Became a citizen today - Interview with covid precautions

[Limey 551]

My interview was scheduled for today in Raleigh NC (Durham) and I was given details about precautions for covid19 in advance (wear a mask, don't arrive more than 15 minutes in advance, etc).

Upon arrival and having navigated security I was directed to a numbered room where there was an ipad video link to the interviewer in another room. The entire interview was conducted via the ipad so there was no close contact with other people. There was hand sanitizer in the room. For the parts where I had to write things down the interviewer sent things to the printer in my room and I was asked to write and then hold them up to the camera.

 

After being approved I was sent to a larger room next door with around 8 other people - we all sat on chairs that were around 10ft apart. After a wait of around 20 minutes the oath ceremony was conducted, and we became citizens.

 

It was disappointing after such a long visa journey that it had to conclude without a traditional ceremony that friends and family could attend but I have no complaints - I was very impressed at how well USCIS handled things and have adapted to continue operating during the pandemic.

 

Best of luck to everyone else out there and stay safe!

[PhillyNatz 39]

Congratulations, can you share your timeline?

[Limey 551]

1 hour ago, PhillyNatz said:

Congratulations, can you share your timeline?

 

It should be visible in my signature, or by clicking the timeline link on my profile
https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=197743

[Wuozopo 4,293]

Congratulations new citizen. 🇬🇧🇺🇸👏
What an interesting method they have worked out. Thanks for sharing. 

[JaEnglishGirl 34]

5 hours ago, PhillyNatz said:

Congratulations, can you share your timeline?

It's in his signature...

[PhillyNatz 39]

13 minutes ago, JaEnglishGirl said:

It's in his signature...

Signature? As in at the end of his post? No it’s not there. 
 

But it is in his profile, yes. 

[JaEnglishGirl 34]

4 minutes ago, PhillyNatz said:

Signature? As in at the end of his post? No it’s not there. 
 

But it is in his profile, yes. 

Not sure why you aren't seeing what I see, but yes, it's at the end of all his posts. Maybe you're on a cellphone.

 

[PhillyNatz 39]

1 minute ago, JaEnglishGirl said:

Not sure why you aren't seeing what I see, but yes, it's at the end of all his posts. Maybe you're on a cellphone.

 

Yes I’m on a cell phone, that probably explains it. Still, wonder why it doesn’t show up on a cell phone. 

[JaEnglishGirl 34]

1 minute ago, PhillyNatz said:

Yes I’m on a cell phone, that probably explains it. Still, wonder why it doesn’t show up on a cell phone. 

Ahhhhhh!!!

No idea lol!

[Twomoles 8]

Congrats!

Mine was similar, we were only 5 people... Definitely different than I envisioned... But it is done woot woot!

[M_H 14]

16 hours ago, Limey said:

My interview was scheduled for today in Raleigh NC (Durham) and I was given details about precautions for covid19 in advance (wear a mask, don't arrive more than 15 minutes in advance, etc).

Upon arrival and having navigated security I was directed to a numbered room where there was an ipad video link to the interviewer in another room. The entire interview was conducted via the ipad so there was no close contact with other people. There was hand sanitizer in the room. For the parts where I had to write things down the interviewer sent things to the printer in my room and I was asked to write and then hold them up to the camera.

 

After being approved I was sent to a larger room next door with around 8 other people - we all sat on chairs that were around 10ft apart. After a wait of around 20 minutes the oath ceremony was conducted, and we became citizens.

 

It was disappointing after such a long visa journey that it had to conclude without a traditional ceremony that friends and family could attend but I have no complaints - I was very impressed at how well USCIS handled things and have adapted to continue operating during the pandemic.

 

Best of luck to everyone else out there and stay safe!

Congratulations 🙂

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

10 hours ago, PhillyNatz said:

Yes I’m on a cell phone, that probably explains it. Still, wonder why it doesn’t show up on a cell phone. 

They never show on a cell. Can you create your timeline as well to add to the accuracy of the site? Thanks.

[NDB052714 122]

16 hours ago, Limey said:

My interview was scheduled for today in Raleigh NC (Durham) and I was given details about precautions for covid19 in advance (wear a mask, don't arrive more than 15 minutes in advance, etc).

Upon arrival and having navigated security I was directed to a numbered room where there was an ipad video link to the interviewer in another room. The entire interview was conducted via the ipad so there was no close contact with other people. There was hand sanitizer in the room. For the parts where I had to write things down the interviewer sent things to the printer in my room and I was asked to write and then hold them up to the camera.

 

After being approved I was sent to a larger room next door with around 8 other people - we all sat on chairs that were around 10ft apart. After a wait of around 20 minutes the oath ceremony was conducted, and we became citizens.

 

It was disappointing after such a long visa journey that it had to conclude without a traditional ceremony that friends and family could attend but I have no complaints - I was very impressed at how well USCIS handled things and have adapted to continue operating during the pandemic.

 

Best of luck to everyone else out there and stay safe!

Hi! 

First, congratulations! And thanks so much for sharing your details. It is an interesting process they've managed to set up. 

 

We are in Raleigh, too...waiting for Noom's citizenship interview to be scheduled. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don't mind:  

 

1. how far in advance of the interview did you receive notification of the appointment? 

2. did you attend the interview alone? were you allowed to bring your spouse? 

 

Thank you! 

 

--David & Noom

 

[Quarknase 1,072]

17 hours ago, Limey said:

My interview was scheduled for today in Raleigh NC (Durham) and I was given details about precautions for covid19 in advance (wear a mask, don't arrive more than 15 minutes in advance, etc).

Upon arrival and having navigated security I was directed to a numbered room where there was an ipad video link to the interviewer in another room. The entire interview was conducted via the ipad so there was no close contact with other people. There was hand sanitizer in the room. For the parts where I had to write things down the interviewer sent things to the printer in my room and I was asked to write and then hold them up to the camera.

 

After being approved I was sent to a larger room next door with around 8 other people - we all sat on chairs that were around 10ft apart. After a wait of around 20 minutes the oath ceremony was conducted, and we became citizens.

 

It was disappointing after such a long visa journey that it had to conclude without a traditional ceremony that friends and family could attend but I have no complaints - I was very impressed at how well USCIS handled things and have adapted to continue operating during the pandemic.

 

Best of luck to everyone else out there and stay safe!

Congratulations, and thanks for sharing the details! Now register to vote, vote, vote

[Limey 551]

3 hours ago, NDB052714 said:

Hi! 

First, congratulations! And thanks so much for sharing your details. It is an interesting process they've managed to set up. 

 

We are in Raleigh, too...waiting for Noom's citizenship interview to be scheduled. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don't mind:  

 

1. how far in advance of the interview did you receive notification of the appointment? 

2. did you attend the interview alone? were you allowed to bring your spouse? 

 

Thank you! 

 

--David & Noom

 

I got the email notification that there was action on my case on 25 June, I logged in and I could see the interview letter for 29 July, so just over one month's notice.

The instructions said I had to come alone. It said if you need an interpreter you should arrange that in advance and they would only be allowed by phone, not in person. Your representative (attorney) is allowed in person or by phone. If you have a disability and have an individual who assists, they can attend in person. Obviously if you did attend you could remain in the car outside. Cell phones aren't permitted either so you'd have no way to check on your spouse if you did.

Since the oath ceremony is immediately afterwards the same applies there. No guests.

As I said, its a bummer because I had a few friends (US citizens) who really wanted to experience a citizenship ceremony and I was looking forward to marking such a momentous event myself, but have to give credit to USCIS for how they've re-engineered their systems for the pandemic - it was really professional.