Monday, January 11, 2021

My i751-ROC(Removal of Condition) and N400(Naturalization) Timeline

ROC TIMELINE / N400
Greencard issued Sept. 15, 2016

90 days before the expiration of my conditional greencard, I sent an application for the Removable of Condition(ROC). 

July 8, 2018 - Packet Sent
July 20, 2018 - Cashed Check
July 30, 2018 - Received the 18month extension letter for both of us (with K2)
May 31, 2019 - Case was transferred to a new office(same as my K2). It was transferred before that, i don't remember the date.

Fast forward...

September 2019, we decided that me and lance will stay in the states while waiting for the i751 as well as some other things, like my husband's medical needs. When my window for n400 opened, I decided to apply as well while we're stateside that way it will be easy to attend biometrics and interviews. But still, I waited for another 3 months before I started the filling online,

Nov 29, 2019 - I filed n400 online.
Nov 30, 2019 - received biometrics appointment online
Dec 16, 2019 - Biometrics for N400
                         ROC updates the status that it has been transferred to a new office again.
Feb 2020 - Got passport stamp as extension letter was expiring.
Nov 09, 2020 - Interview was Schedule
Dec. 08, 2020 - I attended my interview.


HOW WAS MY INTERVIEW??

When I got the notice of the interview, I know that it will be a combo interview as ROC is still pending. But I want to make sure, I called USCIS and asked if I should bring my husband and kid with me, and they said NO! as its just for me. I read online and most of them had a combo interview. They have to adjudicate ROC before approving N400..thats how it is. 
To be prepared, I asked my husband to join me on the interview and he need to fly to San Diego. Since it is Covid, it is really hard to get in and out of the base, plus the quarantines and sort of. I have to fly to San Diego also as I am in Nebraska and I did not change my address on file. Told my husband, they might call him or not but either, we should be ready on whats going to happen. Told him, if he didnt let him inside the building, just wait on the parking lot with lance and I am pretty sure they will call him.

We arrived 15minutes early and theres a long line already, I am the last one. When we approach the door, they checked my appointment letter and had me put down my mask so they could see my face. after that, I told them that I also have a pending ROC, can my family come inside too? the guard said NO, and the officer will call them if they needed too.. i went Inside and pass the security check.
One guard told me if I am a Filipina and I say yes, and he said I am pretty and he had me say that I will pass the test.. and we both laugh. Went upstairs and shows my id's and appointment letter to the lady on the window..asked about covid things... then I proceeded to the waiting area, i turned off my phone.

I was the last one, the officer called me. She looks strict and I noticed that she already bumped and tired. She's carrying a big file of papers which i believed are mine. She didn't introduced herself, she right away asked where is my husband. I said hi to her but she did not respond. I told her my husband and son are in the parking lot. She seems surprised. Good! that whats she said, "I will need him".. Before entering the room, and Im on my first step going inside the room she then had me swear an oath, raised my hand,, but i couldnt as I am holding my documents. I rushed to put it on the chair and it fell, but I didnt picked it up.. she was rushing me.....she bombarded me with many questions about our marriage and stays in Gtmo. but before all of those questions...she told me about our age gap. and then those questions..one after another, even I wasnt done answering yet, she will asked the next one. while typing and writing. She wrote down my stays in Gtmo. and i was told i never live in the states..DUH!!! yes ofcourse i have to live with my husband(ofcourse i did not say that) I stayed Calm. She told me she will do combo interview, will start with i751. I thought we already started lol..
here's are some of the questions I remembered she asked.
  • My husbands full name
  • his birthdate
  • parents name
  • previous marriage and their divorce date
  • name of his child
  • how did we met
  • where did he propose
  • when did we met
  • does my husband knows my sons school and teacher
  • so on.. 
And then she told me to text my husband, I asked if I can call him instead. She said yes. She called the security and told them let my husband and son inside the building. Then, we went to the lobby, and she told me to wait while they went back to the room with my son too. Same thing... she didn't say hi or introduce herself, he had my husband swear an oath and also bombarded with questions...husband said he said the same questions she asked me. She also asked my son if we were sleeping on the same bed.
When she called me, she said that I passed the ROC interview and then we will go on for N400.
Before starting for N400, she said I stayed most of my time in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (US Base) to where my husband works. She asked me if I wanted to withdraw my application or just go ahead and she will review my papers. Ofcourse, I was ready. I told her to go on with the interview/test and do her research afterwards. She go over with my form.. most of them.. and the yes/no questions... and then she asked me the civic questions.. and I answer all of it with flying colors (will post the questions soon) She had me write a sentence and read a sentence too. So, I passed it too. BUT the decision cannot be made. We talked about my stay in Gtmo, She said that we were not Military nor DOD and i said yes,my husband is a contractor, and their company works for the government. Then she pause, she said she needs to review my husbands company and she needs to read the papers she's holding. and then she will not issue me a greencard coz what is the sense if she will send me to oath, just need to review my paper. Oh wait, she found out that we are in Nebraska which is out of her jurisdiction. she said I should change my address online when I get home so I did. I was so down after the interview, its like the end of the world lol. I was expecting this will be over. 
We went back to the hotel and our status for ROC changed to approved. After, 4 days I think, Got my 10year greencard, Lance's status still CASE WAS APPROVED. Called USCIS last January 8 and asked if they can send him a greencard as his stamp will expire next month. The guy said yes, and he checked my status too and he said they are still in the decision making on my case. so, they might send me oath letter or greencard. I dunno...just hoping it will have a favorable result. I really wanted to be with my husband. 


as of today, January 11, 2021 - N400 is still INTERVIEW WAS SCHEDULE.

praying for favorable decision...


UPDATE:

we received a biometric schedule for my son and his greencard was sent after a week.

126 days passed from the date of my interview, my status changed to OATH CEREMONY WILL BE SCHEDULED...I am so happy. It means that my stay in US Base Guantanamo Bay Cuba is counted!!!!

can't wait for my oath schedule, hoping it will be so soon!!! 

.





Sunday, June 19, 2016

HOW DID I PASS THE BEHIND-THE-WHEEL TEST AT DMV

I was in the shower and thinking that I should share my experience.
If you want to know the REQUIREMENTS for obtaining a Leaner's Permit, on my previous post.. just click here.


After I got my combo card (EAD/AP). I gave myself a week to review the dmv practice test online. I use the manual for my reference..I didn't read the whole thing. When I feel that I'm ready to take the test, we went to DMV San Marcos, Descanso Branch which is closing in a month. Yeyyy.. I passed it. (third week of March, 2016)I didn't practice right away. I have nobody to go with me or practice me. My husband is working overseas. Yes its hard. He told me to get a lesson and I did. I paid for 2 hour lesson for $109. I told him that I drove before at the US Base but here is totally different. We only have 2 lanes there. No stoplight, only 25pmh and I didn't drove for a year. He told me about the rules but really didn't registered in my small mind hehe., and then we drove... ohh boy! a lot of things to know. I'm stopping when I changed lane which is a big NO NO... and more errors. He did tell what what I need to work on. SMOG/SMOS ( Signal, Mirror, Over-the-shoulder, Go/Stop) everytime you change lane or turning.. Watch for pedestrian and traffic so on so fort. I realized this aint gonna work for me.. I need somebody to practice with me. One lesson will not going to help me. He also advised me that...Since my husband is not here..I tried to text my retired bro-in-law coz Mother-in-law dont like me drive. And I was happy when he said SURE. After couple practice him, I am confident to take my first behind-the-wheel (BTW).
April 28, 2016----I went inside the dmv and lined-up to the BTW appointment lane. lady told me to go on the testing with my bro-in-law inside the truck. (yes, I am driving a pick-up truck haha Imagine that, with the big tool box at the back)We were there. The examiner asked my bro to off the car.
Examiner told me to show everything what she will ask.

PRE-DRIVE CHECKLIST (this is whats on the score sheet)

Driver Window - didn't ask for this
Windshield -  didn't ask for thi
Rearview Mirrors -  didn't ask for thi
Turn Signals F/B - she had me turn it to left then right while checking on the lights outside the truck
Brake Lights - asked me to step on the break
Tires -  didn't ask for thi
Foot Brake - I just showed her where
Horn - asked to honk it
Emergency/Parking Brake - i pointed it to her
Arm Signals --yes! you should know this.. Hand-up means RIGHT, straight your arms means LEFT
                      and arms down is STOP
Windshield Wipers - point it to her
Defroster - I don't know this but good thing I asked my bro in law..yes i point this too
Emergency Flasher..showed where it is
Headlights - showed this too
Passenger door -  didn't ask for this
Glove box -  didn't ask for thi
Seat belts - very important that when your examiner go inside make sure you have yours buckled and check on your examiner too.

When she get in, She told me that I will be score base on my performance. She will asked me to change lane so on..dont mind her scoring me. Drive safe hehe

I FAILED on the first try. I was nervous, nerve wrecking. Really different when a DMV person is in the passenger seat. I have a critical error ' DANGEROUS MANEUVER'. I know I failed. I don't look much on my mirrors, I just eyeballing it and DMV don't like it.. YOU should show them that you really looking but moving your head checking your blindspot..Show your eyebrow looking on the rearview mirror.. Keep your eyes moving....Make it EXAGGERATED.
I don't Smog/Smos, specially when merging to a bike lane. She explained everything.. what I need to work on. It was totally a disappointment. but hey, I still have 2 chances hehe.

So, I need more practice. I had chance to practice once a week. Imagine that. Sometimes its every 2 weeks. Atleast 2 hrs in those practice. So if I have that  chance, I make sure I remember everything. and correcting those errors. I made my habit making it exaggerated. my husband told me to get lesson and he doesn't care if it cost $100/aday... Omg! big money. I don't want to spend much on this coz I know I can make it and trying to tell him that I just need to practice more as I need what to work on. He still insist it. I went online and read reviews on the good driving school..those have good reviews hehe.. I found one..very good reviews lol.. This is a different driving school from my first one and this is just evaluation for an hour cost $99. The lady came 15minutes late. Okay, its alright. She apologized. Oh men! she's a talker. really don't stop talking.  She gave me lesson which I already know. I was like (in my mind)..Cmon! lets go driving geezzzzz... She's terrible. I really didn't felt I am driving. She has the gas and brake on her side. I just have the steering wheel. I can feel I wasn't driving. What drives me crazy when she steps on the brake really hard and hurt my chest. I was like throwing on the windshield. My confidence was thrown too when she told me I need more lesson. Whatttttttt??????? You kidding?. Ofcourse I didn't say that.. I'm nice lol.. I just say Okay, I guess You are right. I will call your office to get 2 more lesson then.. but of course I didn't lol.  I am helpless, down, no confident...I need to gain it again. texted my Bro in law for a practice. yes, once a week again. Till I scheduled my second BTW test

June 8, 2016 - I did my best here. My examiner almost felt sleep on my driving.. I made it really exaggerated. Freaking Roundabout failed me. Okay, we didn't practice this. I don't know the rules. We were trying to find wheres the roundabout at San Marcos but we didn't find it. I wish I googled earth it. I was really disappointed and devastated... hopeless....down...world was falling apart.... I had the worst examiner lol.. . I was really mad.

Okay here's what happen. We approached the roundabout near the school but that time theres no kids walking. 25mph on the school zone but in the roundabout is 15mph.  i slow down. Then car came on the other side. We're on the same position. I didn't stop or yield. she yelled...STOP STOP! he has the right-of-way. She is freaking mad. haha. I stopped. takenote, Im inside the roundabout, yet she yelled stop. I don't know the rules that time. Then, she said GO STRAIGHT, GO STRAIGHT. which is actually RIGHT TURN freaking b*tch... I googled it..THERE'S NO STOPPING ON THE ROUNDABOUT unless to avoid collision'. I didn't contest. I failed on my second time. critical error again 'INTERVENTION BY EXAMINER'.

Okay time is ticking... we will be leaving to join my husband in US Base. I need to pass the test. I scheduled it right away for my last chance which is JUNE 17, 1:30 hehe. Then my husband pushing me to get a lesson again haha spend his money lol. yes I did schedule a lesson again with the first school that I had. He said he was surprised he saw my name on the list. Asked me what happen. I was shocked that he told me that DMV San Marcos is difficult and they are mean  hehe try different DMV which is Poway or Oceanside. It shocked me more when he told me we will go on the FREEWAY. I was like.. I haven't drive on the freeway yet. I told him. he asked me about my lane changing. I said I think I am okay with lane change. and i know the basic when merging and exiting. He said he will show me the route there. Omg! I like the freeway than the intersection hahahaha. He told me I did great on my driving and I gain my confidence again... Yes, Poway has an easy route and no roundabout haha. Then afterwards, he told me to show him the San Marcos route that I had. Drove on the freeway again and showed him. But its too late for me to change the appointment and maybe I would not get the date that I want since we will be leaving on the 23rd. I did take the risk at San Marcos again. What will be will be. If I failed here, then next time I will try different DMV.

On my third and last chance...I had a guy examiner. I saw the b*tch there and I was praying hard not her this time..please Lord not her. A guy approached me and he's like from India hehe or more from Syria haha

Here's what happen: Did the same thing on the pre checklist, He didn't asked anything about my past failure lol. He said he will ask me to change lane..blah blah.. then drive safely. I don't understand what he was saying so I confirm it to him but very polite. I kinda repeat what he said. He was kinda pissed. He had me  do curb parking and 50 yards backing. I was told focused on the side mirror. Duh! because Im afraid I hit the curb and its a critical error. I do check other mirrors once in awhile. I think He wants me do rotate by head to my back like exorcism. After that, the freaking roundabout haha.. I made sure I yield on the cars that comes first. Pretty good in that this time haha.. Then, asked to go right. Okay. Rules of turning right, you are permitted to turn (unless posted) after a complete stop and check for all traffic coming.  If its safe, you can proceed. I think it was 7 cars and light is still red. didn't noticed that there's one more coming and fast. Okay! I failed this. Thats what I think right away. I messed up hehe. He asked me to change lane on the way to dmv.. left right.. Asked to park on the testing parking. I know I failed again. Then he told me everything to work on. About that right turn...I was down again..but was very happy when he told me I PASSED..

I would say..keep practicing. Remember all the rules. Make a habit on how to drive defensively. I would suggest get a lesson before taking the BTW so You will know what you need to work on.










Monday, June 6, 2016

CROCHET BOSTON VEST

CROCHET BOSTON VEST

First of all I would like to give credit to Natalia Kononova's blog for sharing her beautiful pattern. Although some of it will need "figure out by yourself". I fell inlove with this vest. I just learned crochet last December 2015 hehe I am not really sure if I will make it right... I started to study graph pattern and how to work on it.







Saturday, January 23, 2016

HOW TO CROCHET PUFFY HEART


PATTERN:

Row 1
Magic Ring
4 sc
st


Row 2
ch 1
inc sc2 each stitch
st


Row 3
ch 1
1 sc
1 inc sc2
3 sc
1 inc sc2
2 sc
st


Row 4
ch 1
2 sc
1 inc sc3
4 sc
1 inc sc3
2 sc
st

Row 5
ch 1
3 sc
1 inc sc3
6 sc
1 inc sc3
3 sc
st

Row 6
ch 1
4 sc
1 inc sc3
8 sc
1 inc sc3
4 sc
st

Row 7
ch 1
5 sc
1 inc sc2
10 sc
1 inc sc2
5 sc
st

Row 8
ch 2
skip 13 stitch
st

Left Side Row 9
ch 1
sc on the stitches at Row 8

Row 10
5 sc
1 dec sc
5 sc
1 dec sc

Row 11
6 dec sc
sl
then close this side with needle. you can see a small hole then may fill it from there use the other side of your hook to insert the filling.

Right Side of the heart
  follow how you made the left side ( Row 9 - 11)











Thursday, January 21, 2016

HOW TO CROCHET SHOE (kids size 11)



 This one is for my 5yr old son, wearing size 11 shoe.



Make a magic ring (wish i could take a video)
Magic Ring



1st Row
Ch 2  then hdc 12, Sl St 

2nd Row
Ch 2, Inc hdc on each ch










LANCE WORKS (5YRS OLD)

I do need to post this here as when he grow older, he will see his stuff and what he did when he was just a toddler.

@5yrs old, TK Class at Miller School

He painted this last month (December 2015) at school. Its getting better than before. ON this one, he said the people on left was us. Mom, dad and him. We have apple tree that has falling leaves and fruits. It was raining last week so he said, its just a dark clouds(purple) but no rain and sun is out. Ofcourse our house.





 Draw this last year too (don't remember the month but surely 2015)
 Pretty proud on his drawing... So you know who's on his drawing... Mom, him and Daddy. We all have a happy face. Our house is kinda small lol... and we have a bird house ... i love the tree
 spaghetti sauce on his face haha

He hand me this one today (Jan. 21, 2016). He said a ladder to the volcano haha







Monday, January 18, 2016

HOW TO CROCHET A FLOWER

I just finished one foot for my shoe project



and thinking I should add some decoration. Since I always use youtube as my guide, click here . There's 3 videos for the whole flower. The reason why I put it here in my blog so next time I don't need to watch again..here's my own language hahaha next time will put pic every stage...

Terminologies hehe

SngCro = single crochet
DblCro = double crochet
Ch = chain
SlipSticth = to lock or close




Make a 6 chain

then make a ring close it with a slipstitch


4 chains

single crocket



2 chain
CONTINUE till you made 8holes - then slipstitch to close then 1ch




making the FIRST LAYER 5 PETALS 
5PETALS

1SngCro > 1ch >  2 DblCro & x2 > 1Ch > 1SngCro
skip some holes, key here is just to make 5 petals only...do the math lol




SECOND LAYER 8 PETALS
1Ch > turn the flower Over > on the first hook do > 1SlipStitch > 5Ch > (1DblCro + 2Ch)x8 or 7 lol not sure hahaha but here's the pic



lets do the petals...
start in 1loop by making (1SngCro > 3DblCro >1Ch>1SngCro) x 8


back view


front view



THIRD LAYER 8 PETALS

       Turn upside down again then make 1Ch

For the loopies (8 loops)
SlipStitch on the first spoke > 6Ch > (1DblCro on the next spoke + 3Ch ) x 8
then 1Ch



for the petals
 turn around your flower
(1SngCro > 1Ch  > 4DblCro > 1Ch > 1SngCro) x 8

and here's your flower ..back view



front view...and here's your flower