am2352

31 minutes ago, Adventine said:

Starting a new thread to document this minor but expensive annoyance.

 

I understand that there can be delays in getting back my naturalization certificate, but I applied in January 2025. It's now May and I still haven't received it. 

 

My timeline:

 

• Jan. 27, 2025: applied at USPS for a passport book and card. The employee took my original certificate of naturalization. Paid for expedited processing
• Jan. 30, 2025: Dept of State confirms receiving my passport application
• Feb. 6, 2025: received my passport book in the mail
• Feb. 12, 2025: received my passport card
• Mar. 31 / Apr. 14 / May 1, 2025: called the National Passport Information Center to follow up my naturalization certificate. Finally, on May 1, they confirmed they couldn't find it and sent me instructions to get reimbursed.

 

 

Now I have to file USCIS Form N-656 to get a replacement certificate, pay $555 and file another set of documents for DOS to reimburse me.

 

Would you mind sharing the instructions to get reimbursed? I didn't know there was a provision to get reimbursed. Might be useful for the community. This whole process of mailing the naturalization certification for which one has spent months, only to lose it because of a bureaucratic process, is so sad. 

Can one of you please share your OCI filing, timing, and decision process at Houston, TX?

I went to Austin airport and got my Global Entry card updated with my new US passport. Other than dealing with unfriendly officers, the work got done :-).

Yesterday, I got my SSN card by mail with the text "Work Authorization by DHS only" removed. I didn't have to visit SSN office. Looks like selecting the option to automatically update the status with the SSA office worked. All-in-all, took like 2 weeks.

27 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Awesome thank you!

Make sure your travel is planned within the next day or at least before their next opening (they will ask for the itinerary). Or else they might choose to mail it. At Dallas passport agency, they grouped us differently based on our travel dates. Someone who was planning to travel in 2 weeks was told that their passport will be mailed instead of giving it to them later the same day.

Yes, Dallas Passport Agency gave me a large book as well as passport card all within a couple of hours.

2 hours ago, am2352 said:

Was about to get the passport book and card from Dallas Passport Agency.

I misspoke. I was able to collect the passport book and card at the passport agency. They also returned the original naturalization certificate which was a relief.

20 hours ago, am2352 said:

Tomorrow, I have an appointment at Dallas passport agency. Trying to get an urgent passport. My sister unfortunately passed away a couple of weeks ago and I had to travel urgently on my green card. I was a bit concerned if me marking "yes" to one of the post-interview eligibility questions would raise a concern but the officer just marked the dates and allowed me to enter the hall. They took all of my EAD and AP cards. Because of this personal disaster, the whole oath ceremony experience was less exciting as I was grieving the whole time. I am carrying the death certificate and a trip that is tentatively planned to see if I can get the passport soon at the passport agency. Will keep y'all posted.

Was about to get the passport book and card from Dallas Passport Agency.

1 hour ago, am2352 said:

Today I took the oath and completed my journey of naturalization at Waco, TX. Thank you for all the help and support you guys provided. It helped a lot!!

Tomorrow, I have an appointment at Dallas passport agency. Trying to get an urgent passport. My sister unfortunately passed away a couple of weeks ago and I had to travel urgently on my green card. I was a bit concerned if me marking "yes" to one of the post-interview eligibility questions would raise a concern but the officer just marked the dates and allowed me to enter the hall. They took all of my EAD and AP cards. Because of this personal disaster, the whole oath ceremony experience was less exciting as I was grieving the whole time. I am carrying the death certificate and a trip that is tentatively planned to see if I can get the passport soon at the passport agency. Will keep y'all posted.

Today I took the oath and completed my journey of naturalization at Waco, TX. Thank you for all the help and support you guys provided. It helped a lot!!

Got my oath ceremony notice. It will be at Waco, TX on February 13th. Strangely, Waco, TX is even far away from where I live in Austin, TX than San Antonio 🙂

2 hours ago, EandS2019 said:

No other application pending. I applied based on marriage. I had my interview in November and approved the same day (Chicago). Mine says it’s taking longer than usual but still within normal processing times. 

Have you inquired the USCIS or written to your congressman?

3 hours ago, kittycat said:

Only waited 7 days after interview for another status change that Oath ceremony is scheduled for Feb 3, 2025. Limited to 2 guests for the ceremony though. I expect there will be many ceremonies that day, mine is scheduled super early in the morning.  Can't wait. 

 

Congratulations. Did you get a "we have taken an action on your case" email regarding the oath ceremony? Or was it you kept checking and you happened to notice the oath letter under your documents?

3 hours ago, EandS2019 said:

I am still waiting for oath ceremony, fingers crossed it’ll be soon!

Do you have a pending I-751? I too had my interview (5 years GC, no I-751) two days ago and I am too waiting for oath ceremony scheduling.  I heard from the folks who interviewed in afternoon at my field office that they were then and there scheduled for oath next week. My myStatus estimate also changed from 3 weeks -> 4 weeks -> 2 months in the last 3 days. I know the estimate is a joke but still what does it show at your end?

Just finished my interview at San Antonio, TX. Case was approved. It went really fast. The officer asked to keep my pile of documents far away from me 🙂 and then put me on oath. She started by civics, reading and writing tests. She mentioned I can take as much time I want but my first answer will be counted. Also, the stylus was bad as it was passive/capacitive stylus. Writing or signing through it was tricky — had to apply pressure. After that, she confirmed name, DOB, travel, family and went through the yes/no questions like a rapid-fire, even combining some of the questions (like have you been done terrorist activity, guerrilla warfare, sabotage, prostitution, killed, threatened etc)… Her camera had some issue even though the check-in desk took my photo and fingerprints. She asked me to go to the seating area and kept my passport and GC. Then she called me in 5 mins and took me to one of her colleagues who took my photo. Then she made me sign the tablet and printed the approval form. She said oath letter should come through mail and will be uploaded online. I asked her where my oath will be — Austin or San Antonio? She mentioned likely Austin as it has two oath locations but San Antonio has higher capacity. Will see what happens in the next few days. Thank y’all for all the help and advice. It really helped. 

On 1/9/2025 at 10:38 AM, DimaSta4321 said:

Hi all! 

Quick 2 questions:

1. My oath ceremony got scheduled for Saturday Jan 25th - is this normal to have a Saturday oath ceremony ?
2. What is the fastest way to obtain US passport after a ceremony ? I have Intl travel planned 3 weeks after. Can I apply during the ceremony or it has to be done separately online ?

Oath on a Saturday? Interesting. May be because they closed on 9th because of Jimmy Carter's mourning, they are open on Saturday -- guessing. What time do you have your oath?

My interview is next week at San Antonio at 8:40am. Not sure if they will offer same-day oath. If not, may be my oath too could get scheduled on the same day (if I clear the interview)...

13 minutes ago, uapilot said:

 

Just got notice late today: approved I-751 and scheduled ceremony! It seems the original notice was for a scheduled ceremony that they cancelled right after since the 751 wasn't approved yet.

 

Also on 1/29/2025.

Congratulations! When is your oath scheduled then?

Congratulations!!

1 hour ago, zuogeputongren said:

Anybody else got this? Something new came back from my API response again, this time i got 2 more fields:

 

"isPremium Processing":false, "actionRequired": false,
 

 

My actionRequired is true. Not sure what it means. My interview is scheduled for January 15th.

17 hours ago, mbssss said:

I had my oath ceremony in the Fairfax, VA office on 12/14. Everything went great and the guy leading it was very fun and excited. Applied for my passport at the DC passport agency this Wednesday (I have an upcoming international trip next week) and I'm scheduled to pick it up later today - absolutely no issues getting that done either. All in all - it all went really smooth and was a good experience!

Congratulations. Did the passport agency return the naturalization certificate then and there, or will it be mailed separately to you?

As per USCIS, earliest you could've filed for is 08/15/2024. Tough luck bro! Understand it is waste of time and money but you can file again. Dont think it was rejected with prejudice.

2 hours ago, DimaSta4321 said:

a lot of people on this forum reported that San Antonio FO does not offer same day oath.

Generally, if your appointment is in the morning, they might be able to do same day oath. For my wife, after her interview, she was asked to wait in the seating area with a lot of glass windows. She was then called at the counter and was given the oath letter. So my recommendation would be dont simply leave the building. See if you can get called at the counter if same day oath doesn’t happen for you. Let us know how all of this went. Mine too is in mid-January. 

1 hour ago, DimaSta4321 said:

Another question friends - San Antonio FO does not offer same day oath ceremony. My interview is next week ok 12/16. Am I allowed to request oath to be schedule in March 2025 or after ? Or office just places you in line for a next available oath ceremony and I am not allowed to request it to be in/after specific month ?
Asking because I have multiple trips scheduled for Jan/Feb 2025 and I am afraid oath might land on a date when I am not in the US. How should I go about it ?

How do you know for sure they don't offer same day oath ceremony. What time is your interview? For my wife, San Antonio office didn't do same day oath (her interview was at 12:30pm) but she was called for oath the next week.

Thanks Carpe Vinum and Dashinka...

Is there anyone who has a recent experience from Houston or Dallas?

Thank you so much. This is very useful. My wife lost her naturalization certificate because we never received it back from the passport office (they said they mailed it on October 29th). Upon inquiring, they sent a letter stating they have returned things from their end and they dont have it. I got my interview notice today and strategizing how to apply for passport after the oath so that the same thing doesn't happen to me.