N-400 March 2014

[Ontarkie 14,226]

I'm notice based on your timeline that they took 6 1/2 months after your interview before you got your oath date. Are there so many persons naturalizing in your state?

I think for the size of them they have a large area. They cover Tennessee, half of Arkansas, and I think Missouri. But that is just my guess.

[Mistere 13]

I'm scheduled for the afternoon ceremonry.

Great news Newoption!! Are you guys (Mistere, Newoption, Ju&Ja) scheduled for the 2pm ceremony or the one in the morning?

[Mistere 13]

I wonder why they would do that? It has your picture on it. I know a few people that have them and they don't have an issue when returning from Mexico to California. Did they want a Driver's License or state issued ID?

To all fellows, applying for a passport and thinking about getting the passport card in addition to it: you may not wanna pay the extra money for the card.

On the way back from Canada I was asked for another identification on top of the passport card to prove who I was. I was let in after a few minutes but the whole thing so did not make a sense.

So yeah. Stick to the passport book. That's what I think.

[Mistere 13]

Hope they get scheduled soon. Good luck...

Still no Oath letter for the boys. Tomorrow will be 60 days since they were placed in line. E-request should go through after that.

[Christi85 86]

I apologize again - one more passport question to whoever may know. Hopefully this will be the last one

So, my travel plans have changed and I will not be traveling until the last days of September/first days of October. Has anyone had their passport processed through a Post Office acceptance center? It says online that they process it within 8 business days, which would be fine with me given my new travel dates, but can someone confirm this is the case? I also like that I don't need an appointment and I can walk in any day, plus it would be a 5-10 minute drive from home, so I was thinking I could do a walk-in the day after my oath ceremony and hopefully have my passport by the second week of September.

I was wondering whether this would be a better/faster option for me than going through the Los Angeles Passport Agency. It turns out they do require proof of travel within 2 weeks, otherwise the processing time is the same as above (8 business days), plus appointments are required (unless you're traveling within 48 hours) and it's not clear to me whether you can even get an appointment within 2 weeks if you are not traveling within that time frame.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies/los-angeles.html

So given all that, it seems like I'd have to wait 'till around mid-September to apply through the LA Passport Agency, while, if the Acceptance Centers info is accurate, I could walk in the day after my oath and already have my passport in hand by the time I'd be having my appointment with LA Passport Agency. Opinions?

[JimmyHou 611]

I apologize again - one more passport question to whoever may know. Hopefully this will be the last one

So, my travel plans have changed and I will not be traveling until the last days of September/first days of October. Has anyone had their passport processed through a Post Office acceptance center? It says online that they process it within 8 business days, which would be fine with me given my new travel dates, but can someone confirm this is the case? I also like that I don't need an appointment and I can walk in any day, plus it would be a 5-10 minute drive from home, so I was thinking I could do a walk-in the day after my oath ceremony and hopefully have my passport by the second week of September.

I was wondering whether this would be a better/faster option for me than going through the Los Angeles Passport Agency. It turns out they do require proof of travel within 2 weeks, otherwise the processing time is the same as above (8 business days), plus appointments are required (unless you're traveling within 48 hours) and it's not clear to me whether you can even get an appointment within 2 weeks if you are not traveling within that time frame.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies/los-angeles.html

So given all that, it seems like I'd have to wait 'till around mid-September to apply through the LA Passport Agency, while, if the Acceptance Centers info is accurate, I could walk in the day after my oath and already have my passport in hand by the time I'd be having my appointment with LA Passport Agency. Opinions?

Based on your research it sounds like the Acceptance Facility will meet your needs, but I think the Passport Agency will too.

Are you sure that you need to wait until after your Oath Ceremony to make an appointment?

According to previous posters, you do not, and if that's correct, you can call now (or in early September) and make an appointment with the LA Passport Agency for the day after your Oath Ceremony.

Since you're actually traveling, showing proof of travel shouldn't be an issue.

[Christi85 86]

Based on your research it sounds like the Acceptance Facility will meet your needs, but I think the Passport Agency will too.

Are you sure that you need to wait until after your Oath Ceremony to make an appointment?

According to previous posters, you do not, and if that's correct, you can call now (or in early September) and make an appointment with the LA Passport Agency for the day after your Oath Ceremony.

Since you're actually traveling, showing proof of travel shouldn't be an issue.

Thank you. No, I'm not actually required to wait until after my oath ceremony to make an appointment. The restriction with the LA Passport Agency is that you need to be traveling within 2 weeks at the time of making the appointment (which I am not) and that they need to see proof of travel within 2 weeks as well (which, again, I wouldn't have until it gets to be 2 weeks before my trip). I called the National Passport Line and it was very clear that you needed proof of travel within 2 weeks to make an expedited appointment in LA, but it wasn't clear if I could even get an appointment at this stage that is say, 3 weeks ahead, or if I'd need to wait until 2 weeks from my trip...Hence my question about the Post Office acceptance facilities, but some people seem to have pretty bad experiences with those...

[JimmyHou 611]

Thank you. No, I'm not actually required to wait until after my oath ceremony to make an appointment. The restriction with the LA Passport Agency is that you need to be traveling within 2 weeks at the time of making the appointment (which I am not) and that they need to see proof of travel within 2 weeks as well (which, again, I wouldn't have until it gets to be 2 weeks before my trip). I called the National Passport Line and it was very clear that you needed proof of travel within 2 weeks to make an expedited appointment in LA, but it wasn't clear if I could even get an appointment at this stage that is say, 3 weeks ahead, or if I'd need to wait until 2 weeks from my trip...Hence my question about the Post Office acceptance facilities, but some people seem to have pretty bad experiences with those...

I see... thank you for clarifying... that's a good piece of information to have.

I thought that you needed proof of travel within two weeks of your appointment, but I see that it's within two weeks of making your appointment, so you're right... you'll have to wait.

Personally, I'd stick with the Passport Agency if at all possible... as you said, I've read too many bad experiences about the Post Office.

[DanTes 21]

Status update:

Oath Ceremony

On August 20, 2014, we scheduled you for your oath ceremony and sent a notice providing the date, time, and location..........

80 days since my interview.

Just waiting on the letter to arrive.

[Darth Vader Rises 1]

My passport was offered for pick-up the next business day at the Miami Passport Office.

I apologize again - one more passport question to whoever may know. Hopefully this will be the last one

So, my travel plans have changed and I will not be traveling until the last days of September/first days of October. Has anyone had their passport processed through a Post Office acceptance center? It says online that they process it within 8 business days, which would be fine with me given my new travel dates, but can someone confirm this is the case? I also like that I don't need an appointment and I can walk in any day, plus it would be a 5-10 minute drive from home, so I was thinking I could do a walk-in the day after my oath ceremony and hopefully have my passport by the second week of September.

I was wondering whether this would be a better/faster option for me than going through the Los Angeles Passport Agency. It turns out they do require proof of travel within 2 weeks, otherwise the processing time is the same as above (8 business days), plus appointments are required (unless you're traveling within 48 hours) and it's not clear to me whether you can even get an appointment within 2 weeks if you are not traveling within that time frame.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies/los-angeles.html

So given all that, it seems like I'd have to wait 'till around mid-September to apply through the LA Passport Agency, while, if the Acceptance Centers info is accurate, I could walk in the day after my oath and already have my passport in hand by the time I'd be having my appointment with LA Passport Agency. Opinions?

[Darth Vader Rises 1]

I picked up my US passport, US passport card and naturalisation certificate yesterday at the Miami Passport Office. It had been offered for pick-up the next business day (Monday), but I held off till yesterday since I was rather busy with other things.

One note on the US passport card: I only opted to get it out of curiosity and what I assumed might be added portable convenience for land travel and proof of US citizenship; however, I have to say the card is rather unremarkable and that given another chance, I'd probably decline to request one knowing what I know now. It's probably not worth acquiring unless you are a frequent land commuter (several times a month frequent) between the United States and Canada/Mexico.

It was very reassuring to apply at a national passport agency where I could hand off my naturalisation certificate to a tangible agent and pick it up in person from a tangible agent, excellent!

Oh, I'm also registered to vote! Colour me American folks. :pop:

Good luck to everyone else nearing the end of their journeys and to those in New York and Atlanta who are still waiting.

[kcoyclay1 98]

Just got updated. Yes NY move it!

Testing and Interview

On August 20, 2014, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview. You will receive a notice with a time and place for your interview. If you have not received the notice within 30 days of the date the notice is mailed, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance. If you move, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address

[Myles2986 5]

I wonder why they would do that? It has your picture on it. I know a few people that have them and they don't have an issue when returning from Mexico to California. Did they want a Driver's License or state issued ID?

He asked me if I had any other identification on me. Then I handed over my drivers license. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't had anything else on me, but of course if I'm driving, I'm required to have a license.

That was after all types of questions like where I live, what do I do for work, how long I've been a citizen for, why I went to Canada, who I spent my time with and where I stayed and so on.

God, it was unbelievably painful. Seriously. I kinda get their point too, but still.

[aneczka 1]

To all fellows, applying for a passport and thinking about getting the passport card in addition to it: you may not wanna pay the extra money for the card.

On the way back from Canada I was asked for another identification on top of the passport card to prove who I was. I was let in after a few minutes but the whole thing so did not make a sense.

So yeah. Stick to the passport book. That's what I think.

You might of encountered one of those fine border officers that like to make things difficult, my husband travels a lot between US and Canada with an enhanced license (which is driver's license and passport card - all in one) and he never was asked for secondary ID. But some officers like to be difficult, crossing once we had a border patrol officer ask my husband while holding my green card, "what petition did you file for your wife?" we were dumbfounded by that question and answer "green card" wasn't sufficient and sent us for secondary inspection...really!? Where did you cross, if I may ask? I know in Port Huron they have a lot of newbies that are on power trip.

Congrats to all that have moved in the process...

fingers crossed for those that are still waiting...can't believe nothing has moved in Detroit office...

[Ontarkie 14,226]

Woot finally both boys

On August 20, 2014, we scheduled you for your oath ceremony and sent a notice providing the date, time, and location.