N-400 January 2015 Filers

[NYCerXO 2]

Hello Everyone! Posting my experience at the NYC Passport Agency in Manhattan. I left my home at 5:00AM from Queens. Got to 378 Hudson Street (the passport building) at 6:11 AM. When I got there, there was almost 150+ people already lined up. The building opened at 7:30 sharp. Got into the building at 7:54AM. Got my number to go to the tenth floor at 8:14AM. And my number was called at approximately 9:10AM. The lady processed my application was very nice HOWEVER she said she was unable to process my passport on the same day due to the large volume of people who need their passports printed that day because they are traveling. Since I am traveling on Wednesday I would need to come back the next day and pick it up. I tried to reason but her answer was still the same. However, when coming back to pick up you don't need to worry about the lines because you just show the security guard your pick up slip and go straight to the "will call" room. Hope this helps some of you! My father gets his passport tomorrow!

[Welldone 1]

I'd like to share my experience with the passport service in Brooklyn, Kings Highway public library. It took about 10 minutes, no people, no lines, no appointments. Very fast

[BajanGal76 4]

I became a US citizen this morning!!!!

My oath ceremony experience follows.

My oath ceremony letter said to arrive by 8:30am in Central Islip. Took us an hour to drive out there from Queens. We arrived at 7:30 am and they let people into the building at 7:45 am. We went throught metal detectors. No cell phones or cameras are allowed in the building. Either leave them in your car or check them in at the security area. They will give you a plastic number to collect them afterwards.

The actual process took 3 hours. Basically, we sat in the court room for the most of 3 hours. You can bring a book or paper to read but no phones are allowed in there. We entered and showed out green cards and oath ceremony notice. We sat in the order that we arrived so arrive early, because it means you also leave earlier ... will explain later.

I sat in the second row. 183 people were seated. So after the seats were filled we were called to the front by rows to hand over our green cards which were taken and punched. Then we were shown our naturalization certificates to verifyour photo and information were all correct. Then we signed them and went back to our seats with only the oath ceremony letter. The green card is null and void at that point. You wait for that to happen to all 183 people.

Then we waited for the judge to arrive to recite the oath and pledge of allegiance. We all stood up and repeated what she said. It was a moving experience since she is the grand-daughter of Russian immigrants. After that we were called by name to pick up our certificates and hand over the oath ceremony. It's really, really important to turn in the oath ceremony letter to close your case out. They said that finalizes your citizenship in the system.

It turns out the immigration officer who interviewed me in Holtsville was the same person handling the paperwork. That was awesome, she congratualted me at the end of the ceremony. I received my certificnd left the building.

Because I was an early arrival and was in row 2, I was about #20 to receive my certificate. Arrive late and you will be #183. Where you sit is the order in which the certificates are handed out at the end. Best of luck to everyone going through this journey.

I'll be going to the New York Passport Agency tomorrow morning and I will share my experience here tomorrow.

[KASH2011 382]

I became a US citizen this morning!!!!

My oath ceremony experience follows.

My oath ceremony letter said to arrive by 8:30am in Central Islip. Took us an hour to drive out there from Queens. We arrived at 7:30 am and they let people into the building at 7:45 am. We went throught metal detectors. No cell phones or cameras are allowed in the building. Either leave them in your car or check them in at the security area. They will give you a plastic number to collect them afterwards.

The actual process took 3 hours. Basically, we sat in the court room for the most of 3 hours. You can bring a book or paper to read but no phones are allowed in there. We entered and showed out green cards and oath ceremony notice. We sat in the order that we arrived so arrive early, because it means you also leave earlier ... will explain later.

I sat in the second row. 183 people were seated. So after the seats were filled we were called to the front by rows to hand over our green cards which were taken and punched. Then we were shown our naturalization certificates to verifyour photo and information were all correct. Then we signed them and went back to our seats with only the oath ceremony letter. The green card is null and void at that point. You wait for that to happen to all 183 people.

Then we waited for the judge to arrive to recite the oath and pledge of allegiance. We all stood up and repeated what she said. It was a moving experience since she is the grand-daughter of Russian immigrants. After that we were called by name to pick up our certificates and hand over the oath ceremony. It's really, really important to turn in the oath ceremony letter to close your case out. They said that finalizes your citizenship in the system.

It turns out the immigration officer who interviewed me in Holtsville was the same person handling the paperwork. That was awesome, she congratualted me at the end of the ceremony. I received my certificnd left the building.

Because I was an early arrival and was in row 2, I was about #20 to receive my certificate. Arrive late and you will be #183. Where you sit is the order in which the certificates are handed out at the end. Best of luck to everyone going through this journey.

I'll be going to the New York Passport Agency tomorrow morning and I will share my experience here tomorrow.

Congrats!

[BajanGal76 4]

Thanks @KASH2011 What a moving experience. They were 183 people from 43 different countries.

[TimeTravel 78]

I became a US citizen this morning!!!!

My oath ceremony experience follows.

My oath ceremony letter said to arrive by 8:30am in Central Islip. Took us an hour to drive out there from Queens. We arrived at 7:30 am and they let people into the building at 7:45 am. We went throught metal detectors. No cell phones or cameras are allowed in the building. Either leave them in your car or check them in at the security area. They will give you a plastic number to collect them afterwards.

The actual process took 3 hours. Basically, we sat in the court room for the most of 3 hours. You can bring a book or paper to read but no phones are allowed in there. We entered and showed out green cards and oath ceremony notice. We sat in the order that we arrived so arrive early, because it means you also leave earlier ... will explain later.

I sat in the second row. 183 people were seated. So after the seats were filled we were called to the front by rows to hand over our green cards which were taken and punched. Then we were shown our naturalization certificates to verifyour photo and information were all correct. Then we signed them and went back to our seats with only the oath ceremony letter. The green card is null and void at that point. You wait for that to happen to all 183 people.

Then we waited for the judge to arrive to recite the oath and pledge of allegiance. We all stood up and repeated what she said. It was a moving experience since she is the grand-daughter of Russian immigrants. After that we were called by name to pick up our certificates and hand over the oath ceremony. It's really, really important to turn in the oath ceremony letter to close your case out. They said that finalizes your citizenship in the system.

It turns out the immigration officer who interviewed me in Holtsville was the same person handling the paperwork. That was awesome, she congratualted me at the end of the ceremony. I received my certificnd left the building.

Because I was an early arrival and was in row 2, I was about #20 to receive my certificate. Arrive late and you will be #183. Where you sit is the order in which the certificates are handed out at the end. Best of luck to everyone going through this journey.

I'll be going to the New York Passport Agency tomorrow morning and I will share my experience here tomorrow.

Congratulations!

[SaltUponWounds 4]

I have my interview scheduled in 2 days and i was wondering if we need to bring anymore of the passport style photos with me? I saw another user who had some with them when they had the interview...There was not mention of extra passport photos in my interview letter and as far as my research and understanding of the process we do not have to bring any extra..

Am i correct?

Thanks for your prompt replies!

[BajanGal76 4]

@SaltUponWounds the photo on my naturalization certificate is the one they took at the biometrics appointment. I didn't take passport photos to my interview. They use the photo they took when you did the fingerprint appointment for the final document.

The only thing they asked me for during the interview was my court certified divorce papers, which they copied and gave me back the original.

[JimmyHou 611]

I have my interview scheduled in 2 days and i was wondering if we need to bring anymore of the passport style photos with me? I saw another user who had some with them when they had the interview...There was not mention of extra passport photos in my interview letter and as far as my research and understanding of the process we do not have to bring any extra..

Am i correct?

Thanks for your prompt replies!

Up until late last year they used to send out Yellow Letters just before or just after the interview letter. These Yellow Letters reminded applicants of what to bring and they often asked for 2 passport photos. This is because the photos you submitted may not be acceptable for whatever reason.

In many cases, the picture in the certificate will be the one taken at biometrics, but this isnt always the case. If you ask for a name change they will usually use the photo you submitted, not the one taken at biometrics.

I would definitely take 2 photos to the interview just in case. If they are not needed, you can use them for your passport application.

[BajanGal76 4]

It doesn't hurt to take everything you think might be asked for, even if it isn't. They didn't ask me to bring my divorce papers but I'm glad I did since I changed back to my maiden name on my renewed green card and the officer wanted to see a court document that changed my name. Despite the fact that they obviously copied that document when I renewed my green card a few years ago. They copied it again at my interview. You just never know.

I made extra copies of everything for the passport application also. Better to be over prepared.

[SaltUponWounds 4]

@SaltUponWounds the photo on my naturalization certificate is the one they took at the biometrics appointment. I didn't take passport photos to my interview. They use the photo they took when you did the fingerprint appointment for the final document.

The only thing they asked me for during the interview was my court certified divorce papers, which they copied and gave me back the original.

Thanks a lot.

[SaltUponWounds 4]

Up until late last year they used to send out Yellow Letters just before or just after the interview letter. These Yellow Letters reminded applicants of what to bring and they often asked for 2 passport photos. This is because the photos you submitted may not be acceptable for whatever reason.

In many cases, the picture in the certificate will be the one taken at biometrics, but this isnt always the case. If you ask for a name change they will usually use the photo you submitted, not the one taken at biometrics.

I would definitely take 2 photos to the interview just in case. If they are not needed, you can use them for your passport application.

I see your point. Frankly, i dont want to risk any minor/major hitches in the process, so i am going to take some pics with me just in case.

Only one more day to go...

[BajanGal76 4]

Hi everyone, I was first in line at the New York Passport Agency this morning at 4 am. Waited on line until 7:30 and was finished by 7:40. Have to pick my passport up tomorrow. Be there before 5am and the process will be fast.

I filled out the passport application on the passport agency website and printed it out. Took one passport photo. My naturalization certificate and a copy of it. A print out of my travel itinerary from Jet Blue. You must be traveling in 14 days. The cost was $195 and I paid with credit card. Be prepared with all of your supporting documentation and the process is fast. Good luck.

[mohdirfan08787 16]

Its getting really frustrating. Dont know who is tell the truth and who is lieing. Last 2 info pass appointments, both time i been told my case is waiting for security check. its been almost 5 months and 1 week since i filed.

Few times i spoke with tier 2 officer who told me, The security check is completed its just your office is processing Dec 1 cases and you should hear something soon.

Today i again my 3rd info pass appoitment since the office is walking distance from me. The officer told me Its pending for security check, you just have to wait. How long? " Dont know".

2 times Info pass said, Still waiting for security check."Dont know"

2-Times Tier 2 officer said your office is currently processing Dec 1 but the website say 5 months which updated on July-2.

Dont know who to believe who is telling the truth.

[BajanGal76 4]

Hey everyone, I returned today to the New York Passport Agency and arrived at 3 pm. I was sent to the 10th floor to wait on a line but it took 15 minutes. I handed over the receipt from yesterday and was told to sign it. The clerk handed me my passport in a clear envelope with my documents and passport in it. It expires in 10 years.

I would advise getting to the passport agency at least by 5am on the day you need to apply. The process was quick. Now I'm officially an American and ready to travel next week.

Best of luck to everyone waiting for interviews and oath ceremonies. The wait was stressful throughout the process but the journey was worth it.