FutureAmerican

Hi folks,

It's been forever since I was active on these forums - after I became a US Citizen in November 2011, I've been pretty busy with other stuff. I actually hit my 5 year anniversary of moving to the US on September 25th, and just wanted to post a quick update on what an amazing journey the past few years have been for me. I don't regret it for a second and despite having some difficult times, I truly believe that this is the greatest country to live in and am proud to be a part of it.

Most recently, I commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army National Guard, and will be heading off for Infantry Officer School in December, followed by Ranger School. I'm very happy and honored to be able to serve my adopted country!

I look back at how much discouragement I got from so many people - "You'll never fit in over there", "You'll never be accepted", "You'll want to move back after a few years"....nothing could be further from the truth. I've gone through extreme financial hardship, lived everywhere from 5 bedroom houses to Trailerparks, travelled countless miles and met everyone from pysch patients and drug/alcohol abusers to Generals and Senators.

None of this would have been possible without the first steps, and this website was part of that making the process so much easier. As ever, my offer in my signature line of assisting anyone interested in Security, Military, or Law Enforcement careers is always open.

Best of luck to everyone still in the process from K1's to N-400's, and thanks again to everyone who makes this website a success!

Hi all,

Just thought I'd post a brief "review" of my experience of the interview and oath ceremony in Centennial, Colorado.

To set the scene, I had filed my N-400 in July 2010, and was on vacation in the UK when my Interview Letter arrived, with an Interview Date of November 2nd. I had enlisted into the Colorado Army National Guard on August 10th, and was scheduled to ship to training at Ft Benning, Georgia, on November 1st. I set up an Infopass Appointment for October 12th (a couple of days after I got back from the UK), and brought a copy of my orders/military ID etc. The Agent spoke to their Supervisor, and within a couple of minutes I was told that I could have my Citizenship expedited and receive it before I shipped to training. They also gave me a form to be filled out by my Commanding Officer, which confirmed my military service. I got that and arranged a 2nd Infopass to drop it off on October 14th.

I got an email from an Immigration Supervisor on October 18th, saying that I could either come in for my Interview on October 20th or 28th - I chose the 20th and have my Interview time at 1115. This made for a very long day as I worked a night shift that day from 0000-0800!

Anyhow, I arrived at the Officer with my wife and Mother-in-Law, and was seen about 1200 for the Interview. The Agent was very nice and courteous, and after I took the oath she actually started by giving me back some of the evidence I'd sent in because it was too big for my file! (These were some of the bank statements I'd sent which were over an inch thick). She then took my Green Card/Driver's Licence, and asked me the Civics questions - I got the first 6 right so we stopped then and carried on.

As far as I remember, the questions were the following:

- Who is the Chief Justice?

- How many are in the House of Representatives?

- How long to we elect someone to the House of Representatives for?

- Name one war the US fought in the 1900s

I don't remember the other 2 unfortunately.

After that we went through my packet, I signed off on a few pages, the other change made was reflecting my vacation back to the UK from Sept 28th-Oct 8th. After that she gave me the sheet of paper informing me I had passed the interview, and another one telling me to come back at 2pm that day for the Oath Ceremony! The entire thing took about 10 minutes or so!

After some lunch at My Favorite Muffin, we came back about 30 mins early and checked through security. We were then seated for about 20 mins, when they moved us up a floor, and the New Citizens went in through one door and family/friends through another. While we were waiting for a couple of latecomers, we watched a video about Immigrants, with various images and music. We then stood and sung the national anthem, after which the Supervisor read off a list of all the countries represented there, and we stood up as our country was called. We then said the Oath of Allegiance, and watched "Proud to be an American". After that we had a few words from the Supervisor about the rights and responsibilities of Citizenship, and he then went up to each of us individually and shook our hand when he gave us our Certificate of Naturalization.

We were then done, so spent the rest of the day celebrating and posting the pics/video on Facebook which led to a HUGE response from friends!

It's been an incredible "Visajourney"....this site has been so invaluable in helping me with information and support, and the founders are truly great people for setting it up, as well as all those who contribute with advice. I'll try to stop by every so often and see if there's anything I can help with, and as ever, anyone interested in working in Security/Law Enforcement/Military in the US is ALWAYS welcome to contact me so I can help out.

Thank you all once again, and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Updating to reflect my US Citizenship - I was due to have my interview on November 2nd, but was able to get it expedited to October 20th because of military orders requiring me to ship on November 1st.

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USCIS Arizona Lockbox

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UserName..........Sent.......ChkCashd....NOA.....Fprints...Int Ltr...Intview.....Oath......Office

FUTUREAMERICAN...07/06/10....07/16/10..07/16/10..08/12/10..09/30/10..10/20/10..10/20/10..Denver, Colorado

Hicham&Darlene...07/06/10....--/--/--..07/27/10..08/30/10..09/08/10..10/15/10..--/--/--..Saint Paul, MN

ktoste...........07/06/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..09/02/10..--/--/--..10/14/10..11/15/10..Fresno, CA

ravi_niu.........07/07/10....07/20/10..07/24/10..08/06/10..08/25/10..10/13/10..11/02/10..Chicago, IL

Var..............07/14/10....07/22/10..07/23/10..08/30/10..--/--/--..11/03/10..--/--/--..Phoenix, AZ

ELW..............07/15/10....07/23/10..07/23/10..09/02/10..09/09/10..10/15/10..11/15/10..Fresno, CA

Reeses16.........07/17/10....07/26/10..07/23/10..08/30/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Seattle, WA

Maimouna.........07/19/10....07/23/10..07/23/10..08/31/10..--/--/--..10/12/10..--/--/--..Milwaukee, WI

guitarboy53......07/20/10....--/--/--..07/24/10..08/21/10..--/--/--..10/07/10..--/--/--..Seattle, WA

intelman1717.....07/21/10....--/--/--..07/28/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..10/20/10..--/--/--..Seattle, WA

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USCIS Texas Lockbox

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UserName...........Sent......ChkCashd....NOA.....Fprints...Int Ltr....Intview....Oath.....Office

lucylulu07.......07/01/10....--/--/--..07/14/10..07/29/10..--/--/--..09/21/10..10/20/10..Norfolk, VA

sisibisi.........07/02/10....--/--/--..07/09/10..08/03/10..--/--/--..09/14/10..--/--/--..Albany, NY

pn_ric...........07/06/10....07/15/10..07/13/10..08/03/10..08/23/10..09/23/10..10/13/10..Norfolk, VA

LisalovestheUSA..07/04/10....07/09/10..07/12/10..09/03/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..New York, NY

lailaa...........07/06/10....--/--/--..07/13/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..New York, NY

CVB..............07/16/10....07/28/10..07/26/10..09/03/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Newark, NJ

c&v..............07/19/10....--/--/--..07/26/10..08/11/10..--/--/--..11/09/10..--/--/--..Newark, NJ

kim11............07/22/10....07/31/10..08/02/10..08/18/10..08/30/10..10/04/10..--/--/--..Providence, RI

Buxton Babe......07/22/10....08/03/10..07/30/10..08/09/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Tampa, FL

Jay&Nardi........07/27/10....--/--/--..07/29/10..08/27/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Washington, DC

Upover...........07/28/10....08/04/10..08/04/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Philadelphia,PA

YGETH89..........07/30/10....08/10/10..08/06/10..08/31/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Washington, DC

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USCIS Nebraska Lockbox

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Ariesgurl/Lhiz21.07/28/10....08/06/10..08/08/10..09/10/10..09/08/10..10/14/10..10/14/10..Seattle, WA

Hi all,

I received an email from the USCIS Supervisor for my local office, informing me that my interview appointment is on October 20th at 1115 (I'd gotten it expedited because I'm leaving for military training on Nov 1st). I'm just going over a checklist of documents I'll be bringing...I previously received a letter from USCIS advising me that I needed to bring a copy of my DD-214 (military release from active duty, for my prior service in the US Coast Guard), and my current military ID (for the Army National Guard, which I enlisted into August 10th).

In addition to the above, I'm bringing the following:

- Permanent Resident Card

- British Passport

- Joint Bank Statements for our 2 Checking and 1 Savings Account

- Life Insurance Policy, showing that my wife is the primary beneficirary

- Joint car purchase and registration

- Joint Health Insurance

- Copies of return flight tickets to the UK, showing I was out of the US from Sept 27th-Oct 8th (a trip that was not listed in my application because I had not booked it yet).

- Joint Tax Returns for the last 4 years

- Wife's Birth Certificate

- Marriage Certificate

We don't have a lease because we are living rent-free in a house owned by my in-laws, and no utilities for the same reason - this wasn't a problem in any previous USCIS application for AOS etc.

If anyone can think of anything else I might need please let me know...best of luck to anyone else waiting for Interviews!

I had an Infopass appointment today - it went VERY well, as soon as I explained my situation to the USCIS Agent he went to speak to his Supervisor, and came back 5 mins later to tell me they would expedite my case and ensure I get my interview/oath before I ship out for training!

They also gave me a form confirming my military service, which my Commanding Officer filled out for me (Being National Guard, I get to attend training weekends before Basic, so that is currently my assigned unit).

Hi all,

I'm currently on vacation back in the UK, visiting family and friends until October 8th. While here, I was told by my Brother in Law (whose been checking our mail for us, and was told by me to open anything from USCIS), that my interview date is November 2nd at 0745. The problem is, that I am scheduled to ship to Army Basic Training on November 1st! I called up the information line, and was asked if I was in the military when I first applied for Naturalization (no), and then the date I joined (swore into) the military (August 10th). They recommended that I set up an Infopass appointment, bring all documentation with me including my military ID and copies of orders showing I have to ship on November 1st...I managed to get an Infopass appointment scheduled for October 12th, and sincerely hope that there may be some way of getting an earlier Interview/Oath before November 1st when I ship to training.

I won't be done with training and back in my home state (I'm with the National Guard) until the end of February, as after I finish basic training, I immediately go onto advanced training at the same post (Ft Benning). I will be back for the "Christmas Exodus" from Dec 20th-Jan 3rd, but I don't know if I would be able to get at interview/oath at that time.

Anyhow, not sure if there's much else I can do apart from see what happens at the Infopass appointment, but I am emailing my recruiter today to see if he has any advice (he has over 20 years in the military, and has been VERY helpful during my whole enlistment process with getting me waivers etc).

Hi all,

Just a quick note to say that my Biometrics appointment in Denver went very smoothly yesterday - got there at 1450 (appointment was at 1500), and was finished and out the door by 1500! Staff were all very friendly and courteous, and I was given the "Quick Civics Lessons" booklet.

In unrelated news, I enlisted into the Army National Guard on Tuesday, will be shipping to Basic training at Ft Benning on November 1st!

Got my Fingerprints letter yesterday - will be going in on 08/12!

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N-400 July 2010 Applicants

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USCIS Arizona Lockbox

================================

UserName..........Sent.......ChkCashd....NOA.....Fprints...Int Ltr...Intview...Oath........Office

FUTUREAMERICAN...07/06/10....07/16/10..07/16/10..08/12/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Denver, Colorado

ravi_niu.........07/07/10....07/20/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Chicago, Illinois

ELW..............07/15/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Fresno, CA

Reeses16.........07/17/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Seattle, WA

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USCIS Texas Lockbox

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UserName...........Sent.....ChkCashd....NOA.....Fprints..Int Ltr...Intview...Oath.......Office

pn_ric...........07/06/10....07/15/10..07/13/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Norfolk, VA

lailaa...........07/06/10....--/--/--..07/13/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..New York, NY

CVB..............07/16/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Newark, NJ

Got my NOA1 letter yesterday - dated 07/16/2010.

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==================================

N-400 July 2010 Applicants

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================================

USCIS Arizona Lockbox

================================

UserName..........Sent.......ChkCashd....NOA.....Fprints...Int Ltr...Intview...Oath........Office

FUTUREAMERICAN...07/06/10....07/16/10..07/16/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Denver, Colorado

ravi_niu.........07/07/10....07/20/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Chicago, Illinois

ELW..............07/15/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Fresno, CA

Reeses16.........07/17/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Seattle, WA

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USCIS Texas Lockbox

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UserName...........Sent.....ChkCashd....NOA.....Fprints..Int Ltr...Intview...Oath.......Office

pn_ric...........07/06/10....07/15/10..07/13/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Norfolk, VA

lailaa...........07/06/10....--/--/--..07/13/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..New York, NY

CVB..............07/16/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Newark, NJ

My recommendation, if it's feasible, would be to go to the airports and other places you're interested in working at and seeing if there are any contract companies who provide the customer service associates and other jobs - that way you can apply to them directly through the website.

I mention this, because the company I work for provides security and customer service at hospitals and airports as a contractor - and so the jobs are not actually advertised on the airport or hospital websites, but on the central corporate one. I'll PM you the name of my employer, in case you're near any of the airports they work at.

Finally, try multiple avenues of job search - online, newspapers, in person etc, that way you can spread the net wider and improve your chances.

Best of luck in your job search!

My AOS was approved with no interview or request for further evidence - and we did not include a lease/mortgage because we live in a house owned by my in-laws.

We did include joint tax returns, photos covering the entire marriage, joint health insurance, car insurance, car registration, military discharge papers showing my wife as the nearest living relative, multiple joint bank accounts and joint credit cards.

Best of luck!

Updating my timeline - check was cashed on the 16th, although it was only reflected in my account balance today.

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==================================

N-400 July 2010 Applicants

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================================

USCIS Arizona Lockbox

================================

UserName..........Sent.......ChkCashd....NOA.....Fprints...Int Ltr...Intview...Oath........Office

FUTUREAMERICAN...07/06/10....07/16/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Denver, Colorado

ravi_niu.........07/07/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Chicago, Illinois

ELW..............07/15/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Fresno, CA

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USCIS Texas Lockbox

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UserName...........Sent.....ChkCashd....NOA.....Fprints..Int Ltr...Intview...Oath.......Office

pn_ric...........07/06/10..07/15/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Norfolk, VA

lailaa...........07/06/10..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..New York, NY

That's a good idea...I'm gonna steal your sentence and stick it on my resume if you do not mind.

No probs at all! Glad I could help

I put a brief note near the top of my Resume, stating that I am "UK Citizen and US Green Card Holder (Permanent Resident) - able to legally work in either country without sponsorship" - maybe that's a bit wordy, but it's had positive reactions from potential employers, some seeing it as a benefit if they have offices in the UK as well as the US.

My background before I emigrated to the US, was as a Materials/Metallurgical Engineer, working as a Project Management Consultant at an engineering company in the UK. My first job in the US was as a Mall Security Guard, just because I wanted to do something totally different. Funnily enough, that actually saved me from bankruptcy when I later moved back into the Engineering field and got laid off due to the failing economy, with a huge amount of debt to pay off - I was able to get a new job in just a few weeks as a Hospital Security Guard, and subsequently have been able to work all the overtime I want, do far more interesting work than anything else in my life, and been promoted to Supervisor as well as getting trained in Firearms, Taser, etc etc.

My rough plan for now is to go in the National Guard OCS program once I become a Citizen, do that for several years before looking at making a move into the Defense Industry or Law Enforcement.

True, true! 'We' is just a habit... and the fact that I'm the expert in compiling the applications, but he has to do the interview alone this time hee hee. Come on, time to ride that wave! Mostly the cover letter and paperwork is organized, I'm only waiting on the letters from the bank stating our joint accounts. I know, I know - maybe unnecessary but I'm sending in a pile of joint relationship info. He'll bring the originals to the interview.

LOL I hear you about the big pile of joint relationship info - by the time I'd included our banks statements for the past 3 years, tax returns, and all the other stuff like the application form it weighed nearly 4lbs and was a good few inches thick!!

I sent off my application today, from Denver, Colorado, to the Arizona Lockbox - should be there by midday tommorow!

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==================================

N-400 July 2010 Applicants

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================================

USCIS Arizona Lockbox

================================

UserName..........Sent.....ChkCashd....NOA....Fprints...Int Ltr...Intview...Oath......Office

FUTUREAMERICAN...07/06/10....--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..Denver, Colorado

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USCIS Texas Lockbox

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UserName..........Sent.....ChkCashd....NOA....Fprints...Int Ltr...Intview...Oath......Office

EXAMPLE.........--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..--/--/--..City, State

I have a Safariland safety holster which a cop friend of mine gave to me (he'd only used it for about a year before his department issued him a new one, so very little wear and tear). It's also the one which was recommended by the firearms instructor at the company. TBH considering in my year of working hospital security, all of the situations I've been involved in which required use of force were very close quarter and generally involved putting someone on the ground and handcuffing them, or on the bed and using restraints, my biggest fear is someone taking my gun off me rather than being involved in an actual "gunfight" or scenario with someone with a knife or similar. We were however taught some good retention techniques though, and I will also be investing in some body armour so I at least have some protection, and doing some further training in handgun retention with some good instructors in the area.

Just a quick update for those who were interested - I ended up buying a Glock 17 (9mm), went through the qualification course this week, and managed to score 448 out of 500 points (375 required for qualification) and placed 4th out of 14 in the class

Just a quick update to let you folks know that my new card arrived in the mail on Monday - so very quick delivery time!

Best of luck with the career change!

Healthcare is definately one of the better areas to be working in (I wound up making the change myself due to the Oil Sector going south and having great difficult finding any Engineering jobs).

Although I work in Healthcare Security, I am friends with a large number of RN's - many of whom have only been working for a couple of years or so after making the change from a variety of previous careers (Radio DJ, Engineering etc).

It's something I've been toying with lately too - although as I can't afford to go back to school for that long, I'd probably more likely go for Paramedic Training or similar through a local Volunteer Fire Department.

I'll chat to a couple of the RN's tonight at work and shooting you a PM if they have any particular suggestions or advice!

Big congrats to a fellow "Limey" on the approval! 4 months is not a bad time at all, especially from the VSC!

Congratulations! Very good to hear that some more cases from the VSC are coming along now.

I do definately like the visual aspect of it and being able to track where your case is in the process, but as tlnt said, I hope they still keep important info available from the old system.

Actually, they are attempting to "correct" an inmates behaviour. "Prison Guard" is an outdated and somewhat insulting term for Correctional Officers (or CO for short).

Corrections work can be difficult and frustrating, but, you don't have to be an "a$$hole". Firm, fair, and consistent are the main traits that are desirable, and a thick skin as well, as unfortunately you will have to deal with a lot of insults and bad comments both inside and outside the walls.

Also, see if you can obtain a copy of the book "Games Prisoners Play" - it is an excellent resource and delves into the pyschology and motives behind what the inmates are doing. "New Jack", is also an interesting read, written by a journalist who spent a year as a CO at the Sing Sing Penitentiary in New York.