N-400 February 2013 Filers

[Calypso 464]

Interviews this week:

04/30 (tomorrow, Tuesday) Mum2LGandC

04/30 chocochibi

05/03 (Friday) cycling_girl

Have a great time!

[VABear 0]

As promised, here is my husband's review of his interview in Lawrence, MA. I would have posted this under "Reviews: Embassy/USCIS & POE" too, but Lawrence doesn't seem to be one of the options available in the dropdown list there. If a moderator is reading this, maybe Lawrence can be added to the list?

"I had a late morning appointment at the Lawrence office and I arrived an hour early. I didn't know what the traffic was going to be like and I didn't want to take any chances. There's a small parking lot across the road, they charge $6 per day. One block to the west there's another one that charges $2 but it looked full. Unfortunately, the area around the office looks kind of crappy and run down. I really wish they had sent me to Boston.

I walked in the office half an hour before the appointment and went through airport-style security (take off your belt, let me see your laptop, etc.). I was the only person at security at the time so I went through quickly. After that I went to the reception desk and showed them my appointment letter. The gentleman there stamped and kept the letter and told me to wait at the waiting area and I would be called by name.

The waiting area was quite pleasant. It has big windows so it was quite bright (it was a nice day outside). The seats looked fairly new and were roomy and comfortable (just don't expect plush armchairs though!). There were only a handful of people waiting so it was far from crowded. There are restrooms near the waiting area and they were very clean.

Ten minutes after my appointment time I was called, indeed by name, by the officer who was going to conduct the interview who led me to the small interview office. She first asked me to remain standing, raise my right hand, and swear that I'll tell the truth and nothing but the truth to which I of course said 'I do'.

She first asked me for my green card, checked the details, and started with the test. The questions she asked were:

What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

Who is the Governor of Massachusetts?

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

Name two national U.S. Holidays.

Who was the first President?

I answered all the questions correctly and she didn't proceed further than the sixth one. Then the (highly anticipated by me!) English “test” followed. I had to read the phrase:

Who lives in the White House?

and I had to write down:

The President lives in the White House.

She thankfully understood my scribbles and told me that I had passed the tests.

We then went over my application. She asked me to repeat a lot of the information that was in the application (full name, SSN, address, country of birth, etc.). I travel a fair amount internationally and she asked me whether a lot of it was for work (yes and no), whether I had done any international trips that lasted longer than 6 months (no), and what was my last international trip (February). She then asked me for my wife's name, whether I remember when we got married (!!!), and noted that we have a pending I-130. I mentioned that it had actually been approved by USCIS the previous week and was on its way to the NVC to which she smiled.

When it came to the arrests / detentions / etc. I had only indicated that I had got a traffic ticket 10 years ago. I had a printout of my driving record from the RMV with me, which I had also included in the application, but she didn't ask what happened, whether the fine had been paid, etc. She did explicitly ask whether I had any arrests not only in the US but anywhere else in the world to which I of course said no. Finally, we went through all the No questions (Have you been a habitual drunkard? Have you been a member of the Communist party? Etc.) and then all the Yes questions (Do you support the Constitution of the US? Are you willing to take the full Oath of Allegiance to the US? Etc.). She then signed the application and asked me to sign it along with the two passport-style photos I had included in my application. After that she said that one of her colleagues would go through my application but she would recommend me for citizenship. I should point out that I had some extra material with me which was indicated in the 'To Bring' list (all my passports, extra photos, etc.) but she didn't ask for any of it.

She then walked me back to the waiting area and on the way she gave me some extra literature (a booklet on the US constitution, some US history material, etc.). She congratulated me and asked me to take a seat at the waiting area. The whole interview took about half an hour, maybe a bit less. After another ten minutes or so I was called by name by another officer who again congratulated me and gave me the paperwork for the Oath Ceremony on June 12 in Lowell (again, I would have preferred Boston but I won't complain!). I should point out that this second officer was very personable, tried to match names to faces, talked to people pleasantly and with a smile, and generally gave a very positive impression. I was then on my way having spent around an hour and fifteen minutes at the Lawrence office.

Overall, it was a painless experience. Everyone I talked to (the officers, receptionist, etc.) were pleasant and smiled, the office was very quiet as it was not crowded, and the timing quite prompt. I have no complaints."

I take it not all offices do the 2nd "interview" thing. Mine didn't. I'm still waiting on a date for the oath, any ideas how long that normally takes to get?

[Inky 1,110]

Thanks for your review! It sounds like you had a great experience. Congratulations again!

Good luck tomorrow!! Fingers crossed you get same day oath!

[VABear 0]

I take it not all offices do the 2nd "interview" thing. Mine didn't. I'm still waiting on a date for the oath, any ideas how long that normally takes to get?

Ok, within about 10 minutes of me posting that I got a status update in my email and phone....

Application Type: N400 , APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Your Case Status: Oath Ceremony

[Mum2LGandC 2]

Thanks for all the good luck wishes! I will post an update tomorrow evening once the kids are in bed.

And thank you Inky for the same day oath wishes!!

Ok, within about 10 minutes of me posting that I got a status update in my email and phone....

Application Type: N400 , APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Your Case Status: Oath Ceremony

Yay!

[Calypso 464]

Ok, within about 10 minutes of me posting that I got a status update in my email and phone....

Application Type: N400 , APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Your Case Status: Oath Ceremony

Congratulations on the update!

[Hedi 24]

Hopefully the IO who'll interview him is an amiable one. Good luck to you and your husband!

I understand how busy you can get. I taught high school in the Philippines for a few years before I moved to the US.

A fellow teacher. Yes, it can be hectic at the end of the school year and with the federal and state mandated testing (No Child Left Behind) we are almost prisoners of the tests for the next 3 weeks.

I hope if my husband is asked as to my presence, his answer will be acceptable and the IO will understand my situation.

Thanks for all the good luck wishes! I will post an update tomorrow evening once the kids are in bed.

And thank you Inky for the same day oath wishes!!

Yay!

Good luck!!

Ok, within about 10 minutes of me posting that I got a status update in my email and phone....

Application Type: N400 , APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Your Case Status: Oath Ceremony

Congratulations!

[Mum2LGandC 2]

Good luck tomorrow chococibi!!

[queuedup 1]

Updating Interview date...Interview is on May 31st.

I need to rebook flights as the interview is literally 2 days before we were set to come back, but I want to avoid rescheduling the interview.

=================================
N-400: February 2013 Applicants
=================================

======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName............|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|InLine..|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
TENZY...............|02/01/13|--/--/--|02/08/13|03/05/13|03/07/13|04/19/13|05/23/13|--/--/--|Queens, NY
FINDMELUCKY.........|02/02/13|02/05/13|02/07/13|02/15/13|03/25/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Atlanta,GA
MRS D...............|02/02/13|02/07/13|02/13/13|03/01/13|03/05/13|04/10/13|05/09/13|--/--/--|Dallas, TX
CYCLING_GIRL........|02/02/13|02/08/13|02/11/13|02/20/13|03/29/13|04/04/13|05/03/13|--/--/--|Norfolk, VA (EB 2/15/13)
KAYLIE..............|02/02/13|--/--/--|02/20/13|03/04/13|03/22/13|04/20/13|05/23/13|--/--/--|Newark, NJ
AMBASEL.............|02/04/13|02/05/13|02/05/13|02/14/13|--/--/--|04/18/13|05/21/13|--/--/--|New York, NY
CORINAN.............|02/05/13|02/14/13|02/13/13|02/26/13|04/05/13|--/--/--|05/14/13|--/--/--|San Juan, PR
DND2009.............|02/06/13|02/12/13|02/11/13|02/26/13|04/05/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY
JOSHUE .............|02/06/13|02/14/13|02/13/13|02/27/13|04/08/13|04/15/13|05/21/13|--/--/--|Brooklyn, NY
LAILUMINADA33.......|02/06/13|02/14/13|02/13/13|03/04/13|03/08/13|03/23/13|04/24/13|--/--/--|Brooklyn, NY
QUEUEDUP............|02/06/13|02/13/13|02/13/13|02/21/13|02/26/13|04/24/13|05/31/13|--/--/--|New York, NY (EB 02/21/13)
GHANAMADE88.........|02/07/13|--/--/--|02/08/13|02/25/13|03/02/13|--/--/--|04/18/13|06/12/13|Boston, MA
AJ911 ..............|02/07/13|02/13/13|02/12/13|03/06/13|03/08/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Orlando, FL
ATHENA JUNE.........|02/08/13|02/19/13|02/20/13|03/04/13|03/12/13|03/22/13|04/24/13|06/12/13|Boston, MA
ASIFH...............|02/09/13|02/14/13|02/14/13|02/21/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Washington D.C. (EB)
FORUMSUB............|02/11/13|02/15/13|02/21/13|02/25/13|04/08/13|04/15/13|06/03/13|--/--/--|San Antonio, TX
VABEAR..............|02/12/13|02/15/13|02/15/13|03/15/13|03/19/13|03/24/13|04/24/13|--/--/--|Norfolk, VA
JOAN >3 BOB.........|02/13/13|02/14/13|02/19/13|03/06/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Charleston, SC
FIGHTER_ALWAYS......|02/14/13|02/22/13|03/01/13|03/13/13|04/08/13|04/16/13|05/21/13|--/--/--|Houston, TX (moved from Ithaca, NY)
CHOCOCHIBI..........|02/15/13|02/25/13|02/26/13|03/11/13|03/21/13|03/27/13|04/30/13|--/--/--|Memphis, TN
PETUNKA.............|02/19/13|02/26/13|03/02/13|03/12/13|03/13/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY (EB 03/05/13)
MOON1982............|02/21/13|02/28/13|02/27/13|03/19/13|04/22/13|04/27/13|06/05/13|--/--/--|Tampa, FL
QQQUAKER............|02/23/13|03/04/13|03/01/13|03/12/13|03/28/13|04/11/13|05/23/13|--/--/--|Tampa, FL
ARUN+CATIE..........|02/25/13|03/01/13|03/08/13|03/21/13|03/25/13|04/18/13|05/22/13|--/--/--|Tampa, FL
AIRFORCE............|02/26/13|02/27/13|02/26/13|03/18/13|03/20/13|04/01/13|05/09/13|--/--/--|Dallas, TX


================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================
UserName............|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|InLine..|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
AUTUMNAL............|02/01/13|--/--/--|02/06/13|02/27/13|--/--/--|04/01/13|05/15/13|--/--/--|Detroit, MI
STEVIEG2123.........|02/04/13|02/08/13|02/07/13|03/07/13|--/--/--|04/05/13|05/10/13|--/--/--|Phoenix, AZ
SCIENCENERD.........|02/04/13|02/11/13|02/08/13|03/05/13|04/04/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Portland, OR
HEDI................|02/06/13|02/13/13|02/12/13|03/11/13|03/27/13|03/30/13|05/06/13|--/--/--|San Diego, CA
MONY88..............|02/06/13|02/11/13|02/14/13|03/07/13|04/08/13|04/20/13|05/23/13|--/--/--|Chicago, IL
MUM2LGANDC..........|02/14/13|02/25/13|02/22/13|03/18/13|03/20/13|03/25/13|04/30/13|--/--/--|Omaha, NE
MARKIEBOY...........|02/15/13|02/22/13|02/21/13|03/19/13|04/18/13|04/22/13|05/28/13|--/--/--|Seattle, WA
ROSELINDA...........|02/16/13|02/20/13|02/22/13|03/15/13|03/19/13|03/22/13|04/23/13|--/--/--|Indianapolis, IN
NIGERIAORBUST.......|02/16/13|02/25/13|02/22/13|03/13/13|04/01/13|04/25/13|05/29/13|--/--/--|San Bernardino, CA
SPYGAME.............|02/19/13|02/26/13|02/21/13|03/06/13|04/22/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA (EB)
CHICAGOMAMMY........|02/20/13|02/27/13|02/26/13|03/25/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL
SAIF9171............|02/22/13|03/01/13|02/28/13|03/27/13|03/29/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL
CALYPSO.............|02/25/13|02/??/13|02/28/13|03/22/13|03/15/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA (EB 03/13/13)
YEYI02..............|02/25/13|03/04/13|03/06/13|03/28/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Seattle, WA
YULECHKA42..........|02/25/13|03/04/13|03/01/13|03/28/13|04/22/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Jose, CA
MI.PI...............|02/25/13|03/04/13|03/18/13|04/09/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Detroit, MI
THAKROZ.............|02/28/13|03/07/13|03/06/13|03/27/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Denver, CO


===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName............|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|InLine..|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
ECG19...............|02/02/13|02/08/13|02/15/13|03/19/13|03/21/13|--/--/--|03/27/13|03/27/13|Sacramento, CA I'm A United States Citizen
INKY................|02/04/13|02/08/13|02/13/13|03/08/13|03/12/13|03/16/13|04/16/13|04/16/13|Omaha, NE - I'm A United States Citizen


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[Calypso 464]

After being in line for exactly one month and 15 days, I received a text message from USCIS at 9 o'clock last night so I checked my case status online.

"On April 29, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview."

I'm expecting my interview letter before Wednesday next week. It should arrive sooner though.

[Mum2LGandC 2]

I passed my interview!!! The hard part is over.

The officer brought me back, had me swear to tell the truth and then had me take a seat. She asked for my green card, my photo ID and my most current passport. She then went over the questions on my application. She had me sign on one line and then print and sign my name on another line. I then had my English test. I had to read "Who lives in the White House?" and had to write "The President lives in the White House". She then began the civics test. I got all 6 questions right.

1. What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?

2. Who is the governer of your state?

3. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

4. Where is the Statue of Liberty located?

5. Name 2 US holidays.

6. Who was the first US president?

She congratulated me on passing the exam and has recommended me for approval. Normally Omaha does same day oath ceremonies, but the person that does the certificates is out of the office this week, so I will be sent a letter letting me know when my oath ceremony will be. I am a little bummed that I didn't get a same day oath, but the officer did say that they are planning some special oath ceremonies this summer, so that is kind of exciting!!

The officer was very nice and polite. She asked about my kids and mentioned that she has a granddaughter that is the same age as my oldest son. The total time of my interview was 10-15 minutes! Now to breath a sigh of relief and wait for my oath letter.

ETA: I just looked at my ticker and it has been 2 months, 2 weeks & 2 days since I submitted my application! That is kind of a neat timeframe.

Edited April 30, 2013 by Mum2LGandC

[Calypso 464]

I passed my interview!!! The hard part is over.

The officer brought me back, had me swear to tell the truth and then had me take a seat. She asked for my green card, my photo ID and my most current passport. She then went over the questions on my application. She had me sign on one line and then print and sign my name on another line. I then had my English test. I had to read "Who lives in the White House?" and had to write "The President lives in the White House". She then began the civics test. I got all 6 questions right.

1. What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?

2. Who is the governer of your state?

3. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

4. Where is the Statue of Liberty located?

5. Name 2 US holidays.

6. Who was the first US president?

She congratulated me on passing the exam and has recommended me for approval. Normally Omaha does same day oath ceremonies, but the person that does the certificates is out of the office this week, so I will be sent a letter letting me know when my oath ceremony will be. I am a little bummed that I didn't get a same day oath, but the officer did say that they are planning some special oath ceremonies this summer, so that is kind of exciting!!

The officer was very nice and polite. She asked about my kids and mentioned that she has a granddaughter that is the same age as my oldest son. The total time of my interview was 10-15 minutes! Now to breath a sigh of relief and wait for my oath letter.

ETA: I just looked at my ticker and it has been 2 months, 2 weeks & 2 days since I submitted my application! That is kind of a neat timeframe.

Congratulations! Thanks for writing a review.

[spygame 2]

After being in line for exactly one month and 15 days, I received a text message from USCIS at 9 o'clock last night so I checked my case status online.

"On April 29, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview."

I'm expecting my interview letter before Wednesday next week. It should arrive sooner though.

Congrats, hopefully i will see an update soon as well

[Mum2LGandC 2]

After being in line for exactly one month and 15 days, I received a text message from USCIS at 9 o'clock last night so I checked my case status online.

"On April 29, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview."

I'm expecting my interview letter before Wednesday next week. It should arrive sooner though.

Yay!! Congrats!

[Hedi 24]

After being in line for exactly one month and 15 days, I received a text message from USCIS at 9 o'clock last night so I checked my case status online.

"On April 29, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview."

I'm expecting my interview letter before Wednesday next week. It should arrive sooner though.

Yay! That is good news.

I passed my interview!!! The hard part is over.

The officer brought me back, had me swear to tell the truth and then had me take a seat. She asked for my green card, my photo ID and my most current passport. She then went over the questions on my application. She had me sign on one line and then print and sign my name on another line. I then had my English test. I had to read "Who lives in the White House?" and had to write "The President lives in the White House". She then began the civics test. I got all 6 questions right.

1. What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?

2. Who is the governer of your state?

3. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

4. Where is the Statue of Liberty located?

5. Name 2 US holidays.

6. Who was the first US president?

She congratulated me on passing the exam and has recommended me for approval. Normally Omaha does same day oath ceremonies, but the person that does the certificates is out of the office this week, so I will be sent a letter letting me know when my oath ceremony will be. I am a little bummed that I didn't get a same day oath, but the officer did say that they are planning some special oath ceremonies this summer, so that is kind of exciting!!

The officer was very nice and polite. She asked about my kids and mentioned that she has a granddaughter that is the same age as my oldest son. The total time of my interview was 10-15 minutes! Now to breath a sigh of relief and wait for my oath letter.

ETA: I just looked at my ticker and it has been 2 months, 2 weeks & 2 days since I submitted my application! That is kind of a neat timeframe.

Congratulations!! Thanks for the review.