• Hello Members, This forums is for DV lottery visas only. For other immigration related questions, please go to our forums home page, find the related forum and post it there.

DV 2020 AOS Only

Hey @Sm1smom

I'm traveling back into America for the first time after winning receiving the physical GC. Is that all that I need for entry? The GC and my Passport? I know this is a question outside of the AOS spectrum. Just thought you would have some knowledge on it :)

Thanks in advance!
 
ShazzA said:
Hey @Sm1smom

I'm traveling back into America for the first time after winning receiving the physical GC. Is that all that I need for entry? The GC and my Passport? I know this is a question outside of the AOS spectrum. Just thought you would have some knowledge on it :)

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Yes that’s all you need.
 
Hello @Sm1smom . I have a question, I have got mixed answers to a question I have. Do I have to pay the KCC fee of $330 if I am doing AOS withing the USA after winning the DV lottery. Thanks so much for your support!
 
Sm1smom said:
Phew! At last :D:D Great news! Congratulations. Guess I will see you again in 4-5 years' time - until then, I can say free at last ;)
Click to expand...
Hi @Sm1smom and @SusieQQQ. Back again after years. Could you please guide me to the section of the forum that has similar checklist for the N 400 Naturalization Application.

Thanks again in advance.
 
asm_dv said:
Hi @Sm1smom and @SusieQQQ. Back again after years. Could you please guide me to the section of the forum that has similar checklist for the N 400 Naturalization Application.

Thanks again in advance.
Click to expand...
Congratulations on that time of your journey!

There isn’t a spreadsheet for the N400, it’s pretty straightforward and all the info is on the USCIS site. I’d suggest you do the form online as it tailors “next questions” to what you fill in (so there should be no N/A questions) and tells you as you go what documents you might need to submit.

www.uscis.gov

Application for Naturalization

Naturalization is the process to become a U.S. citizen if you were born outside of the United States. If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after birth. Us
www.uscis.gov

If you need more information about the continuous residence and physical presence requirements, they are here:
www.uscis.gov

Chapter 3 - Continuous Residence

A. Continuous Residence RequirementAn applicant for naturalization under the general provision
www.uscis.gov
www.uscis.gov

Chapter 4 - Physical Presence

A. Physical Presence Requirement An applicant for naturalization is generally required to have been physically present in the United States for
www.uscis.gov
These would only be an issue if you’ve spent any significant time (eg 6 months at a time or many shorter exits that last a few months each) outside the US.
 
SusieQQQ said:
Congratulations on that time of your journey!

There isn’t a spreadsheet for the N400, it’s pretty straightforward and all the info is on the USCIS site. I’d suggest you do the form online as it tailors “next questions” to what you fill in (so there should be no N/A questions) and tells you as you go what documents you might need to submit.

www.uscis.gov

Application for Naturalization

Naturalization is the process to become a U.S. citizen if you were born outside of the United States. If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after birth. Us
www.uscis.gov

If you need more information about the continuous residence and physical presence requirements, they are here:
www.uscis.gov

Chapter 3 - Continuous Residence

A. Continuous Residence RequirementAn applicant for naturalization under the general provision
www.uscis.gov
www.uscis.gov

Chapter 4 - Physical Presence

A. Physical Presence Requirement An applicant for naturalization is generally required to have been physically present in the United States for
www.uscis.gov
These would only be an issue if you’ve spent any significant time (eg 6 months at a time or many shorter exits that last a few months each) outside the US.
Click to expand...
Me and my wife (she got LPR as DV7) travelled a lot last few years (post covid). I calculated all our travel time and we never stayed outside US at a time for more than 6 months. My wife's highest yearly total outside US was 157 days (in three segments). We have a toddler and due to her pre-school we are in US 8-9 months of every year.

we stayed 2 months at a time last year but other than that most other visits were 1 month or less.

We both have very good jobs in US and we travel during summer and winter time with remote working option.

Me:
  • 2022: 85 days
  • 2023: 93 days
  • 2024: 102 days
  • 2025: 60 days

    Wife:

  • 2022: 131 days
  • 2023: 93 days
  • 2024: 157 days
  • 2025: 60 days

    Would this be an issue?
 
asm_dv said:
Me and my wife (she got LPR as DV7) travelled a lot last few years (post covid). I calculated all our travel time and we never stayed outside US at a time for more than 6 months. My wife's highest yearly total outside US was 157 days (in three segments). We have a toddler and due to her pre-school we are in US 8-9 months of every year.

we stayed 2 months at a time last year but other than that most other visits were 1 month or less.

We both have very good jobs in US and we travel during summer and winter time with remote working option.

Me:
  • 2022: 85 days
  • 2023: 93 days
  • 2024: 102 days
  • 2025: 60 days

    Wife:

  • 2022: 131 days
  • 2023: 93 days
  • 2024: 157 days
  • 2025: 60 days

    Would this be an issue?
Click to expand...
Without doing the actual calc it looks totally fine - you spent far more time in the US than out of it. (Again, if you file online if there is any problem with this it will flag it as a a potential issue.) the form will ask you for all destinations so make sure you have those, The days you enter or leave the US still count as days in the US, btw.
 
SusieQQQ said:
Without doing the actual calc it looks totally fine - you spent far more time in the US than out of it. (Again, if you file online if there is any problem with this it will flag it as a a potential issue.) the form will ask you for all destinations so make sure you have those, The days you enter or leave the US still count as days in the US, btw.
Click to expand...
If you and @Sm1smom don't mind then I will post some questions in a day or 2 after I finish filling out the online form. As of now, the N400 application and paperwork (to be uploaded online) seems much easier then the I-485 and AOS process.
 
So, I did stumble into 1 issue with my name(s). I have a very long name and first part of the name is always used in an abbreviation format. For example "AS John Smith" where the AS stands for "Abraham Samuel". And on top of that my dear mother decided to put my nickname at the end of my whole name during my first US Visa back in 1990. So in that US Visa my last name is my nick name, hold the jokes. So assume my nick name is Tyler. Hence, in several US Visa documents from 35 years ago my name shows as "Abraham Samuel John Smith Tyler"

However, since then all my legal documents: birth certificate, passport, marriage document all has the shortened variant "AS John Smith".
I have declared this during the AOS process in the I-485.

Now for N400 application, moment I say yes to "Any other names used" it asks for proof of name change document etc.

What would be best course of action? Should I upload all the old visa copies and submit a notarized letter explaining the "naming culture" and my mother's simplemindedness about including my nickname as last name? Believe me this is when visa application were filled out by pencils and people truly had no idea the distinction of family name and nickname. My mother thought nickname is the family name as only family calls him by that name!

Thanks in advance @Sm1smom @SusieQQQ
 
Last edited:
the online N400 application at USCIS website has a technical glitch! Which USCIS did answer to external organization but have not provided any explainer for general application filers on the website.
https://www.aila.org/library/practi...ty-to-populate-the-spouse-information-section

I filled out the whole form and during the final review session when it shows a html based webpage summary and also a PDF draft (with watermark) - then it was revealed that the whole section of my "current spouse and current marriage information" is blank. I went back to the live form to go step by step and saw that after the question of being married and if my spouse is a US Army person (yes/no) it skips all the other information and goes to the next section.

Has anyone faced this bug? I am considering filing the paper application to avoid this bug.

Ow USCIS and government website(s) you never disappoint to disappoint.

Thanks in advance @Sm1smom @SusieQQQ
 
Last edited:
asm_dv said:
the online N400 application at USCIS website has a technical glitch! Which USCIS did answer to external organization but have not provided any explainer for general application filers on the website.
https://www.aila.org/library/practi...ty-to-populate-the-spouse-information-section

I filled out the whole form and during the final review session when it shows a html based webpage summary and also a PDF draft (with watermark) - then it was revealed that the whole section of my "current spouse and current marriage information" is blank. I went back to the live form to go step by step and saw that after the question of being married and if my spouse is a US Army person (yes/no) it skips all the other information and goes to the next section.

Has anyone faced this bug? I am considering filing the paper application to avoid this bug.

Ow USCIS and government website(s) you never disappoint to disappoint.

Thanks in advance @Sm1smom @SusieQQQ
Click to expand...
I’m sorry, it’s been something like 7 years since I filled in the form, I don’t remember details. I do remember the printed pdf had some blank spots, but the interviewer had all of the answers on their computer. I assume I checked them online before submitting and it was fine.
 
So, couple of things for all future and current N400 applicants:

"The Blank Current Marriage Section Issue"

1. If you are filling out the N400 application online then DEFINITELY KEEP IN MIND: the form skips lot of the questions based on your answers. Hence some of the questions answer box will be either empty or unchecked (no X in the box).

2. If you are filing paper form this does not happen as we just simply check mark and answer in sections that TRULY does not apply to many of us* (Depending on your eligibility criteria and other factors).

I will provide my case and example so it makes sense.

1. I am applying under general provision: Part 1> 1>A
2. So in Part 5 the online form asks if you are married or not. If you are single then on paper form you skip to Part 6. If you are married then you have to answer the next question: if spouse is current member of US Armed forces? My answer is NO.
3. How many times married (including current marriage): my answer 1

At this point paper form has this one note which says that if YOU ARE FILING UNDER Spouse of Citizen then answer rest of the part otherwise skip to part 6.

In paper form even though it says this but AFIK and have seen lot of people and immigration lawyers fill up the current marriage information regardless.

But when you are filling out the online form, the portal just skips to Part 6 and those sections within Part 5 remains blank. This is not an error or bug. As per the form logic a general provision applicant does not need that info for filing.

Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 11.19.04.png

Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 11.10.55.png

https://www.aila.org/library/practi...ty-to-populate-the-spouse-information-section
Hope this clarification helps. I have checked with several recent online applicants, they filed in this way after the initial declaration of marriage, and rest of the marriage information remains blank and had no issues. They got approved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top