budgie

Just wanted to share my experience of the Oath Ceremony during Covid as I know everyone's is a bit different and it's nice to know.
 
My ceremony was scheduled for 8:30am in St Louis, I arrived at about 8.15 - the letter specifically stated not to arrive more than 30 minutes prior, I had planned to arrive earlier but due to bad roads from snow and ice it took a little while to get downtown.
Walked in where security asked covid questions, took temperatures and went through security, was told about 5 times to keep masks on. 
Directed down the hall where we were checked in, any family/guests were sent to wait in the cafeteria as only participants were allowed in (this was also on the letter but some people still tried) 
There were 10 numbered seats spread out through the room, we were sent to our number and given a packet of information, passport application, mini flag etc.
Our USCIS rep was late due to weather but we all started checking in at about 8.45, just going over the form on the back of our appointment letter, giving in old green cards and confirming our information on the citizenship certificate was correct. 
Once that was done the judge stood up, introduced himself, apologized profusely it wasn't a bigger deal as they normally had speakers, music etc.
Then went into formalities, we stood and took the oath, then the pledge of allegiance, the other USCIS rep congratulated us all, and passed out our certificates and sent us on our way as the next group of 10 was waiting to come in.
It all took just under an hour, was very relaxed and easy. 
Good luck if you're still in the process! It's long and stressful but worth it ❤

I did a review of the Albuquerque N400 interview here
🙂 For prep I just read my N400 and made sure I vaguely remembered when I was away and for how long. Nothing too intense. I also did the 2008 civics test about 10 times to make sure I knew the answers. I listened to the mp3 of questions and answers a couple of times too. I also watched the video about "What to expect" and it's pretty much accurate.
 
This forum has been such a help for me by the way. Been wonderful to feel so supported by others in the same boat. Hope you get your interview soon!

I did a review of the Albuquerque N400 interview here
🙂 For prep I just read my N400 and made sure I vaguely remembered when I was away and for how long. Nothing too intense. I also did the 2008 civics test about 10 times to make sure I knew the answers. I listened to the mp3 of questions and answers a couple of times too. I also watched the video about "What to expect" and it's pretty much accurate.
 
This forum has been such a help for me by the way. Been wonderful to feel so supported by others in the same boat. Hope you get your interview soon!

I did a review of the Albuquerque N400 interview here
🙂 For prep I just read my N400 and made sure I vaguely remembered when I was away and for how long. Nothing too intense. I also did the 2008 civics test about 10 times to make sure I knew the answers. I listened to the mp3 of questions and answers a couple of times too. I also watched the video about "What to expect" and it's pretty much accurate.
 
This forum has been such a help for me by the way. Been wonderful to feel so supported by others in the same boat. Hope you get your interview soon!

Hey November filers. Looks like I'm home free after a very short wait. I wish everyone else gets their cases handled soon! Good luck!
 
5yr N400, online application, re-used biometrics, Albuquerque NM office. 
 
USCIS data:
 
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled    January 12, 2022
We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review.    January 12, 2022
We scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.    December 8, 2021
We are actively reviewing your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Our records showed nothing is outstanding at this time.    November 28, 2021
We received your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and sent you a receipt notice.    November 27, 2021

Hey November filers. Looks like I'm home free after a very short wait. I wish everyone else gets their cases handled soon! Good luck!
 
5yr N400, online application, re-used biometrics, Albuquerque NM office. 
 
USCIS data:
 
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled    January 12, 2022
We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review.    January 12, 2022
We scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.    December 8, 2021
We are actively reviewing your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Our records showed nothing is outstanding at this time.    November 28, 2021
We received your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and sent you a receipt notice.    November 27, 2021

Hey November filers. Looks like I'm home free after a very short wait. I wish everyone else gets their cases handled soon! Good luck!
 
5yr N400, online application, re-used biometrics, Albuquerque NM office. 
 
USCIS data:
 
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled    January 12, 2022
We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review.    January 12, 2022
We scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.    December 8, 2021
We are actively reviewing your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Our records showed nothing is outstanding at this time.    November 28, 2021
We received your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and sent you a receipt notice.    November 27, 2021

Hey November filers. Looks like I'm home free after a very short wait. I wish everyone else gets their cases handled soon! Good luck!
 
5yr N400, online application, re-used biometrics, Albuquerque NM office. 
 
USCIS data:
 
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled    January 12, 2022
We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review.    January 12, 2022
We scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.    December 8, 2021
We are actively reviewing your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Our records showed nothing is outstanding at this time.    November 28, 2021
We received your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and sent you a receipt notice.    November 27, 2021

Hello everyone. Im posting this to share my experience and as reference for others
First i was scheduled today 6/7/21 at 9:15am (in San Bernardino, California)
9:05am- went inside the uscis building (they wouldnt allow you in earlier than 15mins from your appointment time); 
9:10am- reception check in (i wish i brought my phone with me inside i thought it wasnt allowed but everyone has their phone with them)
9:40am- i was finally called for my interview
Officer, asked for my passport (if i had one he said), driver’s license and green card Started with reading test , “today is columbus day” Followed by writing test, “ Columbus day is in October” Then the civic test;  2 rights in the declaration of independence Number of voting members of house of representatives 2 parts of congress what does the judicial branch do who is the chief justice 1 war fought in the 1900s trick question; he asked if i voted before i said no then asked again if i already registered to vote and again i said no Review of what is in your n400form asked for my first name, last name, middle name, then my ssn asked where i live, who i live with; (i had to give my other child’s birth certificate since she wasn’t included in the application initially) Asked if i was working, he then asked a follow up question of what i have been doing for the past 5 years since i just started working recently asked what and where my spouse is working Asked if this is my only marriage, and then if this is my spouse’s only marriage No other additional documents needed Final questions, where the standard if you were in a terrorist org, committed genocide, if convicted, if evaded tax etc he said he will approved my application and to proceed downstairs for my certificate 10:00am - proceeded to the oath ceremony room on the ground floor to fill up form that said nothing change from the time of interview to the oath taking ceremony (questions on the form where the same as the final questions above); they will give your oath taking packet (basically some pamphlets about citizenship and passport, small flag and copy of oath of allegiance)
10:15am - Oath taking; Got my Certificate of Naturalization 😁
 
documents i brought with me for the interview are;
Original documents:
Marriage Certificate CRBA and Birth Certificate of my children Spouse’s Certificate of Naturalization and passport My passport; green card ( both my 10 yr green card and my 2 yr expired green card from when i was in a cr1 visa) Copies of documents:
copy of green card copy of the original documents above tax transcripts (4 years including 2020) car insurance mortgage; previous rental lease life insurance utility bills Joint credit card statements copy of passport pages with entry and exit stamps (if you went outside the us), visa page  
note: they didn’t ask me anything but i brought everything just in case. That office used to not conduct same day oath taking but probably due to covid they do now, Which is more convenient for everyone.
Good luck everyone!! Thank you to everyone here for guiding me through my immigration process by posting their experiences. And now to pay it forward, i hope i might help someone who wanted an updated interview experience.

Hello. Back here again. Filed online under 5 year rule. Blown away by how much nicer it is to file online. I wish they'd had that for all the other visas before.  Good luck November 2021 filers. 

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? This is from the February filers thread.
https://screencast.com/t/IjOeMHyS5C

We just discovered something that might be helpful to others and thought of sharing it.
If you can't view your case status online (which has been the case with us since we received our NOA1 letter), try the following:
Log in or register at https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/ Click on (My account) on the right top corner of the page Under (Account actions), select (Add a paper-filed case) Enter your case number, and it should be added to your account Hope this helps

Update on my case, I received my 18-month extension letter on 8/27.
No notification for biometrics yet.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4/29 Package mailed out through USPS to CSC
5/2  Package delivered
6/6  Cash checked
6/11 Receive NOA with 12-month extension
8/27 Receive 18-month extension
 
 

There have been quite a few posts recently regarding traveling on an expired GC with the one year extension letter.
 
Page 38 of this document provides some reassurance:
 
https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Carrier Information Guide- English.pdf
 
It also makes clear that the 12 month extension is from the card expiry date, not the receipt date of the I-797.

Back on VJ after nearly two years! We mailed our ROC package yesterday. I haven't kept up with processing times in the meantime and didn't realize how backlogged they were. Wow! Hope everything goes smoothly for us all even if it's a long wait.

Just wanna give you guys some heads up. Something is going on at the SCs. April filers (I am one of them) are still waiting for their NOAs. No checks or Money orders have been cashed. They recived my package one month ago at the beginning of april. No cashed Money, no NOAs. Everybody is biting their nails. Nobody knows what is going on. So be prepared for a long, nerve racking waiting time.
Here is our google doc so you can follow any updates.
 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IUKuoR5xxDviiv7KgxOyg6IC8tsGG7SVD80w7V2S-Vk/edit#gid=0