Done, over, I'm a US Citizen now! My experience inside.

[Sebat4 77]

This is it for me. No more USCIS, I'm done. Became a US Citizen today and the next step is to get my passport. Thank you all for answering my questions when I couldn't understand something with my naturalization application.

 

My timeline (Interview was at Newark, NJ) Marriage base N-400: 

 

My Case Timeline

Category: Naturalization (Application for Naturalization)

 

Total Days: 330 days

 

N-400
Start: Jan 10, 2021
Decision: Dec 06, 2021

@National Benefits Center

● Jan 10, 2021 / N-400 / Submission to USCIS

● Feb 12, 2021 / N-400 / Biometrics, i.e. fingerprint and photo

● Oct 19, 2021 / N-400 / Interview

● Dec 06, 2021 / N-400 / Decision (Approval)

Oath ceremony same day.

 

My appointment was at 11am. I have arrived at the building around 10:45am (I've parked my car at the parking lot behind the building, $21 for the all-day parking) and the security check was very quick (airport style metal detector check). The security guard at the elevators told me that my appointment so on the 15th floor (Naturalization department). On the 15th floor, checked in with another security guard next to the elevators, then again at the window in the waiting are (I was only asked for my Notice with the appointment info), after that I was told to sit down and wait. I waited from 11am until 2pm for my interview. The interviewers are coming out of 3 different location (left door, back of the hallways, and some are just using PA system to call people to the door number 3). Really hard to go and pee because they can call you at any time. There were Oath Ceremonies happening when they had around 30 people approved for Naturalization. I was called for the interview around 2pm and the IO was smiling when I got to the door. Asked me how I'm doing. After I got into his office he swore me in and the interview started.

IO asked me for my green card and my passport as well as my driver's license. Out of nowhere he asked if my wife and I have kids, I have answered no we don't. He then said what else do you have, so I told him we have a dog, his response was what else do you have, I didn't understand the question so I said that's all. IO then said to me "I'm trying to establish your marriage to your wife, what else do you have?" So I said we own cars together, we rent an apartment so I do have lease, we have credit card accounts, we have bank accounts, we have life insurance, we had medical insurance. That's when he asked me why we don't have it anymore, and I just told him that it was expensive to pay whole amount out of pocket while being self-employed. He look at me with weirdness, and I just continued saying that I'm thinking about a business and my wife believe in natural remedies over medicating us both (which is true). Within seconds his switch and went with all the exam question:

• Who is your senator?
• Who is the Vice President now?
• What was MLK Jr. fighting for?
• Why do we have 13 stripes on the flag?
• Name one longest river in US?
• Who was Ben Franklin?

After answering all the questions, I notice a question on the iPad infront of me with a question "Who elects Congress?" and I was told to read that question to the IO. Then he told me to write "The people elect Congress." 

Right after he asked me few questions from the application such as:

• How long have you been married?
• Was your wife born in US?
• What date did your wife become a US citizen?
• Questions from Yes/No (I actually froze at open question got 2 sec "Have you ever been arrested?" After those 2 sec I have answered NO, but IO asked me "why did you pause before I answered?". I just simple explained that I wanted to understand the question, because I have been cited by the police but not arrested. He accepted my explanation and we moved on.

After maybe 2 min of Yes/No questions he made me sign things on the pad and gave me a paper with more Yes/No questions, told me to mark everything No, put my address and sign the paper. Then he gave me a paper with my information asked if it's all correct and 10 sec later he said that I passed and congratulated me for passing, told me to get my stuff and wait in the waiting room for the oath. I just said Thank you, grab my stuff and left to wait for the oath in the waiting room. 15min into waiting and a guy came out to the middle of the room and started calling names of people who were told to go to the room down the hallway for the oath ceremony. My name got called and I went into the room where the Oath Ceremony was going to take place. Nice lady greeted us and told people to move down the row and sit down in the chair and wait. After everyone who was called was there she congratulated all of us and started explaining what to do after we get out naturalization certificate. She also mention to people who have kids who are under age of 18 and have green cards that they are automatically a US citizens and to apply for their passport while applying for your own. Oath took place, people took pictures, and left to celebrate with their families. That's all she wrote for me. I'm done. 

Side note: You can bring your family members to the waiting room but they won't be able to attend your Oath with you, although they can coming after the oath to take pictures.

Edited December 7, 2021 by Sebat4

[Davadell 4]

3 hours ago, Sebat4 said:

This is it for me. No more USCIS, I'm done. Became a US Citizen today and the next step is to get my passport. Thank you all for answering my questions when I couldn't understand something with my naturalization application.

 

My timeline (Interview was at Newark, NJ) Marriage base N-400: 

 

My Case Timeline

Category: Naturalization (Application for Naturalization)

 

Total Days: 330 days

 

N-400
Start: Jan 10, 2021
Decision: Dec 06, 2021

@National Benefits Center

● Jan 10, 2021 / N-400 / Submission to USCIS

● Feb 12, 2021 / N-400 / Biometrics, i.e. fingerprint and photo

● Oct 19, 2021 / N-400 / Interview

● Dec 06, 2021 / N-400 / Decision (Approval)

Oath ceremony same day.

 

My appointment was at 11am. I have arrived at the building around 10:45am (I've parked my car at the parking lot behind the building, $21 for the all-day parking) and the security check was very quick (airport style metal detector check). The security guard at the elevators told me that my appointment so on the 15th floor (Naturalization department). On the 15th floor, checked in with another security guard next to the elevators, then again at the window in the waiting are (I was only asked for my Notice with the appointment info), after that I was told to sit down and wait. I waited from 11am until 2pm for my interview. The interviewers are coming out of 3 different location (left door, back of the hallways, and some are just using PA system to call people to the door number 3). Really hard to go and pee because they can call you at any time. There were Oath Ceremonies happening when they had around 30 people approved for Naturalization. I was called for the interview around 2pm and the IO was smiling when I got to the door. Asked me how I'm doing. After I got into his office he swore me in and the interview started.

IO asked me for my green card and my passport as well as my driver's license. Out of nowhere he asked if my wife and I have kids, I have answered no we don't. He then said what else do you have, so I told him we have a dog, his response was what else do you have, I didn't understand the question so I said that's all. IO then said to me "I'm trying to establish your marriage to your wife, what else do you have?" So I said we own cars together, we rent an apartment so I do have lease, we have credit card accounts, we have bank accounts, we have life insurance, we had medical insurance. That's when he asked me why we don't have it anymore, and I just told him that it was expensive to pay whole amount out of pocket while being self-employed. He look at me with weirdness, and I just continued saying that I'm thinking about a business and my wife believe in natural remedies over medicating us both (which is true). Within seconds his switch and went with all the exam question:

• Who is your senator?
• Who is the Vice President now?
• What was MLK Jr. fighting for?
• Why do we have 13 stripes on the flag?
• Name one longest river in US?
• Who was Ben Franklin?

After answering all the questions, I notice a question on the iPad infront of me with a question "Who elects Congress?" and I was told to read that question to the IO. Then he told me to write "The people elect Congress." 

Right after he asked me few questions from the application such as:

• How long have you been married?
• Was your wife born in US?
• What date did your wife become a US citizen?
• Questions from Yes/No (I actually froze at open question got 2 sec "Have you ever been arrested?" After those 2 sec I have answered NO, but IO asked me "why did you pause before I answered?". I just simple explained that I wanted to understand the question, because I have been cited by the police but not arrested. He accepted my explanation and we moved on.

After maybe 2 min of Yes/No questions he made me sign things on the pad and gave me a paper with more Yes/No questions, told me to mark everything No, put my address and sign the paper. Then he gave me a paper with my information asked if it's all correct and 10 sec later he said that I passed and congratulated me for passing, told me to get my stuff and wait in the waiting room for the oath. I just said Thank you, grab my stuff and left to wait for the oath in the waiting room. 15min into waiting and a guy came out to the middle of the room and started calling names of people who were told to go to the room down the hallway for the oath ceremony. My name got called and I went into the room where the Oath Ceremony was going to take place. Nice lady greeted us and told people to move down the row and sit down in the chair and wait. After everyone who was called was there she congratulated all of us and started explaining what to do after we get out naturalization certificate. She also mention to people who have kids who are under age of 18 and have green cards that they are automatically a US citizens and to apply for their passport while applying for your own. Oath took place, people took pictures, and left to celebrate with their families. That's all she wrote for me. I'm done. 

Side note: You can bring your family members to the waiting room but they won't be able to attend your Oath with you, although they can coming after the oath to take pictures.

Big congrats. I know the feeling.

[Sebat4 77]

Just now, Davadell said:

Big congrats. I know the feeling.

Thank you. It is the feeling of something that I have waited for almost 20 years from the first day of my undocumented journey to the last day of my journey ending as a US Citizen. 

[oakland71 6]

> IO asked me for my green card and my passport as well as my driver's license

Congratulation! Does the IO flip through the pages of your passport? or just look at the first page of th passport?

[Sebat4 77]

48 minutes ago, oakland71 said:

> IO asked me for my green card and my passport as well as my driver's license

Congratulation! Does the IO flip through the pages of your passport? or just look at the first page of th passport?

Thank you very much. He took a look at the first page and then flipped thru pages I guess to make sure that I didn't travel more than what I have stated on my application, since I seen him look at the boarder stamps. 

Edited December 7, 2021 by Sebat4

[oakland71 6]

awesome. thank you sir!

[Ready to do it 101]

Wow, they asked you for your driver's license?  Was that listed as one of the requirements on the list of items to bring to interview? My wife's N400 interview is next week.  1) She doesn't have a driver's license and 2) She askedme if she should take her state issued ID card and I said "No," because a) it's not on the list of items and b) the address on it is incorrect. We moved over a year ago, and while technically I guess we should have changed our ID's with the DPS, etc we have not done so.  So IMO, since it's not listed as a requirement, why take it with you?

 

On another note, I saw her watching videos to study for the test last night and one of the questions was, name 1 of the 3 branches of government. She said, "Congress," and the answer said Congress, the Courts, and the President. In my view that is incorrect. The correct answer should be Legislative, Judicial, or Executive branch.  Technically yes, the video is kind of correct with Congress, Courts, and President, but the answer is really Legistlative, Judicial, or Executive Branch, no?  She doesnt know how to answer that question now if she gets it.

Edited December 8, 2021 by Ready to do it

[Sebat4 77]

1 hour ago, Ready to do it said:

Wow, they asked you for your driver's license?  Was that listed as one of the requirements on the list of items to bring to interview? My wife's N400 interview is next week.  1) She doesn't have a driver's license and 2) She askedme if she should take her state issued ID card and I said "No," because a) it's not on the list of items and b) the address on it is incorrect. We moved over a year ago, and while technically I guess we should have changed our ID's with the DPS, etc we have not done so.  So IMO, since it's not listed as a requirement, why take it with you?

 

On another note, I saw her watching videos to study for the test last night and one of the questions was, name 1 of the 3 branches of government. She said, "Congress," and the answer said Congress, the Courts, and the President. In my view that is incorrect. The correct answer should be Legislative, Judicial, or Executive branch.  Technically yes, the video is kind of correct with Congress, Courts, and President, but the answer is really Legistlative, Judicial, or Executive Branch, no?  She doesnt know how to answer that question now if she gets it.

Drivers license or state issued ID is for the IO to check if its you for sure as this is your everyday ID. It's not on the list of items but I use it everyday to ID myself so I had it with me and he asked about it. You can go online to the DMV website and request address change, submit and you should have a document to print proving that you have changed the address with DMV agency, I did bring that too as we have moved not long ago and it was one of my evidence document. Also, you want to bring the DL/State issued ID because you are supposed to have a proof of you moving too. 

 

About the video, your wife is correct. Those are acceptable answers, because there are people here who speak english but sometimes they cant think of as I like to say $20 words and they only throw $5 words, that is acceptable and she can say congress because it is legislative branch of the government. People say President instead of Executive as this is allowed, or Courts instead of Judicial, all are allowed. There is one question that asks about 2 things that only US Citizens can do (not exact questions) and the answer is vote or vote in federal election both are acceptable. To prove that it is acceptable answer, you can go to the USCIS website and print USCIS study guide and they have those answere there, even the one that your wife said "congress" as acceptable answer.

Edited December 8, 2021 by Sebat4

[Ready to do it 101]

44 minutes ago, Sebat4 said:

Drivers license or state issued ID is for the IO to check if its you for sure as this is your everyday ID. It's not on the list of items but I use it everyday to ID myself so I had it with me and he asked about it. You can go online to the DMV website and request address change, submit and you should have a document to print proving that you have changed the address with DMV agency, I did bring that too as we have moved not long ago and it was one of my evidence document. Also, you want to bring the DL/State issued ID because you are supposed to have a proof of you moving too. 

 

About the video, your wife is correct. Those are acceptable answers, because there are people here who speak english but sometimes they cant think of as I like to say $20 words and they only throw $5 words, that is acceptable and she can say congress because it is legislative branch of the government. People say President instead of Executive as this is allowed, or Courts instead of Judicial, all are allowed. There is one question that asks about 2 things that only US Citizens can do (not exact questions) and the answer is vote or vote in federal election both are acceptable. To prove that it is acceptable answer, you can go to the USCIS website and print USCIS study guide and they have those answere there, even the one that your wife said "congress" as acceptable answer.

Thanks Sebat4!  Personally, I would rather not change our ID's addresses with the DPS. I've had the same address on my ID for 20 years. I've probably moved 6-7 times and I've never changed it.  It's to a UPS store.  I have my own personal reasons for not wanting to change my ID's address. I get it, with USCIS she's required to tell them where she physically live, which we have done... but it's not the same address as her ID and the list of requirements doesn't ask for an ID.  She mentioned that they might ask for ID when she enters the building. I have told her that her green card should suffice as that is a Federal ID.  You used the abbreviation IO. I am unfamiliar with that term. What is an IO? 

[Sebat4 77]

5 minutes ago, Ready to do it said:

Thanks Sebat4!  Personally, I would rather not change our ID's addresses with the DPS. I've had the same address on my ID for 20 years. I've probably moved 6-7 times and I've never changed it.  It's to a UPS store.  I have my own personal reasons for not wanting to change my ID's address. I get it, with USCIS she's required to tell them where she physically live, which we have done... but it's not the same address as her ID and the list of requirements doesn't ask for an ID.  She mentioned that they might ask for ID when she enters the building. I have told her that her green card should suffice as that is a Federal ID.  You used the abbreviation IO. I am unfamiliar with that term. What is an IO? 

IO - Interviewing Officer

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Congratulations on your monumental achievement.  You must feel great, and deservedly so.

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Thread is moved from the US Citizenship main forum to the Case Progress subforum.

[Sebat4 77]

2 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Congratulations on your monumental achievement.  You must feel great, and deservedly so.

-----

Thread is moved from the US Citizenship main forum to the Case Progress subforum.

Thank you very much, this is a huge moment for me as well as it is for my family. It just feels amazing to be a US Citizen after almost 20 years and started from being brought here by my parents on a tourist visa, then undocumented, getting married, EAD card (I cried to hard after I got my EAD card because I felt huge weight drop of me), green card, and finally a US Citizen. 

[Ready to do it 101]

4 hours ago, Sebat4 said:

Thank you very much, this is a huge moment for me as well as it is for my family. It just feels amazing to be a US Citizen after almost 20 years and started from being brought here by my parents on a tourist visa, then undocumented, getting married, EAD card (I cried to hard after I got my EAD card because I felt huge weight drop of me), green card, and finally a US Citizen. 

Sabat, huge congratulations. Great story with a great ending!

[Duncan21 202]

7 hours ago, Sebat4 said:

Thank you very much, this is a huge moment for me as well as it is for my family. It just feels amazing to be a US Citizen after almost 20 years and started from being brought here by my parents on a tourist visa, then undocumented, getting married, EAD card (I cried to hard after I got my EAD card because I felt huge weight drop of me), green card, and finally a US Citizen. 

Congratulations @Sebat4  to you and your family.  Agree that this is a nice story and thank you for sharing it with us. 

[millefleur 5,046]

15 hours ago, Sebat4 said:

Thank you very much, this is a huge moment for me as well as it is for my family. It just feels amazing to be a US Citizen after almost 20 years and started from being brought here by my parents on a tourist visa, then undocumented, getting married, EAD card (I cried to hard after I got my EAD card because I felt huge weight drop of me), green card, and finally a US Citizen. 

It's always great hearing a success story. Thank you for taking the time to share with us on VJ!