N-400 December 2015 Filers

[stavroula58 8]

Thank you JimmyHou for your answer. Do you have any clues for time frame of Chicago office?

After bio, these are the next steps:

You will be placed in-line for interview. This will happen after they complete your background check. If you created an account at uscis.gov, you will be able to check your status to see when you are placed in-line. If you turn on text and email notifications, you should get a notification when this happens. The notification or online status will say that they have "started the interview scheduling process". There will be no letter sent out when you are placed in line. This may be a day or two after your bio or may be several months later.

You will have your interview scheduled. If you are getting notifications, you should get a text and an email, but for this step, they will send you an interview letter in the mail. You will usually have 3-5 weeks between the letter and the interview date. This can be a few days after being placed in-line, but depending on how busy your field office takes, it can be much longer. Some people are in-line for 3 or 4 months.

You will be placed in-line for oath ceremony scheduling. This usually happens within a day or two of passing an interview. No letter, just email/text notification if signed up. This is usually pretty fast.

You will be scheduled for an oath ceremony. You will get an oath letter in the mail. You may have as little as a few days or over a month between the letter and the oath date. This depends on how often your city has oath ceremonies and if you requested a name change, which would limit your options to Judicial Oath ceremonies only (these may be less frequent in some cities).

Sometimes status goes straight to "interview scheduled" and doesn't show "interview scheduling started" so you may skip the in-line for interview stage.

Sometimes you are given the oath letter right at the interview; so you may skip a few steps.

Some offices (not most) conduct same day oath ceremonies, so you may become a citizen the day of your interview.

[JimmyHou 611]

Thank you JimmyHou for your answer. Do you have any clues for time frame of Chicago office?

The best thing to do is start with the November 2015 filers thread and go to the last updated tracking table and see if there's anyone there from Chicago. They'll be a little bit ahead of you in the process. Then go back to October, September, etc.

If you find that applicants from July are still waiting for their oath ceremonies then you'll know that Chicago is taking at least 6 months. But if applicants from August are already citizens then you'll know that you could be done before the end of May. You can also check the past tables to see how long it takes people to get their interview letters in Chicago and how long it takes for an oath after the interview. Chicago is a busy office so you'll find lots of cases to compare yours to!

Edited January 14, 2016 by JimmyHou

[JimmyHou 611]

Biometrics completed today 01/13 at the Charlotte, N.C. ASC. The appointment was for 11:00am. I presented my Biometrics appointment letter and my GC at the front guard desk. I was given the "Learn About the United States" packet and a paper to fill out with ( Name, DOB, Race, Weight, Height, A#, Application# and All names used ). I gave the paper to the receptionist after filling it out then sat down to wait for my number to show on the nice red digital screen. My number came up in about 10mins. My photo was taken and my fingerprints done, I signed the electronic screen. I was given my Biometrics letter back Stamped and Dated. I filled out the "How did we do card" and dropped it in the little box and I left at 11:25am. All went smooth

They're pretty consistent!

[osune22 7]

Hi JimmyHou, I can't seem to find any tracking regarding previous N-400 experiences at the Hialeah field office. I am trying to have a sense of how slow or fast the field office handles the N-400. Any idea?

Hi JimmyHou, I can't seem to find any tracking regarding previous N-400 experiences at the Hialeah field office. I am trying to have a sense of how slow or fast the field office handles the N-400. Any idea?

[jucuellar 2]

Hi JimmyHou, I can't seem to find any tracking regarding previous N-400 experiences at the Hialeah field office. I am trying to have a sense of how slow or fast the field office handles the N-400. Any idea?

Hi JimmyHou, I can't seem to find any tracking regarding previous N-400 experiences at the Hialeah field office. I am trying to have a sense of how slow or fast the field office handles the N-400. Any idea?[/quote

If you you to the top of the visa journey page where it says "Immigration Timelines" will take you to another page and then on the bottom left you will click where it says citizenship or something like that and then you can go to.your field office and see the timelines there. Hope it helps!

[JimmyHou 611]

Hi JimmyHou, I can't seem to find any tracking regarding previous N-400 experiences at the Hialeah field office. I am trying to have a sense of how slow or fast the field office handles the N-400. Any idea?

Hi JimmyHou, I can't seem to find any tracking regarding previous N-400 experiences at the Hialeah field office. I am trying to have a sense of how slow or fast the field office handles the N-400. Any idea?

If you you to the top of the visa journey page where it says "Immigration Timelines" will take you to another page and then on the bottom left you will click where it says citizenship or something like that and then you can go to.your field office and see the timelines there. Hope it helps!

Yours appears to be a very small field office, so there won't be many cases... I even checked Trackitt for you and I couldn't find any N400s at your field office out of 5000 cases posted!

http://www.trackitt.com/usa-immigration-trackers/n400

If anyone else wants to check their offices, click the link and then sort the table by USCIS District Office and then go to the page with your office on it.

I did a search on VJ and found this one from 2013:

UserName........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Fprints..|InLineInt|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice

bobcantuaria....|01/18/13.|01/22/13.|01/22/13.|03/08/13.|03/11/13.|05/13/13.|06/10/13.|06/14/13.|Hialeah, FL

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/407226-n-400-january-2013-filers/page-73

Using the method jucuellar suggested (good suggestion) I found one more:

Names Service Center CIS Office

Vanessa & Jorge Lewisville TX Lockbox Hialeah FL

Filed Bio. Appt. Interview Approved ? Oath

2015-07-07 2015-07-30 2015-09-22 Yes 2015-09-26

So one took 5 months (which is pretty fast) and one took 2 months (which is insanely fast). I'm sure the second one didn't apply 90 days early. Looks like you have a fast office.

[moemac59 192]

Question - How does traveling work once you become a citizen and are waiting for your US passport to be issued? Do you use your naturalization certificate during the interim time? I know that I can bring the naturalization certificate to the NEXUS office so that they can update my information but I need to know what to do while the passport application is pending.

Reason that I ask is that I work in Toronto 3 days a week and will have to go back and forth between the US and Canada while I am waiting for my US Passport to be issued. I have a NEXUS card as well as a Canadian passport. Going to Canada won't be an issue but worried about coming back into the US without my US passport in hand.

[JimmyHou 611]

Question - How does traveling work once you become a citizen and are waiting for your US passport to be issued? Do you use your naturalization certificate during the interim time? I know that I can bring the naturalization certificate to the NEXUS office so that they can update my information but I need to know what to do while the passport application is pending.

Reason that I ask is that I work in Toronto 3 days a week and will have to go back and forth between the US and Canada while I am waiting for my US Passport to be issued. I have a NEXUS card as well as a Canadian passport. Going to Canada won't be an issue but worried about coming back into the US without my US passport in hand.

The law requires all US citizens to enter and leave the US on a US passport.

I don't know if travel to Canada is different... I thought that they changed the rules and made a passport mandatory for travel.... but if they ask to see your passport, the law states that you must present a US passport (not a Canadian passport and a certificate of naturalization). There have been cases cited here where people got around this, but since that goes beyond the legal requirements, I won't address those cases here.

In general, a US citizen must use a US passport to enter and leave the US. So if you want to strictly follow the letter of the law, you will have to delay all international travel until you get your passport.

Now the good news is that if you have an urgent need to travel, you can apply for a passport in person at one of the handful of Passport Agencies around the country. You will have to show proof of travel and will need an appointment, but you could get your passport in a few hours.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies.html

Even better news is that there is an agency in Buffalo! So when you have your oath date, you need to make an appointment for the next day at the passport agency and take proof of travel... hotel reservations for example, or maybe this one time you may decide to fly so that you have plane tickets... you will get your passport the same day or within a few days depending on your travel dates.

You will have to pay expedited passport fees to do this.

Edited January 14, 2016 by JimmyHou

[moemac59 192]

The law requires all US citizens to enter and leave the US on a US passport.

I don't know if travel to Canada is different... I thought that they changed the rules and made a passport mandatory for travel.... but if they ask to see your passport, the law states that you must present a US passport (not a Canadian passport and a certificate of naturalization). There have been cases cited here where people got around this, but since that goes beyond the legal requirements, I won't address those cases here.

In general, a US citizen must use a US passport to enter and leave the US. So if you want to strictly follow the letter of the law, you will have to delay all international travel until you get your passport.

Now the good news is that if you have an urgent need to travel, you can apply for a passport in person at one of the handful of Passport Agencies around the country. You will have to show proof of travel and will need an appointment, but you could get your passport in a few hours.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies.html

Even better news is that there is an agency in Buffalo! So when you have your oath date, you need to make an appointment for the next day at the passport agency and take proof of travel... hotel reservations for example, or maybe this one time you may decide to fly so that you have plane tickets... you will get your passport the same day or within a few days depending on your travel dates.

You will have to pay expedited passport fees to do this.

Cool. Thanks. I will actually ask about this when I go in for my biometrics.

[boy15 23]

boy15 (2) is be in line for an interview today 01/14

[KASH2011 382]

Boy15(2)'s info updated!

N-400: December 2015 Applicants

======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Emki.............|02/??/09|11/23|12/02|12/01|12/22/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Albuquerque, NM
Nessky...........|05/14/12|12/01|12/10|12/08|01/04/16|01/06/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Miami, FL
Raymon...........|09/11/10|12/02|--/--|12/12|12/30/15|01/04/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
Osune22..........|03/05/13|12/07|12/10|12/19|12/28/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Hialeah, FL
Kwakun...........|03/07/13|12/08|12/18|12/17|01/07/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA
Another1.........|12/08/10|12/08|12/16|12/15|01/05/16|01/06/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA
Boy15(1).........|09/27/10|12/11|12/17|12/16|01/05/16|01/07/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
Boy15(2).........|09/27/10|12/11|12/17|12/16|01/05/16|01/14/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
Bruin85..........|10/26/10|12/11|12/17|12/16|01/04/16|01/06/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
Klm9971..........|02/16/11|12/14|01/04|--/--|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL
Skyajnas.........|06/23/07|12/14|12/16|12/17|01/05/16|01/07/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA
Vi Mazzella......|07/03/05|12/14|12/17|12/19|01/07/16|01/11/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
tru_loves_journey|10/23/12|12/15|12/24|12/23|01/13/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Charlotte, NC
JimmyHou.........|03/15/11|12/17|12/23|12/22|01/13/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
Sazzy............|12/20/08|12/17|12/24|12/23|01/22/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando, FL
Zzmr_qzz.........|12/10/08|12/19|--/--|12/28|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA

Spmaria..........|04/26/12|12/19|12/29|01/02|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ

Moemac59.........|02/01/13|12/21|12/--|12/24|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Buffalo, NY

Pete's Dragon....|03/17/13|12/22|12/29|12/24|01/11/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
BuzzBear09.......|05/10/10|12/29|01/07|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL

================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Vishnya..........|10/19/10|12/02|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Diego, CA
Groovyaardvark...|02/15/11|12/08|12/15|12/14|01/07/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Denver, CO
Stavroula58......|01/31/09|12/10|12/18|12/17|01/11/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
Quan12...........|03/01/13|12/12|12/16|12/16|01/06/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA
Ms Hogan.........|03/14/13|12/14|12/16|12/17|01/11/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Cleveland, OH
spring333........|02/19/13|12/17|--/--|12/23|01/15/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
PI314............|05/05/06|12/17|12/21|12/18|01/12/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Denver,CO
Sixer............|03/18/13|12/18|12/29|12/23|01/22/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Honolulu, HI
My UK Love.......|01/05/13|12/21|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
Spoom............|04/19/10|12/21|12/29|12/28|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Cleveland, OH
Sxm..............|11/21/11|12/21|12/29|12/28|01/19/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Cincinnati, OH
DAQH.............|01/22/13|12/26|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|St. Louis, MO

===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Jucuellar........|04/29/09|12/07|12/10|12/14|01/04/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Raleigh, NC


Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
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7. Make changes and Add Reply.
8. Red Font="I'm A United States Citizen"!

Legend:
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed by USCIS
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification
Fprints: Date assigned for fingerprinting (Bio-metrics). Underline indicates early walk-in.
In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Interview: Date of your interview. Underline indicates rescheduled interview.
Oath: Date Oath taken
Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview
Passport tracker: 2016 US Passport Application Tracker List

[jucuellar 2]

Got an email today. Case is in line for interview!!

[KASH2011 382]

Jucuellar's info updated!

N-400: December 2015 Applicants

======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Emki.............|02/??/09|11/23|12/02|12/01|12/22/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Albuquerque, NM
Nessky...........|05/14/12|12/01|12/10|12/08|01/04/16|01/06/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Miami, FL
Raymon...........|09/11/10|12/02|--/--|12/12|12/30/15|01/04/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
Osune22..........|03/05/13|12/07|12/10|12/19|12/28/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Hialeah, FL
Kwakun...........|03/07/13|12/08|12/18|12/17|01/07/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA
Another1.........|12/08/10|12/08|12/16|12/15|01/05/16|01/06/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA
Boy15(1).........|09/27/10|12/11|12/17|12/16|01/05/16|01/07/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
Boy15(2).........|09/27/10|12/11|12/17|12/16|01/05/16|01/14/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
Bruin85..........|10/26/10|12/11|12/17|12/16|01/04/16|01/06/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
Klm9971..........|02/16/11|12/14|01/04|--/--|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL
Skyajnas.........|06/23/07|12/14|12/16|12/17|01/05/16|01/07/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA
Vi Mazzella......|07/03/05|12/14|12/17|12/19|01/07/16|01/11/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
tru_loves_journey|10/23/12|12/15|12/24|12/23|01/13/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Charlotte, NC
JimmyHou.........|03/15/11|12/17|12/23|12/22|01/13/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
Sazzy............|12/20/08|12/17|12/24|12/23|01/22/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando, FL
Zzmr_qzz.........|12/10/08|12/19|--/--|12/28|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA

Spmaria..........|04/26/12|12/19|12/29|01/02|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ

Moemac59.........|02/01/13|12/21|12/--|12/24|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Buffalo, NY

Pete's Dragon....|03/17/13|12/22|12/29|12/24|01/11/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
BuzzBear09.......|05/10/10|12/29|01/07|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL

================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Vishnya..........|10/19/10|12/02|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Diego, CA
Groovyaardvark...|02/15/11|12/08|12/15|12/14|01/07/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Denver, CO
Stavroula58......|01/31/09|12/10|12/18|12/17|01/11/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
Quan12...........|03/01/13|12/12|12/16|12/16|01/06/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA
Ms Hogan.........|03/14/13|12/14|12/16|12/17|01/11/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Cleveland, OH
spring333........|02/19/13|12/17|--/--|12/23|01/15/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
PI314............|05/05/06|12/17|12/21|12/18|01/12/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Denver,CO
Sixer............|03/18/13|12/18|12/29|12/23|01/22/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Honolulu, HI
My UK Love.......|01/05/13|12/21|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
Spoom............|04/19/10|12/21|12/29|12/28|01/20/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Cleveland, OH
Sxm..............|11/21/11|12/21|12/29|12/28|01/19/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Cincinnati, OH
DAQH.............|01/22/13|12/26|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|St. Louis, MO

===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Jucuellar........|04/29/09|12/07|12/10|12/14|01/04/16|01/14/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Raleigh, NC


Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Please use your VJ name to avoid confusion.
3. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting.
4. Click "Quote" on the most recent/updated posting version of this list.
5. Remove the "Quote Coding" at the top and bottom of the list.
6. Always use [Courier New] Font and font size.[12]
7. Make changes and Add Reply.
8. Red Font="I'm A United States Citizen"!

Legend:
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed by USCIS
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification
Fprints: Date assigned for fingerprinting (Bio-metrics). Underline indicates early walk-in.
In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Interview: Date of your interview. Underline indicates rescheduled interview.
Oath: Date Oath taken
Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview
Passport tracker: 2016 US Passport Application Tracker List

[JimmyHou 611]

Got an email today. Case is in line for interview!!

Woohoo!

[klm9971 5]

Some offices have that information on their field office page.

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices

For example, Houston's page says that there is one ceremony a month, which is correct.

This is also where you can see if your office offers same day ceremonies.

In Tampa office it says this:

Naturalization Ceremonies

The Tampa Field Office has Judicial Ceremonies on a monthly basis and Administrative Ceremonies on a weekly basis. The Tampa Field Office does have same-day ceremonies occasionally.

What does this mean? Is the same day I have my interview, will I be taking oath the same day? Or there is any specific day of the month we need to take oath?