bxman

I should also add this information as I know I wondered myself. Can cameras or cell phones be brought into the US Courthouse in Richmond Va which was where our oath ceremony was held. NO CAMERAS or CELL PHONES allowed! So save time and leave them in your car or whatever. When you enter the courthouse,it's just like entering the airport! Metal detectors and all that stuff. I can ONLY speak for the courthouse in Richmond Va so if your oath will be held at some other USCIS site you'd have to ask at that location. Hope this helps someone out there! 

April 19, 2017

Just returned from our Naturalization/Citizenship ceremony held at Richmond's 4th District Court

Courthouse is on E Broad st and parking was easy. Just a block away on 17th st (we used) 

Appointment was at 9:30 but was informed the ceremony would not begin till 11am on the 7th floor

11;30 appointments begin at 1pm

Courthouse opened at 8 

We entered at 9am and was one of the first to arrive

They began registration at 9:30. They do 72 people per ceremony

Ceremony took about 30 minutes. They will take your green card and appointment letter. (be sure you have both)

We all filed through in a line where they presented us with our Certificates

Hope this helps someone

I've called them and they say they're working March filers

They sure cashed my check quick enough

At this pace we'll be lucky ti have citizenship by September

I don't see anyone on VJ timelines from Norfolk who received citizenship recently

UPDATE!!

Jan 18th received notice of appointment at Norfolk for testing on 24 Feb

Our NOA1 was Sept 1 and Biometrics was 29 Sept

Feb/24/2017

Yahoo! Passed the exam!

Now just awaiting swearing in ceremony.

I advised her to say yes if they asked her if she wanted to change her name

At first she said yes but she let the interviewer change her mind and said no instead

Currently my wife uses her family name as her middle name

Is it now too late to legally make that her name?

And if it is too late what difference will it make?

Her Passport has her family name as her middle name, her driver license has it the same as her passport

Where will this go wrong if she just does nothing and lets things remain as is?

My friend advised me that when we were married ONLY her LAST name was legally changed not her middle name.

I've called them and they say they're working March filers

They sure cashed my check quick enough

At this pace we'll be lucky ti have citizenship by September

I don't see anyone on VJ timelines from Norfolk who received citizenship recently

UPDATE!!

Jan 18th received notice of appointment at Norfolk for testing on 24 Feb

Our NOA1 was Sept 1 and Biometrics was 29 Sept

I've called them and they say they're working March filers

They sure cashed my check quick enough

At this pace we'll be lucky ti have citizenship by September

I don't see anyone on VJ timelines from Norfolk who received citizenship recently

So bigger numbers may do the trick? I'm willing to get a bigger mailbox so I can get REALLY big numbers if you're sure that'll do it

We're kinda in the same boat

Did biometrics in September but nothing as yet on an interview

Looks like it's all come to a stop at USICS

When I call they just say they're working March 2016 filers (Norfolk)

When we went for biometrics the place looked like a ghost town. More employees than customers 

At this point it's usually a 4 month process. MAYBE it'll change under Trump?

Anyone else have insight?

Anyone here awaiting  interview at the Norfolk Va office? (N-400)

We had Biographics done in Sept 2016 and still waiting to hear from them about our interview

Can anyone relate their experience with this office? Any idea how long it might be before we get an interview?

It's going on 4 months and no word

Thanks for any insight you might lend

Don & Jenny

Posted 21 September 2015 - 05:51 PM

Thanks! We just received NOA1 yesterday 8 Sept but it is dated 1 Sept

California Service Center (34 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
KEVO..................07/31/15......08/03/15......09/04/15......--/--/--
LOVECOUPLE............07/31/15......08/03/15......08/31/15......--/--/--
SCOTTYBOBOTTI.........07/31/15......08/03/15......09/03/15......--/--/--(Early bio:08/20/15)
JFD...................07/31/15......08/03/15......09/02/15......--/--/--(Early bio:08/26/15)
DAN12345..............07/31/15......08/03/15......09/03/15......--/--/--
SWEETY-SWEET..........08/01/15......08/03/15......09/03/15......--/--/--
YUNNAN_COUPLE.........08/01/15......08/05/15......--/--/15......--/--/--

KOBIAMS...............08/03/15......08/13/15......09/01/15......--/--/--
HK12..................08/04/15......08/06/15......09/04/15......--/--/--
GFGC..................08/04/15......08/06/15......09/01/15......--/--/--(Early bio:08/18/15)
GABYSKIS..............08/05/15......08/07/15......09/03/15......--/--/--
JOONPHON..............08/06/15......08/10/15......09/09/15......--/--/--
WINTERPARK2015........08/08/15......08/14/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
BSUON1234.............08/10/15......08/17/15......09/11/15......--/--/--
GLENMAR...............08/10/15......08/12/15......09/11/15......--/--/--(Early bio:08/31/15)
FREEM.................08/11/15......08/13/15......09/08/15......--/--/--
VOSNMARS..............08/12/15......08/13/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
RICE_WIFEY............08/10/15......08/12/15......09/10/15......--/--/--
SVETA & RON...........08/13/15......08/14/15......09/14/15......--/--/--
BLOOMS................08/14/15......08/17/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
MOONSKI...............08/15/15......08/17/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
HAPPYTOBE.............08/17/15......08/19/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
MARI3425..............08/18/15......08/20/15......09/16/15......--/--/--
RAMLYN................08/20/15......08/24/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
JULIE&CHRIS...........08/21/15......08/--/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
CHUCKM................08/22/15......08/24/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
PINGPONG32256.........08/22/15......08/24/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
SNAG..................08/24/15......08/26/15......--/--/15......--/--/--

CHICAGOTOWGIRL........08/24/15......08/28/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
GREAT_DANE............08/25/15......--/--/15......--/--/15......--/--/--

MAJUKI................08/25/15......08/27/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
SOFASONICS............08/26/15......08/28/15......--/--/15......--/--/--

JANE8.................08/26/15......08/28/15......--/--/15......--/--/--

ANNABANANA28..........08/28/15......08/31/15......--/--/15......--/--/--


Vermont Service Center (14 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
NUMPTYNYC.............07/29/15......08/03/15......08/31/15......--/--/--
CANVAN................08/01/15......08/04/15......09/02/15......--/--/--(Early bio:08/25/15)
AHIARI................08/01/15......08/06/15......09/01/15......--/--/--
SOUTHERNMAN...........08/04/15......08/10/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
BURNABRENNA...........08/05/15......08/10/15......09/10/15......--/--/--
LPEKSEN...............08/05/15......08/06/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
AALIYAH580............08/05/15......08/11/15......09/02/15......--/--/--
SKULL.................08/06/15......08/08/15......08/31/15......--/--/--
JWCL2712..............08/08/15......08/11/15......09/11/15......--/--/--
GABBYBIRD.............08/11/15......08/13/15......09/10/15......--/--/--
MUSASHII..............08/15/15......08/19/15......09/14/15......--/--/--
KELSOBEH..............08/19/15......08/24/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
HAPPYD................08/21/15......--/--/15......--/--/15......--/--/--

JERSEYDOMREP..........08/28/15......08/31/15......--/--/15......--/--/--

BXMAN.................08/31/15......--/--/15......--/--/15......--/--/--

Lola thanks so much!

I hope your Perm Resident Card arrives very soon.

Jenny & I would both like to hear when you do receive it

We would like to visit Cebu again once we receive ours

We just filed for Lifting of Conditions 31 Aug 2015 Just wondering if any Filipinas have recently filed for this and what their experience has been and maybe share what we can expect.

We will have biometric in Norfolk but not sure when at this time

Anyone out there that might have an experience they wish to share or compare is greatly appreciated

Once again we find ourselves standing in line but happily much further along

Salamat po

Don & Jenny

Looks like you're a year ahead of us Hank

I will gladly follow your footsteps

I was just thinking about you two over this past week, you popped into my mind... crazy.

Yes expect the longer time frame as VSC has been slower with ROC, I know a couple that just completed ROC through VSC ant it took the best part of 7 months for them. We filed months later and got the new GC in 4 months.

Ya that is the silly with getting ROC done, about 9 months later you can start citizenship.

Hope all is well with you two.

We are heading out to the Phils next month.

Great to hear from you Hank

Wish we could go too! I am so READY! lol

But looks like it'll be next year this time if all goes well

I feel like we've been standing in line for YEARS now with more to go

Hope yall have a great visit

Mind if I ask which island?

ROC is all about showing evidence of combining your lives together; joint bank account statements, utility bills, titles to automobiles, deed to the house... all dating back to when you got married and completed AOS. Once you file you will get a year extension (NOA 1) of your current green card so traveling outside the USA is not an issue - as long as biometrics was completed, make sure to carry a copy of the NOA1 once you file ROC until you get the new green card.

ROC is taking an average of 6 months (I know of a few where it took a month or two longer and for us it took only 4 months).

Hope all is going well with you two!

Hank thanks so much for always having such a good handle on things.

Jenny & I can apply for ROC the end of Aug-1st of Sept and wondered about travel also

VJ is such a great site

Never been lucky enough to get anything from USICS in a timely manner! lol

So we will just expect a 7 month wait Apr 2016? :-(

By then citizenship in in range!

Thanks all you VJ'ers

Thanks so much all

I am a US born citizen and am aware of the rule of being married for 3 years

I guess I was hoping to shave 7 months off the dreaded USCIS clock that never seems to go in my favor

Seems like they try so HARD to make this process as difficult as possible for those that go the legal route

So many fees so many biometrics and so many timelines to overcome

It amazes me when I see the news about people walking across the border being considered for citizenship while I must wait years and pay thousands

Sorry for venting

Don

What is the current approval time once you apply?

The above requirements will not be met until Nov 2016 :-(

I suspected as much

Thanks for bringing me back to reality! lol

Could someone tell me when the clock begins on legal permanent resident based on marriage?

Is it from the day we got married in April

or is it from receiving the 2yr conditional green card in Nov

Just asking because it's 7 months between the two dates

Would make a huge difference in fulfilling the 3 yrs married and residing permanent in America

To me at the point of marriage I would think that's when permanent resident would begin

In my tiny mind I think her fiancee visa no longer existed after marriage

BUT she was here legally because of our marriage in April even though USCIS did not issue documentation granting her conditional residence until November

But experience teaches me that I am wrong much more than I am right! lol

Don

Because if the immigration officer is in a bad mood or fishing for a bribe he is within his rights to demand either an NSO certificate or a philippine-embassy-authenticated foreign certificate. And since your entry is dependent on satisfying them, its best to have all your ducks in a row.

Did you mean to say "Bucks in a row"? lol

Hi Don & Jenny.....Mike & Gina here. I lived there in Cebu, Philippines for 6 months last year (Oct 13 - April 14) as I hate Winter here in Ohio. Loved it there but did get alittle homesick for family and friends here, and my nice home and life I have here. To make a long story shorter...I brought Gina here to USA on K-1 Fiance Visa. We just got married on June 14th, and filed her paperwork for her green card. We expect to have the green card in November or December at the latest?? (we hope!!). We also want to return at that time back to Cebu again to live for 4 months or so till April 2015. I also have many questions as well.... Balikbayan Visa?? Should I get Gina's Philippine Passport changed now here in the USA (Philippine Consulate - Chicago)from her maiden name to her new married name?? Can we travel back to the Philippines for a 4 or 5 month stay without any problems from USA or Philippine Officials for both of us - her and I??? last year when I was there, I had to go to the Philippine Consulate twice - every 59 days to EXTEND my Visa and stay. I hope I "qualify" for the free 1 year Visa because I am now the spouse of a Philippine Citizen - my new wife Gina? Any help will be greatly appreciated....and Hank (the expert), your advise and opinions are also welcomed and appreciated!! lol Mike & Gina.... hopefully heading back to Cebu!!!

Hey Mike & Gina

I would keep Gina's passport just the way it is unless it's ready to expire in the next few months

When you & Gina arrive in Cebu TOGETHER stay in line TOGETHER and when you both get to the immigration officer Gina w ill request you as her husband be allowed to enter the Philippines under the Babikbayan statue. As her passport has her maiden name you will need to show your Marriage Certificate as proof of being married

You will then receive the bailikbayan dated stamp on your passport which allows you to stay up to a year for free

Many here with much more knowledge than me have posted more detail and links that spell it all out much better than me

Did you rent an apartment in Cebu?

What part and how much did you pay?

That is my understanding as well, need to be gone less than 6 mos.

Thanks Hank!

You've ALWAYS been a great asset here to myself and many others

Then your good to go. Have a safe and enjoyable stay in the Phil.

Oh I plan on that!

Now just get my America ducks in a row so I will have ZERO to worry with here so I am free to ENJOY There!

3 weeks were NEVER enough to enjoy the Philippines

Thanks for the encouragement! lol

Don't know what I'd do if was denied boarding the plane here in Virginia bound for our first stop in Korea!

This will be our FIRST flight together

Also we were a bit worried our trip would foul up ROC and later citizenship

But it is our understanding she can stay less than 6 months without repercussions

Thanks again yall