Help with upcoming n-400 interview

[BravoSF 0]

Hello,

Happy new year to all!

I am scheduled to have my N-400 interview on Jan 17th. I have 2 questions:

1. I am planning a trip abroad in early Feb. When will I know the date of the oath ceremony, so I can avoid booking my tickets on that date. Will the inform me the oath date right after my interview or will the mail me letter for that? How long does it normally take after the interview to get the letter?

2. I plan to legally change both my first and last names. When should I do it? After the oath ceremony, and before I get my new US. passport? Or after I get my US. passport with my old name on it, then change my name with the court and get a new passport with my new name on it? *I am in San Francisco. It looks like that they no longer change your name for you during the interview process. I will have to be done separately with the court.

Thanks a million!

Weixing

[jkelly07 120]

if you look at other n-400 timelines it's about one month after the interview,

[BravoSF 0]

if you look at other n-400 timelines it's about one month after the interview,

Thanks for your reply! So I can assume it's safe for me to go overseas for a week right after my interview? Will the immigration officer be able to tell me when my oath will be or do I have to wait a letter from USCIS?

[NickD 203]

What if a decision cannot be made at this time because they want proof you paid a parking ticket you received 40 years ago? Or they misplaced one of your key documents or simply misplaced your entire file.

How can you plan anything with certainty when dealing with the USCIS? Why can't the USCIS hire a competent director, just some character that helped the president get elected, still don't have a permanent director. Why can't all field offices have the same day oath, but if they did, you will have problems getting your US Passport in time. Same day oath is the most efficient way.

So you are asking a question as to how to plan when dealing with the USCIS when there exists a constant number of variables.

If you pass your interview, and do get a quick oath ceremony and not around, worse thing that could happen is a major delay in your oath ceremony. When you file for US citizenship, you are making a commitment to follow their dates and procedures, your life is in their hands for that unknown period of time.

[jabulani 1]

Hello,

Happy new year to all!

I am scheduled to have my N-400 interview on Jan 17th. I have 2 questions:

1. I am planning a trip abroad in early Feb. When will I know the date of the oath ceremony, so I can avoid booking my tickets on that date. Will the inform me the oath date right after my interview or will the mail me letter for that? How long does it normally take after the interview to get the letter?

2. I plan to legally change both my first and last names. When should I do it? After the oath ceremony, and before I get my new US. passport? Or after I get my US. passport with my old name on it, then change my name with the court and get a new passport with my new name on it? *I am in San Francisco. It looks like that they no longer change your name for you during the interview process. I will have to be done separately with the court.

Thanks a million!

Weixing

I can only give insight on your first question. The oath depends on your local office. Some offices give oath same day as interview, some give you the oath letter there and then and others mail it. For my case in atlanta office, i asked the IO when i was likely to get my oath letter and she said it was probably going to be january (i interviewed mid dec.). So 2 days after my interview i went for a trip abroad for about 2 weeks. I am still waiting for the oath letter...the other thing you can do is create an account on the uscis website (if you haven't done so already) to receive updates (text and email) whenever your case status is updated so that way you are aware of when/if they have mailed the oath letter. I hope this helps:)

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Your Oath depends on what city you are in. Without knowing this, I'd say you'll be fine traveling a few weeks after your interview.

OF COURSE you change your name as part of the naturalization process!

Remember the question in this regard on the N-400 form? If you did not indicate a name change on the form do it at the interview when the I.O. goes through your application piece by piece.

Say: "Sir/Madam, I have not indicated this on my form but I wish to change my name." The I.O. will then do it right then and there, and you will receive your CoN in your new name (plus the name change document attached to it) and all following documents will be in your new name based on this.

[BravoSF 0]

Your Oath depends on what city you are in. Without knowing this, I'd say you'll be fine traveling a few weeks after your interview.

OF COURSE you change your name as part of the naturalization process!

Remember the question in this regard on the N-400 form? If you did not indicate a name change on the form do it at the interview when the I.O. goes through your application piece by piece.

Say: "Sir/Madam, I have not indicated this on my form but I wish to change my name." The I.O. will then do it right then and there, and you will receive your CoN in your new name (plus the name change document attached to it) and all following documents will be in your new name based on this.

Thanks for your reply! I am in San Francisco. According the info I found online, they no longer provide name change service with naturalization here in SF. It will have to be a separate court process afterwards, I think. Yes, I did indicate the name change thing on the N-400 form, though.

[BravoSF 0]

What if a decision cannot be made at this time because they want proof you paid a parking ticket you received 40 years ago? Or they misplaced one of your key documents or simply misplaced your entire file.

How can you plan anything with certainty when dealing with the USCIS? Why can't the USCIS hire a competent director, just some character that helped the president get elected, still don't have a permanent director. Why can't all field offices have the same day oath, but if they did, you will have problems getting your US Passport in time. Same day oath is the most efficient way.

So you are asking a question as to how to plan when dealing with the USCIS when there exists a constant number of variables.

If you pass your interview, and do get a quick oath ceremony and not around, worse thing that could happen is a major delay in your oath ceremony. When you file for US citizenship, you are making a commitment to follow their dates and procedures, your life is in their hands for that unknown period of time.

Thanks for your help! You are right that when dealing with USCIS, nothing is certain. I have booked my flights already and they non-refundable tickets. So I guess I will just take the plunge and see what happens. My trip starts the day after my interview and I will be back 2 weeks after that. Hopefully, my trip will not jeopardize my naturalization process. Keeping my finger crossed!

I can only give insight on your first question. The oath depends on your local office. Some offices give oath same day as interview, some give you the oath letter there and then and others mail it. For my case in atlanta office, i asked the IO when i was likely to get my oath letter and she said it was probably going to be january (i interviewed mid dec.). So 2 days after my interview i went for a trip abroad for about 2 weeks. I am still waiting for the oath letter...the other thing you can do is create an account on the uscis website (if you haven't done so already) to receive updates (text and email) whenever your case status is updated so that way you are aware of when/if they have mailed the oath letter. I hope this helps:)

My local office will be the San Francisco office. No sure how they inform people in regard to the oath date.

Thanks for you insight and best luck to you! I hope your oath letter arrives soon!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Thanks for your reply! I am in San Francisco. According the info I found online, they no longer provide name change service with naturalization here in SF. It will have to be a separate court process afterwards, I think. Yes, I did indicate the name change thing on the N-400 form, though.

I know many things run differently in California, in regard to gays, illegal aliens, and whatnot, but I don't think anybody in San Francisco can change federal law.