N-400 February Filers 2018

[ilyak 79]

1 minute ago, INCHAPE7 said:

All I can say is CONGRATS US CITIZEN! What a moment! Smells good huh!

Thank you! Weirdly, it has a very distinct new Apple product smell. My wife even asked me if I bought some new toy.

 

Just now, CTgal18 said:

Nope there isn’t. It wasn’t really that accurate anyways. They pretty much just posted the oldest file they were working on. People would get interview letters even though it said it was only working on cases from months before. 

There's always the VJ processing times page, although I think it suffers from the same issues as the USCIS one did.

[Sukie 1,460]

6 hours ago, ilyak said:

Thank you! Weirdly, it has a very distinct new Apple product smell. My wife even asked me if I bought some new toy.

 

 

Ilyak, congratulations on being the VERY FIRST one of us to get through the whole process.  Makes me wish we lived closer to Buffalo instead of close to Albany!

 

My spouse and I laughed our heads off at "new Apple product smell"....

 

Sukie in NY

[Anabless 68]

@AmusingCamera  @CTgal18 Today I finally got my interview notification. Waiting to be uploaded with all details. Also my friend had her interview today in Latham and she passed, they said her oath will be in Hartford.

[CTgal18 157]

Just now, Anabless said:

@AmusingCamera  @CTgal18 Today I finally got my interview notification. Waiting to be uploaded with all details. Also my friend had her interview today in Latham and she passed, they said her oath will be in Hartford.

Woohoo!!! Finally!!

[Anabless 68]

1 minute ago, CTgal18 said:

Woohoo!!! Finally!!

I'm so happy now, I was crazyyyyyy anxious, wondering if they would schedule for Hartford and takes 6 months or so lol

[CTgal18 157]

5 minutes ago, Anabless said:

I'm so happy now, I was crazyyyyyy anxious, wondering if they would schedule for Hartford and takes 6 months or so lol

I was anxious for you too! I too was starting to get nervous that you were being sent to Hartford or if you were stuck in security checks or something. It’s strange to me that there was a 2 week difference in scheduling you when you filed only a few days after me. Well I’m really happy for you that neither is the case!!!

 

Time to start studying!

Edited May 18, 2018 by CTgal18

[Anabless 68]

25 minutes ago, CTgal18 said:

I was anxious for you too! I too was starting to get nervous that you were being sent to Hartford or if you were stuck in security checks or something. It’s strange to me that there was a 2 week difference in scheduling you when you filed only a few days after me. Well I’m really happy for you that neither is the case!!!

 

Time to start studying!

I have no idea why it took two long weeks, I don't really know their criteria since We applied and did our biometric with only 2 days difference. Anyways, at this point I don't really care, as you said time to start studying. I hope everyone in this group have their interview scheduled soon.

[Le Bangoulap 25]

Hello Vjers,

Thanks to God Almighty for His faithfulness!

I am getting closer to the finish line.

I cannot thank this platform and its members enough for your more than valuable contributions to the process.

I had my interview today and was recommended for approval and my status changed to "Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled"

Before I get to the interview details, I want to say that while I was following the progress of my N400 there were progress on my I-751 unknowingly to me.

Last week, I received a letter saying that my I-751 was transferred to NBC and when I put the case number on that letter online, I realized that there have been movement on that case since February from " We received your case" to "we transferred your case"

Based on that I was scheduled for both I-751 and N400 interview today.

The Interview was scheduled today at 8.00AM, I left the house with my family as early as 6.45AM all beautifully dressed, we got to the venue at 7.32AM and got in at 7.52AM as the security will not let us in earlier.

At 8.10AM a beautiful young officer came out and called my number, I walked towards her, she introduced herself and walked me to her office where she first asked for my Passport, ID Card and Green Card.

She asked me why I do not have my GC, I told her that it was taken from me when I made an Info-pass after my GC and Extension letter expired and replaced with ADIT stamp. She had make a Sworn Statement on the missing GC in the presence of another officer she brought in as a witness. After that we started the interview.

After she asked me to swear to tell the truth and only the truth she started with the English test, she asked me to read "Who was George Washington" followed by the writing of "George Washington was the first president" and the Civic Tests;

1. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s? I answered World War I

2. The House of Representative has how many voting members? I answered 435

3. We elect a U.S Representative for how many years? I answered 2

4. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? I answered John Roberts Jr.

5. In what month do we vote for president? I answered November

6. What is one reason colonist came to America? I answered freedom.

After all this she said "congratulations you passed' and went on to ask me other questions on the application. After answering all the questions she had me signed and printed a Naturalization Interview Results where she ticked the box that says "Congratulations! Your application has been recommended for approval"

I asked about my I-751 she said both my I-751 and N400 were fully loaded with evidence that she has approved the I-751 and did not need to ask for any evidence for the N400.

Everything lasted about 20 very relaxed minutes punctuated with some jokes...

After the Interview my status online went from " We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review " to "Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled"

While waiting for my Oath Ceremony to be scheduled, I wish the best to all of us!

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2018 by Le Bangoulap

[AmusingCamera 128]

12 hours ago, Anabless said:

@AmusingCamera  @CTgal18 Today I finally got my interview notification. Waiting to be uploaded with all details. Also my friend had her interview today in Latham and she passed, they said her oath will be in Hartford.

Congrats!!!! Finally! Mine is next week- I’ll keep you posted!

[trekkypj 13]

Yesterday (May 17, 2018) I had my interview in Omaha for the N-400 and adjudication of my I-751 at 9:20 am.

 

* N400 Interview *

The immigration officer was very friendly and pleasant and I felt at ease. We started by taking an oath certifying that I was going to give truthful answers to the questions asked. I also e-signed two statements certifying that the information I submitted was accurate and truthful. Next, I was asked some basic biographical data: name, address, details of when I got married, where I currently live, and my son's date of birth. Then, I was asked the N-400 questions again and double-checking the answers on the form. 

 

We then did the tests. I read one of three sentences printed on a form. I was then asked to write a sentence which he read out on a second form. 

We then moved on to the civics and history test. 

 

I was asked 6 questions: 

- Who is the Vice President?

- Who makes Laws in the United States?

- What territory did the United States Purchase from France in 1803?

- Why did the colonists revolt against Great Britain?

- How many amendments are there in the US Constitution?

- What is the Highest Court in the Land?

 

Once I answered these he congratulated me and said he was going to approve the application. He did not mention the I-751 so once the N-400 part was done I asked about it.

He said he was satisfied with the evidence I sent in so did not even need to call my wife in! I sent in quite a bit of stuff:

-  joint bank statements

-  birth cert for our son

- beneficiary documents for life insurance showing each other as beneficiaries

- 6-7 photos of us together with the dates varying from 2014 - 2018

- 4 years of tax transcripts from the IRS

- recent utility bills with our names and address

 

So it worked out pretty well and I was approved. He then offered me a slot in the administrative naturalization oath ceremony that was taking place that day.

I decided to go ahead and do that. I thanked him and he gave me an oath appointment letter pre-printed and added my name and a-number in pen. He said the questions on the back needed to be filled in before I went in to take the oath.

 

* Oath Ceremony *

The ceremony was scheduled for 2 pm the same day and I was to be there at 1:45 pm. I arrived with time to spare with my wife and son. My shoes set off the security scanner(!) so they had to do secondary screening but they were real nice about it. I had the form filled out - I was amused by being asked if I had gotten married, divorced, joined the communists or been arrested since the interview... (since 9 that morning?).

 

The lady who was organizing the ceremony asked us to get our Green Card and oath form out and she checked to make sure we had the cards and the form completed properly.

I had two green cards (I changed my legal name in 2016) and an employment authorization card and she commented on how many I had. I explained that I changed my name and she was fine about it.

 

Note: You do have to bring your most recent green card as well as the letter with the questions answered and signed. If you have more than one document issued by USCIS, you need to bring everything they have issued to you as they will take the cards from you before you go in to take the oath.

 

Once she had checked everyone in we were called up in groups of 4 or 5 and given a number. At that point we handed over the green cards. There were 25 in our group.

The participants in the ceremony  were then called into a back room with a projector and seats with a number on the back. We took our seats and the lady spoke to us about what was going to happen and how we would conduct the ceremony.

Then, family and friends were allowed in. They were allowed to take photos but asked to silence the phones.

 

They had a little IT trouble with getting the ceremony videos loaded but they got the issue fixed. 

Once they began the ceremony we stood and the national anthem was played. A few people hummed or sang it quietly.

 

There was a brief speech about what we were about to do. They had us stand a second time and take the oath together, a few words at a time. We were then congratulated on becoming US Citizens.

Two videos were played. The first was a message from President Trump to congratulate us on becoming citizens in which he talked about civic duty and how America's history and culture was now ours, regardless of where we came from.

The second was a video of 'God Bless the USA' by Lee Greenwood. 

 

We were then called up by name and presented with our Certificate of Naturalization by the Director of the Omaha centre. I went up and got my certificate.

I also received a packet with information on registering to vote and some booklets on being a US Citizen, as well as a small US flag.

 

Note: Once you get your naturalization certificate you need to sign it. The lady organizing the ceremony stated that the full legal name needs to be on the certificate - we needed to check it and make sure it is correct. When it is signed it needs to be in BLACK INK using a pen - No markers. The signature needs to be the full legal name in cursive script so it can be read. If the name was incorrect they can fix it before you leave - otherwise you have to file with USCIS to get it replaced and it takes a while.

 

We were offered the chance to take photos, and to get forms for registering to vote - and N-600 forms were also made available to apply for citizenship for any children who derived citizenship from the participants in the ceremony.

We were then congratulated and told we were free to go. All in all, it took about an hour. 

 

I am thrilled to have finally completed the process and to have become a US Citizen.

 

 

[CTgal18 157]

Congrats @trekkypj on becoming a US citizen!!!

[Anabless 68]

Congrats @trekkypj !!

[Anabless 68]

Can someone please update my interview details?

Interview notice: 05/17/18

Interview Date: 06/25/18

[Anabless 68]

1 hour ago, AmusingCamera said:

Congrats!!!! Finally! Mine is next week- I’ll keep you posted!

Thanks. Good luck on your interview. My friend said  they are really friendly, the office isn't crowded and  also have their own parking lot.

[YafaUSA 84]

Congrats @trekkypj ! Thank you for sharing and going into details. Did you had the option to apply for a passport at the ceremony?