JimmyHou

I am very happy. After phone calls, inquiry and two infopass appointments I have this notice in my case status
Oath Ceremony Notice Was MailedWe scheduled your oath ceremony for Receipt Number NBC* *********. We sent a notice with the date, time, and location of your oath ceremony to the address you gave us. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your notice by November 12, 2016, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

1- All first time applicants have to submit their applications in person, but these applications are then mailed to a processing center.
You can apply at locations designated on the State Department website. These include courts, post offices, and libraries.
That's the usual process. These are called Passport Acceptance Locations
2- At some naturalization ceremonies, there'll be a desk set up for people to submit passport applications. You'll need all the documents you'd normally need while applying at the post office. They'll take your paperwork and send it off, just like the usual process. Many ceremonies do not have such a desk.
Both 1 and 2 involve your paperwork being sent somewhere else.
3- If you are in a hurry to travel and can prove it (within two weeks of travel), you can apply at the closest Passport Agency. They will make sure you get your passport before your flight. Using this method usually means that your application will be processed at the Agency at which you applied, but in some cases, they send it somewhere else. You may get your passport by mail or you may be asked to come back to pick it up.
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/where-to-apply.html

I thought this might help those of us considering a legal name change.
The N400 application is (in most cases) a great time to legally change your name. It's fast and it's free. Outside of the N400 process, a name change requires a visit to your local courthouse, may require a public announcement in a newspaper (depending on your state and local laws) and will cost you money. In New York City, the cost is about $65 while on Houston it is over $400, so cost varies from city to city.
You can change your name to anything you want within certain limitations. You can't change your name to impersonate someone or in an attempt to hide your identity for illegal purposes. Other than that, it's up to you. If you are Arthur Robert Wilkinson, you can become Geraldo Mohamed Leibowitz.
It's important to note that if you are just changing your last name to take your spouse's last name or to revert to your maiden name, then a legal name change is not required. This is because a marriage certificate or a divorce certificate acts as proof of legal name change. This is true EVEN IF your certificate does not show the new name that you want to take. For example, if Anita Mary Harrolds marries Geraldo Mohamed Leibowitz, she can legally be known as Anita Mary Leibowitz even though that name does not appear anywhere on the certificate. In fact, she can also hyphenate both last names without a legal name change. However, if she wanted to change her middle name from Mary to Margaret, she would need a legal name change.
To request a legal name change through the naturalization process, fill out the name change section of the N400. The interviewer may ask you to confirm that you still want to change your name because some people change their minds between the application and the interview. The interviewer may ask for proof of your current legal name. In case of a discrepancy between your green card and your passport, a birth, marriage, divorce, or name change certificate determines your current name, so make sure you have these with you (if they apply in your case...it's always a good idea to have your translated birth certificate with you at the interview). The interviewer will print out some forms (three I think) for you to check and sign. These should have your old and new names on them.
You will have to be scheduled for a judicial oath ceremony. This is because USCIS does not have the legal authority to change your name and must ask a judge to do so. If your city has regular judicial ceremonies then there shouldn't be any delays. If your city holds regular administrative ceremonies, but not many judicial ceremonies, then the name change may cause a delay. Some cities (including San Francisco and San Jose) have stopped scheduling judicial ceremonies altogether. Applicants in these cities cannot legally change their names through the N400 application. Your interviewer will inform you of this and will cross out the name change section during the interview. You will have to request a regular name change before or after naturalization if you live in these cities (see above).
At your oath ceremony you will be given your naturalization certificate as well as a name change certificate signed by a judge. This second certificate will show your old and new names and you'll need it to update your name with your banks, on your drivers license, credit cards, etc. In addition to doing all the paperwork to make these changes, you'll also have to consider the effect of the name change if you have dual citizenship; your name on your two passports may not match and your other country may require you to go through different name change procedures or may not allow name changes at all. People do travel using passports with different names, but you have to be careful when booking tickets and you may want to travel with your name change certificate (and translations).
If you want to check whether or not (and how often) judicial ceremonies are held in your location, find your office here and look under naturalization ceremonies:
http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices

You were right on that one, I went today for infopass appointment, and after long time trying to find any info about my case, I was told its pending background check and of course no clue how long background check will take! It is very frustrating, I am not even sure they started background check! It took them forever to even locate my case.. I hope it is not on some desk collecting dust..

It's not common, but it happens.
What did they ask about your greencard case? Is there anything unusual about it, such as you got divorced from the USC who brought you over shortly after you got the greencard, or criminal convictions etc?

Happens regularly.
1- Make a copy of the letter (front and back) and send it by mail to the office address on the letter along with a written explanation of what happened. This is the formal procedure for when you miss or plan to miss a ceremony.
2a- Make an Infopass appointment as soon as possible. Go in person with the letter in hand and tell them what happened.
2b- If there isn't one in the next week or two, and if the office is very close; stop by anyway and explain to the guard what happened. Even without an appointment, they may let you in with your oath letter.
2c- If you can't do either 2a or 2b, then call, and insist on speaking to a Tier 2 officer. Explain that there was a uscis error.

Happens regularly.
1- Make a copy of the letter (front and back) and send it by mail to the office address on the letter along with a written explanation of what happened. This is the formal procedure for when you miss or plan to miss a ceremony.
2a- Make an Infopass appointment as soon as possible. Go in person with the letter in hand and tell them what happened.
2b- If there isn't one in the next week or two, and if the office is very close; stop by anyway and explain to the guard what happened. Even without an appointment, they may let you in with your oath letter.
2c- If you can't do either 2a or 2b, then call, and insist on speaking to a Tier 2 officer. Explain that there was a uscis error.

I don't believe the 90 day residency applies after moving. You need to be resident in the state you initially file for 90 days.

There are no RFEs prior to the interview. For N400s, your application is either initially accepted or it is returned to you. RFEs come after the interview.
So just send what they ask for, and take the extra evidence to the interview.
In many cases (personally, I think most cases), they don't even look at your file before you walk into the room for your interview.
If you haven't provided what they need at that point, that's when you might get an RFE (either on the spot or after the interview by mail).
Speaking for myself, I would take copies (originals where necessary) of everything sent with the applications and all supporting documents.
If you send everything with the application and they misplace one page they need, you can end up with a delayed application. So since you'll need to take everything to the interview anyway, there's no point in sending in anything more than what the checklist asks for.

I think that the OP is filling out his own N400 but is asking about what to put down for the question about his wife's immigration status.
The two preceding replies seem to address the I-130 for the wife, whereas the OP is asking about his own N400. If the question is, in fact about the wife's application, then you shouldn't be filing an N400 now.
If you're asking about your own N400, as I think you are, then:
If she is abroad, I would simply type "Abroad - I-130 Pending"
If she is in the US, I would type her current status and add that the I-130 is Pending.
That's what I would do, but I haven't done this myself.

No, an infopass is just an opportunity for you to visit in person and ask about your application. All the letter says is that they have not made a decision. My guess (just my opinion) is that they have not looked at your case since the interview, which is why I encourage people to contact them early. This was, probably, a standard letter that was sent in response to your inquiry. You could have asked for an infopass appointment at any point since you applied. What happens now will be one of the following:
1- Nothing. You will continue to wait until you contact them by phone or schedule an infopass. The point of hose actions is to get someone to physically pick up your file and make a decision. The letter itself does not indicate that any further action will be taken anytime soon.
2- Your inquiry may have already got someone to look at your file. While the standard letter was on its way, someone may have looked at your file.
Remember that uscis has, by law, 120 days from the day of the interview to make a decision. Not 120 days from an the response. 120 days from the interview. After that you can request, by filing a lawsuit, that a judge either order them to make a decision or that the judge make the decision for them.
Your next step should be to request an infopass appointment immediately. Tell them that they have 120 according to the uscis policy manual. Take a print out if you want to.
If you don't hear from them within a month of an infopass, I would write to uscis and to your congressman and explain your intent to file a writ of mandamus in court against uscis. This often forces them to make a decision to avoid losing their decision rights to a judge.
Remember that all you can do is push them to make a decision; that decision may be an approval or a denial.

This is correct.
There's no issue here. There's no doubt. Carrying a passport and allegiance have nothing to do with one another. Two completely separate issues.

One does not have to give up one's birth country citizenship or passport in order to naturalize.

1- Two months for biometrics is incredibly unusual... that's longer than any case I've seen on here in 3 years. Your case seems to be closer to the norm than your friend's.
2- While I don't at all think they are rushing applications, USCIS anticipated (correctly) an increase in the number of applications and has tried where possible to accommodate this through extra manpower, distributing caseload, etc. So I don't think they're trying to speed things up, they're just trying to compensate so as to avoid a slowdown.

1- The US does not recognize dual citizenship; it simply has no laws on the subject one way or the other (with the exception of point 4 below)
2- At no point will you be required to renounce your current citizenship or will you have to surrender your passport. Any officer who asks you to do so is overstepping his authority, and you should decline and ask to speak with a supervisor.
3- You are required to give up allegiance (not citizenship) to all foreign countries.
4- You can lose your US citizenship if you acquire a new citizenship (or require an old one) with the intention of giving up US citizenship. This usually only comes up when someone acquires a new nationality in a country that requires him to sign a statement renouncing all former nationalities. Even in such cases, loss of US citizenship is rare unless you apply for renunciation at a US embassy.
So for the US and the UK, you'll be a dual citizen, but the US will only see you as a US citizen.
You can live in the US or abroad as a US citizen, but you'll have to file taxes wherever you live (your deduction for UK taxes will probably mean that you'll pay nothing or close to nothing in the US).

You have to apply where you actually live.
You have to have lived in California for 3 months before you apply.
If you move back to Seattle, then you'll have to wait 3 months before you apply.
If you don't have a state ID at the interview, make sure you take other forms of photo ID (like your Washington ID) and also take proof that you've been living in California for 3 months before you mailed your application (rental agreements, mortgage, employment letter, etc.).

I saw this message today on my status.
08/31/2016
On August 31, 2016, your inquiry about why your case is taking longer than our processing time, referral number SR***********CHI, was assigned to an officer for response.

You should return ALL Green Card that USCIS issued to you (Condition or 10 years). Any other documnets USCIS issued to you for example Working permit (I-765 procedures)...

1- If you move to PA before you submit your application you need to live there for 3 months before applying.
2- If you apply before you move, you will have to notify USCIS of your new address and your application will be transferred to your new field office.
The latter may be faster if everything goes well (because you won't have to wait the extra 3 months before applying), but you'll be relying on USCIS to correctly make the change to your application.
People have used both approaches successfully; I would personally wait until I moved before applying.
If your move is still a long way off, you may finish the whole process in NJ (this is very unlikely if you are moving within 6 months).
Even if you apply in NJ, you won't be able to come back to NJ for your interview after you move; you will be outside of NJ's area of jurisdiction. The exception is if you can demonstrate that you are still an NJ resident and are only in PA temporarily.

Interview was yesterday in Detroit. Arrived about an hour early, the waiting room was filled with kids and cell phones (both of which we hadn't brought along). Got called in about 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Had a very strict officer who gave lots of "orders" step forward, sit down, take a piece of paper, etc. She was nice but not really friendly and very much an officer. Before even saying hello jumped into the reading and writing portion of the exam. and then straight onto the civics questions. Reading was "who is on the dollar bill" writing was Washington is on the dollar bill. Questions included when the constitution was written, 1st president, where is the statue of liberty capital of the US, number of senators, and boarder of canada and mexico. Then lots of unexpected "have you ever" questions. Asked if ever drinks alcohol, how often is drunk, and other questions that we are not sure where they came from or why. No history of anything likely. Then asked name of children and birth-dates. If spouse is US citizen, birth date, spouse's employment status, employer and profession. How many trips out of the US in the last 5 years. When was the last. Asked if filed taxes, if owes anything, when filed last taxes (a month after our application was sent). And asked height of applicant. Asked several other questions and after 30 minutes was dismissed to wait for follow up paperwork. We then waited in the waiting room and got an invitation to the Grand Rapids oath ceremony on Aug 17. It seemed that everyone interviewing that day was going to the grand rapids oath ceremony. They were calling up the people who interviewed and giving them all the grand rapids information.
Anyone know about how long the oath ceremony process should take? Have to figure out how much time to take off work.

You don't lose your status when you get married.
Also, you can't apply based on marriage immediately after getting married; you have to be married for 3 years.
So, you can apply under the 5 year rule in September 2017 or you can apply based on marriage (3 year rule) in September 2020 (not June 2020). It's up to you, but obviously, the 5 year rule will be much faster.

hi
it's not a confusion, not only here there are dozens of examples, but in other forums, it happens all the time
if you apply for citizenship based on the 3 year rule, they ask for bona fide marriage at the interview, the person is required to prove bona fide marriage, just like the first time and ROC, the will ask for co mingling of finances and ask questions about marriage at the interview
so yes, it is more of a hassle bringing all that evidence of bona fide marriage to a citizenship interview
but if you apply based on the 5 year rule, you aren't apply based on marriage to a USC, but on your own, you only need to send a minimum of paperwork compared to the 3 year rule

Yes, that's true. But your birth certificate should already be on file.
The interviewer is unlikely to look at it unless the names on the green card and passport don't match. If they do match he'll just assume that that is your correct legal name.
If the passport and green card names don't match and your birth certificate isn't on file from your green card application, then you might be asked to mail a copy because they'll need to figure out what your legal name is.
I think it's a good idea to take the birth certificate with you. There are lots of things that come up in the interview that are not specifically asked for in advance, so it's better to be prepared.

If she husbands name is David Niven and she became Sue Niven then she wouldn't need a formal name change; she can just use her marriage certificate. Since she added the "David" that complicates things. I think this would require a formal name change but I'm not sure. So here's what she can do:
1- Find out if she had a judicial ceremony or an administrative ceremony. Does she remember having a judge at her ceremony or was it a. USCIS official who administered the oath? Did she sign additional name change documents at her interview (the interviewer would have printed these and had her check the old and new names and sign the papers at the interview)? If there was no judge or if she didn't sign those extra forms then she didn't do a legal name change.
2-a- if she had a judicial ceremony, she can go to the clerk of the federal district court and request a copy of the name change certificate. These should cost $10-$20.
2-b- If she had an administrative ceremony or a judicial ceremony without a formal name change then she has two options.
2-b-i- She can try to use her marriage certificate as evidence of the name change. This may not work because she is doing more than taking her husbands last name.
2-b-ii- She may have to go to court and get a legal name change so that her name matches the name on her naturalization certificate.
In short, she needed a legal name change and USCIS messed up. Either they forgot to give her the name change certificate or they never requested one from a judge because they thought it was just a marriage name change. Adding the husband's first name makes this (I think) more than a marriage name change which would have not required a certificate.
So first step would be to check with the court (if she remembers the things mentioned above).
Second step would be to use the marriage certificate as evidence of name change.
Third step would be to go to court and request a name change. This won't be free.

I thought this might help those of us considering a legal name change.
The N400 application is (in most cases) a great time to legally change your name. It's fast and it's free. Outside of the N400 process, a name change requires a visit to your local courthouse, may require a public announcement in a newspaper (depending on your state and local laws) and will cost you money. In New York City, the cost is about $65 while on Houston it is over $400, so cost varies from city to city.
You can change your name to anything you want within certain limitations. You can't change your name to impersonate someone or in an attempt to hide your identity for illegal purposes. Other than that, it's up to you. If you are Arthur Robert Wilkinson, you can become Geraldo Mohamed Leibowitz.
It's important to note that if you are just changing your last name to take your spouse's last name or to revert to your maiden name, then a legal name change is not required. This is because a marriage certificate or a divorce certificate acts as proof of legal name change. This is true EVEN IF your certificate does not show the new name that you want to take. For example, if Anita Mary Harrolds marries Geraldo Mohamed Leibowitz, she can legally be known as Anita Mary Leibowitz even though that name does not appear anywhere on the certificate. In fact, she can also hyphenate both last names without a legal name change. However, if she wanted to change her middle name from Mary to Margaret, she would need a legal name change.
To request a legal name change through the naturalization process, fill out the name change section of the N400. The interviewer may ask you to confirm that you still want to change your name because some people change their minds between the application and the interview. The interviewer may ask for proof of your current legal name. In case of a discrepancy between your green card and your passport, a birth, marriage, divorce, or name change certificate determines your current name, so make sure you have these with you (if they apply in your case...it's always a good idea to have your translated birth certificate with you at the interview). The interviewer will print out some forms (three I think) for you to check and sign. These should have your old and new names on them.
You will have to be scheduled for a judicial oath ceremony. This is because USCIS does not have the legal authority to change your name and must ask a judge to do so. If your city has regular judicial ceremonies then there shouldn't be any delays. If your city holds regular administrative ceremonies, but not many judicial ceremonies, then the name change may cause a delay. Some cities (including San Francisco and San Jose) have stopped scheduling judicial ceremonies altogether. Applicants in these cities cannot legally change their names through the N400 application. Your interviewer will inform you of this and will cross out the name change section during the interview. You will have to request a regular name change before or after naturalization if you live in these cities (see above).
At your oath ceremony you will be given your naturalization certificate as well as a name change certificate signed by a judge. This second certificate will show your old and new names and you'll need it to update your name with your banks, on your drivers license, credit cards, etc. In addition to doing all the paperwork to make these changes, you'll also have to consider the effect of the name change if you have dual citizenship; your name on your two passports may not match and your other country may require you to go through different name change procedures or may not allow name changes at all. People do travel using passports with different names, but you have to be careful when booking tickets and you may want to travel with your name change certificate (and translations).
If you want to check whether or not (and how often) judicial ceremonies are held in your location, find your office here and look under naturalization ceremonies:
http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices