Atlanta -N400 Processing

[cheapyslappy 0]

I've been following this board for awhile and thought it would be helpful to someone out there going through the N400 in Atlanta. My case was not normal (SB-1 was in the mix) and had many twists and turns. Here's the scoop: I apologize now because I don't have exact dates in front of me but you'll get the point:

Sent in N400 March 3, 2014/biometrics appointment was about 1 month later.

We received an appointment letter Mid July for an interview on Aug 15th. Aug 13th we received a voice mail that our appointment was canceled. We received the cancellation letter Aug 14th.

New interview letter received Dec 13 for interview on Jan 13. Passed interview and received in line for oath ceremony Jan 22. Received call for USCIS asking if we wanted to be scheduled for early oath on Jan 28. Went to Oath ceremony yesterday and now American Citizen!!!

The above was just to give you an idea that this was a process that took 11 very intense and anxiety ridden months. Waiting, waiting and waiting some more. 5 month between interview notices.

Each letter you get basically comes with either a date of your next step or a date that if you don't hear anything to contact USCIS.

As many previous posts mention, I can say that customer service will only repeat exactly what your last letter sent or the status of your case as you see it online. If you have not signed up for an account yet do it right away. It at least gives you a change to enter for email and text updates on your application. Basically customer service is there for very general items. Don't bother asking how long for anything because they don't know and may end up telling you something to make you feel better. We had very nice conversations with Tier 1 but they just don't have much information if/when our application does not go smooth. You can request Tier 2 which is supposed to be an actual officer hat can see more details on your account such as interview dates and times---again, all of our experiences with Tier 2 were met with polite and nice people. I'm sorry to say that a majority of the time we were told false info and told to expect things that just never happened. FORGET ASKING ABOUT DATES OF WHEN SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN...if it's not in their system you'll get nowhere.

We followed exactly what each letter said. called Tier 1 and Tier 2 and I'm convinced it did nothing but give us an idea about how the system worked a bit more. Nobody on these phone lines will "make something happen" from what we saw.

We filled out our own paperwork which comes with all sorts of guides on how to do it right if you want to do it.

***I strongly advise that if you are not sure about the forms or have the extra cash to get a lawyer that will stay with you through the process. I'm pretty relaxed but this process really beat me up. My wife and I had a difficult 11 months not to mention the time leading up to this. Many people I read about were/are in the same boat. I've seen people in Atlanata finissh in 6 months and some over a year. For us it was just about 11 months. If you are not in a rush you may lose some of the anxiety that we had.

Best advice:

do sign up online for account updates and status

do add USCIS numbers to your contact list on your phones because we almost missed the early Oath ceremony because they did not leave a voice mail...

do call customer service and be prepared to wait awile if you need to go to tier 2...we averaged about an hour wait

do get a lawyer if you are not sure how to fill forms or waiting is hard for you

do schedule a passport appointment way early as the wait around Atlanta is about 4-6 weeks (there are walk in places that will do applications the same day-we went to Cumming)

do expect to give your original Naturalization certificate when applying for a passport----they do NOT process passports at the Oath ceremony but you will get the blank application

do not get too caught up on the bad experiences you read on these boards--most likely it will not be you

do NOT register to vote before becoming a citizen

do NOT check name change on the application if you are in a rush as this WILL push out your Oath ceremony possibly several months since it will be a Judicial Oath Ceremony

do print out the pages to any changes to mistakes on your N400 for your interview...I did make some goofs that we did not catch until the day before interview...I saw where another poster suggested to print out the pages which the officer was happy about---any advantage take it...

I heard many people say that you can't change any of the forms but that is part of the interview process...I also did request a name change on the original form but WAS allowed to change it during the interview-all other posts I saw said they could not.

do be respectful of the interviewer and all people in the process as a bad attitude will not get you anywhere and you can expect problems

do NOT question why they do the things that they do- allot of this process did not seam to make sense but this is how they do it. YOU have the power to change it if you want to spend the time!

Was the Atlanta office responsible for the long processing time? I really can't say they were. Honestly from start to finish each and every interaction we had with anyone associated with Atlanta was very kind, polite and professional. Security people, fingerprints, Officers, Interviewer. Oath people....ZERO complaints. The worst part was waiting....

I did my best to write as much as I could. In the end the citizenship is completed and well worth the long wait. Now time to celebrate!

I'll be around for a little while if there are any questions but honestly I'm just about done with the daily strain of this process.

It's worth the wait..............

[sajeed636 2]

Guys I did get an update for interview .On Jan 28 an interview was scheduled for our N400 . Now just need to wait on the actual letter . Our timing is working according to plan as we do have a vacation planned on May 2015 to my wife birth country and I do think she will travel as an American Citizen . Almost seeing light at the end of this long tunnel .

Keep faith guys .

[thebighash 4]

Citizen finally...

Congratulations! Enjoy it!

Congratulation on Interview scheduling. I was off on vacation and missed some updates .Congrats

Thanks!

Guys I did get an update for interview .On Jan 28 an interview was scheduled for our N400 . Now just need to wait on the actual letter . Our timing is working according to plan as we do have a vacation planned on May 2015 to my wife birth country and I do think she will travel as an American Citizen . Almost seeing light at the end of this long tunnel .

Keep faith guys .

That's great news! You should get the letter in about 1 week and expect an interview early March

[bloomfield 1]

I've been following this board for awhile and thought it would be helpful to someone out there going through the N400 in Atlanta. My case was not normal (SB-1 was in the mix) and had many twists and turns. Here's the scoop: I apologize now because I don't have exact dates in front of me but you'll get the point:

Sent in N400 March 3, 2014/biometrics appointment was about 1 month later.

We received an appointment letter Mid July for an interview on Aug 15th. Aug 13th we received a voice mail that our appointment was canceled. We received the cancellation letter Aug 14th.

New interview letter received Dec 13 for interview on Jan 13. Passed interview and received in line for oath ceremony Jan 22. Received call for USCIS asking if we wanted to be scheduled for early oath on Jan 28. Went to Oath ceremony yesterday and now American Citizen!!!

The above was just to give you an idea that this was a process that took 11 very intense and anxiety ridden months. Waiting, waiting and waiting some more. 5 month between interview notices.

Each letter you get basically comes with either a date of your next step or a date that if you don't hear anything to contact USCIS.

As many previous posts mention, I can say that customer service will only repeat exactly what your last letter sent or the status of your case as you see it online. If you have not signed up for an account yet do it right away. It at least gives you a change to enter for email and text updates on your application. Basically customer service is there for very general items. Don't bother asking how long for anything because they don't know and may end up telling you something to make you feel better. We had very nice conversations with Tier 1 but they just don't have much information if/when our application does not go smooth. You can request Tier 2 which is supposed to be an actual officer hat can see more details on your account such as interview dates and times---again, all of our experiences with Tier 2 were met with polite and nice people. I'm sorry to say that a majority of the time we were told false info and told to expect things that just never happened. FORGET ASKING ABOUT DATES OF WHEN SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN...if it's not in their system you'll get nowhere.

We followed exactly what each letter said. called Tier 1 and Tier 2 and I'm convinced it did nothing but give us an idea about how the system worked a bit more. Nobody on these phone lines will "make something happen" from what we saw.

We filled out our own paperwork which comes with all sorts of guides on how to do it right if you want to do it.

***I strongly advise that if you are not sure about the forms or have the extra cash to get a lawyer that will stay with you through the process. I'm pretty relaxed but this process really beat me up. My wife and I had a difficult 11 months not to mention the time leading up to this. Many people I read about were/are in the same boat. I've seen people in Atlanata finissh in 6 months and some over a year. For us it was just about 11 months. If you are not in a rush you may lose some of the anxiety that we had.

Best advice:

do sign up online for account updates and status

do add USCIS numbers to your contact list on your phones because we almost missed the early Oath ceremony because they did not leave a voice mail...

do call customer service and be prepared to wait awile if you need to go to tier 2...we averaged about an hour wait

do get a lawyer if you are not sure how to fill forms or waiting is hard for you

do schedule a passport appointment way early as the wait around Atlanta is about 4-6 weeks (there are walk in places that will do applications the same day-we went to Cumming)

do expect to give your original Naturalization certificate when applying for a passport----they do NOT process passports at the Oath ceremony but you will get the blank application

do not get too caught up on the bad experiences you read on these boards--most likely it will not be you

do NOT register to vote before becoming a citizen

do NOT check name change on the application if you are in a rush as this WILL push out your Oath ceremony possibly several months since it will be a Judicial Oath Ceremony

do print out the pages to any changes to mistakes on your N400 for your interview...I did make some goofs that we did not catch until the day before interview...I saw where another poster suggested to print out the pages which the officer was happy about---any advantage take it...

I heard many people say that you can't change any of the forms but that is part of the interview process...I also did request a name change on the original form but WAS allowed to change it during the interview-all other posts I saw said they could not.

do be respectful of the interviewer and all people in the process as a bad attitude will not get you anywhere and you can expect problems

do NOT question why they do the things that they do- allot of this process did not seam to make sense but this is how they do it. YOU have the power to change it if you want to spend the time!

Was the Atlanta office responsible for the long processing time? I really can't say they were. Honestly from start to finish each and every interaction we had with anyone associated with Atlanta was very kind, polite and professional. Security people, fingerprints, Officers, Interviewer. Oath people....ZERO complaints. The worst part was waiting....

I did my best to write as much as I could. In the end the citizenship is completed and well worth the long wait. Now time to celebrate!

I'll be around for a little while if there are any questions but honestly I'm just about done with the daily strain of this process.

It's worth the wait..............

Well Said..

[MissAL 0]

Hi guys, I am now officially US citizen! Oath taking went well and I would like to say Thank you for the support and guidance this website given me and for all the people who gave their advices and opinions thank you very much! It has been a long journey for me and its finally over! I am forever grateful for the visajourney website who helped me a lot with my immigration journey! To those people who is still waiting for their interview just hang in there and good luck everybody!!

[KASH2011 382]

Congrats MissAL!

VJ.UserName..........|Eligible.........|Sent.............|Cashd..........|NOA..............|BioApp.........|InLine...........|IntLtr.............|IntVw............|Oath.............|
MissAL.........|--/--/--.|03/03/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|12/15/14.|01/13/15.|01/30/15.|

bloomfield.....|--/--/--.|03/10/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|04/02/14.|05/08/14.|--/--/--.|01/20/15.|01/29/15.|
GJen...........|--/--/--.|04/02/14.|04/08/14.|04/07/14.|05/09/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|
Moe1985........|--/--/--.|04/15/14.|04/21/14.|04/21/14.|05/13/14.|05/15/14.|01/16/15.|02/17/15.|--/--/--.|
harryhita......|--/--/--.|04/17/14.|04/29/14.|04/18/14.|06/04/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|
Nimaan.........|04/29/13.|04/26/13.|05/02/13.|04/29/13.|05/17/13.|06/28/13.|08/06/13.|09/12/14.|--/--/--.|

N400 Atlanta...|07/26/14.|04/26/14.|04/28/14.|05/05/14.|05/13/14.|06/26/14.|01/17/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|
PollyPocket....|--/--/--.|05/09/14.|--/--/--.|05/19/14.|06/16/14.|06/18/14.|09/12/14.|10/20/14.|--/--/--.|

Roddick2013....|--/--/--.|05/13/14.|05/19/14.|04/21/14.|06/18/14.|09/03/14.|09/06/14.|10/09/14.|--/--/--.|

Tosun2014......|--/--/--.|06/05/14.|06/11/14.|06/16/14.|11/13/14.|11/05/14.|11/10/14.|12/15/14.|01/06/15.|

thebighash.....|11/20/13.|08/21/14.|08/28/14.|09/02/14.|09/25/14.|09/19/14.|01/24/15.|02/23/15.|--/--/--.|

Sajeed636......|--/--/--.|08/28/14.|08/30/14.|09/05/14.|09/23/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|

[sajeed636 2]

Congrats MissAL!

VJ.UserName..........|Eligible.........|Sent.............|Cashd..........|NOA..............|BioApp.........|InLine...........|IntLtr.............|IntVw............|Oath.............|

MissAL.........|--/--/--.|03/03/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|12/15/14.|01/13/15.|01/30/15.|

bloomfield.....|--/--/--.|03/10/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|04/02/14.|05/08/14.|--/--/--.|01/20/15.|01/29/15.|

GJen...........|--/--/--.|04/02/14.|04/08/14.|04/07/14.|05/09/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|

Moe1985........|--/--/--.|04/15/14.|04/21/14.|04/21/14.|05/13/14.|05/15/14.|01/16/15.|02/17/15.|--/--/--.|

harryhita......|--/--/--.|04/17/14.|04/29/14.|04/18/14.|06/04/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|

Nimaan.........|04/29/13.|04/26/13.|05/02/13.|04/29/13.|05/17/13.|06/28/13.|08/06/13.|09/12/14.|--/--/--.|

N400 Atlanta...|07/26/14.|04/26/14.|04/28/14.|05/05/14.|05/13/14.|06/26/14.|01/17/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|

PollyPocket....|--/--/--.|05/09/14.|--/--/--.|05/19/14.|06/16/14.|06/18/14.|09/12/14.|10/20/14.|--/--/--.|

Roddick2013....|--/--/--.|05/13/14.|05/19/14.|04/21/14.|06/18/14.|09/03/14.|09/06/14.|10/09/14.|--/--/--.|

Tosun2014......|--/--/--.|06/05/14.|06/11/14.|06/16/14.|11/13/14.|11/05/14.|11/10/14.|12/15/14.|01/06/15.|

thebighash.....|11/20/13.|08/21/14.|08/28/14.|09/02/14.|09/25/14.|09/19/14.|01/24/15.|02/23/15.|--/--/--.|

Sajeed636......|08/20/14.|08/28/14.|08/30/14.|09/05/14.|09/23/14.|01/06/15.|02/01/15.|03/05/15.|--/--/--.|

Good Afternoon Guys , I just got my Interview letter . I did update my timeline and finally this journey is about to end . Congratulation to all who have reach finish line , Best of luck to all guys who is waiting .

Thanks

[JimmyHou 611]

Good Afternoon Guys , I just got my Interview letter . I did update my timeline and finally this journey is about to end . Congratulation to all who have reach finish line , Best of luck to all guys who is waiting .

Thanks

Fixing the formatting... hopefully correctly... also updating Nimaan's oath date.

If it doesn't look right, hopefully someone will fix it.

VJ.UserName....|Eligible..|Sent....|Cashd....|NOA......|BioApp...|InLine...|IntLtr...|IntVw....|Oath.....|

MissAL.........|--/--/--.|03/03/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|12/15/14.|01/13/15.|01/30/15.|

bloomfield.....|--/--/--.|03/10/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|04/02/14.|05/08/14.|--/--/--.|01/20/15.|01/29/15.|

GJen...........|--/--/--.|04/02/14.|04/08/14.|04/07/14.|05/09/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|

Moe1985........|--/--/--.|04/15/14.|04/21/14.|04/21/14.|05/13/14.|05/15/14.|01/16/15.|02/17/15.|--/--/--.|

harryhita......|--/--/--.|04/17/14.|04/29/14.|04/18/14.|06/04/14.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|

Nimaan.........|04/29/13.|04/26/13.|05/02/13.|04/29/13.|05/17/13.|06/28/13.|08/06/13.|09/12/14.|01/21/15.|

N400 Atlanta...|07/26/14.|04/26/14.|04/28/14.|05/05/14.|05/13/14.|06/26/14.|01/17/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|

PollyPocket....|--/--/--.|05/09/14.|--/--/--.|05/19/14.|06/16/14.|06/18/14.|09/12/14.|10/20/14.|--/--/--.|

Roddick2013....|--/--/--.|05/13/14.|05/19/14.|04/21/14.|06/18/14.|09/03/14.|09/06/14.|10/09/14.|--/--/--.|

Tosun2014......|--/--/--.|06/05/14.|06/11/14.|06/16/14.|11/13/14.|11/05/14.|11/10/14.|12/15/14.|01/06/15.|

thebighash.....|11/20/13.|08/21/14.|08/28/14.|09/02/14.|09/25/14.|09/19/14.|01/24/15.|02/23/15.|--/--/--.|

Sajeed636......|--/--/--.|08/28/14.|08/30/14.|09/05/14.|09/23/14.|01/06/15.|02/01/15.|03/05/15.|--/--/--.|

Edited February 5, 2015 by JimmyHou

[n400atlanta 0]

I made an infopass appointment for Atlanta 02/09/2015. I was informed that my application was scheduled for an interview on 01/16/2015 and the interview was immediately cancelled because USCIS needed to complete additional background checks???? What does that even mean. I don't have any criminal record or anything.

[JimmyHou 611]

I made an infopass appointment for Atlanta 02/09/2015. I was informed that my application was scheduled for an interview on 01/16/2015 and the interview was immediately cancelled because USCIS needed to complete additional background checks???? What does that even mean. I don't have any criminal record or anything.

Doesn't necessarily mean that there's anything wrong with your background or your application. You may have a name similar to someone who's suspected of something.

It's important to follow up on the case though; sometimes being stuck in background checks can take a very long time... give them a chance to sort this out, but if you don't hear anything in a few weeks, follow up again.

[sajeed636 2]

Congratulations! Enjoy it!

Thanks!

That's great news! You should get the letter in about 1 week and expect an interview early March

Hi, just want to wish you best of luck for Your Monday Interview .

[Niramay 1]

Mine and my wife's interview is on 16th March 15 same time.our PR is 12 June-14.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Niramay

[thebighash 4]

Hi, just want to wish you best of luck for Your Monday Interview .

Thanks! I can't wait

[thebighash 4]

I had my interview this morning and all went well

I'll be patiently waiting for the oath letter.. I need to do a court ceremony as I'm getting my name changed/fixed.. These appears to be the schedule for court ceremonies: http://www.gand.uscourts.gov/naturalization/ and the next 3 dates are:

• March 13, 2015 - Ceremony to take place in the Rome Division
• April 10, 2015
• May 15, 2015 - Ceremony to take place in the Gainesville Division

Do you think I have a chance to make the March 13 date?

[sajeed636 2]

Congratulation !!! I am so happy for you as your immigration Journey is coming to an end soon .I also hope you get your Oath appointment soon . Please can you provide some details in regard of the interview ? If you did not have a name change was it a chance that you will have scheduled same day oath ? Thanks and congrats again .

I had my interview this morning and all went well

I'll be patiently waiting for the oath letter.. I need to do a court ceremony as I'm getting my name changed/fixed.. These appears to be the schedule for court ceremonies: http://www.gand.uscourts.gov/naturalization/ and the next 3 dates are:

• March 13, 2015 - Ceremony to take place in the Rome Division
• April 10, 2015
• May 15, 2015 - Ceremony to take place in the Gainesville Division

Do you think I have a chance to make the March 13 date?