N-400 May 2020 filers

[DrGeek 0]

On 2/18/2022 at 3:32 PM, whatsawotsit said:

Today my Naturalization journey reached its conclusion - I am now finished (Thank God)

 

Filed:  May 25 2020

Interview : Jan 06 2022

Oath : Feb 18 2022

Office : Memphis, TN

 

The appointment was at 7:30am. They had applicants taking the Oath wait outside the USCIS office doors until the appointment time. Then it all went very quickly - I wasnt even able to get my belt back on from the security screening before I was at the window presenting the letter, the completed form part and surrendering my I-551. Then I was sent to the next window along, where I was presented with my certificate and asked to check it for accuracy.

 

Then I was directed to the room where the oath was taking place - there were maybe 25-30 chairs (socially distanced) in front of a dias. When everyone was in and seated, as USCIS officer walked us through a few details, before the field office chief came out and administered the oath. We were then done - it was around 8:15 by this time.

 

I thought that the Memphis office ran a smooth operation and it was very easy. A special "Hat's Off" to the security guards who were very well organized and professional.

Now to update my SSA details, get a passport and register to vote - unfortunately I cant get an appointment with the SSA until the end of March, but that's now just a formality.

 

Best wishes to all fellow applicants - especially remaining May 2020 applicants. It's a long slog, and very frustrating, but keep going!

 

Cheers

W

Congratulations but what exactly do you need to do with Social Security?

 

[whatsawotsit 8]

23 minutes ago, DrGeek said:

Congratulations but what exactly do you need to do with Social Security?

 

When they gave me the certificate they also gave me an envelope with a card with the Oath text, a copy of the constitution, a passport application form, a handout titled "14 Facts About Voting in Federal Elections", and a sheet entitled "Important Information for New Citizens". That "Important Information" sheet says one should update the SSA with the change of citizenship (in addition to other things like applying for a passport and registering to vote). You can read the whole thing at https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/flyers/M-767.pdf , but the relevant part is:

 

Update Your Social Security Record
You will need to visit Social Security so they can update your Social Security record. Wait at least 10 days after your ceremony before doing so and be prepared to show them your Certificate of Naturalization or your U.S. passport. It is important that your Social Security record is accurate because you will need your Social Security Number (SSN) to get a job, collect Social Security benefits, and receive other government services. When you are hired for a job, your employer can enter your SSN into a U.S. Department of Homeland Security web-based system, E-Verify, to determine your eligibility to work in the United States. If your record has not been updated, this may impact the information your employer receives about your work eligibility.To find your Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov.

 

My understanding is that one makes an appointment, takes their original certificate in, presents it to the SSA agent for verification, and then one probably fills in some forms.

Cheers

W

[STO Overland 137]

1 hour ago, whatsawotsit said:

My understanding is that one makes an appointment, takes their original certificate in, presents it to the SSA agent for verification, and then one probably fills in some forms.

Form SS-5 is the one you  would need.

 

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

 

Useful thread here wrt: SSA

 

 

Congratulations on completing your journey.

[DrGeek 0]

Thank you so much for this info!

[Scandi 4,166]

11 hours ago, DrGeek said:

Congratulations but what exactly do you need to do with Social Security?

 

As others said, you should update your new status with SSA, and also your name change if you decide to have one. Most states' DMV won't even let you get a drivers license in your new name if you haven't first updated your info with SSA. Many DMV verifies your info with SSA before issuing you a new DL or state ID.

[whatsawotsit 8]

13 hours ago, B52Boozer said:

Form SS-5 is the one you  would need.

 

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

 

Useful thread here wrt: SSA

 

Congratulations on completing your journey.

Many thanks for this!

[keyuree1 27]

On 1/20/2022 at 2:45 PM, ironfist81 said:

12/10 - Applied for FOIA

12/23 - FOIA change of application status (Step2/3)

01/10 - Interview Scheduled

01/20 - FOIA completed and files received

02/15 - Interview Due

 

01/10/22

Hi! Have you had your interview? How did everything go? Thanks! 

[abfar 119]

Guys,

My FOIA request shows as complete at first.uscis website but do not see a PDF in the document library beside the first ask_letter that showed initially. Does it take a few days for it to show up?

 

Cheers 

[abfar 119]

On 2/18/2022 at 9:01 PM, Libertate said:

This whole discussion about FOIA (which undeniably helps and helped me personally) got me thinking about ways to trigger various processes within the USCIS that would help to improve case processing.

Right after my interview where I was recommended for approval and got the oath ceremony scheduled I moved to another state. After i had submitted AR-11 they de-scheduled my oath ceremony in my former state and now i am in limbo again waiting for another oath ceremony to be scheduled. It looks that the process to transfer my case from one state to another is another hold point and I am thinking to get an InfoPass appointment in my new jurisdiction and request an I-551 stamp. Do you think this process will make my new jurisdiction to pull my case from the old one and take ownership over it?

 

I moved twice during my naturalization process and sadly it seems the processing time does take a significant hit anything there's an address change request made to another state. Not sure how severe it'll be after you're already in the interview pipeline though.

[Rn400 20]

For those who filed FOIA , was the interview / oath done successfully? Could you please update .in another forum someone posted after interview pass , officer could not make decision since A file was not available  ? Don’t  know the specifics but thought I will check with this group if for FOIA filers all went fine till oath .Thanks 

[keyuree1 27]

9 hours ago, abfar said:

Guys,

My FOIA request shows as complete at first.uscis website but do not see a PDF in the document library beside the first ask_letter that showed initially. Does it take a few days for it to show up?

 

Cheers 

It took me almost 3 weeks. I had to email them twice. Then they sent me a BS email about technical difficulties but it finally showed up. 

[abfar 119]

14 hours ago, keyuree1 said:

It took me almost 3 weeks. I had to email them twice. Then they sent me a BS email about technical difficulties but it finally showed up. 

How far are you in your n400 journey?

 

My interview was scheduled lately after FOIA request but now with no document showing in the FOIA portal, I'm scared this might become an issue if I go in for interview and they can't access the my a file. I am basing this on the assumption of they aren't able to provide my a file on the FOIA website, do they reallly have my file pulled out of "the cave".

 

Scared to think this might throw my case in another limbo after the interview process 

[ironfist81 7]

On 2/20/2022 at 4:17 PM, keyuree1 said:

Hi! Have you had your interview? How did everything go? Thanks! 

Hi - Interview went great, Thanks.

Oath ceremony scheduled for Mar 4th.

Actual interview lasted maybe 10-15 mins. I had a folder with me with all the documents. As soon as we sat down at the immigration officers desk, he asked me to put the folder away and said, I don’t need to see anything. 

 

He started with the civics questions, I got the first 6 right. Then he asked me to read/write a simple sentence. After that he went through my N-400 application and asked if there were any updates (marital status etc). And finally he asked a whole bunch of yes/no questions about any criminal history, future loyalty to America etc etc. He then said I’m recommending your case to be approved and that was it.

Good luck to you and everyone else.

 

And thank you again to whoever posted about filing FOIA first in the group, that definitely did it for me.

[keyuree1 27]

8 hours ago, abfar said:

How far are you in your n400 journey?

 

My interview was scheduled lately after FOIA request but now with no document showing in the FOIA portal, I'm scared this might become an issue if I go in for interview and they can't access the my a file. I am basing this on the assumption of they aren't able to provide my a file on the FOIA website, do they reallly have my file pulled out of "the cave".

 

Scared to think this might throw my case in another limbo after the interview process 

My interview is next week. That's exactly what I was afraid of. I emailed them twice about my documents and they got back to me within minutes both times. After the second email (after about 3 weeks FOIA moving to step 5) it finally showed up in my document library. I feel little better now. 

[keyuree1 27]

6 hours ago, ironfist81 said:

Hi - Interview went great, Thanks.

Oath ceremony scheduled for Mar 4th.

Actual interview lasted maybe 10-15 mins. I had a folder with me with all the documents. As soon as we sat down at the immigration officers desk, he asked me to put the folder away and said, I don’t need to see anything. 

 

He started with the civics questions, I got the first 6 right. Then he asked me to read/write a simple sentence. After that he went through my N-400 application and asked if there were any updates (marital status etc). And finally he asked a whole bunch of yes/no questions about any criminal history, future loyalty to America etc etc. He then said I’m recommending your case to be approved and that was it.

Good luck to you and everyone else.

 

And thank you again to whoever posted about filing FOIA first in the group, that definitely did it for me.

Thanks and congrats! Did you file under 5 or 3 year rule? That's nice that they didn't ask for any documents. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by keyuree1