N-400 February 2009 Filers

MikeWilson · June 17, 2009

Congratulations to Waiting for Visas for getting approved for citizenship. Now you are just waiting for your swearing in. And good luck to the following interviewees next week:
Boss 78 June 15

Faylen June 16

Mary and Mian June 18

MWilson 122 June 17

We're all rooting for you guys!!!

Thanks for the good luck wish, riosling!

I've had my interview this morning, at 7:30 in West Palm Beach. I entered the lobby at 7:20 with zero people in line at the entrance for the security check; even inside, there were very few people in the waiting room -- perhaps 5 altogether, and that included InfoPass appointments -- and got called in by the IO around 7:50. The very nice and young fellow swore me in, asked for GC, DL and passport, and then proceeded to go over the application question by question while writing notes very often. Once the application review was complete, he asked me to read a sentence ("Who elects Congress?") and write down the answer ("The people elect Congress"). Next up were the civics questions, in no particular order:

- Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

- What are the two main political parties in the US?

- Name a state bordering Mexico

- Name 3 of the 13 original states

- Who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces?

... and I don't recall the other question

I got all 6 correct, so he stopped there, made some more notes, and said congratulations, you've been approved; oath letter should be in the mail within a few weeks.

All in all, the process took about 30 minutes, but only because the IO was very, and I mean very, talkative. He was clearly taking his time to explain things, even though I haven't asked for clarification. People such as this officer are an asset to the USCIS. Very polite, knowledgeable, and down right friendly.

So.... this is it, my fellow VJ'ers. I'll post my ceremony details once that's done. Oh, by the way -- I did ask for same-day oath taking, but he said no such thing at his location. However, they do hold ceremonies on-site, and quite often. He said to expect it in a few weeks.

Cheers,

Mike

upstategal · June 17, 2009

Can you please update us - husband's biometric appointment scheduled for 06/26/09 - thank you.

Congratulations to all those who have completed the process and best wishes for upcoming interviews :star:

riosling · June 18, 2009

Congratulations to Faylen, Boss 78, and Mike Wilson!!! Good work! And to Big Ray, glad to hear that everything went well! From the looks of it, Feb filers have had relatively easier N400 journeys. February must be a lucky month.

riosling · June 18, 2009

Can you please update us - husband's biometric appointment scheduled for 06/26/09 - thank you.
Congratulations to all those who have completed the process and best wishes for upcoming interviews

Sorry to hear about the delays with your biometrics. Good thing you called!

MaryandMian · June 18, 2009

USCIS Lockbox - Arizona

UserName.........Sent.......NOA1.....Biometrics.Int ltr rec..Interview...Oath......Office

Rabie007.........02/03/09...02/14/09...03/04/09...03/16/09...04/20/09...06/19/09...Cleveland, OH

85n280...........02/02/09...02/10/09...03/19/09...04/09/09...06/02/09...--/--/--...San Jose, CA

charuhans .......02/09/09...02/17/09...03/13/09...03/27/09...05/13/09...05/13/09...Portland, Oregon

rachel.......... 02/11/09...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Chicago, IL

Boss78.......... 02/16/09...02/28/09...03/23/09...04/20/09...06/15/09.... 06/15/09.......Omaha, NE

wworld808....... 02/17/09...03/03/09...03/19/09...04/06/09...05/13/09...06/10/09...Honolulu, HI

waiting4visas... 02/21/09...03/05/09...03/21/09...04/23/09...06/09/09...07/15/09...Denver, CO

faylen...........02/23/09...03/02/09...03/25/09...05/04/09...06/16/09...--/--/--...????

Smoothsailing... 02/25/09...03/05/09...03/17/09...04/23/09...05/15/09...06/04/09...Boise, Idaho

USCIS Lockbox - Texas

UserName.........Sent.......NOA1.....Biometrics.Int ltr rec..Interview...Oath......Office

legalalien30.....01/31/09...02/03/09...03/04/09...03/13/09...05/05/09...05/28/09...Boston, MA

peruvianfamily...02/02/09...02/09/09...02/25/09...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...St. Albans, VT

Deirdre76........02/03/09...02/17/09...03/10/09...04/18/09...05/28/09...07/08/09...Oklahoma City, OK

Eons.............02/04/09...02/10/09...03/05/09...04/08/09...05/07/09...--/--/--...Dallas, TX

Negrecita2007....02/05/09...02/10/09...03/05/09...03/24/09...05/06/09...05/28/09...Boston, MA

Alien57..........02/10/09...02/23/09...03/12/09...03/24/09...05/11/09...06/03/09...Boston, MA

fahadkhan00......02/10/09...03/05/09...03/14/09...04/13/09...05/27/09...05/27/09...Atlanta, GA

Perdesi..........02/11/09...02/19/09...03/17/09...04/09/09...05/15/09...05/15/09...Fairfax, VA

marcnycity.......02/12/09...02/19/09...03/12/09...05/06/09...06/02/09...06/12/09...New York, NY

kumar_n400.......02/12/09...02/19/09...03/27/09...04/07/09...05/12/09...--/--/--...Houston,TX

Ahuacatl.........02/14/09...03/02/09...03/24/09...03/24/09...05/11/09...06/11/09...Boston, MA

honey19_sweet....02/17/09...03/02/09...03/20/09...04/03/09...05/12/09...06/01/09...Cranston, RI

araz87...........02/17/09...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Houston,TX

riosling.........02/17/09...02/25/09...03/20/09...04/14/09...05/27/09...05/29/09...Mt.Laurel, NJ

BigRay...........02/18/09...02/25/09...03/20/09...04/06/09...05/21/09...07/17/09...Tampa, FL

upstategal.......02/23/09...03/04/09...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Albany, NY

MaryandMian......02/24/09...03/11/09...04/01/09...04/30/09...06/18/09...06/18/09...Atlanta, GA

RositaL..........02/24/09...03/04/09...04/07/09...04/17/09...06/24/09...--/--/--...Newark, NJ

kleobg...........02/26/09...03/12/09...--/--/--...04/24/09...06/03/09...06/23/09...Boston, MA

mwilson122.......02/24/09...03/03/09...03/17/09...04/16/09...06/17/09...--/--/--...West Palm Beach, FL

We are back home now from getting Mian's citizenship. We were at the USCIS office at 8:00 a.m. and appointment was for 8:24 a.m. We went to the 2nd floor and signed in and told to go to the 3rd floor and was called by Officer Hardmon at 8:25 but another person came to her begging to fix his problem. She told Mian to sit and she would get to him later. She called him back at 9:10 for his interview and test. He passed the English and U.S. History questions and was recommended for citizenship and given an N-652 form. He was back outside by 9:27 and told to go back to the 2nd floor and someone would give us an oath notice. We sat from 9:27 until 1:38 p.m. before they gave him the oath notice. The ceremony was scheduled for 2 p.m. The ceremony represented 50 countries and 137 new US citizens were sworn in.

He only remembered the following questions that were asked to him.

1. What ocean is on the West Coast of the Untied States?

2. What is the "rule of law"?

3. What is the name of the national anthem?

4. There were 13 original states. Name three?

5. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

6. Could not remember?

Read this " Why do people want to vote"?

Write this "People do want to vote."

Thanks for the well wishes everyone and congratulations to those that got their oaths this week and good luck to those waiting.

doxATL · June 19, 2009

MaryandMian......02/24/09...03/11/09...04/01/09...04/30/09...06/18/09...06/18/09...Atlanta, GA

We are back home now from getting Mian's citizenship. We were at the USCIS office at 8:00 a.m. and appointment was for 8:24 a.m. We went to the 2nd floor and signed in and told to go to the 3rd floor and was called by Officer Hardmon at 8:25 but another person came to her begging to fix his problem. She told Mian to sit and she would get to him later. She called him back at 9:10 for his interview and test. He passed the English and U.S. History questions and was recommended for citizenship and given an N-652 form. He was back outside by 9:27 and told to go back to the 2nd floor and someone would give us an oath notice. We sat from 9:27 until 1:38 p.m. before they gave him the oath notice. The ceremony was scheduled for 2 p.m. The ceremony represented 50 countries and 137 new US citizens were sworn in.

He only remembered the following questions that were asked to him.

1. What ocean is on the West Coast of the Untied States?

2. What is the "rule of law"?

3. What is the name of the national anthem?

4. There were 13 original states. Name three?

5. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

6. Could not remember?

Read this " Why do people want to vote"?

Write this "People do want to vote."

Thanks for the well wishes everyone and congratulations to those that got their oaths this week and good luck to those waiting.

Hello MaryandMian, I am glad that everything went so well for you! Big Congrats to you!

I have my interview Monday morning in Atlanta as well. I hope I get same day oath too.

By the way, what time did the oath ceremony finish? Does everyone has to stay until the end?

Thanks

MaryandMian · June 19, 2009

Hello doxATL;

Thanks. From what I saw today they did interviews up till noon and if you have your name checks completed, pass the exams, and no issues they will have you come back at 1:00 or 2:00 for the oath ceremony. They start filling the room at 1:00 but it is one hugh ceremony so it did not start until about 2:20 or so and it was over approximately one hour later. They had an oath, then a short video, and they had the visitors leave the room and then they gave out the certificates to the new USC's. Everyone must stay until the whole program is finsihed and the certificates are handed out. Good luck to you this coming Monday.

gyenigun · June 19, 2009

hey MaryandMian,

first congrats to you guys and second i have a question about the oath...

do you excatly know what the cut off time is...? because my interview will be @ 1: 25.. if everything goes smooth do you guys think that i can do my oath on the same day...?

congrats again...

btw, was the family allowed to the oath ceremony..? and doxATL please share your experience with us too...

have a wonderful day everyone...

Edited June 19, 2009 by gyenigun

MaryandMian · June 19, 2009

hey MaryandMian,
first congrats to you guys and second i have a question about the oath...

do you excatly know what the cut off time is...? because my interview will be @ 1: 25.. if everything goes smooth do you guys think that i can do my oath on the same day...?

congrats again...

btw, was the family allowed to the oath ceremony..? and doxATL please share your experience with us too...

have a wonderful day everyone...

Each office operates differently and I can only tell you about Atlanta. I know once you interview they send you back to a large waiting area and then someone comes into the area after they get the final approval recommendation or oath letter. If you look at my time line we sat for 5 hours before we were given our oath letter. There were some people that still did not have their notices and did not get to have their own on the same day. I guess they are running final security checks is the reason why. It would be cutting it close if you got it the same day in Atlanta since the interview is up to 20 minutes long unless you have something they want to question and then you would need to wait on the final okay.

Family and friends can attend the ceremony; cameras are allowed but not until in the ceremony room and all cell phones must be cut off or on vibrate. They threatened to take away a few phones that were ringing before the ceremony started. It was packed full when Mian got his and I almost the last person allowed in and only about a dozen chairs were not filled.

faylen · June 19, 2009

Thank you for all the good luck wishes =)

One question though... is there anyone I can call to find out when (or which) oath taking I will be partaking in? I know I may be jumping the gun a bit, but I want to make sure that I'm here when they send me the letter. We're planning on taking the kids to Disneyland =)

rabie007 · June 19, 2009

hi guys,

My oath ceremony toke place in Cleveland today at 8:00 am, everything went smooth like it suppose to. they were about 100 applicant. by 10:00 am i was done and i went to SSN office then apply for passport.

fortualty, my journey it over. good luck everybody.

Now,Iam US CITIZEN :dance: :dance: