A bittersweet N400 approval..

[mooninlove 1]

Glad to let you know I was approved of my N400 interview yesterday in LA. My experience was quite scary that I thought I'm going to have a nervous breakdown. First of all, I was late for 30 minutes and my kid is not feeling well. When I got there, I fall in line and got through the security process and directly went to the examination room and waited for around 20 minutes along with the anxious applicants.

When my name was called, I was instructed to go to this room. The AO made me raised my right hand and told to sit down after. The Officer browsed my N400 and right away mentioned "oh, you're divorced" upon seeing the decree which I included in my application. The officer asked for my DL and GC. The AO have this thick folder of my file. Then the officer started asking me about my I-751 approval and how I got my GC. I said from my ex-husband. The officer read the statement/rfe I mailed during the I-751 process and notice there were quite discrepancies on it. The officer was so strict I believe and scrutinized my I-751 and the detailed statement of my failed marriage. I'm getting nervous and teary-eyed when the officer started saying stuff why my marriage failed and all these crappy things the officer doesn't believe at all happened. The AO said my I-751 should have not been approved at all but would not elaborate.

Then the officer said my N400 will still be continued that day but will scrutinized more my files and won't make any decision or approval just in case I pass the exam. So the officer check my N400 and corrected some of it including name change which I checked "no". It should be yes since I remarried and now using my new name. All my files are in my old name eventhough I filed I-90 which is just a replacement.

The AO asks me the following on the old test:

What do we celebrate on the 4th of July?

What is the Constitution?

How many full terms can a President serve?

Why are there 100 Senators in the US Senate?

What is the national anthem of the US?

Which President was the 1st Commander-in-chief of the US Army and Navy?

Can Constitution be changed?

What is the head executive of a city gov't called?

Who is the VP of the US today?

Who elects the President of the US?

I correctly answered all and the officer made me write "His wife is at work right now." and read "I am a United States Citizen."

Then the AO let me signed 3 copies of the exam including my N400. Then the officer said I passed the exam and after a long silence, out of nowhere the AO said that whatever mistakes I made during the I-751 will be disregarded since I filed for the 5 yrs eligibility. The officer gave me consideration and mentioned that maybe me and my ex has it's own mistakes and would not single me out for that. I was so shocked because I thought that I won't get approval that day after all the scrutiny of my file. I was so relieved and I got emotional. I was crying while I'm signing the paper of my bio info that would later be in my certificate. I could never thank you enough the officer for the consideration. The AO gave me the N-652 Nat Interview Results. There was a check on the "you passed the tests of English etc..", "Congratulations. Your application has been recommended for approval."

The officer said that I'll receive from the mail my Oathtaking Ceremony letter. The officer copied my DL and the N-652 and ushered me where the exit is.

I was sooo relieved that this N400 journey is over. It was a scary experience but with a positive result. I got home and still emotional of what I've gone through yesterday. Goodluck to all of you and may my experience serve as an inspiration to not lost hope especially to those who were in the same boat like me. Thanks God.

[Cuchita 1]

Ohmy God that soo emotive, I feel like crying I'm so happy for you!.

I took the oath and ceremony the same day imagine, I really cried when I was taking the oath!, get prepared and bring camera cause they let you take pics I didn't know I was having everything the same day.

Ah and don't forget the tissue!

Take care and congratz again

[mattr 0]

Thank you for sharing your experience. The officer did the right things but I'm sure it must have been nervebreaking. I'm glad you are approved and I'm sure your oath taking day will be the brightest

mattr.

[Pineapple 0]

Hi Mooninlove,

Congratulations and you deserve to become a US CITIZINE what a wonderfull gift god gave to you . Starting the begining of this year and your life yes you are right you been in a bitter start of your first marrieges before but you feel the sweetness how good is your feeling this time i;m so happy for you and your story in your life is an insparational to all of us espicially we are just on the begining of our marriage LIFE and journey to USCIS..

GOD IS WITH YOU ALWAYS ,

PINEAPPLE

[NigerLA 1]

Congratulations!!!

[mooninlove 1]

Thank you Mattr, Cuchita, Pineapple and NigerLA !! Yeah it was more nerve-wrecking especially the "looking-back" of my file from the initial POE-I751 waiver than the N400 civic test itself. With all those remarks the AO had said, in the end it was a bittersweet success to finally be able to move forward without worrying about my immigration journey and now I am patiently waiting for my Oath letter. Hope it arrives soon.

[Stella08 0]

Congratulations!!!

Oh my, I know I'm going to be sooooo nervous when I'm going to have my interview.

[Jasman0717 9]

This was a wonderful read, I am going to make Claudeth read it. Congratulations American Citizen

[moonhunt 1]

Congratulation!

I wish that USCIS adjudicator didn't give you hard time since you went through tough time for divorce process already.

[AusCal 3]

now I am patiently waiting for my Oath letter. Hope it arrives soon.

MoonInLove - firstly, congratulations. I had my interview at LA last week (approved),. I have yet to type up my interview experience, but, I wonder if we had the same interviewer. Though totally different circumstances, my experience just seems similar - first up given a "hard time" about something in my file, then proceeding through the interview, then giving approval with the comment that what was so problematic earlier becomes "we won't worry about that since you're filing 5yr".

As I was leaving I asked about the oath ceremony, I was told January & February were full, and I could expect to receive a letter for a March oath ceremony.

[mooninlove 1]

now I am patiently waiting for my Oath letter. Hope it arrives soon.

MoonInLove - firstly, congratulations. I had my interview at LA last week (approved),. I have yet to type up my interview experience, but, I wonder if we had the same interviewer. Though totally different circumstances, my experience just seems similar - first up given a "hard time" about something in my file, then proceeding through the interview, then giving approval with the comment that what was so problematic earlier becomes "we won't worry about that since you're filing 5yr".

As I was leaving I asked about the oath ceremony, I was told January & February were full, and I could expect to receive a letter for a March oath ceremony.

Thanks AusCal. I think we have the same interviewer. I was freaking inside me when the Officer gave me a "lecture" about everything from my files to my failed marriage. Some of the AO's remarks were sill resounding in my head until now. The officer is straight-forward and yes in the end, staring blankly at me after what's been said and done, I was approved since I filed for the 5 yrs thingy and just disregard the previous problems I had..I'm just glad that the Officer despite being mean which is understandable, there's still a soft spot in the Officer's heart..I did not ask when the ceremony is, I just wanna get out there fast hehehe..

To Moonhunt: I understand the AO's action although it was really scary sitting in front of that Officer. But in the end, what matters most is that I was given the approval letter.

[moonhunt 1]

To Moonhunt: I understand the AO's action although it was really scary sitting in front of that Officer. But in the end, what matters most is that I was given the approval letter.

Most frustrating part is that it seems that adjudicator din't look at the case until the interview.

Can they look at it before the interview, and check whether it is marriage-based 3 year applicant, or 5 years' ?

It is not efficient, and they don't have to give heart attack to the people, who went through same thing from previous adjudicator.

They don't have to be mean one, Grinch!

They don't have to be angel for everybody, but do some homework for the case you are adjucating for their life-time event.

Again, we are talking about the government agency.

I guess they are supposed to be beaurocratic.

Oh, my tax money, and my USCIS processing fee!

Edited January 14, 2009 by moonhunt

[loveisnow 0]

Can you please elaborate more on how your I-751 was scrutinized? Like what kind of questions did the IO ask you or what mistakes did you make on your I-751? 

[Going through 5,671]

3 hours ago, loveisnow said:

Can you please elaborate more on how your I-751 was scrutinized? Like what kind of questions did the IO ask you or what mistakes did you make on your I-751? 

In case you didn't realize....you are asking a follow-up question on a thread where the last post was over 9 years ago....might be a good idea to start your own thread.

[TBoneTX 45,659]

Thread from 2009 is now closed to further comment.