Applied on 5/Nov/2022
Got notice on 17/Jan/2023
Interview and oath ceremony on 7/March/2023
City: Seattle
My wife, my minor kid & I became citizens on 7/March/2023. Here are some of my experience worth sharing,
1. I read in the forums we assemble outside the building 15 minutes before our scheduled time. But my experience was different. We showed our interview letters 15 minutes before my scheduled time and we all were let in. My wife 30 minutes after my appointment was also allowed to go in.
2. I was given a numbered appointment chit immediately. But my wife had to wait for a few minutes to get one. But Biometrics for both of us were done together right after we checked in.
3. My advice: Even if your interview (& your family members interview) are scheduled apart, go together. There is high likeliness that you all get in together. Also from my experience, getting in even 30 minutes earlier was a possibility. In fact the guy who checked-in us into the interview line suggested the same view.
4. We all would go to the first floor for interview. If you take the stairs, it ends in first floor. The waiting area there is for citizenship interviewees. Interviewers come from one of the many locked doors either escorting interviewees with whom they just had a chat with or calling out the number from chit. They will escort you inside to their room.
5. There was a tablet to read and write. Stylus pen was provided to write a sentence.
6. Once done, a printout paper mentioning I passed, was provided. Then you come out into the waiting area. I preferred to wait for my wife to complete her interview so that we all could go for oath together. That took another 45 minutes or so. We went down to the auditorium for taking oath. It was 1:30ish by then.
7. Green card for adults were no longer required and taken away. My kid's green card was left alone for us to submit during passport application as a proof of legal residence. Both of us got a package each. There was a passport application, instruction on how to register to vote, message from the US President, a flag and few other brochures. We were told the oath ceremony will start at the top of the hour.
8. Roughly less than 100 people were in the auditorium. Relatives & friends were also allowed. Only Oath takers stood up and repeated the oath loud as the officer articulated it.
9. Then a message from the President was played. Then citizenship certificate was handed over by the officer.
10. People took pictures at the dais.
We wish all applicants all the best. Thanks.