Question about Naturalization interview

[thunder 0]

Hi All.

I am new to this site.

I just had my naturalization interview today. I passed the test (civic, read/write). After the interview, the officer gave me the letter which had bunch of stuff on it. He marked two things on it:

- You passed the tests of English, and U.S. history and government.

- USCIS will send you a written decision about your application.

I was all happy after the interview until I got home and saw that one of the paragraphs on the letter that wasn't marked was:

"Congratulations! Your application is recommended for approval. At this time it appears you have stablished your eligibility for naturalization. If final approval is granted, you will be notified when and where to report for the Oath Ceremony"

So, now I am freaking out. What does that mean?

Can anyone please share their interview experience.

Also, how long did it take you to hear back from USCIS?

Any info would be much appreciated!

Thank You!

[lucyrich 20]

That's exactly the response that Lucy got after her interview (see our timeline below).

Some people have reported results like yours and ours, while others have reported getting the "congratulations, your application is recommended for approval" box checked. Usually, there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it, and usually, it doesn't seem to affect the timeline much, if at all.

I know it's frustrating to be held in limbo for awhile longer, wondering if something's wrong. And nobody here can truly relieve your fears, because we don't know about the circumstances of your case. But if it helps a little, you should at least know that your situation isn't unusual, and the common result is to get an oath letter soon.

[thunder 0]

Hi. Thank you for your fast reply.

I am still worried that something went wrong. The officer was very young (seemd like he was less than 25 yrs old). We had another young gal observing (also younger than 30) so maybe he wasn't able to make the decision. I am only left with guesses.

Knowing that there are other similar cases to mine, it will make me sleep a lot better tonight. I just got very worried.

After the interview, he went to copy our '07 Income tax return and told me "I will go copy these, so you can just sit and relax". It seemed that everything was going well and then I didn't get the "congratulations" checked.

He was speaking very fast and kind of mumbling, and I should of asked him to slow down (even though I can speak/understand english very well). I am worried that I misunderstood something from the application when he was going over the checked boxes. If something doesn't match, might be the reason.

Yet again, I am left with the guesses.

Ughh.

[thunder 0]

Hi.

I just thought of something.... I did sign some kind of paper at the end of the interview to verify that all my information was printed correctly on it.

I've read somewhere online :"If the application was granted, you will need to sign a certificate confirming your information."

So, maybe it was granted, but they needed additional approval since the officer was so young and had an observer watch the interview process?

[NickD 202]

Hi.

I just thought of something.... I did sign some kind of paper at the end of the interview to verify that all my information was printed correctly on it.

I've read somewhere online :"If the application was granted, you will need to sign a certificate confirming your information."

So, maybe it was granted, but they needed additional approval since the officer was so young and had an observer watch the interview process?

Did you ask when you can expect the oath letter? Well, kind of late now.

[thunder 0]

Stupid me didn't!

My interview timeline:

- We went over the application and his addition since I filed (I filed Dec 2007)

- I passed the test.

- I signed the paper where I confirmed the information was correct (my name, country, etc)

- He went to copy my 2007 tax return and told me "I will go copy these so just sit and relax"

- He came back and gave me the paper where he marked that I passed the test and will be notified by mail of USCIS decision. That's where I didn't see that underneath there was an option to check "congratulations, you have been approved". I saw it when I was walking in the parking lot, but I wouldn't be able to get back into the building since I walked out.

ughhhh.

[NickD 202]

Stupid me didn't!

My interview timeline:

- We went over the application and his addition since I filed (I filed Dec 2007)

- I passed the test.

- I signed the paper where I confirmed the information was correct (my name, country, etc)

- He went to copy my 2007 tax return and told me "I will go copy these so just sit and relax"

- He came back and gave me the paper where he marked that I passed the test and will be notified by mail of USCIS decision. That's where I didn't see that underneath there was an option to check "congratulations, you have been approved". I saw it when I was walking in the parking lot, but I wouldn't be able to get back into the building since I walked out.

ughhhh.

You are not listing your field office under your handle, can click that to find all the board members that also go to that same field office and ask them about their oath letter experience with that field office. Seems like each field office has a different policy. I clicked on my St. Paul and found two other board members that had their interview the same time as my wife, both received their oath letters at the end of the interview, some here can even say their oath the same day. For me was extra ammunition with my senator's office, why didn't my wife receive her interview notice when others did at that office?

Really never had a problem walking into a field office, must have an honest face, LOL. Always drop off my wife at the front door, find a place to park, just walk in and say I am meeting my wife here, never asked for ID. Even left to get something from my car and walked back in again, questioned the security, even asked the guard if people were trying to walk out with old folding chairs, LOL.

Quite a Wecome to the United States of America, first time, walked in with my wife and daughter, they were fear struck by the first meeting with a bunch of armed guards, couldn't help but comment, does really any bad guys really want to come in here? Laughing. Was told, you never know, but this can certainly set the stage for fear with an immigrant, sure did for my wife and daughter.

Even posted one armed guard at our stinky little SSA office, couldn't help but comment, you must have one hell of a boring job, he just replied, it's a living as he yawn, all this ####### after 9/11 plus a ton more of cops hiding behind bushes trying to give you a speeding ticket. Are we suppose to feel safe?

Wouldn't have done you much good to go back in anyway, your IO would be tied up with someone else, could make an infopass appointment. Suppose to be able to contact your IO via mail with questions, might as well send a letter to the moon to expect a response.

[thunder 0]

Hi.

I was in Bloomington, MN office. I looked up the people that have Minnesota listed, but didn't see anyone with the current date that has been there (or I don't know how to find it?).

I figured I will wait for couple of weeks and then send him a letter asking about the process.

What puzzles me is that on the USCIS web site, I was never able to see my status online. It always said that the case number was not correct. I called and they said it was in process and another time said they mailed me the interview letter the day I called to ask about it, but it never showed on the site. So, even if I want to check it myself, I can't on the web site.

Ughh.

[sunnykp 0]

Hi.

I was in Bloomington, MN office. I looked up the people that have Minnesota listed, but didn't see anyone with the current date that has been there (or I don't know how to find it?).

I figured I will wait for couple of weeks and then send him a letter asking about the process.

What puzzles me is that on the USCIS web site, I was never able to see my status online. It always said that the case number was not correct. I called and they said it was in process and another time said they mailed me the interview letter the day I called to ask about it, but it never showed on the site. So, even if I want to check it myself, I can't on the web site.

Ughh.

I could check my status online before. But after my interview last week, I can't check it anymore. It tells me that the case number is wrong. An I didn't receive a letter after I took the interview ... The guy just told me that I passed and that I would receive a letter by mail if I am qualified or not... Weird... Thunder, did you receive any letter yet??? Its freaking me out now..

Thanks

Sunny