futurecoloradogrl

Updating with my experience for reference just in case anyone in future has similar questions! Thrilled I finally did it, officially became a citizen and got my certificate, feels weird that the 5 years of stress is over with & might take a while to get used to. - Guests: I took my partner and two friends with me, my partner had to show his driver's licence and friends showed their UK passports to the security officer with no issues. It was really special getting to have them there. - GC combo approval: as mentioned in my reply above, the card got produced and arrived days before the ceremony, and I handed it in when checking in. - Outfit: I'd originally set aside a long lightweight dress and dressy sandals to wear, but Florida decided to be properly cold so I wore a sweater and skirt with boots and no one said anything. The most casual outfits I saw were an American print button-up shirt with vintage style jeans (loved it!) and a trendy zip-up jacket with wide leg jeans. Men were mostly wearing suits, and women were either wearing some kind of suit-style outfit, or a modest style dress in various designs. My guests were flying home immediately after and no one minded their jeans and sweatshirt travel outfits. - Successfully applied for my passport at the post office today and got quoted 2-3 weeks for express. - I only needed my state ID, most recent green card, and the paperwork attached to the ceremony letter which I'd already filled out at home - the letter only just arrived on Thursday, my ceremony was on Monday. Took my paperwork folders from the interview just to be safe. - Did get slightly told off at check-in when the desk attendant verbally confirmed some of the questions on the paperwork - I said 'yep' to one of them and was sternly told 'it's YES, not YEP'. So make sure you say 'yes' or 'no' very clearly! Will fill out my Orlando office experience on my timeline.

Thanks for the response, I didn't know that! My tracker showed a new card was being produced and mailed to me, which I received just days before the ceremony, so it was promptly handed in. It was nice to have it for those few days at least!

Finally got an oath ceremony date scheduled for just over 1 month after my interview! I was so disappointed to be told immediately after passing the interview that their computer system was down and so I couldn't do a same-day oath, and to wait 1-2 weeks for a letter. After waiting the full 2 weeks and nothing, USCIS finally updated today, and I'm so thrilled that my ceremony is scheduled for the 5th of February. A long time coming, it's been a year since I filed and my patience has never been tested more - I'm sure so many of y'all can relate. Quick questions: - The ceremony is at the my local USCIS office where I took my interview (Orlando) instead of the courthouse downtown like I was expecting, is it still okay to bring guests? The letter doesn't mention it either way. I'll have a couple of friends visiting from the UK staying with me that week and they'd love to attend. - I had a combo interview for the GC renewal and it looks like that was just approved and produced. Is it an issue if the card doesn't arrive in time to surrender at the ceremony? - Attire! I'm a tall woman who lives in Florida (always hot and humid, ultra-casual dress code) and own no professional attire, so my wardrobe is comfortable cotton sundresses and short skirts. I wore a sweater and short wool skirt with tall boots to the interview, no one said anything. Is there any definite nos in terms of what won't be acceptable to wear? I'm on a budget and already struggle to find clothes that fit my height, so would prefer not to have to make a frantic last-minute shopping trip. - Planning to schedule a post office passport appointment for the next day and pay for express processing (meant to be 2-3 weeks I think?) since I want to travel in March/April. I hear the waiting time has reduced since last year, has anyone recently received a passport who can confirm? - Any other documents or essential info I need? Would hate to get turned away at this final hurdle. I have my expired green card, all the extension papers received, my UK passport, state ID, and will fill out the form on the physical letter once it arrives. Thanks so much for any advice!

Good luck for your interview! Mine was a combo interview and I received a letter directly from my local office maybe a week before my interview specifying to bring my spouse - your local office may or may not send a similar letter. Bring them anyway if possible, I confirmed with the officer who called my number if I should bring them in and he said yes. They weren't asked any questions but others' experiences may differ.

I submitted in early Feb 2023, in-person biometrics in April, case status changed to 'interview scheduled' late November, and interviewed January 3rd. I was getting the same message in the couple of weeks before the status changed to scheduled. Now sat in limbo again after interview, despite getting recommended for approval from the officer and having what should be a very straightforward case (no name changes, taxes owed, criminal history, etc). Seems to be down to sheer luck.

Orlando FL

Hoping you hear something soon! I'm at the almost 12 month anniversary, my interview was over a week ago & could not be sworn in due to 'the computer system is down', so my file was tossed into a cardboard box on the floor of the office, but USCIS site never updated to show I attended the interview. Concerned I'm in limbo yet again as others have said even when they chose to wait to attend a ceremony their oath date was mailed right away and online status changed immediately. Would love to finally have some certainty in my life so I can go visit my family..

It seems to be up to date (via the 'Timeline' link)! No online updates yet, my file got put in a cardboard box on the floor along with a bunch of others for final approval. Hoping someone goes through it asap! I was told it could take a couple of weeks or up to 4 months to get the ceremony letter.. very frustrating that they would have otherwise had me swear in right there! Missing my family & friends a lot but can't plan a trip until I have the new passport in hand.

Update on my slow Orlando case! Had my interview today and got approved, yay! Unfortunately their computer system was down so I wasn't able to be sworn in today or have anything approved electronically - hopefully the letter with a swearing-in date will come fast and not keep me waiting too much longer. So close to the end of this process!

Congrats to everyone successfully getting their citizenship!! Still waiting on any news from the Orlando office - have been patiently waiting out the countdown, and today shows 'case is taking longer than expected to process'. No news is good news, right? Currently experiencing multiple health problems all at once and having trouble accessing quality health care here (truly got spoiled in the UK with such great medical care) - would really like to travel back for a bit just to have support and help from my family, but at this point seems a bad idea to book non-refundable travel. Really hoping for an interview date soon so we can finally get this over with and I can be with them again!

No news yet since biometrics back in April - applied under 3 year rule, local office is Orlando FL though not much data for that office on here. I check online every few days - usually there's an 'estimated time until decision' box, mine last read '5 months' so anticipated an interview around December/January but that's disappeared since I last checked. Not sure if that means anything? Also wondered how much notice to typically expect for the interview? I'm planning on going home to the UK for a few weeks really soon, and would pay to change my return ticket if timing worked out really badly; hoping it won't come to that. I only had 10 days notice for my biometrics appointment so hoping it won't be quite so last-minute!