Vijay

I went through philly for my naturalization. Here is a link to my interview experience (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/254269-n-400-may-2010-applicants/page__view__findpost__p__4182480). If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Vijay.

Hello all, I applied for citizenship in July and I am waiting on my interview letter to arrive. Philly is my d.o and I am interested in finding out when the vjers with Philly d.o. had their interviews. I have called the 1800 no twice and have been told I am in the interview queue but would like to hear from others going through Philly their time frame from sending the N-400 in to receiving their interview letter.

Thanks to all!

If a parent is of Indian origin, then the spouse and kids are supposed to get Entry visa and not tourist visa anymore according to the rule from June. Technically, I don't understand why they started this new rule. May be they want spouse/children to get PIO or OCI cards. I don't know whether you can get OCI from tourist visa. For more information about OCI check out http://indiacgny.org/php/showContent.php?linkid=174&partid=100⊂=sub6

Vijay.

My x husband is of indian origin, but a naturalized US citizen. I am not of Indian origin and a born US citizen with no passport. My children are suppose to travel to India in November, but I have not signed for their visas. I want my children to be given Tourist Visas NOT Entry Visas, but their father is saying that since he is of Indian origin, they HAVE to be issued Entry visas.

1. Is this true?

2. What are the differences and benefits between Entry Visas and Tourist Visas?

3. Can you get an OCI card if you have a tourist visa?

I need this information ASAP because I will be going to court in a few days.

I just finished my naturalization through Philly and I was told by the IO that they don't do same day oaths. But he told me that they have ceremony at least once every 2-3 weeks.

Does anyone know about Philadelphia? I want to know if I should take the day off to go along with my husband. I don't want to take the chance of missing his oath ceremony, but at the same time, if there's no way they'll have the ceremony that day, I don't want to miss a day's pay (I'm a sub, so I don't get paid days off, and like many, we're struggling financially). If he doesn't find out until he gets there, that's a problem - I don't have the kind of job I can just leave at a moment's notice....

thanks

venusfire

I completed my oath ceremony yesterday in Philly. They had 55 people naturalizing from 35 different countries yesterday. It took an hour to get started to process your oath form and then the ceremony was about 30 minutes. My immigration journey is complete. Thanks for all the help from fellow VJ members over the years about various issues/questions/concerns beginning with Green card until now. Good luck to all the people waiting to finish their journey.

Vijay.

Thanks for the wishes. I actually have my oath ceremony tomorrow.

Yes, that's normal. The yellow letter only indicates that you need to provide some additional information on the day of the interview (in my case I have to bring my drivers license with me). When there is no need for additional information, you get the white letter immediately. So, you're good. Good luck on the interview.

Good luck for you too Vijay... I saw that you have your interview tomorrow. I wish you all the best. Thanks for the information.

It took about 5 days for me to receive the white interview letter after the yellow letter.

Woohoo... ....at last somebody is looking into my file. I received the yellow pre-interview letter yesterday, telling me I Should bring my drivers license with me on the interview. No problem... have that with me all the time anyway. Any idea how long it takes from here to get the white interview letter?

The oath ceremony letter N-445 asks for full signature. Do I sign the usual way I sign my checks or is it full cursive signature(First Name, Last Name and Middle).

When I sent my N-400 I signed as full cursive signature and during the interview, the IO asked me to sign the pictures and when I asked him how to sign it, he said to sign it in the usual way I sign my checks. He then asked me to sign the same way for the N-400 form and the pics. Now do I sign the way I signed my N-400 in front of the IO or the cursive way. Any inputs or thoughts would be highly appreciated.

I was merely referring to the post above which mentioned that USCIS offices often do same day oaths if the interview is in the morning. I did across one past from another forum in the last week or so where the interview was early in the morning in Seattle and the person was asked to come back that same afternoon for the oath. I don't know whether this was a coincidence, where the oath ceremony was already going to happen and they were able to squeeze this applicant in or do they do the oath everyday in Seattle, we don't know.

I get that not all offices offer same day oath ceremonies. Does anyone have any experiences with the Seattle office?

Not all of them offer same day oaths even if the interview is in the morning.

If your interview is done before 2:30 pm, USCIS centres oft do same-day oaths.

Same with me too. The LUD is still the same when my interview was scheduled and no changes ever since.

vijay,

you are correct. When i check the uscis site and enter my case number it says that it is in the process of testing an interview. When you create an account using a log in and your own password, most of the time whenever there is a change or an update in your case, it says "Last updated" and a date when your case was (somehow) updated. what i was wondering is if the page gets updated once they send the n445....

am i making sense?

I think we already answered. Like I said, it doesn't look like they update it after it gets to Testing and Interview. I have seen many people in this forum and others, where it seems to be stuck in Testing and Interview even after oath is scheduled and completed. I have been scheduled for oath next week and my status still shows Testing and Interview.

hi there,

i guess my question was never really answered so here we go again

do you guys use the following website to track your progress when it comes to citizenship?

https://egov.uscis.g.../jsps/login.jsp

once the N445 letter gets sent in the mail, do you know if the case status gets updated?

For some reason i am really impatient :\

thanks

From what I have read in this forum and others, it seems like Atlanta has the same day oath ceremony in the afternoon if the interview is in the morning. So in all probability, you might have your oath the same day if yours is a straight forward case.

I mentioned this in the previous post. 7am

How did you get yours through e-mail ?.

You are right again, the N-445 is the oath letter, we got ours via e-mail, printed it out, and went, never really studied it except for those eight questions on the back and trying to figure out whether we were refugees or not. And do they really want to see our ton of immigrations papers again? They didn't.

Do they send out oath letters for same day oaths? Should give them a hint, you haven't left the country in that hour or so wait.

Isn't the N-445 the oath letter itself. From what I have read through the forums, it seems like they don't seem to update regularly if the oath letter is sent or not. It seems to stay in testing and interview even after oath is completed.

Never heard of a n-445, maybe an N-400 since this is a US citizenship board. Most we ever received from the USCIS processing site is that they received our application, but already knew that when I got on the net and saw our cashed check with the receipt number printed on it. But that is only by this so-called lock box stuff, field offices do not show your case status, least not for us.

A couple of years ago, St. Paul had the reputation for being the slowest in the nation for interview/oath ceremony times, unless you happen to personally know your senator and is on the USCIS budgeting committee, then you can get some reasonable service, but nothing like the field offices that have the same day oath ceremonies. Haven't kept up with their current times, but daughter is applying now, so will find out.

Had my interview in Philly on Friday. My appointment was at 9:20 and I got there by 8:15 (since I had to drive about 110 miles from home). They let me in and after checking, waited until 10 when I was called.

The officer made me swear to tell the truth. Went through my application including address, phone number, recent trips I had taken and where I worked. Went through the moral questions and when he came to the section where I had listed the traffic citations, he asked me whether I had been fingerprinted/arrested and I said that I had to just pay the fine. He asked whether I had any incidents after that one in 2003 and I said no. I asked whether we need to mention them in the form and he mentioned if it's not DUI/other incidents and just the fine, then we don't have to list them. But he told me that he appreciated the honesty of mentioning it and also mentioned that it's better to mention more in the form than mentioning less. He also remarked how many people have done worst crimes and don't list them in the application form and then background check brings it up. Then he asked me whether I belonged to any terrorist/communist/drug alcohol abuse and other questions and other yes/no questions.

Then he made my sign the forms. When I asked him whether I need to sign my full name in cursive he said to sign how I generally sign my documents which is not cursive. He made my sign my normal signature on the N-400 and then my pics. He proceeded to the civic questions. I only remember 5 of them now.

1. How many chief justices are there now.

2. How many years we elect a senator.

3. What was the declaration of independence

4. If President and vice president cannot serve, who becomes the president.

5. What is one branch of government.

He made my read " When is Columbus day" and made my write " Columbus day is in October".

Then he said Congratulations and I passed the test. He stamped approved on my application form. He asked me whether I would like to come back to Philly for oath or do it in my city and I mentioned that I would rather come back in Philly. He noted that. He gave me the results that I am recommended for approval. When I asked him when the next oath in Philly is, he said that they are moving fast and there could one in 3 weeks, but he didn't know the date for sure. He mentioned it will be in the same building 1600 Callowhill st and on the fourth floor. Then I was done and out the door in 10 minutes.

Point of interest - When I was in the room waiting there were three couples, who I think were there for the Green card interview and it seems they all had stokes interviews. It looked like they went in together first. Then after about 5-10 minutes, one person would be led back to the waiting room. After 15 minutes or so, the officer would bring the other person to the waiting room and take the husband/wife left before to interview for about 10 -15 minutes. Once the interview was over, I could see that the husband/wife were asking each other about the questions they were asked. I was suprised that three couples had the same stokes interview!. I hope they all did good.

This is my interview experience and right now waiting for the oath letter. Last step of the journey. There seems to be plenty of parking garages close by (a little steep price!) and bunch of spots on the street if could get early enough. I really didn't want to park on the street as I didn't know how long I would be in there for.

Good luck to rest of the folks awaiting interview!.

I am from Madras and really don't want to ever go through Bombay or Delhi customs and change flights. So I always tend to go with flights which tends to gets me straight to Chennai. I have traveled Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Qatar airlines to India. I like Qatar Airways and they seem to have decent food. I have heard so many horror stories about connecting through Heathrow that I have never want to travel British Airways.

Whenever my family thinks about going to India - they spend a LONG time looking at flights. I'm not sure why, but they seem to enjoy talking about different airlines, which one is the best for baggage, food, service and routes and then calling agents regularly to ask about rates.

Usually my family does not have a handle on the dates they want to fly - so they book a flight on an airline and then cancel the ticket within 24 hours so they can re-book it with new dates !

Anyhow I thought to see which airlines people prefer to fly to India and what they think.

I have flown KLM but they are very strict about baggage and carry-on requirements. The Amsterdam airport is excellent !

I have also been on Continental and found them to be expensive - though they were very lenient on the baggage details. They are a little disorganized at the gate from what I remember.

Finally Emirates is a pretty good airline service as well. A little expensive but the service is good and the Dubai airport is really cool.

For N-400 the RFE is the Biometrics appointment.

We just spoke to USCIS and were given the correct receipt number. I enter it online and see

On August 11, 2010, we mailed a notice requesting additional evidence or information in this case N400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the requested information. This case will be in suspense until we receive the evidence or the opportunity to submit it expires. Once we receive the requested evidence or information and make a decision on the case, you will be notified by mail. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

Is this just telling us they need biometrics completed?

They might say that you are under normal processing time. But if you could some how convince them to transfer to a Immigration officer, then the officer might be able to give a little bit more specific information. I had the problem with Biometrics as I didn't receive the notice one month after NOA and couldn't access case status online. I was transferred and the officer confirmed that the biometrics letter has been generated and I received the letter within a week after that.

Vijay.

Thanks Vijay, I think I need to call USCIS and make a service request without any delay. They should have already sent me interview letter by now. !

Yes, I got the interview letter a few days after I received the yellow letter.

Congrats bazboy63, Now you're a US Citizen ha?

I have been waiting for interview letter. It's a looooooooong wait OMG

Did anyone (who received yellow letter) receive interview letter yet?

Congratulations. Did the IO have you in the office when your husband was interviewed?. I have heard that spouses are not asked to come in the interview room for the citizenship interview.

Abdel is now a citizen! He ended up wearing his dress clothes for everything which turned out good because we only had an hour between the interview and swearing in. He was going to wear his tie but the mouse battery on the laptop is dead so trying to stop and replay the youtube video on how to tie it was driving him nuts. I have no idea where the tie landed. I wore a suit. It was good we dressed up because we only saw maybe 2 or 3 people not dressed up. They swore in 152 people from 50 different countries today.

We had never had an interview throughout the entire process so the guy really drilled us today. This is my fourth marriage so he was trying to make sure I hadn't been paid to marry Abdel I guess. All he had to do was ask who drove up here and why to get enough of the reality of our marriage out of us. (I drove because his driving makes me crazy) We made him smile discussing it.

Abdel was really nervous during the questions, but did great on them and only had to answer 6. I wasn't allowed to talk during that part of the interview.

Now it's time to go out and celebrate!

Hi All,

Do you guys any info about same day oath ceremony in Philly. I am scheduled for interview Sep 10'th at 9:20 AM. Also does the office have parking close to it ? I would appreciate if anyone has interview in Philly and gone through the process let me know.

Vijay.

With N-400, the RFE is most likely the notice to appear for Biometrics.

I think he has to surrender the Indian passport, get it cancelled by the Indian consulate and then get the surrender certificate.

Check out http://www.indiacgny.org/php/showHighLightDet.php?h_id=145&key=

Also check out http://www.indiacgny.org/php/showHighLightDet.php?h_id=147&key= about holding non-cancelled indian passports.

Hey can you tell me do USCs have to surrender their Indian passport still or there is no more compulsion as such anymore ?

My husband is a naturalised USC, still has his Indian passport. So if he travels to India will they ask him for the surrender certificate

Thanks in advance.

I am an Indian citizen with 10 yr GC and have applied for Naturalization. I thought long and hard about it and based my decision on two things.

1. The fact that US citizens could go to mostly any country without the hassle of applying for a visa first.

2. I wanted to apply for defense jobs as there are ton of awesome research/development going on here in Baltimore/DC with respect to Lockheed Martin/Boeing/Northrup Grumman and others and you need a security clearance for which you need to be a US citizen.

These were my reasons and I was planning on applying for OCI once I become a US citizen. I would be interested in hearing others opinion on becoming a US citizen or staying as a Indian citizen with a GC.

You can call and place a service request since you haven't received your Biometrics letter after 30 days. You can ask to be transferred to a Immigration officer and they could look it up right away and let you know whether the Biometrics letter has been generated or not. That's what happened to me and the Immigration officer confirmed that the Biometrics letter has been generated and I got it yesterday. When you call to place the service request, you need to have all the info ready including the Alien registration number. Good Luck!.