Относно американското гражданство

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Documents and preparation for Naturalization Interview:

It's highly advisable that applicants for naturalization should bring ALL the documents listed below at their interview even if their 'Interview Appointment Letter/Notice' may not include any (or some) of them. And it should also be known that an 'Appointment Letter' is just a generic/computerized letter in most cases. So it could be possible that it may not contain a list of ALL required documents pertaining to an applicant's specific situation/case. For example, in one of immigration forums, a woman received an appointment letter for her naturalization interview wherein she was asked to bring a Selective Service Letter despite of the fact that she was a female.

Thus, it is beyond anyone's imagination as to why she was even asked to bring Selective Service letter when ONLY males are required to register with Selective Service. So, keep it in mind that an appointment letter is just a generic/computerized letter in most cases. Also, clerks are the ones who send out the appointment letter and not the adjudication officers. And clerks always make mistakes as you may already know this. So, make sure to bring ALL the documents mentioned below even if you are not asked for it in your appointment letter. I'm not saying that you must be asked for all the documents listed here, but you will definately be asked some of them. And God knows which one they would ask for. Each officer is individual and different. So, you don't know which document a officer might ask for. INS can ask for any documents that pertains to applicant's immigration journey and background. Thus, it's better to have all the documents being proactive than some of them.

[1] Interview appointment letter: It will be required to get inside the INS building since security guard at the front door of the office will ask to see it. And obviously, local district office would need it to pull your file up to interview you. However, you might not need this if you are going into a very small INS office wherein only 3-4 applicants altogether would hardly be there such as the INS office in Vermont which is just a little larger than a telephone booth. Because then that small office would already know who is scheduled to be interviewed at that day even if someone won't have this letter handy. Also, appointment letter is not needed by those who would be asked over the phone to appear for an interview as sometimes INS tries to accommodate some applicants just in a last moment which makes them to call some applicants over the phone to come to the interview. So obviously, these people won't need appointment letter then.

[2] Passport: It's required mainly to verify applicant's absence from the United States as it contains the record of ALL the trips that an applicant has taken outside the United States. And it is also required to verify applicant's citizenship/nationality. Officer does retains the right to ask for it as it is relevant to the information on the application that an applicant will provide about any trips taken outside the United States and about his/her nationality. And it is also relevant to determine applicant's eligibility for naturalization as to his/her continuous presence in the United States. You should bring all the passports (even the expired ones) that you might have carried. Also, it is better to take the photocopy of the first page of the passport wherein biodata is as it has been noticed that some people are recently asked of it. If a passport is recently expired, then it is not a problem cuz adjudication officers like to see the passport to verify the trips taken outside the US than the validity of the passport.

[3] Driver License or State Issued Non Driving ID: Officers will always ask for this during the interview to verify whether or not applicant lives in their jurisdiction. Because applicant must need to be living in the State where s/he will appear for an interview, otherwise that particular office won’t have any jurisdiction on the applicant to adjudicate his/her application. It’s relevant to the information that applicant will provide on his/her citizenship application about his/her address. Hence, officer retains the right to verify his/her residence information. Also, driving license verifies applicants' identity as a person who s/he claims to be especially when it is a govt. issued picture ID like green card. If someone's original country allows dual citizenship, then it is better to renew the passport before going to Naturalization interview. Not for INS purpose but for a person's self use.

[4] Tax returns for the last 5 yrs: Whether or not applicants are specifically asked on their interview letter to bring their tax returns, they should ALWAYS take their tax returns for the last 5 yrs with them to their interview, no matter what, even if some of them are filing their application based upon 3 yrs rule due to being married with a US citizen. And it's very important to applicants in NY district office as interviewing officers in NY district office do ask for it in 99.99% of the time. It's my advise that applicants should request tax transcripts from IRS to show to USCIS because as per internal memo USCIS can demand to see tax transcript than copy of tax returns. Why? Because tax transcripts are official record, which means USCIS cannot doubt about the authencity of them unlike tax returns unless you would have certified copies of your tax returns which might cost you a lot of money.

I would also like to point it out why tax returns are so important to USCIS. Tax returns are asked particularly to verify or to find out- (a) applicants' current and previous address(s), (b) their current and previous marital status, (c) whether or not they have any children, (d) where and what kind of job applicants have been doing for the last 5 yrs, (e) whether or not they owe any money to IRS, (f) whether or not they have paid the REQUIRED taxes, (g) whether or not they are in violation of any IRS laws, because if they were single but filed their taxes under married status at any time, then USCIS will deny their citizenship application under the clause of having bad character. Because it will then prove that they are in a violation of IRS laws and also a person of a bad character because of cheating.

And if applicants did not pay any of the required taxes then USCIS will deny your application unless you will submit an agreement letter from IRS, State, or local tax office showing that you have filed a tax return or have arranged to pay the taxes you owe. In addition, you would need to bring documentation from IRS, State or local tax office showing the current status of your repayment program. Actually, tax returns are required for many reasons at the time of naturalization.

Tax transcripts are actually the Form 1722. It takes only a few days to arrive all these in the mail if you would request these documents over the phone with them at 1-800-829-1040 or by requesting these documents thru visiting their website wherein you would need to fill out Form 4506-T. If you would prefer to get it within a few minutes then IRS can fax them to you if you would provide them a fax number.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf.

http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw31.html

Tax returns are relevant to the information that applicants provide on their citizenship application; thereby officer retains the right to demand these documents to verify those information.

If someone has not filed any tax return because of having no income or earning little income, then it would still be alright so long s/he could explain it to the officer as to why s/he did not file the tax return or why s/he wasn't required to file the tax returns. And even if someone has received public assistant or is on welfare, yet still it not a problem. But if someone is unemployed, then s/he must be prepared to show to INS how s/he has been supporting himself/herself without the means of any visisble income; otherwise officer will deny their case in presuming that such person has been involved in some kind of shady/illegal activities. Submitting an affidavit from someone about being supported would do the trick.

[5] Divorce/Annulment decrees: It's required if applicant was previously married. Must be a certified copy. It's also relevant to the information because N-400 asks about all privious marrages. Thus, officer retains the right to ask this document as s/he may prefer.

[6] Marriage certificate: It is advisable to have it even if a citizenship application is not filed based upon 3 yrs rule of being married to a USC. Recently I came to know that some officers are asking for this just to update the information on citizenship application if applicant has gotton married after filing the application. And sometimes officers do want to verify whom applicants are married to if applicants are currently married. Besides it is also relevant to the information that applicants will provide on their citizenship application about their marital history. So, officer retains the right to ask for this document.

[7] Court's disposition on any arrest, charge, and citation (including traffic citations): If applicants don't wish their application to be delayed or denied, then they MUST need to take ALL the documents petaining to them about any arrest, charge, citation (even traffic ones) to their interview. It must be a certified copy from a court about complete record of arrest, charges, conviction and dismissal of case. The application for naturalization will surely be denied if a criminal case is not completely disposed yet.

As far as traffic citation is concerned, then applicants don’t need to worry about anything so long those citations have nothing to do with DUI or reckless driving. But applicants MUST need to DISCLOSE them in their application and should try their best to bring some kind of proof of paying all those traffic tickets because traffic tickets are also part of court's record. Pay attention-traffic tickets MUST need to be reported on the application. As a matter of fact, INS does say in their latest N-400 that ALL traffic citations must need to be disclosed. However, they don't need a proof of payment wherein fine was under $500. So, what INS is saying that applicants don't need to submit proof of payment for those traffic citations wherein fine was imposed less than $500, but they do require all citations to be disclosed.

I know there has always been a controversy over whether traffic tickets/citations should be reported on N-400 or not, but what people don't understand is that INS requires full disclosure of those citations/tickets regardless they were impact a decision on N-400. Some people have said that people should not disclose about it as it will open a worm of can with INS, but by doing do applicants will be found concealing an information and not being truthful on N-400 as required, which might be a ground for INS to deny N-400 even though this might be a trival matter.

Mostly folks don't know that if someone has received too many traffic tickets, whether those are for speeding, changing lanes wrongly, turning on no U turn zone and etc, then some officers may deny your application. Because recently a case has come into light wherein an officer denied a naturalization application to a person who had received so many tickets. Officer noted that applicant failed to obey the local traffic laws so many times, which obviously proves that applicant has bad character. Applicant appealed, but applicant's appeal got denied. So, it is also recommended to contact an immigration attorney before filing naturalization application if someone falls under this kind of situation. But I hope people would understand the difference between speaking with every other immigration attorney and speaking to very well known and aggressive immigration attorneys.

It's also advised to take with you a full record of restraining order too if someone has obtained a restraining order against you at anytime. You WILL NOT be denied citizenship based upon traffic citations or a restraining order, but officer MAY ask you about it and/or may demand you to submit some kind of documents in relation to these stuffs. Don’t assume that if you were never been convicted, arrested, fingerprinted, detained or violated a restraining order then it means USCIS won’t know anything about those activities. USCIS is actually now checking up public court records too. It has nothing to do with financial civil matter; instead it has to do with family court for restraining order and traffic court for traffic citations.

[8] Social security card: In some of recent cases, USCIS has asked applicants to show their Social Security Card to verify their social security number that they had put it on their application. Again, officer does retain the right to ask for it since it is one of the information that applicants provide on their Naturalization application.

[9] Four Identical Colored Pictures: It’s always advisable to take 4 additional photos with you cuz sometimes officers do ask for pictures again even though you have already submitted them along with your application despite of the fact those pictures were being under new photo requirement. The reason for them to ask for it again could be that the photos that you have submitted with your application might have either lost, damaged or don’t look proper to the adjudication officer (every officer has his/her own discretion to accept the photo as to be ok to the officer). So, it is better to have it with you at the time of interview. It is also part of application and officer retains the right to demand it

[10] Birth Certificate: Based upon 7 recent cases, I've come to know that some officers may ask you for this too. It has nothing to do with changing your name thru naturalization process or filing the application under 3 yrs rule of being married to a USC. Nor it has anything to do with your children' birth certificate as well, which is usually required if you have any children. Because if you have any children, then you should carry their birth certificate with you anyway to prove that you have children as the information about your children is required on the application. But applicant's birth certificate is recently asked in seven of recent cases just to make sure about applicant's real name even though applicants' real name is clearly mentioned on their green card which they had presented to the officer during the time of interview. And birth certificate was asked even though applicant’s birth certificate is contained in applicant's green card file with INS. Again, it is also relevant to the information that applicants provide on the application about their full name. So the officer retains the right to demand for it to check the accuracy of the information.

[11] Employment letter: You should ask your employer to provide you this and should have it with you when you go to the interview. Including any W-2 or anything relevant to it. It is relevant to prove your employment information on the application. Some officers are known to have asked about this from some applicants.

[12] Documents to prove your residency in your State: You must carry some kind of document to prove your residency in the state or place where you live cuz applicants for naturalization must need to live at least 3 months in a place before filing for Naturalization from that place. Those documents could be either utilities bills, rent/lease/mortgage papers, bank statements, other bills like credit cards and etc, or employment or school record if you work or study there. It is also reported that some officers did ask for these documents to verify the accuracy of applicant's residence information mentioned on citizenship application. It’s relevant to the information on the application and it is also relevant to know applicant's eligibility since an applicant for naturalization must have to live at least 3 months in a place before filing an application for naturalization from there. So officer retains the right to demand for it.

[13] Pencil: In one of the immigration forum, an applicant was asked to sign the back of his photos with pencil, but he could not be able to find a pencil anywhere in the whole USCIS building, which made him to go out and come back some other time, which delayed his application. So, it is advisable to carry it with you. It doesn't hurt to be over prepared than not.

[14] Bring the copy of your I-140, or I-130, or I-360: Thru some recent cases, it has come to light that some officers have asked for a copy of approval of any of the above said petition, which was the basis of obtaining green card. They have asked this because they were not able to receive the whole Alien file at the time of interview from Service Center, and sometimes some officers would want to know how you have obtained your green card. Again, it is also relevant to the application as to applicant’s eligibility. If you won’t have this with you and officer doesn’t receive your whole file either then the decision on your case would be delayed by many months or year.

[15] Letter from Selective Service: If you are a male who is or was previously required to register with selective service, then you must bring a "Status Information Letter" with you to the interview, which you can easily obtain thru Selective Service. No need to explain to Selective Service why did you fail to register if you did not register with them before. Because they don’t care about its reasoning as they could only give you a latter that would only explain whether you were required to register or not. That is.

Your application for naturalization will be denied if you are a male and were in the United States between the ages of 18-26 and failed to register for selective service willfully and intentionally. But if you can convince INS officer that your failure was not willful then officer will be able to approve your application. So, it is better to bring an explanation letter (a notarized affidavit) with you at the interview, wherein you should explain very clearly that-[1] your failure was not willful; and [2] you were not aware of this obligation; and [3] you did not receive any notification on this either from USCIS or from Selective service.

However, you should know that if you were in the United States between the ages of 18-26 under any status, even as an illegal, then you were required to register for selective service. The only exception to it- those men who were here on valid nonimmigrant visa. Men's age does play a very important role during the time of naturalization. Because if a male did not register with Selective Service when he was required to register, no matter for whatever reason, then officer may deny his application unless he reaches 31 of age. Once a male reaches to the age of 31, then 97% of times this issue becomes irrelevant. And after the age of 37, it is 100% irrelevant because then this Selective Service issue becomes completely mute and a non-issue even though a person had failed to register deliberately. For more information, read the info here-

http://www.sss.gov/must.htm

http://www.sss.gov/FSwho.htm

http://www.shusterman.com/natz-ss99.html

[16] New application or Separate piece of paper about Updated information: If there is any change occurred on any information after filing the naturalization application, including those which were forgotten to include on the application at the time of filing, then you must bring the relevant part of the application with updated information, or provide those updated information on a separate piece of papers. This way officers just attach that new updated information/application in applicant's file. Officers like when someone makes their job easy; otherwise they have to write everything on the application, which could be a hassle to some of them.

[17] Review your whole application thoroughly: It’s highly advisable to have your whole application reviewed many times before appearing at interview since officer may ask you anything that you have mentioned on your application. Recently many naturalization applicants tell me that they were asked verbally about their height, weight, and address and about other more information. Perhaps, officers wanted to make sure that applicant hasn't provided wrong information on the application.

[18] Green Card: You MUST be asked to present it at the time of interview. It is asked to verify the legal status of applicant. If you have lost it or misplaced it then you should get the stamp of it prior to appearing in your interview. Just show the stamp of your status on your passport or the receipt (NOA) about applying for its replacement.

[19] Proof of financially supporting your minor children residing outside of your home: If you have minor children outside of your home, you need to bring evidence of your payment of financial support, such as cancelled checks, money order, receipts and bank drafts showing your payment record, along with copies of any court or government orders relating to the required payment. You may also take notarized affidavit from other spouse about telling that you have been paying timely child support. INS asks about this to determine the moral character of the applicant.

[20] Ink or ball pen: It’s my advise to take this with you because if you belong to the district office wherein oath is administrated at the same day of approving naturalization interview, then officer might ask you to PRINT your name on the front of the photos for the purpose of affixing it on the naturalization certificate. Otherwise, you will be asked to print your name on Naturalization certificate at the time of oath ceremony. Make sure it to be black because signing or printing on an application/photo/or anywhere is not allowed in any color of ink other than black.

[21] Re-entry Permit: If an applicant carries a re-entry permit, then s/he must need to bring that one to his/her interview.

It's better to read important information about Naturalization thru the following links-

http://www.800citizen.com/statesInfo.html

http://www.immihelp.com/citizenship/

http://aenet.esuhsd.org/Citizenship...tizen/prep.html

http://www.herald-sun.com/votebook/c.../citstart.html

http://www.newcitizen.us/after.html

http://www.kamya.com/interview/

http://uscitizennow.com/

The following background checks INS does on Naturalization applicants-

[1] IBIS: This check has validity of 35 days - this check is against IBIS (maintained by USCPC - Customs and Border Patrol) using applicant's full name and date of birth (without place or country of birth). This check is done by USCIS internally through a connection to IBIS. A no hit is termed "IBIS OK" in USCIS' jargon. An "IBIS DNR" (Does Not Relate) is when a match exists but does not relate to the applicant, which is a no hit as well. IBIS is exempt from FOIA requests, that is, a person cannot use FOIA to find out if his/her name is in IBIS.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/in...ities/ibis.xml

[2] FBI Fingerprint (FD258) Identification against NCIC database - This has a validity of 18 months. Any applicant can call FBI NCIC (Clarksburg, WV) to find out if his/her fingerprint result has been sent back to USCIS. Work through various voice prompts to talk to a live representative. The results of this check are normally returned within 24 hours for person with no criminal records or outstanding warrants. No hit is termed "NO IDENT" in FBI jargon. An FOIA request (with FD258/fingerprints) would reveal if a record exists or not.

[3] FBI Name Check against Central Records System (CRS) - This check basically searches to see if the applicant has ever been a subject/target of any FBI investigation. There is no documented validity period for this check. This check can take anywhere from 1 day to 1 year. No hit is termed "NO RECORD" in FBI jargon. A FOIA request would reveal if a record exists or not. FBI may not disclose full details but will acknowledge if a record exists. Also, presence of a record does not mean that it is something negative.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/nationalnamecheck.htm

For more on background checks, read here-

http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlib...6-06_Nov05.pdf

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FBI_name_check

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"А днес моят собствен наследник извършва геройски бели.
Не съм се изгубил безследно, щом той ме повтаря, нали?"
- Миряна Башева

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