My trip is over! Thank you everyone! (experience and tips included)

[MRK13 4]

Thank you everyone that helped me along the 9 month journey to become citizen of this great country, without your help it would have been much more difficult with no doubt. You not only gave me great advice and support, but this site has a bottomless well of info that no matter your case, you can find similar experiences and how they managed to proceed.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THIS SITE.

I had my interview yesterday at the St Paul MN office in the AM, I passed and was scheduled already for oath ceremony at 2pm, no need to request it. Everyone not needing a name change, took part of it. We were about 30 people from 11 countries.

Interview took about 20 mins if that long, very nice young lady that immediately put me at easy. It was a very relaxed, cordial exchange going over my application, updating some travel information that took place after I filed. I was NOT asked to show any of the check list documents, not even those required by the "yellow letter", only my green card and passport, that were both returned to me (the green card was turned in at the oath ceremony). I was given a form to check and sign for my certificate, even before the tests. The last thing was the civics test, I was given 6 easy questions that I answered before she even finished reading, LOL (they were really easy), I was not asked to read or write anything (no waiver of any kind was requested), after that she gave me the form saying I had passed all three tests and go to the waiting room, to wait for the appointment form to come back later for the oath ceremony.

Oath ceremony took place in a big room, with a welcome speech by the Director, our countries were called, we stood up and when everyone was standing we listened to the National Anthem, followed by the Oath, the Pledge of Alliance, our Certificates were presented, there were pictures taken, video, etc... then with a package with instructions of what to do next, including the passport application forms, we were free to go as USA CITIZENS! Yeay!

My tips to those still in the process.

TRY TO KEEP ALL YOUR APPOINTMENTS. Re scheduling (unless in emergencies) can lead to get lost in the system and big delays (like in my case)

TRY WALK IN BIOMETRICS EARLY, if you can not make the appointment, better than request reschedule, most offices will do it.

ASK FOR TEAR 2 OFFICERS, if you feel your questions are not answered or given a run around, do not waste time waiting and waiting.

IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO A TEAR 2, call and say you were on hold already and got disconnected, some CSRs do NOT want to connect you directly, and want to hear all your case, before deciding if they do it or not.

BE ALWAYS PERSISTENT BUT POLITE, stay on top of things and do not settle for just keep waiting if you feel something is wrong.

Good luck!!

PS, my info was never entered on the March filing thread, because I tried twice and was not able to figure it out. I felt embarrassed to ask for help, so I never did. Sorry....

Edited December 20, 2013 by MRK13

[jkelly07 120]

congratulations, go to social security get your ss card updated to us citizen.

[MRK13 4]

congratulations, go to social security get your ss card updated to us citizen.

Thank you so much!

Yes, update SS is in the next to do list, together with passport application.

[Darnell 8,478]

Congratulations ! Whatcha cooking, to celebrate ?

Since you just went through this life changing event, one of the better ways to celebrate it here at VJ is to

fill out yer timeline, over at

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=160976

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=160976

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=160976

Thanks so much, and Thanks in Advance !

Edited December 20, 2013 by Darnell

[MRK13 4]

Congratulations ! Whatcha cooking, to celebrate ?

Since you just went through this life changing event, one of the better ways to celebrate it here at VJ is to

fill out yer timeline, over at

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=160976

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=160976

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=160976

Thanks so much, and Thanks in Advance !

I did, not sure if right but timeline done!