N-400 October 2015 filers

[paribest 0]

Hi all,

Yes, Chicago is the slowest, I haven't heard a word from them. I am not sure what would be the next step.

As per the uscis website - Chicago is processing

N-400 Application for Naturalization August 20, 2015

N-600 Application for Certification of Citizenship October 2, 2015

If it reaches October, then you make appointment with USCIS in the field office. You are almost there.

[Sassiringa 2]

As per the uscis website - Chicago is processing

N-400 Application for Naturalization August 20, 2015

N-600 Application for Certification of Citizenship October 2, 2015

If it reaches October, then you make appointment with USCIS in the field office. You are almost there.

Hi Paribest,

Thank you for taking your time to encourage me, I am learning to wait... I guess I don't have no choice

[VeraVimes 5]

Hi everyone!

Just checking in to commiserate with the other Chicagoans still waiting. I had my interview February 11th and passed the test, but was asked for more documentation of my marriage. I sent in as much as I could (the list she gave me was extensive...) and waited for a response. My officer had said I would hear back 2-3 weeks after them receiving the additional documents. After 4 weeks with no word I called them up. The person I spoke to said they are allowed to take 120 days (from my interview date) to make a decision, and that he wouldn't even be able to access my file unless it had been more than 90 days.

Tomorrow is 90 days, so I'll call them again and see if they can tell me anything. Does anyone have any advice for when I talk to them? Should I ask for a Tier 2 officer? I guess I've been very lucky so far, as I've never had to chase them down before.

If they tell me anything new I'll come back and update you all.

[Sassiringa 2]

Hi everyone!

Just checking in to commiserate with the other Chicagoans still waiting. I had my interview February 11th and passed the test, but was asked for more documentation of my marriage. I sent in as much as I could (the list she gave me was extensive...) and waited for a response. My officer had said I would hear back 2-3 weeks after them receiving the additional documents. After 4 weeks with no word I called them up. The person I spoke to said they are allowed to take 120 days (from my interview date) to make a decision, and that he wouldn't even be able to access my file unless it had been more than 90 days.

Tomorrow is 90 days, so I'll call them again and see if they can tell me anything. Does anyone have any advice for when I talk to them? Should I ask for a Tier 2 officer? I guess I've been very lucky so far, as I've never had to chase them down before.

If they tell me anything new I'll come back and update you all.

Hi VeraVimes, how are you?

I am just curious (since I am in the same situation as you) What additional documentation of your marriage they asked you? Just in case they do the same to me.

Thank you <3

[JimmyHou 610]

Hi VeraVimes, how are you?

I am just curious (since I am in the same situation as you) What additional documentation of your marriage they asked you? Just in case they do the same to me.

Thank you <3

This might help in case Vera doesn't log on again today.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/568429-n-400-october-2015-filers/page-37#entry8006938

[Sassiringa 2]

This might help in case Vera doesn't log on again today.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/568429-n-400-october-2015-filers/page-37#entry8006938

That was quick... Thank you so much JimmyHou

[witamar 4]

Hi all,

Yes, Chicago is the slowest, I haven't heard a word from them. I am not sure what would be the next step.

According to USCIS annual report 2015,

Chicago (IL) is faster than Santa Ana (CA).

Santa Ana (CA) = 8.7 months to process N400 (on average).

Chicago (IL) = 5.6 months to process N400 (on average).

The slowest is Oklahoma City (OK) with 10.3 months (on average).

[Sassiringa 2]

According to USCIS annual report 2015,

Chicago (IL) is faster than Santa Ana (CA).

Santa Ana (CA) = 8.7 months to process N400 (on average).

Chicago (IL) = 5.6 months to process N400 (on average).

The slowest is Oklahoma City (OK) with 10.3 months (on average).

I am not sure how USCIS works, I was taking classes for citizenship and all my classmates were out even though they applied after me.

I'm not sure how USCIS offices in Chicago works, I was taking citizenship classes and all my colleagues who applied after me already had their interviews and some of them even are citizens. Meanwhile, I am still waiting it has been almost 8 months

[VeraVimes 5]

This might help in case Vera doesn't log on again today.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/568429-n-400-october-2015-filers/page-37#entry8006938

Thanks, Jimmy! I forgot I had typed it all out already.

I just got off the phone with USCIS. I won't type out the entire confusing conversation, but here's the gist. Although an office does have 120 days to process an application after the interview (which is what I was told last time), that is overruled by the office's own processing time. As someone else said here, Chicago is currently working on August 20, 2015. The woman I spoke to quoted the same date.

So the only time you can call to speed things along is if that date is later than the date they received your application (October 20 for me). Then they can look into why yours is being delayed and possibly hurry it along.

As always, it just comes down to waiting... But she said that I would definitely have heard something if my case had been cancelled or denied, so no news is still good news, I guess!

[witamar 4]

Thanks, Jimmy! I forgot I had typed it all out already.

I just got off the phone with USCIS. I won't type out the entire confusing conversation, but here's the gist. Although an office does have 120 days to process an application after the interview (which is what I was told last time), that is overruled by the office's own processing time. As someone else said here, Chicago is currently working on August 20, 2015. The woman I spoke to quoted the same date.

So the only time you can call to speed things along is if that date is later than the date they received your application (October 20 for me). Then they can look into why yours is being delayed and possibly hurry it along.

As always, it just comes down to waiting... But she said that I would definitely have heard something if my case had been cancelled or denied, so no news is still good news, I guess!

Hum, I am in the same boat. I got approved (without RFE), but I have been waiting my Oath letter for more than 45 days.....

[JimmyHou 610]

Hum, I am in the same boat. I got approved (without RFE), but I have been waiting my Oath letter for more than 45 days.....

Might just be a matter of how often Santa Ana holds ceremonies... you can check on that.

Some areas (admittedly usually in more rural areas) only have one or two ceremonies a year, so some applicants can wait 4 months before they get an oath letter. I doubt it would be that long in Santa Ana, but it may not be one per month either.

[witamar 4]

Might just be a matter of how often Santa Ana holds ceremonies... you can check on that.

Some areas (admittedly usually in more rural areas) only have one or two ceremonies a year, so some applicants can wait 4 months before they get an oath letter. I doubt it would be that long in Santa Ana, but it may not be one per month either.

In fact, Orange County (Santa Ana) and LA have naturalization ceremony together, except June.

There is a ceremony every month with huge amount of applicants.

[f1660114 18]

In fact, Orange County (Santa Ana) and LA have naturalization ceremony together, except June.

There is a ceremony every month with huge amount of applicants.

You should have been at least scheduled for this upcoming 5/18/16 (or better last month on 4/21/16) at LA convention center I guess. Did you give them a call to ask in case the letter was lost in the mail?

[lvriesling 11]

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...

Edited May 20, 2016 by lvriesling

[lvriesling 11]

Update!!! USCIS interviewer phoned today to request documentation of the 2nd name change, which he had actually planned to put into the N-14 but didn't. Rushed over to USCIS office and personally handed the interviewer that documentation, and he then APPROVED the N-400 on the spot!