how long between the interview/test and the ceremony?

[zitro1987 0]

Hi, I am aware that I would be given a date to take the oath and become a citizen of the U.S. The Interview is on mid-July, four months before the general elections. The problem is that I already have very important 'personal' plans from july 19-25 and I'm afraid that these plans, which require flying within the U.S, could get ruined by having the oath being given within that time interval. These plans cannot be moved. I want to know generally how long from the citizenship test is the ceremony.

Is there also a chance that the oath is on the same day of the citizenship interview?

Edited June 3, 2008 by zitro1987

[motu 5]

When I had my interview/test - the woman told me that some people were no shows (they had empty spots I guess) and if I wanted to, she can put me in for the ceremony the same day (about 2 hours later in the afternoon). I told her that I was not in any hurry for the oath and certificate of citizenship; so others who need it for traveling or filing for their relatives etc. can take my spot. My gut is that you can ask the examiner if they can add you to the same day ceremony (if one is being held that day) or an earlier one or a later one depending on your schedule - some may help you. Good Luck

[NickD 202]

Remember that Bush is president of the USA.

[zitro1987 0]

thanks I'll think of that.

I definitively don't like Bush btw, but he'll be out very soon.

[NickD 202]

Whoops, posted in the wrong thread, sorry. But wondered about this ceremony myself. Was under the impression that the interview and oath were done at the same time, but apparently not. Just a very short oath and another 420 mile trip for us with the high price of fuel and a lost day of work. Sure the citizenship is an important event for my wife and for myself, but not really sure if anyone else cares. Ha, kind of like graduation where you sit for hours waiting for your kids name to be called in a very hot and airless stadium, try and bully my way up there to take a picture, but they don't let you do that anymore. Are you allowed to bring a camera into your field office? Are even professional photographers there? My pictures never turn out anyway, in that split second when the diploma is handed to your kid, someone steps right out in front.

We do get to meet a couple of our kids friends, and their parents, but will never see them again. In a town hundreds of miles away from us, so why the ceremony?

It would be a day to celebrate since have been dealing with the USCIS for over the last five years and that should come to an end that day.

But does someone thank you for coming here legally? Or thank you for your fees and patience with the USCIS? Or even say, thank you for shopping at the USCIS, please recommend us to all your friends?

Just wondered. And speaking of Bush, will he be there?

[Staashi 371]

Whoops, posted in the wrong thread, sorry. But wondered about this ceremony myself. Was under the impression that the interview and oath were done at the same time, but apparently not. Just a very short oath and another 420 mile trip for us with the high price of fuel and a lost day of work. Sure the citizenship is an important event for my wife and for myself, but not really sure if anyone else cares. Ha, kind of like graduation where you sit for hours waiting for your kids name to be called in a very hot and airless stadium, try and bully my way up there to take a picture, but they don't let you do that anymore. Are you allowed to bring a camera into your field office? Are even professional photographers there? My pictures never turn out anyway, in that split second when the diploma is handed to your kid, someone steps right out in front.

We do get to meet a couple of our kids friends, and their parents, but will never see them again. In a town hundreds of miles away from us, so why the ceremony?

It would be a day to celebrate since have been dealing with the USCIS for over the last five years and that should come to an end that day.

But does someone thank you for coming here legally? Or thank you for your fees and patience with the USCIS? Or even say, thank you for shopping at the USCIS, please recommend us to all your friends?

Just wondered. And speaking of Bush, will he be there?

A ceremony, if your DO has them, might be offered on the same day. If not, your ceremony will actually be scheduled in your vicinity...normally done by the US District Court. They are the ones who schedule everything, and then USCIS sends you a notice of where to show up. Fortunately, your oath should be close to home.

[NickD 202]

Nearest US District Court to us is in Madison, WI, 70 miles closer, but I like living in the sticks. Can I bring my camera?

[warlord 73]

Hi, I am aware that I would be given a date to take the oath and become a citizen of the U.S. The Interview is on mid-July, four months before the general elections. The problem is that I already have very important 'personal' plans from july 19-25 and I'm afraid that these plans, which require flying within the U.S, could get ruined by having the oath being given within that time interval. These plans cannot be moved. I want to know generally how long from the citizenship test is the ceremony.

Is there also a chance that the oath is on the same day of the citizenship interview?

Well you can try and re-schedual your oath if it does happen to fall on your travel date. Not recommended, but it's there if you really need to. You could have your oath the same day depending on the interview and where you do the interview, or you could wait over a year like many do. There is no "Time Frame" average. People are all different and have all different wait times.

Mine for example was 2 months from the interview, others were 5 months while others were a month all at the same place I did my interview. It will depend on a lot of things, the interview, any follow up checks they need to do, how often they do the oath, how backlogged the oath is etc.

So you might just have to try and re-schedual the oath if you get it, that in itself can be a problem too as you get send back in the mix and some people have waiting a very long time to get their oath date again...

[zitro1987 0]

Well, looks like less than 10 days is uncommon then, hopefully it won't fall there.

[churipu 4]

It truly depends on the local office...I did it the same day (that's how Baltimore usually does it), but there are also people who end up waiting a few months. Your best bet is to find someone who just went through it at the same District Office you will be dealing with.

Good luck!

[casenday 0]

I had my interview on June 11/08 (at the West Palm Beach, Fl office) and my oath ceremony is on June 23rd...total of 12 days between them. Got the letter yesterday

After my interviewer told me I'd passed he said to expect a letter within a couple of weeks with my oath date. I'd heard from someone who'd had her interview here earlier this year that she had her oath ceremony 3 weeks later.

So...long story short...my husband travels for work and because I know we'll be here for July 4th I asked if my interview could be scheduled then. He didn't know if they'd be doing a 'special ceremony' on the 4th (normallly closed for holidays) but put a request on my file asking for that date or the day before or following the holiday, and the reason for my request.

Doubt if my husband will be able to be with me on the 23rd for the end of our visa journey....breaks my heart. He, above anyone, should be there beside me.

Casey

(fiance visa '98)

[flavaofsummer 0]

Hi, I am aware that I would be given a date to take the oath and become a citizen of the U.S. The Interview is on mid-July, four months before the general elections. The problem is that I already have very important 'personal' plans from july 19-25 and I'm afraid that these plans, which require flying within the U.S, could get ruined by having the oath being given within that time interval. These plans cannot be moved. I want to know generally how long from the citizenship test is the ceremony.

Is there also a chance that the oath is on the same day of the citizenship interview?

its 30-90 days if no problems r there with ur n400.

[sparkofcreation 0]

It varies but by law it must be scheduled within 90 days of your approval. So anywhere between the same day you are approved (which for most people is the day of the interview/test) and 90 days later.

Call your local US District Court if you really want to know, but if the oath ceremony happens to be during those dates, then you can probably reschedule.

[sparkofcreation 0]

Nearest US District Court to us is in Madison, WI, 70 miles closer, but I like living in the sticks. Can I bring my camera?

It's not the *nearest* US District Court to you, it can be any US District Court in the district that has jurisdiction over your local office. Most districts have several courts in different cities with their main division being located in the largest city of that district. So for example, my local office is Albuquerque; the District of New Mexico has courts in Albuquerque (main division), Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, and Roswell; and oath ceremonies are scheduled mostly in Albuquerque but occasionally in Santa Fe. (Not in Las Cruces; that part of the state actually falls under the jurisdiction of the El Paso District Office, not Albuquerque; nor in Gallup or Roswell, which are only partially staffed.) So even though we actually live in Albuquerque, the ceremony could be either in Albuquerque or in Santa Fe.

I know Wisconsin has two Districts (Eastern and Western) but I don't know where all the courts are.

Edited June 16, 2008 by sparkofcreation

[NickD 202]

Nearest US District Court to us is in Madison, WI, 70 miles closer, but I like living in the sticks. Can I bring my camera?

It's not the *nearest* US District Court to you, it can be any US District Court in the district that has jurisdiction over your local office. Most districts have several courts in different cities with their main division being located in the largest city of that district. So for example, my local office is Albuquerque; the District of New Mexico has courts in Albuquerque (main division), Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, and Roswell; and oath ceremonies are scheduled mostly in Albuquerque but occasionally in Santa Fe. (Not in Las Cruces; that part of the state actually falls under the jurisdiction of the El Paso District Office, not Albuquerque; nor in Gallup or Roswell, which are only partially staffed.) So even though we actually live in Albuquerque, the ceremony could be either in Albuquerque or in Santa Fe.

I know Wisconsin has two Districts (Eastern and Western) but I don't know where all the courts are.

Ha, Wisconsinites complain about this, Milwaukee and Madison, about t 60 miles apart and both located near the southern border of the state. Milwaukee has a court office in Green Bay, and Madison up in Eau Clair, in the center of the state. Politicians come up for tax dollars, but seem to forget we are up here for returning some of that money back.

But what is with some here that got to say their oath the same day as their interview and I assume at the field office where they had their interview. And what is this about so many slots for people who can say the oath, if they have cancellations, a slot is open so you can say your oath much earlier. Only time I can recall having to say a oath was when inducted into military service, and some 500 of us had to say it at the same time. And ha, if we didn't, would be in deep trouble. But there you had to walk up front and claim you refuse to say the oath, not too many did that, none as I recall. And that was serious business.

Suppose will just hang around and see what happens. Our interview date now is one month away. Wonder if the price of gas will be over six bucks a gallon by then.