N-400 Seattle (Part 2)

[PedroDaGr8 245]

9 hours ago, BJM9918 said:

Sharing my less-than-ideal interview experience: 

 

My interview was scheduled for 1:30, I arrived about 30 minutes before and was let in. After airport-style security check and waiting in the check-in line for about 5min, I was assigned a number. 

 

When I got to the waiting area, I noticed there were about 30 numbers ahead of me. The queue was moving pretty quickly imo. They were progressing about 10 numbers every 15-20 minutes or so. After sitting in the waiting area for about 45 minutes, numbers close to mine began to be called. However, after about 1.5 hours, everyone who came in around the same time as me has been called and they progressed to numbers after me but I was still waiting. I grew anxious. Another 30 minutes went by, my number was still not called and I have been sitting there for 2 hours at that point. I checked with one of the officers and was told it's not uncommon.

 

I was finally called in around 3:20pm. The officer was very friendly but seemed very new to the job. She apologized for the wait and explained there was a hiccup during the interview before mine. 

 

The interview itself was extremely easy. She didn't ask for anything I brought. However, after answering 2-3 civic questions, the officer encountered some issues with her computer. I suspect she either accidentally closed the program or it crashed. As a result I had to answer 6 new civic questions. Not a big deal but it did consume more time. When we wrapped up the interview, she told me I had passed but she had to send my result to a senior officer for final approval - which took another 10-15min. I was also told a same-day oath ceremony was not possible because it was too late and I would be notified within a few weeks. 

 

It's a bummer that I have to wait for a few more weeks but I suppose it's a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of the entire journey. 

Sorry to hear that. At least you are in the home stretch!

 

Also, examples like yours are why I tell people that same day oaths are never guaranteed. You can do everything right but things can go wrong on the officers end and same day oaths won't happen.

Edited March 23, 2023 by PedroDaGr8

[nfour100 1]

 Me and my spouse submitted our N400 (Seattle FO) in December (5 year residence requirement). My spouse is still waiting for the interview notice despite submitting the application 2 weeks before me. Is there anything we can do beside waiting. I got my interview notice about a month ago. Thank you in advance.

[NorthByNorthwest 225]

2 hours ago, nfour100 said:

 Me and my spouse submitted our N400 (Seattle FO) in December (5 year residence requirement). My spouse is still waiting for the interview notice despite submitting the application 2 weeks before me. Is there anything we can do beside waiting. I got my interview notice about a month ago. Thank you in advance.

No, your spouse is still well within normal processing times, this is nothing out of the ordinary. There are many reasons why applications take different amounts of time - his background check might take longer, his case might be assigned to an officer with a different workload, etc, etc. 

[versatileisle 0]

How soon do they schedule the interview after the notice date? In my online account I see the notice date is 03/28/2023 and the interview is scheduled on 04/13/2023. It seems very strange that they only give me ~2 weeks notice. I haven't even received the mailed notice yet. 

[NorthByNorthwest 225]

2 hours ago, versatileisle said:

How soon do they schedule the interview after the notice date? In my online account I see the notice date is 03/28/2023 and the interview is scheduled on 04/13/2023. It seems very strange that they only give me ~2 weeks notice. I haven't even received the mailed notice yet. 

Maybe there was a slot that opened up or something - I had about 6 weeks from notice date to interview. Two weeks is pretty short notice if you're traveling for work or anything like that...

[PedroDaGr8 245]

Updated my PNW tracker with the most recent data:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YeRoAOAtGsInGRjNgkNw1RrWbAtEDIysrs_lNcTRT7M/edit?usp=sharing

 

The pending cases in Seattle are down to 9,400 cases a number not seen since 2016! This is down HEAVILY from the 25,480 pending cases a year ago and even more so from the all time high of 28,901 two years previous. 

Overall, across the entire PNW (SEA, SPO, YAK, POR) the number of pending cases is 14,678. The last time we were below this number was 2015! Before that time, while the backlog was lower, so was the number of received cases. Basically, they are running a backlog of approximately 6 months worth of cases (based on the number received per quarter). Clearly, the massive backlog reduction measures done by USCIS have been paying huge dividends for the area.

While we might see the number of pending cases drop a bit more, I don't expect it to be a lot. At some point, the hard to adjucate cases and load balancing of officers to other forms (AoS, RoC, etc.) and field offices should impose a limit on how much improvement is achievable. 

Edited April 13, 2023 by PedroDaGr8

[TheLastMile 13]

I finished my n400 interview at the seattle FO on 2/17/23. They gave me a decision cannot be made notice because of the I751 hadn’t been transferred to the office yet. I was told that I should be scheduled for an oath within 1-2 weeks. 
 

I don’t hear anything until 4/12. The ROC today showed approved and a new card is being mailed to me. The n400 status still says interview scheduled. 
 

this is really weird. I thought they were going to transfer my case and then approve both followed by an oath ceremony. 
 

has any one seen this happen ? Should I be concerned ? Why are they mailing me a new green card instead of just wrapping up the n400?

[Muru 4]

On 2/28/2023 at 11:55 AM, Muru said:

Filed: 1/28/23 (5 year rule; filed 6 days after completing 5 years)

Received bio notice: 2/4

Bio appointment: 2/22

Current status: since 2/22: Case is being actively reviewed.

Estimated processing time: 10 months

 

Can other Seattle folks confirm how long it took from “case being reviewed” to receiving interview appointment notice? 

Status updated to Interview scheduled on 4/19. Interview on 6/8. 

[TheLastMile 13]

Today I got an update on my N400. It was approved and oath was finally scheduled for 5/16/23.  

• My ceremony was scheduled 69 days after my interview
• N400 filing to oath timeframe: 215 days

Almost there.  

 

Does anyone know if I can bring my wife and 2 year old to the ceremony?

 

[aikkkoo 5]

hey to everyone. I got my interview today. 

First  was reading test: Who lives in the White House?

Writing: The President lives in the White House. ( he repeated twice).

Civic test:

The idea of self government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these word?

What ocean on the West Coast of the United States?

Who is  the Governor of the State?

What two rights in the Declaration  Independence?

What is the rule of Law?

Who is the Father of our country?

He asked where I met my husband? how many times I went out from United States. if my parents are US citizens. we didn't write on n 400 my husband daughters so he updated ( showed him their birth certificate). if my husband was married previously,  he asked if I owe taxes so I said for 2022 we own( I printed out fresh tax transcripts where clearly shows) and we haven't paid yet. and another questions from yes and No ( no definition were asked). I pass the exam. Need to send them tax payment  by mail or upload on the system. and then they will schedule oath ceremony.  1 more small step ahead. 

 

 

[mjmir 0]

20 hours ago, aikkkoo said:

hey to everyone. I got my interview today. 

First  was reading test: Who lives in the White House?

Writing: The President lives in the White House. ( he repeated twice).

Civic test:

The idea of self government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these word?

What ocean on the West Coast of the United States?

Who is  the Governor of the State?

What two rights in the Declaration  Independence?

What is the rule of Law?

Who is the Father of our country?

He asked where I met my husband? how many times I went out from United States. if my parents are US citizens. we didn't write on n 400 my husband daughters so he updated ( showed him their birth certificate). if my husband was married previously,  he asked if I owe taxes so I said for 2022 we own( I printed out fresh tax transcripts where clearly shows) and we haven't paid yet. and another questions from yes and No ( no definition were asked). I pass the exam. Need to send them tax payment  by mail or upload on the system. and then they will schedule oath ceremony.  1 more small step ahead. 

 

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. May I ask what your timeline was?

[aikkkoo 5]

1 hour ago, mjmir said:

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. May I ask what your timeline was?

I file n 400 in December 24th 2022. 

[PedroDaGr8 245]

Wow, over a month since the last post. Seems like Seattle is on their game and not many are having issues.

[lvesnal 3]

Hi everyone! 

 

First time poster on VJ, but I have been monitoring this thread for months! Appreciate everybody's sharing their timelines and experiences. 

 

My timeline: 

Filed N-400 under the five-year residence rule: March 26, 2023

Biometrics Appointment: April 19, 2023

Case is being Actively Reviewed: April 19, 2023 to present 

 

I see some applicants who applied after me already receiving their interview notices and get anxious about my case  If anybody was or is in a similar situation, would you please share your experience? This thread was not active for the past month and I feel like I am the only one experiencing delay with the interview LOL 

 

Wishing all a smooth journey to citizenship

Edited June 21, 2023 by lvesnal

[luckydog123 1]

Hey there! Also long time lurker and first time poster here. Writing to let you know that you're not alone. I'm also still waiting to hear back from USCIS. Here's my timeline:

 

Status	Date
Interview Cancelled	October 11, 2022
We scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.	August 22, 2022
We are actively reviewing your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Our records showed nothing is outstanding at this time.	April 16, 2022
We received your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and sent you a receipt notice.	April 16, 2022