Interview experience, Chicago USCIS office 6/17/10

[milimelo 4,508]

I was scheduled for interview at 10:05 am. My husband and I showed up a bit early at 9:35 as the letter said we can only come in 30 minutes early. Went through the security and were directed to third floor where they do citizenship interviews. Checked in and were given a buzzer to wait when it goes off and then go to the door number 2.

Told to go sit in the seating area. The seating area holds maybe 200-300 people and at least a hundred were there already.

As the time approached to my appointment time I knew it would be a long wait as it was taking at least 20 minutes before a person would emerge back from the interviewing offices. So we prepared ourselves to wait. At one point, an IO came out and asked if anyone spoke fluently Korean and English but no one responded.

It seemed they were giving out oath ceremony letters right after the interview for those who were from Illinois. We met a guy from Indiana who had the same appointment time so we chatted with him and then with his friend who had to go to the IRS and get the tax transcripts as she didn't read the yellow letter telling her to bring them (marriage based naturalization). She was approved, but had to go to IRS to get the transcripts, was told it will take 3 hrs, then came back to USCIS to report back to her IO and then went back to IRS. Didn't see her afterwards.

At 11:32 I was called in, went through the door and was told to leave the buzzer in the bin on the right hand side. Then we went to IO Rodriguez's office - I was told to put the papers down and raise my right hand swearing I will say nothing but truth. Then she asked me to sit down and went right ahead with the questions:

Name one state that borders Canada?

When was the Constitution written?

What is freedom of religion?

How many US senators are there?

When must all men register for the Selective service?

and can't remember the last one.

I was then asked to read three sentences (1, 2, 3) and then asked to write Washington's face is on the dollar bill.

She then went through the submitted paperwork, did the change of our address and then asked for our marriage certificate - told it was submitted, she looked until she found it, asked for husband's birth certificate - same thing even though I had original with me and asked for our 2009 IRS tax transcript as we submitted our CPA's provided copy with W-2s.

Went through the application confirming my answers, double checking where I worked, personal info, height... all the yes/no questions and oath of allegiance. I was then asked to print and sign my name on several pieces of paper and to sign my name next to my face on the photos I submitted.

I asked can I know when is the oath ceremony and she was very nice and went through the system to see the dates. The only one for me was June 29th at 8 am at the same office which I took - others were for name change oath ceremonies - those are held in the Dirksen federal building.

I was told to wait until she came back photocopying my passport and ID and was then give the N-652 results paper saying I passed the test and to wait in the seating area for the oath ceremony paper - that took another 45 minutes.

All in all, nice experience, even though we had a long wait time but definitely well worth it!

[v333k 59]

congratulations for passing and thanks for sharing!!!

[*cinch* 0]

Congratulations!!

[another1 2]

I was scheduled for interview at 10:05 am. My husband and I showed up a bit early at 9:35 as the letter said we can only come in 30 minutes early. Went through the security and were directed to third floor where they do citizenship interviews. Checked in and were given a buzzer to wait when it goes off and then go to the door number 2.

Told to go sit in the seating area. The seating area holds maybe 200-300 people and at least a hundred were there already.

As the time approached to my appointment time I knew it would be a long wait as it was taking at least 20 minutes before a person would emerge back from the interviewing offices. So we prepared ourselves to wait. At one point, an IO came out and asked if anyone spoke fluently Korean and English but no one responded.

It seemed they were giving out oath ceremony letters right after the interview for those who were from Illinois. We met a guy from Indiana who had the same appointment time so we chatted with him and then with his friend who had to go to the IRS and get the tax transcripts as she didn't read the yellow letter telling her to bring them (marriage based naturalization). She was approved, but had to go to IRS to get the transcripts, was told it will take 3 hrs, then came back to USCIS to report back to her IO and then went back to IRS. Didn't see her afterwards.

At 11:32 I was called in, went through the door and was told to leave the buzzer in the bin on the right hand side. Then we went to IO Rodriguez's office - I was told to put the papers down and raise my right hand swearing I will say nothing but truth. Then she asked me to sit down and went right ahead with the questions:

Name one state that borders Canada?

When was the Constitution written?

What is freedom of religion?

How many US senators are there?

When must all men register for the Selective service?

and can't remember the last one.

I was then asked to read three sentences (1, 2, 3) and then asked to write Washington's face is on the dollar bill.

She then went through the submitted paperwork, did the change of our address and then asked for our marriage certificate - told it was submitted, she looked until she found it, asked for husband's birth certificate - same thing even though I had original with me and asked for our 2009 IRS tax transcript as we submitted our CPA's provided copy with W-2s.

Went through the application confirming my answers, double checking where I worked, personal info, height... all the yes/no questions and oath of allegiance. I was then asked to print and sign my name on several pieces of paper and to sign my name next to my face on the photos I submitted.

I asked can I know when is the oath ceremony and she was very nice and went through the system to see the dates. The only one for me was June 29th at 8 am at the same office which I took - others were for name change oath ceremonies - those are held in the Dirksen federal building.

I was told to wait until she came back photocopying my passport and ID and was then give the N-652 results paper saying I passed the test and to wait in the seating area for the oath ceremony paper - that took another 45 minutes.

All in all, nice experience, even though we had a long wait time but definitely well worth it!

Congratulations Milimelo! I passed my interview today as well.. My appt. was at 10:25 am. I got to the building at 9:30am. My buzzer went off at 11am. The officer Lloyd came out to greet me from door # 1, asked me for my Drivers licence, Passport (Old and new), my PR Card and showed me to the "Copy Room" to make copies of all of the above. When we got to the room I told her that I already had made copies of everything so she didn't have to.. gave her my copies and we went to her office. She asked me to remain standing, raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth.. I did. We set down and she started going through the paperwork submitted during AOS and ROC.She had my entire file on her desk. She said everything looked good and we would start taking a test, but before we got there she asked me if I was still married (yes), lived at the same address (yes), , date of birth, height, if I still worked at the same place (yes), my job title, when I got married and how I got my GC. After that she asked me if i wanted to legally change name(No) and asked for my birth certificate to make copy of it, I already had a copy so I gave it to her. I didn't submit tax transcripts with my application but brought them with me at the interview,. I asked her if she wanted to have them, she said no, she also didn't want to see the original Passport of my wife. Besides the copies of my both old and new passport (Front page and every page with visas and entry/exit stamps), my drivers licence and my GC, only thind she kept was Status information letter from SSS.

Test

Who makes federal laws?

Why did colonists fight British?

Who was taken to america and sold as slaves?

Who is Vice President now?

Who signes bills to become laws?

How many amendments does the consitution have?

Read

"Who can vote?"

Write

"Canada is north of the United States"

After the test we went through Yes/NO questions, I signed th application, my photographs and something else.

She congratulated me and said I passed the test and i could go to the waiting room and in about 45 minutes someone would call out my name and give me an oath letter! It took about an hour.

Overall, whole experience was pleasant and the officer was very nice!

[ReignVictorious 0]

congratulationssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!! Happy for ya...God bless ya

[jasminelily 1]

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your experience!

[milimelo 4,508]

Thank you!

Another1, you seem to have been in the fast-moving side - door 1 :-) Good luck on the oath ceremony on 28th - can you report how it went? Mine is on 29th.

[redglasses 1]

Congratulations!