NDB052714

Passport status: 

• Application filed: 11/05/2020 in Cary, NC (USPS)...EXPEDITED SERVICE
• Approval received via email: 11/25/2020 

Email states passport should be received on or around 11/28/2020

--David

13 hours ago, JDPhila said:

Congratulations Noom.  I was following your K1 progress when my fiancé's application was about a month ahead of you and David.  Ton arrived in the USA in September 2016 and we were married in California on October 22, 2016.  But we decided to move to Khon Kaen to be near his family.  We visited my family last year.  Last month I had to return to the US on family business and now I can't get back into Thailand so I think it is time for us to work on his green card.  You are an inspiration that this is possible.  Thank you.

 

Thank you! Good luck to you and Ton. 

--David & Noom

1 hour ago, davemcphe said:

My wife (Thai national) just got her I-130 approved. I have completed the DS-260's for both her and her daughter,  I have uploaded the docs with the exception of the Police Certification.  What is this and is there a sample form that she can take to the police precinct for them to complete?

 

Thank you,

 

Dave 

Hi. Police Clearance Certificate must be ordered in person ... the Police are basically certifying that the applicant doesn't have a criminal background. The police know exactly what to do...this is a huge pain in the neck and can take weeks (up to 6) to secure. The police may offer an expedited service to a Thai for an additional amount. Some people are horrified by this and see it as corruption and refuse to pay; others see it as a part of Thai life and pay for the convenience of getting the certificate within a few days. Your Thai wife will know exactly what to do. Is she in BKK? I'm not entirely sure about this point, but I think the police certificate has to be secured from the central police hq in BKK, but perhaps it can also be done from from the hq in the amphur where the Thai citizen was born. I know my husband had to travel to BKK to get his even though he was living in Pattaya at the time. If your wife has ever lived outside Thailand, she will need a Police Clearance Certificate from that country as well. 

2 hours ago, lazy said:

Congratulations!!!

Very exciting and reading the timeline, I'm sure it was disheartening seeing the biometrics apt get pushed out mulitple times.

 

Quick question, as I have an upcoming N400 interview in Raleigh/Durham office as well next month:

   Did you have to request the Oath to be administered after passing the interview, or is that standard procedure now?

 

It would be SO convenient to have both items at same time.

 

Hi. It is standard now to have the oath administered after passing the interview...at least at the Raleigh/Durham office. I guess that could change at any time, but that's the way it works now. Good luck to you! 

11 hours ago, PilsenC said:

Same!

 

I am so happy

Congratulations to you! 

--David

Noom had his citizenship interview today...approved and oath administered! His journey is complete! What a happy day!  

--David

12 hours ago, USAjune2016 said:

I had my naturalization interview today in Lawrence MA. N-400 based on 3 years marriage. the IO approved my application on spot and I took my oath same day so I’m officially a US citizen now but my thoughts and prayers for the ones that are still waiting.

 

I had the best experience today in Lawrence field office. My officer was a wonderful  person, she was very friendly and smart. We had a really nice conversation about different topics.

 

 She first started with the reading and writing using a tablet, then asked me 6 questions. She only asked for my Greencard. We went quickly through the yes/no questions.

When I was waiting I thought it’s going to be a difficult one but instead it was a very smooth procedure. 


Good luck!! 

 

congratulations to you! 

10 hours ago, PilsenC said:

I have my interview tomorrow. I'm a little nervous, cuz is marriage based and the first interview ever besides de k1 visa.  Durham , NC, wish me luck!!

Hey! Good luck to you. Noom's is today in Durham, too...12:45. I'll be waiting in the parking lot. 

--David

12 hours ago, USAjune2016 said:

 

 

52 minutes ago, PilsenC said:

Same here, 2.15 pm Durham NC

when we were there in September they told us that interviews and oaths are being done the same day. 

Hi!

So here's an update...just re-checked the USCIS website and was happy to find that the interview letter was uploaded this morning. Interview is scheduled for 

November 5th @ 12:45 PM

--D&N

19 hours ago, USAjune2016 said:

Good news, Congratulations!  Did you receive an email or text? Did it update first on USCIS website? I’m wondering how does the app knows if it does not belong to USCIS

HI...case tracker notification came mid-day. I checked USCIS website account...nothing had changed. Then I received text and email messages overnight. When I checked USCIS website this morning, the status had changed accordingly. Notification document has not been uploaded yet...says it could take a few days. 

--David

Just received notification via Case Tracker app that interview was scheduled today (Sept 30). So we'll know appt date/time when the interview notice arrives. Always waiting for something, right? 

--D&N

On 9/20/2020 at 11:26 AM, BBlueB said:

Got it. So all senators, house representatives will change in Nov.

Thanks

Technically they don't change until their sworn in, so that will be January 2021. 

On 9/19/2020 at 5:57 PM, Shahzadi92 said:

No. Im. In north carolina raleigh... Its usually faster than rest of the offices but i have not been getting any. Updates either.. I. Had called was told. Wait 90 days after reopening

yes, Raleigh is usually pretty fast...not now! 

Hi. I take passport photos at my part time job. The rules we have posted are

• no hats/head coverings (except for religious reasons)
• no glasses
• you can smile, but do not show your teeth
• hold head in a straight forward, neutral position (don't tilt up/down or to left/right)

nothing about ears being visible; nothing about jewelry being removed.  

--David

10 hours ago, Thegirl said:

There's so much craziness going on now. My i-751 add n400 got transferred but ended up in two different offices... And interview scheduled in the wrong office...and a slew of other things! I'm glad you at least got your green card! Hopefully your N400 interview week be soon. Fingers crossed. 

HI. Craziness is right! Good luck to you, too. 

--David

12 hours ago, PinkCandy said:

Hi there,

 

This is interesting. I'm in the same field office as you - Raleigh, NC and I just filed my N-400 August 10th. Today I received the  notification that interview is already scheduled although I have not received the document of the details. 

Apparently they are reusing my biometrics from my ROC. I just received my 10-yr greencard in July.

This is weird. Now, I'm skeptical of my new update. 

Very interesting but unusual for sure! But maybe everything will be prefect for you. I hope so. Good luck. Please let us now what happens. 

--David

Hi.

Thought I'd share what happened to us yesterday...

Filed N-400 in March, 2020; 1-751 was still pending at the time. 

• 1-751 biometrics scheduled for April 2 (canceled due to COVID)
• 1-751 interview scheduled for April 14 (canceled due to COVID)
• 1-751 approved May 22
• Permanent Green Card received May 28

On August 6 we received notification to appear for I-751 interview. What? Why? 1-751 had been approved on May 22 and green card received on May 28 (with expiration date of May 22, 2030). Very confusing, right? So we called the Call Center...spoke to a very nice supervisor who informed us that it would actually be a combo interview for I-751 and N-400. She explained that since the citizenship application is based on marriage they would need to collect some information that would normally be collected during an I-751 interview and then of course the N-400 interview...so she told us to be prepared for both. So exciting, right?

So we spent the past month making sure we had all the current documentation to supplement evidence submitted for both 751 and 400. We spent time studying citizenship questions and  of course feeling anxious but very excited!  

Yesterday, 9/2, we arrived at the Raleigh-Durham Field Office at 12:45 PM for the 1:00 PM appointment...went through all the security steps and then checked in for the appointment via i-pad video. Appointment was verified and then we were directed to find our way to Room #8 for the interview, to shut the door and to sit in front of the i-pad and remove our masks and wait for the agent to begin the interview. And so we did. Everything was working very smoothly and very efficiently. 

Long story short (and an hour later)...appointment was apparently a mistake. The officer informed us that there was good news and bad news: good news, i-751 has been approved already so no interview required; bad news, N-400 application is not ready for interview.  I explained to her that we too were confused by the interview notice so that's why we called the Call Center; I relayed what the supervisor told us. The agent went away for awhile to do some research; she came back to explain that the case shows one task outstanding and that they can't move forward until that task is complete.

So then I shared (as nicely as possible) how frustrating and disrespectful the situation is...time and energy spent pulling together documents, studying for the citizenship test, worrying, taking time from work and school. She commiserated but she explained her hands were tied. She shared that COVID has caused some problems with the systems and processes. And so that was it...we left. And so we continue waiting. 

Major disappointment for sure. 

A few lessons learned I guess: 

1. Call Center can't necessarily be trusted to dispense good/accurate information. 
2. USCIS processes are ridiculous...but of course, we all know that don't we? Processes lack compassion and empathy. I'm sure there was a supervisor somewhere at the Field Office who could have taken our case in hand and pushed through some sort of progress while we were there. 
3. Our case is just one of how many? So I guess mistakes are going to happen. 

--David & Noom

PS...interestingly, just after we left the Field Office we got caught in a 30 minute traffic stand-still due to VP Pence's visit to Raleigh. Felt like the government was really messing with us yesterday! 

6 hours ago, Chaka Quaker said:

They may go over the application to make sure certain things haven’t change or to make sure the info you put in is accurate in my case they updated my weight because I gained 15 pounds since I filed my app 🤣 

Thanks for sharing...

David

2 hours ago, trudi said:

For me it was answering the questions (the yes/no I'm not a terrorist/prostitute/not committed genocide etc) and the civics, history questions, read a sentence/write a sentence and that was about it

We had a random conversation about the padding in the elevator and if anyone ever says yes to the questions (apparently yes but rarely) and that was it😁

Thanks for the info! 

--David

I'm curious...what happens during the N-400 interview? I understand there's the civics/history & language tests, but what else is involved? Thanks for any insight! 

--David 

1 minute ago, Sam&Nate said:

Boston filer here! I applied back in August 2019 and just had my interview yesterday and my application was approved! Oath ceremony hasn't been scheduled yet but I'm hoping it all gets done soon so I can register to vote!

 

I would imagine that processing times are much slower due to COVID-19. It has been almost a year since I applied but I was originally scheduled for my interview in March and it was de-scheduled due to the pandemic.

 

Best of luck with your application!

congratulations! 

On 8/19/2020 at 10:28 AM, Giovanna024 said:

I passed!!!!! 

No Oath same day in Miami

congratulations! that's great news. 

Any news on when the oath ceremony may be? 

9 hours ago, Zaidba said:

Great! When was the last time you had biometrics?

When was the last time you had your biometrics taken?

 

biometrics for ROC: Sep 20, 2019