BelgianEclair

Here we go, figured I'd share!

11 hours ago, okramango said:

Yay, congratulations! Wish we had a same day ceremony, but ours is coming up in a couple weeks! My husband's interview was similar, except that they started with the civics test and reading/writing tests, and then went through the application. We brought so much documentation but they only asked to see his passport. The whole interview didn't even take 15 minutes! Congratulations again!

thanks! Congrats to you and hubby too! 

And yes, amazing how much you bring and how little they ask for!

I only got asked for my IRS repayment plan as I owed taxes last year I couldn't afford to repay immediately. 

And thank you for updating my colors to the official American red! 

15 hours ago, oc_citizen_2016 said:

Congratulations! Wow....that's really good.

One quick question: Did you take the passport photos? Or were they the ones you had sent with your application.

I took some, but they used the one they took during the fingerprinting process to use on my certificate. Also the ones I had to sign were the ones I had sent in with my application, but they weren't used for anything. The gentleman who interviewed me (very nice fella btw) actually asked if I'd prefer to have a new one taken, if I didn't like the one on file, but I truly didn't want to be a hassle and just wanted to leave and jump up and down with happiness!  

As of 2pm central time I am a citizen of the United States of America. The interview barely took 20 mins and was very smooth. First had to swear while standing to tell the truth. Spent 5 mins confirming info on my form, provide IRS documents and check spelling, ssn, DOB and address. Answer 6 questions: 1st President, name of governor, movement that fought for equal rights, ... don't remember the other lol. Then read "who lives in the White House?" And write "The President lives in the White House". Then I had to sign my passport photos and sign the form stating I was approved. Officer asked if I was available at 2 pm to come back for an oath and I almost jumped up and down saying "yes!". Went to work and talked to some friends, had celebratory lunch then went back for oath. We each got a number seat, had to sit and listen to some instructions, listened to and watched the national anthem lyrics and then one by one our names and countries were read off and then we all went up to receive our certificates. Then we watched a video from the President and after the Pledge were dismissed for some photos. Done! I shed a tear I was so happy and relieved!!! It was a touching moment!

Thank you Visajourney friends for all your help and advice!

good luck!! 

congrats HeatGun, good to see all went well!

And good luck prettypass!

Just got my interview letter in the mail tonight! Along with a bunch of cute Christmas presents I ordered for my son, so it was a good mail day ?

Anyway so online update: 12/1, notice date, 12/5, received on 12/8 and interview scheduled for January 10th, 2017 at 9.45 am.

Now I need to track down my passport since I need to bring it and it's been expired for forever and I haven't travelled internationally since 2009!

Also if it was same day oath, would it be mentioned on letter? The field office offers it and it's mentioned on their website?

Just wondering if it's prescheduled or a choice they give you on site...

I'm thinking it might easily be anywhere up to 2-3 weeks, considering my status updated on 12/1 and still no news, and when I'm reading other folks' experiences, I'm reading anywhere from 4 days to 12 days later. Also interviews seem to be about a month after that.... on average. Guess we're waiting and finding out regardless of the status we're in huh?! Well, I know I'm not the only one who will be happy the waiting games are over, although after this, I'll be waiting for a darn passport to arrive! Always something!!

Well I told the folks at church to say a little prayer because I'd really like to be a citizen soon (read: Under Obama administration, yep, I said it!) and logged in today and my status changed to Interview Scheduled!!! Super excited to get that letter in the mail!!!

Thats awesome news!

I called and on both occasions I was being told your case will process in 5 Months so not until Jan/Feb.

They were both so blunt I dont think I will call back.

I am happy to know everyone is moving forward! I will try to be patient.

Can someone update the list please.

My first time calling was like that so I know what you mean, not all of them have the same bedside manner for sure!

I would try again. The lad today sure seemed very helpful and the waiting time was 1 minute! I am thinking a lot of folks think they are closed today.

And prettypass2000, that's right, NEVER a dull moment LOL

So I called USCIS again today and was forwarded to a Tier 2 officer. A charming, extremely helpful lad might I add!

Anyway turns out the reason my receipt number wasn't updating anymore is because between my NOA1 and biometrics letter AND my background check clearing and case being forwarded to the local office, someone made a typo on my case number and switched the last 2 digits. And low and behold, when typing in my NEW number, it shows that I'm in line for my interview. Seriously, it's not complicated enough, now I got two numbers to keep track off LOL

I know we all get a break from looking up our statuses (even though I did) and checking our mailboxes (ThAT I didn't) but still, thinking of all of you and wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving. (and if you don't celebrate, still wishing you a good day and lucky you for not having to cook an entire day LOL)

hello,

can anybody suggest if this is Ok to call and check status in the following situation:

GC date: 12/10/2011

sent forms 09/20/2016

check cached: 09/27/2016

FP: 10/20/2016

and no news anymore ... site shows:

"On October 3, 2016, we scheduled you for a fingerprint appointment and mailed you an appointment notice for"

We have a somewhat similar time line and I had my FP done on 10/20 too and have the same "fingerprints scheduled" so hence why I called being a bit worried, and well turns out my background cleared on the 25th and been in line since (as mentioned above) and wouldn't have known unless I called. They said my status just isn't getting updated anymore, wondering if same is true for you!

Call and ask for Level 2 officer!

Let us know!

These dates and processing times posted, is it from the date your case was received by uscis? Right now my office says 5 months, it changed from March 26 on September 30. What exactly does this mean?

If your office says "5 months" it means that on average, from the time of the first receipt date till the time of oath, the N-400 procedure takes 5 months. It also means (and that is based on what a level 2 officer told me last week) that if the case gets "stuck" somewhere, they wont look into it until those 5 months have passed.

So say you send the package on 9/1 and they received it on 9/3 and then sent NOA 1 dated 9/6 then your case should be done and completed by February 6th.

Cool -- thanks for sharing the information. This is great news!!

Congrats to you --- especially with your personal situation.

Maybe once 2 months are due after my "inline", I will give them a call.

What's the number you called? Can you please share?

Is this the same as infopass-something?

Hi!

Sorry it took me so long to answer. Had tons of work at work to catch up on and then had to go interview someone for my college homework assignment. Yesterday was madness!

Anyhow, I called the main phone line. 1-800-375-5283. Picked option 1 for English, then option 2, then 1 followed by entering receipt number using numbers for the NBC, then 1 to verify the number I entered is correct. Finally, it'll tell you the status and then you can pick option 3 to "report a problem on your case and speak to a customer service agent".

After a brief hold, you get connected to a level 1 officer. I explained my situation and asked if I could speak to a level 2 (and here is where you get lucky or not, some will transfer you, some want, let's just say that politeness gets you a long way!

I got transferred to an automated system that explained the wait was 200 minutes so just to enter my call back info. I confirmed my phone number, spoke my name when prompted and then the system hangs up.

About 3.5 hrs later, I got the call back. It was an automated system at first, walking me through a few prompts and finally after about 5 minutes, I was connected to a live person.

She asked me to verify some info (DOB, address, Alien number and full name including middle names) and finally asked me what I was calling about.

She then informed me about the background check clearing! PHEW!!!

Hope this helps!

My next move was going to be infopass and if I don't get a letter in the mail by Christmas, I might go down that route, in the mean time, just watching that mailbox!

Could you please update mine? Interview will be on 12/21 @ 9.30am with same day oath. I got a call from the field office this morning. My case is no longer updated online since there's the congressman involvement and my file is already at the field office.

YAY!!!! Talk about a Christmas wish come true!!!!

Nice!!!! So did you not get an email or did you not check the status update on USCIS website using your NBC number? When was the status updated?

No emails. And my online status on USCIS website still says "fingerprint appointment was scheduled". I asked the Level 2 officer and she said to not even worry about the online status anymore, that sometimes the background clears and the case gets forwarded but the status doesn't get updated.

And I guess my background was approved on 10/25, 5 days after my fingerprint appointment on 10/20. She also specifically mentioned that my interview letter will follow 60 days after the background check cleared. I'm hopeful!

OH MY GOD!!!!!!

Got a call back from USCIS just now and after getting all my info verified and waiting for my case to load (glad I'm not the only employee with a slow computer!) she proceeds to tell me my background cleared and I've been in line for an interview since October 25th and should be getting a letter within 60 days following that date with my scheduled interview time and date!

Thank you thank you thank you! PHEW! I told her she lifted a HUGE weight of my heart today, which could probably be heard by the load sigh I let out LOL

So please update my time line with "in line" on 10/25. Also she told me not to bother checking the website, guess my case status is not getting updated anymore.... odd!

Now time to stalk the mail box

I just called USCIS to try and find out when to expect an interview date since I have been in line for an interview since Nov 1; the officer told me that the Tampa office is presently dealing with ... March 2016 applications; I guess we'd better be veeery patient

I just tried to call again and was transferred to a Tier 2 only to be directed straight to a call back line, waiting time: 200 minutes!

Damn!

I put in my info, but must admit, based on info I've read on here, I'm not holding my breath for a call back.

they don't close for the whole week only on Thursdays for thanksgiving and December 25. for Christmas

OK that seems more reasonable!

SO, because of the holidays, is the immigration offices have a week off as the thanksgiving break and two weeks for the Christmas holiday

Like, for real?! Surely only the Thanksgiving day and maybe weekend (bridge type deal like us Europeans?) and maybe Christmas Eve and Christmas/New Year's Eve and New Year?

Ugh, I'm getting super worried!

Tried calling USCIS twice now, wanting to speak to level 2 officer and "they're not taking anymore calls today", 2 minutes after I finally got connected and they opened! UGH

Still no in line, just "fingerprints appointment has been scheduled"

I also realized today that my son isn't registered for Selective Service when looking up reasons for N-400 denial (yes, I am THAT worried). He is turning 20 in January and I honestly didn't know about this. So I printed off a form (couldn't do it online, they can't match his ssn?!) and am taking it over to him this weekend. Guess that means he's going to be applying for another greencard next year (it expires in 2018) as he'll need to wait till 5 years after registration with SS or he'll be denied based on moral character (or so I'm reading)

Yep, good going.....

Same here. Good luck to you! I've been a GC holder since April 2006. My case is expedited but Government expedited isn't hopeful at all. Most likely, my kids and I will celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year here while my husband is in Germany for his oversea assignment. He can't come home either. We'll just have to make the best out of it!

I feel your pain! That'll be sad for all of you, you and the kids, and your husband by himself in a foreign country.

Just tell your hubby to drink a lot of gluhwein and he'll perk up a little

Germany is actually very beautiful during the holidays, I'm sorry you and your kids might not get to experience it, BUT you never know, things might suddenly get moving!

I was hoping to be able to travel in June and boy am I glad I started it now.I thought about waiting till maybe later in the year, but now, no regrets!

I almost wonder if since we waited longer to become citizens, we're being "punished" by being pushed to the end of the pile.... ah who knows, you'd start forming all sorts of conspiracy theories while waiting for an update LOL

I feel you, I check everyday and nothing and seeing more and more updates of inline make me so disappointed. Worse because my mom went for her visitors visa and was denied. I am just looking for a ray of light

I'm so sorry to read about your Mom. I'm doing this whole process so I can travel home to see my family so it's pretty disappointing to not be getting anywhere. I hope it starts moving for you!

Hello all,

I got a text message last night, I just checked my case status and it says:

Interview Was Scheduled On November 10

I'm amazed of how quickly it is going, hopefully everyone will start seeing movement soon.

As soon as I get the letter I will update my status.

congrats!

I'm still on the biometrics page and honestly ready to throw my shoe at the screen. Guess I really don't have to worry about checking stuff now till Monday, with Veteran's Day and all.

Oh and anyone married to, or acquainted to a soldier, thank you for their Service!

I'm in Nebraska, I can't imagine it's that overwhelmingly busy....

I don't know by what logic they're operating on mine, as I've been a GC holder since August 2006.

I sure wish you do get an update next week!

My status remains the same ''biometrics appointment has been scheduled"

It's bloody frustrating, isn't it? Everyone I get an email with "Yay, I'm in line" I'm like, ah good for them. Then I go over to checking mine and still same old "biometrics appointment has been scheduled"

I'm starting to dislike the words lol

Oh well, the waiting game's never been my strong suit!