I do not do a lot of consular cases, so this is not something I know much about. There is often a delay between the time the NVC gets the case and the time it goes to the embassy, and so I do not know if your situation is unusual. Maybe you want to talk to a lawyer who does consular cases to see whether everything is ok. Take care, Jason

Documents submitted through ceac portal and i am very worried why CEAC status not changing to acceptance?

My name is Ubeid a US citizen and i live in the USA Alaska. I filed for my wife in Morocco outside the US. My wife received 221(g) for additional documents from the Embassy and was asked in the 221(g) to submit her documents through CEAC portal. We submitted the required documents via ceac. When I checked NVC Timeframes it shows my documents review date has passed already and the nvc not yet reviewed and accepted. Still i haven’t received any confirmation message from the NVC that they have reviewed and accepted my document.
Why my documents is still sitting there as submitted. When they will review and accept it? When the NVC will forward the submitted document to the embassy for their review? VERY ANXIOUS to know what is happening with my case.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you!

You need to reveal the arrest on the N-400 form and provide evidence that the case was dismissed. If you do that, it should have no effect on the naturalization. We have done that for clients on several occasions and dismissed criminal charges do not block people or (usually) negatively impact the good moral character determination. Take care, Jason

I agree with this, of course, but it ain’t easy to stand up to the government, which has so many resources. Nevertheless, we have to keep trying. Take care, Jason

Can an arrest prevent you from naturalizing? I’ve been wrongly arrested/accused of driving with a fake license. A judge dismissed the case. But I read somewhere that arrest records can count on a basis of good moral character.
Thanks,

Thank you for your response, Jason. I completely understand your concerns, especially given the challenges we face in these times. The current administration has demonstrated a willingness to disregard legal precedents, court rulings, and constitutional principles, which understandably raises reservations and evoke fear.

However, it is crucial that we continue to push back by relying on established laws and factual information. We should never allow even the slightest perception that an LPR could be easily deported simply for visiting a sick relative in their country of origin or expressing their political opinion. Instead, we must make it clear that we are fully prepared to fight to the end, using every legal avenue available to uphold their rights.

I have not heard about such a thing and I would not try it. I guess you will see what happens at this person’s interview, but even if she is approved, I would caution that unless you actually see her documents and have credible details of her case, you may not know the whole story about her application process. Take care, Jason

As long as you disclose the arrest and have evidence about the final outcome of the case, you should be fine. I know of no way to know if your name is flagged, and given that there is no conviction, I do not see that you would have an issue. Take care, Jason

I heard that recently multiple people in my immigrant community are trying to apply/have filed for N-400s before the 5 year-90 day anniversary of their AS6/7/8 Green Cards’ “Resident Since” date, and know that one person recently got her interview scheduled (she was granted asylum near the end of 2019 and got her Green Card in spring or summer of 2022, her “Resident Since” year is 2021). This didn’t make sense to me because all LPRs’ permanent residency is as of the “Resident Since” date on their Green Card, which is backdated by 1 year (we all know that). I asked that person why she applied and she mentioned the changes to the 1 year wait rule after grant of asylum (until 2023 asyless had to wait for a year before filing I-485, which is what we did in 2019, but now they can apply immediately after their asylum is granted but won’t be approved until 12 months passes). Her and others’ “justification” is their permanent residency begins 1 year after being granted asylum because that’s when they become eligible to get their Green Card because of this rule change. I feel like they just wasted $710.

Have you heard anything similar? I was granted asylum in December 2018, filed my I-485 in December 2019, and got my Green Card in October 2022 (so the date on my GC is October 2021). By their “logic” I might have been eligible to file my N-400 90 days before December 2024, but instead I am patiently waiting for July 2026 to file my N-400 (5 years-90 days from the date on my GC).

I was surprised that she got an interview instead of an auto-rejection. Does everyone who files N-400 get an interview and then the officer determines eligibility, or is eligibility already determined before the interview is scheduled (so this person might have a chance to get her citizenship)?