N-400 NOVEMBER 2011 FILERS

[Blessed N Favored 6]

Sorry about the confusion. I had the interview on my lunch break not the oath ceremony. Still waiting on that one.

Oh Ok.... it makes sense now. Thank you for the clarification.

[ingucis78 1]

Jupiter07.....good luck tomorrow!!!!!let as know how it went.

[Jupiter07 12]

Jupiter07.....good luck tomorrow!!!!!let as know how it went.

Thanks! Will definately let you know. They'd better not ask me about the Woodrows and the Eisenhowers!

[ingucis78 1]

still NO news here.

[Jupiter07 12]

still NO news here.

[ingucis78 1]

(you will be notified of the date and place of your interview when you have been scheduled by the local USCIS office.you should expect to be notified withing 90 days of this notice)

the 90 days will be up in 2 weeks.what are the chance of that happening?i think none.since DC office is supper busy.

[fatmouse 0]

(you will be notified of the date and place of your interview when you have been scheduled by the local USCIS office.you should expect to be notified withing 90 days of this notice)

the 90 days will be up in 2 weeks.what are the chance of that happening?i think none.since DC office is supper busy.

I've been placed in line for interview scheduling since 11/28. No news either, and I am in the less busy San Jose district office.

Funny my NOA does not have the "90 days" wording.

Sigh. Called CS but still no meaningful answer.

[ingucis78 1]

I've been placed in line for interview scheduling since 11/28. No news either, and I am in the less busy San Jose district office.

Funny my NOA does not have the "90 days" wording.

Sigh. Called CS but still no meaningful answer.

from what i found out ONLY military/military spouses get thie kind of NOA.but seems like everyone get a difrent # of days.

Edited January 27, 2012 by ingucis78

[Tentenseven 0]

from what i found out ONLY military/military spouses get thie kind of NOA.but seems like everyone get a difrent # of days.

Hi all -

I am a November filer for the NY area - my question is - if the USCIS website indicates that the NY office is currently processing April cases, is it worth checking/hoping that my/our NY case will get an interview letter as soon this month (January). Just trying to figure what is a realistic expectation.

Thanks!

[arvinb 17]

Hi all -

I am a November filer for the NY area - my question is - if the USCIS website indicates that the NY office is currently processing April cases, is it worth checking/hoping that my/our NY case will get an interview letter as soon this month (January). Just trying to figure what is a realistic expectation.

Thanks!

I think you'd be better off looking through the various monthly threads here on VJ, checking the charts, and looking at the users also filing through NY... see how long people seem to be waiting.

[Jupiter07 12]

My interview went great! Field office is 0.8 miles from my office. I still drove cos it's very cold in OH. I was there at exactly 30mins to. Went through the security thing and realized I had my cell phone and I've read that it causes delay through security, dang! But then, I was the only one on the security line so it didn't matter.

I was called in on time and the interview lasted for maybe 10mins. My interviewer was a guy. Basically swearing in, reading & writing an English sentence and responding to 6 civic qs. I got my first 6 right. As I reviewed my questions this morning before the interview, a few president-related qs were giving me a hard time especially - who wrote the declaration of independence. I found a way to remember the answers - eg. my boss' name is Thomas. So I thought if it's declaration of independence, all I need to think of is my boss and remember that it's Thomas Jefferson. Guess what, that was the 1st q. I was asked. The others were the party of the president, commander of the military (maybe not exact wording), one country that borders Mexico, 3 of the original colonies, and the 2 political parties in America.

Then we went thru' what I wrote on the application - just confirming and making sure nothing has changed. Then he asked if I had brought anything to show marriage and I had only our utility bills. I didn't know that I needed to submit evidence again at this stage cos I had looked at N400, thus, i hadn't collected stuff like I did for AOS and ROC . But I also carried my husband's DL and voter registration card. He took only the utility bills.

He then told me everything's ok. That he cannot approve my application today cos I am not 3yrs PR yet. I will be on 02/12, a Sunday. He said cos it's a Sunday, they don't open, so they should approve on 02/13. He said that I shouldn't think that something is wrong, or I need to submit anything, it's just cos i have not fulfilled one of the reqs i.e. 3yrs of PR. That one has to fulfill all the reqs to be approved.

He told me that once 2/13 comes and am approved, they will send me a letter of approval. That it will have 8 qs, basically about anything that has changed btwn now and then. If nothing has, then I will just answer no to all the qs. That I answer the qs. and date the letter on the day I come in for oath. I am not sure this same letter will be the oath letter, but whatever... He also asked me to sign my 2 passports that I mailed in with the application. I never did FP. (They should give me back my biometrics $ )

He also explained to me N600 for my daughter, he said it isn't mandatory cos a passport is proof of citizenship, but that the advantage of N600 is that she will get her own CON, and when she applies for her own passport, she will not have to prove how she became a PR and how she is eligible for citizenship. That if I don't apply for CON for her, then I will have to prove the above things with passport application. He also said that if she lost her passport, she will have her CON to prove her citizenship. Well, I am leaning towards not mailing in N600 cos it's equally not cheap. I have no problem providing evidence of her journey thru PR. And I think I can apply for a Passport card as I apply for a passport for her, and that will be as good evidence as CON.

Then that was it! If I did this again, I will wait 2 wks into my 90 days window to send in my N400. That way my interview will not be before am 3yrs a PR.

There was no one else in the waiting area for the entire time I was there but a couple and I.There was a couple who came in about 5 mins after I had been waiting and the guy got called in (by another interviewer not mine) shortly after. Looked like the lady was the USC. So for like 20mins I was waiting to be called in, the guy was already in. When he was called in, the interviewer told the lady to wait, that she will get to her later. What was interesting was the lovey-doveyness of this couple in that waiting area. C'mon now, pls. You don't have to act that way to proof that you are still hot for each other after 3 or more years, and still married . At least not in the field office. I got a little worried cos there I was husbandless When I was done with my interview, the guy was still being interviewed. That made me wonder what was going on...

Sorry, I tend to be wordy but that is my 'short' story. Hopefully I will not be forever waiting for the letter. I was told that it should come within 4wks after 2/12.

Edited January 27, 2012 by Jupiter07

[kstrozyk 13]

Congratulations! My anniversary is Feb. 13th as well, however my interview is on the 9th. I wonder how that goes.

My interview went great! Field office is 0.8 miles from my office. I still drove cos it's very cold in OH. I was there at exactly 30mins to. Went through the security thing and realized I had my cell phone and I've read that it causes delay through security, dang! But then, I was the only one on the security line so it didn't matter.

[ingucis78 1]

My interview went great! Field office is 0.8 miles from my office. I still drove cos it's very cold in OH. I was there at exactly 30mins to. Went through the security thing and realized I had my cell phone and I've read that it causes delay through security, dang! But then, I was the only one on the security line so it didn't matter.

I was called in on time and the interview lasted for maybe 10mins. My interviewer was a guy. Basically swearing in, reading & writing an English sentence and responding to 6 civic qs. I got my first 6 right. As I reviewed my questions this morning before the interview, a few president-related qs were giving me a hard time especially - who wrote the declaration of independence. I found a way to remember the answers - eg. my boss' name is Thomas. So I thought if it's declaration of independence, all I need to think of is my boss and remember that it's Thomas Jefferson. Guess what, that was the 1st q. I was asked. The others were the party of the president, commander of the military (maybe not exact wording), one country that borders Mexico, 3 of the original colonies, and the 2 political parties in America.

Then we went thru' what I wrote on the application - just confirming and making sure nothing has changed. Then he asked if I had brought anything to show marriage and I had only our utility bills. I didn't know that I needed to submit evidence again at this stage cos I had looked at N400, thus, i hadn't collected stuff like I did for AOS and ROC . But I also carried my husband's DL and voter registration card. He took only the utility bills.

He then told me everything's ok. That he cannot approve my application today cos I am not 3yrs PR yet. I will be on 02/12, a Sunday. He said cos it's a Sunday, they don't open, so they should approve on 02/13. He said that I shouldn't think that something is wrong, or I need to submit anything, it's just cos i have not fulfilled one of the reqs i.e. 3yrs of PR. That one has to fulfill all the reqs to be approved.

He told me that once 2/13 comes and am approved, they will send me a letter of approval. That it will have 8 qs, basically about anything that has changed btwn now and then. If nothing has, then I will just answer no to all the qs. That I answer the qs. and date the letter on the day I come in for oath. I am not sure this same letter will be the oath letter, but whatever... He also asked me to sign my 2 passports that I mailed in with the application. I never did FP. (They should give me back my biometrics $ )

He also explained to me N600 for my daughter, he said it isn't mandatory cos a passport is proof of citizenship, but that the advantage of N600 is that she will get her own CON, and when she applies for her own passport, she will not have to prove how she became a PR and how she is eligible for citizenship. That if I don't apply for CON for her, then I will have to prove the above things with passport application. He also said that if she lost her passport, she will have her CON to prove her citizenship. Well, I am leaning towards not mailing in N600 cos it's equally not cheap. I have no problem providing evidence of her journey thru PR. And I think I can apply for a Passport card as I apply for a passport for her, and that will be as good evidence as CON.

Then that was it! If I did this again, I will wait 2 wks into my 90 days window to send in my N400. That way my interview will not be before am 3yrs a PR.

There was no one else in the waiting area for the entire time I was there but a couple and I.There was a couple who came in about 5 mins after I had been waiting and the guy got called in (by another interviewer not mine) shortly after. Looked like the lady was the USC. So for like 20mins I was waiting to be called in, the guy was already in. When he was called in, the interviewer told the lady to wait, that she will get to her later. What was interesting was the lovey-doveyness of this couple in that waiting area. C'mon now, pls. You don't have to act that way to proof that you are still hot for each other after 3 or more years, and still married . At least not in the field office. I got a little worried cos there I was husbandless When I was done with my interview, the guy was still being interviewed. That made me wonder what was going on...

Sorry, I tend to be wordy but that is my 'short' story. Hopefully I will not be forever waiting for the letter. I was told that it should come within 4wks after 2/12.

glad everything went well.and i hope you wont ahve to wait to much longer for your oath letter

[my-angel 1]

Congratulations, Jupiter07

[steve&mary 1]

As promised, here is my experience for the N400 citizenship interview. My U.S. citizen husband and I spent the night at the Days Inn, about a block from the USCIS office in New Orleans (Metaire). I was scheduled for 10:30 am and the letter said not to arrive any earlier than 30 minutes before your scheduled time.

We arrived at 10:10am, and went through security. There was no line. I put my interview letter in a slot through the door and was told to sit and wait. About 30 minutes later I was called in. When my husband stood up to walk in with me, the lady said very politely that she only needed me for the interview. So I was on my own!

We walked back to her office and she asked me to remain standing and raise my right hand - and swore to tell the truth.

First thing she asked was to see my green card, government issued ID (drivers license), and passports. She looked at them, and then started flipping through my file. When she saw my auto insurance card (with both our names on it), she asked who drove that car. I said my husband, and that I drove the Prius. At this she started asking me how I liked it and if it needed special gasoline (chit-chat). Then she looked at my employment history on my application and asked who I worked for or if I worked (I'm currently self-employed). So I explained how both my husband and I have the same profession (wildlife biologists) and what kind of work we do (she was very interested in it).

After the work question she asked if I've traveled outside of the country and for how long. I brought with me a detailed list of all my travels with dates. She kinda flipped through my passport pages, but didn't count the stamps or make sure the dates were the same on the application (I've read on VJ that some officers do this!). I did let her know that I had traveled once since I filed the application, and that trip was 10 days long. She also asked if I was a member of any organizations. I am a member of a LOT of conservation and animal advocacy organizations, so she asked me what the ASPCA and some others were.

She asked if my husband's been a US citizen, and I said yes, that I had his passport with me. But she didn't want to/need to see it. Then asked me a bunch of standard questions (have you filed your taxes, do you owe takes, are you a terrorist, have you been arrested, ect). So she printed out a few pages that were the civics/English test. First was the English test. Asked to write down a sentence she read out loud (something about Columbus Day). And then asked me to read a sentence (about Columbus Day).

Then she asked me some of the civics questions, maybe five or six of them (how many judges, declaration of independence, don't remember the others).

She said "it was quick and painless, right?" And printed out two sheets of papers and she checked two boxes on it and asked me to sign. She handed me the N-652 Naturalization interview results, which said "You passed the tests of English and U.S. history and government" and "A) Congratulations! Your application has been recommended for approval. At this time it appears that you have established your eligibility for naturalization. If final approval is granted, you will be notified when and where to report for the Oath Ceremony". She had me sign my two passport pictures.

So I was pretty happy, but then she said "Are you able to come to the oath ceremony on Feb 2, which is next Thursday?" I was SO HAPPY!!!! She gave me a letter with the date and time for the ceremony and other instructions for that day (bring the letter, green card, travel documents, etc). The back of the letter has 8 yes or no questions that must be uestions li the day of the oath (questions like, since the interview have you been arrested, ect).

She never asked to see additional documentation, although I was prepared with a bunch of papers/proof. I did a pretty good job of sending everything in my original application (3 years of taxes, joint savings account, credit cards, health and life insurance, car payments, car insurance -- all joint. Plus we've been married for over six years). She only made a comment about me JUST being eligible for naturalization -- on Jan 5th was my 3-year Green card anniversary.

The officer was very polite and friendly. She even apologized for calling me in a little later than the scheduled time. All in all it was a GREAT experience in the New Orleans office, we were there for one hour, including going through security and waiting to be called in.

Hope this helps other N-400 / New Orleans filers.

Edited January 30, 2012 by steve&mary