I agree with her I try to limit my expousure also and have no problem sharing it with her, she doesn't care what others say about her use of it. Chinese women use umbrellas in China so they don't get dark, that could ID them as laborers and not middle & upper class.

I found my wife a job working in the kitchen at a private college on 20 acres within walking distance of our home, it is mostly an all english speaking enviroment, they raise their own vegetables, fruits and animals, it is mostly vegan and vegetarian menu, she does baking, food prep and cooking she says American cooking is very easy. In China she own a couple of restaurants and had a goverment job as a food inspector. She also has worked part time at an American fine dining restaurant and at a catering service for special events. She doesn't need to work but she like to make an extra income which we use for vacations, home improvements and helping her families children with their educations and it gets her out of the house which has helped her to acclimation to America so much easier.

I think its all of the Americans who are driving tanks and dinosaur gas guzzlers causing the problem, I have notice a big difference since the price of gas has elevated, less vehicles on the roadways, more quiet, before people just seem to be in their vehicles driving for no reason what so ever, I would like to see it continue to go up if that is what it will take to get people out of their vehicles, look for alternatives and smaller fuel efficent vehicles.

Great link just what I will need to get the wife ready, I picked up a dry erase board yesterday so she can read and write all the questions she may need to answer for the USCIS. Thanks