Very Naive Question!

L

ladka

Registered Users (C)
Friends,

I am new for this forum. Please forgive me for the naive questions.

My wife and myself are planning to apply for US citizzenship. It has been 5 years since we got greencard. Here are my two questions:

1) Do we need two seperate applications for me and my wife? or one is sufficeient. 2) For greencard, we hired a lawyer. For citizen, if possible, we want do ourself. It is doable? what is your experience.

Thank you in advance,
Ladka
 
ladka said:
Friends,

I am new for this forum. Please forgive me for the naive questions.

My wife and myself are planning to apply for US citizzenship. It has been 5 years since we got greencard. Here are my two questions:

1) Do we need two seperate applications for me and my wife? or one is sufficeient. 2) For greencard, we hired a lawyer. For citizen, if possible, we want do ourself. It is doable? what is your experience.

Thank you in advance,
Ladka
Click to expand...

1. Yes, you need a separate application for each applicant.

2. If your case is cut-and-dry (no criminal convictions, immigration issues, etc.), save the money and file the forms yourself. I think most members of this forum (myself included) filed their applications without legal assistance.

Welcome to the forum, by the way!
 
ladka .. Welcome to this forum.

1) You need separate applications - one for your wife and one for you. Maybe you are not aware .. but your 485 application is also the same way. Your wife's GC processing is totally a separate application (hence a separate A# and A# file) for each for you.

2) Most of the forms / details / instructions etc are available online (uscis website). You can complete the forms / submit them by yourself. My personal feeling is that you should be able to get thru the citizenship process (N400) by yourself, without the need for a lawyer. Unless you run into some issue / need legal help you wont need a lawyer. Most of the folks submit the N400 by themselves. So good luck !

One sincere suggestion -- READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU SUBMIT. Mistakes / wrong submissions will only delay your application. So do your "homework" before you send the applications.
 
To answer your second question first - Yes, you can do it yourself - unless there are any complications in your case. In 99.9% of the cases, it is very straight forward - just fill up the form honestly, sign, enclose 2 passport-size photos, copies of both sides of your green card, a check for $675 each, clip everything together, and mail by USPS express mail. It's really that simple.

To answer your first question - You and your wife may be inseparable, but in the eyes of law, you and your wife are two separate individuals and need two separate forms. But they can be sent together in the same envelope.

Yes, your questions are reasonably naive - but don't worry; you will wise up pretty soon.

Check out -
- www.uscis.gov and navigate to the form N-400/Naturalization/Citizenship pages, &
- keep visiting this board & forum for more information.

Good luck.
 
Dears Friends,

First of all, thank you for prompt replies. All the posting are very informative. One more questions, what are the items I need to send with N400?

Thank you again
Ladka
 
Hello Friends,

Sorry for too many questions.

I went through the checklist for citizenship and I decided to prepare the paperwork. Looks like one thing will create a problem for us.

My wife recently lost her greencard. According to checklist, it is required to have copies of bothside of greencard. We have copy of only front side -- not back side. Is there any easier way out? Otherwise, I have to apply for greecard replacement (it will cost $300) and wait for few months.

Hope to hear from "gurus".

Ladka
 
Well, it says that you have to submit both the front and back of the green card - and that is it!! If you send only the front side of GC, chances are USCIS will return your application packet.

During the naturalization interview/oath, I think you have to surrender your GC - I don't think saying 'I lost my GC' would cut it at that time.

I would advise you to apply for a GC replacement (yes, it costs money), and then apply for naturalization.

With the delay in the naturalization process, it is not a good idea for your wife to be without a valid GC - what if you have to travel in a hurry?
 
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Also, your green card is the only proof of your legal status in the US. You should file for a replacement immediately.

Also, if your GC is lost or stolen, I'd advise you to file a police complaint - to protect your interests if the stolen/lost GC is used for illegal purposes.

Don't risk it - file a police complaint and apply for a replacement card immediately.
 
Ladka! I researched and found out that you may be able to give an attestion (see below) about the 'lost' GC at the time of interview. You may not need the replacement GC for that. In any case, it is not a good idea to be without a valid GC for any prolonged period of time - just in case you have to travel or provide it as proof of valid residency in the US.

See below for attestation/affidavit for 'lost' GC >>

------------------------------------------------
Affidavits or Attestation of Lost or Stolen Alien Registration Cards

Affidavits of lost or stolen Alien Registration Cards will no longer be prepared either at the naturalization interview or at the ceremony for those individuals who do not produce the cards. Attestations will be required. Below is a sample Attestation of Lost Alien Registration Card that should be used for those applicants who have lost their ARC prior to the naturalization ceremony. This form can be provided to the applicant either prior to the ceremony by attaching it to form N-445, Notice of Oath Ceremony at the time of mailing, or when the applicant appears for the oath ceremony. HQBEN POC: Sue Arroyo, Senior Adjudication Officer at (202) 514-8247.


ATTESTATION OF LOST ALIEN REGISTRATION CARD

I_____________________ state under penalty of perjury that I have lost my alien registration receipt card (the Green Card) on or about __________________________ under the following conditions:


I understand that it is against the regulation of the United States Government (8 CFR 338.3) to possess both an alien registration receipt card and a Certificate of Naturalization. I also understand that should I find my alien registration receipt card, I must immediately surrender it to the nearest Immigration Office.


Signature
Date
A Number
-------------------------------------------------
 
ravi1985 said:
Ladka! I researched and found out that you may be able to give an attestion (see below) about the 'lost' GC at the time of interview. You may not need the replacement GC for that. In any case, it is not a good idea to be without a valid GC for any prolonged period of time - just in case you have to travel or provide it as proof of valid residency in the US.

See below for attestation/affidavit for 'lost' GC >>

------------------------------------------------
Affidavits or Attestation of Lost or Stolen Alien Registration Cards

Affidavits of lost or stolen Alien Registration Cards will no longer be prepared either at the naturalization interview or at the ceremony for those individuals who do not produce the cards. Attestations will be required. Below is a sample Attestation of Lost Alien Registration Card that should be used for those applicants who have lost their ARC prior to the naturalization ceremony. This form can be provided to the applicant either prior to the ceremony by attaching it to form N-445, Notice of Oath Ceremony at the time of mailing, or when the applicant appears for the oath ceremony. HQBEN POC: Sue Arroyo, Senior Adjudication Officer at (202) 514-8247.


ATTESTATION OF LOST ALIEN REGISTRATION CARD

I_____________________ state under penalty of perjury that I have lost my alien registration receipt card (the Green Card) on or about __________________________ under the following conditions:


I understand that it is against the regulation of the United States Government (8 CFR 338.3) to possess both an alien registration receipt card and a Certificate of Naturalization. I also understand that should I find my alien registration receipt card, I must immediately surrender it to the nearest Immigration Office.


Signature
Date
A Number
-------------------------------------------------
Click to expand...


Ravi,
what is the source for this? any URL?
 
VivaLasVegas: Please visit http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/0007/bappendix.htm and scroll down to "Part III. Processing No.2 Logging Alien Registration Cards at the Oath Ceremony" section near the middle of that page (or CTRL+F - search for 'green card' on that page). If you are not able to find it, feel free to message me.

This is a May, 1996 USDOJ memo - but I am guessing it will still be valid.

I also saw the same in another immigration forum (http://www.immigration-information.com) by the Gotcher Law Group recently.

Hope this helps.
 
Actually, when you take a copy of the back of the GC, it is not "really" readable. So, in theory, you could send the back of your GC copy and apply ofr a duplicate GC, if you want to save time.
 
ladka said:
Hello Friends,

Sorry for too many questions.

I went through the checklist for citizenship and I decided to prepare the paperwork. Looks like one thing will create a problem for us.

My wife recently lost her greencard. According to checklist, it is required to have copies of bothside of greencard. We have copy of only front side -- not back side. Is there any easier way out? Otherwise, I have to apply for greecard replacement (it will cost $300) and wait for few months.

Hope to hear from "gurus".

Ladka
Click to expand...


I just recently went through a very similiar scenario. My wifes GC was extended 10 years after the conditional status was lifted; however, due to illness she never got a new one.

We mailed our N-400 with copies of the expired card and the application was accepted. After I received my NOA, I went online and filled the application for a replacement GC. I did everything including paying the $375 online.

I recieved the N-400 Finger Print Notice and then the Replacement GC Bio-Metrics Notice and both were set for the same day. My wife went did here FP and Bio-Metrics at the same time. They put a sticker on the expired GC with the extension until the new one arrives.

For me, I did not want any issues when my wife went for the interview; therefore, I wanted to make sure her GC was current.

IMO, I think you should go online and fill out a form for a replacement card.
 
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