N400 - When are you officially approved & INS Case updates

[downunder301 0]

Hi,

I am trying to understand when the INS has officially approved your application for citizenship. I understand you are not a citizen until completion of the oath ceremony.

I completed and passed my INS interview and received form N-652. The form said "congratulations you application has been recommended for approval". I.e. I passed my test and the officer will recommend that I get approved but it still has not been approved.

I have since received a on-line case status update saying they have placed me in line for an path ceremony and a notice will be sent out to me. Nothing about whether I was approved, although you might imply they wouldn't schedule me for a ceremony unless someone approved it, but I am only speculating.

At what step in the process can I finally say I was approved? I see on-line stories how some people get recommended for approval on N-652 and later find out it was denied for some reason when a supervisor reviewed the recommendation. Should I now assume the supervisor has approved it as well?

Final question. What other on-line case status updates can I expect to receive now that I have received an update they are placing me in-line for an oath ceremony.

Thanks

[spring333 44]

i think you are approved since they put you in line for oath ceremony. just wait and first available day and you will be at the oath. congrats!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There was a case years back when someone had his interview schedules and showed up and they denied him for ticking yes to are you a USC on a job application.

[F & J 21]

I think it's safe to say that you're approved once you have taken the Oath of Allegiance AND have your Naturalization Certificate in hand.

My dad always said, "Nothing's ever sure unless you have it in writing." (have written verifiable proof)

Edited January 28, 2016 by F & J

[JimmyHou 613]

Hi,

I am trying to understand when the INS has officially approved your application for citizenship. I understand you are not a citizen until completion of the oath ceremony.

I completed and passed my INS interview and received form N-652. The form said "congratulations you application has been recommended for approval". I.e. I passed my test and the officer will recommend that I get approved but it still has not been approved.

I have since received a on-line case status update saying they have placed me in line for an path ceremony and a notice will be sent out to me. Nothing about whether I was approved, although you might imply they wouldn't schedule me for a ceremony unless someone approved it, but I am only speculating.

At what step in the process can I finally say I was approved? I see on-line stories how some people get recommended for approval on N-652 and later find out it was denied for some reason when a supervisor reviewed the recommendation. Should I now assume the supervisor has approved it as well?

Final question. What other on-line case status updates can I expect to receive now that I have received an update they are placing me in-line for an oath ceremony.

Thanks

1) If you get a notification that you have been placed inline for your oath ceremony, or if you receive the oath letter, you'll know that you received final approval. Some people don't get the inline for oath notification, so you may just get the letter. There is no other notification of approval. Even after final approval, if something changes before the oath ceremony, the approval could be turned into a denial.

2) Everyone gets recommended for approval initially, even if they are told and think that they are approved. Sometimes they get their oath letters before they leave the office, but what happens is that they get recommended for approval, then a supervisor issues the final approval, then they print the oath letter. This can all happen in 20 minutes or could take several months.

3) If you were recommended for approval and haven't heard otherwise within a month, then odds are you're approved. By law, USCIS has 120 to issue a decision following the interview.

By the way, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) hasn't existed for 15 years. It became the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS), which then became United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Edited January 28, 2016 by JimmyHou