*FishF00D*

Yes I paid for expedited shipping etc. My naturalization certificate also arrived today, 1 week after the passport.

Application status changed to "Shipped" today! "The U.S. Department of State has shipped your passport book on 09/05/2023. You should receive your passport on or around 09/08/2023" Almost exactly 4 weeks from filing at the post office to passport being approved and shipped. 🥳

Passport application submitted at post office: 8 / 9 Passport status changed to "In Process" and money order cashed: 8 / 15 Record locator starts with 10

I had my interview at Cranbury today and can vouch for everything you said, I had basically the same experience! The space was beautiful -- I will mention that the interview rooms currently have glass walls (floor to ceiling) and are fully visible from the waiting room, so we were able to see IO's prepping and going over files while we waited. Kindof weird for the lack of privacy, but it also meant that we had a view of the lake while waiting and during the interview itself, which was serene! I had a similar experience through security and check in as well. The lawyer I hired to attend with me was on laughing/joking/friendly terms with every clerk/manager/security guard who wasn't a new hire, as the majority of staff at this office were transferred from Newark and they'd all known eachother for decades. All the staff who've been transferred from Newark are apparently thrilled to be at Cranbury, so the vibe is very pleasant. Waited about a half hour past my scheduled interview time before being called in. I was sworn in, took the reading/writing/civics test, and we went over my N400. IO confirmed my name/birthday/address, and my height "because that's what we'll be putting in your certificate" which made it obvious that the decision about my approval had been made before I even stepped into the room. Did not ask for originals of any supporting documents, tax returns, or anything else -- interview itself was under 10 mins for sure! IO took my GC and reminded me that I'll need to apply for/receive a passport before I can travel outside of the country again. I was handed the "Congrats you passed the interview!" paper and told to wait back in the waiting room until the next oath ceremony. Ultimately a small ceremony was held after about an hour. I was in and out of the building in under 3 hours with Natz Certificate in hand!

.........Naturalization Approved! IO did not ask any questions about previous marriage; he was a brand new hire at the Cranbury office and seemed to have made his decision about whether I'd be approved or not (in my favor) before we even began. I was sworn in, took the reading/writing/civics test, and we went over my N400 (confirmed my name/birthday/address, and my height "because that's what we'll be putting in your certificate"). He did confirm that I was divorced, but didn't ask any further questions about my ex or the relationship. Got on to the "eligibility questions" (ie. Have never been involved in genocide or terrorism; am in support of the constitution of the Unites States, etc.) Did not ask for originals of any supporting documents, tax returns, or anything else. Ultimately lawyer wasn't really necessary in the room for my case since it seemed that the decision was made before meeting the IO. Lawyer did have a lot of intel about the Cranbury office and inner workings of USCIS, though! He was on laughing/joking/friendly terms with every clerk/manager/security guard who wasn't a new hire, as the majority of staff at this office were transferred from Newark and they'd all known eachother for decades. This meant that having him by my side at least made the check-in process very pleasant -- which lightened the mood and evaporated my stress lol. No regrets in hiring the lawyer, really nice guy who clearly has good relationships with USCIS staff and knowing I was in good hands JIC was worth it. Time to celebrate!

For what it's worth he told me this after I agreed to hire him, so it wasn't a selling feature lol. All the better then if my case is that easy! 😅 Will report back!

Following up, I have decided to hire an attorney and we went over the details of my case yesterday in preparation for my interview that's scheduled for tomorrow. He said that it's incredibly rare for ROC based on a divorce waiver to have been granted without interview (my case), and also confirmed that USCIS likes to take the N400 as an opportunity to review the GC application - so his perspective is that based on both factors it's more likely that they'll address the divorce than not. Whether that means they simply ask to confirm, "Why did you get divorced?" vs. press for details I don't know -- but I'll be happy to have someone in the room with me either way!

Yes her feedback was the the space was exceptionally new -- there was still remnants of painters tape etc. from recent renovations. It was very well staffed with short wait times and friendly interactions. Staff were experiencing some technical issues with printing documents but it didn't ultimately hinder the process. She said the building had the A/C on full blast (it's very cold in there) and cell service was poor once inside. Cranbury offers a naturalization ceremony every 3hrs. My friend was there because her partner was scheduled for combo interview; the interview itself took under 15 mins!

Yeah this happened a few years ago (right before filing for ROC) - I guess they gotta keep it interesting for themselves hey! 😂

In fairness, I have had the experience of an immigration officer at the border/customs asking me questions they "shouldn't" have about my immigration status while I was alone -- it was very uncomfortable and I thought I was obligated to answer anything they asked of me. I only found out after the fact that what they asked me was inappropriate, so having had that experience once already is part of what sways my perspective!

I appreciate the POV and link to the policy manual. While a lawyer can't answer for an applicant or stop the IO from asking appropriate questions relating to the case at hand, they can intervene if an IO is asking a question that they aren't entitled to ask (per someone's personal experience in an earlier reply on this thread). Additionally, I did consult with a lawyer before filing my ROC with divorce waiver (since it seemed complicated) and she described that without an lawyer present an IO can technically ask anything they want - so having someone else in the room who knows what's appropriate and what isn't will usually prevent an IO from going off-tangent. She also advised that if I were called to an interview for the ROC to definitely have a lawyer present given the traumatic nature of my divorce - but I was granted the 10yr-GC without interview so I didn't end up needing someone back then.

Precisely true; when I filed the ROC I included a very lengthy letter describing the course of our relationship - including my ex's eventual turn to drugs etc. so it's all on the table. So ready for all of this to be in my past!

I wish I had the faith in myself required to be so level-headed and thoughtful in the moment! In situations like these I not great at asking someone in a position of power to stay within their respective boundaries - but it's a useful skill for someone who can!

All very good points and affirms that it's worth the investment, if only as "insurance" and "assurance" lol The lawyers in my area (good and bad) seem to charge $1000 at minimum for accompaniment to the interview. Not exactly affordable for me (I'm a full-time student!) but in the grand scheme of things it seems like paying would be worth the peace of mind.

You raise a good point. My interview is happening at the brand-new Cranbury office in NJ -- so far I've heard that it's really nice inside, well-staffed and friendly -- but if the IO's have only been hired recently then there might be a greater chance of them not knowing what aspects of a case like mine are "out of bounds" in a totally non-malicious sense.