nhutchings

Now an American citizen!

Oath ceremony was short - arrived, they took our Green Cards, sat us down in the hall (about 175 oathers, and 150 guests). No speakers other than the local USCIS director, then the video of Obama and the 'inspirational film,' then the oath, and that was it. It was the first of three oath ceremonies at the same place today, and so the USCIS director even told us to please quickly exit once it was over so they could get going on the next one. All very fast and smooth, and with plenty of time to catch our flight back to Alaska.

Tried to get a passport, but the line at the main post office in Manhattan wasn't moving at all, so we'll apply in Alaska on Monday.

Thanks so much for everything, guys - you've been a priceless source of knowledge and support over the past four years that we couldn't have done without. Congrats to those who've completed the process, best of luck to those still waiting, and Godspeed to those yet to begin.

We're out - hajoghutyun bolorin!

Just to add to what JimmyHou has already said, I applied for my passport on 5/31 and received it in the mail today 6/14. I'm still waiting for my certificate and passport card to arrive.

Hey Akihon, did you choose expedited or regular service for the passport?

received Oath letter which is scheduled for July 6th, but during my field work schedule on different state, i wont be able to make it. please tell me how serious it could be to reschedule the oath ceremony?

can i request the date or range of dates if there is anything available?

Hey akdua1, we have the same problem - we filed in New York City and the oath ceremony is scheduled in the City, but we're currently in Bethel, Alaska. But, out of fear of delaying the oath ceremony indefinitely or USCIS randomly picking another time that's equally inconvenient, we're flying back to New York just for the ceremony. We'll be in the City for less than 24 hours - just long enough for the oath ceremony - and then returning to Alaska. It's a pain, but work understood how important this is and gave us leave.

Got my oath ceremony letter! June 14th is my date and I got invited to a special ceremony for Flag Day lol I got really lucky in terms of location because it's 2 blocks from where I live lol

Just 1 more week and I'm done!

I am going to the same one!!

It is the one on Central Park West at 8:30am, right?

Hey krbxtigerz and Yanndny, we're jealous that you two get to oath together! Would've been cool if we were all together, but we're just at the usual place (Javits Bldg) on that Friday - no special ceremonies for us, it seems!

Went in expecting an interview.

...left disappointed.

Wait, I must've missed something - what happened?

In some locations (one of the NYC locations for example), no guests are allowed in the room... they have to watch on a TV in a room on another floor.

Hey JimmyHou, any idea of which NYC location doesn't allow guests in the room? It's not the Manhattan one (Federal Plaza - Javits Building), is it?

Thanks, akihon!

My letter specifies to be ready to spend 4 to 5 hours.expecting 2500 people.

Wow, that's a long time and a lot of people! Where on the letter does it say how long to expect? I looked on ours and can't seem to find it...

Now that we're having to fly back to New York from Alaska and trying to take the least amount of time off of work, anybody know how long the oath ceremony lasts? Letter says to arrive at 08.30, and there's a plane we want to catch at three-thirty that afternoon - about seven hours later. You don't think the oath ceremony would take more than five hours, do ya?

what are EAD n AP card?

EAD/AP is the employment authorization / advance parole combo card. We got it after arriving in the States and after we had applied for AOS but before we actually got the conditional Green Card - it gave permission to work and travel in the interim while our AOS was pending.

Oath Ceremony letter came in the mail yesterday - Friday, 17 June, at 08.45 in the morning at Javits Federal Building (same place as the interview). I guess we'll be flying back to New York for the weekend in June.

Also, the letter asked us to bring all cards (Green, EAD+AP) and all other USCIS letters and other correspondence with us to the Oath Ceremony. So much for our bonfire idea!

YES!

Curiously, IO kept her interview appointment letter. She didn't have the courage to ask for it back. Anyone experience this?

Congratulations!

And yeah, the IO kept our interview appointment letter too. Not that we need it, of course, as we will gleefully burn all this USCIS stuff as soon as we have passports in hand!

Yes maybe, that would be fun!!

It says "in line". How long did it take for you to go from "in line" to "notice sent"?

Don't know that ours was ever 'In Line' - the day after the interview, we just got the e-mail and text that the status had been updated, and when we checked, it said 'Notice Was Mailed.' It's probably the same thing, I'd guess.

Just got an update, I am in line for the oath ceremony!!

Pfeww I feel better ;-)

Congrats! Does it say 'In Line,' or 'Notice Mailed?' Perhaps we'll oath at the same ceremony!

E-mail and text that status was updated - checked on line and saw 'Oath Ceremony Notice Was Mailed.' Hooray!

I got a notification email and text today that I am placed in line for my oath ceremony. I guess my letter will come soon? hopefully within 2 weeks.

Let me take this chance to remind everyone to keep their timelines up to date, please! It's how VisaJourney calculates the statistics and is really helpful for others looking for guidance on What to expect. Thanks!

My Interview Experience (Federal Plaza in NYC)

Hey Krbxtigerz, any word on when your oath ceremony will be? Has your status yet changed online?

Our experience at the New York City Javits Federal Building

Interview was a 09.45, we walked in the building at about 09.15. Passed through security and checked in at a couple other stops before arriving at a small waiting room - got there about 09.25 or so. Two numbers were called before us, so after waiting about 20 minutes they called ours and we both went up, but of course they didn't let us both in for the interview! The IO was a wonderful Dominican lady who, in the middle of the interview, actually answered a call from a friend on her personal cell phone and chatted for a couple minutes! Anyway, she had a huge file on us (probably everything from the I-125 until now), and all she asked for was a passport, Green Card, and New York driver's permit. We had brought taxes, marriage certificate, birth certificates, and all that jazz, but she said 'no, I got it all here!'

Questions were:

1. How many justices (eight now, but should be nine!)

2. What did the Declaration of Independence do?

3. Who becomes President if the President and Vice President can no longer serve? ('the Speaker of the House, who is now Paul Ryan and...' 'No, no, too much! I just need the answer to the question!')

4. What does the Cabinet do?

5. For how many years to we elect a Senator?

6. Name one branch of goverment.

The sentence (to answer and write) was 'When is Columbus Day?' - 'Columbus Day is in October.'

There was a little confusion about the place of birth: technically it was the Soviet Union - or, rather, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia, a constituent republic of the USSR, which is what we put on the N-400 application to be most correct - but Armenia became an independent country shortly thereafter. The IO said 'so, you were born in Russia?' 'No, Armenia!' 'But the Soviet Union is Russia...' Anyway, the rest of the conversation was just chatting ('you don't make very much as a teacher!') and confirming no past criminal history or child soldiery. Then she said congrats, you passed, and that was that!

When asked about the oath ceremony (we're leaving New York for an extended trip at the end of May), she said 'four to six weeks - you'll received a letter in the mail.' 'Can we get it sooner?' 'Four to six weeks.' Harumph. Looks like we're going to have to fly back to New York for that, and we've already got a subletter lined up for our apartment!

We were out of the building by 10.30. Status online still hasn't changed. Now we're just waiting for the oath scheduling.

Passed! Also on our way to work, will also update later.

Passed my interview today in NYC and I was told to wait for the mail, which will tell when my oath ceremony will be. I hope it's sooner than later..maybe 2~3 weeks?

Congrats! So they didn't just tell you the date of your oath ceremony? Our interview is next Monday here in the City, and we are secretly hoping that we'll get the oath ceremony before we leave for Alaska at the end of the month, but I guess it's not looking likely, eh?

Congrats! How'd you answer the Supreme Court question? Nine or eight?

We got the N-659 - it just asked for Green Card, driver's license, and Armenian passport, plus marriage certificate, spouse birth certificate, and past three years of tax returns. We're not filing under any special circumstances (military, working abroad, previous trips longer than six months, criminal record, et cetera), so we don't have any other documents. We'll probably bring other things just in case (photos, ticket stubs, credit cards, et cetera). Can't hurt, right?

Almost positive they'll use the photo from biometrics - that's the one they used for the EAD+AP and conditional Green Card, as well as for the post-ROC Green Card. Can't believe we've already done the third and final biometrics!

In the interview itself, no. I'm talking about being there for the wait, not for the interview itself.

I'm leaning towards not going, especially if it's mid-day. Maybe if it's first thing in the AM (7:30 or 8), I'll go into work an hour late - we live kind of in between USCIS and my office so it works out perfectly in that sense. I don't think Orlando offers same day interviews and, even if they do, I could still make it on time with as little as 1/2 hour notice. I have seen some interviews scheduled as soon as 3 days after so I also wouldn't want to risk taking more time off in a one week period if that happens. Besides, my Mom has already offered to go with her to keep her company, whenever it may be.

We're both going, although we've both got plenty of vacation time saved up and understanding supervisors. Even if they don't let us both into the interview, showing up together can only give a good impression to the IO, and it's nice to be there for moral support!