N-400 December 2015 Filers

[groovyaardvark 7]

Done with oath ceremony today in newark, thanks everyone,I sent my application in December,what a relief.

Congratulations!

[Spmaria 11]

Done with oath ceremony today in newark, thanks everyone,I sent my application in December,what a relief.

Congratulations! Can you please share more of your info? You don't have a timeline and you're not on the list of December fillers. What's the date on your green card, date you sent N-400, date of NOA, when were you placed in line and got a letter about your interview date?

And also for me and other Newark applicants would you mind sharing your experience during the interview?

Thank you and congrats again!

[Bukinaija 2]

Thanks!filed on 5yrs rule and divorced

Green card -2/24/2010

Application sent-12/10/2015

Noa-12/17/2015

Fp-1/13/2016

Inline-1/15/2016

Interview scheduled March 5

Receive interview mail March 9

Interviewed-April 14 but I never took oath that day cause the immigration officer said someone needs to check my case again for approval because of my ex husband's numerous divorce,he had 3 divorce with mine,got another mail on April 25 for the oath ceremony on April 30th at the federal building in newark for 8am but the ceremony starts at 10am and by 11:30,we are out of there.

[JimmyHou 611]

Congrats strouvala! Good luck at the interview.

Welcome Bukinaija... I'll add your info to the list.

Edited May 1, 2016 by JimmyHou

[Bukinaija 2]

Thanks jimmyhou

[JimmyHou 611]

Updating stavroula58's interview letter date and interview date...
Adding Bukinaija's info to the table...
Updating Bruin85's citizenship status...


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|12/24/15.|01/05/16.|02/11/16.|04/29/16.|Albuquerque, NM
nessky...........|05/14/12|12/01|12/10|12/08|01/04/16|01/06/16.|03/10/16.|04/12/16.|04/22/16.|Miami, FL
Raymon...........|09/11/10|12/02|--/--|12/12|12/30/15|01/04/16.|02/26/16.|03/24/16.|04/14/16.|Dallas, TX
meme123..........|05/07/12|12/04|MnOrd|12/09|12/28/15|12/30/15.|02/22/16.|04/04/16.|04/04/16.|Baltimore, MD
osune22..........|03/05/13|12/07|12/10|12/19|12/28/15|02/05/16.|02/16/16.|03/22/16.|--/--/--.|Oakland Park, FL
kwakun...........|03/07/13|12/08|12/18|12/17|01/07/16|02/08/16.|02/26/16.|03/31/16.|04/04/16.|Philadelphia, PA
another1.........|12/08/10|12/08|12/16|12/15|01/05/16|01/06/16.|02/05/16.|03/10/16.|03/16/16.|Atlanta, GA
Bukinaija........|02/24/10|12/10|--/--|12/17|01/13/16|01/15/16.|03/09/16.|04/14/16.|04/30/16.|Newark, NJ
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.|03/04/16.|04/01/16.|04/19/16.|Dallas, TX
klm9971..........|02/16/11|12/14|01/04|--/--|01/20/16|01/25/16.|04/09/16.|05/11/16.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL
skyajnas.........|06/23/07|12/14|12/16|12/17|01/05/16|01/07/16.|02/05/16.|03/10/16.|03/18/16.|Atlanta, GA
Vi Mazzella......|07/03/05|12/14|12/17|12/19|01/07/16|01/11/16.|02/08/16.|03/10/16.|04/22/16.|New York, NY
tru_loves_journey|10/23/12|12/15|12/24|12/23|01/13/16|01/15/16.|02/29/16.|04/04/16.|04/05/16.|Charlotte, NC
JimmyHou.........|03/15/11|12/17|12/23|12/22|01/13/16|04/26/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
sazzy............|12/20/08|12/17|12/24|12/23|01/22/16|01/26/16.|03/10/16.|04/13/16.|--/--/--.|Orlando, FL
zzmr_qzz.........|12/10/08|12/19|--/--|12/28|01/20/16|01/25/16.|02/25/16.|03/30/16.|04/04/16.|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|01/25/16.|02/01/16.|03/08/16.|04/14/16.|Buffalo, NY
trangyakan.......|03/15/13|12/21|12/24|12/28|01/16/16|02/15/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Albuquerque, NM
Pete's Dragon....|03/13/13|12/22|12/29|12/24|01/11/16|02/15/16.|03/14/16.|04/12/16.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
BuzzBear09.......|05/10/10|12/29|01/07|01/06|01/28/16|02/12/16.|04/11/16.|05/17/16.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL

==============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Groovyaardvark...|02/15/11|12/08|12/15|12/14|01/07/16|04/18/16.|04/20/16.|05/25/16.|--/--/--.|Denver, CO
silvermug........|12/16/10|12/08|12/10|12/11|12/30/16|01/04/16.|--/--/--.|04/13/16.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA
stavroula58......|01/31/09|12/10|12/18|12/17|01/11/16|04/26/16.|04/30/16.|06/01/16.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
quan12...........|03/01/13|12/12|12/16|12/16|01/06/16|02/01/16.|03/21/16.|04/26/16.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA
Ms Hogan.........|03/14/13|12/14|12/16|12/17|01/11/16|02/15/16.|02/19/16.|03/22/16.|04/15/16.|Cleveland, OH
dan.and.audrey...|10/12/10|12/15|--/--|--/--|01/12/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|03/07/16.|03/07/16.|Portland, OR
spring333........|02/19/13|12/17|--/--|12/23|01/15/16|01/19/16.|03/04/16.|04/06/16.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
PI314............|05/05/06|12/17|12/21|12/18|01/12/16|01/15/16.|02/04/16.|03/08/16.|03/08/16.|Denver, CO
Sixer............|03/18/13|12/18|12/29|12/23|01/22/16|02/18/16.|03/07/16.|04/05/16.|04/05/16.|Honolulu, HI
Spoom............|04/19/10|12/21|12/29|12/28|01/20/16|01/25/16.|01/29/16.|02/29/16.|03/18/16.|Cleveland, OH
sxm..............|11/21/11|12/21|12/29|12/28|01/19/16|01/21/16.|02/01/16.|03/04/16.|03/17/16.|Cincinnati, OH
daqh.............|01/22/13|12/26|01/04|01/09|01/27/16|01/29/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|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.|03/07/16.|03/28/16.|04/11/16.|Raleigh, NC


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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. Underline indicates rescheduled ceremony.
Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview
Passport tracker: 2016 US Passport Application Tracker List

[witamar 4]

Just to recap: there were 4 of us who filed in December who were waiting to be placed inline.

One created an inquiry two weeks ago and was placed inline last week.

One created an inquiry last week and was placed inline yesterday.

One did nothing and was placed inline yesterday.

One created an inquiry last week and hasn't heard anything yet.

For anyone who's following this, I don't think your take-away should be that creating an inquiry will move things along at such an early stage (3 months after biometrics). Just my opinion.

Did they change your inquiry's status?

Or, is it still the same: "[...] is currently not assigned for processing."?

[JimmyHou 611]

Coming up this week for Dec2015ers...

No interviews or naturalization ceremonies.

It looks like the first batch of naturalization in our group is over. Looking at previous months, cases mostly fall into one of three groups rather than a steady stream of approvals.

The first (fast) group was interviewed and became citizens in March and April.

Now there's a bit of a slow-down and a gap.

The second (intermediate) group will be interviewed or will become citizens before the end of the summer.

Most applicants will be done by then, but there may be a handful of stragglers whose offices are backlogged, who live in areas with infrequent ceremonies, or who are stuck in background checks.

The third (slow) group might linger into the fall or winter.

This is in no way intentionally done by USCIS. It's just what happens when you have some offices processing faster than others and some cases needing more checks than others.

Edited May 2, 2016 by JimmyHou

[squareleg 69]

I have followed the December-2015 thread, hence, here is my experience (if it benefits any of the filers on this thread).

UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office

squareleg........|01/15/13|11/16|11/23|11/24|01/11/16|02/15/16.|03/19/16.|04/25/16.|04/25/16.|Newark, NJ (Late FP: 01/12)

Newark, NJ - Interview and Oath Experience

7:30am - arrived at the location

8:00am - appointment

9:15am - inquiry about the waiting time (informed that 3-hour wait to be called is normal proceeding)

10:15am - called for an interview

10:30am - end of interview.

No documents were asked. I have been in the country legally for 15-years. Note that I did not provide any documentation along with my N-400 application as well. I filed based on 3-year rule. Interviewer did ask me about my profession, my graduate school, my wristwatch along with the usual verification of the application and 10-citizenship questions.

11:00am - signed the naturalization certificate and returned all the prior greencards

12:00noon - oath ceremony and receipt of naturalization certificate

1:00pm - left the building. I had a 3:00pm flight from Newark to continue with my work travels. So overall, it worked out well.

The ceremony was in a makeshift room as the designated hall/room are under repairs. Hence, it was not spectacular or memorable as some of the folks here have noted their ceremonies were. I did not care, since I was hoping to complete all the proceedings well ahead of my travels.

[JimmyHou 611]

Did they change your inquiry's status?

Or, is it still the same: "[...] is currently not assigned for processing."?

No change in the inquiry status, but that doesn't mean that it didn't help... they don't always update these things.

I mean, there are some people whose status never changes after "an interview has been scheduled" even after they become citizens.

But back to the inquiry, I don't know if it helped or not, but it didn't hurt!

[witamar 4]

No change in the inquiry status, but that doesn't mean that it didn't help... they don't always update these things.

I mean, there are some people whose status never changes after "an interview has been scheduled" even after they become citizens.

But back to the inquiry, I don't know if it helped or not, but it didn't hurt!

good to know.....

Thank you!

[JimmyHou 611]

Since she hasn't come back yet to to tell us about any oath ceremony mishaps, I'll assume that all went well and I'll go ahead and update emki's citizenship status...



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|12/24/15.|01/05/16.|02/11/16.|04/29/16.|Albuquerque, NM
nessky...........|05/14/12|12/01|12/10|12/08|01/04/16|01/06/16.|03/10/16.|04/12/16.|04/22/16.|Miami, FL
Raymon...........|09/11/10|12/02|--/--|12/12|12/30/15|01/04/16.|02/26/16.|03/24/16.|04/14/16.|Dallas, TX
meme123..........|05/07/12|12/04|MnOrd|12/09|12/28/15|12/30/15.|02/22/16.|04/04/16.|04/04/16.|Baltimore, MD
osune22..........|03/05/13|12/07|12/10|12/19|12/28/15|02/05/16.|02/16/16.|03/22/16.|--/--/--.|Oakland Park, FL
kwakun...........|03/07/13|12/08|12/18|12/17|01/07/16|02/08/16.|02/26/16.|03/31/16.|04/04/16.|Philadelphia, PA
another1.........|12/08/10|12/08|12/16|12/15|01/05/16|01/06/16.|02/05/16.|03/10/16.|03/16/16.|Atlanta, GA
Bukinaija........|02/24/10|12/10|--/--|12/17|01/13/16|01/15/16.|03/09/16.|04/14/16.|04/30/16.|Newark, NJ
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.|03/04/16.|04/01/16.|04/19/16.|Dallas, TX
klm9971..........|02/16/11|12/14|01/04|--/--|01/20/16|01/25/16.|04/09/16.|05/11/16.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL
skyajnas.........|06/23/07|12/14|12/16|12/17|01/05/16|01/07/16.|02/05/16.|03/10/16.|03/18/16.|Atlanta, GA
Vi Mazzella......|07/03/05|12/14|12/17|12/19|01/07/16|01/11/16.|02/08/16.|03/10/16.|04/22/16.|New York, NY
tru_loves_journey|10/23/12|12/15|12/24|12/23|01/13/16|01/15/16.|02/29/16.|04/04/16.|04/05/16.|Charlotte, NC
JimmyHou.........|03/15/11|12/17|12/23|12/22|01/13/16|04/26/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX
sazzy............|12/20/08|12/17|12/24|12/23|01/22/16|01/26/16.|03/10/16.|04/13/16.|--/--/--.|Orlando, FL
zzmr_qzz.........|12/10/08|12/19|--/--|12/28|01/20/16|01/25/16.|02/25/16.|03/30/16.|04/04/16.|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|01/25/16.|02/01/16.|03/08/16.|04/14/16.|Buffalo, NY
trangyakan.......|03/15/13|12/21|12/24|12/28|01/16/16|02/15/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Albuquerque, NM
Pete's Dragon....|03/13/13|12/22|12/29|12/24|01/11/16|02/15/16.|03/14/16.|04/12/16.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
BuzzBear09.......|05/10/10|12/29|01/07|01/06|01/28/16|02/12/16.|04/11/16.|05/17/16.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL

==============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Groovyaardvark...|02/15/11|12/08|12/15|12/14|01/07/16|04/18/16.|04/20/16.|05/25/16.|--/--/--.|Denver, CO
silvermug........|12/16/10|12/08|12/10|12/11|12/30/16|01/04/16.|--/--/--.|04/13/16.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA
stavroula58......|01/31/09|12/10|12/18|12/17|01/11/16|04/26/16.|04/30/16.|06/01/16.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
quan12...........|03/01/13|12/12|12/16|12/16|01/06/16|02/01/16.|03/21/16.|04/26/16.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA
Ms Hogan.........|03/14/13|12/14|12/16|12/17|01/11/16|02/15/16.|02/19/16.|03/22/16.|04/15/16.|Cleveland, OH
dan.and.audrey...|10/12/10|12/15|--/--|--/--|01/12/16|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|03/07/16.|03/07/16.|Portland, OR
spring333........|02/19/13|12/17|--/--|12/23|01/15/16|01/19/16.|03/04/16.|04/06/16.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
PI314............|05/05/06|12/17|12/21|12/18|01/12/16|01/15/16.|02/04/16.|03/08/16.|03/08/16.|Denver, CO
Sixer............|03/18/13|12/18|12/29|12/23|01/22/16|02/18/16.|03/07/16.|04/05/16.|04/05/16.|Honolulu, HI
Spoom............|04/19/10|12/21|12/29|12/28|01/20/16|01/25/16.|01/29/16.|02/29/16.|03/18/16.|Cleveland, OH
sxm..............|11/21/11|12/21|12/29|12/28|01/19/16|01/21/16.|02/01/16.|03/04/16.|03/17/16.|Cincinnati, OH
daqh.............|01/22/13|12/26|01/04|01/09|01/27/16|01/29/16.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|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.|03/07/16.|03/28/16.|04/11/16.|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. Underline indicates rescheduled ceremony.
Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview
Passport tracker: 2016 US Passport Application Tracker List

Edited May 3, 2016 by JimmyHou

[osune22 7]

Update:

I got the denial letter in the mail a little over 4 weeks after the interview. The denial decision was based on the fact that as at the time I filed, my spouse and I were not physical living together in the same household. The IO totally ignored the exemptions pertaining to "Involuntary Separation". As I earlier indicated, my wife and I live in different cities due to our jobs' situation. In spite of all the evidence I provided the IO still went ahead and denied the case.

I consulted an attorney who happened to be a former IO. She was furious that I got denied. She told me I was unlucky to get a crappy/inexperienced IO.

She outlined 3 options :

- Appeal the decision: the prospect of overturning the decision is very bright but it will take forever for USCIS to adjudicate. It will cost me $3700 in attorney fees n appeal fees.

- reapply now and hire an attorney to handle the case. It will cost me $2000 in lawyer and application fees. But the decision will still be at the discretion of the IO.

- Wait and file next year under the 5 yr rule for which the IO's discretion will not come to play and it will be certain that I will get approval barring any criminal record or overstaying my visit abroad.

I decided to wait till next year and file using the 5 yr rule.

The attorney's suggestion is that if your case is not that cut and dry, it is a good idea to hire an attorney to go with you to the interview. That way the IO will not use intimidation or other tactics to deny your case.

[JimmyHou 611]

Update:

I got the denial letter in the mail a little over 4 weeks after the interview. The denial decision was based on the fact that as at the time I filed, my spouse and I were not physical living together in the same household. The IO totally ignored the exemptions pertaining to "Involuntary Separation". As I earlier indicated, my wife and I live in different cities due to our jobs' situation. In spite of all the evidence I provided the IO still went ahead and denied the case.

I consulted an attorney who happened to be a former IO. She was furious that I got denied. She told me I was unlucky to get a crappy/inexperienced IO.

She outlined 3 options :

- Appeal the decision: the prospect of overturning the decision is very bright but it will take forever for USCIS to adjudicate. It will cost me $3700 in attorney fees n appeal fees.

- reapply now and hire an attorney to handle the case. It will cost me $2000 in lawyer and application fees. But the decision will still be at the discretion of the IO.

- Wait and file next year under the 5 yr rule for which the IO's discretion will not come to play and it will be certain that I will get approval barring any criminal record or overstaying my visit abroad.

I decided to wait till next year and file using the 5 yr rule.

The attorney's suggestion is that if your case is not that cut and dry, it is a good idea to hire an attorney to go with you to the interview. That way the IO will not use intimidation or other tactics to deny your case.

Thanks for coming back and sharing.

Here's my opinion, for what it's worth.

If I had known all your details before you applied, I would have told you that you had a fair, but not great, chance of approval... let's say 60%-70% if you want to put numbers to it. So there was a big risk, but in 6 or 7 out of 10 cases, someone in your situation would be approved.

That's simply because the law leaves a lot at the discretion of the interviewer.

Reapplying Now

Reapplying after a denial always results in a little more scrutiny, so you could argue that it will be a little tougher this time, but you may still have a 50-50 chance of approval... that's if you apply alone, with no lawyer. Getting a lawyer actually does help in these cases; someone who can articulate your case and reference specific sections of the law helps in cases that are not straightforward.

Appealing Now

Logically, you'd think this would work, because you'll get another interviewer to look at your file, but since we know that a supervisor has already reviewed your file, maybe this is just a tough office.

Applying Next Year

This is the safest option, obviously. This is what I recommend if you don't mind waiting.

Personally, i think the lawyer's fees are very high... if you want to reapply or appeal, I would consider shopping around for a lower price, but on the other hand, your lawyer sounds like he knows what he's talking about, so maybe he's worth it.

Finally, you could try more than one option. Prepare to apply next year under the 5 year rule, but file an appeal now or reapply anyway without a lawyer. Refiling will cost $680 and appealing will cost less than that (but I don't know the exact cost... I'm talking about appealing without a lawyer). If you don't mind waiting, then the best thing to do is to apply next year, I'd take the $680 you were planning to spend on applying now and take a weekend trip somewhere nice!

I'll update your status with your decision, but please come back and update this thread when you do eventually file. I look forward to cheering you on then!

You've had bad luck here, but I think you've had a positive attitude and I'm happy you're part of our group.

[JimmyHou 611]

This morning I got a text message and an email from USCIS and my online status shows that an interview has been scheduled.

Obviously, I'm happy to hear this, but there's also an interesting piece of information hidden in here...

Houston is a backlogged office. I applied 6 days after Boy15's parents, who also applied in Houston. They were placed inline almost immediately after biometrics, whereas I waited 3.5 months. Their interviews were scheduled last week.

So I was wondering where I would be in the line of people waiting for an interview... would I be behind the Jan, Feb, and Mar Houston applicants who were placed inline right after biometrics, or would I jump ahead of them because I have an older priority date (on the NOA) than they do.

It looks like it's the priority date that's important, because if they were using the inline date, I should not have had an interview until everyone who was inline before me got one.

This is pretty consistent with what I've seen in other months and at other offices where an applicant waits for months to be placed inline then has an interview scheduled almost immediately... same thing happened to Stravoula and Groovyaardvark here.

So, maybe there's some good news in this for Spmaria too... meaning that when you do get your inline notice, you'll jump ahead of a whole bunch of Newark applicants from this year who are already inline!