LI Filer

🤣😂

I had my oath ceremony at the Federal courthouse in Central Islip, NY on Friday, 3/10 (just over four months from my initial online application), which was scheduled for 9am. Arrived into the spacious parking lot at 8:20am, and was allowed into the courthouse. Virtually no one on line to pass through security, so it took less than 3 minutes, though you not only have to turn off your phone, you also need to surrender your phone for them to hold onto until you exit later on with a claim ticket (I say ticket but it was actually a small block of wood with a number on it). Led upstairs into one of the courtrooms, and they seated the oath takers in the order which they arrived into the courtroom. Each chair had two letter-sized envelopes...one letter from the President, and another packet with the oath printed and voting information. Families had to wait downstairs, until the actual oath was taken. Most of the folks were dressed professionally...most were business casual, about 5-6 men in full suits and ties (I wore a full suit and button up shirt but no tie), with a handful of people very casual in jeans and sweaters and sneakers. My own rough count showed around 120 applicants or so, and around 9am, they started lining up folks by one clerk (around 10 folks at a time), and taking everyone's green card and asking them some basic questions on the oath ceremony letter (have you traveled outside of the US, have you had any trouble with the police, etc.). Then they had you get into two separate lines with two different clerks to check the actual naturalization certificate for errors, made you sign in, and it was also where they handed you the certified name change form. The process was organized, if a bit slow. With approximately 120 applicants to process this way, it took almost 2 hours to get through. Surprisingly, about 7-8 people were no-shows, for whatever reason. Finally, about 15 minutes before 11am, the families were allowed into the courtroom, the judge was finally called, and he administered the oath and made a very short speech. This lasted not more than 5 minutes, and that was that. The judge left, and no videos were shown or anything. And then the clerks called out each name one-by-one, and you were handed your naturalization certificate, at which point you could leave. Walking out of the courthouse, it was exactly around 11am, so I was there for two hours total, with the vast majority of that time just waiting. Without a phone or anything else to do, you just sit and wait (and count, lol) and people watch. I'd suggest taking some reading material if you get bored easily. I had made a passport appointment for my local USPS office at 1pm, so the timing worked out perfectly. At the courthouse itself, there was no place to apply for a passport, though inside the courtroom, they were registering people to vote. That concludes my citizenship journey, and again, I was surprised at the speed of the entire process. All that's left to do is wait for my passport (expedited), and I'll be done done. Thanks all for your experiences and advice. Below is my updated and final timeline: Online application: 11/4/2022 Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022 Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY) Interview: 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY (Long Island) office Approved: We recommended approval; submitted for quality review: 1/31/2023 (status updated immediately after interview) Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled: 1/31/2023 Oath Ceremony Has Been Scheduled Notice: 2/8/2023 Oath Ceremony Scheduled at Central Islip: 3/10/2023 Oath Ceremony Took Place & Received Naturalization Certificate at Central Islip Federal Courthouse: 3/10/2023

Also possible that the oath ceremony might be scheduled during the time while you're away (mine is scheduled exactly 5 weeks after interview), so depending on how long you plan to stay in the UK, there might be a conflict with the oath ceremony day. Not sure how likely, but it's a possibility, depending on your field office?

Update: Exactly 8 days after my interview (2/1), received a notice today (online) that the oath ceremony has been scheduled for March 10th at the Central Islip, NY court house. I had requested a name change with my initial application (and confirmed by the IO during my interview), and since it'll a judicial ceremony, I should be all set. Again, surprised at the speed of everything during the process. It looks like I'll be done in exactly four months from start to oath.

Exactly 8 days after my interview (2/1), received a notice today (online) that the oath ceremony has been scheduled for March 10th at the Central Islip, NY court house. I had requested a name change with my initial application (and confirmed by the IO during my interview), and since it'll a judicial ceremony, I should be all set. Again, surprised at the speed of everything during the process. It looks like I'll be done in exactly four months from start to oath.

I posted this in the NY thread, but as a November 2022 filer, re-posting it here with my experience: Update on my filing: Online application: 11/4/2022 Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022 Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY) Interview: 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY (Long Island) office Approved: We recommended approval; submitted for quality review: 1/31/2023 (status updated immediately after interview) Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled: 1/31/2023 Waiting on oath ceremony to be scheduled (with a name change on my original application). Was surprised to see this notice, as I passed all of the tests, but I received an expected "A decision cannot be made yet about your application" notice, due to prior arrests in the past (long time ago and final outcomes were just violations/disorderly conduct). Both IO and my attorney mentioned that all cases with prior arrests take more time to process (1-3 months), so wouldn't be surprised if my "oath will be scheduled" changes, but for now, waiting on either oath to be scheduled and/or final approval. Hardly anyone on line to enter building...was able to enter 25 minute prior to my appointment, checked in, and was called 10 minutes earlier than my scheduled time. IO was business-like but friendly enough, though very poker-faced. Ran through civics test (basic enough questions), simple reading of one sentence, and writing the response on the tablet, bunch of yes/no questions, and then asked if I had been arrested before. Answered yes, and when asked what happened? Just replied it was a long time ago (26 years ago) and that they were disorderly conducts (a violation), produced official court dispositions, which she took and just moved on. All in all, was done in about 10 minutes, said I passed but because of the arrests, it has to be approved by a supervisor, and that there's no way to tell how long it would take. After getting in the car, checked USCIS website and it was already updated to approved and oath ceremony will be scheduled, so not sure if that was in error, just a temporary update, or whether it was already fully approved, but will keep checking to see if I receive an oath ceremony date. Oh, and I forgot to mention, my attorney (who did not attend the interview with me), advised that I should take additional passport photos (in addition to the submitted ones for the original application), and sure enough, the IO asked if I had additional passport photos, which I did, so I handed them over. Not sure if there would have been a delay or issue if I didn't have backup, additional passport photos, but I was super glad that I did. I also took the following documents with me, though was only asked to see green card, driver's license, selective service registration info, and original court dispositions with seal (for prior arrests): Valid and current foreign passport, green card, driver's license, selective service registration, original court dispositions with seal, 5 years of tax returns, utility bill, marriage certificate (my naturalization was not based on marriage but took it anyway), and current W2 paystub. I was dressed business casual (V-neck sweater over a button-up sweater, dark washed jeans, and dressy/casual sneakers), and I felt this was very appropriate compared to other applicants and immigration officers, who were mostly all dressed similar. Hope this is helpful, and let me know if any specific questions.

If I'm not mistaken, you need to bring your physical green card (and not just a scan). I would also add driver's license, and any expired passports if you traveled outside of the country in the past 5 years. My IO also asked for proof of selective service registration (not sure if this applies to you). Finally, my attorney advised me to take two passport photos as a backup, and sure enough, the IO for my interview asked if I had additional passport photos, and I was glad to have an extra set of two photos.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, my attorney (who did not attend the interview with me), advised that I should take additional passport photos (in addition to the submitted ones for the original application), and sure enough, the IO asked if I had additional passport photos, which I did, so I handed them over. Not sure if there would have been a delay or issue if I didn't have backup, additional passport photos, but I was super glad that I did. I also took the following documents with me, though was only asked to see green card, driver's license, selective service registration info, and original court dispositions with seal (for prior arrests): Valid and current foreign passport, green card, driver's license, selective service registration, original court dispositions with seal, 5 years of tax returns, utility bill, marriage certificate (my naturalization was not based on marriage but took it anyway), and current W2 paystub. I was dressed business casual (V-neck sweater over a button-up sweater, dark washed jeans, and dressy/casual sneakers), and I felt this was very appropriate compared to other applicants and immigration officers, who were mostly all dressed similar. Hope this is helpful, and let me know if any specific questions.

Update on my filing: Online application: 11/4/2022 Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022 Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY) Interview: 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY (Long Island) office Approved: We recommended approval; submitted for quality review: 1/31/2023 (status updated immediately after interview) Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled: 1/31/2023 Waiting on oath ceremony to be scheduled (with a name change on my original application). Was surprised to see this notice, as I passed all of the tests, but I received an expected "A decision cannot be made yet about your application" notice, due to prior arrests in the past (long time ago and final outcomes were just violations/disorderly conduct). Both IO and my attorney mentioned that all cases with prior arrests take more time to process (1-3 months), so wouldn't be surprised if my "oath will be scheduled" changes, but for now, waiting on either oath to be scheduled and/or final approval. Hardly anyone on line to enter building...was able to enter 25 minute prior to my appointment, checked in, and was called 10 minutes earlier than my scheduled time. IO was business-like but friendly enough, though very poker-faced. Ran through civics test (basic enough questions), simple reading of one sentence, and writing the response on the tablet, bunch of yes/no questions, and then asked if I had been arrested before. Answered yes, and when asked what happened? Just replied it was a long time ago (26 years ago) and that they were disorderly conducts (a violation), produced official court dispositions, which she took and just moved on. All in all, was done in about 10 minutes, said I passed but because of the arrests, it has to be approved by a supervisor, and that there's no way to tell how long it would take. After getting in the car, checked USCIS website and it was already updated to approved and oath ceremony will be scheduled, so not sure if that was in error, just a temporary update, or whether it was already fully approved, but will keep checking to see if I receive an oath ceremony date.

Awesome, thanks. And congrats!

Any update on that? I'm in a similar situation (with an upcoming interview on Long Island), and my attorney says 2-3 months is the norm for that, though I've read a thread here where they were able to get supervisor approval at the end of the interview.

Long Island (Nassau County), NY filer here: Online application: 11/4/2022 Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022 Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY)

Long Island (Nassau County) filer here: Online application: 11/4/2022 Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022 Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY) Was a pleasant surprise to see it move relatively fast.