FGr

Hi everyone,

I got naturalized in January but didn’t fill out for my American passport until June. When I applied, I gave my naturalization certificate (original) and the lady at the post office told me it would be mailed back to me. I received my passport this week but not the naturalization certificate. Is that normal? 

My oath ceremony has been scheduled on 12/31. It’ll take place next week, on January 14th. The end of the journey is near

On 12/17/2019 at 7:35 AM, LoveAlways2 said:

I got my approval notification!!!!!! I am so so happy, now just waiting to have the ceremony scheduled. @FGr did you already get your ceremony letter? Somehow my completion time jump to June 2020 after today's update lol 

Congrats! No, my oath ceremony hasn’t been scheduled yet. Thinking I might not hear back until January because of the Holidays.

8 hours ago, glowie85 said:

I would not think they would schedule a lot of oath ceremonies during that time anyways, but you can of course mention it. I doubt though that the officer has anything to do with scheduling the oath/that he/she will be able to influence it.

Maybe you're not even getting approved on the spot and don't need to worry about it...   I wasn't. It took a total of 1 1/2 months after the interview to have the oath. So that should keep you in the clear.

My interview was last week and I did get approved on spot (which I kind of expected).

I told the IO I was going to be out of the country and she wrote on my application that I wouldn’t be available until 1/6 for my Oath ceremony. I haven’t received any notification yet (besides of my application being approved) so I should be fine. I assume it’ll be sometime in January.

3 hours ago, LoveAlways2 said:

Congrats! I had mine today too. I was told a decision cannot be made. I kind of knew they would have to review because I got divorced during my removal of conditions. 
 

So now I wait... hopefully I get good news soon. 

Good luck! I hope you get your approval soon.
My online case status was updated to “we approved your application”. The end of the journey is near.

I had my interview this morning and got approved on spot.

Here are the six questions I was asked:

- What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

- We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

- Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

- There were 13 original states. Name three.

- What did Susan B. Anthony do?

- Why does the flag have 50 stars?

I had to read “Where is the White House?” and write “The White House is in Washington, D.C.”

The IO was nice. She asked if I had brought my 2018 tax return. I said no, she just asked if I had submitted it, and I said yes.

She got excited when she saw my daughters’ birth certificates (I have twin girls). She said “oh, you have twins!” with a big smile. I wonder if she had twins herself haha. I was in and out in about 15 minutes. 
She wrote down that I will be available after 1/6 for the Oath ceremony, so hopefully I don’t get scheduled before that.

My interview is today and I am ready  I am travelling out of the country from 12/19 to 1/5. Is it ok to mention it at the end of the interview to make sure my Oath ceremony doesn’t get scheduled during that time? 

Thanks!

I have my interview tomorrow, Tuesday 12/10. I am travelling out of the country from 12/19 to 1/5. Can I mention it at the end of the interview to make sure my Oath ceremony doesn’t get scheduled during that time? 

Thanks!

16 minutes ago, Soylent said:

Just finished my interview and was recommended for approval! I brought a whole folder of documents including my income tax forms and proof of relationship but all they asked to see was my green card.  My interviewer said they would try to schedule me for a December 6th oath ceremony that's taking place in my city!

Congrats! What civic questions were you asked?

Getting all of my paperwork ready for my interview on 12/10. Does it matter if my document originals (marriage certificate, my husband and kids’ birth certificates) are a few months/years old, or should I get newer ones?

1 minute ago, Oli2807 said:

So from 7/30 till 12/10 it’s 4,5 months 

It took 3 months to get scheduled! I believe that’s what OP asked for. He didn’t ask for the time between the Biometrics appointment and the interview. 

10 minutes ago, vintage10 said:

 

I applied October 1st, I had the biometrics done on October 25th. Does anyone know how long it takes to be scheduled for interview after the bio appointment? 

It took 3 months for me. Biometrics appointment on July 30th (applied on 7/6) and scheduled for an interview on October 30th. Interview will be held on December 10th.

For those with a marriage-based green card, did you/will you bring copies or originals of your marriage certificate and spouse’s birth certificate?

My interview has been scheduled for 12/10 (I applied in July). 
The letter mentions bringing my marriage certificate and my husband’s birth certificate. Are copies fine or do I need the originals?

9 minutes ago, FGr said:

I just updated the spreadsheet.

Are you bringing your SO and kids? 
I know people who got naturalized in California and there was a big audience watching. Do all locations allow guests?

Actually, nevermind!

I am mixing up interview and oath ceremony.

We can go to the interview alone, correct? My I-751 isn’t pending.

15 minutes ago, Stevo1979 said:

Congratulations! In general I will say the case estimated timelines by USCIS on online profiles has been pretty consistent.

If you look at our spreadsheet only 2 or 3 people currently have been 1-3 months early and it looks like you and other Chicago office filers are on the same path

 

Congratulations! I will recommend you set up notifications so you don't miss out on anything, or you can double check your spam to be sure the govt domain is not been sent there

Best of luck. Don't forget to update the spreadsheet, your row looks kinda scanty right now

 

We are the December crew it will be a jolly Christmas

I just updated the spreadsheet.

Are you bringing your SO and kids? 
I know people who got naturalized in California and there was a big audience watching. Do all locations allow guests?

1 hour ago, LoveAlways2 said:

Got my interview for December. Im in Chicago, anyone else got their interview for the Chicago Office? I was thinking I was going to wait until March or April. I am excited!!!! 

I am in Chicago as well. I just checked my status and saw my interview has been scheduled since 10/30. I am going to France for the holidays on 12/19 and got super nervous the interview would be scheduled during my vacation. Thankfully, it’ll be on 12/10. When is yours? I didn’t receive any updates by email. Thank you for mentioning your interview here. I may have missed mine otherwise. I wasn’t expecting anything until spring of 2020 (original estimated completion time was May 2020).

And unlike the biometrics appointment, the interview will be much closer, in the loop.

My estimated completion time went down to April 2020 (9 months) today. I had my biometrics appointment this morning. I was in and out in about 5 minutes. My status still shows “we scheduled your biometrics appointment”. Is it normal? How long does it take to “biometrics received”?

1 minute ago, MsGazelle400 said:

I guess I can say I am blessed. Maybe they decided to be nice to me this time around. I waited for almost 1 year for my green card from the time of application.

Happy for you! Are you in the city or suburbs? I wonder if that matters.

6 minutes ago, LoveAlways2 said:

I am also filing under the 5 year rule. I don't mind the waiting. I was actually expecting it lol it would be nice tho to have it all done. I can't wait to have my blue passport.

Oh ok, it’s a bit odd then. Maybe there are several centers in the Chicago area and waiting time differs or maybe she just got lucky. I am in the city. Are you as well? Did you get your biometrics done already? Going today and it’s insanely far, in Burbank.

6 minutes ago, LoveAlways2 said:

Wow that is weird. I am also Chicago, filed the same day as MsGazelle online as well, but my completion time is 9 months. I wish I was that lucky to get it in two months! 

Same! Applied on 7/6 and estimated case completion is May 2020. Having my biometrics appointment today.

I wonder if it’s because she is filing under the 5-year rule.

I don’t really mind waiting 10 months though. I mean, we can do pretty much everything with the green card.

3 minutes ago, mobilebucky said:

Basically the location of the application service center is determine by your zip code.

https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asc

 

this is only for biometric, everything else will be at the 101 Ida B Wells(Congress Parkway) location

 

When I do a search by zip code, it gives me the center I went to for the I-751, near O’hare. 

Just got my biometrics appointment letter.  The USCIS center is in Burbank, IL which is insanely far from where I am located. I live in the city (north of the Loop) and don’t have a car (don’t have the need for one). 

For my I-751, I had to go to a center near O’hare. Not super close either but at least easily accessible with the blue line. I assumed I would be sent to the same one. I just don’t understand how they would schedule me so far away although there are centers that are closer.

Is Burbank even safe? I don’t know that area at all.

For those living in the city, where did you get your biometrics done? 

11 minutes ago, arman597 said:

DO we have to wait for the I751 to get approved before we apply for N400? I sent my I751 recently and I was hoping to get some advice on how and what to prepare for sending the N400 application when my 90-day window opens up. Please advise and thank you,

No, you don’t have to wait for your I-751 to get approved to file for citizenship.

My priority was to get my 10-year green card (still took 19 months to get approved). Citizenship is nice but besides being able to vote, moving abroad or just be done with the paperwork, I did not see the rush of applying right when my window opened. When you apply for N-400 while your I-751 is pending, USCIS has to approve both at the same time, so I was worried it would take more time for my I-751 to get approved with a pending N-400 than without. Some people see it differently though. It was just my personal choice.

On 7/9/2019 at 11:37 AM, LoveAlways2 said:

I cannot believe the time is now for me! So happy to file for citizenship and anxious to become a citizen of this awesome country!! Wohoooooo

 

Good luck to us all

I saw on the spreadsheet that we have the same field office. My case completion time went from June to May 2020, so it’ll probably be the same for you. Good luck!