Home |David Hill David Hill US Immigration Expert 163 Answers, 0 Claps, 1613 Views Share × Feeds Questions Answers Guides How to get a quick US passport? To expedite your passport renewal application by mail: Use Form Filler tool, and follow the instructions for completing Form DS-82 if you are renewing. Collect your supporting documents, if… 1 0 20 Getting "You have encountered an application error. Please try again later." in USCIS. What to do? You can do the following Refresh your page and try again. Make sure you are using the most updated version of your browser. It's also recommended to clear your cache/cookies 1 0 6 Getting "Encountered an unknown error" in USCIS . What to do? You can do the following Refresh your page and try again. Make sure you are using the most updated version of your browser. It's also recommended to clear your cache/cookies 1 0 0 I've received a green card for my kid with a typographic error in Gender (M instead F). I try to send a request (Form I90) to replace the card, but I have an error message "You must select the Form Number associated to your Receipt Number. The Form Number you selected does not match our records for that Receipt Number." What form should I choose? You need to fill-out I90 form and send it to USCIS with a green-card and copies of Birth Certificate and Passport via USPS mail. It cannot be done online. 1 0 1 I reported my passport card as lost yesterday but it has since been recovered. Can I cancel this report? Is my passport book still valid? Can I cancel this report? Unfortunately, no. Once it is reported lost or stolen the card is unusable for travel. Is my passport book still valid? If you ONLY reported the passport card as lost, then your… 1 0 29 Getting an error for Diversity Visa program application on dvprogram website.Can't make selection for gender as well. What to do? You can do the following Refresh your page and try again. Make sure you are using the most updated version of your browser. It's also recommended to clear your cache/cookies. 1 0 19 If your in-laws file an N-600K, what is the process for your children to obtain US citizenship, and can they use their ESTA eligibility to enter the US for this purpose? Do you need to add your children as beneficiaries to the I-360? What will be the expected processing time for an N-600K case? Are widowers of US citizens treated the same as spouses of living US citizens regarding immediate visa availability, or are they subject to visa caps like F1, F2, etc., as per the Visa Bulletin? Your in-laws can file N-600K with USCIS and pay the appropriate fees. After many months of processing, USCIS will call your children in for an interview, typically with a ~1 month notice. Your children… 1 0 1 Can I send my adjusment of status application to another field office? No. You need to use the correct address to file per the list here, based on your AoS reason and state of residence. These are all processing centers, not field offices. These processing centers will then… 1 0 1 I’m Canadian and worked for Company A for 4 years. I then moved to the U.S. for my MSc and have been working here for 1 year for Company B. Company A wants me to come back on board at an executive level to help with their U.S. expansion (they already have a U.S. subsidiary) and stated the E-2 visa would work. I emailed their lawyer who also said it will work. Is this true? To qualify for E-2 classification, the employee of a treaty investor must: Be the same nationality of the principal alien employer (who must have the nationality of the treaty country); Meet the definition… 1 0 2 I’m a new citizen and I would like to take my passport soon. I already have a schedule appointment but I do not have a match driver license with my citizenship certification. my driver license has a different name from my certificate of naturalization. Can I use my certification as ID as well ? You must present one physical, primary ID which includes your photo. If you cannot present one of the primary photo IDs, please present at least two secondary IDs. See a list of IDs here You would need… 1 0 12 How can I get flight confirmation/book a flight if I don't have my US passport? Unless you are booking with a 3rd party agency that charges for every little change, pretty much all airlines allow you to book with nonsense numbers (all 1's) and at a later time update your passport… 1 0 7 I forgot my passport was in my maiden name. Can I still use it for travel? Your ticket must match your passport name. 1 0 6 I lost US my passport, but have a photo copy. Am I okay to travel? NO! 1 0 7 I lost my US passport, reported it lost, and now just found the original one, can I travel on it? No. Once reported lost/stolen its deactivated and cannot be used for travel. You should put a hole through a corner of the passport or otherwise make it clear it cannot be used so you don't accidentally… 1 0 16 I've heard about "6 Month Validity Rule" what is it and what does it mean? Some countries require the passport to still be valid 6 months after entry (or exit). This is to ensure you have valid documents to be able to exit the country. Some countries do not have this requirement,… 1 0 26 Since US Embassies are processing passports faster (less than 6 weeks), how can I send my application there to be processed? You can't. Embassies only process passports for people in-person and in-country. Also, if your travel is soon and you are headed back to the US, you'll be given a limited-use Emergency Passport that can… 1 0 8 What is the difference between a Passport Book and a Passport Card? Card is for Land borders and some sea ports of entry. Think Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Bermuda. You cannot use it for air travel. If you plan on doing any air travel within the next 10 years get the passport… 1 0 9 I have dual citizenship, can I travel on my other passport instead in US? While USA has no exit immigration, so you don't need to show your passport to exit, you are required to enter the USA on your American passport. You cannot use your other citizenship to get a visa to… 1 0 7 Can I travel internationally by land without a passport in US? We frequently get questions on this especially for the USA/Mexico border. Officially no, you actually do need a passport. Unofficially some people have reported getting INTO Mexico without a passport… 1 0 5 Can I travel internationally by air without a passport book in US? For air travel, the airline won't even let you on your first initial flight if you do not have proper documentation and visas. This is because the airline will be penalized and fined if you are held and… 1 0 2 I'm an American currently abroad and my US passport recently expired. I need to quickly return to USA, can I travel on an expired passport? Not any longer this ended December 31st, 2021. 1 0 3 What about using a 3rd Party Rush/Expediting Service/Courier/Expeditor to get US Passport fast? DO NOT USE THESE!!! There is no magical service (other than contacting your state's house of representatives) that can get you your passport quicker than official channels. You are instead paying a shit… 1 0 4 Can I buy a flight that shows I'm leaving in 2 weeks, book the Urgent in-person appointment that would be within 72 hours of that flight, get my US passport, and then cancel the flight? Yes, but given that those appointments are still supposed to be for urgent/emergencies and right now those appointments are VERY hard to get even if you have a valid reason. For those doing these in-person… 1 0 6 Can I fake a family emergency and get my US passport? No, you'll need to provide proof of your emergency. 1 0 5 How do I find my State Representatives who can assist me with US passport related delay? This link will help you for your State House Represenative or you can also try your Senator. Once you are in contact and have asked for help on your passport application you may be asked to… 1 0 4 My "Status" for US Passport on the website says "Not Available". What to do? It can take up to 2-6 weeks for your status to change to In-Progress. 1 0 1 I submitted my application for US passport ages ago but my status hasn't changed.Its been WAY past the processing times quoted on the website. What to do? There may be a problem. Try contacting the State Department/Passport Office, or reach out to your state State Representatives. They actually can often help with speeding along passports and fixing issues… 1 0 3 Can I switch my application for US Passport from Regular Processing to Expedited? Yes. Expedited service costs an additional $60. If you applied and have not received your passport, you may call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 and receive instructions on… 1 0 1 My trip is in a few days and I just realized my US passport is expired. What to do? In all honesty you are pretty much out of luck. It is almost impossible to get the Urgent/Life or Death/Emergency in-person appointments. For these urgent appointments you must call them directly… 1 0 1 My trip is in a few days and I just realized my US passport is lost. What to do? In all honesty you are pretty much out of luck. It is almost impossible to get the Urgent/Life or Death/Emergency in-person appointments. For these urgent appointments you must call them directly… 1 0 1 My trip is in a few days and I just realized I don't have my US passport. What to do? In all honesty you are pretty much out of luck. It is almost impossible to get the Urgent/Life or Death/Emergency in-person appointments. For these urgent appointments you must call them directly… 1 0 3 They cashed my check, does that mean my US passport is coming soon? No. During covid they have been opening the submitted paperwork and cashing the check first, and then often sitting on the paperwork for up to 2-6 weeks. Them cashing the check doesn't mean they are processing… 1 0 0 What is the processing time for US Passport with in US? You can find the latest processing times here. Normal processing is around 10-13 weeks. Expedited processing is around 7-9 weeks. (You also have the option to expedite shipping from the facility, that… 1 0 0 If I have a pending I-751, may I file N-400 when eligible? Yes. Generally this is a good idea as it seems most field offices will accelerate I-751 if there is a pending N-400. For most of the remaining field offices it makes no difference. For some field offices,… 1 0 1 I am a male who was between age 18 and 26 when I received LPR status or filed I-485 and I did not not register with selective service. What are my options? You cannot file N-400 until you reach the age of 31. When a male LPR goes to file N-400, he often finds himself stymied by the Selective Service (SSS) questions on N-400. As in he did not register… 1 0 1 I was absent 181+ continuous days in the last 5 years. Can I file N-400? You can try. A continuous absence of 181+ days is presumed to break continuous residence. Sometimes the LPR convinces the IO otherwise. 1 0 0 My family member and I applied for naturalization at the same time, but they're already scheduled for biometrics/scheduled for interview/etc. and I'm way behind. What's up with that? Naturalization cases are 100% standalone, even if you applied at the same time as your family member living in the same area, you can see radically different timelines like that. It's weird and counter-intuitive,… 1 0 3 I'm going to my naturalization interview soon, how can I ensure that I get a same-day oath ceremony? The short of it is, you can't ensure anything. Not every FO performs same-day oath ceremonies at all. When they do, they may or may not offer it to you, it depends how busy they are on that specific day.… 1 0 0 My application for naturalization is pending and my green card will soon expire. What should I do? If you filed for naturalization more than 6 months before your green card's expiration date, you can contact USCIS to request an appointment at your regional field office to obtain a free stamp that extends… 1 0 0 For naturalization purposes, does the time since I was granted a conditional (2-year) green card count, or only the time since I was granted an unconditional (10-year) green card? You became a permanent resident when your 2-year card was issued, so you can start counting years for naturalization purposes since that date. 1 0 1 I've been in the US for several years as a non-immigrant (e.g. for studies or for work) and recently was granted a green card. Does the time I spent in the US before getting my green card count toward the citizenship requirements? No, only the time after becoming a permanent resident counts. 1 0 3 I do not have authorized presence in US. Can I travel on a domestic flight in US? There is a risk, which increases with certain departure and arrival airports, of being caught by CBP or ICE. For example, flights involving El Paso, TX, or San Juan, PR, are notorious for CBP checking… 1 0 1 I am a non-US citizen. May I travel on a domestic flight in US? If your presence in the USA is authorized, then yes. You are authorized if: Your I-94 authorized stay has not expired You have a notice of action from USCIS that grants to authorized presence, including… 1 0 0 I lost both my US passport and my naturalization certificate / certificate of citizenship / CRBA. How can I get a new passport? You pay the $150 file search fee in addition to a non-renewal passport application fee. 1 0 9 I filed I-765 (EAD) and I-131 (travel document) together to get a combo card, and my I-765 was approved, but my I-131 still says it's pending. Am I getting a combo card? If you filed I-765 and I-131 together, in the past you should have expected to receive a combo card. As of 2022 some are reporting this is no longer true. When you receive the card, check if it says "Serves… 1 0 1 I filed I-751 with my spouse and am thinking of filing divorce. One or both of us want to get divorce as fast as possible. We cannot be divorced in under 30 days. What should I do? Prepare a letter to USCIS with a copy of your I-751 extension letter, indicating that you want to amend the petition to an individual petition under the divorce waiver. File for divorce. Try to bifurcate… 1 0 0 I filed I-751 with my spouse and am thinking of filing divorce. One or both of us want to get divorce as fast as possible. We can be divorced in under 30 days. What should I do? Your problem is that I-751 joint petitions can be approved without an interview. If you file for divorce and your I-751 is later approved without telling USCIS there will be problems later. Prepare a… 1 0 0 I filed I-751 with my spouse and am thinking of filing divorce. My spouse wants to help me get my 10-year green card. What should I do? Do not file for divorce until you receive your 10 year green card. If there is an interview, be truthful that the marriage is unlikely to survive. 1 0 1 I am in the USA. My 2 green card through marriage / investment is lost/stolen/destroyed. What should I do? If you have a criminal record or non-criminal infractions with a fine of $500 or more, consult an immigration attorney. Otherwise, if you have not filed I-751 or I-829 and there were 91 or more days left… 1 0 14 I am in the USA. My 2 year green card through investment has expired. What should I do? If you have a criminal record or non-criminal infractions with a fine of $500 or more, consult an immigration attorney. Otherwise, file I-829 to replace your green card. 1 0 2 No questions added by David Hill. Can my wife and I with valid US passports take our child into Canada and bring him back over the Washington State land crossing with his birth certificate since his passport is expired and the new one isn't here yet even though we ordered expedited service more than 2 months ago? Please see Travel Advisory for Entry: Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry proof of citizenship & identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these… 1 0 3 Does one need to report the death of a person in order to terminate a US passport? Yes. You have tor return the passport of a deceased relative for cancelation. Department of State will return the passport after it is canceled. Please submit: The valid passport, A certified… 1 0 9 Can someone help with an expedited US passport request? For urgent travel, schedule an appointment if you are traveling internationally within 14 calendar days. Call 1-877-487-2778 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, Mondays through Fridays, or Saturdays and… 1 0 1 I had a US passport 30+ years ago under a different last name. It was destroyed in a flood, but was expired. Can I apply for a new passport without any hassle or do I need to acknowledge the old passport under the old name? To replace your passport, you must apply in person and submit Form DS-11 (with new name and supporting documents). Take your expired, damaged passport with you to the appointment. All forms and documents… 1 0 1 My US passport expires in the same month of my travel but my return date is before it expires can I still travel? I'm a US citizen traveling From US to Puna Cana and back. Passports must be valid for the period of stay in the Dominican Republic. For more information about your visit to the DR, see this. 1 0 0 No Guides added by David Hill.
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