N-400 Houston Office processing Time /Timeline

[JimmyHou 611]

Just sent my n400 yesterday, any word on how the houston office is moving? I hope its a prompt process. Some people say 3 month some say 9

Look through the monthly threads over the past couple of years. You'll find Houston filers in almost every month.

It depends on specific cases and the time of the application but it should give you a good average.

Houston is usually slightly slower than the national average, but isn't as bad as some other big cities.

Sometimes it just depends on your individual case. For example, a Houston filer from April 2015 is scheduled for his oath next month. But a Houston filer from June had his oath ceremony this month. Remember that Houston only holds one oath per month so sometimes that adds a month to the process of you are interviewed right after the oath date.

Just my thought: I'd be thrilled with 4 months and very happy with 5 or 6 months, but it's obvious that it takes some people 10 months.

[Aussiedudeguy 0]

Yeh i figured as much! Not much else to do but get on with life and just take it as it comes really!

[JimmyHou 611]

Also, Houston doesn't schedule interviews before your 3 or 5 month anniversaries. If they do so accidentally, they'll reschedule when you show up for the interview. So if you applied 90 days early, you can be assured that you won't be interviewed before the end of March. That means that the absolute earliest you can take the oath is in mid April, unless they change their recent policy. Houston ceremonies are on the third or the fourth Wednesday of the month (sometimes May and July are exceptions... May is early and July is sometimes omitted).

[Aussiedudeguy 0]

3 or 5 month anniversaries? Applied before 90 days? Im not sure what you mean. Ive lived here as a permanent resident for 2 and a half years....

[ralhou 1]

I am in Houston and filed right at the end of August and have been in line for an interview since September 24th. Still waiting, and wondering how much longer this is going to take.

[JimmyHou 611]

3 or 5 month anniversaries? Applied before 90 days? Im not sure what you mean. Ive lived here as a permanent resident for 2 and a half years....

You are eligible to naturalize on the 5th anniversary of the day you became a permanent resident.

If you are applying based on marriage to a U.S. Citizen, then it's the 3rd anniversary, not the 5th.

USCIS allows you to apply 90 days early (5 years minus 90 days or 3 years minus 90 days) because the process takes a few months. The idea is that the 90 days will be up by the time you're ready to take the oath of citizenship. However, if the process ends up being very fast and you're done with your interview before your 5th or 3rd anniversary, then you'll have to wait until you've been a permanent resident for a full 5 years (or 3 years) before you can take your oath of citizenship.

If you choose not to apply 90 days early, then none of this matters.

[JimmyHou 611]

I am in Houston and filed right at the end of August and have been in line for an interview since September 24th. Still waiting, and wondering how much longer this is going to take.

Just based on trends I've seen here, I would guess that you'd get a February interview with a February/March oath or a March interview with a March/April oath. You can always call and check on your status but I don't think you need to worry unless you haven't seen an interview notice by mid-February.