N-400 Newark/Mt Laurel New Jersey

[Rasheed1011 3]

Anybody attended interview recently in Newark office?  Please share your experience.

[A&U 5]

anyone else from september got interview letter? PD Sep 25 still waiting 🙁

 

 

[hayito 4]

November 5 filing date... Nothing here yet as well...

[A&U 5]

finally status changed interview scheduled 😍 PD Sep 25 guys

[hayito 4]

14 hours ago, A&U said:

finally status changed interview scheduled 😍 PD Sep 25 guys

that's awesome.... Filled 6 weeks after you.... I hope to see mine change in the coming weeks as well...

Edited April 2, 2019 by hayito

[A&U 5]

On 4/2/2019 at 8:49 AM, hayito said:

that's awesome.... Filled 6 weeks after you.... I hope to see mine change in the coming weeks as well...

interview date 5/15. Good luck to you too

[Im-patient 4]

24 hours old US Citizen

Got my interview and same day oath (only perk of NJ).

Arrived 20 minutes early and interview started 20 mins late, IO V. RODRIGUEZ was very professional.

Right hand up and oath that all what I'll say is the truth

1. Personal data verification.
2. Name changes if any (denied).
3. supposed to be updating the application but system was acting up, so she so professionally skipped to the next step.
4. Civics (not in order)
   1. What is freedom of religion.
   2. What is the age for males to sign for selective service.
   3. Who is the chief of the Military.
   4. Name a part of the government.
   5. During the cold war what was the main concern, 
   6. When do we celebrate independence day.
5. Read: Who is George Washington?
6. Write on the tablet ahead: Washington was the first president.
7. Generic No/Yes questions
8. Back to update the application, corrected the destination of my travels after the application that they got wrong.
9. Asked for my spouse's original birth certificate (3 yrs rule).
10. Check and sign how my details would look like on the naturalization certificate.
11. Recommended for approval.

Time: ~20-30 mins mainly because system being slow.

 

Back to waiting area, with pre-oath documents that I checked boxes saying nothing has changed since my interview, signed and dated.

Got an message from USCIS, status changed, checked and it said, oath ceremony has been scheduled and we mailed you the notice.

Got called to a window where I gave them the pre-oath document, signed a copy and the original naturalization certificate after verifying sure information is correct and gave me a flag and an envelope with passport application and oath copy. 

Back to waiting area where I relentlessly chased my son around and everyone saying he is cute and how come he is white and I'm brown-ish and me smiling socially while my wife sat in the back literally having contractions for our baby#2 (real story) that was delivered 7hrs later.

 

Got called to the oath room families sat in the back 99% citizens up front, watched a video, national anthem, oath, watched Mr. Trump welcoming the now 100% citizens cause we swore the oath, got original certificate, darted to the hospital.

Whole thing took ~4 hrs.

 

Applied for passport 3 hours ago, so I can come back to my country if I had to leave for any reason.

Mail man, stapled through the $555 certificate so carelessly.

When it comes back I'll then update SS, DMV(MVA) records and register to vote.

 

I'M DONE

[A&U 5]

4 hours ago, Im-patient said:

24 hours old US Citizen

I'M DONE

congratulations good to hear your story. Thanks for sharing

[hayito 4]

5 hours ago, Im-patient said:

24 hours old US Citizen

Got my interview and same day oath (only perk of NJ).

Arrived 20 minutes early and interview started 20 mins late, IO V. RODRIGUEZ was very professional.

Right hand up and oath that all what I'll say is the truth

1. Personal data verification.
2. Name changes if any (denied).
3. supposed to be updating the application but system was acting up, so she so professionally skipped to the next step.
4. Civics (not in order)
   1. What is freedom of religion.
   2. What is the age for males to sign for selective service.
   3. Who is the chief of the Military.
   4. Name a part of the government.
   5. During the cold war what was the main concern, 
   6. When do we celebrate independence day.
5. Read: Who is George Washington?
6. Write on the tablet ahead: Washington was the first president.
7. Generic No/Yes questions
8. Back to update the application, corrected the destination of my travels after the application that they got wrong.
9. Asked for my spouse's original birth certificate (3 yrs rule).
10. Check and sign how my details would look like on the naturalization certificate.
11. Recommended for approval.

Time: ~20-30 mins mainly because system being slow.

 

Back to waiting area, with pre-oath documents that I checked boxes saying nothing has changed since my interview, signed and dated.

Got an message from USCIS, status changed, checked and it said, oath ceremony has been scheduled and we mailed you the notice.

Got called to a window where I gave them the pre-oath document, signed a copy and the original naturalization certificate after verifying sure information is correct and gave me a flag and an envelope with passport application and oath copy. 

Back to waiting area where I relentlessly chased my son around and everyone saying he is cute and how come he is white and I'm brown-ish and me smiling socially while my wife sat in the back literally having contractions for our baby#2 (real story) that was delivered 7hrs later.

 

Got called to the oath room families sat in the back 99% citizens up front, watched a video, national anthem, oath, watched Mr. Trump welcoming the now 100% citizens cause we swore the oath, got original certificate, darted to the hospital.

Whole thing took ~4 hrs.

 

Applied for passport 3 hours ago, so I can come back to my country if I had to leave for any reason.

Mail man, stapled through the $555 certificate so carelessly.

When it comes back I'll then update SS, DMV(MVA) records and register to vote.

 

I'M DONE

Congratulations!!! 

 

When did you submit the N400?

[Im-patient 4]

11 hours ago, hayito said:

Congratulations!!! 

 

When did you submit the N400?

9/2/18

[fanse 0]

Sharing Newark Experience (you can see my timeline here: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=219702)

 

10:45 AM appointment on 24th of July. Arrived 30 minutes earlier, as informed in the letter. Was directed to 15th floor, where USCIS processes Naturalization cases.

When I entered, the waiting room was full. Around 11:10AM (half-an-hour-ish after the scheduled time), Immigration Officer called me in for an interview.

 

Moment I entered, I swore that I will be "telling the truth, so help me God." Immediately after, the process starts with a series of questions that you probably were informed to memorize/study for:

• What territory did the US purchase from France in 1803?
• What month do you vote for the President?
• What are the two major political parties in the United States?
• Name one duty for US citizens only.
• What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called?
• When was the Constitution written?

Then, I was asked to read a question that was shown on an iPad, then I was supposed to write down the response the IO gave corresponding to the question. (This just purely assesses your reading, listening, and writing ability -- not really a civics test, although the content itself covers US history & politics).

 

Going over the series of responses I put on N-400. This is to ensure that your responses stayed consistent since you filed to your interview date (8 months can be a long time for a lot of thing could happen). Unless something critical showed up, such as you committing a serious crime during that period, or traveling beyond 6 months / 1 year that would break continuous residence, everything would pass by.

 

Final conclusion of the interview will ask for any name changes, which I did not ask for, and confirmation of your information to be correct, as displayed on the iPad (such as your names, DOB, address, etc.) You will sign these on the iPad.

 

I did have two traffic infractions. I did say "yes" when I filed for the form asking "Have you ever been cited..". I explained and provided the court-certified copies of disposition AND fine receipts.

Just a set of tips:

• Do report traffic violations (regardless of the fine amount). A lot of people misinterpret official instructions from USCIS, "You do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines or incidents that did not involve an arrest or did not involve drugs or alcohol, if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 or points on your driving record." It says you do not need to submit documentation, not you do not need to write. You don't need to prove it, but you still need to write it to be on the safe side. It's okay, it happens. These are public records that anyone can find. You do not want to hide it; honesty is the key.
• Do pay the fine. If you don't, that's when things arise to raise the red flag on your naturalization eligibility.
• Do get physical receipts & disposition after the fine is paid, preferably certified. These generally contain a seal from the court. Contact the court to obtain these.
  • Do get police reports, if it involved accidents. Basically, you want to prove there are no injuries.
  • If there were, bring evidences that you went through proper procedures, such as insurance reports, (no hit-and-run) etc.

Basically, having something to prove will always save your life. Having it when not needed is much better than the other case (not having it when needed).

 

Obviously, as one was a traffic accident without injuries and one was just a pure speeding ticket, they didn't hinder my eligibility, as they do not consist of any felonies or serious crimes. It did make my interview a bit longer, as the officer needed supervisor's approval, but ultimately I got approved and was told to wait in the waiting room for signing my naturalization certificates. I got a cute mini-flag and an envelope containing passport application form, a "welcome" pamphlet, and a hand-signed letter from the President (Trump), generically welcoming me to the United States.

 

Around 1:30 PM, everyone in the waiting room was directed to the ceremony room. The whole Oath Ceremony took around 30-40 minutes. 60+ new citizens were sworn in, represented by 24 nations around the world. Though our origins were different, we are now the same.

[andfp 14]

Hi NJ filers,

 

I had an interview on April 22nd (last month) at Mt Laurel and could not be approved due not enough proof of address (recently moved to Jersey from Florida) and an RFE was issued to which I immediately replied. I woke up today with great news that my N400 was approved and the Oath Ceremony will be scheduled.

 

Since NJ do daily oath ceremonies I wonder how long will it take till I have a ceremony? Since this is extra bureaucracy I worry it'll be too long. 

 

Anyone on the same boat?

[Grumpycatnj 14]

Hi! I applied for my naturalization in April 2019. I already did my biometric on May 7th.

i live in Jersey City, 

will my interview be in Newark, NJ?

my biometric appointment was in NYC at the Varick St office.

my case says estimated time 10 month, March 2020. How accurate is that?

 

thank you  for the answers! 

[hayito 4]

On 5/9/2019 at 9:33 AM, Grumpycatnj said:

Hi! I applied for my naturalization in April 2019. I already did my biometric on May 7th.

i live in Jersey City, 

will my interview be in Newark, NJ?

my biometric appointment was in NYC at the Varick St office.

my case says estimated time 10 month, March 2020. How accurate is that?

 

thank you  for the answers! 

Should hopefully a little earlier... November filer still waiting for Interview to be scheduled..

[A&U 5]

became citizen today guys. same day oath but was a close call since their system went down for hours. Hang in there time will come