Naturalization Ceremony at USCIS San Jose

[ua2024 10]

Recent (2025) information

• Ceremony will be inside the office in waiting area (I couldn't confirm this information until I attended it).
  • They no longer do ceremony in actual parking lot (think parking lot, 10-15 minutes/someone on YouTube had actually penned it 1 minute ceremony, was only during COVID which made sense, though someone did experience parking lot experience in 2024. Guess for people in hurry with work commitments quick parking lot might be perfect)
• No one else is allowed to accompany inside the office (think due to limited space and potentially security as secondary reason).
• It's no frills ceremony, so those who might be in hurry or who don't want to listen to few speeches (like in Campbell heritage theatre) & videos, might prefer having it here
  • Since been to both, it's mixed feeling of which location someone would prefer - missing being in large theatre at Campbell with ceremonial process (on hindsight might have preferred Campbell for memories of being in larger theatre over an immigration office waiting area space, however had no choice as such - had no immediate travel plans however kind of indicated eagerness to travel so not sure if that influenced in getting San Jose location or just luck. For some they gave the invitation letter on same day of interview, with following weeks ceremony. While others (guessing Campbell ones) get the invitation afterwards in mail/online (most likely Campbell batches get full quickly due to once a month schedule, so might not fall under same day scheduling and invitation). So from that perspective, San Jose location with same day invitation confirmation (implies approved) is great (no waiting for secondary approval and subsequent oath scheduling).
  • Other aspect is, they prefer for people to get out from both office and parking as early as possible, since another batch is scheduled. So this kind of might make people hurry, losing little bit on post-oath experience outside the office (e.g. photo-ops in the front of building - wish they could give general time to exit the parking & help people plan for post-oath photo-ops). Not that San Jose location is that great for post-oath photos (due to office building & shade cover from surroundings). Campbell one is better from that perspective, especially sunny with better (artistic theater) background make it feel bit more of historic event.
  • I would recommend anyone who gets Campbell to take some extended time-off from work (not just half day for ceremony) and enjoy celebrating the post-oath time without hurrying to get back to work/chores
• Think at both centers they process multiple batches.
  • San Jose location might be around 100 per batch unlike Campbell center which might be larger batches (200-300+)
  • I first thought this location was chosen due to new administration, if they might have started cutting down on expenses, however looking at Campbell heritage theatre's calendar think they have those scheduled every month so assuming they will continue with those along with this location for overflow or for people with any urgent/immediate travel needs.
• No passport processing opportunity at San Jose location
  • For Campbell they have booths/separate room to get passport application processed - note ensure you have passport photos and checkbook for passport application at Campbell
    • Wish like Social Security updates (checkbox on N400), they could streamline even passport processing application, as a value added option, and get everything done through N400 application. Even if it's separate department (like Social Security agency), it would be so much beneficial for everyone, including ability to retain your naturalization certificate & not send with passport application. Sending naturalization certificate is just unnecessary, when both departments could validate the information internally post N400 oath ceremony as a part of passport application processing). Especially post office appointment scheduling/walk-in is such a messy experience.

[Crazy Cat 43,021]

***Post split from old thread***

[grishayeager 0]

How long does it usually take to get an interview notice / date though after your interview? My i751 says "Case Approved" and N400 is saying "Oath Ceremony will be Scheduled" since the day of my interview last week.

[ua2024 10]

13 hours ago, grishayeager said:

How long does it usually take to get an interview notice / date though after your interview? My i751 says "Case Approved" and N400 is saying "Oath Ceremony will be Scheduled" since the day of my interview last week.

Did the IO ask/discuss any potential date for Oath ceremony? If so usually its 1-2 week to get in mail (should monitor online account in case case-notifications are not that reliable). 

Just curious around your case information - i751 - case approved, N400 "Oath Ceremony will be scheduled", assume N400 interview was combined with i751 one.

 

[OldUser 8,571]

2 minutes ago, ua2024 said:

Did the IO ask/discuss any potential date for Oath ceremony? If so usually its 1-2 week to get in mail (should monitor online account in case case-notifications are not that reliable). 

Just curious around your case information - i751 - case approved, N400 "Oath Ceremony will be scheduled", assume N400 interview was combined with i751 one.

 

Combo I-751 and N-400 can slow things down for sure. But if OP's I-751 is already approved, then it's not much different to regular N-400 case, unless there's name change?

Edited March 17 by OldUser

[grishayeager 0]

2 hours ago, ua2024 said:

Did the IO ask/discuss any potential date for Oath ceremony? If so usually its 1-2 week to get in mail (should monitor online account in case case-notifications are not that reliable). 

They said it wouldn't be in the last week of March as usual since the Campbell location was removed. That's it.
They asked me if I had any immediate travel they needed to consider. I didn't.

My combo interview was delayed to almost 10 months. So I'm a little worried.

 

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

Combo I-751 and N-400 can slow things down for sure. But if OP's I-751 is already approved, then it's not much different to regular N-400 case, unless there's name change?

i751 is approved. No name change for me. 

[ua2024 10]

2 hours ago, grishayeager said:

They said it wouldn't be in the last week of March as usual since the Campbell location was removed. That's it.
They asked me if I had any immediate travel they needed to consider. I didn't.

 

Well usually (like past few months Nov - Jan) it would have been a week or two (or lesser) to get it confirmed with typical Campbell oaths 3rd week of month.

However just saw that Campbell calendar notice  (as well as your note that they removed the location), so it could be longer. I had suspected with new administration they would be canceling Campbell ones (assuming the cost associated with those), however had seen the calendar go till Jun (Guess they finally reached this contract to get it cancelled).

I am not sure how long San Jose office ones (inside office) have been going on, OR recent ones were dry run to have regular ones. So hopefully San Jose office ones continue with no or not-much significant impact of contracted location getting removed.

Below are some recent ones getting rescheduled so this might cause some delays (schedule getting shifted) as well.

 

 

[grishayeager 0]

I got a date now for the last week of April in the parking lot of the office. Any idea what kind of ceremony this is going to be? Seems like it isn't the in office one.

[jarda 0]

I am in the same boat. Had my interview yesterday and got scheduled the same day for the last week in April. The notice says Visitor Parking Lot.

 

Seems they were forced to cancel the contract with Campbell. I suppose this is just going to be the pandemic drive through ceremony, not the least because it's 7:30am in the morning. Oh well.

Edited March 26 by jarda

[OldUser 8,571]

8 minutes ago, jarda said:

I am in the same boat. Had my interview yesterday and got scheduled the same day for the last week in April. The notice says Visitor Parking Lot.

 

Seems they were forced to cancel the contract with Campbell. I suppose this is just going to be the pandemic drive through ceremony, not the least because it's 7:30am in the morning. Oh well.

Drive through oath ceremony is the most American thing ever though 😃

 

I wish my ceremony was drive through.

[jarda 0]

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

Drive through oath ceremony is the most American thing ever though 😃

 

True that. 😉