N-400 May 2020 filers

[Scandi 3,979]

5 hours ago, Rn400 said:

Thanks . How do we know ahead of time if oath is available in field office ? Any email prior to interview they sent out or we have to call and check ?

It would help if you fill out your tineline so we know which field office it is, there will be people in this forum who have experience and/or knowledge about your particular field office and can answer your question. Far from all field offices offer same day oath. 

[Rn400 20]

Mine is Norfolk,VA. Interview in weekdays ( March 1st week) and since I have 7 hrs of drive I have to take kids as well . I really really wish oath on same day !! My wife and mine interview is in morning 1 hr apart . Let’s see how it goes . If anyone have any experience of Norfolk center let me know . I am thankful to all of you who have given valuable advice throughout .

I am truly grateful to SAM713 who was the 1st person in this forum who shared the idea of FOIA!!  Thank you very much SAM713 . Without your share  many folks would have still be waiting for interview !!  
 

 

[April202Filer 10]

4 hours ago, Libertate said:

Update: 

 

Filed FOIA 12/7/21, they found our files in their cave. My wife and I had our interview today at Minneapolis field office. We applied on the 5-year rule. The whole thing took about 40 minutes. They didn't ask us a lot of questions probably because I uploaded all files starting from our tax account transcripts to my SIL registration. They only asked me 6 civics questions and didn't even go with me through the questions about communism, armed groups, nazi germany and other fun stuff. Gave me a paper that said that I was recommended for approval (same for my wife). Status in my account changed to "oath ceremony will be scheduled." Same-day oath was not available and they don't do it in Minneapolis. Everything looked like a formality as if everything had been decided even before the interview. Still want to sue these guys for 2 years of waiting. Unfortunately, not enough people for the class action as I had hoped. 

 

Regarding FOIA: it is your right to do it and their responsibility to provide you with your A-file. When you file for naturalization you are filing for an immigration benefit. That's why they can delay it and do whatever they want because it is a benefit. You cant really make them do anything. FOIA is a different game though. Now it is your right to get your A-file, and having received it, USCIS can no longer pass the buck to NRC, NARA or whatever. In my opinion, if you haven't already filed FOIA and are still waiting -- just file it. 

 

Congratulations - Couple of questions please, is your FOIA completed before you went for interview? Also did you upload all documents before the interview or at the time of applying? 

[Sam713 12]

12 hours ago, Rn400 said:

Mine is Norfolk,VA. Interview in weekdays ( March 1st week) and since I have 7 hrs of drive I have to take kids as well . I really really wish oath on same day !! My wife and mine interview is in morning 1 hr apart . Let’s see how it goes . If anyone have any experience of Norfolk center let me know . I am thankful to all of you who have given valuable advice throughout .

I am truly grateful to SAM713 who was the 1st person in this forum who shared the idea of FOIA!!  Thank you very much SAM713 . Without your share  many folks would have still be waiting for interview !!  
 

 

Happy to help

The naturalization journey has been a painful one for us spring 2020 filers but I'm glad to see FOIA is helping folks in that category.

I had my naturalization ceremony this past Saturday so, I'm glad this journey is over for me

[Rn400 20]

Awesome !! Congratulations 🎉.. very happy for you 😀

[magentahaze 34]

Alright, everyone.

That's my FOIA submitted. So back to the waiting game, but hopefully something will happen THIS YEAR.

 

 

[bubblecity 1]

FWIW, FOIA helped for mine as well. Filed FOIA on 1/6, got my interview date on 2/5. Original priority date was 5/20

[Libertate 17]

22 hours ago, April202Filer said:

Congratulations - Couple of questions please, is your FOIA completed before you went for interview? Also did you upload all documents before the interview or at the time of applying? 

Yes, my FOIA had been completed before my interview, although I couldn't download my actual files, just the acknowledgement letter. My wife's complete A-file was available though. 

Received my Oath ceremony notice today for 3/17. 

[abfar 119]

11 minutes ago, Libertate said:

Yes, my FOIA had been completed before my interview, although I couldn't download my actual files, just the acknowledgement letter. My wife's complete A-file was available though. 

Received my Oath ceremony notice today for 3/17. 

Congrats on being almost done with the process!

When was your interview and what office?

Edited February 9, 2022 by abfar

[SunnyMay2020 0]

I am too a May 2020 filer. I have just raised my 3rd SR and so far have not heard anything. Do any of you have any updates about your case? 

[AH2020 30]

Hi everyone,

 

I had my interview in San Diego this morning and they did the Oath ceremony right afterwards. I am so glad this is finally over.

The interview was very quick and painless. The questions they asked me were:

 

1.      Where is the statute of liberty?

2.      What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

3.      What is one power of the federal government?

4.      Who is our founding father?

5.      Who was the first president?

6.      Name one state that borders Canada

 

Then we went through my application. The interview took about 20 minutes. Afterwards I went up one floor and took the oath with about 10 other people in the room. That took less than 5 minutes. Overall, I was in the building for a little over an hour. Now on to getting a passport.

 

For those of you still waiting, I would definitely recommend filing a FOIA request. There is no guarantee that it will get you an interview quicker, but it helped so many of us now and it does not hurt your case.

 

Anyway, here is my timeline:
04/20/2020: N400 submitted
03/24/2021: Biometrics done
12/10/2021: Filed FOIA
01/03/2022: FOIA reached step 3
01/06/2022: Interview notice
02/09/2022: Interview and Oath

 

Good Luck everyone!!

[abfar 119]

11 hours ago, AH2020 said:

Hi everyone,

 

I had my interview in San Diego this morning and they did the Oath ceremony right afterwards. I am so glad this is finally over.

The interview was very quick and painless. The questions they asked me were:

 

1.      Where is the statute of liberty?

2.      What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

3.      What is one power of the federal government?

4.      Who is our founding father?

5.      Who was the first president?

6.      Name one state that borders Canada

 

Then we went through my application. The interview took about 20 minutes. Afterwards I went up one floor and took the oath with about 10 other people in the room. That took less than 5 minutes. Overall, I was in the building for a little over an hour. Now on to getting a passport.

 

For those of you still waiting, I would definitely recommend filing a FOIA request. There is no guarantee that it will get you an interview quicker, but it helped so many of us now and it does not hurt your case.

 

Anyway, here is my timeline:
04/20/2020: N400 submitted
03/24/2021: Biometrics done
12/10/2021: Filed FOIA
01/03/2022: FOIA reached step 3
01/06/2022: Interview notice
02/09/2022: Interview and Oath

 

Good Luck everyone!!

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience. 

Any idea how bad the passport waiting is now? iirc it was really bad in early covid days. Howany months of wait do you guys expect for thr passport to process?

[AH2020 30]

9 hours ago, abfar said:

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience. 

Any idea how bad the passport waiting is now? iirc it was really bad in early covid days. Howany months of wait do you guys expect for thr passport to process?

Per the travel.state.gov website its 8-11 weeks for routine processing and 5-7 weeks for expedite processing. 

[roddie2k 68]

10 hours ago, abfar said:

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience. 

Any idea how bad the passport waiting is now? iirc it was really bad in early covid days. Howany months of wait do you guys expect for thr passport to process?

Many people of late are reporting that they are receiving their 'expedited' passports in under a month - one person from NY even reported he received his passport in 3 weeks.

[Libertate 17]

To receive your passport just book a refundable ticket to wherever you are from originally, call the State Dept, and say that you need to travel urgently due to... (there is a list of reasons that makes you eligible for expedited service). You will get your passport in 1-3 days.