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| Providence RI |  Review on March 6, 2013: |
Tiekey
Rating:  | Review Topic: Naturalization
I can laugh now, but at the time it was stressful.
Due to my wife's employment, we were temporarily (2 years) posted back to the UK, so we decided to apply for naturalization under 319(b). We sent off everything before we left in September 2012, and I did a walk-in early biometrics in October 2012 when travelling to NY (2000 miles from where it was supposed to be).
Anyway, we got an interview letter for Providence RI for January 3, 2013. I was intending to do it in DC, but this is how it worked out. I flew in on January 2nd, with a return ticket on the 9th, via Dublin, as I'd hoped to do pre-clearance there, to avoid the hassle in JFK. For whatever reason, pre-clearance was closed, so I had to panic for 7 hours as to what stress I'd have in JFK (I always get a hard time, for some reason). The plan was to arrive at 7pm, rent a car in JFK, and drive to Rhode Island, get a hotel, and be interviewed at 8am the next morning. The best laid plans....
As I arrived in JFK, and before the fasten seatbelt signs were switch off, I turned on my cellphone, and looked at the emails that had arrived. To my horror, I saw the following:
"Please contact me at your earliest convenience to reschedule at xxx-xxx-xxxx. The phone number listed on your application as a work number and I was not able to raise the operator." I replied: "I've just flown in for the interview. what shall I do? I'm in JFK".
I then got off the plane, got through security, called the number (there was no answer - it was 7:30pm, and left a rambling message about being stuck in JFK and not knowing what to do.
The next day I got an email "Your file has not been received by our office. The file was mailed via ground shipment instead of overnight as we requested. The file was shipped on xx/xx and is currently in transit.".
So I stayed in NY and panicked. This was Friday. My return flight was Tuesday.
To cut a long story short, the file arrived Monday morning, and I drove up to RI. As I arrived, I was greeted by all the staff, who said: "Jack, (the officer, not his real name) - this is your guy". They all came to meet me, and apologised for the hassle. The interview itself was straightforward, starting with the test, which was easy. He then went through the application, told me to wait why they printed the certificate, and then all the staff came to talk to me. Half an hour later, I was called in the the Director, who did the oath with me, handed me the certificate, and wished me sucess. I had tears in my eyes.
The next morning, I turned up at the CT passport office without an appointment, and by 12pm I had my passport. Headed straight for JFK, had a Global Entry interview (approved) and caught my flight back to the UK.
All's well that ends well!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #11579