N-400 Aug 2019 Filers

[outaway3 8]

3 hours ago, hungryfornoa said:

Hi @outaway3, on what grounds and with whom (USCIS via phone, your congressman or senator, etc...) did you raise a case? Good luck on the interview.

Thank! I used myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov to raise a case. Under Resources there is an option to send a message. 

[hungryfornoa 21]

Thanks, that's good to know.

[Shivoham 19]

On 10/8/2020 at 9:53 AM, outaway3 said:

Thank! I used myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov to raise a case. Under Resources there is an option to send a message. 

When you wrote to them, what did you write so that they picked up your case?

I filed from Seattle in Aug 2019, still waiting. The processing times show like 19-26 months. I see the at NYC also shows somewhat similar processing times. I am waiting to get my wife to US. been waiting to long. Appreciate your help.

[outaway3 8]

On 10/9/2020 at 5:12 PM, Shivoham said:

When you wrote to them, what did you write so that they picked up your case?

I filed from Seattle in Aug 2019, still waiting. The processing times show like 19-26 months. I see the at NYC also shows somewhat similar processing times. I am waiting to get my wife to US. been waiting to long. Appreciate your help.

I am not sure it had to do with what I wrote but I guess more with just the timing. This is what I wrote to them "Hello USCIS Team, Following up to see if there is any update on scheduling of my interview. This is also holding up my I-751. Appreciate your help."

[Shivoham 19]

38 minutes ago, outaway3 said:

I am not sure it had to do with what I wrote but I guess more with just the timing. This is what I wrote to them "Hello USCIS Team, Following up to see if there is any update on scheduling of my interview. This is also holding up my I-751. Appreciate your help."

Thank you. Appreciate your help. 

[Yab1 0]

On 9/23/2020 at 4:26 PM, persiankitten said:

Is anyone still waiting on an Oath Ceremony to be scheduled after their interview/test months ago? Husband had his interview/test in March and we've been waiting for the Oath Ceremony to be scheduled for him since then. Yesterday, we finally got in touch with our local congresswoman to see if there was anything they could do. 

Any updates on your oath ceremony?

[persiankitten 4]

9 minutes ago, Yab1 said:

Any updates on your oath ceremony?

No, unfortunately

The congresswoman was able to reach out to the USCIS office but they just told her office they are waiting on scheduling the ceremony, blah blah. That was about 2-3 weeks ago and still no changes. 

[GaRaS 10]

Goodluck to all that still waiting. Our journey ends on Oct 26 at LA. Please see  my timeline.

[bariki 71]

Had my combo interview on Friday. Took about an hour - the immigration officer whizzed through most of the I-751 content. I brought another inch of evidence, which she liked. Civics questions were all softball ones - like names of oceans, rivers and cities.

 

Was recommended for approval of the N-400 but was told it would take some time to review everything. In the interim, more waiting. Yay.

[outaway3 8]

On 10/26/2020 at 12:16 PM, bariki said:

Had my combo interview on Friday. Took about an hour - the immigration officer whizzed through most of the I-751 content. I brought another inch of evidence, which she liked. Civics questions were all softball ones - like names of oceans, rivers and cities.

 

Was recommended for approval of the N-400 but was told it would take some time to review everything. In the interim, more waiting. Yay.

Do you have any update on your case?

 

Did they approve I751 at the time of interview or they gave you the letter that says your case is under review?

 

Also did your N400 approval had different A Number?

[outaway3 8]

Completed the interview process yesterday. Even though the interview was for N-40, I went with my spouse just in case they decided to do Combo interview. Entry line to Federal Plaza was short and took about 15 mins to make it to the 7th floor check in. Had to wait about 15 min before I was called. They did not allow my spouse to go in with me at check in so she had to go down at 6th floor cafeteria and waited for me to get done with my N-400 interview.

 

N-400 Interview 

I swore an Oath before the interview started. Interviewer asked for GC and my Passport and then asked me about Tax return; whether I have anything pending. Gave her the copy of the Tax return. Then she moved on to English writing and verbal test and then on to Civics questions like who is my representative (forgot the last name), Which ocean is on east cost, where is statue of liberty, who signs the bill, who is commander in chief. Then went though the Yes and No questions (what we fill during our N-400 submission) Then she asked whether I live with my spouse and if I have any documents that has our names on it. Handed her our checking and Savings account statements, Utility bill and Lease documents. I asked if she needs any recent pictures and she said yes and asked for 2 of them. She said that I passed and gave a paper that said passed the test bit decision cannot be made. Then I asked whether there will be I-751 interview today to which she said there isn't any schedule and she will ask if interview can be waived. She also said she will check and asked me to wait in the waiting room again. While I was in the waiting room I texted my Spouse to come to the waiting room. 

 

I-751 interview 

The interviewer came back and took us for I-751 interview. My wife took Oath and I was still under Oath. Then she proceeded to ask us questions. I got stumped as she asked me our landlord information from 4 years ago which I forgot. Then she asked a few questions to my spouse about where did we live in our previous state and why did we move to NY. About our current apartment and who all lives with us. Then she asked me about her family. Then gave us a paper that it will be reviewed. Got me bummed that it was not approved right away but looks like it is standard practice and hoping to get some clarity on that.

 

Still no update on the status. N-400 is at interview schedule and I-751 with old status. My N-400 approval has a different A number than my file A number.

 

Tips and Lessons Learnt

 

1. For NY Federal Plaza, 6th floor has cafeteria. So your spouse can try to go there if they don't allow you together

2. Keep Tax return transcripts or 1040 form handy as they may ask

3. Keep documents that has you and your spouse names on it. Like lease, mortgage, insurance etc

4. Ask for I-751 interview if you are impatient like me

5. Go through documents at least once that you have submitted for I-751. 

[bariki 71]

2 hours ago, outaway3 said:

Do you have any update on your case?

 

Did they approve I751 at the time of interview or they gave you the letter that says your case is under review?

 

Also did your N400 approval had different A Number?

No update yet. Neither case was approved on the spot. I was told it may take up to 4 months, though the piece of paper I was given said my N-400 was recommended for approval.

 

I only have the one A number.

[outaway3 8]

Updates:

 

Got N-400 approval on 10/29/2020 and Oath Ceremony letter was mailed out as well. Updates were reflecting on Case status website from yesterday and today they are reflecting in myaccount website as well.

 

I-751 was approved today (10/30/2020). I don't think they will mail a new GC.

 

 

[yolkanav 3]

Hi, has anyone gone through the oath ceremony at NYC? How long is the whole process? Is it quick or do you have to wait around for a while?

 

Thanks!

[outaway3 8]

30 minutes ago, yolkanav said:

Hi, has anyone gone through the oath ceremony at NYC? How long is the whole process? Is it quick or do you have to wait around for a while?

 

Thanks!

It is a pretty quick process, I will say Oath ceremony (check in and oath) is 20 minutes plus the wait time for the door to open. I think I was in and out within 40 minutes as I went 20 minutes early.

 

Doors open a few minutes before the mentioned start time. They will let you in one by one and one for check in; this is when the officer will take your green card and the form that you are supposed to bring to Oath ceremony and give you your Naturalization certificate to verify and you will be asked to pick a spot and stand. Oath ceremony includes a message that USCIS officer reads out probably like 2 minutes and actual Oath. You cannot take picture inside the room but they do not stop you from taking pictures outside.

 

If you are driving I will recommend use ParkMobile App to reserve a spot and you get decent pricing.

Edited December 14, 2020 by outaway3