wifey246

September 24, 2009

Congratulations, Pampita & mrpuffybunny!!

I must say, the oath ceremony was exhilirating, but being in a room with thousands of new citizens still made me feel like I was just getting off the boat. When the blue passport came in the mail, I felt like it was the period or exclamation point at the end of the sentence. This is it! I am an American!

September 24, 2009

Passport Application Status :
"Your passport application is in the final processing stages.

Your passport application locator number is 3########.

When you applied, you requested Routine Service.

This means you should receive your passport on or about 09/26/2009."

Wow, they are pretty good with the status updates.

Ooops, I take that back. My passport book, passport card and naturalization certificate came in the mail today, but my status remain the same.

Not complaining, just stating the facts ;p

September 24, 2009

Updating my timeline and adding Clarax..

User Name..........Location...........Application..........Passport Rcvd.....Certificate Back.............Service

Goran..............Richmond, VA..........07/15/09...............09/05/09.............09/05/09.............Normal

raleighn400........Durham, NC............07/30/09...............09/03/09.............09/05/09.............Normal

Rebelheart'son.....Atlanta, GA...........07/31/09...............08/31/09.............09/02/09.............Normal

Tini 27............Brooklyn,NY...........08/04/09...............08/14/09.............08/14/09.............Expedited

Sami76.............Atlanta, GA...........08/07/09...............08/28/09.............08/31/09.............Normal

jeangab75..........Durham, NC............08/17/09 ..............09/18/09.............09/19/09.............Normal

so2008.............Tampa, FL.............08/17/09 ..............09/10/09.............09/11/09.............Normal

Annelizabeth.......New Albany, IN........08/24/09...............09/17/09.............09/17/09.............Normal

Kathryn41..........Stockbridge, GA.......08/28/09...............--/--/--.............09/23/09.............Normal

l.j./1999..........Brooklyn, NY..........08/29/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

wifey246...........Pomona, CA............08/29/09...............09/23/09.............09/23/09.............Normal

cookiee............Miami, FL.............09/01/09...............09/14/09.............09/12/09.............Expedited

raleighn400_wife...Durham, NC............09/14/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

Jayde..............Fort Lauderdale,FL....09/16/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

Clarax.............???...................09/17/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

LiveByFaith........Novi, MI..............09/18/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

KikiDoug...........Columbia, MD..........09/23/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Expedited

September 22, 2009

Passport Application Status :

"Your passport application is in the final processing stages.

Your passport application locator number is 3########.

When you applied, you requested Routine Service.

This means you should receive your passport on or about 09/26/2009."

Wow, they are pretty good with the status updates.

September 11, 2009

I received my passport today via priority mail. However my naturalization certificate was not with the passport? For those of you who have received your passport, How long did it take for the certificate to follow in the mail?

why don't you add your timeline in the list?

September 8, 2009

Let me try it again..

User Name........Location..........Application......Passport Rcvd......Certificate Back......Service

Rebelheart'son.....Atlanta, GA...........07/31/09...............08/31/09.............09/02/09.............Normal

Tini 27............Brooklyn,NY...........08/04/09...............08/14/09.............08/14/09.............Expedited

Sami76.............Atlanta, GA...........08/07/09...............08/28/09.............08/31/09.............Normal

jeangab75..........Durham, NC............08/17/09 ..............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

so2008.............Tampa, FL.............08/17/09 ..............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

Annelizabeth.......New Albany, IN........08/24/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

Kathryn41..........Stockbridge, GA.......08/28/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

l.j./1999..........Brooklyn, NY..........08/29/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

wifey246...........Pomona, CA............08/29/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Normal

cookiee............Miami, FL.............09/01/09...............--/--/--.............--/--/--.............Expedited

September 8, 2009

Hi everyone,

I applied for a passport book using normal service and it took 3 weeks and one day to receive my passport.

Maybe this can help you decide between choosing normal or expedited service. So I am making a timeline here, you might like to add your info too.

User Name Location Passport Application Date Passport Receiving Date Post office service

---------- ----------------- ------------------------ ---------------------- ------------------

Sami76................ Atlanta, GA ..............08/07/09......... 08/28/09............. Normal (Not expedited)

Kathryn41............ Stockbridge, GA ........08/28/09.......... --/--/--............. Normal (not expedited)

Annelizabeth......... New Albany IN ..........08/24/09.......... --/--/-- .............Normal (not expedited)

Wifey246.............. Pomona, CA.............. 08/29/09......... --/--/-- .............Normal (Not expedited)

September 8, 2009

Hi everyone,

I applied for a passport book using normal service and it took 3 weeks and one day to receive my passport.

Maybe this can help you decide between choosing normal or expedited service. So I am making a timeline here, you might like to add your info too.

User Name Location Passport Application Date Passport Receiving Date Post office service

---------- ----------------- ------------------------ ---------------------- ------------------

Sami76 Atlanta, GA 08/07/2009 08/28/2009 Normal (Not expedited)

Kathryn41 Stockbridge, GA 08/28/09 --/--/-- Normal (not expedited)

Annelizabeth New Albany IN 08/24/09 --/--/-- Normal (not expedited)

September 8, 2009

I went to our public library for this. When I called to inquire about their closing time on a Saturday, they gave me a list of documents I should bring. When I said I'm getting one for my daughter, the lady said to bring a US birth certificate. I told her that my daughter was born abroad, then she said I should bring her naturalization certificate. I told her that my daughter doesn't need one, that she can use mine. The lady insisted that my daughter needs her own certificate. I recommended that she should research the subject, then call me back with the results.

She called me after an hour, admitted her mistake and all. But when we got there, she said she cannot accept both applications because each one has to have an original certificate. If my daughter uses mine, then my application will be denied because I will not have a certificate with it.

It was getting late and I was tired of arguing my case. I decided to just submit my application. My daughter's can wait until I get my certificate back.

It is convenient that there are plenty of places that accept passport application, but I must agree that if it is not a straightforward case, the employees receiving the applications are not very well-informed of the rules.

August 30, 2009

Congratulations!!

I took the oath yesterday too!

The letter said no cameras or cellphones will be allowed inside, so i left my cellphone in the car. Big mistake! My ceremony was in LA Convention Center, and there were more than 3,000 applicants, and probably around 6,000 family and friends! Most of the oath-takers brought their cellphones and cameras. They once reminded the crowd that at that time, that place is a court of justice, and cameras and cellphones should be turned off. nobody paid attention--cameras were flashing, videos were rolling and cellphones were ringing during the whole ceremony.

I was so bummed that I couldnt tell my parents, husband and daughter which part of the crowd i was seated at:( Even worse, we did not set a meeting place after the ceremony. My poor husband had to wait at the bottom of the escalator to make sure we find each other in the crowd.

August 29, 2009

Took my oath yesterday with 3,497 other new citizens! I was amazed at how organized they were! The judge was a little late. When it was announced, the crowd booed loudly. I thought it was rude - of the judge to be late knowing thousands of people were waiting and of the crowd to be so disrespectul. But as I overheard somebody say - most of us waited 5 years, what's a few minutes more?

Most people were emotionally moved after the videos were played and were dabbing their eyes when the lights were turned back on. A few looked bored as hell.

In my opinion, it was a good ceremony.

Now, I'm heading to costco to have a passport picture taken, then off to the post office to apply for a passport.

August 26, 2009

Congrats, Kathryn!

Thanks for the info on children's citizenship. The N600 is optional. We can apply for our children's US passport using our certificates, then the US passport can serve as the children's proof of citizenship. The importance of N600 has been discussed so many times in this forum. My take on this is that it is a nice thing to have but if you want to spare the expense, you can live without it for now until some circumstance in the future will make it absolutely necessary to get one. There is no time limit in applying for the certificate.

I wasn't going to apply for a N600 for my daughter but after learning from your post that children 14 years old and above get to say the oath in a USCIS office, I figured she will get a kick out of it. I want her to have that experience so she can appreciate its meaning.

August 26, 2009

Well guy you are right I forgot that now you are citizen , but was really nice read all your experience and support, my Oath is in sept 21 so I will stay here for a while. maybe after sept 21 I wont be here neither aggggggg God bless you all.

My oath ceremony is on Friday. I'll be checking in until my daughter and I get our US passports.

I just can't think of how to spend all the extra time I will have when I finally stop lurking in immigration websites :blink: .

August 20, 2009

Congratulations, MrPuffyBunny!!! :dance:

August 14, 2009

Well I was approved! My husband and I arrived at 12:50 for my 1:05 appointment. My name was called at 1:20. The officer was very straight forward - had my huge file on her desk (she even said it was 'huge'), went through the application, asked about my 'windsurfing without a lifejacket' offense (hehehe), asked me the citizenship oath questions, had me sign the form, and then asked me to read "How many Senators are there" and write" There are 100 senators"
The questions were:

What is the name of the National Anthem?

What ocean is on the west coast?

What happened September 11, 2001?

Why are there 13 stripes?

What is the Rule of Law?

How old do you have to be to vote?

She asked to see my green card, my DL and my SSN card. I also offered my military ID card. She did not want to see my passports nor any other evidence. She did not ask to see the originals of my husband's BC, our marriage license - nor any utility bills (hehehhe).

She then said that the next oath ceremony is August 26th and did I want to be scheduled for that? I said yes and she said she just needed to get a supervisor's approval and to wait back in the office and they would bring me my oath letter.

The interview was maybe 15 minutes in total, and after about 10 minutes of waiting I got my oath letter.

There were two things really interesting - people waiting for today's oath ceremony were in the same room with us and it was kind of neat to see the mixtures of races and cultures present. They were also conducting green card interviews as well as citizenship interviews (we overheard some lawyers giving clients advice, etc.) but it seems like a lot of times - we figured maybe as high as 50% of the time - an officer would come out and call a name - and no one would respond. It seems unbelievable there would be that many people who miss their appointments but that is what it seemed like was happening.

Anyway, oath ceremony on August 26th at 2:30 pm.

Congrats Kathryn!!!

August 12, 2009

adding pampita's oath ceremony

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USCIS Lockbox Texas

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

KromiX...........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/28/09......05/09/09........07/02/09.....07/27/09....Miami, FL

Raleighn400......04/02/09....04/07/09....05/11/09......05/22/09........07/29/09.....07/30/09....Durham, NC

SY2k9............04/02/09....04/11/09....05/02/09......05/11/09........06/18/09.....06/25/09....San Antonio, TX

Tumande..........04/02/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/15/09........06/23/09.....--/--/--....Dallas, TX

GabLopSan........04/06/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......06/02/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....Newark NJ

James............04/07/09....04/10/09....05/01/09......05/21/09........07/08/09.....07/24/09....Miami, FL

Ssalburo.........04/07/09....04/13/09....05/08/09......05/18/09........08/06/09.....--/--/--....Baltimore, MD

SleepBear........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/11/09......06/01/09........07/06/09.....07/15/09....Miami, FL

weirdon..........04/10/09....04/20/09....05/20/09......06/08/09........07/28/09.....--/--/--....Philadelphia, PA

l.j./1999........04/11/09....04/16/09....05/07/09......06/27/09........08/18/09.....--/--/--....New York, NY

n400filer........04/11/09....04/20/09....05/22/09......05/27/09........07/28/09.....08/13/09....Boston, MA

liahnsilver......04/16/09....05/05/09....05/30/09......06/21/09........07/30/09.....08/19/09....Houston,TX

jeangab .........04/20/09....04/30/09....05/15/09......06/05/09........07/29/09.....08/14/09....Durham, NC

pampita2.........04/20/09....05/04/09....06/05/09......06/19/09........07/22/09.....09/21/09....Front Royal, VA

Cliff_Ksenia.....04/23/09....04/29/09....05/20/09......06/08/09........07/22/09.....--/--/--....Christiansted, VI

J&D..............04/24/09....04/30/09....05/16/09......06/04/09........07/23/09.....07/23/09....Tampa, FL

Kathryn41........04/30/09....05/06/09....06/03/09......07/06/09........08/13/09.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

king&queen.......04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......07/07/09........08/13/09.....--/--/--....Atlanta, GA

etahb............04/30/09....05/04/09....06/03/09......06/12/09........07/23/09.....09/25/09....Albany, NY

USCIS Lockbox Arizona

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

anci78...........03/26/09....04/02/09....04/22/09......05/15/09........06/22/09.....08/05/09....San Francisco, CA

jsnearline.......03/28/09....04/03/09....04/25/09......05/20/09........07/17/09.....08/28/09....Denver, CO

gopalag..........04/01/09....04/13/09....04/29/09......05/21/09........07/01/09.....08/19/09....San Diego, CA

sjjp1974.........04/03/09....04/17/09....05/09/09......05/22/09........07/21/09.....07/22/09....Portland, OR

Babonsi..........04/06/09....04/18/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....08/12/09....Sacramento, CA

Swatcat..........04/09/09....04/17/09....05/27/09......06/18/09........07/28/09.....--/--/--....Kansas City, MO

macb1980.........04/09/09....04/16/09....05/08/09......05/26/09........07/07/09.....08/28/09....Cincinnati, OH

RDan19...........04/18/09....04/20/09....05/19/09......07/07/09........08/18/09.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

MsAnn............04/20/09....04/27/09....05/29/09......06/17/09........08/19/09.....--/--/--....Portland, OR

mrPuffyBunny.....04/20/09....04/27/09....05/28/09......07/06/09........08/20/09.....--/--/--....St.Paul, MN

tpontirolli......04/22/09....04/29/09....05/22/09......06/05/09........07/22/09.....08/19/09....San Diego, CA

Wifey246.........04/24/09....04/30/09....05/13/09......06/08/09........07/30/09.....08/28/09....Los Angeles, CA

Clarax...........04/28/09....05/08/09....05/26/09......06/26/09........08/11/09.....--/--/--....Denver, CO

USCIS Lockbox Nebraska

UserName.........Sent........NOA1........Biometrics....Int ltr recd....Interview....Oath........Office

GermanInDixie....04/03/09....04/09/09....04/29/09......06/02/09........06/16/09.....07/22/09....Atlanta, GA

August 12, 2009

Hi All,
I had my interview yesterday. It went great and my IO was the nicest one I've met so far.

The questions asked were...

1. If the President can no longer serve who is next in line?

2. During the Cold war what was the main concern?

3. What is one right from the first ammendment?

4. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

And I can't remember the other two. I answered them all correctly so she stopped at 6.

Make sure that you carefully review all the your personal information that they will use for your Naturalization Certificate. They had my telephone # and my former nationality incorrect - they said I was from Ukraine - not United Kingdom. If I had missed that, she said they would have charged me $300 to reprint the certificate with the correct information.

Also, I had been sent a yellow letter asking to supply last 3 years of tax returns (which I had already sent in) but she didn't ask me for them. Instead she asked me fro proof that my husband and I had been living together since I filed for removal of conditions. Luckily before I left the house I had grabbed a few bills, letters, cards etc addressed to both of us so she was very happy with that.

The whole thing took about 20 minutes. Then she said that she didn't know when my Oath ceremony would be - I just have to wait for a letter in the mail. Hopefully it will be soon...

Journey is almost over...

Clara

Congratulations, Clara!!!

August 12, 2009

So , How we need to answer this question ?
what is the rule of law?

every one must follow the rule

leaders must obey the law

government must obey the law

no one is above the law

every answer has a different meaning. so we need to say all ?!

I'd give just one answer. All of them are correct.

and this question ?????????
What does the judicial branch do?

- reviews laws;

- explains laws;

- resolves disputes (disagreements)

- decides if a law goes against the Constitution

I'd give just one answer. All of these are correct.

and this one !!!
Why did the colonists fight the British?

because of high taxes (taxation without representation)

because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)

because they didn't have self-government

One answer also.

August 12, 2009

My interview is next week and I'm soooooooooooo scared!!! My boyfriend has been going over the civic questions with me and I keep messing up because I'm so nervous!! The seriousness of the situation has come down on me. I can only hope it goes smoothly, I just need to try and calm down .

Here's a tip: Bring something to get your mind off the interview. We brought a puzzle book. My husband and I were having so much fun playing that we didn't notice an hour has passed by. When the IO called my name, I quickly gathered my stuff, walked to the interview room, and everything happened so quick, I didn't even have time to feel the stress.

If I didn't bring that puzzle books, I bet I'd have been so strung up. Instead, it was a very pleasant experience. I was more relaxed and at ease than my IO was. I thought I would never get him to warm up but surprisingly, he ended up discussing his previous interviews with me and even made a few jokes in the end. I actually recognized the applicant's case in another forum. The applicant confirmed that it was indeed his case. Some people can say that was unethical but I don't think the IO ever imagined that some of us are so obsessed with the immigration process and these forums that we are so familiar with the other members' problems, fears and joys.

August 11, 2009

wifey246, if question ask for ONE , you must say only ONE
if question doesn't ask for one, you must say ALL

i don't get why you guys make it so complicated.. that's so clear

On the contrary, if the question specifically requires more than one, you should provide those number of answers.

Otherwise, any of the answers will suffice. If you notice, the multiple answers to questions that do not specify the number of required answers are different phrasings of the same idea:

2. What does the Constitution do?

▪ sets up the government

▪ defines the government

▪ protects basic rights of Americans

Sets up / defines the government is basically the same, and its ultimate purpose is to protect basic rights of Americans.

The important thing is that you have a basic understanding of the subject matter. Unless you have limited command of English language, you do not even have to use the exact same words. It is an oral exam. The IO will be able to to understand what you're getting at - if you are able to communicate well. As opposed to a computerized exam where one wrong letter or number will trigger a command that tags the answer as erroneous.

August 11, 2009

wow, thanks for all your help everyone! I noticed that some questions have more than one answer, like one question has the answer...
- sets up the government

- defines the government

- protects basic rights of Americans

So for questions like these, does the applicant have to know just one of the answers or must know all 3? Thanks for all your help!

you must know all 3 , every answer has a different meaning

That is not correct.

that is so correct.. if you wanna study only one answer, it's up to you.. that's not my problem

It's good to know all 3 answers but the IO will expect you to provide only one.

August 10, 2009

My wife will be taking the updated citizenship test that went into effect recently. What's the best way to study the 100 questions. Is there an online site to help one study for this, or even an interactive online pay site that quizzes you on the questions so you get practice? Thanks for any help!

My wife wrote her own flash cards. The act of writing them down helps her remember the questions and answers. Also, it prompted her to find the answer to some of the locale specific answers.

Since they are cards and not folded pieces of paper, it's easy to shuffle them. The CD and the study guide have all the questions grouped together which may make you remember them incorrectly based on question order. For example, there is a ####### load of questions in which "The President" is the answer all together. Also with the geography questions, it's easy to flub on the east coast / west coast oceans as well as which states border Mexico versus Canada because your brain may associate the answers with the order in which they were asked instead of the questions.

Good luck!

Dave.

Play the CD in "RANDOM" mode! I found this very effective. Keep the CD in the car and play it for a week driving to work or school.

August 10, 2009

My application stretched 124 days between receipt of application and oath ceremony, a few days over 4 months.

My DO is Los Angeles and my case is typical of that DO. Other DOs are normally much faster, like San Diego, I believe.

August 10, 2009

Adding my oath date :dance: