Student Loan Default and Naturalization

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aidhayaoli

Registered Users (C)
Hi everbody
I have applied for US Citizenship and received an appointment letter for interview nxt week. I am a bit worried about my prospects of attaining the citizenship because of (Fed/Private) student loan default and bad credit. I have read through a few of the related forums that these things wouldn't necessarily matter.

However in any case if I end up being rejected would I be better off appealing the case or re-apply N400. I am also concerned about how long both processes will take. Any ideas on that?

I am a permanent resident and I have until 2012 to stay in US legally.

Very much appreciate any responses!
 
Credit score doesn't matter to USCIS. You won't get rejected over a student loan whether it's subsidized or unsubsidized or defaulted.
 
aidhayaoli said:
Hi everbody
I have applied for US Citizenship and received an appointment letter for interview nxt week. I am a bit worried about my prospects of attaining the citizenship because of (Fed/Private) student loan default and bad credit. I have read through a few of the related forums that these things wouldn't necessarily matter.
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I hope you realize you can't permanently default on student loans; even after bankruptcy they can come after you to seize your future assets and income.

Missing payments won't affect your N-400, but the government will catch up to you to make you pay the loans off.

I am a permanent resident and I have until 2012 to stay in US legally.
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Until 2012? Your green card expiring in 2012 doesn't mean your PR status ends in 2012. As a permanent resident, you're allowed to stay in the US for the rest of your life legally, unless you do something to trigger the loss of your status like commit crimes.
 
Hi Jackolantern
Thanks for your response.

Yes I am aware of the consequences of default and I intend to resolve it once I get a job. Frankly it's been quite frustrating the past 2 years trying to find one :mad:
Anyway I was just concerned if it would be construed as not having a GMC.
 
aidhayaoli said:
Hi Jackolantern
Thanks for your response.

Yes I am aware of the consequences of default and I intend to resolve it once I get a job. Frankly it's been quite frustrating the past 2 years trying to find one :mad:
Anyway I was just concerned if it would be construed as not having a GMC.
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There is no question on N-400 in response to which you have to disclose anything about your credit history and USCIS does not conduct credit checks as a part of the naturalization process. So just keep your mouth shut about your student loan thing during the interview and you'll be fine. (Plus in general it is a good rule of thumb not to volunteer more information at the interview than you are specifically asked for)
 
aidhayaoli said:
However in any case if I end up being rejected would I be better off appealing the case or re-apply N400.
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It all depends on the reasons behind being denied. Since non-payment of a loan does not preclude you from naturalization, there would have to be another reason for denial.
 
Hey guys I had my interview today and it went really well. The entire interview lasted for about less than 10 minutes and at the end the IO asked me to sign the N-400. With that she handed me the N-652 with the box checked that said:

"Congratulations! Your application has been recommended for approval. At this time it appears that you have established your eligibility for naturalization. If final approval is granted, you will be notified when and where to report for the Oath Ceremony."

The IO asked me to wait in the lobby and about an hour later I received the form N-445 (Oath Letter).

I am a little puzzled by the fact that she didn't ask me to sign the photographs I sent initially along with the N-400 app. Will I be asked to sign it on the day of the Oath Ceremony? Any ideas on that?

Thanks again for all the responses so far.
 
aidhayaoli said:
Hey guys I had my interview today and it went really well. The entire interview lasted for about less than 10 minutes and at the end the IO asked me to sign the N-400. With that she handed me the N-652 with the box checked that said:

"Congratulations! Your application has been recommended for approval. At this time it appears that you have established your eligibility for naturalization. If final approval is granted, you will be notified when and where to report for the Oath Ceremony."

The IO asked me to wait in the lobby and about an hour later I received the form N-445 (Oath Letter).

I am a little puzzled by the fact that she didn't ask me to sign the photographs I sent initially along with the N-400 app. Will I be asked to sign it on the day of the Oath Ceremony? Any ideas on that?
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No, you won't have to sign your photograph on the oath day, although you will have to sign the naturalization certificate itself.
As I remember, USCIS recently changed the way naturalization certificates are produced to some kind of a more secure format, and one no longer has to sign one's photograph. If I am not mistaken, they are using a digitalized photograph now for the certificate (and I think I remember somebody's post saying that it is the photograph taken during the fingerprinting, not the photo submitted with N-400).
 
baikal3 said:
No, you won't have to sign your photograph on the oath day, although you will have to sign the naturalization certificate itself.
As I remember, USCIS recently changed the way naturalization certificates are produced to some kind of a more secure format, and one no longer has to sign one's photograph. If I am not mistaken, they are using a digitalized photograph now for the certificate (and I think I remember somebody's post saying that it is the photograph taken during the fingerprinting, not the photo submitted with N-400).
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Hey Baikal
Thanks for the reply :)

Looking forward to the ceremony next Friday!
 
aidhayaoli said:
Hey Baikal
Thanks for the reply :)

Looking forward to the ceremony next Friday!
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Pls check that your Naturalization Certificate picked up during the Oath Ceremony has all of your particulars correctly mentioned AND carries the embossed DHS stamp (partly on the picture and the certificate itself.) On this forum is a thread where one user has a Nat. certificate minus the stamp, and having a hard time to get a US Passport based on it, and now has to go back to USCIS to get it sorted out.
 
SHJ said:
Pls check that your Naturalization Certificate picked up during the Oath Ceremony has all of your particulars correctly mentioned AND carries the embossed DHS stamp (partly on the picture and the certificate itself.) On this forum is a thread where one user has a Nat. certificate minus the stamp, and having a hard time to get a US Passport based on it, and now has to go back to USCIS to get it sorted out.
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Oh my! I'll make sure of that before I leave the building. Thanks for the heads up.
I thought the interview was the final hurdle but I guess it ain't over til its over and I certainly hope I don't get screwed over by Murphy's Law.
 
aidhayaoli said:
Hi everbody
I have applied for US Citizenship and received an appointment letter for interview nxt week. I am a bit worried about my prospects of attaining the citizenship because of (Fed/Private) student loan default and bad credit. I have read through a few of the related forums that these things wouldn't necessarily matter.

However in any case if I end up being rejected would I be better off appealing the case or re-apply N400. I am also concerned about how long both processes will take. Any ideas on that?

I am a permanent resident and I have until 2012 to stay in US legally.

Very much appreciate any responses!
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So I did the math today, it looks like, for the next 10 years, I will be paying about 650 dollars a month towards my student loan debt.
 
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