Jay2Pnoy

Yes, I got approved! And today, I recieved a text/email messages, that I am on the oath ceremony que. Just waiting for the hard copy of the notice with the Oath Ceremony schedule. Salamat, Kaibigan. Malaking tulong ka sa 'kin.

Congratulations kaibigan! I am contemplating on applying for dual citizenship now, the reacquisition of my Filipino citizenship. I hope the process is easy. You should receive the oath letter soon.

I was just wondering what does the word "salamat" mean in your language? In Arabic, Salamat usually means We wish you best of safety, or we hope you get to your destination safe. I know my question is out of immigration discussion lol.

Salamat is a filipino word for "thank you."

Kaibigan means "friend."

Applied passport on Oct 4, received it Oct 12 = 8 days

Today, Oct 18 received naturalization cert = 6 days from receiving passport.

Same with me, the IO kept the copy I printed off online. The card I requested in the mail she asked me to keep.

I also wrote on the front, in the memo section. No issues with that.

Congratulations! I felt the same way when I was naturalized, in fact that's how everybody should feel. My sister was sitting next to me during our Oath and little did she know I was crying deep inside of me that only I dreamt about it when I was a kid had just one day happened.

Flying out and arrived the same day, that was insane.Maybe that or the US passport agency is not too bureaucratic like the rest.

congrats;)

only 8 day...that was fast. did you apply for an expedite passport?

Thanks!

Nope, routine service - 4 weeks I think, but it sure glazing fast. I applied on October 4 at the local post office, I received the passport in the mail on October 12.

Thanks Irma for starting this thread. This helped a lot...and to jay2pinoy, for sharing the detailed experience in the Chicago field office. I had my interview October 9, and before I get out of the door I see to it that I checked jay's story so I will have an idea on what to expect. Thanks guys!

Kaibigan, it's a pleasure to know that our shared experiences help one way or another. I expect that you too were approved! Congratulations?!

Your feeling was right . They scheduled me for oath today ! Yayyy

Have you updated you SS or not yet?

Great! I guessed it right! =)

You are most likely scheduled for an oath 9-14 days from when you were scheduled, so be prepared.

I have not updated SSA yet, I will do it at a later time, just gotta do a lot of things this week and the next couple of weeks since I finally sold my house and moving things around. You should update SSA 10 days after naturalization.

Finally received my US passport today, 8 days total from the day I applied at the local post office. Yay!

My passport arrived in 12 days from the day which I applied.

I kind of hate the picture but whatever...

I am so happy, I wanna use it already.

The website still says that my application is in the final stages, but it was mailed October 10, I sent the application on October 4 at the local post office, passport was issued October 9. It took 6 days to mail the passport, and 8 days altogether before I received the passport. It sure helped when I bugged the customer service when I told them I will travel out of the country within 2 weeks.

Yeah, I checked the website too and what it says is that it should arrive AROUND oct 14.

Mine didn't say "on or BEFORE"

I truly hope it arrives before the given date. I am soooo excited about having an American passport.

Mine says it should arrive on or before October 16. But guess what, it arrived in the mail today! The passport was delivered from the Passport Agency in Chicago, IL, I don't know if that makes a difference since I live in the Chicago burbs.

Yup, the passport application locator number is helpful, you may use it as a reference when calling the National Passport Agency or when sending a query via email.

Several ways to check the application:

1. Through the website - https://passportstatus.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp

2. By calling the service at the toll-free phone number - 1-877-487-2778

3. You may contact the National Passport Information Center via e-mail at http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/npic_898.html. With this service, you are required to provide the application locator number.

I applied for a passport, routine service, Oct 4. I checked the online status today, online says that I am in the final processing stage and that I should receive the passport on or before Oct 16. Fast service, may even receive it less than 12 days.

I feel you would receive the oath letter soon, by the end of this week if not early next week. Good luck!

I checked the status online, finally in the system! Can't wait till I receive the passport.

Thank you.

Hey Nina80 -- Congrats! What's the status of your approval/oath?

I applied for a US passport last week, didnt know it takes 2-3 days from mailing to upload in the passport agency system. But online still says "not found". It isn't just the USCIS, it's the entire bureaucracy. LoL

Anyways, I called the National Passport Agency customer service, the lady on the phone said my application is in process and I should call back in case I want to know when the passport will be delivered/mailed, guess they're not planning on updating their online application status.

No refunds at all. Might as well continue with the process, just ask for extensions for fingerprint and interview, drag the application as long as you can, anyways, $680 might not be a lot, but why pay twice.

You may request records from CBP through Freedom of Information Act. Just know the details about any interaction you may have with CBP officers at the POE. I will provide a link below:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/admin/fl/foia/

Types of records you can obtain from CBP:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/admin/fl/foia/records.xml

As complicated as your case is, hire an immigration lawyer, don't do it yourself.

I agree with the other postings, if you immigrated to the US through your "aunt" who's listed as your mother on the birth certificate, it may create real problems to your own immigration status. Unless you immigrated through different avenue, petitioning your real mother is still possible, but will be quite difficult, especially if you are not represented by a good immigration lawyer.

You will have to fix it on your birth certificate first, obtain affidavits from the country where you were born, notarize them, amend the birth certificate with your biological mother. DNA might show technically the same type of DNA, genes, etc since they are twins. It may be hard to prove, at least if there were affidavits, you will have proof to show relationship when you send in your I-130.

When you submit the petition, ensure you also send in a brief explanaining the situation, when I-130 is approved and the case is transferred to the Consulate or Embassy, very likely the consular office will request further documentation, including affidavits, helpful if you could obtain affidavit from your "Aunt" as well.

DNA test can be done, but as I mentioned, since they are twins, likely they have the same if not identical DNA codes.

It's really frustrating, I hope the rescheduled biometrics appointment comes in the mail soon.

Yup, but wait for the Social Security, give it 10 days so that they have the updated info in the system.

Congrats! We are finally done and over with this entire system.

Irma,

Please post your oath experience... sure would help other Chicago filers.

Congrats again!

Congrats Irma... we topped the leader board in the Phoenix filers...

USC, finally!! =)

If it's missing or lost after filing but prior to naturalization, simple as getting a police report does it. So make copies, if needed colored picture copy to show as proof in case it's no longer in your possession.

Just to fill you in. I called again about my interview appointment today. I spoke to a different person than yesterday and she created an electronic request for me to get me the interview date. She said I should from them by October 16th. They do not know what they are doing. Everybody will tell you something else. Thanks Hobokenworkngman and Jay2Pnoy for your advises and informations. I will keep you posted about my process. B.

Yup! Next time, when you have doubts and think things aren't right, when calling the customer service number, ask for tier 2 immigration officer, some service reps will ask too many questions, these guys see the same thing you see on the uscis.com website, it's a waste of time. Tier 2 are real immigration officers, they have full access to immigration cases.

Good luck!

I checked, wasn't registered. I'll put in a request for a letter.

I'm encouraged by all the opinions that I don't need to renew my greencard, but this document (question 24) seems to specifically disagree.. so I'm a bit worried..

Just get the status letter, won't hurt it's free. Plenty of time between now and the interview.

Just last week, my cousin's fiance's green card expired in April 2013, he didnt bother to renew, asked me for my opinion, I told him the same thing I said to you, know what he did? because he didnt believe he went to USCIS office in Chicago, made an appointment, he's told NOT to renew, but instead file for US naturalization. I asked this same question to 4 different immigration lawyers in the past, all 4 have the same response --- you can even apply with an expired green card, only card expires, status does not.

Visit this link:

http://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/green-card-expired-april-2013--applying-for-n-400--1409696.html

The above link should be sufficient advice, these are immigration attorneys.