Philadelphia N400 Completed Process

[Curiously waiting 2]

Hi Everyone!

 

I AM FINISHED!! I would like to share my entire process for the Philly FO since I barely saw any here when I first started. I attached my timeline taken from USCIS.gov but I also have a few pointers and a little more detail that it doesn't show. 

 

1. I filed by mail (because I didn't know you could do it online at the time).
2. My GC had expired about 3 months before I started the application.
3. I sought advice from some online lawyers about whether I should have my GC renewed since I already started the citizenship process & they all said yes. SO, June 20, 2018, I applied for a GC and the lady automatically put in a 1-year extension when I went for my 2nd set of fingerprints (1st set of prints was for n400 in March).
4. My N400 interview was originally scheduled for October but for some reason, they canceled it and automatically rescheduled me for November.
5. I went for my interview on November 20th. Now, this is IMPORTANT!
   • this is a different location then the fingerprints
   • you go through security like you're at an airport (take off shoes, jackets, belts, etc.)
   • check in at the desk so they can put in the system that you are present. The staff will tell you which door you'll need to go to
   • The interview is on the second floor and there are 3 doors. Sit as CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO YOUR DOOR or you will NOT hear them call your name! (a lot of people talking!)
   • Someone comes out of the door you are assigned to and calls out (apparently I was called 3 separate times but I sat too far and couldn't hear).
   • Fingerprinted again, another photo, and then the staff goes through your application to make sure everything is correct and there are no changes.
   • Finally, the test begins: civic first, reading, then writing.
   • Passed! YAY! Given paper stating, I passed and left.😁
6. Literally hours later I received a notification online that my oath Ceremony is scheduled to be in 10 days! 
7. Got my letter by mail.
   • you have to fill out the back with the date of the ceremony.
8. Ceremony Time!!! (52 people, 33 countries) 😎
   • Same building as interview except now you're on the first floor
   • The staff hosting it was very friendly and funny
   • Line up row by row to surrender your GC (FOREVER!), verify name spelling and birth date on the certificate (but you don't get it yet!)
   • Watch a couple of videos, sing the national anthem, say the oath, and voila! you're officially sworn in!
   • Row by row we stand and wait for our names to be called to receive our certificates (Like graduation).
   • Watch about 2 more videos and THE END! 💃
   • You get to register to vote right there also and it takes less than 1 minute to complete.
9. Still, haven't heard anything about my GC but it's useless now!

 

TOTAL TIME: 9 Months

 

[geowrian 22,337]

34 minutes ago, Curiously waiting said:

I sought advice from some online lawyers about whether I should have my GC renewed since I already started the citizenship process & they all said yes. SO, June 20, 2018, I applied for a GC and the lady automatically put in a 1-year extension when I went for my 2nd set of fingerprints (1st set of prints was for n400 in March).

The renewal wasn't necessary, but didn't hurt either.

Not sure what you mean by they put in a 1 year extension...? Did you mean they issued an I-551 stamp (presumably in your passport)?

[Curiously waiting 2]

10 minutes ago, geowrian said:

The renewal wasn't necessary, but didn't hurt either.

Not sure what you mean by they put in a 1 year extension...? Did you mean they issued an I-551 stamp (presumably in your passport)?

2

I figured it wasn't but I thought that's was making my application take long.

And no it wasn't a stamp, She put an extension sticker (metallic green) on the back of my GC, giving me a year from that day before it expires again. I was able to travel to Canada with it, no issue. 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2018 by Curiously waiting

[HU87 9]

1 hour ago, Curiously waiting said:

And no it wasn't a stamp, She put an extension sticker (metallic green) on the back of my GC, giving me a year from that day before it expires again.

Adding image of sticker for future readers:

[Curiously waiting 2]

18 hours ago, HU87 said:

Adding image of sticker for future readers:

@geowrian This was it. 

Thank you @HU87

[geowrian 22,337]

2 minutes ago, Curiously waiting said:

@geowrian This was it. 

Thank you @HU87

Yup got it. I wasn't aware they were still issuing those stickers but looks like they are. Thanks.