N-400 April 2013 Filers

[Jamericanlove 31]

I understand it has to be updated, but why can't I do that when the license expires?

Well technically I suppose there's nothing stopping you from not doing it right away. I know that social security benefits are tied in to your status so it would be a benefit to change that ASAP. Also, if you happen to get stopped by a police officer or some other official and they run your info you will come up as a LPR even though you are really USC. Just seems like something you'd want them to be able to verify easily without having to take your word for it. I'm sure there are other reasons but those are the first two that come to mind.

Check out this recently added section of the forum canadian_wife.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/158-passports-etc-what-to-do-now-that-you-are-a-us-citizen/

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Thanks

[Nimaan 27]

Hmm...I never knew you had to go to the SSA or the DMV, why is that? I mean my driver's license doesn't expire until 2017 and your SSN is good for life right?

Can someone shed light on it for me?

You know, in case USCIS wants to give me and Nimaan good news any time soon.

Well, it doesn't look like they want to give us the good news anytime soon since we are now finishing up our third week.

SSA--I will try to update it whenever I can. My work schedule may be changing to 7-3.30pm so I don't think I can make before they close.

DMV--since the wait times are crazy long, maybe I will do it later. Not sure if I want to pay $35 to change it right now.

Passport-- will try to do it right away!

But first let the approvals be given!!!!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

My main reason for doing it soon is so I can pack my Naturalisation Certificate away and not think about it.

My license will probably wait until next year. The lady didn't really say it was super urgent, and I figure the SSA is more important than the DMV. Local LEO's aren't allowed to ask about my status anyway so seeing "LPR" on my license shouldn't matter... I would hope.

I've since found out there's a SSA office near my work so I'll do it there when I take my Naturalisation Cert into court to apply for the passport. 2 birds, 1 stone.

[texas_dude78665 0]

I had my interview this morning in LA (Chatsworth) and waited a little over an hour just to be called in by the IO. Finally heard my name and was taken back for the interview. The IO immediately hit me with the civics questions and they were as follows:

1) How many U.S. Senators?

2) What is the age requirement for Selective Service?

3) What ocean is on the Eastern half of the U.S.?

4) When was the Constitution written?

5) What are three of the original 13 colonies?

6) What is the voting age for U.S. Citizens?

I nailed each one in rapid succession (about 2 minutes or so)! After the interview she had me sign my name change forms and told me "Congratulations, you've passed your naturalization interview and I'm going to recommend approval at this point. Your oath letter will more than likely arrive in about 90-days since our division (Los Angeles) is extremely impacted with folks applying for citizenship." Just then she said "Oh wait, hold on." She then proceeded to pick up her phone and talk to someone about my file in that it wouldn't allow for a scheduling of my oath. She then hung up the phone and asked me what my plans are for October 23rd (two weeks from now). I told her I didn't have any plans (other than work) and she said "today is your lucky day, we have five openings for the October 23rd oath ceremony if you're interested." So of course I said "YES!" She then said "had you interviewed twenty minutes earlier you would of been out of luck and would have to wait until January for your oath!"

Finally, she asked me to stick around for about 30-45 minutes while they quickly run my application through the background database again one more time and then will have an oath letter prepared for me in time to make the October 23rd session. So sure enough 45 minutes later the same IO came out and handed me my official oath letter. I actually just also received the USCIS email & text messages indicating that my file has been scheduled for the oath ceremony.

The marathon is almost over; two more weeks and I'll be a USC!

Edited October 7, 2013 by texas_dude78665

[DC85 113]

I had my interview this morning in LA (Chatsworth) and waited a little over an hour just to be called in by the IO. Finally heard my name and was taken back for the interview. The IO immediately hit me with the civics questions and they were as follows:

1) How many U.S. Senators?

2) What is the age requirement for Selective Service?

3) What ocean is on the Eastern half of the U.S.?

4) When was the Constitution written?

5) What are three of the original 13 colonies?

6) What is the voting age for U.S. Citizens?

I nailed each one in rapid succession (about 2 minutes or so)! After the interview she had me sign my name change forms and told me "Congratulations, you've passed your naturalization interview and I'm going to recommend approval at this point. Your oath letter will more than likely arrive in about 90-days since our division (Los Angeles) is extremely impacted with folks applying for citizenship." Just then she said "Oh wait, hold on." She then proceeded to pick up her phone and talk to someone about my file in that it wouldn't allow for a scheduling of my oath. She then hung up the phone and asked me what my plans are for October 23rd (two weeks from now). I told her I didn't have any plans (other than work) and she said "today is your lucky day, we have five openings for the October 23rd oath ceremony if you're interested." So of course I said "YES!" She then said "had you interviewed twenty minutes earlier you would of been out of luck and would have to wait until January for your oath!"

Finally, she asked me to stick around for about 30-45 minutes while they quickly run my application through the background database again one more time and then will have an oath letter prepared for me in time to make the October 23rd session. So sure enough 45 minutes later the same IO came out and handed me my official oath letter. I actually just also received the USCIS email & text messages indicating that my file has been scheduled for the oath ceremony.

The marathon is almost over; two more weeks and I'll be a USC!

Congratulation

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Congrats!

[Jamericanlove 31]

Congrats Texas_Dude!

[Nimaan 27]

Congrats Texas Dude!

[nightingale 59 0]

Congratulations Texas dude.

[HappyDancer 7]

Congrats Texas_dude!!!

[otta 7]

Congratulations, Texas Dude! You deserve a quick oath after waiting so long!

Sadly, no good news here. Had my interview this morning. Started off well, the exam was ok, then the IO started going through my application line by line. Although he was courteous at the start, he somehow became impatient and almost hostile towards me.

He seemed irritated to have to look through my passports for stamps, to verify travel dates. He thought I had 2 valid passports, although I explained that one was invalidated because I ran out of pages and so had to apply for a new one. He seemed unhappy that the days spent abroad didn't match up (the first question on the application asked for number of days abroad in the past 5 years, but then you have to list trips since becoming a resident, which in my case was 3 years). At the end, he asked me for extra evidence of ongoing marital relationship since I received the 10-year green card. I knew from this forum that sometimes people are asked that, so I had some bank statements and bills. I was asked to provide them for each month (I always thought every 3rd months was enough to establish continuity!), and also why I didn't have a new lease (there is an explanation for it, a legal matter). I was asked for copies of my passport (didn't have it, but had the originals). Upon seeing a photocopy of my US citizen husband's passport in the document pile (I submitted it with the N400 as proof of his citizenship), the IO impatiently remarked he needs a copy of my passport, not his. (How am I to blame for sending in what was requested?) I apologized for not bringing more documents and mentioned that I would have been happy to do so, had the interview letter specified it. IO's response was that "the burden of proof is on the applicant." Never mind that I DID have additional evidence of ongoing relationship, although not formally requested on the interview letter. I didn't say anything in response, because that wouldn't have helped. There were a couple more odd issues like that.

This is the sad part about USCIS: you are as docile as possible, and yet someone can still speak to you as if you were an idiot. I heard another interview next door where a woman started shouting that she was being treated as if she was illiterate. Not sure what caused her outburst, but I can see how people might get frustrated. Another interview next to mine was a breeze that took 5 minutes. Mine lasted 45 and I'm still crying out of frustration at being treated like that and having no ability to do anything about my situation.

I don't know what happened today. After being nice at the start, it seemed the IO turned against me. I'm saddened by this, but what can I do. Waited 6 months for the interview, was sent home and told to wait for a letter, "possibly requesting more evidence."

[otta 7]

I want to remove some information from the post above, but am no longer allowed to edit it after just half an hour. Can a moderator help? Is it possible to delete the post or let me edit it? It contains too much case-specific information and my case is still ongoing. Thanks.

[Nimaan 27]

Otta,

Sorry about your experience..do you know why the io couldn't make copies of your passport?

[DanieLMelara 7]

Congrats texas dude.

I am sure the INFO PASS helped with all this.

after your INFOPASS everything moved SO quicky.

I had my interview this morning in LA (Chatsworth) and waited a little over an hour just to be called in by the IO. Finally heard my name and was taken back for the interview. The IO immediately hit me with the civics questions and they were as follows: