July filers

[satura 0]

Congratulations to all of you who passed interview recently!!!

I'd hoped to be writing a similar post but instead it's a tale of woe!

I'd hoped to be reporting back with useful information about my interview, instead it's a tale of woe.

We arrived at the USCIS office, all geared up for my citizenship interview scheduled 1.05pm, 11 April. We waited in a room, where the temperature was fit only for chilling meat, for half an hour before, and half an hour after the scheduled time, only to be told that two interviewing officers, of the three available, had had to go home sick that morning and the remaining officer's list was full, she could take no more interviews.

They had telephoned our home earlier with no response. We'd have left early even had we not decided to stay over the previous night, so a morning call after 9am would have made no difference. The journey is around 80 miles, and the weather had been very iffy for a couple of days with floods, tornado watches and violent storms. We did not want to risk missing this appointment for which I'd been waiting since last July.

We saw another applicant, the only other one present, sent away earlier, and because we were not approached at that time, around ten minutes before my appointment, felt that I must be listed with the remaining interviewing officer. It was not until half an hour after my scheduled time that we were given the bad news .

We watched two people who arrived long after we did, accompanied by an attorney, ushered in for their interview. Worse, when I asked the bearer of bad tidings, who was very apologetic, when I could expect re-scheduling he said the rest of April and all of May has been scheduled already it will be June or July for me. I had to bite my tongue - very hard.

I'd already been put to the inconvenience of a second visit and overnight stay for a re-take of fingerprints - probably due to the operative's incompetence the first time around - then there was the 17 week wait I had to even get a receipt for my $400 cheque and acknowledgement of my application. I applied on 26 July 2007.

I'm considering making a complaint, because although staff sickness can't be foreseen, I think it's not fair that I have to be put at the back of the queue for another appointment. I'm really feeling deflated!

hi,

back around 1 or 2 years ago (i forgot) when my friend has his interview scheduled for january, our president suddenly announced the day to be Ronald Reagan memorial day, all gov't offices hence closed, and "luckily" my friend's interview fell on that day. he was rescheduled to a day 2 months later.

Good luck to you! I share your grievances.

[annatenna 0]

Thanks Satura.

If I have to wait another 2 months for interview I shall be tearing my hair out! i suppose it's all part of life's rough pattern, but I shall complain like mad !

[Sherlock 0]

Congrats Sherlock! I wanted to ask...someone posted that you can apply for your passport at the Oath ceremony and that it is supposedly faster?? Is that what you guys did in Baltimore? Also...they give the naturalization certificates at the Oath, don't they?

The reason why I ask is because as soon as I become a citizen I need all my stuff in order (esp passport of course) ASAP because we are due to move to Europe with my hubby's job...they are pretty much waiting on me to complete everything.

Churipu - No one said anything about that either at the interview or the ceremony. In the packet we got at the ceremony, it listed all the local places you can get passports.

I can only recommend that you check into the options for an expedited passport on the following page:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_831.html

May want to check out the Passport Agency option.

Yes, they give you the certificates at the oath ceremony, so you'll have everything you need at that point.

[LovelyTena 0]

Hi everyone!!! I am back!!! ***warning this is long***

The interview went fine...however there is a little BIT of a problem

I really SHOULD NOT have opened my big mouth!!

So..here how it went.

We arrived at the St. Paul (Bloomington INS) around 1:30pm. My appointment was at 2pm. I had with me all of my taxes docs from the time I became a permanent resident, my marriage cert, passports, and transcript from my college.

I was called into the office around 2:15pm. The office was really nice, her name is office Bass. Right away, she told me that she will go over the N400 that I sent in just to make sure they have everything upto date and that she will ask me 6 questions and if I get them all right.. she will stop there.

I was asked to raise my right hand to swore in to tell the truth Then she began going through everything on my N400. She asked me about the current address, what I currently do, other names used, marriage.. etc. Then a couple more questions about the trip I just took to Mexico and about speeding tickets She told me that I was supposed to list the speedy, parking, etc tickets on there. I didn't know.. so we updated that. Then she asked me to write

"Today is a very sunny day" on the bottom of my N400. Here are the questions I was asked:

1. Who is the current President?

2. Who become the president if both vice president and president die?

3. How many stars are on the flag?

4. Who is the main writer of decoration of dependence?

5. What is national anthem?

6. Who said "Give me liberty or give me death"?

I got them all right.. so we stopped. Then she asked me to read some easy sentence (sorry, I don't recall the sentence)

So she said great everything looks good.. blah blah blah.. Then she handed me the letter of recommendation for approval and said that I will get notice in the mail about Oath. And proceeded to say that it probably takes 2 months but can go up to 6 months. I was so happy and excited. Everything sounds fine right?? Yeah I thought so too.. Until she asked me:

Office Bass: Great.. looks good. Do you have anything to ask me?

Me: Hmm nope.. but so everything is ok? You don't need anything from me about the trip to Viet Nam I took back in 01-02 for 10 moths?

Officer Bass: "Huh? Trip to Viet Nam??" with confusing face "Did you list it on your app?"

Me: "Yep.."

Officer Bass: More confusing face.... "let me see" then she started flipping through my N400 again. "Oh ohhhh"

I thought to myself OMG!!! WTH?? What now??

Officer Bass: I gotta call someone about this

Then she got someone on the phone.. All I heard was.. "yep.. hmm...umm.. Well... hmm" Then she asked me, "Do you have anything to prove that you still were intended to come back or kept your residency?" I was like "NO" I tried so hard to hold it together but I couldn't help but started to cry!!! She missed reading my N400 and the box that I entered 290 days out of the country!!!

She told me that she has to take back the letter she gave me and said that she will have to look at this again this weekend because no one at the office know what's going to happen to my case!!! I have been living here for over 10 years but I went to VN back in 01 for about 10 months.. I waited till I got my 5 years residency back last year and I sent in my N400. Now they don't know that they will approve it since they are not sure if they count the TOTAL DAYS outside the US starting from when I left Dec 25 01 all the way to Oct 22 02 ??

or day to day basis (like I came back in Oct 02 so five years from then to Oct 07, but N400 was received on July 29 07..so how many days I was out.. ) I didn't know what to do or say, but handed her back the letter and gave her my taxes info that I filed when I came back and my college transcript I had that shows I was still taking online classes when I was gone. I don't have anything else since I was living with my parents before I took the trip and we rented an apartment. I know I probably should have kept my mouth shut and should have not question or ask anything.. but I was trying to make sure everything was going to be ok and that no RED flags will show up from that point and trying to be honest.. And if I didn't bring this up.. Officer Bass would have been in a BIG trouble! Well.. thats what she told me. She kept on thanking me for being honest and remind her about this... and that my honesty will only get N400 get through quicker.. of course after EVERYTHING is looked at!!! She could tell that I was really bummed out. She said I will get the letter in the mail to let me know what is going to happen to my case.

So.. thats my story.

1. I passed the test, but I don't know if I will have to wait until October this year or not?

2. I might have to pay the new fee?

3. I might have to reapply and go through this process over again?

Well.. I feel like hanging myself now.. What would have happened if I didn't open my big mouth? Will God be on my side??

Thanks for reading this!! and Congrats to those who went through fine with everything!!

[Staashi 371]

Hi everyone!!! I am back!!! ***warning this is long***

The interview went fine...however there is a little BIT of a problem

I really SHOULD NOT have opened my big mouth!!

So..here how it went.

We arrived at the St. Paul (Bloomington INS) around 1:30pm. My appointment was at 2pm. I had with me all of my taxes docs from the time I became a permanent resident, my marriage cert, passports, and transcript from my college.

I was called into the office around 2:15pm. The office was really nice, her name is office Bass. Right away, she told me that she will go over the N400 that I sent in just to make sure they have everything upto date and that she will ask me 6 questions and if I get them all right.. she will stop there.

I was asked to raise my right hand to swore in to tell the truth Then she began going through everything on my N400. She asked me about the current address, what I currently do, other names used, marriage.. etc. Then a couple more questions about the trip I just took to Mexico and about speeding tickets She told me that I was supposed to list the speedy, parking, etc tickets on there. I didn't know.. so we updated that. Then she asked me to write

"Today is a very sunny day" on the bottom of my N400. Here are the questions I was asked:

1. Who is the current President?

2. Who become the president if both vice president and president die?

3. How many stars are on the flag?

4. Who is the main writer of decoration of dependence?

5. What is national anthem?

6. Who said "Give me liberty or give me death"?

I got them all right.. so we stopped. Then she asked me to read some easy sentence (sorry, I don't recall the sentence)

So she said great everything looks good.. blah blah blah.. Then she handed me the letter of recommendation for approval and said that I will get notice in the mail about Oath. And proceeded to say that it probably takes 2 months but can go up to 6 months. I was so happy and excited. Everything sounds fine right?? Yeah I thought so too.. Until she asked me:

Office Bass: Great.. looks good. Do you have anything to ask me?

Me: Hmm nope.. but so everything is ok? You don't need anything from me about the trip to Viet Nam I took back in 01-02 for 10 moths?

Officer Bass: "Huh? Trip to Viet Nam??" with confusing face "Did you list it on your app?"

Me: "Yep.."

Officer Bass: More confusing face.... "let me see" then she started flipping through my N400 again. "Oh ohhhh"

I thought to myself OMG!!! WTH?? What now??

Officer Bass: I gotta call someone about this

Then she got someone on the phone.. All I heard was.. "yep.. hmm...umm.. Well... hmm" Then she asked me, "Do you have anything to prove that you still were intended to come back or kept your residency?" I was like "NO" I tried so hard to hold it together but I couldn't help but started to cry!!! She missed reading my N400 and the box that I entered 290 days out of the country!!!

She told me that she has to take back the letter she gave me and said that she will have to look at this again this weekend because no one at the office know what's going to happen to my case!!! I have been living here for over 10 years but I went to VN back in 01 for about 10 months.. I waited till I got my 5 years residency back last year and I sent in my N400. Now they don't know that they will approve it since they are not sure if they count the TOTAL DAYS outside the US starting from when I left Dec 25 01 all the way to Oct 22 02 ??

or day to day basis (like I came back in Oct 02 so five years from then to Oct 07, but N400 was received on July 29 07..so how many days I was out.. ) I didn't know what to do or say, but handed her back the letter and gave her my taxes info that I filed when I came back and my college transcript I had that shows I was still taking online classes when I was gone. I don't have anything else since I was living with my parents before I took the trip and we rented an apartment. I know I probably should have kept my mouth shut and should have not question or ask anything.. but I was trying to make sure everything was going to be ok and that no RED flags will show up from that point and trying to be honest.. And if I didn't bring this up.. Officer Bass would have been in a BIG trouble! Well.. thats what she told me. She kept on thanking me for being honest and remind her about this... and that my honesty will only get N400 get through quicker.. of course after EVERYTHING is looked at!!! She could tell that I was really bummed out. She said I will get the letter in the mail to let me know what is going to happen to my case.

So.. thats my story.

1. I passed the test, but I don't know if I will have to wait until October this year or not?

2. I might have to pay the new fee?

3. I might have to reapply and go through this process over again?

Well.. I feel like hanging myself now.. What would have happened if I didn't open my big mouth? Will God be on my side??

Thanks for reading this!! and Congrats to those who went through fine with everything!!

Tena OMG!!! I'm so sorry. I don't know what to tell you about keeping your mouth shut or not - that is up to you. I will be praying that they can reapprove everything and that you'll have no delays.

Good Luck! Keep up your prayers.

[nscvet 0]

Gee Tena I don't know what to say. I feel so sorry about what happened. Probably you did the right thing. Who knows what would have happened if someone up the line had discovered your trip. They may have decided that you purposely filed early and God knows what draconian penalty they might have imposed. We went to Thailand in the winter of '05 - '06 and did not know about the six month rule. I came back early but my wife stayed because her mom was ill. I learned of the rule just a few days before she would have stayed too long, phoned her and told her to get on the first available flight. She was out a total of about 176 days, just under the wire. We are still nervous about it though because we have taken other trips there for 2 or 3 months and it may look as though she does not care about getting citizenship. We're with you in spirit. Let us know when you hear something.

[churipu 4]

Tena I kinda was worried there had been some problems because you didn't post anything in the "wish me luck" thread yesterday:unsure: I am so sorry this happened, but I think telling the truth is always the best thing to do. Your trip was a long time ago so I would think that after further evaluation they will approve your case, although this is causing delays..which sucks considering you filed in JULY last year! Please keep us posted, I am sure things will work out for you.

[Kiv 32]

Staashi,

Don't be so hard on yourself, I have read that normally another officer goes trough the files after the interview, it is possible that they have find it any way. I wish that this does not afect your process

[Staashi 371]

Staashi,

Don't be so hard on yourself, I have read that normally another officer goes trough the files after the interview, it is possible that they have find it any way. I wish that this does not afect your process

Lady K - it wasn't us, it is Tena who went through that process. Your sympathies are in the right place though.

[Kiv 32]

Lady K - it wasn't us, it is Tena who went through that process. Your sympathies are in the right place though.

oops, sorry thanks.

[LovelyTena 0]

Tena OMG!!! I'm so sorry. I don't know what to tell you about keeping your mouth shut or not - that is up to you. I will be praying that they can reapprove everything and that you'll have no delays.

Good Luck! Keep up your prayers.

Staashi ~ Thank you so much for your reply and praying for me . I am trying my best to deal with it. It's not that I need to be a naturize right now.. It's not really going to change anything. I just am sick of the leghty process its taking and I want to vote this Nov.

Thanks for the reply.. I really appreciated.

Tena

[LovelyTena 0]

Gee Tena I don't know what to say. I feel so sorry about what happened. Probably you did the right thing. Who knows what would have happened if someone up the line had discovered your trip. They may have decided that you purposely filed early and God knows what draconian penalty they might have imposed. We went to Thailand in the winter of '05 - '06 and did not know about the six month rule. I came back early but my wife stayed because her mom was ill. I learned of the rule just a few days before she would have stayed too long, phoned her and told her to get on the first available flight. She was out a total of about 176 days, just under the wire. We are still nervous about it though because we have taken other trips there for 2 or 3 months and it may look as though she does not care about getting citizenship. We're with you in spirit. Let us know when you hear something.

Bob & Mon ~ Thank you for your sympathy I'm glad that Mon doesn't have to go through what I am going through. I am actually felt better now that I actually brought that up to Officer Bass since I am that someone else will have to look at my N400 later on to actually approve it anyway. So.. I am glad that its being handled now than getting the denied later. The way the law and information is written is very confusing and them (the officers that day at St. Paul) don't even know the answer. I am just a little sick of waiting But oh well.. what can a girl do? I was young and stupid to take that trip and not listening to my parents. Anyway, I really appreciate your reply and I will update as soon as I hear something

Tena

Tena I kinda was worried there had been some problems because you didn't post anything in the "wish me luck" thread yesterday:unsure: I am so sorry this happened, but I think telling the truth is always the best thing to do. Your trip was a long time ago so I would think that after further evaluation they will approve your case, although this is causing delays..which sucks considering you filed in JULY last year! Please keep us posted, I am sure things will work out for you.

Churipu~~ thanks for the reply. This citizenship journey is getting wayyyy too long. I want to vote this Nov and I was planning to go to France this coming August..now everything will probably be postponed. I still have faith in the Officer and I am praying that God will be on my side for being honest. I just have to wait and see what happens. It is kinda stupid that I have been here for over 10 years and always have been a good residence. I paid all my taxes and blah blah.. you know!! And I am married to a native born, but since it is not 3 years yet.. I can't applied based on marriage. Dumb huh? But thanks I will let you know as soon as I find out. I wish you luck and I am sure I will be congratulating you when you complete your interview

Tena

Staashi,

Don't be so hard on yourself, I have read that normally another officer goes trough the files after the interview, it is possible that they have find it any way. I wish that this does not afect your process

Lady_K ~ thank you for your reply. I will have to wait and find out. Please keep your figures crossed for me

Tena

[LovelyTena 0]

Tena OMG!!! I'm so sorry. I don't know what to tell you about keeping your mouth shut or not - that is up to you. I will be praying that they can reapprove everything and that you'll have no delays.

Good Luck! Keep up your prayers.

Staashi ~ Thank you so much for your reply and praying for me . I am trying my best to deal with it. It's not that I need to be a naturalized right now.. It's not really going to change anything. I just am sick of the leghty process its taking and I want to vote this Nov.

Thanks for the reply.. I really appreciated.

Tena

[churipu 4]

Hang in there...everything will work out, this too shall pass

[annatenna 0]

Tena - Shucks! I've just read your story - that is worrying for you. But surely other people have vetted your file before it got to this stage. I think whoever passed it through as being eligible for interview must have known all was okay, and maybe the interviewing officer you had was less experienced. She must be if she didn't pick it up until you mentioned it.

I feel sure it will all be okay for you. Stay confident!

Hugs.