N-400 August 2016 Filers

[Jingle Jungle 0]

On 3/20/2017 at 2:31 AM, babylotus said:

Hi @Jingle Jungle

I'm also an August filers in Orlando FO. My PD is august 2. I received my interview letter last week and my appointment will be on april 11. Not sure this information  would help in your case because you didnt mention about your timeline. This is my first post so I dont really know how things work. Anyone please update my info in case other people from orlando, fl might be following. And for those that havent get interview notice. Dont worry. You will hear from them soon. Best of luck to everyone

Hi babylotus,

how was your interview? hope it went well. Did they schedule you the oath yet?

 

I have not received anything yet, and based on USCIS most recent update - Orlando FO is processing 6/10/2016 case on 2/28/2017... not a good news.  Have you heard anything regarding the wait time in your interview?

 

any information will help!

 

thank you so much!

[babylotus 1]

24 minutes ago, Jingle Jungle said:

Hi babylotus,

how was your interview? hope it went well. Did they schedule you the oath yet?

 

I have not received anything yet, and based on USCIS most recent update - Orlando FO is processing 6/10/2016 case on 2/28/2017... not a good news.  Have you heard anything regarding the wait time in your interview?

 

any information will help!

 

thank you so much!

My interview went well. I requested name change so Im still waiting for the oath letter. I talked to the lady while waiting and I saw they handed her oath letter like 30min after the interview. Her oath ceremony is gonna be this thursday, which is approximately a week after her interview. This could be a good new to those who dont request name change. Im surprised you havent heard anything from them. But I think you will as late as the end of this month. Some people said they didnt receive any email or text message so make sure you are checking your mail box frequently. Hope you will hear from them soon. Goodluck!!!!

Edited April 18, 2017 by babylotus

[Kamex009 10]

Thank you to all that answered about bringing extra documentation.

 

I'm filing on 5 year of GC which I got through work. 

 

Has anyone else applied based on the 5 year rule and if so, what did you bring extra on top of what the interview letter asked for?

 

 

[javierita 4]

My oath is tomorrow!! For those who have had their oath (especially in Seattle), did you bring people with you? Can guests come without me present (meaning.. I'm already inside and they arrive later)? When I went for my interview I saw people with flowers and such coming to observe and support loved ones. I'm just wondering if there's a limit and if we have to go in together. Thanks! 

[javierita 4]

5 hours ago, Kamex009 said:

Thank you to all that answered about bringing extra documentation.

 

I'm filing on 5 year of GC which I got through work. 

 

Has anyone else applied based on the 5 year rule and if so, what did you bring extra on top of what the interview letter asked for?

 

 

I did not get my gc through marriage. I figured I shouldn't have to bring anything I had  already submitted to uscis (when I got my gc or in my n400 application) , so I brought very limited documentation. I got a new job and I traveled so I brought my hire letter and my electronic tickets that showed the dates of when I left and came back. He updated my application and did not ask to see anything else. 

Edited April 19, 2017 by javierita

[kobiams 2]

Anyone with recent interview experience in the Chicago FO?

Please share. Thanks

[iamwhatiam80 92]

On 4/17/2017 at 6:43 PM, SL&SP said:

I had mine today based on marriage. I was way too naive about the whole thing. I took the list at face value and literally brought only two things from off the list: tax returns and proof of a joint bank account. In the interview the guy asked me for "documents relating to my marriage" and I referred him to what I had already submitted because I wasn't expecting that I would need anything beyond what the paper said. He said my file was too "light," and he usually would not have approved a file like that. I was sitting there wondering what else I could have brought. He even speculated that my husband and I are separated. I was like, whaaaaat? Luckily I was recommended for approval because I have nothing more. We don't have any children. We are mooching off our parents, so we don't have any leases or bills. And I hate the idea of mingling funds. If you have a millennial type marriage, you might have a bad time at your interview. I would recommend that you take as much evidence as you can get your hands on. I'm sorry that I can't advise you on what type of documents. Good luck with your interview. 

Hi there,

 

Did you get interviewed at the Manhattan Federal plaza field office ? How much was the time gap between moving in line to interview status and the actual interview date ? I dont see the date on your timeline so i am asking. Reply is much appreciated.

[SL&SP 2]

3 hours ago, iamwhatiam80 said:

Hi there,

 

Did you get interviewed at the Manhattan Federal plaza field office ? How much was the time gap between moving in line to interview status and the actual interview date ? I dont see the date on your timeline so i am asking. Reply is much appreciated.

Yes, was at Federal Plaza. I used IOE, so I was never "in line." Did you check the spreadsheet for this thread or for the July filers?

[iamwhatiam80 92]

2 hours ago, SL&SP said:

Yes, was at Federal Plaza. I used IOE, so I was never "in line." Did you check the spreadsheet for this thread or for the July filers?

What does IOE really mean ?

I just checked the timelines in July forum.

Edited April 19, 2017 by iamwhatiam80

[SL&SP 2]

1 hour ago, iamwhatiam80 said:

What does IOE really mean ?

I just checked the timelines in July forum.

Yes. IOE gives you internet updates, as opposed to the NBC. Only the NBCs got an "in line" update. My finger prints were September 15th and my interview was April 17th (notified March 10th). So 7 months from finger prints to interview. 

 

My priority date is August 23rd. 

[javierita 4]

I had my oath today in Seattle and it was great. Very low stress. I was surprised by the fact there was no mention of our current president. 

 

Good luck to everyone still waiting! 

Edited April 19, 2017 by javierita

[babyduck 3]

Just had my interview and approved!

 

I'll summarize my experience and hopefully it will help others.

 

1. Seattle location parking is cash only and I did not have cash. Oops, that was a bit of a delay to find an ATM.

 

2. My interviewer called my number 10 minutes before my scheduled time, so definitely arrive 30 minutes before your time to allow for parking, security screening and waiting in line to get your number.

 

3. My interview was super friendly and chatty. 

 

4. I was only asked to show my original passport and green card. No marriage related documents or tax returns were requested.

 

5. I was asked 5-6 US history and civics questions - all very easy and in the prep manual that USCIS gives you at your biometrics. English reading and writing was very easy too.

 

6. He then asked me 15-20 questions that are in the N 400.

 

7. I then signed off that everything was correct on an I pad.

 

8 I received a letter at the end confirming that I passed the tests and that I was approved.

 

9 The officer told me expect my oath letter in a week or so with the oath scheduled 2-3 weeks from that date. Seattle does same day oaths, but the are at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. My interview was at 2, so I missed the cut off for same day oath.

 

Good luck to everyone else! 

 

 

[Nevyna 1]

I haven't been able to update for a while, but I had my interview at the Jacksonville office last week and right after my interview they gave me my oath letter for next week. I applied with the 5 year rule and only needed to show my passport and green card. I brought my taxes with me and my marriage license etc but my IO did not want to see any of it. Pretty much the same experience as @babyduck -- my case was pretty straightforward anyhow. Good luck to everyone else waiting!!

[Kamex009 10]

 

 

Thank you @javierita and @Nevyna  for your responses, I'll probably bring tax documents just in case, aside of the passport and Green card.

 

I'm less than 3 weeks away from the interview and can't wait to get this over with.

 

[MikloGoesLegit 7]

Just came back from my interview as well. Here's my experience:

 

I came in 30 mins early as the notice says to do. Once I went through the metal detector I went to get in the line for interviews. I noticed a sign saying not to go up to the counter earlier than 15 minutes before the scheduled time, (1 PM in my case) but after standing to the side for a few minutes the lady at the counter asked anyone who had a 1 PM interview to come up. I got a number and went upstairs.

 

Once upstairs you have to go to the right side, the left side is for people taking the oath.

 

I waited for almost exactly 30 mins before my number was called. I used that time to go through the study guide for the civics test. I did notice that some people who got there after me got their number called before me, so try to be there 30 mins prior, like the notice says and babyduck also duly pointed out.

 

She greeted me nicely with a smile, then made some small talk on the way to the interview room. There was someone waiting inside the room, as my IO would let me know, this was a senior officer supervising the interview, so it's good to know that they are hiring new IOs for Seattle cause of what had been reported about a lot of them quitting earlier this year. The supervising officer limited her interaction to greeting me, observing, and saying goodbye when the interview was over.

 

My IO was very cordial and personable which made the interview much smoother and eased my apprehension a bit. She asked me for my passport and green card, flipped through it, then asked me to stand up, raise my hand and swear to answer all the questions with the truth. My notice said to bring my wife's birth certificate, our marriage certificate as well as any additional supporting evidence I would like to add, but she only asked for my passport and green card.

 

She asked me to read out loud a question on a piece of paper, and then to write down the answer for it, which she provided. After that I answered 6 questions from the civics test correctly, and she informed me I had passed.

 

She then asked me my birth date and my wife's. We talked about places my wife and I had lived and why we moved to Seattle. She asked me about my job and my wife's, we spoke for a bit about how we had met and our relationship. Then she asked me that barrage of questions to which you're supposed to say no to, such as "are you a terrorist?" and many more of that sort. Then came the questions you're supposed to say yes to such as "are you ready to serve for your country if need be?" those weren't nearly as many.

 

She then asked me about my travel history, I had listed the last 6-7 countries I had been to but I guess I didn't provide a full list of them, just the ones that fit in the space given on the form. I did declare the full number though. They say to affix an appendix if the space provided is not enough, with a full list of the countries and dates and I thought I had but it's been so long I honestly can't remember if I did or not. I was asked to review my information on a sort of iPad and sign off on it. This info she said, was what my certificate would read. She said at that point I would normally be recommended for approval or not, but since they didn't provide my full travel history they would have to mail me a letter requesting it. I said I could pull it up from my phone if they gave me a few minutes, and she allowed for me to write them all down (luckily I keep pictures in my phone of all my international travels) while she conducted her next interview. I went back to the waiting area and wrote it all down. 

 

Seriously, that was all on me. I could have brought my old passport but I didn't, and my travel history would have been a non-issue. Also, if I did forget to include the full list on the application, that too is on me. Folks, if you are not doing this with a lawyer, you need to be fastidious about every section of your application, otherwise you risk unnecessary delays.

 

She gave me a printout that said I had passed the tests but a decision could not be made. She explained they would review my travel history and see if it checked out, then make a decision, and I should be hearing from them in the mail. I felt quite drained and disheartened. By the time I got home I had some emails saying to check my account online. I logged in and my status had changed to in line for oath scheduling! 

 

I can't wait to be done with this, good luck everyone. We just have to be patient, the rest is not up to us but we have to remember we are almost done.

 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2017 by MikloGoesLegit