N-400 - SEPTEMBER 2013 FILERS

[Whtevr 0]

OlegAndSveta, let us know how your Oath ceremony went.

[Justine+David 218]

Still waiting on Baltimore...and it snowed again today. Starting to wonder if we will ever get it...

[OlegAndSveta 1]

So, it finally happened. Can hardly believe it myself... we sent I-129F in October of 2009, so taking in the account time to prepare it, it was exactly 4.5 years of journey. Honestly, I'm incredibly happy now. Finally, nobody can make decisions, affecting future of my family, but I and my family. That is SUCH a good feeling.

As per ceremony itself... I wasn't impressed. In my opinion, Chicago office could do much better job. First of all, it was over 130 people in the crowd, taking oath, at once. Imagine how long it took to let them in, register, sit them up in predefined order, then, latter, to give each of them certificates, etc. Whole thing took 2.5 hours from the moment we were scheduled to arrive until the moment we were out. But that all could be understood. The part which definitely ruined it both for me and Svetlana was a speech the branch manager of USCIS office gave. That was plain terrible. She gave a short, hardly 5 minutes speech, which she read from the paper, where she was emphasizing how great of the country compare to others USA is, what a unique opportunities new citizens would have, and how big of the favor US is making to them, allowing them onboard, and how grateful for the rest of the lives they should be. I'm not over-exaggerating it. That is exactly a twist she put on it. It sounded plain offensive, and I'm pretty sure it meant to sound this way. I'm very surprised by that, because 9 years ago, in Milwaukee, when I took my oath, I remember a man, giving long, thoughtful and truly moving speech (talking without paper), which was respectful, encouraging and cheerful. Nothing like a speech I heard today.

Now, on the practical side... they allow you to register to vote, after the certificates a handled, they allow guests into the room, and they allow you to make photos in the room where oath is given (but not anywhere else, and that is very strict). I guess, that is all. I will not be leaving this forum, now, when my family's journey is over. So, let me know how is your progress, Whtevr. I still would be there.

Best of luck to you, and all of you, guys, who will read my message. And thanks for the help goes to all those numerous members of visajourney, who wrote the guides, I used, and who supported me along the way when road was bumpy. Thanks a lot!

OlegAndSveta

OlegAndSveta, let us know how your Oath ceremony went.

=======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
=======================================

UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice

Cala Bel.........|06/20/13|08/26/13|--/--/--|09/04/13|10/01/13|09/17/13|--/--/--|02/20/14|--/--/--|Hartford, CT
Tom&Tanya........|11/08/13|08/31/13|09/05/13|09/04/13|09/27/13|10/08/13|10/15/13|11/13/13|12/13/13|West Palm Beach, FL
Mav_1975.........|02/12/13|09/01/13|09/05/13|09/06/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX
Lars-N-Yenia.....|09/30/11|09/04/13|09/10/13|09/05/13|09/19/13|09/23/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ
girimurthy.......|06/16/11|09/04/13|09/12/13|09/09/13|09/24/13|09/26/13|12/09/13|01/16/14|01/31/14|Hialeah, FL
Elafito..........|01/15/13|09/06/13|09/13/13|09/19/13|10/04/13|10/08/13|12/13/13|01/21/14|--/--/--|Boston, MA
raparap..........|11/14/13|09/07/13|09/16/13|09/20/13|10/07/13|10/09/13|12/21/13|01/25/14|01/25/14|Newark, NJ
Justine+David....|06/19/13|09/09/13|09/19/13|09/17/13|10/29/13|10/31/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Baltimore, MD
Dpeter736........|--/--/--|09/13/13|09/19/13|09/27/13|10/21/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Oakland Park, FL
letmein..........|--/--/--|09/13/13|09/18/13|09/23/13|10/11/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA
psiprez..........|09/02/11|09/13/13|09/25/13|09/20/13|10/21/13|10/23/13|01/11/14|02/10/14|02/10/14|Newark, NJ
NatzG............|09/22/10|09/16/13|09/23/13|09/18/13|10/18/13|10/22/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Baltimore, MD
usagirl12........|09/15/13|09/21/13|09/27/13|09/30/13|10/18/13|11/14/13|11/18/13|12/19/13|02/05/14|Louisville,KY
Read.............|--/--/--|09/23/13|09/30|13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Philadelphia,PA
Sachinky.........|02/20/13|09/23/13|09/26/13|09/25/13|10/16/13|10/18/13|10/24/13|12/03/13|12/20/13|Albuquerque,NM
Futurama.........|--/--/--|09/24/13|09/30/13|09/25/13|10/25/13|10/29/13|12/30/13|02/06/14|--/--/--|Boston, MA
silkafi88........|09/28/13|09/25/13|10/04/13|09/30/13|10/24/13|11/27/13|12/05/13|01/02/14|02/28/14|Louisville,KY
mjc79............|12/17/13|09/25/13|10/02/13|10/07/13|10/28/13|11/18/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York City, NY

==============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================

UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
alex and astrid..|01/23/13|09/05/13|09/12/13|09/09/13|10/03/13|10/07/13|11/12/13|12/18/13|01/14/14|Chatsworth, CA
Lasko12..........|--/--/--|09/06/13|09/11/13|09/16/13|10/11/13|10/24/13|10/31/13|12/02/13|01/23/14|San Jose, CA
newlyweds2010....|12/07/13|09/07/13|09/13/13|09/10/13|10/04/13|11/06/13|11/09/13|12/16/13|01/29/14|San Francisco, CA
WindyCity22a.....|--/--/--|09/10/13|09/16/13|09/19/13|09/27/13|10/03/13|10/31/13|12/03/12|12/12/13|Chicago, IL
RoamingTheNet....|12/02/13|09/03/13|09/09/13|09/11/13|09/25/13|11/01/13|12/06/13|01/08/13|02/12/14|Santa Ana, CA
KaashParinda.....|12/06/13|09/23/13|09/28/13|10/03/13|10/24/13|11/06/13|11/11/13|12/11/13|02/07/14|San Jose, CA
OlegAndSveta.....|09/04/13|09/24/13|--/--/--|10/04/13|10/18/13|11/04/13|11/13/13|12/18/13|02/13/14|Chicago, IL
Whtevr...........|11/26/13|09/03/13|--/--/--|09/05/13|09/17/13|10/24/13|10/30/13|12|02/13|--/--|--|Chicago, IL
Carocaro.........|12/14/13|09/27/13|10/03/13|10/11/13|10/25/13|11/14/13|12/18/13|02/18/14|--/--/--|Phoenix, AZ


===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
Example..........|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|City, ST

[octoberapplican 0]

Still waiting on Baltimore...and it snowed again today. Starting to wonder if we will ever get it...

I am at the same boat, filed my case in October 2013, and still waiting for IL from Baltimore office. Disappointed.

[NatzG 3]

Natz,

Did you get an interview letter yet. I also filed my application in October, 2013, still waiting for interview letter. Please let us know if there is any update on your case. Thank you.

Nope, no interview letter yet. Very sad :-(.

[NatzG 3]

Still waiting on Baltimore...and it snowed again today. Starting to wonder if we will ever get it...

Me too, me too...so sad :-(.

[MJC79 1]

Me too, me too...so sad :-(.

I am still waiting to get scheduled for a interview. I have been "in-Line" for three months now. (since 11/18/13) New York office is pretty slow.

I called the 1-800 number and they gave me exactly the same information that is available online - extremely frustrating!

[Justine+David 218]

The other thing that annoys me is that the processing time for Baltimore hasn't been updated since November 30, 2013 (for N400, the current date is May 24, 2013). You would think they would at least update that! I'm sure this snow storm will result in more delay...I'm just hoping that we get the letter soon because we will probably be moving in July. I don't even know what to do if we move out of state, do we have to start the process over again?

Edited February 14, 2014 by Justine+David

[carinana 0]

USCIS to Welcome 17,800 New U.S. Citizens During Presidents Day Naturalization Ceremonies

Release Date: February 14, 2014

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will honor Presidents Day by welcoming approximately 17,800 new U.S. citizens during 148 naturalization ceremonies across the country from Feb. 14 through Feb. 22.

"I am very proud that nearly 18,000 immigrants will become U.S. citizens this week," said USCIS Acting Director Lori Scialabba. "It is special for our newest citizens to take their Oaths of Allegiance as we celebrate Presidents Day. Our newest citizens will help shape our nation’s future. Through the contributions they make, and by choosing to naturalize, they reinforce America’s unique heritage as a nation of immigrants."

Acting Director Scialabba will administer the Oath of Allegiance to 75 candidates and deliver keynote remarks during a naturalization ceremony on Presidents Day, Feb. 17, at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta.

Other special ceremonies during the week will be held at:

• The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston on Feb. 18.
• George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Museum & Gardens in Mount Vernon, Va. on Feb. 22.

[IcyStar 10]

Baltimore ppl,don't be worried,although i've been in your shoes,

checking on statistics i can say they send you the letter at the same date as your filing occured.i filed in aug,23,and i got my interview letter on January 25 almost the same date),few other people ad the same story,they filed on aug 5,got their letters on January 4-6,so i assume if you filed in the end of September,you probably will get your letters in the end of February,means on the next 1-2 weeks.they are slow,but they are getting to you,and don't forget Thursday was a day off due to the snowstorm.

[carocaro 22]

Thank you so much for posting your review and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Caro

So, it finally happened. Can hardly believe it myself... we sent I-129F in October of 2009, so taking in the account time to prepare it, it was exactly 4.5 years of journey. Honestly, I'm incredibly happy now. Finally, nobody can make decisions, affecting future of my family, but I and my family. That is SUCH a good feeling.

As per ceremony itself... I wasn't impressed. In my opinion, Chicago office could do much better job. First of all, it was over 130 people in the crowd, taking oath, at once. Imagine how long it took to let them in, register, sit them up in predefined order, then, latter, to give each of them certificates, etc. Whole thing took 2.5 hours from the moment we were scheduled to arrive until the moment we were out. But that all could be understood. The part which definitely ruined it both for me and Svetlana was a speech the branch manager of USCIS office gave. That was plain terrible. She gave a short, hardly 5 minutes speech, which she read from the paper, where she was emphasizing how great of the country compare to others USA is, what a unique opportunities new citizens would have, and how big of the favor US is making to them, allowing them onboard, and how grateful for the rest of the lives they should be. I'm not over-exaggerating it. That is exactly a twist she put on it. It sounded plain offensive, and I'm pretty sure it meant to sound this way. I'm very surprised by that, because 9 years ago, in Milwaukee, when I took my oath, I remember a man, giving long, thoughtful and truly moving speech (talking without paper), which was respectful, encouraging and cheerful. Nothing like a speech I heard today.

Now, on the practical side... they allow you to register to vote, after the certificates a handled, they allow guests into the room, and they allow you to make photos in the room where oath is given (but not anywhere else, and that is very strict). I guess, that is all. I will not be leaving this forum, now, when my family's journey is over. So, let me know how is your progress, Whtevr. I still would be there.

Best of luck to you, and all of you, guys, who will read my message. And thanks for the help goes to all those numerous members of visajourney, who wrote the guides, I used, and who supported me along the way when road was bumpy. Thanks a lot!

OlegAndSveta

=======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
=======================================

UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice

Cala Bel.........|06/20/13|08/26/13|--/--/--|09/04/13|10/01/13|09/17/13|--/--/--|02/20/14|--/--/--|Hartford, CT
Tom&Tanya........|11/08/13|08/31/13|09/05/13|09/04/13|09/27/13|10/08/13|10/15/13|11/13/13|12/13/13|West Palm Beach, FL
Mav_1975.........|02/12/13|09/01/13|09/05/13|09/06/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX
Lars-N-Yenia.....|09/30/11|09/04/13|09/10/13|09/05/13|09/19/13|09/23/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ
girimurthy.......|06/16/11|09/04/13|09/12/13|09/09/13|09/24/13|09/26/13|12/09/13|01/16/14|01/31/14|Hialeah, FL
Elafito..........|01/15/13|09/06/13|09/13/13|09/19/13|10/04/13|10/08/13|12/13/13|01/21/14|--/--/--|Boston, MA
raparap..........|11/14/13|09/07/13|09/16/13|09/20/13|10/07/13|10/09/13|12/21/13|01/25/14|01/25/14|Newark, NJ
Justine+David....|06/19/13|09/09/13|09/19/13|09/17/13|10/29/13|10/31/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Baltimore, MD
Dpeter736........|--/--/--|09/13/13|09/19/13|09/27/13|10/21/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Oakland Park, FL
letmein..........|--/--/--|09/13/13|09/18/13|09/23/13|10/11/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA
psiprez..........|09/02/11|09/13/13|09/25/13|09/20/13|10/21/13|10/23/13|01/11/14|02/10/14|02/10/14|Newark, NJ
NatzG............|09/22/10|09/16/13|09/23/13|09/18/13|10/18/13|10/22/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Baltimore, MD
usagirl12........|09/15/13|09/21/13|09/27/13|09/30/13|10/18/13|11/14/13|11/18/13|12/19/13|02/05/14|Louisville,KY
Read.............|--/--/--|09/23/13|09/30|13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Philadelphia,PA
Sachinky.........|02/20/13|09/23/13|09/26/13|09/25/13|10/16/13|10/18/13|10/24/13|12/03/13|12/20/13|Albuquerque,NM
Futurama.........|--/--/--|09/24/13|09/30/13|09/25/13|10/25/13|10/29/13|12/30/13|02/06/14|--/--/--|Boston, MA
silkafi88........|09/28/13|09/25/13|10/04/13|09/30/13|10/24/13|11/27/13|12/05/13|01/02/14|02/28/14|Louisville,KY
mjc79............|12/17/13|09/25/13|10/02/13|10/07/13|10/28/13|11/18/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York City, NY

==============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================

UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In-line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
alex and astrid..|01/23/13|09/05/13|09/12/13|09/09/13|10/03/13|10/07/13|11/12/13|12/18/13|01/14/14|Chatsworth, CA
Lasko12..........|--/--/--|09/06/13|09/11/13|09/16/13|10/11/13|10/24/13|10/31/13|12/02/13|01/23/14|San Jose, CA
newlyweds2010....|12/07/13|09/07/13|09/13/13|09/10/13|10/04/13|11/06/13|11/09/13|12/16/13|01/29/14|San Francisco, CA
WindyCity22a.....|--/--/--|09/10/13|09/16/13|09/19/13|09/27/13|10/03/13|10/31/13|12/03/12|12/12/13|Chicago, IL
RoamingTheNet....|12/02/13|09/03/13|09/09/13|09/11/13|09/25/13|11/01/13|12/06/13|01/08/13|02/12/14|Santa Ana, CA
KaashParinda.....|12/06/13|09/23/13|09/28/13|10/03/13|10/24/13|11/06/13|11/11/13|12/11/13|02/07/14|San Jose, CA
OlegAndSveta.....|09/04/13|09/24/13|--/--/--|10/04/13|10/18/13|11/04/13|11/13/13|12/18/13|02/13/14|Chicago, IL
Whtevr...........|11/26/13|09/03/13|--/--/--|09/05/13|09/17/13|10/24/13|10/30/13|12|02/13|--/--|--|Chicago, IL
Carocaro.........|12/14/13|09/27/13|10/03/13|10/11/13|10/25/13|11/14/13|12/18/13|02/18/14|--/--/--|Phoenix, AZ


===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
Example..........|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|City, ST

[carocaro 22]

Just want to post that I asked for a reschedule of interview due to trip out of the country and I got new date three weeks later. I can imagine USCIS does not want this rebooking to be common and fear that we will be lost in the system or put to the bottom of the list helps prevent it. We all want this journey to be over, but my experience does show it all to be a reasonable system if you need to rebook with good reason.

Caro

Same thing with my vacation, planed it months ago and luckily my interview is the day after i come back.

[G-Hands 1]

Baltimore ppl,don't be worried,although i've been in your shoes,

checking on statistics i can say they send you the letter at the same date as your filing occured.i filed in aug,23,and i got my interview letter on January 25 almost the same date),few other people ad the same story,they filed on aug 5,got their letters on January 4-6,so i assume if you filed in the end of September,you probably will get your letters in the end of February,means on the next 1-2 weeks.they are slow,but they are getting to you,and don't forget Thursday was a day off due to the snowstorm.

Thanks, the whole thing is getting frustrating, especially when u see co-September filers already being sworn in as citizens in other states.

[Justine+David 218]

Can't really talk now, but apparently got a text at midnight...on 2/16, scheduled for an interview, blah blah, blah. yes!!!

[octoberapplican 0]

Can't really talk now, but apparently got a text at midnight...on 2/16, scheduled for an interview, blah blah, blah. yes!!!

Congrat, good news.