Chicago N400 filers

[hobbitspouse 7]

re-Posting here for reference.

 

 

Got my interview this week, interview went well. It was a bit harder than I thought it would be but still easy. Few pointers that I'd like to share:

• Sign-in logistics in Chicago: 
  • You get to the receptionist window, and hand out your interview letter
  • She asks you if you have a lawyer present (I did not and I never have used any legal services)
  • You get a door number and a numbering position
  • I waited around 30 minutes until my number was called. My interview was scheduled at 9:00AM and I got there at 8:30AM.
• My spouse was not required to attend. I saw other spouses at the seating area waiting for their SO to come out of the interview, but I still asked my spouse to walk with me when my number was called. The interview officer (IO) told us that only the applicant was needed and that the spouse would be called if required. I think it was good for the officer to see my spouse there.
• I walk into the IO's office and IO  gives name and position
• IO requests all documentation required, I only brought the info that was in the interview letter - nothing else except my IRS transcripts for the latest year since we applied in December.
• The IO starts the interview by asking personal information questions (Name, DOB, etc.) then proceeds to ask about my marriage
• After all personal info questions are complete- the IO then starts the Civic test
• Civic Test & English Verbal/Written
  • The test is verbal and no multiple answers are given. You must say the answer. This is something I didn't know but granted I guess I did not do my due diligence. I was overly comfortable (complacent) 
  • The IO will ask 10 questions, of which, 6 must be correct to pass
  • The IO had an accent and was very stern and serious which made me uneasy, IO asked 7 questions and I got 6 correct on the 7th and I passed. No need for more questions.
  • The English test is an easy sentence you must read and write on an iPad. IO asked me twice to make it legible but whatever, my handwriting sucks
  • Both passed
• After the tests, IO proceeds to ask questions about my travel. And finishes the interview with the slew of questions that you get on the interview application (Are you a terrorist, communist, drugs, etc.)
• I signed some other stuff on the iPad (don't remember what exactly) but I did read "Immigration Status for "Hobbitspouse" - U.S. Citizen
• After that , the IO smiled for the first time and told me that I passed, gave me a letter and told me to wait for my oath ceremony invitation
• Online application portal changed a day or two later

 

The only advice I have is to practice the questions with someone verbally asking you without having multiple choice answers. Other than that, the interview went as expected. I got out of there 45 minutes after I was called in. Celebrated with a good cold american beer. Cheers and good luck. 

 

Edited June 16, 2019 by hobbitspouse

[hobbitspouse 7]

What's the expected time from approval date to oath in Chicago? I'm hoping to get a July 4th date.

 

[ordjnb 40]

13 hours ago, hobbitspouse said:

What's the expected time from approval date to oath in Chicago? I'm hoping to get a July 4th date.

 

I would also like to know?

 

And does anyone know if Chicago handles voter registration, social security updating and passport applications on the day of oath?

[egroeg 66]

16 hours ago, hobbitspouse said:

re-Posting here for reference.

 

 

Got my interview this week, interview went well. It was a bit harder than I thought it would be but still easy. Few pointers that I'd like to share:

• Sign-in logistics in Chicago: 
  • You get to the receptionist window, and hand out your interview letter
  • She asks you if you have a lawyer present (I did not and I never have used any legal services)
  • You get a door number and a numbering position
  • I waited around 30 minutes until my number was called. My interview was scheduled at 9:00AM and I got there at 8:30AM.
• My spouse was not required to attend. I saw other spouses at the seating area waiting for their SO to come out of the interview, but I still asked my spouse to walk with me when my number was called. The interview officer (IO) told us that only the applicant was needed and that the spouse would be called if required. I think it was good for the officer to see my spouse there.
• I walk into the IO's office and IO  gives name and position
• IO requests all documentation required, I only brought the info that was in the interview letter - nothing else except my IRS transcripts for the latest year since we applied in December.
• The IO starts the interview by asking personal information questions (Name, DOB, etc.) then proceeds to ask about my marriage
• After all personal info questions are complete- the IO then starts the Civic test
• Civic Test & English Verbal/Written
  • The test is verbal and no multiple answers are given. You must say the answer. This is something I didn't know but granted I guess I did not do my due diligence. I was overly comfortable (complacent) 
  • The IO will ask 10 questions, of which, 6 must be correct to pass
  • The IO had an accent and was very stern and serious which made me uneasy, IO asked 7 questions and I got 6 correct on the 7th and I passed. No need for more questions.
  • The English test is an easy sentence you must read and write on an iPad. IO asked me twice to make it legible but whatever, my handwriting sucks
  • Both passed
• After the tests, IO proceeds to ask questions about my travel. And finishes the interview with the slew of questions that you get on the interview application (Are you a terrorist, communist, drugs, etc.)
• I signed some other stuff on the iPad (don't remember what exactly) but I did read "Immigration Status for "Hobbitspouse" - U.S. Citizen
• After that , the IO smiled for the first time and told me that I passed, gave me a letter and told me to wait for my oath ceremony invitation
• Online application portal changed a day or two later

 

The only advice I have is to practice the questions with someone verbally asking you without having multiple choice answers. Other than that, the interview went as expected. I got out of there 45 minutes after I was called in. Celebrated with a good cold american beer. Cheers and good luck. 

 

Congrats @hobbitspouse, thank you for posting your experience ! Hopefully you get to swear in next week, definitely before July 4. I'm a January 11'th filer - still waiting for my interview date !

[ordjnb 40]

On 6/16/2019 at 2:21 PM, xilef said:

Congrats @hobbitspouse, thank you for posting your experience ! Hopefully you get to swear in next week, definitely before July 4. I'm a January 11'th filer - still waiting for my interview date !

What is the time frame between approval and the day of oath in Chicago? Can't seem to find the info 

[egroeg 66]

48 minutes ago, ordjnb said:

What is the time frame between approval and the day of oath in Chicago? Can't seem to find the info 

@ordjnb I have seen it take anywhere from a few days to weeks to a month. I can't remember any cases on top of my head, what does your case status say online ? Did you try calling them to try and see if you can move the needle 

[ordjnb 40]

It just says I've been approved still. No in line for the oath. Was just curious, I'm not in any particular rush to have the oath, within a month is fine, pretty exciting still

 

I'll just be out of town July 5th so I hope it's not during then. 

[egroeg 66]

1 minute ago, ordjnb said:

It just says I've been approved still. No in line for the oath. Was just curious, I'm not in any particular rush to have the oath, within a month is fine, pretty exciting still

 

I'll just be out of town July 5th so I hope it's not during then. 

That's great that you got approved, hopefully within the next few days your status changes to "In line for oath"

[ordjnb 40]

Oath scheduled for July 10th at 9am. 

 

Didn't know I had to bring all my USCIS documents, such as me EAD and 2 year conditional green card. 

[egroeg 66]

43 minutes ago, ordjnb said:

Oath scheduled for July 10th at 9am. 

 

Didn't know I had to bring all my USCIS documents, such as me EAD and 2 year conditional green card. 

That's awesome @ordjnb, Congrats ! So it took almost a month after your interview I guess for your oath date 

Hello Everyone, January 11'th filer here - got my interview scheduled for July 24'th

[ordjnb 40]

Just now, xilef said:

That's awesome @ordjnb, Congrats ! So it took almost a month after your interview I guess for your oath date 

Yes, I'm guessing it takes 3 weeks from approval to oath. My interview was on the 10th but approval was 15th 

[egroeg 66]

On 6/8/2019 at 11:23 AM, imagineyouandme said:

Almost done with my journey

 

Dec 2016: applied for ROC

Sep 2017: applied for N-400

Nov 2017: scheduled for N-400 interview for Dec 2017

Dec 2017: showed up for interview, but was told by officer that they don’t conduct joint interviews for I-751/N-400 and that I would have to wait until I-751 was approved

Jul 2018: I-751 approved

Mar 2019: sent a USCIS a service request for being outside of normal processing time for N-400

Apr 2019: scheduled for N-400 interview

May 2019: attended N-400 interview. Went well overall, no problem with history questions and English. I wasn’t prepared as I should have been and didn’t bring my old passport, tax returns, or more proof of marriage (oops!). Officer was not happy at all when she found out I had been turned away in December 2017 and said I should have been allowed to do a joint interview! She had to rerun the background check because it had been so long since I initially applied, but said I should be approved if it comes back clean.

June 2019: online status was stuck on “Your interview was scheduled” until yesterday, when it was changed to “Your oath ceremony has been scheduled”. It’s in just two weeks!

 

Very excited to be done with the process soon. Hope everyone had a smooth journey!

 

 

@imagineyouandme Did you get your oath ceremony date schedule ?

[ordjnb 40]

2 hours ago, xilef said:

That's awesome @ordjnb, Congrats ! So it took almost a month after your interview I guess for your oath date 

Hello Everyone, January 11'th filer here - got my interview scheduled for July 24'th

Congrats, looks like you'll be a citizen by august! 

[imagineyouandme 12]

10 hours ago, xilef said:

@imagineyouandme Did you get your oath ceremony date schedule ?

Yes, it's actually tomorrow at 1pm!

[egroeg 66]

On 6/19/2019 at 7:59 AM, ordjnb said:

Oath scheduled for July 10th at 9am. 

 

Didn't know I had to bring all my USCIS documents, such as me EAD and 2 year conditional green card. 

I believe it's any employment authorization document that USCIS has ever sent you, I still have my EAD from my I-485 and the 2 year green card stored. I doubt it's a big deal if you can't bring them, just make sure to bring your 10 yr GC with you