Which Office for Interview/Oath?

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

I saw a thread on the delays at the Fargo office and it lead me to be curious about how offices are assigned. I looked on the USCIS website and the place I looked seemed to indicate that ND and MN were assigned to the same office near Minneapolis, but obviously people in ND are interviewing and taking oaths in Fargo, so that isn't the case. We live in far northern Minnesota and pass through Fargo on the way to Minneapolis, so I'm curious if we'd be assigned there or to the one further south. The ROC biometrics appointment was in Fargo if that makes any difference.

Anyone have any insight on this?

[JimmyHou 611]

I saw a thread on the delays at the Fargo office and it lead me to be curious about how offices are assigned. I looked on the USCIS website and the place I looked seemed to indicate that ND and MN were assigned to the same office near Minneapolis, but obviously people in ND are interviewing and taking oaths in Fargo, so that isn't the case. We live in far northern Minnesota and pass through Fargo on the way to Minneapolis, so I'm curious if we'd be assigned there or to the one further south. The ROC biometrics appointment was in Fargo if that makes any difference.

Anyone have any insight on this?

My understanding is that folks in Fargo are interviewed at the Minneapolis field office. However, oath ceremonies are often administered in North Dakota (I don't know if there are exceptions to this). That's where the delays occur. The Minnesota oath ceremonies are held far more frequently than those in North Dakota.

Biometrics appointments are usually not at the same location as the interview (except in a few cities).

If you do end up interviewing in Minneapolis, it's worth telling your interviewer that you'd rather have an oath ceremony in Minneapolis. Chances are that that won't affect their decision, but if it does, you may end up finishing the process much sooner.

If I've got this wrong, hopefully one of the Minneapolis applicants can correct me.

Edited June 11, 2016 by JimmyHou