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| Oakland Park FL |  Review on May 20, 2016: |
lvriesling
Rating:  | Review Topic: Naturalization
N-400 Interview 5/3/16 @ Oakland Park FL. Arrived early,but interview actually started 70 minutes after my scheduled appointment time.
Interviewer spent a lot of time on the topic of my two first name changes. Then asked about income taxes (5 minutes). Then more discussion of name changes, and I got RFE'd (N-14) for documentation of a first name change that was done by my parents during childhood (I was about 1 year old at the time).
Interviewer asked for green card, reviewed N-400, asked questions from N-400, returned to the name change / N-14 topic, then abruptly started the Civics test.
Civics questions (as numbered in the USCIS Civics Questions Guide) were:
1) What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen? (#53)
2) Who is the Governor of your state now? (#43)
3) Where is the Statue of Liberty? (#95)
4) What movement tried to end racial discrimination? (#84)
5) Who was the first President? (#70)
6) Name two national U.S. holidays. (#100)
Reading test was to read "When is Columbus Day?"
Writing test was to write "Washington is the capital"
All questions were answered correctly.
Interviewer had me sign my N-400 and 2 more papers.
Interviewer asked if I had any questions. Discussed N-14 response procedure and then what happens next.
Total time taken by interview was one hour (!!).
Got N-14 dated 5/4/16 in the mail on Friday 5/6/16.
Physically delivered the documentation of early name change requested by N-14 to Oakland Park office on Monday 5/9/16.
Now waiting for USCIS to process the N-14 documentation. Tick tock, tick tock...
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Update, 6/17/16: Completed naturalization today in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (in a judicial ceremony due to name change)! Here's how it went:
Had to show up at Federal Courthouse by 11:30. Although there is a sign at the entrance to the Courthouse saying that cell phones, etc. are prohibited, for the judicial naturalization ceremony they forget all about that and let people bring in cell phones, cameras, whatever they want. Went through security, then to the Juror Waiting Room to check in. Room is divided by a center aisle into left and right sides. People who are naturalizing have to sit on the left side, from left to right and then front to back (so Row 1 fills up (front row), then Row 2, etc.), in order of arrival. People who are guests have to sit on the right side, anywhere they want. For about an hour, everyone just sits there waiting. People were dressed in a variety of ways, including a woman in a low-cut dress displaying ample cleavage and a young woman in a very small & very low-cut & tightly-fitted black mini-skirt, along with people wearing shirt & tie, people wearing casual clothes, etc. About half the population was either talking, playing games, or otherwise entertaining themselves with their cell phones. Then a USCIS person comes around and collects the green cards and appointment letters, in order of arrival. Another hour of waiting. Then a Courtroom worker asks for volunteers who would like to tell their stories of how they came from their countries to become citizens. Finally, the people who are naturalizing walk in single file out of the Juror Waiting Room, in order of arrival, and proceed to the Courtroom where they are seated on the left side of the Courtroom in order of arrival (from left to right and then front to back). Then the guests file out of the room in no particular order and proceed to the Courtroom, where they are seated on the right side of the Courtroom in order of arrival (from right to left and then front to back). The judge comes in and starts talking. Three veterans march in with a big flag. USCIS reads a legal motion to change the names of 65 people. Judge grants the motion. USCIS reads a legal motion to grant naturalization to 65 people from 25 countries, effective after they take the Oath of Allegiance. Judge grants the motion. The people who are naturalizing stand up and do the Oath Of Allegiance. The judge calls up the people who volunteered to tell their stories (four people). Judge then asks if there is anyone else who wants to tell their story (one more person). One of the five was from Mexico and he spent most of his time denouncing the recent racist statements of Donald Trump. Then a local Congressman gave a speech, and finally a member of the Federal Bar Association gave a speech. Judge does the "Pledge Of Allegiance". Then a volunteer singer performed "The Star Spangled Banner". Judge talks some more and eventually adjourns the ceremony. The newly naturalized citizens walk in single file out of the Courtroom, in order, back to the Juror Waiting Room. Then the guests walk in single file out of the Courtroom, in order, back to the Juror Waiting Room. USCIS then distributed the packets containing the Certificates of Naturalization, etc. (along with a small American flag). The judge has provided cake, granola bars, cookies, and soft drinks for everyone in the Juror Waiting Room, so everyone grabs some food. By this time it is around 2 PM. At this point, I ask to take pictures of the legal motions that the USCIS person read out loud in open court (which many people captured as live video using their cell phones inside the Courtroom). The USCIS person says she doesn't know and refers me to her supervisor. Supervisor says I can't photograph the motions because they might contain confidential information. I laughed out loud and asked her if she understood that federal court motions were public documents (you can access them over the internet via PACER, etc.). This is of course in addition to the fact that USCIS just got through reading the text of the whole thing in open court while people videotaped it on their cell phones. Supervisor again denied my request and said I could file a FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) request (which typically takes months to get a response). Departed the courthouse, totally amazed at the extreme cluelessness of USCIS staff! 
(updated on June 17, 2016)
(updated on June 17, 2016)
(updated on June 17, 2016)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #19541