What are red flags on citizenship application?

[Woodstock10512]

I have an interview 3 weeks from now, and after reading some of the horror stories, I became worried about the interview.

Background - I came here in 2001 on a tourist visa. During the interview at the embassy, I told the consul that my purpose was "to visit aunt for Christmas." My aunt lives in Texas. Betweent the interview and the flight reservation, I decided to include NY in my itinerary because I want to meet this guy whom I met on-line months before. I came to the US with NY as my port of entry, then I visited my aunt and spent some time with her, returned to NY and went back to my country. I have pictures to prove that I was in Texas.

After my first visit here, the guy that I met online, came to the Philippines to see me and we fell in love. For a couple of years, I would come here to get to know this guy because both he and I were not sure yet if we really want to be married. I never overstayed. I would leave and go back to my country before the date on my I-94 expires.

We decided to get married in 2003. He called the USCIS toll-free number to get an advice. He was advised that we can get married even if my visa is tourist. They told him that we can apply for an adjustment status after the wedding as long we submit the application before my I-94 expired. We followed everything they advised us. For two years, my status was "adjustment status pending." I got my green card in 2006.

Given the background, do you think it will raise any red flags or pose any problems?

Another issue is my husband and I have two houses which are about 10 miles apart. We use both houses to get mails. During the winter, my husband and I would live in House A because it's cheaper to heat but for the most part of the year, we live in House B. The address on both our drivers license is House A figuring that it wouldn't matter because we also live there. That is also the address we use when we filed our joint income tax early this year. On my N-400 application, I wrote both addresses as my address for the past five years but I get all my USCIS notices at House B.

Do you think this will also pose a problem? I'm afraid that they might think that we are living in separate houses. Both houses are in his name but I have bills for him and me coming to both houses. I have other documents such as insurance, annuities, retirement benefits, health insurance, and bank accounts with both our names on it. Do you think I should change the address on my drivers' license?

Also, I work for a local government and has access to some politicians. Will it help to get some sort of a letter of recommendation from them?

Thanks so much!

 

[Bobsmyth]

You should be fine on both counts. You applied for AOS and got your GC.
Having two residences in the same district area can raise questions if you are living together, so just make sure you explain the living setup you have at the interview so there are no assumptions by the IO.

 

[Jackolantern]

Another issue is my husband and I have two houses which are about 10 miles apart. We use both houses to get mails. During the winter, my husband and I would live in House A because it's cheaper to heat but for the most part of the year, we live in House B. The address on both our drivers license is House A figuring that it wouldn't matter because we also live there.

It could matter, depending on the rules of the state. If you spend only the winter in house A, and the other 8 or 9 months of the year in house B, and this a pattern you repeat every year, the state probably would conclude that your primary residence is house B, and that's where your driver's license should be, with your local taxes and car insurance based on residing in house B.

However, that's an issue for the state DMV and local tax authorities. It shouldn't be an issue for naturalization, unless the houses are in different states, or the claiming of house A as your primary residence is to evade taxes (e.g. some states or counties give tax breaks for your primary home, but not your second home. So if you claim A is your primary home for better tax treatment, but in reality B is really your primary home, that could be tax fraud).

 

[Woodstock10512]

Thanks

Thanks to you both.

There is really no tax issue on declaring House A. We do not qualify for any tax credit on either of the two houses. We bought House B as an investment and we got caught in the housing crisis. We'd like to flip it as soon as the housing market bounces back. But I guess that's not really a naturalization issue. The issue is how am i going to prove that my husband and I are living together.

I have insurance, health insurance, annuities, and retirement documents indicating him as my dependent. He also has documents indicating me as his dependent. We have joint back accounts. I guess what I need to do is change the address on my drivers license to indicate the same address I wrote on the N-400 as my permanent address. I have recent pictures too. I wonder if pictures are helpful...

Woodstock