My N400 Experience - Manhattan (NYC) Field Office (Brooklyn resident)

[aurora07 6]

Hello,

I just wanted to share my experience in hopes of helping or providing info to others who will go through the same thing, especially the ones from my area. I applied based on 3-year residency/marriage to a US Citizen.

Here is my timeline:

Sent via FedEx: 05/22/14
Received: 05/23/14
Check cashed: 05/29/14
NOA: 05/28/14
Fingerprints: 06/12/14 ( I was scheduled for 06/26 but did an early walk-in bio at the Brooklyn location)
Inline for interview: 06/16/14

Yellow letter received: 07/12/14 (dated 07/08/14)
Scheduled for interview: 08/28/14
Date of letter: 08/29/14
Received letter: 09/02/14
Interview date: 10/03/14 (Interview was conducted at 26 Federal Plaza)
Scheduled for oath: 10/08/14

Received letter: 10/14/14

Oath date: 10/22/14 (225 Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn)

Interview:

My appointment is for 12:10 PM. I got there at 12:40 PM. I was not called until 1:40 which was an hour and a half after my appointment. This is slightly odd as from other people's experiences from this location, they were called within 5-20 minutes after their appointment time. The officer first made me sign a paper and my pictures. We then reviewed my whole application. Since my application, 2 changes have been made (birth of a child and tax payment). She just crossed out the old info and put in the new ones. It's fortunate that I got my newborn's birth certificate a week before my interview because she asked for it. She also asked for my 2011 tax transcript. I guess I did not send it with my application. She also asked for more proof of bonafide marriage, like a joint bank account statement. I told her we do not share a bank account. I did however, give a copy of my Geico bill and our lease which had both our names. Those were the only things she asked for. She did not even ask for my state ID which was included in the Yellow letter checklist.

She then proceeded to the questions.

Questions were:

When was the Declaration of Independence?

Name one of the 2 longest rivers.

Who is the Speaker of the House?

How many years do we elect a president?

I forgot the other 2

I got all six questions right. We did the reading and writing test. I passed that as well. After that, she handed me a paper that she just printed out. It states that I am recommended for approval. I was out of her room in about 15 minutes.

Oath:

The call time is 8:30 AM. Due to traffic and rain, I got there at 9:20. I was stressing out the entire trip as I was not sure if I won't be let in. I went up to second floor where a lady awaits. She asked for my GC and appointment letter. She mad sure the back part has been filled out. She then made me go inside this huge court room/hall. We were seated in order of our time of arrival. The first person who got there will be called first. At around 10, the officers started calling us, row by row, for our documents. I only handed my GC and appointment letter. The letter was given back to us. Then we had to check our info on the Certificate of Naturalization, to made sure everything is correct. After that, the officers started calling the people with name changes. This took about 10 minutes. A gentleman from Commission on Human Rights then took the floor and spoke about discrimination, our rights, etc. Then, 2 other people spoke and handed out voter registration forms. They explained how important it is for us to vote not just on Federal elections, but also for city and state elections. There were about 300 of us taking the oath that day. A lot of seats are vacant so they let the guests stay inside the hall to witness the oath taking. This is different from what my in-laws experienced 2 weeks ago. The guests can only watch on the projector screen on the 3rd floor. I'm guessing it's because the room was full. Finally, the judge came. Made us take our oath and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. We took our seats and he gave a short speech -about 5 minutes long. After that, the judge left and the officers started handing out the certificates. In exchange, you have to give them the oath date letter. You can leave after that. I was out by 11:40. So it pretty much just took me 2+ hours.

I rushed across the street to apply for my passport at the Cadman Plaza post office. I'm glad I did because the a lot of people started lining up. It takes about 5 minutes for the agent to finish your application so just imagine if you have 10 people ahead of you. Also note that you can't use your credit card to pay for the passport. It can only by debit, cash or money order. I did debit but what he pretty much did was use my card to buy a postal money order. If you did not bring a passport photo, you can get yours taken there for $15. It's pretty pricey so try to get your picture taken ahead of time.

So that's it! I'm done with USCIS!

Hopefully, this helps someone out. Goodluck to everyone!!

Edited October 24, 2014 by aurora07

[jkelly07 120]

congratulations I wish you the very best,, don't forget to update your social security card.

[Misha and Masha 0]

Thank you, very helpful

[chillin4me 15]

Hello,

I just wanted to share my experience in hopes of helping or providing info to others who will go through the same thing, especially the ones from my area. I applied based on 3-year residency/marriage to a US Citizen.

Here is my timeline:

Sent via FedEx: 05/22/14

Received: 05/23/14

Check cashed: 05/29/14

NOA: 05/28/14

Fingerprints: 06/12/14 ( I was scheduled for 06/26 but did an early walk-in bio at the Brooklyn location)

Inline for interview: 06/16/14

Yellow letter received: 07/12/14 (dated 07/08/14)

Scheduled for interview: 08/28/14

Date of letter: 08/29/14

Received letter: 09/02/14

Interview date: 10/03/14 (Interview was conducted at 26 Federal Plaza)

Scheduled for oath: 10/08/14

Received letter: 10/14/14

Oath date: 10/22/14 (225 Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn)

Interview:

My appointment is for 12:10 PM. I got there at 12:40 PM. I was not called until 1:40 which was an hour and a half after my appointment. This is slightly odd as from other people's experiences from this location, they were called within 5-20 minutes after their appointment time. The officer first made me sign a paper and my pictures. We then reviewed my whole application. Since my application, 2 changes have been made (birth of a child and tax payment). She just crossed out the old info and put in the new ones. It's fortunate that I got my newborn's birth certificate a week before my interview because she asked for it. She also asked for my 2011 tax transcript. I guess I did not send it with my application. She also asked for more proof of bonafide marriage, like a joint bank account statement. I told her we do not share a bank account. I did however, give a copy of my Geico bill and our lease which had both our names. Those were the only things she asked for. She did not even ask for my state ID which was included in the Yellow letter checklist.

She then proceeded to the questions.

Questions were:

When was the Declaration of Independence?

Name one of the 2 longest rivers.

Who is the Speaker of the House?

How many years do we elect a president?

I forgot the other 2

I got all six questions right. We did the reading and writing test. I passed that as well. After that, she handed me a paper that she just printed out. It states that I am recommended for approval. I was out of her room in about 15 minutes.

Oath:

The call time is 8:30 AM. Due to traffic and rain, I got there at 9:20. I was stressing out the entire trip as I was not sure if I won't be let in. I went up to second floor where a lady awaits. She asked for my GC and appointment letter. She mad sure the back part has been filled out. She then made me go inside this huge court room/hall. We were seated in order of our time of arrival. The first person who got there will be called first. At around 10, the officers started calling us, row by row, for our documents. I only handed my GC and appointment letter. The letter was given back to us. Then we had to check our info on the Certificate of Naturalization, to made sure everything is correct. After that, the officers started calling the people with name changes. This took about 10 minutes. A gentleman from Commission on Human Rights then took the floor and spoke about discrimination, our rights, etc. Then, 2 other people spoke and handed out voter registration forms. They explained how important it is for us to vote not just on Federal elections, but also for city and state elections. There were about 300 of us taking the oath that day. A lot of seats are vacant so they let the guests stay inside the hall to witness the oath taking. This is different from what my in-laws experienced 2 weeks ago. The guests can only watch on the projector screen on the 3rd floor. I'm guessing it's because the room was full. Finally, the judge came. Made us take our oath and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. We took our seats and he gave a short speech -about 5 minutes long. After that, the judge left and the officers started handing out the certificates. In exchange, you have to give them the oath date letter. You can leave after that. I was out by 11:40. So it pretty much just took me 2+ hours.

I rushed across the street to apply for my passport at the Cadman Plaza post office. I'm glad I did because the a lot of people started lining up. It takes about 5 minutes for the agent to finish your application so just imagine if you have 10 people ahead of you. Also note that you can't use your credit card to pay for the passport. It can only by debit, cash or money order. I did debit but what he pretty much did was use my card to buy a postal money order. If you did not bring a passport photo, you can get yours taken there for $15. It's pretty pricey so try to get your picture taken ahead of time.

So that's it! I'm done with USCIS!

Hopefully, this helps someone out. Goodluck to everyone!!

Thank you for sharing your journey, as I will be taking mine February 2015.. I am both very excited and anxious about it..

[aurora07 6]

Thank you for sharing your journey, as I will be taking mine February 2015.. I am both very excited and anxious about it..

You'll be fine =) Also, I used an app to quiz me for the Civics test. That was way more convenient the bringing around the booklet with me.

Goodluck!

[gap1 21]

Thank you so much and congratulations! We are also in Brooklyn right around your timeline, but we had a stupid documentation issue at the interview so now we're stuck waiting for them to reply to our RFE before my husband is scheduled for his oath.

This was very helpful!

[chillin4me 15]

You'll be fine =) Also, I used an app to quiz me for the Civics test. That was way more convenient the bringing around the booklet with me.

Goodluck!

What app did u use?

You'll be fine =) Also, I used an app to quiz me for the Civics test. That was way more convenient the bringing around the booklet with me.

Goodluck!

What app did u use?

[aurora07 6]

Thank you so much and congratulations! We are also in Brooklyn right around your timeline, but we had a stupid documentation issue at the interview so now we're stuck waiting for them to reply to our RFE before my husband is scheduled for his oath.

This was very helpful!

Yeah, I read your post. I'm really sorry about that. Have you gotten any updates yet? Also, I forgot to add, eat before your oath taking. Lol. If I knew it was gonna take that long to start, I would have stopped by DnD to get breakfast

What app did u use?

What app did u use?

i forgot the specific one that I used but just search for Citizenship test, make sure they're version 2014. it will ask for your state and it will give you the correct info (senator, reps).

[gap1 21]

Yeah, I read your post. I'm really sorry about that. Have you gotten any updates yet?

Nope, only that they received our RFE response.

[chillin4me 15]

Yeah, I read your post. I'm really sorry about that. Have you gotten any updates yet? Also, I forgot to add, eat before your oath taking. Lol. If I knew it was gonna take that long to start, I would have stopped by DnD to get breakfast

i forgot the specific one that I used but just search for Citizenship test, make sure they're version 2014. it will ask for your state and it will give you the correct info (senator, reps).

Thank you..

[koucki 3]

Congrats & thanks for sharing that information.

It's very helpful.

I'm a Brooklyn resident and have my interview in Federal Plaza in a couple of weeks...

Cheers!

[cestlaviecheri 4]

Thank you for sharing your experience. By any chance, did they make you check your cell phone in?

I'm leaning on just having my hubby drop me off and not coming with me since there will be a lot of waiting.

Thanks again.

Oath:

The call time is 8:30 AM. Due to traffic and rain, I got there at 9:20. I was stressing out the entire trip as I was not sure if I won't be let in. I went up to second floor where a lady awaits. She asked for my GC and appointment letter. She mad sure the back part has been filled out. She then made me go inside this huge court room/hall. We were seated in order of our time of arrival. The first person who got there will be called first. At around 10, the officers started calling us, row by row, for our documents. I only handed my GC and appointment letter. The letter was given back to us. Then we had to check our info on the Certificate of Naturalization, to made sure everything is correct. After that, the officers started calling the people with name changes. This took about 10 minutes. A gentleman from Commission on Human Rights then took the floor and spoke about discrimination, our rights, etc. Then, 2 other people spoke and handed out voter registration forms. They explained how important it is for us to vote not just on Federal elections, but also for city and state elections. There were about 300 of us taking the oath that day. A lot of seats are vacant so they let the guests stay inside the hall to witness the oath taking. This is different from what my in-laws experienced 2 weeks ago. The guests can only watch on the projector screen on the 3rd floor. I'm guessing it's because the room was full. Finally, the judge came. Made us take our oath and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. We took our seats and he gave a short speech -about 5 minutes long. After that, the judge left and the officers started handing out the certificates. In exchange, you have to give them the oath date letter. You can leave after that. I was out by 11:40. So it pretty much just took me 2+ hours.

I rushed across the street to apply for my passport at the Cadman Plaza post office. I'm glad I did because the a lot of people started lining up. It takes about 5 minutes for the agent to finish your application so just imagine if you have 10 people ahead of you. Also note that you can't use your credit card to pay for the passport. It can only by debit, cash or money order. I did debit but what he pretty much did was use my card to buy a postal money order. If you did not bring a passport photo, you can get yours taken there for $15. It's pretty pricey so try to get your picture taken ahead of time.

So that's it! I'm done with USCIS!

Hopefully, this helps someone out. Goodluck to everyone!!

[osmosesnew 17]

Done interview since March 3rd. Receipt of traffic ticket was requested which I mailed in on the 6th. No update since then.

[newbud 7]

You are the first person I have ever seen who was late for both interview and oath appointment.

Congrats for your approval.

Did you say you were late by almost 1 hour for oath ceremony?

Edited March 21, 2015 by newbud