Looks like USCIS is finally doing something to speed up the ROC process, distributing workload to local offices. It'll be interesting to see how many will result in actual interviews.
I say screw the "current climate". The pendulum is going to swing to the other end to the extremes we can't even imagine. Remember the reason why you have your citizenship: vote AGAINST "GOP" at every opportunity; vote the bastards out of every public office in this country.
Sharing my N400 experience at the Minneapolis field office, since there's not a lot of information out there for MN and ND residents. Be warned, this will be long and hopefully, detailed.
Background info: I applied online July 2017, and completed my biometrics appointment in Fargo August 2017. The system autogenerated an interview date for me with the Fargo office, but that interview was descheduled the next day.
My interview was on 2/20/2018 at the Minneapolis field office on Marquette Ave. I got to the main building at 9:20 and took the elevator up to the 7th floor. There were about a dozen people in line to go through security, but they moved us through quickly. They asked to see everyone's appointment letter. If you didn't have one, you were asked to step out of line and to make an INFOPASS appointment or to wait for an actual appointment letter. Many people brought several family members. After security, I checked in and was given a number (P28). There were other numbers starting with Ks and Ds. Ds were called up to 1 of 5 counters on the right side of the lobby, Ps and Ks were called to a secure door to the left of the counters. My number was called right at 9:45am, and I was led through the secure door and to the back officers by my IO, J. Suarez. He was warm and friendly, and we made small talk through the hallways. Before I even sat down in his office, he said that "when" I passed the interview today, that they would do my oath ceremony today. He said that I would become a US citizen today.
First, he asked me to sign a couple of things (acknowledging I am who I say I am) and to confirm my address. Then, we moved onto the English portion and that took less than a couple of minutes. Next, was the Civics portion. He told me that it would be very easy, and that once I got 6 right, that we would be done
The questions asked were:
1. What is the name of the national anthem?
2. How old do you have to be to vote?
3. What is the Rule of Law? (I stuttered here a little bit, because I couldn't decide which answer to give. He assured me again that I could do it, that it was very easy)
4. Which ocean is on the West Coast?
5. What happened on 9/11?
6. Why are there 13 stripes on the flag?
Once we were done, he congratulated me and said that he would print out my oath ceremony letter right now. He said that they were doing in-house ceremonies now, and that they do them throughout the day. The next one would be in the next hour, and he led me back out to the lobby to wait.
After half an hour of waiting, another IO came out to talk to me. She told me that they made a mistake. As a MN resident, I'm not eligible to take the in-house administrative oath, that only ND residents were allowed to do so. As a MN resident, I had to take my oath before an actual judge. I was a little confused as to why they didn't catch this before, since I had to confirm my address with the previous IO. It sounded like these in-house oaths were a new development, and that there were other MN residents that interviewed today that they also had to inform. She apologized repeatedly for the mistake and said they called the courthouse and arranged for a ceremony to take place later today, but that it would be in St Paul. She said that the Judge who would be doing it is the sweetest guy ever and that he's really nice. I told her I didn't mind because I didn't have anywhere to be anyways, and it sounded like there would only be a few of us at this ceremony so it seemed like it would be more intimate. She thanked me for understanding and said she would be back with information on where and when the new ceremony would take place.
15 minutes later, another IO showed up and gave me my new oath ceremony letter. He, too, apologized for the inconvenience and explained that the others couldn't make the later time today so I would be doing this oath by myself with the Judge in his chambers. That was kinda exciting and nerve wracking... On my way out, I ran into the female IO again and she apologized once more for the mix up. I think being so close to Canada has rubbed off on us MN folk.
Anyways, my oath ceremony was now at Robert St in St. Paul at 3:00pm. When I got there, the security officers thought I had the wrong place or time. I explained that I had a letter and that I was supposed to see the Judge. They let me through and told me to go talk to the court clerk. She then took my green cards (conditional, and 10 year), saying I wouldn't need them anymore. I was hoping to at least keep the conditional one as a souvenir. Oh well.
The Judge's assistant came to get me and led me to his chambers. He came out to meet me right away and the IO was right.... He's such a sweet guy! He showed me pictures of his family - he has 3 adopted daughters who went through the naturalization process themselves. He told me stories of people he did the ceremony with - from a Somalian soldier going to serve in Iraq, to a Russian wrestler representing the US in the Olympics, to an Iranian man dying of cancer. The Judge said that he's done ceremonies in hospices, hospitals and even private homes for people too sick to travel. He also shed some light on the administrative oaths and the difference between MN and ND residents. The explanation is that the ND courts have given the USCIS the authority to perform these administrative oaths because they are very busy and don't want to take the time to do so. He said that the MN courts have not done so even though they are the busier court of the two, hence why MN residents have to take the judicial oath. (By the way, I also learned that if you are changing your name, even as a ND resident, you would then have to do a judicial oath because only judges can approve name changes.) He said he understood the reasoning behind the ND court's decision, but felt that new citizens deserved the time and respect of the court to perform the oath at the very least. He joked that as a Judge, most of the people he meets aren't very happy to be standing before him, and that oath ceremonies are the only time that people actually want to be in court.
We also talked a little about immigration issues in the current political climate and he shared a few more personal stories. He said his favorite part of doing the oaths was to hear people's stories and to ask them questions about their lives. He said that America's strength is in her people and that immigrants are what makes this country strong. He said that there's value in every culture, language and tradition - even in the little things such as children's songs and recipes. Of course, no country is perfect, but we both agreed that sometimes people born in the US forget how good they have it. I really got the sense that even though he has performed so many oath ceremonies, some with over a thousand people, that each one was very special to him.
Anyways, I'm very grateful that I was able to spend time with him and his assistant, and to hear his thoughts, opinions and experiences. It was a very humbling experience - I wish everyone could have the same experience as I did. So, thank you Judge Frank and Becky for making my oath ceremony that much more special.
Thanks to all who have given me advice and support since starting this journey with the K1 visa, and good luck to all still waiting!
I have seen a lot of generalized comments in this thread, but it sounds like it would be best for you, OP, to take the issues that you have brought here to wife (again, if you have already done so) or a marriage counselor rather than this forum. It true that she may have just married you for the green card. It also may be true that she has personal reasons for her behavior.
From what you have written here, though, I truly recommend taking action and bringing these issues up before they possibly turn into resentment.
Your SS benefits would be less, I believe, than they would be if you were a US citizen.
You can have both passports if 'England' allows dual citizenship. The US doesn't care, or rather looks the other way.
As a US citizen, you do not have to worry that some deranged, somewhat sickeningly crazy politician inhabiting a house with white paint will wake up one morning and declare all 'Englanders' banned from the US.
Our letters of intent were short, simple, & to the point. We didn't notarize them, Just a few sentences saying that we were able and willing to marry each other within the 90 days.
It has nothing to do with "respect" at all. It's a letter you write to them, stating your ability and intention to marry. If OP follows the guidelines on the VJ sample letter, they will be fine. I didn't notarize mine and they accepted it just fine. There's no reason to.
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