San Jose, CA Field Office

[KIEth 1]

Update: application was approved at 4am today. Yay!

 

Btw, my civics questions:

What is the economy system of the U.S.?

Who signs the bill?

Who is the chief commander of the military?

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes the President?

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

Before he became the President, which war did Eisenhower fight as a General?

 

Good luck to everyone!

[ponyo_rocks 7]

Just submitted my application online (added an entry to spreadsheet and will update). I got my GC through EB category in 2011. Had to go outside the country for 2 years (with re-entry permit, had foreign employment and filed taxes as US resident), so I waited 5 years after my return to apply. I am curious to know if there are others in a similar boat, simply to keep learn from your experience. I will share mine as it progresses. 

[haruka_t 7]

Update:

Had my interview last week on Friday. It was very smooth; the officer was direct and to the point. Went through all the questions in the form first (bio, yes/no questions), and then civics questions and reading/writing 1 sentence. Approved for citizenship during the interview and got my oath schedule letter in the website today. Oath will be on the 22nd, which is in just 10 more days!! I'm super excited!!! Was slightly surprised as I was expecting oath in September instead... It's a good thing I guess, I had a travel planned in early September; gotta apply for passport right away...

[ponyo_rocks 7]

I am going to attempt a biometrics walk-in today at San Jose. I was successful doing this many years ago, but dont recall what I did. My original appointment is on 8/22 but I am advancing in my pregnancy and need to also see a doctor that day (will be 8 months next week). Do I just show up at any time and try my luck? Or should I try for the exact time as my 8/22 appointment? I appreciate any pointers from others who have tried it.

 

App date: 7/29/2019

Recd biometrics notice: ~ 8/6/2019

Estimated Case Completion: March 2020 (7 months)

 

 

[Younes-Maria 20]

5 minutes ago, ponyo_rocks said:

I am going to attempt a biometrics walk-in today at San Jose. I was successful doing this many years ago, but dont recall what I did. My original appointment is on 8/22 but I am advancing in my pregnancy and need to also see a doctor that day (will be 8 months next week). Do I just show up at any time and try my luck? Or should I try for the exact time as my 8/22 appointment? I appreciate any pointers from others who have tried it.

 

App date: 7/29/2019

Recd biometrics notice: ~ 8/6/2019

Estimated Case Completion: March 2020 (7 months)

 

 

I did my biometrics on 15th of may 2019 and estimated case completion February (6 months) only 1 month ahead of yours , how accurate is that ?? What is the actual waiting time till scheduled for an interview  in San jose ? Thanks N and good luck 

[ponyo_rocks 7]

10 minutes ago, Younes-Maria said:

I did my biometrics on 15th of may 2019 and estimated case completion February (6 months) only 1 month ahead of yours , how accurate is that ?? What is the actual waiting time till scheduled for an interview  in San jose ? Thanks N and good luck 

That is interesting. So I actually applied at the very end of July and it showed March 2020 (8 months). As soon as august 1 rolled around, it changed to March 2020 (7 months). So that number of months is a bit misleading - I think I'd go by the more conservative estimate, which is March in my case and Feb in your case. I suspect they have hired junior officers and are able to provide an estimate based on some factors like 3 yrs/5 yrs/ROC etc. My friends who applied in Aug 2018 got their interview in May 2019, that's the only way I can justify the faster ECC date. 

Edited August 14, 2019 by ponyo_rocks

[haruka_t 7]

11 hours ago, Younes-Maria said:

I did my biometrics on 15th of may 2019 and estimated case completion February (6 months) only 1 month ahead of yours , how accurate is that ?? What is the actual waiting time till scheduled for an interview  in San jose ? Thanks N and good luck 

The time to interview has been shortening significantly in the past couple months (you can see this trend in the spreadsheet, and my lawyer mentioned it too). Looks like it's down to ~7 months to interview in the spreadsheet. Pray that it gets even more efficient. (:

 

FWIW, the timeline provided for my case has been wildly inaccurate. It initially states Dec 2019 completion, then Feb 2020 (just 3 months ago). Just before I got my oath scheduled, it was showing Nov 2019. My oath will be next week. (I applied Dec 2018.)

[ponyo_rocks 7]

14 hours ago, haruka_t said:

The time to interview has been shortening significantly in the past couple months (you can see this trend in the spreadsheet, and my lawyer mentioned it too). Looks like it's down to ~7 months to interview in the spreadsheet. Pray that it gets even more efficient. (:

 

FWIW, the timeline provided for my case has been wildly inaccurate. It initially states Dec 2019 completion, then Feb 2020 (just 3 months ago). Just before I got my oath scheduled, it was showing Nov 2019. My oath will be next week. (I applied Dec 2018.)

Thanks for the update. I did my biometrics and got the "we reviewed your biometrics" message, and then estimated wait time as 6 months. I take it that in 6 months I will receive an interview date. Looks like your process was faster than the estimates given to you.

[Younes-Maria 20]

18 hours ago, haruka_t said:

The time to interview has been shortening significantly in the past couple months (you can see this trend in the spreadsheet, and my lawyer mentioned it too). Looks like it's down to ~7 months to interview in the spreadsheet. Pray that it gets even more efficient. (:

 

FWIW, the timeline provided for my case has been wildly inaccurate. It initially states Dec 2019 completion, then Feb 2020 (just 3 months ago). Just before I got my oath scheduled, it was showing Nov 2019. My oath will be next week. (I applied Dec 2018.)

Thanks for the spreadsheet,  it really helps to see other timelines . by the way My estimated case completion did not change since July , and I have not heard or seen any movement regarding transfering N400 to other offices nearby to speed up the process. 

[haruka_t 7]

On 8/15/2019 at 11:49 AM, ponyo_rocks said:

Thanks for the update. I did my biometrics and got the "we reviewed your biometrics" message, and then estimated wait time as 6 months. I take it that in 6 months I will receive an interview date. Looks like your process was faster than the estimates given to you.

 

Oh, I thought the wait time is for the entire process to conclude, including oath, not sure. But yeah, from what I can tell, the estimates can be too short, too long, or just right. It seems pretty random tbh. I think it's based on the processing time in USCIS website, which is based on percentile of case completed... (I might be wrong)

 

 

On 8/15/2019 at 3:50 PM, Younes-Maria said:

Thanks for the spreadsheet,  it really helps to see other timelines . by the way My estimated case completion did not change since July , and I have not heard or seen any movement regarding transfering N400 to other offices nearby to speed up the process. 

I didn't create the spreadsheet. (: If you haven't yet and willing to, you can put your info in there to help others estimate theirs.

 

I also didn't hear of cases being transferred. FWIW, SF office has longer backlog than San Jose, so it's more likely for the SF office to transfer their backlog to San Jose. Not sure if there are any nearby CA field offices with shorter processing time; looks like San Jose is one of the shortest (last I checked).

 

Honestly, I think we're pretty blessed to be in San Jose FO. Their processing seems pretty consistent, and getting faster recently...

[haruka_t 7]

Last update for now: Went through Oath Ceremony today at Campbell Heritage Theater. Came early for the 2:30, but they only started admitting us at 2:15 ish and we had to wait outside. It just so happen to be a very hot day; and I was wearing a formal shirt/tie cause I thought it was mentioned somewhere that we had to dress appropriately/no jeans/etc (but people do come in jeans, so I guess it's not enforced). Otherwise, it was a pleasant and interesting process. Sat down, someone came announcing that there were 58(?) nationality in the room, there was a speech from San Jose Field Office director (I think), then we said the oath, then the pledge, and a few more speech/video! At the end, they gave out the naturalization form before we left our seat. You could take photos and videos and, in fact, was encouraged to. Lots of waving the US flag they gave to each of us.

 

There was no passport people (apparently they were only available on the first 2 sessions of the day). Registered to vote afterwards and then went out to do the usual errands; busy day today...

 

Now that I'm home, it felt a little strange and empty that the entire process is over. We had a long history with USCIS; there was B1/B2, J1, H-1B x2, green card, and then N-400. Still can't believe it's now officially over. No more checking for interview dates, worrying about locating various documents, waiting for letters to appear in myUSCIS (they like to tease you with things like "Interview Scheduled" but not letting us see the actual letter until a day or two later).

 

Definitely happy and relieved that my wife and I are now US citizens. Passport appointment tomorrow at SF...

[bpd_93 4]

Summary of N400 interview at San Jose office:
-location name is confusing as address is actually Santa Clara
-originally filed in Seattle, used online portal to change address and interview was quickly re-scheduled
-short security screening, then check-in at front desk to get a waiting ticket number, takes 5 minutes
-appt. time was 2pm, 1 hour delay, did not get called until 3pm (main factor in 3/5 rating) - I was the last appointment
-officer had a trainee with them
-take oath 
-take webcam picture and fingerprints
-reviews N400 applicant in detail, correct any missing fields, looks at passport to confirm international trips and asked me for approximate durations of each trip, added in trips that happened after applying 
-reads and asks you to answer all the security/allegiance questions 
-english test: Read "Who lives in the White House?" and write on an ipad "The president lives in the white house" 
-civics test: taken directly from the booklet guide given at the biometrics appt. just reviewed that booklet a couple days prior and questions are easy. Also used this website that has the questions in electronic quiz form: https://civicsquestions.com/
-got recommendation for approval, stated there would be a final review and then oath ceremony letter to be mailed later (could not give accurate timeline for receiving, only that one can make an appointment if not heard back in 120 days)
-received envelope with passport application that can be turned in at the oath ceremony (but only if you have a morning slot, afternoon has to apply at post office)
-with waiting and appointment, total time was about 2 hours

 

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[ponyo_rocks 7]

An update: my estimated case completion time went from March 2020 to April 2020. I applied in July 2019. Has anyone else seen a delay in their case?

[Jpgs 14]

Hi! First post here.

 

NOA: 08/07/19

Bio: 08/29/19

EAD Received: 12/19/19

Ready to be scheduled: 12/20/19

[visajourneyy 0]

I had my interview at the end of December. The result marked: 1. You have passed test. 2. USCIS will send you written decision 3. Congratulations! Your application recommended for approval.

But then it's been more than three weeks, and I have not received the oath date although my brother have received. We had interview on the same day.

I have changed my address which is in the same zipcode.

The interviewer said, it will go to supervisor and then another department inside, and mentioned about the 120 days. I thought that's normal.

Could you tell me how long it might take? And if it's normal?

 

Office: San Jose, CA

Note: I do not have any name change or any ticket, etc.

Thanks in advance