Getting documents ready, have some questions...

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ludhianvi

Registered Users (C)
Hello Gurus:

I shall be completing 5 years of my PR on March 18, 2013. Excited that time has finally come (albeit in a couple of months) when I will be able to apply for citizenship. I have read the Guide to Naturalization, some threads here, but still have some questions. Hopefully, someone can answer these:

1. I shall be going to India in December for 2 weeks, so I plan to submit my N-400 when we get back (2nd week of January). It will be ~60 days before 5 year anniversary. Ideally, I would like to apply at 90-days timeline, but I think I need to apply when I come back. Is that correct or I can apply before going to India?

2. Do I need re-entry permit to come back or I will be good with GC?

3. Do I need to get 3-years Certified Tax Transcripts from IRS (for N-400) or I can submit a copy of the tax return?? How long does it take to get certified returns from IRS? Do I need to submit my 2012 return before applying (remember I will be applying in January), or I can do that after submission of my application?

4. My daughter will be 15 years when I apply for citizenship (in January 2013). It is my understanding from reading Guide to Naturalization that I can't apply for her citizenship since she is less than 18 years old. Is that true? If yes, then when will I be able to apply for her citizenship once we get ours? Is N-600 the form to be used for her citizenship at later date?

I am sure I will have more questions as I work, but that's it for now.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help.
 
1. You can apply before you travel. Just make sure you return in time for the biometrics appointment (which will be about 3-5 weeks after USCIS receives your application), and remember to inform the interviewer about the trip. So time when you mail it in order avoid being abroad when it's time for your biometrics.

2. Reentry permit is not needed for a 2-week trip.

3. You're applying with the 5-year rule, so you don't need to submit tax transcripts. However, if you have tax issues (unpaid taxes, failing to file, etc.) or extensive travel abroad in the past 5 years, they might ask for them so bring them to the interview just in case.

4. Your daughter will automatically derive citizenship when you naturalize, if she's a permanent resident living with you in the US in your legal and physical custody. However, official proof of her citizenship is not automatic; for that you'll need to apply for her N-600 and/or US passport. When you apply for those after your naturalization, you'll be applying only for proof of the citizenship she already derived through you, not applying for her citizenship.
 
Thanks Jackolantern for the replies.

So, it is safe to apply right before leaving to India (we should be safe for biometrics appointment 3-5 week, since we will be gone for only 2 weeks)? I was under the impression that one should apply only when one is within the country, but guess, I was wrong :)

No tax issues here, so I dont need to worry about getting those tax returns, Great!!

My daughter is a permanent resident living with us in US in our legal and physical custody. So, once we receive citizenship, there is no need to apply for her N-600, we can directly apply for her US passport (and that will be a proof of her citizenship). If true, then we can save $600 application money.

Does one ever need to use proof of citizenship for anything other than passport application?

One other question (I have read the sticky and couple other threads, so please pardon asking again).

My wife was involved in a car accident (she was considered at fault..no alcohol or drug involved, only points on her license, no penalty)..do we need to mention this accident on N-400. The reason I ask is because the Guide to Naturalization says, "Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license". Reading this, it is very clear to me that we do not need to mention this accident, but still wanted to re-confirm.

Is there a time-limit on the traffic tickets that one need to mention, like last 5 years or so...
 
ludhianvi said:
So, it is safe to apply right before leaving to India (we should be safe for biometrics appointment 3-5 week, since we will be gone for only 2 weeks)? I was under the impression that one should apply only when one is within the country, but guess, I was wrong :)
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You can even apply when abroad, as long as you return in time for the biometrics and interview.

My daughter is a permanent resident living with us in US in our legal and physical custody. So, once we receive citizenship, there is no need to apply for her N-600, we can directly apply for her US passport (and that will be a proof of her citizenship). If true, then we can save $600 application money.
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Apply for her passport first, but don't forget about her N-600 entirely. If her passport is lost or stolen and she doesn't have an approved N-600, she may have to use your naturalization certificate to get her passport replaced. And the N-600 has the advantage of not expiring.

If you don't think the N-600 is worth spending your money for it, at least let her know about it so she is aware of it and can decide to get it on her own with her own money someday if she thinks it's worth it. Preferably when she's still young and you're still available to lend her your citizenship documents so she can apply for it.

Does one ever need to use proof of citizenship for anything other than passport application?
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Driver's license or state ID, some government jobs, some scholarships, voting, Medicaid, Social Security (if living outside the US), sponsoring family members for green cards, and more.

One other question (I have read the sticky and couple other threads, so please pardon asking again).

My wife was involved in a car accident (she was considered at fault..no alcohol or drug involved, only points on her license, no penalty)..do we need to mention this accident on N-400. The reason I ask is because the Guide to Naturalization says, "Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license". Reading this, it is very clear to me that we do not need to mention this accident, but still wanted to re-confirm.
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This has been debated 1000 times on this forum. Some think it means you don't have to mention those under-$500 non-DUI traffic offenses at all. Others including myself say you should list them on the N-400, but you just don't have to provide documentation of them (like your driving history from the DMV, or court dispositions). Read the thread and decide for yourself: http://forums.immigration.com/showt...c-tickets-and-naturalization-(threads-merged)

Is there a time-limit on the traffic tickets that one need to mention, like last 5 years or so...
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No.
 
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Thanks a lot, Jackolantern once again!!

I trust what you say, but is there a link to USCIS site that says one can apply even when outside US?

Thanks also for N-600 response. I will pay for her N-600 and get it over with.

Can one apply for N-600 and passport at the same time or it is better to do one first??
 
I think the point is that it does not say you MUST be in the US when you apply.

DoS processes passport applications, and DHS, N600 applications, so you can't apply for them together. Apply for the passport first, and then apply for the N600 because it takes a while, and with all your documents stuck with DHS, if your daughter needs to travel, she will be SoL.
 
ludhianvi said:
I trust what you say, but is there a link to USCIS site that says one can apply even when outside US?
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I can't find it right now, but there was a published court case about it. The court pointed out that nothing in the law requires the applicant to be in the US at the time of filing the application.

Can one apply for N-600 and passport at the same time or it is better to do one first??
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Both can be done at the same time. The passport application requires original documents (green card, naturalization cert., birth and marriage cert. etc.), but the N-600 only requires copies (though originals may be requested at the end of the process). So in the same visit to the post office you can do both the mailing of the N-600 application and applying for the passport.
 
Thanks once again, guys!! Really appreciate your help. I was out of town, so could not post earlier.

I will come back with more questions as I start filling the application form :)
 
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