Just submitted the N-400... how long until I become a citizen?

[JFH 12,191]

Biometrics are only being re-used for people who have done ROC here in the US. If you arrived on an IR-1 or an employment based immigrant visa that did not require ROC then you will be called for biometrics as they don’t have anything already on file for you. So biometrics are, in some cases being reused not waived. 
 

People being interviewed now in LA applied about a year ago. There are some exceptions for military filers but for an “average” case you are looking at approximately a year. 
 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

38 minutes ago, PhillyNatz said:

It's really difficult to say, as everyone has pointed out the official posted times are online. Having said that, is it possible that under the new administration that processing time will quicken? It's possible, but whether it will happen or not is anyone's guess. There is some anecdotal information of people having processed sooner but there's so many variables.

It’s a fallacy that the administration speeds up or slows things down like that. Yes, initially under Trump it slowed down dramatically, but if you look at the numbers you’ll see that there was a massive surge in applications (presumably from people scared he’d take green cards away), and that was the principle reason for the huge backlog that initially built up. Then there was COVID which exacerbated it, but if you look at the history of threads here you will see that when offices reopened after the Covid shutdowns (still under Trump obviously) there was a concerted push to focus on N400s, to the extent people were being phoned to ask if they could make short notice (a couple of days) interviews, and many offices switched to same day oath ceremonies too. Trump certainly was not directing that focus, Biden couldn’t have made that any faster if he’d tried, and he also can’t make the backlog magically disappear. (Yes they could hire more people but uscis is fee funded and I guess you know what happened when they tried to raise fees last year... so many people happy fees didn’t go up but can’t have your cake and eat it)

 

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[Scandi 4,208]

The L.A. offices (LOS - city and LAC - county) are now scheduling interviews for people who filed in/around July 2020. I filed in May 2020, at the LAC office, and had my interview and oath in March 2021. So it takes around 9-10 months right now, quite quick in other words. I had my ROC fingerprints taken in late 2019 but got a new biometrics appointment for my N-400 anyway.

It's very common that people get their old biometrics reused for the N-400, we've even seen bio reused for people who had their last biometrics taken 8 years ago. But just like JFH said, the previous biometrics must've been taken by USCIS in order to have a chance for bio reuse. Biometrics taken at embassies and airports don't count. 

L.A. does oath ceremonies at least two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays seem to be the most common), several oaths ceremonies each day. So once you pass your interview you won't have to wait more than 1-4 days to become a citizen.

Edited April 12, 2021 by Scandi

[Yan yan 19]

11 hours ago, Colbert Report said:

Hello, I just submitted my N-400.  I believe the next step will be biometrics followed by an interview.  Does anyone know how long the actual wait times for these things are?  I've read online that it can take 12-18 months but my lawyer told me that it is likely far less of a wait.

Sacramento here. My husband did his application January 2020, did bio in early February and we heard nothing more of the case which was supposed to be completed in Sept 2020. In January of this year, I decided to inbox them through his USCIS online account querying the case. We got a response and his interview was scheduled in February with a interview date of April 8th. Mind you, his greencard was expired end of March this year. I got him an appt for the ADIT stamp and he did his interview last Thursday and got a decision same day. He's awaiting oath ceremony as we speak. Every field office varies

[El Escocés 217]

10 year GC, biometrics last done in 2016. Notification received for reuse for pending N400...so not just for ROC.  

[Colbert Report 5]

16 hours ago, Timona said:

Well, you paid for his services. Quiz him based on your research 

The lawyer is a woman.  Shame on you for assuming the lawyer is a man.

8 hours ago, JFH said:

Biometrics are only being re-used for people who have done ROC here in the US. If you arrived on an IR-1 or an employment based immigrant visa that did not require ROC then you will be called for biometrics as they don’t have anything already on file for you. So biometrics are, in some cases being reused not waived. 
 

People being interviewed now in LA applied about a year ago. There are some exceptions for military filers but for an “average” case you are looking at approximately a year. 
 

 

Thank you.  This is the type of response I was looking for, really appreciate it.

[Colbert Report 5]

6 hours ago, Yan yan said:

Sacramento here. My husband did his application January 2020, did bio in early February and we heard nothing more of the case which was supposed to be completed in Sept 2020. In January of this year, I decided to inbox them through his USCIS online account querying the case. We got a response and his interview was scheduled in February with a interview date of April 8th. Mind you, his greencard was expired end of March this year. I got him an appt for the ADIT stamp and he did his interview last Thursday and got a decision same day. He's awaiting oath ceremony as we speak. Every field office varies

Thank you for your response and best of luck with your oath ceremony.

[Colbert Report 5]

8 hours ago, Scandi said:

The L.A. offices (LOS - city and LAC - county) are now scheduling interviews for people who filed in/around July 2020. I filed in May 2020, at the LAC office, and had my interview and oath in March 2021. So it takes around 9-10 months right now, quite quick in other words. I had my ROC fingerprints taken in late 2019 but got a new biometrics appointment for my N-400 anyway.

It's very common that people get their old biometrics reused for the N-400, we've even seen bio reused for people who had their last biometrics taken 8 years ago. But just like JFH said, the previous biometrics must've been taken by USCIS in order to have a chance for bio reuse. Biometrics taken at embassies and airports don't count. 

L.A. does oath ceremonies at least two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays seem to be the most common), several oaths ceremonies each day. So once you pass your interview you won't have to wait more than 1-4 days to become a citizen.

This is a great response.  Yes, my colleague interviewed late on a Thursday one week and went back the following Tuesday to be sworn in.  Thanks for your reply.  He did indeed have his biometrics done here in the USA, whereas I had mine done in an American embassy just over six years ago.  Hopefully having to do the biometrics again doesn't add a whole ton of time to my application process.

[Colbert Report 5]

10 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Is your lawyer is trying to lead you to believe that her clients get better treatment than anyone else?

No, the lawyer actually told me I really didn't need her to help me fill out the N-400, and in hindsight, she was absolutely correct.  I paid her a small fee for her time, and to help me with the interview if and when I'm called in for it.

[PhillyNatz 39]

9 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

It’s a fallacy that the administration speeds up or slows things down like that. Yes, initially under Trump it slowed down dramatically, but if you look at the numbers you’ll see that there was a massive surge in applications (presumably from people scared he’d take green cards away), and that was the principle reason for the huge backlog that initially built up. Then there was COVID which exacerbated it, but if you look at the history of threads here you will see that when offices reopened after the Covid shutdowns (still under Trump obviously) there was a concerted push to focus on N400s, to the extent people were being phoned to ask if they could make short notice (a couple of days) interviews, and many offices switched to same day oath ceremonies too. Trump certainly was not directing that focus, Biden couldn’t have made that any faster if he’d tried, and he also can’t make the backlog magically disappear. (Yes they could hire more people but uscis is fee funded and I guess you know what happened when they tried to raise fees last year... so many people happy fees didn’t go up but can’t have your cake and eat it)

 

 

I have to disagree with you here on all counts, everything you’ve stated here is false. 
 

1. The increase in processing times was NOT primarily due to an increase in applications. Was there an increase in applications, yes but that wasn’t the reason for the 3x increase in processing times. 
 

I have looked at the numbers,  I’ve looked at the data, and detailed analysis that organizations have put out there. To simply say that trump has nothing to do with increase in processing times is inaccurate. There was an onerous increase in paperwork including the i944, and uscis funds were diverted to ICE, among other things. 

Read the data - I’m not talking about bleeding heart liberal organizations. Anyone who understands data can see the correlation in the increase in processing times.  Even the Cato institute which is NOT a pro immigration organization lays out what changes contributed to the backlog increase. There’s a lot of reports out there I suggest you read it. 
 

Data, Data, Data.  
 

2. In Biden’s EO he specifically called out reducing naturalization times so yes, I expect that there will be some reduction. Will it definitely happen? As I said, that’s anyone’s guess. 
 

Read his specific EO. 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by PhillyNatz

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

The i944 came in and out so briefly it barely had an effect, certainly not on the scale of the time period you’re looking at. Plus the i944 is not relevant for n400 anyway. Data, data, data. Logic, logic, logic. 
 

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[Cathi 5,799]

11 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

It’s a fallacy that the administration speeds up or slows things down like that. Yes, initially under Trump it slowed down dramatically, but if you look at the numbers you’ll see that there was a massive surge in applications (presumably from people scared he’d take green cards away), and that was the principle reason for the huge backlog that initially built up. Then there was COVID which exacerbated it, but if you look at the history of threads here you will see that when offices reopened after the Covid shutdowns (still under Trump obviously) there was a concerted push to focus on N400s, to the extent people were being phoned to ask if they could make short notice (a couple of days) interviews, and many offices switched to same day oath ceremonies too. Trump certainly was not directing that focus, Biden couldn’t have made that any faster if he’d tried, and he also can’t make the backlog magically disappear. (Yes they could hire more people but uscis is fee funded and I guess you know what happened when they tried to raise fees last year... so many people happy fees didn’t go up but can’t have your cake and eat it)

 

 

My husband received his naturalization under the Trump admin and it took 4 months from start to finish. It would have been even less except the fact that we're in NH and at the time they only did swearing in ceremonies when they had a certain amount of people, so my husband had to wait an extra month. 

But. and this is a BIG but, my husband sent his paperwork in when Obama was still in office and before Trump was sworn in and LONG before the pandemic hit. It was a total different time and place in the immigration world. In fact my husband's "congratulations on becoming a citizen" letter was signed by Obama even though Trump was president by that time. The Trump admin hadn't even bothered to change the letter or signature by then(April 2017).

[SouthBrook 6]

22 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

I haven't heard of biometric appointments being waived.  Maybe for people who did one very recently for ROC?

 

Your lawyer seems to be spewing nonsense.  "Phoning all the time to check their case"?   Do you really think the field offices accept phone calls from people wanting to know when their interview will  be?   LOL.

 

You haven't done a timeline, so how can anyone tell you how accurate the official processing times are for your particular field office?

I did get my biometrics waived after applying online for the N400. They were also waived for my ROC (filed April 23, 2020 and still waiting). So, I guess they used the ones I gave with my I-485 application three times. Funny they charged 3 times, but have reused them twice after the first one. 

[igoyougoduke 1,677]

23 hours ago, Colbert Report said:

Hello, I just submitted my N-400.  I believe the next step will be biometrics followed by an interview.  Does anyone know how long the actual wait times for these things are?  I've read online that it can take 12-18 months but my lawyer told me that it is likely far less of a wait.

until you n-400 is approved and you take the oath 

[JFH 12,191]

4 hours ago, PhillyNatz said:

 

2. In Biden’s EO he specifically called out reducing naturalization times so yes, I expect that there will be some reduction. Will it definitely happen? As I said, that’s anyone’s guess. 
 

Read his specific EO. 

 

 

He also said he would cure cancer. As someone who has lost way too many family members to cancer, and whose husband is currently fighting cancer, I’d rather he did that before he reduces the N-400 waiting time.