Washington, DC Field Office Filers

[LRP 26]

3 hours ago, DGTB said:

Hi all , glad to make this final update. Just got sworn in as a U.S. Citizen. After my interview on the 14th , I went inline for oath on the 28th ,got the oath letter mailed notification on the 1st and received the oath letter on the 5th. This site has been great for tracking the whole process and would like to thank everyone for your contribution. For those who are not done yet, hang in there, I am positive that you will be done very soon. Now off to the post office I go.

 

...well I changed PCs and chrome is not cooperating with the RTF format, please update my info to oath on 9/12. 

Congrats DGTB! Can you please let us know your interview experience? What questions were asked and any other important details? Thank you!

[LRP 26]

I received my interview letter today! Can someone please update the schedule? I filed online - thanks!

UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrvw..|Oath....|Field Office.....|NBC/IOE
LRP...........|10/01/14|07/04|07/05|07/04|07/21/17|07/27/17|09/13/17|10/19/17|--/--/--|Washington, DC...|IOE

[Air_Borne 2]

On 9/13/2017 at 10:46 AM, LRP said:

I received my interview letter today! Can someone please update the schedule? I filed online - thanks!

UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrvw..|Oath....|Field Office.....|NBC/IOE
LRP...........|10/01/14|07/04|07/05|07/04|07/21/17|07/27/17|09/13/17|10/19/17|--/--/--|Washington, DC...|IOE

Good luck with your interview! Please do share your interview experience here.

[LRP 26]

@Air_Borne Thanks - will do

[Reach 0]

Hi.  My wife applied to Lewisville TX and our local CIS office is DC.  Her NOA was 2/1/17 and her bio notice was 2/12/17.  She had her fingerprints taken in Alexandria on 3/3/17.  We have not heard anything from USCIS since then. 

 

What does "In Line" mean in the chart above?  Should she have received some sort of notice regarding "In-Line" status?

[jxn 86]

A few bits of information.

 

I called the DC District Court to ask about 2018 naturalization dates. Although it's not official, they said next year's dates will follow the same format--a ceremony on the second Tuesday of every month.

 

They also said that they are all judicial ceremonies, not only administrative, so name changes can happen at all DC naturalization ceremonies.

 

Because some people in other field offices have reported having to wait in a side room during the naturalization ceremony, I asked if guests could attend in the same room during the ceremony itself and they said yes.

 

Finally, in the monthly progress report threads I've noticed some people putting "Fairfax, VA" as their local field office. To clarify, that's the same one as the Washington, DC field office, it just is located in Fairfax and can be referred to by both names, correct? If so, for consistency purposes I feel people should all put "Washington, DC" so it doesn't seem like it's two separate offices.

[LRP 26]

Everyone - I had my interview at the Washington D.C. office yesterday and just wanted to relay my experience. I will try to be as detailed as possible so please bear with me if its turns out to be a long post. 

 

My interview was at 11:30 AM in the morning and I got there at 11:10 AM. For other/future D.C. filers, you can find parking right across the street (beside the line of shops and restaurants) where if you park from 0-3 hours, its free. I went in through the front door and past security check. The security guards were very friendly and joked with me when they saw how nervous I was. I took the elevator to the 2nd floor based on their instructions, submitted my interview letter to the reception and waited for my name to be called. Around 11:30, an IO called out my name and asked me to come with him. He led me to his office where he confirmed my name and A number. After I took the oath, he asked for my passport (old and new), Driver's license and GC. He also asked for my biometrics appointment date (I did an early walk in) and looked at my copy of the biometrics letter to confirm. He took fingerprints of both my index fingers and a picture. When I jokingly said that I didn't put on enough make up for this picture to be on my naturalization certificate, he said this is just for their records and won't be on the certificate. He asked me if I was ready to take the civics test and proceeded to ask the following questions:

What is the name of the national anthem?

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

What is the rule of law?

How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

The reading section was this question: "How many U.S. Senators are there?". The writing section was the answer to the question. Based on previous interview experiences, I asked specifically if I should write in print or cursive to which he replied "print". All this was done on paper (he wrote down my answers of the civics test) and scanned into the system right after. 

 

Next, we went through my application. He asked me my full name, DOB, social security number, height (not sure why haha), phone number, address, the last time I traveled outside the U.S. and if I had taken any trips in between then and my interview date, where I worked, my wedding anniversary date, my husband's full name, his naturalization date, whether we lived together, whether we had children, how I met my husband and all the questions on Part 12 of the form. He told me I had passed all the tests then asked me to confirm my A-number, name and other personal details on a screen and sign it. The Oath of Allegiance then came up on the screen and I was asked to sign it as well. He gave me the paper recommending me for approval and told me to wait for mail confirming the oath taking ceremony date. I asked him how long that would take to which he replied about one month. I also asked him if I should bring anything to the ceremony to which he said there will be instructions on the mail but to make sure to bring the paper he just gave me, both my GCs and international passport. With that I was done!

 

While I left like the whole interview must have been an hour long, my husband said it was only 20 minutes (theory of relativity folks!). The IO was very nice and calm. He was patient with my nervous joking and elaborate answers. All in all, a great experience!

 

My online status on ELIS changed within the day to confirm my case was approved and to wait for the oath taking ceremony letter in the mail. But curiously USCIS.gov displayed this message: Case Was Submitted For Quality Review Based On An Approval Recommendation. I am not putting too much importance on this since ELIS is the most updated one. 

 

Hope this helps!

[Air_Borne 2]

On 10/20/2017 at 11:28 AM, LRP said:

Everyone - I had my interview at the Washington D.C. office yesterday and just wanted to relay my experience. I will try to be as detailed as possible so please bear with me if its turns out to be a long post. 

 

My interview was at 11:30 AM in the morning and I got there at 11:10 AM. For other/future D.C. filers, you can find parking right across the street (beside the line of shops and restaurants) where if you park from 0-3 hours, its free. I went in through the front door and past security check. The security guards were very friendly and joked with me when they saw how nervous I was. I took the elevator to the 2nd floor based on their instructions, submitted my interview letter to the reception and waited for my name to be called. Around 11:30, an IO called out my name and asked me to come with him. He led me to his office where he confirmed my name and A number. After I took the oath, he asked for my passport (old and new), Driver's license and GC. He also asked for my biometrics appointment date (I did an early walk in) and looked at my copy of the biometrics letter to confirm. He took fingerprints of both my index fingers and a picture. When I jokingly said that I didn't put on enough make up for this picture to be on my naturalization certificate, he said this is just for their records and won't be on the certificate. He asked me if I was ready to take the civics test and proceeded to ask the following questions:

What is the name of the national anthem?

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

What is the rule of law?

How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

The reading section was this question: "How many U.S. Senators are there?". The writing section was the answer to the question. Based on previous interview experiences, I asked specifically if I should write in print or cursive to which he replied "print". All this was done on paper (he wrote down my answers of the civics test) and scanned into the system right after. 

 

Next, we went through my application. He asked me my full name, DOB, social security number, height (not sure why haha), phone number, address, the last time I traveled outside the U.S. and if I had taken any trips in between then and my interview date, where I worked, my wedding anniversary date, my husband's full name, his naturalization date, whether we lived together, whether we had children, how I met my husband and all the questions on Part 12 of the form. He told me I had passed all the tests then asked me to confirm my A-number, name and other personal details on a screen and sign it. The Oath of Allegiance then came up on the screen and I was asked to sign it as well. He gave me the paper recommending me for approval and told me to wait for mail confirming the oath taking ceremony date. I asked him how long that would take to which he replied about one month. I also asked him if I should bring anything to the ceremony to which he said there will be instructions on the mail but to make sure to bring the paper he just gave me, both my GCs and international passport. With that I was done!

 

While I left like the whole interview must have been an hour long, my husband said it was only 20 minutes (theory of relativity folks!). The IO was very nice and calm. He was patient with my nervous joking and elaborate answers. All in all, a great experience!

 

My online status on ELIS changed within the day to confirm my case was approved and to wait for the oath taking ceremony letter in the mail. But curiously USCIS.gov displayed this message: Case Was Submitted For Quality Review Based On An Approval Recommendation. I am not putting too much importance on this since ELIS is the most updated one. 

 

Hope this helps!

Congrats on passing your interview! Hope you get your oath ceremony scheduled soon! I have my interview on 11/27 so thank you for sharing your interview experience along with the priceless parking instructions

[ratratrat 1]

Does anyone know how often does Fairfax office schedule interviews for Virginians? How long ahead was your interview scheduled from receiving a letter? 

Thanks

[LRP 26]

@ratratrat if you scroll back on this forum you can see everyone's timelines to make an estimation. The most updated version is the following:

On 7/10/2017 at 9:13 PM, DGTB said:

thanks @blessedbyJesus

 

adding my interview info

 

UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office.....|NBC/IOE

Uwe..............|11/16/96|10/03|--/--|10/10|11/03/16|11/08/16.|02/22/17.|03/17/17.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|

jc84.............|01/12/12|10/15|10/27|10/25|11/14/16|01/26/17.|03/20/17.|04/24/17.|--/--/--.|Fairfax, VA......|NBC

CGu13............|--/--/--|10/17|10/21|10/24|11/17/16|11/21/16.|03/19/17.|04/18/17.|--/--/--.|Fairfax, VA......|NBC

blessedbyJesus...|--/--/--|10/26|--/--|--/--|10/31/16|12/30/16.|03/17/17.|04/24/17.|06/22/17.|Fairfax, VA......|NBC

Mehmet&Elena.....|10/20/11|11/30|12/05|12/01|12/28/16|01/04/17.|04/12/17.|05/16/17.|07/01/17.|Fairfax, VA......|NBC

Bubblybee........|05/30/13|12/02|12/06|12/07|01/03/17|01/30/17.|04/20/17.|05/22/17.|07/01/17.|Washington, DC...|NBC

Lavoparents......|02/23/12|12/12|12/15|12/22|01/11/17|01/30/17.|04/22/17.|05/24/17.|--/--/--.|Fairfax, VA......|NBC

Blazers..........|02/22/09|12/13|12/20|--/--|01/10/17|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Fairfax, VA......|NBC

SC333............|06/13/05|12/15|12/23|12/22|01/17/17|01/19/17.|04/24/17.|05/26/17.|--/--/--.|Fairfax, VA......|NBC

SimpaticoJT......|04/04/13|12/16|12/21|12/21|01/18/17|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Alexandria, VA...|NBC

Cybermax.........|03/27/12|12/27|12/29|01/14|01/30/17|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Annandale,VA.....|

vik376...........|02/27/14|12/28|01/11|01/12|01/31/17|04/19/17.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington,DC....|

Blue101..........|--/--/--|01/09|01/11|01/11|01/26/17|02/14/17.|05/08/17.|06/05/17.|--/--/--.|Fairfax, VA......|

LJVA.............|01/--/13|01/17|01/25|01/30|02/14/17|03/06/17.|05/15/17.|06/19/17.|--/--/--.|Fairfax, VA......|

feroze895........|04/03/12|01/24|01/30|02/04|02/21/17|03/13/17.|05/22/17.|06/20/17.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|

ToRo.............|05/02/14|02/02|02/08|02/08|02/28/17|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|NBC

Reda.............|05/02/14|02/11|02/15|02/13|03/01/17|04/03/17.|06/23/17.|07/26/17.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|NBC

Vismom...........|07/07/05|02/14|02/23|02/17|03/17/17|03/21/17.|06/26/17.|07/28/17.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|NBC

nmic7............|05/05/14|02/15|02/16|02/17|02/28/17|03/23/17.|06/07/17.|06/21/17.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|LIN

DGTB.............|07/23/94|02/27|03/06|03/06|03/20/17|03/29/17.|07/10/17.|08/14/17.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|NBC

KSWSKY94.........|01/25/12|02/28|03/07|03/07|03/27/17|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|NBC

VAMAS............|09/23/13|03/06|03/08|03/13|04/13/17|04/17/17.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|NBC

SHAIZ............|--/--/--|03/08|03/14|03/14|04/04/17|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|NBC

tkdwls0131.......|06/09/14|04/12|--/--|05/12|05/22/17|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC...|NBC

After you get your receipt letter, you have to wait to get your biometrics letter and then the interview will be scheduled. Good luck on your journey!

 

[Air_Borne 2]

I had my interview today at the DC office. 

The officer was pretty dry to say the least and did not ask any questions apart from the routine test and confirming answers provided with the application form.

 

I was given an approval recommendation letter and told that my case will undergo routine final review that could take 2-6 weeks.

 

@LRPI feel like I might be in the same boat as you. Were you able to make a trip to the field office?

 

 

[LRP 26]

@Air_Borne I really do hope you get your oath letter sooner than later. I was not able to go to the field office but my infopass appointment is on 12/1. This Thursday will mark 6 weeks since my interview and still no word from them sigh. I will keep you posted on how my infopass appointment goes. 

 

Also I am so sorry for not replying to your previous post! 

Edited November 28, 2017 by LRP

[Air_Borne 2]

Thank you. Hope your infopass appointment makes them move your file on to oath scheduling!

[Air_Borne 2]

On 11/27/2017 at 9:32 PM, LRP said:

@Air_Borne I really do hope you get your oath letter sooner than later. I was not able to go to the field office but my infopass appointment is on 12/1. This Thursday will mark 6 weeks since my interview and still no word from them sigh. I will keep you posted on how my infopass appointment goes. 

 

Also I am so sorry for not replying to your previous post! 

How did your infopass appointment go? Any rationale behing the delay post interview approval? My ELIS account and uscis.gov both got updated to ‘Inline for oath ceremony’ a day after my interview so not sure if this is a step further from final approval or still part of the final approval process.

[LRP 26]

@Air_Borne if your online status doesn't say "sent for quality review" then your interview is actually being scheduled. I doubt you would have to wait as long as I am being subjected to.