NYBEtt

@Lucky Cats information is correct. However, I was never able to figure out what "leave with a US passport" means since there is no border exit control in the US.

@desertb your best bet is getting a passport appointment at a US expedited agency. you can make an appointment 3 days before your travel day, and appointment slots open up at exactly 5:00AM, 13 days in advance. I provided information regarding this in the following post:

My husband had the same issue. He was naturalized on Monday and already had a trip planned this weekend. So he made an appointment at at passport agency for tomorrow.

On 6/11/2021 at 10:47 PM, Coco&Kitten said:

NYBEtt, many many THANKS for updating us, very useful information!  I really appreciate you took the time to explain it.  I have an international travel coming up this Summer and I might need to do this depending on when I get scheduled for the oath ceremony.

Good luck and please report back your experience!

17 hours ago, nachnam said:

Hello everyone!! 

 

I became a US citizen last Friday and have been trying to obtain an appointment at the dallas passport agency for a passport to be able to travel on Monday. I have been trying since last Friday and have been calling their passport hotline and checking on appointment portal and have had no luck. Does anyone know if they allow walk ins and any words of advice. I have to travel on Monday. 

I just posted about this here:

 Unfortunately, my post is for making appointment 13-16 days before travel so it might be too late for you. I would still try the website, I've seen same day slots become available for some agencies. If you do try a walk-in please report back to us!

19 hours ago, LKMK said:

 

Yes both avenues of approach are my next steps. I submitted a USCIS request the other day because we are 5 months outside the "normal processing time." The normal processing time is 19.5 to 21.5 months and our case has been pending for 25 months now. We were transferred from Vermont to Potomac back in February 2020 to "balance the case load." However, everyone that stayed at VSC was approved and those that got sent to Potomac just sat there with a very slow trickle of approvals. At the 18 month mark I got sent an RFI to make sure our case was still active so I had to update everything. I figure I'll give them till the end of the month and then contact my Senator. This waiting game is ridiculous. We gave up waiting for the ROC approval and sent in or N-400. So the only hope we have now is for a duel interview ROC + Naturalization. Time will tell I guess.

I remember. Our cases were transferred to Potomac at the same time yet our paths have diverged quite a bit since then. Good luck!!

30 minutes ago, Oksana2@@ said:

I wish the best of luck to both of you!

I am in Long Island and applied on December 9 2020. Received biometrics reuse letter on February 1st and waiting for the interview. Case completion time says 9 months one day, 10 months next day... What does your case completion day says? I am also applying under 5 year rule

My case completion jumped between 9 months to 15 back to 9 months then 12 months. In the end, the interview took place about 11 months after submitting N400. So I would say average out the estimates or, better yet, ignore them!

Good luck!

15 minutes ago, Timona said:

 

Told someone to do this. I was heckled. I knew I was not wrong.

In all fairness, it likely depends on where your local infopass enter is. Even in rural south carolina, he was informed had it been busier they wouldnt have been able to take him. Imagine in a city of any size larger than that.

39 minutes ago, COYG! said:

Congratulations!!! Almost there!

 

Curious about what the oath notice says regarding international travel. Does it reflect the updated guidelines about vaccinated individuals? Thanks!

It does reflect updated guidelines. Here is what it says (red text by me for emphasis):

YOU MUST APPEAR FOR THIS OATH CEREMONY - However, if you are ill, have any symptoms of illness, have traveled outside the United Stateswithin the past 10 days* (unless you traveled outside of the United States in a personal vehicle); or had contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19within the past 14 days; or are at heightened risk due to age or an underlying health condition and would like to reschedule your ceremony, call the U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833) as soon as possible to reschedule your ceremony.There is no penalty for requesting that your ceremony be rescheduled. If you have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (defined as at least 2 weeks after seconddose of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, or 2 weeks after single J&J vaccine), you do not need to reschedule after contact with a positive person as long as you continue to not have symptoms.

On 6/6/2021 at 7:37 PM, LKMK said:

Congratulations!  Looks like our timeline is very similar, however we are still waiting.  I can only hope that we will follow soon, but not holding my breath anymore. We gave up waiting for ROC and filled for naturalization a few month ago. Hoping for a combo interview and finally be done with this process.

still no news on the I-751?! Are you able to submit a request with USCIS or are these "normal processing times"?? hopefully you get settled soon!

7/2020 filer. interview held today at federal plaza. after a few hiccups with the system the officer was able to approve me on the spot. I requested an oath date for after labor day because we are traveling July and August. officer said she would put in the request but noted they typically ignore her. she was correct, since a few hours after the interview the oath notice was mailed out and uploaded to myUSCIS: scheduled for 6/21/2021, which also works. almost there!

according to the officer if the system is not working and the approval needs to be entered manually, it could cause delays which is why I suspect sometimes people don't hear about their decision or oath date for days after the interview, even if the officer approves them.

7 hours ago, Prettygal1221 said:

Thank you and absolutely! Can you post the link to the excel sheet so I can make the updates? I'm not sure where to find it. Thanks!

I was referring to the Visa Journey timeline, which helps people compare stats to others with similar timelines. If you look to the left of your posts, under your country's flag you will find the link "Timeline". Your specific link should be here: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=202913

As for the spreadsheet, pinging @Timona !

@Mariela08 @J1student@Prettygal1221

Congrats to you all! Keep us posted on your oath ceremony dates and please fill out your immigration timelines if you can!

4 hours ago, J1student said:

I would not trust these estimates much. I had my interview today (Manhattan NYC) and 30 mins later the website updated that I'll be scheduled for an Oath ceremony. However the website shows an 8 months completion time!

 

Congrats on passing! Did you get an oath ceremony scheduled yet? Would be helpful if you filled out your timeline:

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=364697

4 hours ago, COYG! said:

Oath scheduled for June 23 😏. Working on getting it rescheduled 

Bummer. Had you asked the officer if he could get you an earlier oath date? My husband will go on with his travel itinerary and hope for the best. Keep us posted on how this ends up and good luck. From what I've read around here, it's not the end of the world if you miss an oath ceremony, but as @sender99 noted, I am sure it's stressful. Our issue is that we have back to back international trips planned this summer with a 4-week gap in between so skipping the oath won't be an option for us.

3 minutes ago, JER2020 said:

Some examples for comparison.

 

Australia:

From this time forward, [under God],

I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,

whose democratic beliefs I share,

whose rights and liberties I respect,

and whose laws I will uphold and obey.

 

Germany:

I solemnly declare that I will respect and observe the Basic Law and the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, and that I will refrain from any activity which might cause it harm.

 

Israel:

"I declare that I will be a loyal national of the State of Israel."

 

Canada:

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.

 

Russia:

I, (surname, name, middle name), swear that, by taking the citizenship of the Russian Federation, I will observe the Constitution and laws of the Russian Federation, and the rights and freedoms of its citizens; that I shall fulfill my duties as a citizen of the Russian Federation for the welfare of the state and society; that I will protect the freedom and independence of the Russian Federation; and that I will be loyal to Russia and respect its culture, history and traditions.

 

UK:

I, [name], [swear by Almighty God] [do solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm and declare] that, on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs, and successors, according to law.

 

Norway:

As a citizen of Norway I pledge loyalty to my country Norway and the Norwegian society, and I support democracy and human rights and will respect the laws of the country.

Applicants for Norwegian citizenship are not required to take the oath; it is optional.

 

USA:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

 

What stands out to me from these oaths is that Canada has to pledge allegiance to a monarch, whereas Norway, which has an actual monarch, does not 😂

This is an interesting discussion topic but probably suitable for a different sub-forum?

On 5/19/2021 at 10:04 AM, MindHunter said:

Can anyone  please help I had my N400 then 751  interviews on 5/5/21

 Today I got an update on  I 751 that it has been transferred again

should I be receiving a decision not a transfer?

 

 

Were you able to figure this out? I would assume this has to do with automatic notification updates and should get resolved on its own. But that's just an assumption. Curious to see how this turns out.

8 hours ago, jimbrackets said:

Does anyone have n400 timelines for this office?

You can go here: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/citlist.php?cfl=&op5=5,10,11

and select New York City for Local CIS office

You should also update your timeline to help other people out:https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=372061

3 hours ago, S. & A. said:

Had my interview today - fairly quick process, was given a paper saying I passed the tests and was recommended for approval before I left. Got home and checked online and I've already been scheduled for my oath (June 18). Almost there!

Congrats! Thanks so much for sharing your oath date.

10 hours ago, -MDV- said:

I don't have a pending I-751 tho, it was already approved last year. Do you think they let him in the building? I am just worried because I applied base on 3 years rule, I don't want him to come, if he is just going to end up outside waiting. 

If your I-751 was already approved then you do not need to bring your husband. They probably won't even let him in. You only need to bring the proof of documentation that is listed on your interview notice:

23 hours ago, MJS2020 said:

Thank you for the reply. Yeah, the timeframes are weird. My travel date will be 3 weeks out from my oath ceremony. So it’s less than 4 weeks which is the minimum processing time for an expedited service but not “urgent” enough to qualify for the urgent travel category 😕

You actually might have a shot if you can get an appointment for the date of your oath ceremony. I've read instances where expedited passports arrive in 3 weeks. We are in a similar situation. Except we don't know when the oath date will be :S. At this point we'll likely have to postpone the trip or request the oath ceremony to take place after we return.

13 hours ago, MJS2020 said:

Perhaps not exactly on topic here but does anyone know how to apply for US Passport for the first time (DS-11) without USPS? It looks like USPS has no available time slots for appointments and I was wondering what would be the alternative to an USPS appointment? Passport Agencies (for expedited service) currently do not seem to have appointments either so I assume they won’t any time soon. 

 

I’ve found “Passport Acceptance Facilities” and they do not require appointments so I was wondering if I can go there (when the time comes haha) and apply for passport on site?

It depends on how soon you want your passport. Here in NY all appointments are also taken but they open up slots 4 weeks in advance in the morning. Its 7am and almost all slots available for June 8 (4 weeks from today) for my nearest post office. I'll bet it's the same for you too. 

1 hour ago, Scandi said:

I was just reading off of their website, for emergency passport it says to call them (in bold even). 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/emergencies.html

Correct. That is for life-or-death emergencies though, which is different from "urgent" travel:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html

21 hours ago, Scandi said:

I don't think you can get an emergency appointment if your travel is 2 weeks out, I believe you need to show proof that you need to travel within 3 business days or so. And you need to call to get one, there's no online appointment system for that.

 

Expedited takes 4-6 weeks.

You can definitely make an appointment online, but it's difficult to snag one. Your appointment has to take place 3 business days before your travel but you can book the appointment up to two weeks out.

1 hour ago, Timona said:

 

System is still down. It has been occurring a lot of late. Just relax. Nothing you can do about it.

 

There is a spreadsheet

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UYpuRqSQkRAdX7Kr_nehvjsjCiNTyADPJ3CAc9qJHf4/edit?usp=sharing

 

Fill time-line, people

Yes listen to Timona!

Also, please remember to fill out your visajourney timeline, another great resource that helps community members see how things are progressing for people with similar timelines:

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/