A.DUBAI

I had my N-400 interview yesterday, here is how it went down:

The officer put me under oath before I sat down, asked for my green card and ID, and started asking the civics question, I got the first 7 correctly, so he moved to the next part and asked me to read the sentence "who was George Washington?" on the tablet, then asked me to write "George Washington was the first president". After that, he started reading the questions from my application, and everything went smoothly until we hit the question about being arrested or cited before, I mentioned in the application that I got 2 speeding tickets back in 2019 and they were both dismissed by the court (lawyer fees were $3000 in 2019 as I have a commercial driver's license) and I offered to show the dismissal and he was interested in these documents, after that he had me sign twice on the information I provided under oath and he gave me my documents back. Then he stood up and said follow me, I did, and he walked me to a waiting room and asked me to wait until I was called, I said how did I do, he smiled and said you passed, congratulations. I shook his hands and thanked him. worth mentioning that I broke the ice with him since he called my name and picked me up to go for the interview, I had a little conversation to show him I am fluent in English, and he was annoyed by the work overload so I touched on that and even said that the Gov. agency I work for is hiring and we had a laugh about that, and during the interview, his colleague came to the room with big files of more work and he was annoyed so I showed sympathy and tried to be friendly, he was a cool black guy, and he pretty much understood that I am fluent and educated so it was a chill interview. My interview was at 8 AM I showed up at 7:30 but the security said to go and come back by 7:45, the interview started around 8:20 and I was done at 8:50 AM.

In the waiting area, there were a bunch of other people waiting so I waited and I was called after less than 5 minutes. The guy saw the pin with my agency logo that I had on my suit and said "Oh you work for this agency, I tried to work there but I got this job at the same time so I picked this one since the other one was dealing with the general public and was difficult, so he was very nice, we chatted for like 3 minutes, then he congratulated me and asked me to come back at 2 PM after he stuck a sticker with a code on my Green Card, I said come back TODAY!!?? He said yes today for your ceremony .... !!!! I came back, got in surrendered my green card, and got my Naturalization certificate the same day, received 2 packets: the white USCIS envelope, and a yellow manila envelope with a message from President Joe Biden. And an American flag that I used during the ceremony. 

I wish you all the best of luck, and remember you are allowed at least 1 guest for the ceremony so bring someone who knows how to take pictures, if not, ask someone to take your picture, I took a smoking hot Latina with me that almost caused an accident when she walked across the parking lot towards the USCIS office to meet me at the waiting line. GOOD LUCK Y'ALL .... Relax and Enjoy that day and say goodbye to the anxiety and waiting. 

5 hours ago, jts4132 said:

Which date in January is your interview? Are you in San Antonio?

Last week of January. 

2 hours ago, MunnoTheCat said:

 

congratulations and let us know how your Interview goes. I have the same filing date though lol 

Thanks, yes of course I will update once I am done with the interview. Good luck to you and everybody here. 

• Sept. 13, 2023 Filed N-400 online. Est. Time 16 Months, no Biometric reuse so far.
• Sept. 19, 2023 Est. Time disappeared and didn't receive anything in the mail yet.
• Sep. 21, 2023 Biometric reuse letter received and case is being actively reviewed. still, no estimated time since it disappeared on the 19th, and no action notice in the mail yet. 
• Dec. 6, 2023 Interview scheduled for January 2024. 

• Sept. 13 Filed N-400 online. Est. Time estimate (16 Months).
• Sept. 19 Est. The time estimate disappeared.
• Sep. 21 Biometric reuse letter received and case is being actively reviewed.
• Oct. 3 Time estimate reappeared (8 months).

Good luck y'all. 

On 9/29/2023 at 11:45 AM, MunnoTheCat said:

good luck to all new comers in September filers. One weird thing happened. I was issued with Bio reuse letter when i filed online. But yesterday i got a letter stating that my biometric will be scheduled and in the next letter I will be given a date that i need to visit nearest ASC. wow! I wasn't expecting it lol. I would ask everyone to keep an eye on any possible surprises like the one i just got.

 

edited: my online account doesn't say anything about this new letter coming. it still shows bio reuse letter though.

I filed online and got the action notice immediately, then I got the biometric reuse online a week later (no paper mail yet), and then I got the action notice I-797 by mail (PAPER) which mentioned that my biometric appointment would be rescheduled,  then today I got the biometric ruse by mail (in paper). The online is obviously faster and ahead of the paper mail. I think you are ok and you will receive the biometric reuse by mail in paper form soon. Good luck. 

46 minutes ago, Val2014 said:

Is anyone still stuck in an NOA status? I applied on 9/11. Immediately got bio reuse letter & NOA & nothing since. Anyone experiencing this as well?

I applied on Sept 13 and didn't get anything at first then a week or so later I got the biometrics reuse but the estimated time disappeared and the case is showing as actively being reviewed. this is all I got. 

5 hours ago, dianrowi said:

Update on Sep filler

Application submitted on line - Sep 15

Receipt notice and reuse of biometrics - Sep 15

Interview notice - Sep 26

Interview date - Nov 2

Detroit office based on 5 year rule 

Congrats and Good luck. 

3 hours ago, MunnoTheCat said:

I don't see a reason why timeline gets disappeared just like that, besides it may be a glitch in a Database USCIS uses. I am sure you aren't the only one not having timeline appearing. But overall, you got the BIO REUSE letter and that's all matters. Hopefully you will see timeline in your profile reflecting the current processing time. My wild guess it should be anywhere in between 8 to 12 months. But again 

I looked it up, it is not uncommon to have the estimated time disappear. I guess I will never know the reason it disappeared, it is the USCIS after all LOL. Thanks for your comment. 

• Sept. 13 Filed N-400 online. Est. Time 16 Months, no Biometric reuse so far.
• Sept. 19 Est. Time disappeared and didn't receive anything in the mail yet.
• Sep. 21 Biometric reuse letter received and case is being actively reviewed. still, no estimated time since it disappeared on the 19th, and no action notice in the mail yet. 

• Sept. 13 Filed N-400 online. Est. Time 16 Months, no Biometric reuse so far.
• Sept. 19 Est. Time disappeared and didn't receive anything in the mail yet.
• Are we supposed to get a paper notification (action notice) in the mail? Did anyone have the estimated time disappear after a few days from filing online? Thanks

1 minute ago, Val2014 said:

Lol yeah I am right there with you. Seems like they have been trying to get n400 apps processed quicker than usual which is great news for us. What FO are you. I will continue to wait and post back here when my status changes. Hopefully it will be quick. Goodluck

Thanks, I live in South Texas if this is your question but I haven't received the I-797, so I don't know my USCIS service center yet. All I got was a receipt for the fees and that was it. Good luck to you as well.

5 minutes ago, Val2014 said:

Lol yeah I am right there with you. Seems like they have been trying to get n400 apps processed quicker than usual which is great news for us. What FO are you. I will continue to wait and post back here when my status changes. Hopefully it will be quick. Goodluck

Yep, I hope they are faster this time around. My green card took 3 years. 

14 minutes ago, MunnoTheCat said:

 

Check the DOCUMENT section (if you haven't done so already) Wished if i knew the exact recipe why some get both letters and some get just one. But you should be able to receive one but if not, trust me it is not big deal. 

else about your field office. check this out. Enter your residential zip code here (scroll to bottom of page) -- https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/field-offices

I check the Documents tab daily but nothing yet. The link showed me the nearest USCIS office to my location. Thanks for the reply.  

On 9/11/2023 at 12:04 PM, scania said:

how the heck yall getting the reuse biometrics letter already? I filed 4 days ago and still nothing lol

Same here, no reuse of the biometrics letter yet after 3 days, and the estimated time is 16 months. I filed on Sept 13, and nothing yet, just the receipt for the $725. I am filing under the 3-year ( filed after 2 years and 9 months) I still don't know my service center, the receipt notice has the address of the National Benefits Center but no service center address yet. I am in South Texas. 

6 hours ago, GreenB said:

I just got my greencard delivered. Cried a little. It took some years out of my life but I guess it’s time to leave the past in the past and move forward. 😊

 

Permanent resident card for 10 years. It says category IB6, if you google what that means you are a self petitioner under VAWA. I wish it wasn’t so obvious on my card but I guess whatever

 

I wish everyone lots of patience and good luck. I’m still processing its reality... I’m not an illegal now?... I can go see my family whenever I want? I don’t have to avoid conversations with people worrying what if they ask me this or that? Etc etc

 

Lots of thanks to everyone who answered my questions here 🙏🎈😊❤️
 

 

I don’t know you but I am happy for you and I do agree about this IB6 thing but whatever you won at the end. Congrats 

On 11/2/2020 at 8:23 PM, Restez Forts said:

Case to be reviewed is normal response after interview. Many people here get that  same response and few days later, card production update.

 

It's always nice to ready a breakdown of people's interviews. Why don't you break it down and just walk us through your experience please.

 

Also, did you and your attorney sign a form to be represented by phone? Did the officer ask for it? 

 

Thank you for the reply, here you go about my interview.

My online status for my I-485 was still showing the same message since 2017 ( WE RECEIVED YOUR CASE ) when my lawyer's office called me early October 2020 to tell me I have an interview in a few days as they received the interview notice from USCIS , so the first tip is make sure that the mailing address in you paperwork with USCIS is current, I then had a meeting with my lawyer via phone, went over all the questions in the I-485 form, she said yes or no question just answer yes or no don't talk too much unless officer asks for details, and she corrected me about some questions like the question about violating immigration law and since I overstayed my K-1 after marriage and VAWA, I had to answer this question with YES and explain the overstay, and another question about being cited or arrested I had to update my answer to YES as I was cited for 2 speeding tickets after I filed in 2017, and I explained that one was dismissed and the other still in court as I refuse to pay it and prefer to pay for a lawyer to fight it and get it dismissed as well, so I can keep my record clean.

my interview was at 8 am the letter said not show up before 07:45 am, so I did just that, you go through security check and they see your letter give you a number and you wait to be called, my officer came and called me from the waiting area, we went to her office and she asked for all my US issued documents ( driving license, SSN and work permit ) and my passports from my home country, after that I asked her if I can call my lawyer on the phone so she can attend the meeting with me ( the interview notice mentioned that my lawyer can attend with me by herself OR by phone ) officer asked for her name and since it wasn't the same name on my paperwork as I had a new lawyer, she asked for the G-28 which I had with me and gave to her then she took the lawyers cell phone number and called her on her office land line and started the interview, she went over my I-485 info and verified them, then started the I-485 questions, worth mentioning that I had and RFE on my VAWA but she didn't ask any questions about it and was just the I-485 questions only, the questions that was extra was about where I live and who lives with me and I said my GF and she asked if she is a US citizen I said yes she wanted her name I gave it to her, she asked if I have other email addresses other than the one in the paperwork I said yes she asked me to write it down and I did, she gave me back my ID and all documents BUT she kept my interview notice and didn't give it back to me, and she concluded the interview and told me she will do background check and will make a decision by end of day, and asked if I have any questions I said no, she escorted me out waved me good bye and that was it, by the time I made it to my car my lawyer have texted me that it went well and officer didn't seem concerned about anything and she said it was normal that the officer kept my interview notice letter ( so keep a copy before the interview for your record ) if anyone have any questions I would be glad to answer.

Thanks again and best of luck for all of us.

Hello everyone,

I had my AOS interview 10 days ago, the interview was very smooth nothing out of the normal questions, my lawyer attended with me via phone and said it went well, my I -485 online status changed to - interview was completed and my case must be reviewed - is this a normal update or it means that my case is being scrutinized more? Please help. Thanks you @sandranj or anyone that have any experience with this kind of status. 

19 minutes ago, Pinkrlion said:

I got ZERO notification that my interview was scheduled.  I received the letter in the mail, and my interview was 2 weeks later.  I had to rush to get medical done in time.  Thank God, the medical doctor expedited the paperwork so I could get it  before my interview.  

You got lucky, the reason I posted this was someone actually missed their interview as they never updated their new address with USCIS. 

1 hour ago, 2020filer said:

I am sorry about your hiring experience. Did you try anywhere else? I really hope they wouldn't decline me because of the lack of a GC... this would be horrible for me. It's already hard to get an interview and be declined because of all this..... I cannot explain how frustrated I am. I am a girl in my 20s and this is very important to me to get my career going now... 

 

As per the i-485 letter, did you only receive the separate notice for i-485 when you heard that your VAWA is approved? Not any time before?

I applied for many positions with different companies, with no success ( my resume mentioned my immigration situation as pending green card ) but this specific situation I explained above was the closest I got to actually getting the job after I had a first interview with the HR, everything went well until I mentioned my EAD and pending green card. You should receive separate notice for the I-485 shortly after filing it but please understand the delay in everything due to Covid, so you should receive this notice in a month or two from filing the I-485 it basically tells you ok we got your application. and you won’t hear from them again until the VAWA is approved then they tell you in VAWA approval notice we will get back to you regarding your pending I485, this was my experience, your might be little different. I am sorry about your situation, my advice is take any decent job you can get your hands on don’t be too picky, it is nice to have an income and show your tax return in the adjustment of status interview and show that you are not a liability, good luck and be strong. 

1 hour ago, 2020filer said:

Hi everyone! Today I received a notice that my VAWA petition was received! The notice doesn't say, however, whether my i-485 was changed to be tied to i-360. How do I find out? Is my AD/EAD still valid?

 

Speaking of the EAD card, I talked to a new employer today and they were asking so many questions on my EAD card and what happens with my petition etc.. Is it possible that they will deny my candidacy based on this uncertainty? Is it even legal? My current C09 EAD is valid until Sept. 2021. 

 

 

You gets separate notice from USCIS that they received your I-845, the whole point of filing concurrently is basically booking your spot in the long line of people waiting to adjust their status, so once your VAWA is approved, you I-845 is already in line ready for interview, the only time USCIS mention my I-845 and I360 being tied together is when they sent me approval notice for my VAWA and they said that they will contact me separately for the form I-845 that I filed with the VAWA.  regarding employment, my experience was not really positive, I used to be a mid level management executive in some of the biggest multinational American healthcare companies branches in Dubai, the same American companies I worked for while living in Dubai won't hire me to work the same exact job that I did in Dubai here in the US, even though I am already trained and familiar with the company and with years of experience  and a great track record, they asked many questions if I will need a visa in the future and they weren't sure about my situation and they didn't sound excited when I explained my EAD, or may be it is due to the fact that I have a Middle Eastern name and my work focus was on sales where people acceptance and liking is crucial for your success, I am not sure but after the HR lady said that I am a great fit for the role of marketing manager with $130K a year package the vice president declined my application and I never got the job, HR lady never got back to me or gave me a reason after she said all is perfect fit she will just get the vice president approval, I now work as a driver I make less than $60K a year, no regrets though I will succeed and overcome this, be strong and good luck hope this helps.

WARNING for everyone waiting on an interview for adjustment of status after a VAWA approval, once USCIS decides on your appointment date and time they are going to send you this information BY MAIL to the address you put in your paperwork THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SEND ANY EMAILS AND THEY ARE NOT UPDATING THE ONLINE STATUS TO SHOW YOU HAVE AN INTERVIEW COMING, please make sure USCIS have your right address or your lawyer's address, my lawyer's office called me few days ago to ask me if I knew that my interview is by the end of this month, I said NO I check my I-845 online status but it shows the same message since 2017, she said there office received a letter from USCIS notifying them about my interview ( I used my lawyers office address when filling I-845). please don't miss your interview because you moved out and forgot to notify and update USCIS about your new mailing address, my time line is below in case anyone needs to look at it, good luck to all of us.

- Filed for VAWA and I-845 concurrently ...............................December 2017.

- RFE related to VAWA ............................................................June 2019.

- VAWA approval (thank you SANDRANJ for all the help).....October 2019.

- I-845 interview .......................................................................October 2020.

On 7/11/2020 at 1:12 PM, MarSam701 said:

Hi hun...my Vawa was approved June 2019 and i485 transffered the same time...1 year after  I am still waiting for an interview...

Approved VAWA September 2019, I-485 was applied for concurrently with the VAWA in 2017, still waiting on an interview. Best of luck for us all.

12 hours ago, Stillwinning!!!😊 said:

@FeDaniela Yeah the news is true. Here is a detailed culled from online source...

 

WASHINGTON — After suspending approval of green card requests to immigrants abroad seeking U.S. residency, the Trump administration has also halted processing requests from green card applicants already living in the country.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told employees this week that a “general hold” on permanent residency applications filed from immigrants within the United States would remain in place. But it updated a list of exemptions to the hold in a Wednesday email and other internal communication seen by CQ Roll Call.

 

This information is incorrect, I couldn't find any reliable source of information supporting this statement except for few shady small online news websites.

6 minutes ago, Lola_lalo said:

Hello dear, I have the same timeline with you. November, 2017 and approved on september 2019. The only thing we can do is wait, Because we are in the normal processing time. Don't worry, We will get our GC this year. @NianAm @John_ @Shroy123 Please update us whenever you have some kind of move on your case. God be with all of us!

Hello, thank you for the update, I will share the news once I get anything on my case. Good luck to all of us.