kiwivisa

Definitely worth a call - ask for a tier 2 officer

You can go here and enter your details and it'll sign you up to email updates. The only update I saw was an email saying they had completed it and it was ready for mailing, and then a further update with the USPS tracking number. But thats only for the Passport book, I applied for the card as well and never got any updates or tracking details for that (But it arrived fine a day later).
https://passportstatus.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp

You can go here and enter your details and it'll sign you up to email updates. The only update I saw was an email saying they had completed it and it was ready for mailing, and then a further update with the USPS tracking number. But thats only for the Passport book, I applied for the card as well and never got any updates or tracking details for that (But it arrived fine a day later).
https://passportstatus.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp

Firstly, congrats everyone. Its been awesome watching the progress these last few weeks!
Its been a week since my interview and oath in Charlotte. Since theres so little information on the Charlotte location I figured I'd write it out properly for people searching in the future. Ill post this on the Charlotte office reviews as well.
I had an 8.25am interview, arrived an hour early as I had a 2 hour drive to get there and wasn't sure what Charlotte traffic would be like. The check in lady just laughed at me being there so early, but had no problem with me staying in the first waiting room. at 8.15am she called me up and had me go throguh to the "appointments" waiting room. There were a few families there with little ones, in both waiting rooms, I mention that as I've seen it asked a few times.
At 8.25 I was called by a friendly but professional IO. He took me back to the interview room. Had me sit down, then swear in, and then hand over my GC and drivers license.
He went trough the N400 yes/no questions really quickly. Without even looking at the sheet, he clearly had them memorized, and I joked with him that he must have done this a few times. The joke was well received.
From the N400 questions, he moved straight into the civics test. The questions he asked were the exact same that Ste&Velma got, even in the same order. So I'm copying them here.
1. Amendments about who can vote,
2. U.S. concern during Cold War,
3. Reasons colonists came to America,
4. Right or freedom from the First Amendment,
5. Who is in charge of the executive branch,
6. If President can no longer serve, who becomes President
I got all 6 right, and then he asked me to read a sentence 'Which State has the Most People?". However, curiously, he gave me a answer to a different question to write. I can't actually recall what it was, but it had New York in it.
He congratulated me and said that I had passed, and was approved. No evidence needed out of the stuff that I had bought along.
He asked if I could take the oath that day at 12.15. I had been hoping that this would happen due to living 2 hours drive away, so I jumped at the chance. He asked me to return to the waiting room while they put together the Oath Appointment notice. the interview took less than 10 minutes I think. I waited for close to an hour in the waiting room, and noticed that several other people who did not have family with them also returned to wait from the interview area, also waiting for the same day oath notices.
After an hour a different man came out and called out a few names including mine. He lead us to the oath ceremony room, explained that we would be coming back to this room at 12.15. He handed us our notices, and asked that we check everything before leaving. there was one person in the group that had a name change, and he said that she would be going to the Court Oath Ceremony later in August. We were then told to go get some lunch and come back about 12.
I arrived back at about 12 (After checking out the NASCAR museum downtown). There was a line out the door to get through security, and it became evident that a lot more people would be taking the oath today than just the people who had been interviewed that morning. After getting through security there was a series of lines that they took us through to make sure that we were seated in a particular order so that they could present the certificates sequentially. It took through to 1pm to get everybody seated, and get family in and settled. 75 people from 41 countries. It was interesting to see that the mood within the USCIS facility had become much lighter, the staff are always pretty friendly there, but all of the visitors were either naturalizing or watching family/friends naturalizing, so everyone was smiling and joking around etc. That was a nice aspect.
We started off with a speech from the Womens Voting League to tell everyone about getting registered. Then a video about immigrant history (Images and music). Then the presenter, who was a supervisor at the USCIS location made a speech about her own immigration journey. Then they read out the countries alphabetically, and as you heard your own country, you stood. We also said the oath, and sang the national anthem. Shortly after that they then presented the certificates. One by one your name was called, and you went up in front of everyone had received your certificate. As that happened you were free to pause and let your family/friends take pictures. This was actually quite entertaining, trying to see people take a perfectly timed photo, usually on a phone they were unfamiliar with. Then the video from Obama welcoming us. And that was it! I think I was out of there by 2pm.
Quite a good experience. If you are interviewing early at Charlotte, later in the week, then I guess there is a good chance that you will do the same day Oath. If you did want to delay it, then I'm sure that would be fine and you could then invite family and give them the heads up.
See you in the passport tracker forums everyone!

Firstly, congrats everyone. Its been awesome watching the progress these last few weeks!
Its been a week since my interview and oath in Charlotte. Since theres so little information on the Charlotte location I figured I'd write it out properly for people searching in the future. Ill post this on the Charlotte office reviews as well.
I had an 8.25am interview, arrived an hour early as I had a 2 hour drive to get there and wasn't sure what Charlotte traffic would be like. The check in lady just laughed at me being there so early, but had no problem with me staying in the first waiting room. at 8.15am she called me up and had me go throguh to the "appointments" waiting room. There were a few families there with little ones, in both waiting rooms, I mention that as I've seen it asked a few times.
At 8.25 I was called by a friendly but professional IO. He took me back to the interview room. Had me sit down, then swear in, and then hand over my GC and drivers license.
He went trough the N400 yes/no questions really quickly. Without even looking at the sheet, he clearly had them memorized, and I joked with him that he must have done this a few times. The joke was well received.
From the N400 questions, he moved straight into the civics test. The questions he asked were the exact same that Ste&Velma got, even in the same order. So I'm copying them here.
1. Amendments about who can vote,
2. U.S. concern during Cold War,
3. Reasons colonists came to America,
4. Right or freedom from the First Amendment,
5. Who is in charge of the executive branch,
6. If President can no longer serve, who becomes President
I got all 6 right, and then he asked me to read a sentence 'Which State has the Most People?". However, curiously, he gave me a answer to a different question to write. I can't actually recall what it was, but it had New York in it.
He congratulated me and said that I had passed, and was approved. No evidence needed out of the stuff that I had bought along.
He asked if I could take the oath that day at 12.15. I had been hoping that this would happen due to living 2 hours drive away, so I jumped at the chance. He asked me to return to the waiting room while they put together the Oath Appointment notice. the interview took less than 10 minutes I think. I waited for close to an hour in the waiting room, and noticed that several other people who did not have family with them also returned to wait from the interview area, also waiting for the same day oath notices.
After an hour a different man came out and called out a few names including mine. He lead us to the oath ceremony room, explained that we would be coming back to this room at 12.15. He handed us our notices, and asked that we check everything before leaving. there was one person in the group that had a name change, and he said that she would be going to the Court Oath Ceremony later in August. We were then told to go get some lunch and come back about 12.
I arrived back at about 12 (After checking out the NASCAR museum downtown). There was a line out the door to get through security, and it became evident that a lot more people would be taking the oath today than just the people who had been interviewed that morning. After getting through security there was a series of lines that they took us through to make sure that we were seated in a particular order so that they could present the certificates sequentially. It took through to 1pm to get everybody seated, and get family in and settled. 75 people from 41 countries. It was interesting to see that the mood within the USCIS facility had become much lighter, the staff are always pretty friendly there, but all of the visitors were either naturalizing or watching family/friends naturalizing, so everyone was smiling and joking around etc. That was a nice aspect.
We started off with a speech from the Womens Voting League to tell everyone about getting registered. Then a video about immigrant history (Images and music). Then the presenter, who was a supervisor at the USCIS location made a speech about her own immigration journey. Then they read out the countries alphabetically, and as you heard your own country, you stood. We also said the oath, and sang the national anthem. Shortly after that they then presented the certificates. One by one your name was called, and you went up in front of everyone had received your certificate. As that happened you were free to pause and let your family/friends take pictures. This was actually quite entertaining, trying to see people take a perfectly timed photo, usually on a phone they were unfamiliar with. Then the video from Obama welcoming us. And that was it! I think I was out of there by 2pm.
Quite a good experience. If you are interviewing early at Charlotte, later in the week, then I guess there is a good chance that you will do the same day Oath. If you did want to delay it, then I'm sure that would be fine and you could then invite family and give them the heads up.
See you in the passport tracker forums everyone!

There was a hold up at the Vermont service center last year as well in early to mid April, check out the April Filers 2015. Personally I think its due to the H1B closing at the start of April (Which also gets filed at Vermont and California service centers), with them running the lottery and then processing the winners, before mailing back all the unlucky petitions. (150,000 of them this time around).
So probably no need to panic.

If you are using Gmail, check your "important" folder. For some reason sometimes items get filed in there.

Ok I'm gonna attempt to tell u guys about our interview experience. Our interview was at 11:15 a.m so we got to the building about 10 o clock lol. Didnt want to b late so we got there n just decided to walk around. We then went inside the building about 10:30. We had to go thru security (airport style) n then we went in tha waiting room n gave them our appointment notice n they gave us a number n then we sat down. We waited about an hr before our number was called and all this time we were just sitting there chatting away so we wouldn't b nervous. When the ISO came out n called us n told us to follow her to her office... I think she's of russian background bcuz of her name. She looked soo serious. We couldn't get a smile out of her throughout the entire interview. Ok. Before we sat down she swore us both in. She then asked my wife my full name n date of birth which she answered n then she directed the same question to me. Then she asked my wife how we met n my wife told her our love story (we've known each other since we were kids, grew up in the same community in Jamaica before she moved away). Honestly I can't remember every question she asked us bcuz she asked us every single question there is lol. I was so nervous the whole time. She asked me about my wife's siblings n if her sis had kids n I answered yes n she asked me to tell her all the names n ages of my wifes nieces n nephews that lived in the house. She asked my wife if she had any kids of her own n she said no but I butt in n told her that my wife is preggers. She told us congrats n asked if we had a letter from the doc which we gave to her. She asked my wife about my education n where I worked back home in Jamaica. She then asked me what does my wife do n where she worked n how she got to work in the morning. She asked for our joint docs n we told her that we pay rent n utilities to my wife's sister. We gave her our bank statements tho. She looked at it and asked who bought the dunkin donuts lol. I smiled n answered. She asked about pics n we showed her our wedding album n she looked through allllll the pics n took two. She asked about our wedding n stuff. When she finished asking all her questions she asked me a series of yes/no questions n I answered no to all of them. Then she went and photocopied all our documents. N when she cane back she took my passport n took out the I-94 n started using a pen to write in my passport! I was going crazy! I thought she was writing my deportation notice! When she was finished she printed a letter n gave it to us n said our application was being held for further review. I died right there. I was.........lost. btw the interview lasted about 45 mins!! I barely told her to have a nice day n I got up n left. After the interview we were in Times square n went to eat. It was mayb another 45 mins that I got an updated via an uscis app for my phone (thanks carla) n the message said card production! !!!!!!!! I died again in the restaurant! !! Lol I was soooo happy at that moment I ordered a drink to celebrate! Btw we got home the we got another update. It moved from card production n went back to decision. The msg said that I'm being registered as a permanent resident. Btw she didn't even explain any ROC to us so ill have to check with u guys on that on. Now I'm just sitting here n I'm just elated. I love new york! My new home. My journey is over.

I sweated abuot a very similar thing!
I travelled on an L1-B, and was admitted back into the country with 2 weeks left before it expired (End of may). The border agent asked if I had applied for an extension or change of status, I said I was married and was undergoing the AOS. She was very helpful and nice, and even suggested that I ask to get my passport stamped at my AOS interview.
One month prior to that I had entered and was given a very hard time by the border agent. She asked if I had applied to change status, I said yes based on marriage, and she commented n a very rude tone 'Thats how you all do it!". She then started asking a stack of questions about my income, previous marriage etc. What annoyed me is she wasn't taking any notes or anything, she was essentially giving me a hard time because she could. But the crux of it is, I was admitted again without anything more than some annoying questions.
So from experience I can tell you that you will likely get questioned about your intentions once your visa does expire, but its fine as long as you do have a sensible answer. If there was any doubt involved, or if it had been a close call, then I would have been sent to secondary Im sure.
One tip in case you were not aware. The I94s are now handled digitally, you will not be given a copy when you enter. Do make sure you print it out later at home as I was asked for mine at our AOS interiview. Im sure thay can look it up if you don't have it, but always nice to be prepared!

Jeez smh.....so it takes them approx 20 days to say "hey seems like this is the correct piece of evidence!".....I'm so tempted to make an infopass appt in the near future and beg them to speed up my EAD. I need to work and provide for my family. I get job offers everyday for 50K - 60K that I just cannot commit to due to the uncertainty of when I will get the damn thing smh. I so frustrated I dont care much for the green card anymore but when a man cant work and provide for his family sometimes it hurts my ego. I dont like hand outs from friends/family....smh. Sorry for the rant...

To answer my own question...and fyi
USCIS assigns a 13-character case number (receipt number) to each application, for example: SRC 06 012 54321. A case number is structured like this: AAA-XX-YYY-Z-MMMM:
AAA: The service center or office that received your case. SRC - Texas Service Center (TSC, formerly Southern Regional Center)
LIN - Nebraska Service Center (NSC, Lincoln, NE)
WAC - California Service Center (CSC, formerly Western Adjudication Center)
EAC - Vermont Service Center (VSC, formerly Eastern Adjudication Center)
MSC - Missouri Service Center (MSC, transitioned to NBC)
NBC - National Benefits Center (NBC, for N-400, I-90 and other cases) XX: The fiscal year of USCIS, from October 1 to September 30. Cases filed from 10/01/2006 to 09/30/2007 will have xx = 07 YYY: The working day of the fiscal year when your case is received. 10/01 = 001 Z: This digit is part of a serial number but may have certain meanings for USCIS internal use. MMMM: A serial number assigned to your case based on the number of cases received, starting from 0001 http://immigrationroad.com/green-card/i-485_adjustment-status.php