US District Court/Minnesota

[Wubzywub 0]

They normally have a big oath taking around July 4th in St Paul during the taste of Minnesota. But this summer's schedule looks pretty slim at least in MPLS and STP. Maybe I won't officially be a citizen until the fall...

Click link below for the schedule

http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/2009_naturalization.shtml

[NickD 203]

They normally have a big oath taking around July 4th in St Paul during the taste of Minnesota. But this summer's schedule looks pretty slim at least in MPLS and STP. Maybe I won't officially be a citizen until the fall...

Click link below for the schedule

http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/2009_naturalization.shtml

Glad that Senator Feingold put pressure on St. Paul for us 39 Wisconsinites for a special oath ceremony. Found many really long delays in St. Paul in newspaper articles for the oath ceremony trying to find a place and a judge or waiting until the line really got long.

Learned the St. Paul office had prestamped signatures of the certificates, whoever is the current director of the USCIS at the time, push a button and the form is printed out, use some chewing gum to hold your photo and stamp half of that and the certicate with a seal. Certificate got by with the DOS and SS for passport and updating your SS status. St. Paul could give you that certificate the same day as your interview like several other field offices, but it is not their policy to do so. So you wait. Also, last year was a major election year, so congress puts pressure on the USCIS to quit playing around, can't say that about this year.

[Wubzywub 0]

They normally have a big oath taking around July 4th in St Paul during the taste of Minnesota. But this summer's schedule looks pretty slim at least in MPLS and STP. Maybe I won't officially be a citizen until the fall...

Click link below for the schedule

http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/2009_naturalization.shtml

Glad that Senator Feingold put pressure on St. Paul for us 39 Wisconsinites for a special oath ceremony. Found many really long delays in St. Paul in newspaper articles for the oath ceremony trying to find a place and a judge or waiting until the line really got long.

Learned the St. Paul office had prestamped signatures of the certificates, whoever is the current director of the USCIS at the time, push a button and the form is printed out, use some chewing gum to hold your photo and stamp half of that and the certicate with a seal. Certificate got by with the DOS and SS for passport and updating your SS status. St. Paul could give you that certificate the same day as your interview like several other field offices, but it is not their policy to do so. So you wait. Also, last year was a major election year, so congress puts pressure on the USCIS to quit playing around, can't say that about this year.

You need a federal judge to do the oath taking. INS-Immigrations and Naturalization used to be at the St Paul Federal building many years ago. They moved to an office near the Mall of America in Bloomington where there are no federal judges in that office. So I don't blame USICS. Like all forms of the Federal government, it's a hurry up and wait. which is fine, but they should tell you that on the Website or when you call them. That's my biggest pet peave- I don't mine waiting if I know the "specific" timeline, but no. they act like they don't know when you call them. By the way- Immigration is generally more friendlier with a Donkey holding high office than a Elephant.

[NickD 203]

I never heard of a requirement for a federal judge, the manager of the St. Paul office conducted our ceremony in the same room where we waited, on the second floor on the far east side. You know the one, no windows and had a portrait of GWB to stare at, one time is was over three hours for us. The difference at the oath ceremony is was they were very nice.

I gave explicit instructions to my wife if she passed the interview to ask if she could say the oath the same day as her interview like other USCIS offices do to save that long trip for us. Was told no. And if not, to get a commitment when she should expect her oath letter, was told within two weeks. That became useful as we waited a month before I contacted Senator Feingold's office where two hours after I made my call, received a letter of apology and her N-445 oath letter, but St. Paul doesn't call it they, they use their own letterhead.

We met several people from Green Bay, they had a long drive, could only question districts, Green Bay is less than two hours from Milwaukee, we were bounced back and forth between the two. Teased about not wearing a Packer jacket to St. Paul, that could end up in death. So we wore Viking jackets instead, LOL. Ha, hope 04 gets that job and beats the pants off the Packers.

[mrPuffyBunny 0]

They normally have a big oath taking around July 4th in St Paul during the taste of Minnesota. But this summer's schedule looks pretty slim at least in MPLS and STP. Maybe I won't officially be a citizen until the fall...

Click link below for the schedule

http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/2009_naturalization.shtml

Hey RDan this schedule below is accurate but is also messed up, there are oaths in st paul both on July 15th at Bethel university and July 30 at the Landmark center and August 19 at the Landmark center. FYI both the Landmark center and Bethel university are located in St Paul (and not Duluth or Fergus Fall), here are the addresses below if you want more reassurance:

Bethel University: 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112-6999

Landmark center: 75 West 5th Street - Saint Paul

I don't know what that idiot who made that schedule was smoking, but obviously he doesn't seem to be from MN, even under Duluth/Fergus Fall column that idiot put oaths taking place in St Cloud, Mall of America etc... what a mess

[Wubzywub 0]

They normally have a big oath taking around July 4th in St Paul during the taste of Minnesota. But this summer's schedule looks pretty slim at least in MPLS and STP. Maybe I won't officially be a citizen until the fall...

Click link below for the schedule

http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/2009_naturalization.shtml

Hey RDan this schedule below is accurate but is also messed up, there are oaths in st paul both on July 15th at Bethel university and July 30 at the Landmark center and August 19 at the Landmark center. FYI both the Landmark center and Bethel university are located in St Paul (and not Duluth or Fergus Fall), here are the addresses below if you want more reassurance:

Bethel University: 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112-6999

Landmark center: 75 West 5th Street - Saint Paul

I don't know what that idiot who made that schedule was smoking, but obviously he doesn't seem to be from MN, even under Duluth/Fergus Fall column that idiot put oaths taking place in St Cloud, Mall of America etc... what a mess

I think when the columns MSP and STP mean the federal courthouses in the two cities, the third column is fergus falls/duluth, etc. They usually have a big ceremony during the taste of Minnesota, 200+ around the 4th of July. I was hoping to be in that one.

Puffy, did you get your interview date assigned? BTW, I seen the Landmark and Bethel (Roseville/Shoreview). I still think it's judges that do all to most of the oath ceremonies.

[NickD 203]

You already had to deal with the USCIS, FBI, and DOS to bring your spouse here. Then after USC have to deal again with SS, the DOS, your city, county, state, and employer so why not toss in the Department of Justice in as well? The more the merrier, right?

Curious about the Mall of America, do they hold that oath ceremony on that roller coaster ride? That sounds like fun, especially if the judge had to stand up in front, and what about standing to say the oath?

[mrPuffyBunny 0]

No I didn't receive the interview letter but I have a feeling it will be here by the end of the week and will be for the end of July:). Keeping my fingers crossed. RDan I think July 4 is a long shot even if there was actually an oath schedule for that. I have heard of crazy waiting time for oaths in MN during last year, but I hope that is all in the past as the uscis website is showing processing times less than 5 months for at paul .

[jsnearline 2]

You already had to deal with the USCIS, FBI, and DOS to bring your spouse here. Then after USC have to deal again with SS, the DOS, your city, county, state, and employer so why not toss in the Department of Justice in as well? The more the merrier, right?

Just to clarify, the federal courts are not part of the Department of Justice. They are part of the third branch of government, the Courts. In some areas, the federal courts have delegated authority to USCIS to administer the Oath. In other places, the court retains that authority for itself. It all depends on where you live.

[Wubzywub 0]

You already had to deal with the USCIS, FBI, and DOS to bring your spouse here. Then after USC have to deal again with SS, the DOS, your city, county, state, and employer so why not toss in the Department of Justice in as well? The more the merrier, right?

Just to clarify, the federal courts are not part of the Department of Justice. They are part of the third branch of government, the Courts. In some areas, the federal courts have delegated authority to USCIS to administer the Oath. In other places, the court retains that authority for itself. It all depends on where you live.

USCIS is part ofthe Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Justice is more like the federal enforcment and investigation agency (cops, FBI, etc). And yes, the third brach is the Judicial Branch ( Supreme, Appelate, Disctricts, etc). Oath taking usually are administered by judges, JAG officers or even Immigration Judges, etc.

Thanks for the civic lessions

[NickD 203]

You already had to deal with the USCIS, FBI, and DOS to bring your spouse here. Then after USC have to deal again with SS, the DOS, your city, county, state, and employer so why not toss in the Department of Justice in as well? The more the merrier, right?

Just to clarify, the federal courts are not part of the Department of Justice. They are part of the third branch of government, the Courts. In some areas, the federal courts have delegated authority to USCIS to administer the Oath. In other places, the court retains that authority for itself. It all depends on where you live.

USCIS is part ofthe Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Justice is more like the federal enforcment and investigation agency (cops, FBI, etc). And yes, the third brach is the Judicial Branch ( Supreme, Appelate, Disctricts, etc). Oath taking usually are administered by judges, JAG officers or even Immigration Judges, etc.

Thanks for the civic lessions

I'm a natural born USC, I don't have to know civics. Department of Justice, Justice Department, or the Judicial branch seem to be used interchangeably. Some judges are elected others are appointed. Our town recently had to elect a judge to handle all these new traffic violations created by the DHS for putting in a bunch of cop cars to protect us. Some attorney that couldn't make it in private practice got the job, the good attorneys wouldn't even run for this office.

All I know is it is good to stay far from a judge unless you need one for your oath ceremony, then you can't find one. And shouldn't the USCIS, a federal agency be governed by a common set of laws? Each field office makes there own laws, did you have to bring in utility bills for your interview? Not even mentioned as evidence in their instructions. Unless that was just my wife's IO law.

[Wubzywub 0]

You already had to deal with the USCIS, FBI, and DOS to bring your spouse here. Then after USC have to deal again with SS, the DOS, your city, county, state, and employer so why not toss in the Department of Justice in as well? The more the merrier, right?

Just to clarify, the federal courts are not part of the Department of Justice. They are part of the third branch of government, the Courts. In some areas, the federal courts have delegated authority to USCIS to administer the Oath. In other places, the court retains that authority for itself. It all depends on where you live.

USCIS is part ofthe Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Justice is more like the federal enforcment and investigation agency (cops, FBI, etc). And yes, the third brach is the Judicial Branch ( Supreme, Appelate, Disctricts, etc). Oath taking usually are administered by judges, JAG officers or even Immigration Judges, etc.

Thanks for the civic lessions

I'm a natural born USC, I don't have to know civics. Department of Justice, Justice Department, or the Judicial branch seem to be used interchangeably. Some judges are elected others are appointed. Our town recently had to elect a judge to handle all these new traffic violations created by the DHS for putting in a bunch of cop cars to protect us. Some attorney that couldn't make it in private practice got the job, the good attorneys wouldn't even run for this office.

All I know is it is good to stay far from a judge unless you need one for your oath ceremony, then you can't find one. And shouldn't the USCIS, a federal agency be governed by a common set of laws? Each field office makes there own laws, did you have to bring in utility bills for your interview? Not even mentioned as evidence in their instructions. Unless that was just my wife's IO law.

So was it a show-stopper for you? or did you have a utility bill with you? We live in a townhouse and we pay for electric and cable which is under my hubby's name only. The rest of the utilities are covered under our monthly association dues.

Our deed, bank statments, health insurances, should cover those misc requirements...

[NickD 203]

You already had to deal with the USCIS, FBI, and DOS to bring your spouse here. Then after USC have to deal again with SS, the DOS, your city, county, state, and employer so why not toss in the Department of Justice in as well? The more the merrier, right?

Just to clarify, the federal courts are not part of the Department of Justice. They are part of the third branch of government, the Courts. In some areas, the federal courts have delegated authority to USCIS to administer the Oath. In other places, the court retains that authority for itself. It all depends on where you live.

USCIS is part ofthe Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Justice is more like the federal enforcment and investigation agency (cops, FBI, etc). And yes, the third brach is the Judicial Branch ( Supreme, Appelate, Disctricts, etc). Oath taking usually are administered by judges, JAG officers or even Immigration Judges, etc.

Thanks for the civic lessions

I'm a natural born USC, I don't have to know civics. Department of Justice, Justice Department, or the Judicial branch seem to be used interchangeably. Some judges are elected others are appointed. Our town recently had to elect a judge to handle all these new traffic violations created by the DHS for putting in a bunch of cop cars to protect us. Some attorney that couldn't make it in private practice got the job, the good attorneys wouldn't even run for this office.

All I know is it is good to stay far from a judge unless you need one for your oath ceremony, then you can't find one. And shouldn't the USCIS, a federal agency be governed by a common set of laws? Each field office makes there own laws, did you have to bring in utility bills for your interview? Not even mentioned as evidence in their instructions. Unless that was just my wife's IO law.

So was it a show-stopper for you? or did you have a utility bill with you? We live in a townhouse and we pay for electric and cable which is under my hubby's name only. The rest of the utilities are covered under our monthly association dues.

Our deed, bank statments, health insurances, should cover those misc requirements...

Didn't send in a utility bill but was warned from others ahead of us, so called my electric company, local and asked them to add my wife, no proof of her existence, just my word. She asked me why I did that, so you can become a USC. Her IO did ask her for other forms of evidence not that her IO didn't have a mile high stack, so my wife pulled that bill out, her IO copied it and put it in her file. Now whether that made any difference or not, can't tell you, buy my wife was approved on the spot, well, not exactly, IO's supervisor has the final approval.

Look at is as a game you have to play, your part is to keep them happy, never argued about St. Paul or Milwaukee, if they wanted us in LA, we would have shown up and looked forward to the day when it was over. That day does come and hopefully soon for you.

[jsnearline 2]

I'm a natural born USC, I don't have to know civics.

Lucky you. However, some people on VJ aren't natural born citizens and do need to know at least some civics to pass the test and naturalize.

[NickD 203]

I'm a natural born USC, I don't have to know civics.

Lucky you. However, some people on VJ aren't natural born citizens and do need to know at least some civics to pass the test and naturalize.

I was a good husband and studied the civics test with my wife, but still apparently confused about judges. In particular, all those infamous 5-4 vote decisions in the supreme court and why the executive branch appoints them when there is suppose to be a balance of power with a yes man congress.