jack.k

I didn't even realize the certificate needs to be signed. Glad I found this thread. What if your photo doesn't have a signature? For me, they just used the photo I sent along with the application. Topic of signature never came up with the IO.

On my certificate I have my First Middle Last name as well as my SSN card. I always sign using First and Last though on on all documents including USCIS forms. I'm reading online now that you must sign with your middle name as well. That won't match anything I've ever signed in my life if I follow that rule. What would be consequence of signing it however I like?

I went to the naturalization oath ceremony this morning at the Los Angeles Convention Center. I am finally citizen! Thank you for those who shared their experience, it was good knowing in advance what was to be done, and thank you to those who helped answer some questions I had during the past weeks. Your help was greatly appreciated.

There were 5K people sworn in during the morning, I arrived very early at 6:30 am and to my surprise there was already a long line. But not as bad as those who arrived later, it just kept on getting longer and longer. I didn't park in the LACC structure as I figured thousands of people will not exit in a timely manner after it's over. I parked outside on a lot on Pico Blvd -- for those who park outside and want to save money, go on Pico blvd and there is a nice parking lot kinda hidden next to some taco restaurant, only $5. Just a few feet away it's $15.

I bought a certificate holder from someone outside for $5. When you go stand in line when you're about to enter LACC, other sellers sell it for $10. That one appears to be better quality. The one I got is plastic inside and I'm afraid that it will discolor the certificate after time. When you are seated, they also give you a package that includes a paper holder and it's good enough. I personally wouldn't recommend buying the $5 holder, and if $10 is too much, I'd skip it as the paper holder is fine if you keep in a safe place. And holders are still being sold at the end of the ceremony should you change your mind.

I'd definitely recommend going as early as you can, as you guys said, first come are first to receive their certificates. Everything was orderly, there were several workers assisting people if there are any questions, directing people where to go, they were friendly. They passed around voting registration forms if you want to register, no problem if you don't want to at this time they don't even ask you. I'm not sure some people managed to fill them out on their knees, sitting next to people were tight.

One thing that sucked was unable to take pictures with your guests inside the hall, they directed every visitor outside and pictures were taken on the streets. I guess they change the rules from ceremony to ceremony. It doesn't matter though, I'm just happy this is over with.

Oh, and for some reason, they used my photo I included with my application NOT the picture they take during biometrics.

If anyone has any questions let me know and I'll be glad to answer. But nothing was chaotic during the ceremony, they explained everything clearly and numerous times. I was expecting madness to be honest. So good job USCIS or whoever is in charge of managing these ceremonies in such a large scale.

Ok. I just open this red book I was given when I had my biometrics. It does say in bold and underlined letters that we will not be tested on the additional information in the short lessons. Also it says that this book will help to study for the test.

So, are you sure that they won't ask any questions from the book? Because all of my 6 questions were from this red book.

And also I can tell you that all 100 questions in the book were absolutely and exactly the same as the questions in the pdf file and the flash cards from the USCIS site.

Yes I meant they won't ask questions about the additional information, it's just a book if you want to learn more about a specific topic for your own knowledge. Some questions in the book given to me were wrong, such as who is the speaker of the house, it said nancy pelosi, and others were outdated.

No, they will NOT ask questions from the red book that is given to you when you go for biometrics. In the book, there is a large capital and bold sentence saying they will not ask anything from the book. Also, watch out, the book given to me was outdated. It's better to print the current PDF from the website and use that to study. They can only ask questions from the list of 100 nothing else. They don't even reword the questions.

They will ask you personal questions from your application though, including all the no no no yes yes yes questions, so best to know what the questions on the application mean and what to answer orally.

Oh I see, thank you for letting me know. Also, next to signature, it says "Full Address and Zip Code" -- is that the address of the ceremony location, I don't put my home address?

I never understood the logic behind instructing people to write something on the back of a check when the back is specifically for endorsing a check. The DMV does the same thing. I always write whatever is needed on the front memo line, including when I sent the check to USCIS, and I never had a problem.

There are questions on the back of the oath appointment letter. Is it okay to fill it out completely BEFORE attending the ceremony, or must it be filled out in person in front of someone and signed there. Please someone advise, thank you!

Also, if you can do it in advance, for the city do you put the city where you live or where the oath is being taken?

I don't remember where I read it, but if I'm not mistaken, they do specify a dress code for the oath ceremony. I remember reading no jeans and some other things. I don't know if they enforce it but better to look nice anyway. Especially when going to your interview. Business casual is fine.

I don't remember where I read it, but if I'm not mistaken, they do specify a dress code for the oath ceremony. I remember reading no jeans and some other things. I don't know if they enforce it but better to look nice anyway. Especially when going to your interview. Business casual is fine.

Very dangerous. Our son just recently had to renew his drivers license and he filled out the forms himself, he had checked off to register to vote, not knowing he could not! He gave it to me to look over and I tore that part off and destroyed it. I wish they would not do that but there has been this push to register everyone to vote and little regard is paid to this when it is thrust upon the DMV. They just want to make it easy and be done with it.

That's nothing. When I was enrolling in college early this year, after meeting with a counselor she was filling out a form with my information. After I asked her what she was doing, she said oh just your voter registration. I told her I'm not a US citizen, she said Oh? and stopped. I'm not even sure if what she was doing is legal, but in any case, everyone pre-citizen must be careful.

I highly doubt they will deport someone for mistakenly marking off citizen when applying for a federal job, it's not like he got accepted. I'm sure a good attorney can sort all this out. It was just a misunderstanding. People make mistakes.

Your response is kinda harsh there Brother.

We tried calling today to get the account transcript and they still saying we not allow to get years 2006-2007. This thing driving me crazy

Are you talking with a human or the machine? I had so many problems with their automated system. Talk to a real person, I was able to order transcripts for the past 5 tax returns.

Also maybe you can try the online ordering system - http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=232168,00.html

Good luck.

Just in case, I would also take your selective service card or proof (if you're male) and some tax transcripts (if you work). I'm self-employed so the IO was asking some questions about my work and whether I pay taxes. I had 5 year transcripts (free from IRS) with me in case I was forced to show proof. Good luck with the interview and test!

Why shouldn't they ask about your religion or background? My uncle who immigrated here many years ago told me that back in the day they were even asking if you are a homosexual during interviews.

For another relative's case, US contacts in the home country investigated matters on foreign soil. Checking up on you in your home for a marriage application doesn't seem that unreasonable.

If you have nothing to hide, don't sweat it. Obviously they won't find anything. But if you are constantly being harassed, maybe you should hire an attorney. That's what I would do.

I'm sure you will get your oath ceremony letter very soon if your application was approved. There are many ceremonies coming up. Good luck.

Yes, you need to use an SS-5 form when you go to the SS office.

They will only replace your SS card if it has a restriction printed on it. My card is from my K1 days in 2001, so it has "Valid for work only with INS authorization" printed on it, which is why it is being replaced.

If your card does not have any restrictions it should not be replaced, but you still need to submit an SS-5 to update your status.

I see, thank you for the clarification.

When you go to the SS office, do you submit the same form (SS-5) to apply for a social security card or do you just tell them you are a citizen now?

What is the difference between a non-citizen SS card and a citizen SS card? I don't understand why they can't just update their records automatically. Always something to do.

Andy and Arvin,

Congratulations!!!! :)

Thank you so very much for the details about the ceremony. Tons of useful information here!

I live in the north like 45 miles away from LACC, so I probably should go in the very early morning not to be stuck in traffic. I'm glad there will be signs posted for naturalization parking, I was confused where to park when I went to my interview.

I'm not going to apply for passport there, why would they take your certificate away. Thank you for mentioning this.

Lots of tips here, I'm going go over it and note things down.

Cheers!

Hi again guys,

Today I received an official notice to attend the oath ceremony on April 17th at 8am at the LA Convention Center.

I didn't even realize the website status updated, so they're sending this letter out fast.

Wish all of you the best of luck, only we know what a journey we had to take to obtain citizenship.

Cheers!

Jack

P.S. If anyone attended the ceremony today, would be nice if you can post how it was and if any tips are needed. I never been to the LACC, hope it's not confusing where to park, where to go, etc. Looks like a huge place.

Edit: Also do they call you up one by one to receive the certificate? How long was the entire ceremony?

Yes, I received a letter from USCIS saying I should attend the March 22nd ceremony at 12:30pm (not the morning one). This was after I received the email/website status update saying I was scheduled for a ceremony.

Ok, thank you so much for the clarification. Apparently the officer who interviewed me was a complete moron. My status updated today so hopefully I'll receive a letter soon, most likely not in March but there are ceremonies in April.

As I'm waiting (and waiting) for the oath date, thought I'd give a tip to those of you who file in Los Angeles that I never came across on the net when I was applying. I hope this will be useful to some people.

If your fingerprints gets rejected the first time and you go redo it, there is a chance that it will be rejected again like in my case.

Of course they won't tell you to give you a chance to correct it, it comes as a surprise during your interview. You still do the interview, just pass it and they will give you a sheet with further information to correct the FP issue.

The sheet is from 2005 and useless. Long story short, you will have to go to the Sheriff's headquarters building in the city of Norwalk, 70 miles away in my case. They photocopy your driver's license and no fingerprint is needed; go to the nearby shopping center for like an hour, come back and they give you a paper after they research your criminal background, find nothing, and state as such. It costs $42. Cash only. Then you mail that $42 piece of paper to your interviewer/officer which then approves your application.

You don't go to your local police department. Not even LAPD headquarters. I visited these places. They don't do it. It must be Norwalk, as I finally learned when speaking to a nice officer at LAPD HQ. I hope USCIS updates their 2005 instruction sheets and not aggravate people even more. But in case they haven't, this is what needed to be done as of early 2012.

If you go redo your fingerprints, I'd suggest calling and trying to find out if it passed the second time so this won't come as a surprise and you'll have this done by your interview date to avoid any further delays.

Hi guys,

Did I understand correctly that one of you have an OFFICAL NOTICE to attend a ceremony on March 22nd at the LA convention center? When I went to my interview in February, the officer advised me all of the ceremonies listed by the US Courts website had been cancelled. I'm still waiting to receive a notice, and today, the status finally changed to Oath ceremony from testing/interview skipping over two steps on the USCIS website.