CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Pakistani

LOCATION: Michigan

Our client contacted us in May 2014 to seek legal representation for her naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. She came to the United States from Pakistan and obtained her green card in July 2008. She retained our office for her naturalization application on May 15, 2014.

The N-400 application was filed on May 28, 2014 with all supporting documents. Our office prepared her before her naturalization interview via conference calls.

On September 30, 2014, our client appeared for her interview at the Detroit CIS office.  Our client answered all questions correctly and passed. Eventually, her naturalization application was approved. Her oath taking is scheduled in which she will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Portuguese

LOCATION: West Virginia

Our client contacted us in May 2014 to seek legal representation for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. He came to the United States from Portugal and obtained his green card in March 2009. He retained our office for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application on May 27, 2014.

The N-400 application was filed on June 3, 2014 with all supporting documents. Our office prepared him before his naturalization interview via conference calls. On September 4, 2014, our client appeared for his N-400 interview at the Pittsburgh CIS office.  Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his naturalization and citizenship N-400 interview. Eventually, his naturalization application was approved on September 18, 2014. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Mexican

LOCATION: Cleveland, Ohio

Our client contacted us in June 2014 to seek legal representation for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. He came to the United States from Mexico and obtained his green card in July 1991. He retained our office for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application on June 23, 2014.

The application was filed on June 25, 2014 with all supporting documents. Our office prepared him before his naturalization interview in our office. On September 5, 2014, our client appeared for his N-400 interview at the Cleveland CIS office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office accompanied our client as well. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his naturalization and citizenship N-400 interview. Eventually, his naturalization application was approved on September 11, 2014. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Filipino

LOCATION: Cleveland, Ohio

Our client contacted us in June 2014 to seek legal representation for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. He came to the United States from the Philippines and obtained his green card in March 1999. He retained our office for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application on June 9, 2014.

The N-400 application was filed on June 25, 2014 with all supporting documents. Our office prepared him before his naturalization interview in our office. On September 2, 2014, our client appeared for his N-400 interview at the Cleveland CIS office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office accompanied our client as well. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his naturalization and citizenship interview. Eventually, his naturalization application was approved on September 9, 2014. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Filipina

LOCATION: Maryland

Our client contacted us in October 2013 to seek legal representation for her naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. She came to the United States from the Philippines and obtained her green card in June 2010 through the marriage to her U.S. Citizen husband. She retained our office on October 13, 2013.

The N-400 application was filed on January 23, 2014 with all supporting documents. Prior to her citizenship interview, our office prepared her over the phone. On August 5, 2014, our client appeared at the Baltimore, MD USCIS office for her naturalization interview. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed her naturalization and citizenship interview. Eventually, her application was approved on August 14, 2014. Her oath taking is scheduled in which she will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization w/ Rebuttable Presumption and Continuity of Residence Issues)

APPLICANT: Filipina

LOCATION: New York, NY

ISSUES: Rebuttable Presumption / Continuous Residence

Our client contacted us in December 2013 to seek legal representation for her naturalization application.

She came to the United States from the Philippines and obtained her green card through the National Interest Waiver process in 2008. She was abroad for school and an internship during the earlier part of her permanent residency.

She retained our office for her naturalization application on December 10, 2013.

The main issue of her naturalization case was two long, over six-month trips that she had within the last five years.

According to INA §316(b) and 8 C.F.R. §316.5.(c)(1)(i), an absence between 6 months and 1 year from the United States raises a rebuttable presumption that continuity of residence has been interrupted. That would be an issue in naturalization cases, where continuity of residence is essential. Applicants with this issue should rebut that presumption should they wish to apply.

Our client was out of the U.S. more than 180 days twice.  During these trips, she was in France, Singapore, and Indonesia for her MBA and the other trip was for an internship.

According to Li v. Chertoff, 490 F.Supp.2d 130 (D. Mass. 2007), in cases where an applicant left the U.S. to study abroad after they became a permanent resident, the courts have ruled that such study does not result in abandonment of residency. Our office drafted a brief which explained the nature of our client’s long trips abroad and argued that she is otherwise eligible for naturalization despite her two long trips outside United States.

The brief and his N-400 application were filed on January 6, 2014 with all necessary supporting documents. Our office prepared her for her interview as well. Our client appeared at her naturalization interview on July 23, 2014 at the NYC USCIS Field Office.  Our client answered all questions correctly and passed her citizenship interview. Her N-400 was approved on July 25, 2014. Her oath taking is scheduled where she will become a U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization w/ Rebuttable Presumption and Continuity of Residence Issues)
APPLICANT: Pakistan
LOCATION: New York, NY
ISSUES: Rebuttable Presumption / Continuous Residence

Our client contacted us in December 2013 to seek legal representation for her naturalization application. She came to the United States from Pakistan and obtained her green card through a family petition in 1993. She was abroad for school most of her childhood, but went to the US periodically (and was let in all the time).

She retained our office for her naturalization application on December 2, 2013.

The main issue of her naturalization case was two long, over six-month trips that she had within last five years.

According to INA §316(b) and 8 C.F.R. §316.5.(c)(1)(i), an absence between 6 months and 1 year from the United States raises a rebuttable presumption that continuity of residence has been interrupted. That would be an issue in naturalization cases, where continuity of residence is essential. Applicants with this issue should rebut that presumption should they wish to apply.

Our client was out of the U.S. more than 180 days twice.  During these trips, she was in Pakistan, but she could not come back to the United States earlier due to her medical condition.  Our client had a motor vehicle accident in Pakistan while she visited there.  In her most recent trip, she had to deliver her baby while she was staying there. Our client intended to have temporary trips of less than six months in those two trips. However, due to her medical condition and related health issues, she could not come back to the United States before his trip due to the advice of her doctors.

Our office drafted an extensive cover brief which explained our client’s medical conditions and argued that she is otherwise eligible for naturalization despite her two long trips to Pakistan.  We included a notarized affidavit from our client and we included our client’s medical records from Pakistan and the U.S.

The brief and his N-400 application were filed on January 9, 2014 with all necessary supporting documents. Our office prepared her for her interview through conference call. Our client appeared at her naturalization interview on May 14, 2014 at the NYC USCIS Field Office.  Our client answered all questions correctly and passed her citizenship interview. Her N-400 was approved on May 28, 2014. Her oath taking is scheduled where she will become a U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)
APPLICANT: Filipino
LOCATION: Irvine, California

Our client contacted us in October 2013 to seek legal representation for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. He came to the United States from the Philippines and obtained his green card in February 2009. He retained our office for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application on October 9, 2013.

The naturalization and citizenship N-400 application was filed on November 5, 2013 with all supporting documents. Our office prepared him before his naturalization interview through conference calls. On April 14, 2014, our client appeared for his N-400 interview at the Santa Ana CIS office. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his naturalization and citizenship N-400 interview. Eventually, his naturalization application was approved on April 28, 2014. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)
APPLICANT: Burmese / Myanmar
LOCATION: Ohio

Our client contacted us in May 2013 to seek legal representation for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. He came to the United States from Myanmar and obtained his green card in May 2006. He retained our office for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application on May 21, 2013. He was concerned about his petty theft conviction and arrest for alleged “cheating” in his driver’s license application.

The naturalization and citizenship N-400 application was filed on June 20, 2013 with all supporting documents. Our office prepared him before his naturalization interview, and also accompanied him on September 3, 2013 at the Cleveland CIS office. Our client passed his naturalization and citizenship N-400 interview. However, his N-400 case remained pending due to his former criminal convictions. The USCIS officer asked our client to submit a certified copy of his criminal record and appear at a second interview.

On November 4, 2013, our client appeared at his second N-400 interview at the Cleveland USCIS Field Office with the certified record. Our attorney accompanied him as well. He answered all eligibility questions correctly during the interview. Eventually, his naturalization application was approved on December 23, 2013. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)
APPLICANT: Indian
LOCATION: Ohio

Our client contacted us in April 2013 to seek legal representation for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. He came to the United States from India and obtained his green card in July 2010. He retained our office on April 25, 2013.

The N-400 application was filed on May 1, 2013 with all supporting documents. Glen Yu from our office prepared him for his naturalization interview, and also accompanied him on July 16, 2013 at the Cleveland CIS office. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his naturalization and citizenship interview. Eventually, his application was approved on August 19, 2013. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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