Charleston SC

[DDL 1]

My husband's US Citizenship Interview/Exam was held today at the Charleston SC Field Office. His interview was scheduled for 10:20am. Despite there being hardly anyone in the waiting room, it took 30 minutes before he was called back.

The interviewer reviewed his paperwork and as he was signing certain papers, she was asking him the test questions. He answered the first six correctly so she did not proceed with asking him the other four questions that were on the computer screen. He said they were easy questions - mostly about the US flag, who was the current President, etc.

In reviewing his file, she specifically asked him how many times he had been married (3) and how many times I had been married (this is my 3rd marriage as well). My husband said that the interviewer was very good at spotting - and then clarifying - things that she was not 100% clear about.

Everything was moving along well until ..... she looked at the sheet that listed his children (he has 6 - all adults except for the youngest, a 16-year old son). She asked, "Where does (son's name) live?" to which he replied, "In England with his mum." To make a very long (and nerve-wracking) story short, she brought into question my husband's "good character" (a requirement for US citizenship) because when asked, he told her that he did not pay child support. He explained to her that his ex-wife is remarried, financially independent, and that he and his ex-wife have had an understanding since the day of their divorce that there would be no child support. My husband has, over the years, provided on his own in many, many ways for his son - and continues to do so. But this was apparently a red flag. She looked at the UK divorce decree (which had no mention of child support) and then she left the room to talk with her supervisor. She eventually returned, and did not mention anything more.

Finally, she stamped his sheet APPROVED and told him to return at 1:30 for the oath ceremony which was a HUGE surprise to us because we didn't think the ceremony would be on the same day. Apparently, they are processing close to twenty applications a day in Charleston and doing daily oath ceremonies to keep things from backing up any worse than they already are.

The oath ceremony ended up taking place at about 2:30 - it took that long for everyone to review their Naturalization Certificates and sign. All the applicants raised their right hands and read aloud the oath from a piece of paper, recited the Pledge of Allegiance together, then were called up one at a time (they were seated in their A-number order) to receive their certificate. We were allowed to take pictures throughout the entire ceremony. I think there were 17 or 18 people - from places like the UK, South Africa, China, Canada, India, Russia, and a couple of other countries. It was all over by 3:00, and both me and hubby had to return to work.

Tonight, we've been working on his US passport application; Social Security paperwork (for change of status from Permanent Resident to US Citizen); local voter registration form; etc. We're withholding any "official" celebration until our cruise to the Bahamas in three weeks!

We can't believe this 52-month journey is finally over. It started with an I-130 in London in July 2004, and ended with an N-550 in Charleston today - November 7, 2008. We could never have done this so efficiently if it weren't for this forum and the support, encouragement, help, advice - AND FRIENDLINESS - of everyone here. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

Fondly,

Denise and Tony

Charleston, SC

P.S. to Moderators: I've updated our Timeline.

[KyngSilva 0]

Congrats

[eau_xplain 2]

Congratulations! It must be a relief to have both the interview and oath taken care of on the same day!

Have fun celebrating!!

[NickD 203]

LOL, how did you know to bring your camera and have your husband wear proper attire? He should have brought his green card for his interview, but what about his oath letter? Was that mailed to him?

Was he a good boy between those couple of hours between the interview and the oath ceremony? No trips out of the country or felonies?

Gee, that would have been great for us too to have the oath ceremony the same day, but I had to remind my wife to be good until her oath ceremony was completed.

It's strange they would make an issue out of child support after he already got his conditional and ten year card. Wife and I were both married once before, her interviewer demanded to see both our original divorce papers, and even wanted to keep them. Wife said, no way, those papers cost a fortune, but you have exact copies. Her interviewer checked them over. Seems like we went through this before with the USCIS, but maybe I was just dreaming.

[DDL 1]

LOL, how did you know to bring your camera and have your husband wear proper attire?

We didn't know to bring a camera. It was 11:30 when the interview finished and we didn't have to be back there for the oath ceremony until 1:30. We wouldn't have even thought about a camera but the nice security officer on the way out suggested we go buy one nearby because we would be allowed to take photographs during the ceremony - which we did. It was really nice of him to remind us of this! As far as "proper attire" is concerned, my husband happened to have a job interview earlier that morning so he had a nice suit on.

He should have brought his green card for his interview

He did bring his green card to the interview. Plus, our marriage certificate, his UK passport, our original divorce decrees, and just for "insurance" he also had his personal file folder with him that contains copies of everything we have ever sent to or received from USCIS.

but what about his oath letter? Was that mailed to him?

No, he did not receive an oath letter. The interview was at 10:40 and the oath ceremony was at 1:30 the same day.

Was he a good boy between those couple of hours between the interview and the oath ceremony? No trips out of the country or felonies?

ha ha Yes, he was a good boy! We went out to lunch and stopped by Target to buy a camera.

Gee, that would have been great for us too to have the oath ceremony the same day, but I had to remind my wife to be good until her oath ceremony was completed.

It's strange they would make an issue out of child support after he already got his conditional and ten year card.

That's what we thought. He was really sweating it there for a few minutes.

Wife and I were both married once before, her interviewer demanded to see both our original divorce papers, and even wanted to keep them. Wife said, no way, those papers cost a fortune, but you have exact copies. Her interviewer checked them over. Seems like we went through this before with the USCIS, but maybe I was just dreaming.

Well, in any event, best wishes to you for the future! Thanks for your nice reply.

Edited November 7, 2008 by DDL

[moonhunt 1]

Denise and Tony

Charleston, SC

Congratulations!

Probably Interview officer may be difficult to interprete English English Divorce Decree. ^^

Or since we have so many divorced people not to pay their child support, so she wasn't sure how it works from U.K.

[haiti 0]

Congratulations and may God bless you!

I am from SC for some reason I had to go to NC for my fingerprint when I was adjusting my stats to permanent resident but went to Charleston, SC for the Interview so should I say that my local office is Charleston, SC or Charlotte, NC? I need to know so that I can update my profile!

Edited November 8, 2008 by haiti

[DDL 1]

Congratulations and may God bless you!

I am from SC for some reason I had to go to NC for my fingerprint when I was adjusting my stats to permanent resident but went to Charleston, SC for the Interview so should I say that my local office is Charleston, SC or Charlotte, NC? I need to know so that I can update my profile!

I would think the office that adjudicated your final status - Charleston, SC - would be your "local office".

Many congratulations to you, my friend!

[moonhunt 1]

Congratulations and may God bless you!

I am from SC for some reason I had to go to NC for my fingerprint when I was adjusting my stats to permanent resident but went to Charleston, SC for the Interview so should I say that my local office is Charleston, SC or Charlotte, NC? I need to know so that I can update my profile!

Fingerprint place is called as "Application Support Center", or ASC.

The place for Interview is actuall your District Office, which has jurisdiction for your case processing.

So you have to contact Charleston, SC DO for your case since it is your so-called "local office".