eggplant

Just got back from my oath ceremony! I’m finally a citizen! Here’s everything I can recall and know about being part of the huge ceremony in Los Angeles.
 
Firstly, did you know you can look up the date and times for all the oath ceremonies coming up in the LA Convention Center? Just Google it, I did a few days before the ceremony! I realized after doing so that the actual ceremony began at 1:30PM. My assigned arrival time was 1:00PM, and I realized (through reading other experience posts) that they stagger the arrival times for people so that the hall can slowly get filled with the 3000+ people showing up that day. So I assume there were people who were assigned to arrive at 12:00PM, 12:30PM, etc.
 
I took a Lyft to the Convention Center, got there at around 1:05PM, found my way into the massive room with hundreds and hundreds of people in line to get through security. This took a LONG time. There were a lot of kind staff members around to answer questions and keep everything moving. I was really one of the last one hundred people to arrive. I brought water in a mason jar (too hipster for the security), which was my mistake, because they dumped out the water and threw away my jar. I should have used my collegiate water bottle! But, my banana and dried mangoes got through just fine.
 
After security, you are corralled into the actual ceremony room with a huge American flag and two huge screens on either side of it, as well as a stage and podium in front of the flag. There is a row of tables on the left side of the room with a bunch of citizenship and immigration services workers sitting there, doing your final question/interview. I went to one, showed them my green card and my notice (for the ceremony), and they looked at the back where you have to answer No to everything as well as fill in your personal info. He asked me three questions verbatim to which I answered No, and then one question backwards “Are you still willing to…” and that was a Yes! Then, he stapled my green card to the oath notification, wrote a number on the notification, and gave it back to me. The number corresponds to the table I return to after the ceremony to get my naturalization certificate. I went to the bathroom (weirdly, there are stairs to get up to the bathroom, and I felt bad for the older folks who seemed to struggle to get up the stairs) and then went to the main ceremony seating area for the applicants. Like I said before, there were many staff members, and they swiftly guided us to our seats. At this point we are also given a welcome packet and a tiny American flag! We are seated pretty much in the order we arrive/finish the final interview/walk in towards the seating area.
 
The ceremony itself was short and sweet, you will enjoy it! There’s a speech by the judge, and then he immediately administered the oath of allegiance, and we became citizens! There was lots of cheering and flag-waving. Then there was another speech by someone from USCIS, then we did the Pledge of Allegiance (good times in Elementary School), and finally we sang the Star Spangled Banner along with a very talented guest singer. Then, they played a music video (prepared by USCIS) of America the Beautiful, which was really sweet and showed naturalization ceremonies from cool places all over the U.S., like Mt. Rushmore. I knew from reading past oath ceremony experience posts that a video of the President congratulating us was supposed to play, but they didn’t show any sort of video by the President...this was the first oath ceremony (well, the 9AM one was technically the first) in Los Angeles after Trump’s inaguration. It was funny, they misspoke when presenting the video, they said something along the lines of “we will now show two...excuse me, one video, please enjoy”.
 
After that it was pretty much over. We sat around for a good 15 minutes before we were allowed to get up and go to our assigned table (table number written on our notice!) to pick up our Naturalization Certificate. I got a random lady to take a picture of me holding the certificate and the flag. Then, I went to the bathroom, walked out through all the families and friends waiting for their loved ones (felt kinda sad to do it alone), hopped on a Lyft and went home, barely beating the return traffic. I called the Lyft at 3:38PM.
 
I definitely got teary-eyed a couple times during the ceremony, and I thought it was amazing how they honored people who served in the military who were being naturalized, by having them sit in the front row, reading their names aloud, showing them on the big screens, and allowing them to be dismissed first!
 
Personally, I thought it was great that I was able to get there right before the ceremony began. I was probably one of the last hundred people to get through security, do the questions and take a seat. Because, it takes less time to dismiss everyone by their arrival/seating order, than the time it takes to be in the massive crowd, get through security, do the questions, and get into a seat before the ceremony. So personally I’m glad I didn’t have to sit around in the ceremony hall waiting for everyone to trickle in. It was also really hot today and I got sweaty armpits, so go for something flowy if you’re doing this in LA on a hot day. The dress code is really whatever you think is proper - I saw girls wearing graduation style/borderline inappropriate dresses as well as older folks just wearing comfy everyday “out of the house” clothes, and everything in between.
 
I’m so happy that this process is over and I’m finally a citizen of the United States! I’ve lived here for a total of 16 years (I’m currently 24) and I am so excited to contribute and give back to this country I call home!
 
(I had my interview in late January, and I want to make a post about that too. For some reason, they processed my approval after the interview SUPER quickly! I think it was just because I was a really simple (?) applicant in the fact that I have no children, am not married, am a student, am perfectly fluent in English, lived here forever, etc. I received my oath ceremony notification in the mail literally one week after my interview.)

Hello everybody, I have been on this forum reading threads a lot during my process, and I wanted to give back by sharing my interview experience with you. So a little bit about me: I'm a female student, not married, have lived in the U.S. for 16 years, had a green card for more than 5 years, got it through the lottery.
 
My appointment was 8:40AM at the Federal Building in DTLA. I got to the building at 8:10AM. The line in front of the Federal Building at 8:10AM was already moderately long, I waited at least 15 minutes in line before I got to the security at the entrance of the building. They made me take off my little boots I was wearing, but other people with smaller shoes (like flats) didn't have to. Also remember to take your phone out of your bag and put it next to your bag in the tub. The security guard found and took out of my purse two bottles of prescription pills, which he made a joke about, and I said something along the lines of "just in case!" with a smile and he easily let me through.
 
I used the restroom in the lobby, then went to the 6th floor and room that's assigned on my letter. The room that's actually on my letter was an office style room (with cubicles as well as individual interview rooms) across the hall from the waiting room, and everyone assigned to that room like me was waiting in the waiting room. The security guard in front of the interview room took my letter. The waiting room was very comfortable and had a TV playing current news as well as some plants, pictures on the wall of people smiling, and a small play section with toys for children. I sat in the waiting room with about 50 other people. This very elderly Asian man was called for his interview at one point, and he turned around with a huge grin and waved at everyone else in the waiting room, which I thought was really adorable and heartwarming. Interestingly, I felt like I waited a very short time in the waiting room, as I was called before others who were there before me. My interviewer actually came to the waiting room to call me in person, whereas most others' names were called on a loudspeaker that plays in the waiting room, a name being called once every 10 minutes or so.
 
I went with him across the hall into the office-like room with lots of cubicles, and went to his actual office in the back. He first had me swear I tell the truth, and then I sat down and he asked me for my green card and my California State ID card (I don't drive). That's all he asked me to show, even though I brought lots of other stuff related to my application. So he first had me do the civics exam "to get it over with!". He wrote my answers down pretty much verbatim on a worksheet he had in front of him, which had 10 questions on it. As you know, after getting 6 right, it's over, you pass. These were the questions I was asked:
 
What is freedom of religion?
When was the Constitution written?
How many people are in the Senate?
When must one sign up for Selective Service?
What is the ocean on the East Coast?
Name a state that borders Canada.
 
Then, he made me read "The American flag is red, white, and blue." and then write the same sentence in a spot on a piece of paper. Ridiculously easy.
 
Next, he went through the entire N-400 I had submitted, a copy of which was in front of him. We actually went through all of the things in the application that I had answered, but it did not take long because I am not married and have no kids. He asked me some interest-based questions, like how my undergrad experience was at the university I went to, and also what I am researching in grad school. And he did ask me about the trips I had taken outside the U.S. since getting my green card, and they were all short winter break trips to my parents' country, to "visit grandparents". Then came all the "no" questions. He looked at me in the eyes for each one, the ones about crimes, guerilla, drugs, unpaid taxes, Communism, all that stuff.
 
Then, it was done. He told me that I passed! He had me sign a piece of paper he printed out that showed all my basic personal info, that would go on my naturalization certificate. And then he gave me a pamphlet about American facts, a flyer about "what to expect at the oath ceremony", and also the Form N-652/approval notice. Then, he told me that the next oath ceremony would be mid-February, but I probably won't be able to get into that one, so I would probably have my oath in March or later (update: I got the mid-February oath ceremony). He told me I should expect my oath notification in the mail in a month to 90 days (update: I got it in the mail in 8 days).
 
I wasn't particularly worried about passing the interview, but I felt so happy and relieved when I stepped out of the office and out of the Federal Building.

I hope this helps you know what to expect, as well as quell any nervousness you may have about this. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Just got back from my oath ceremony! I’m finally a citizen! Here’s everything I can recall and know about being part of the huge ceremony in Los Angeles.
 
Firstly, did you know you can look up the date and times for all the oath ceremonies coming up in the LA Convention Center? Just Google it, I did a few days before the ceremony! I realized after doing so that the actual ceremony began at 1:30PM. My assigned arrival time was 1:00PM, and I realized (through reading other experience posts) that they stagger the arrival times for people so that the hall can slowly get filled with the 3000+ people showing up that day. So I assume there were people who were assigned to arrive at 12:00PM, 12:30PM, etc.
 
I took a Lyft to the Convention Center, got there at around 1:05PM, found my way into the massive room with hundreds and hundreds of people in line to get through security. This took a LONG time. There were a lot of kind staff members around to answer questions and keep everything moving. I was really one of the last one hundred people to arrive. I brought water in a mason jar (too hipster for the security), which was my mistake, because they dumped out the water and threw away my jar. I should have used my collegiate water bottle! But, my banana and dried mangoes got through just fine.
 
After security, you are corralled into the actual ceremony room with a huge American flag and two huge screens on either side of it, as well as a stage and podium in front of the flag. There is a row of tables on the left side of the room with a bunch of citizenship and immigration services workers sitting there, doing your final question/interview. I went to one, showed them my green card and my notice (for the ceremony), and they looked at the back where you have to answer No to everything as well as fill in your personal info. He asked me three questions verbatim to which I answered No, and then one question backwards “Are you still willing to…” and that was a Yes! Then, he stapled my green card to the oath notification, wrote a number on the notification, and gave it back to me. The number corresponds to the table I return to after the ceremony to get my naturalization certificate. I went to the bathroom (weirdly, there are stairs to get up to the bathroom, and I felt bad for the older folks who seemed to struggle to get up the stairs) and then went to the main ceremony seating area for the applicants. Like I said before, there were many staff members, and they swiftly guided us to our seats. At this point we are also given a welcome packet and a tiny American flag! We are seated pretty much in the order we arrive/finish the final interview/walk in towards the seating area.
 
The ceremony itself was short and sweet, you will enjoy it! There’s a speech by the judge, and then he immediately administered the oath of allegiance, and we became citizens! There was lots of cheering and flag-waving. Then there was another speech by someone from USCIS, then we did the Pledge of Allegiance (good times in Elementary School), and finally we sang the Star Spangled Banner along with a very talented guest singer. Then, they played a music video (prepared by USCIS) of America the Beautiful, which was really sweet and showed naturalization ceremonies from cool places all over the U.S., like Mt. Rushmore. I knew from reading past oath ceremony experience posts that a video of the President congratulating us was supposed to play, but they didn’t show any sort of video by the President...this was the first oath ceremony (well, the 9AM one was technically the first) in Los Angeles after Trump’s inaguration. It was funny, they misspoke when presenting the video, they said something along the lines of “we will now show two...excuse me, one video, please enjoy”.
 
After that it was pretty much over. We sat around for a good 15 minutes before we were allowed to get up and go to our assigned table (table number written on our notice!) to pick up our Naturalization Certificate. I got a random lady to take a picture of me holding the certificate and the flag. Then, I went to the bathroom, walked out through all the families and friends waiting for their loved ones (felt kinda sad to do it alone), hopped on a Lyft and went home, barely beating the return traffic. I called the Lyft at 3:38PM.
 
I definitely got teary-eyed a couple times during the ceremony, and I thought it was amazing how they honored people who served in the military who were being naturalized, by having them sit in the front row, reading their names aloud, showing them on the big screens, and allowing them to be dismissed first!
 
Personally, I thought it was great that I was able to get there right before the ceremony began. I was probably one of the last hundred people to get through security, do the questions and take a seat. Because, it takes less time to dismiss everyone by their arrival/seating order, than the time it takes to be in the massive crowd, get through security, do the questions, and get into a seat before the ceremony. So personally I’m glad I didn’t have to sit around in the ceremony hall waiting for everyone to trickle in. It was also really hot today and I got sweaty armpits, so go for something flowy if you’re doing this in LA on a hot day. The dress code is really whatever you think is proper - I saw girls wearing graduation style/borderline inappropriate dresses as well as older folks just wearing comfy everyday “out of the house” clothes, and everything in between.
 
I’m so happy that this process is over and I’m finally a citizen of the United States! I’ve lived here for a total of 16 years (I’m currently 24) and I am so excited to contribute and give back to this country I call home!
 
(I had my interview in late January, and I want to make a post about that too. For some reason, they processed my approval after the interview SUPER quickly! I think it was just because I was a really simple (?) applicant in the fact that I have no children, am not married, am a student, am perfectly fluent in English, lived here forever, etc. I received my oath ceremony notification in the mail literally one week after my interview.)

Hello everybody, I have been on this forum reading threads a lot during my process, and I wanted to give back by sharing my interview experience with you. So a little bit about me: I'm a female student, not married, have lived in the U.S. for 16 years, had a green card for more than 5 years, got it through the lottery.
 
My appointment was 8:40AM at the Federal Building in DTLA. I got to the building at 8:10AM. The line in front of the Federal Building at 8:10AM was already moderately long, I waited at least 15 minutes in line before I got to the security at the entrance of the building. They made me take off my little boots I was wearing, but other people with smaller shoes (like flats) didn't have to. Also remember to take your phone out of your bag and put it next to your bag in the tub. The security guard found and took out of my purse two bottles of prescription pills, which he made a joke about, and I said something along the lines of "just in case!" with a smile and he easily let me through.
 
I used the restroom in the lobby, then went to the 6th floor and room that's assigned on my letter. The room that's actually on my letter was an office style room (with cubicles as well as individual interview rooms) across the hall from the waiting room, and everyone assigned to that room like me was waiting in the waiting room. The security guard in front of the interview room took my letter. The waiting room was very comfortable and had a TV playing current news as well as some plants, pictures on the wall of people smiling, and a small play section with toys for children. I sat in the waiting room with about 50 other people. This very elderly Asian man was called for his interview at one point, and he turned around with a huge grin and waved at everyone else in the waiting room, which I thought was really adorable and heartwarming. Interestingly, I felt like I waited a very short time in the waiting room, as I was called before others who were there before me. My interviewer actually came to the waiting room to call me in person, whereas most others' names were called on a loudspeaker that plays in the waiting room, a name being called once every 10 minutes or so.
 
I went with him across the hall into the office-like room with lots of cubicles, and went to his actual office in the back. He first had me swear I tell the truth, and then I sat down and he asked me for my green card and my California State ID card (I don't drive). That's all he asked me to show, even though I brought lots of other stuff related to my application. So he first had me do the civics exam "to get it over with!". He wrote my answers down pretty much verbatim on a worksheet he had in front of him, which had 10 questions on it. As you know, after getting 6 right, it's over, you pass. These were the questions I was asked:
 
What is freedom of religion?
When was the Constitution written?
How many people are in the Senate?
When must one sign up for Selective Service?
What is the ocean on the East Coast?
Name a state that borders Canada.
 
Then, he made me read "The American flag is red, white, and blue." and then write the same sentence in a spot on a piece of paper. Ridiculously easy.
 
Next, he went through the entire N-400 I had submitted, a copy of which was in front of him. We actually went through all of the things in the application that I had answered, but it did not take long because I am not married and have no kids. He asked me some interest-based questions, like how my undergrad experience was at the university I went to, and also what I am researching in grad school. And he did ask me about the trips I had taken outside the U.S. since getting my green card, and they were all short winter break trips to my parents' country, to "visit grandparents". Then came all the "no" questions. He looked at me in the eyes for each one, the ones about crimes, guerilla, drugs, unpaid taxes, Communism, all that stuff.
 
Then, it was done. He told me that I passed! He had me sign a piece of paper he printed out that showed all my basic personal info, that would go on my naturalization certificate. And then he gave me a pamphlet about American facts, a flyer about "what to expect at the oath ceremony", and also the Form N-652/approval notice. Then, he told me that the next oath ceremony would be mid-February, but I probably won't be able to get into that one, so I would probably have my oath in March or later (update: I got the mid-February oath ceremony). He told me I should expect my oath notification in the mail in a month to 90 days (update: I got it in the mail in 8 days).
 
I wasn't particularly worried about passing the interview, but I felt so happy and relieved when I stepped out of the office and out of the Federal Building.

I hope this helps you know what to expect, as well as quell any nervousness you may have about this. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Hello everybody, I have been on this forum reading threads a lot during my process, and I wanted to give back by sharing my interview experience with you. So a little bit about me: I'm a female student, not married, have lived in the U.S. for 16 years, had a green card for more than 5 years, got it through the lottery.
 
My appointment was 8:40AM at the Federal Building in DTLA. I got to the building at 8:10AM. The line in front of the Federal Building at 8:10AM was already moderately long, I waited at least 15 minutes in line before I got to the security at the entrance of the building. They made me take off my little boots I was wearing, but other people with smaller shoes (like flats) didn't have to. Also remember to take your phone out of your bag and put it next to your bag in the tub. The security guard found and took out of my purse two bottles of prescription pills, which he made a joke about, and I said something along the lines of "just in case!" with a smile and he easily let me through.
 
I used the restroom in the lobby, then went to the 6th floor and room that's assigned on my letter. The room that's actually on my letter was an office style room (with cubicles as well as individual interview rooms) across the hall from the waiting room, and everyone assigned to that room like me was waiting in the waiting room. The security guard in front of the interview room took my letter. The waiting room was very comfortable and had a TV playing current news as well as some plants, pictures on the wall of people smiling, and a small play section with toys for children. I sat in the waiting room with about 50 other people. This very elderly Asian man was called for his interview at one point, and he turned around with a huge grin and waved at everyone else in the waiting room, which I thought was really adorable and heartwarming. Interestingly, I felt like I waited a very short time in the waiting room, as I was called before others who were there before me. My interviewer actually came to the waiting room to call me in person, whereas most others' names were called on a loudspeaker that plays in the waiting room, a name being called once every 10 minutes or so.
 
I went with him across the hall into the office-like room with lots of cubicles, and went to his actual office in the back. He first had me swear I tell the truth, and then I sat down and he asked me for my green card and my California State ID card (I don't drive). That's all he asked me to show, even though I brought lots of other stuff related to my application. So he first had me do the civics exam "to get it over with!". He wrote my answers down pretty much verbatim on a worksheet he had in front of him, which had 10 questions on it. As you know, after getting 6 right, it's over, you pass. These were the questions I was asked:
 
What is freedom of religion?
When was the Constitution written?
How many people are in the Senate?
When must one sign up for Selective Service?
What is the ocean on the East Coast?
Name a state that borders Canada.
 
Then, he made me read "The American flag is red, white, and blue." and then write the same sentence in a spot on a piece of paper. Ridiculously easy.
 
Next, he went through the entire N-400 I had submitted, a copy of which was in front of him. We actually went through all of the things in the application that I had answered, but it did not take long because I am not married and have no kids. He asked me some interest-based questions, like how my undergrad experience was at the university I went to, and also what I am researching in grad school. And he did ask me about the trips I had taken outside the U.S. since getting my green card, and they were all short winter break trips to my parents' country, to "visit grandparents". Then came all the "no" questions. He looked at me in the eyes for each one, the ones about crimes, guerilla, drugs, unpaid taxes, Communism, all that stuff.
 
Then, it was done. He told me that I passed! He had me sign a piece of paper he printed out that showed all my basic personal info, that would go on my naturalization certificate. And then he gave me a pamphlet about American facts, a flyer about "what to expect at the oath ceremony", and also the Form N-652/approval notice. Then, he told me that the next oath ceremony would be mid-February, but I probably won't be able to get into that one, so I would probably have my oath in March or later (update: I got the mid-February oath ceremony). He told me I should expect my oath notification in the mail in a month to 90 days (update: I got it in the mail in 8 days).
 
I wasn't particularly worried about passing the interview, but I felt so happy and relieved when I stepped out of the office and out of the Federal Building.

I hope this helps you know what to expect, as well as quell any nervousness you may have about this. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Just got back from my oath ceremony! I’m finally a citizen! Here’s everything I can recall and know about being part of the huge ceremony in Los Angeles.
 
Firstly, did you know you can look up the date and times for all the oath ceremonies coming up in the LA Convention Center? Just Google it, I did a few days before the ceremony! I realized after doing so that the actual ceremony began at 1:30PM. My assigned arrival time was 1:00PM, and I realized (through reading other experience posts) that they stagger the arrival times for people so that the hall can slowly get filled with the 3000+ people showing up that day. So I assume there were people who were assigned to arrive at 12:00PM, 12:30PM, etc.
 
I took a Lyft to the Convention Center, got there at around 1:05PM, found my way into the massive room with hundreds and hundreds of people in line to get through security. This took a LONG time. There were a lot of kind staff members around to answer questions and keep everything moving. I was really one of the last one hundred people to arrive. I brought water in a mason jar (too hipster for the security), which was my mistake, because they dumped out the water and threw away my jar. I should have used my collegiate water bottle! But, my banana and dried mangoes got through just fine.
 
After security, you are corralled into the actual ceremony room with a huge American flag and two huge screens on either side of it, as well as a stage and podium in front of the flag. There is a row of tables on the left side of the room with a bunch of citizenship and immigration services workers sitting there, doing your final question/interview. I went to one, showed them my green card and my notice (for the ceremony), and they looked at the back where you have to answer No to everything as well as fill in your personal info. He asked me three questions verbatim to which I answered No, and then one question backwards “Are you still willing to…” and that was a Yes! Then, he stapled my green card to the oath notification, wrote a number on the notification, and gave it back to me. The number corresponds to the table I return to after the ceremony to get my naturalization certificate. I went to the bathroom (weirdly, there are stairs to get up to the bathroom, and I felt bad for the older folks who seemed to struggle to get up the stairs) and then went to the main ceremony seating area for the applicants. Like I said before, there were many staff members, and they swiftly guided us to our seats. At this point we are also given a welcome packet and a tiny American flag! We are seated pretty much in the order we arrive/finish the final interview/walk in towards the seating area.
 
The ceremony itself was short and sweet, you will enjoy it! There’s a speech by the judge, and then he immediately administered the oath of allegiance, and we became citizens! There was lots of cheering and flag-waving. Then there was another speech by someone from USCIS, then we did the Pledge of Allegiance (good times in Elementary School), and finally we sang the Star Spangled Banner along with a very talented guest singer. Then, they played a music video (prepared by USCIS) of America the Beautiful, which was really sweet and showed naturalization ceremonies from cool places all over the U.S., like Mt. Rushmore. I knew from reading past oath ceremony experience posts that a video of the President congratulating us was supposed to play, but they didn’t show any sort of video by the President...this was the first oath ceremony (well, the 9AM one was technically the first) in Los Angeles after Trump’s inaguration. It was funny, they misspoke when presenting the video, they said something along the lines of “we will now show two...excuse me, one video, please enjoy”.
 
After that it was pretty much over. We sat around for a good 15 minutes before we were allowed to get up and go to our assigned table (table number written on our notice!) to pick up our Naturalization Certificate. I got a random lady to take a picture of me holding the certificate and the flag. Then, I went to the bathroom, walked out through all the families and friends waiting for their loved ones (felt kinda sad to do it alone), hopped on a Lyft and went home, barely beating the return traffic. I called the Lyft at 3:38PM.
 
I definitely got teary-eyed a couple times during the ceremony, and I thought it was amazing how they honored people who served in the military who were being naturalized, by having them sit in the front row, reading their names aloud, showing them on the big screens, and allowing them to be dismissed first!
 
Personally, I thought it was great that I was able to get there right before the ceremony began. I was probably one of the last hundred people to get through security, do the questions and take a seat. Because, it takes less time to dismiss everyone by their arrival/seating order, than the time it takes to be in the massive crowd, get through security, do the questions, and get into a seat before the ceremony. So personally I’m glad I didn’t have to sit around in the ceremony hall waiting for everyone to trickle in. It was also really hot today and I got sweaty armpits, so go for something flowy if you’re doing this in LA on a hot day. The dress code is really whatever you think is proper - I saw girls wearing graduation style/borderline inappropriate dresses as well as older folks just wearing comfy everyday “out of the house” clothes, and everything in between.
 
I’m so happy that this process is over and I’m finally a citizen of the United States! I’ve lived here for a total of 16 years (I’m currently 24) and I am so excited to contribute and give back to this country I call home!
 
(I had my interview in late January, and I want to make a post about that too. For some reason, they processed my approval after the interview SUPER quickly! I think it was just because I was a really simple (?) applicant in the fact that I have no children, am not married, am a student, am perfectly fluent in English, lived here forever, etc. I received my oath ceremony notification in the mail literally one week after my interview.)

Hello everybody, I have been on this forum reading threads a lot during my process, and I wanted to give back by sharing my interview experience with you. So a little bit about me: I'm a female student, not married, have lived in the U.S. for 16 years, had a green card for more than 5 years, got it through the lottery.
 
My appointment was 8:40AM at the Federal Building in DTLA. I got to the building at 8:10AM. The line in front of the Federal Building at 8:10AM was already moderately long, I waited at least 15 minutes in line before I got to the security at the entrance of the building. They made me take off my little boots I was wearing, but other people with smaller shoes (like flats) didn't have to. Also remember to take your phone out of your bag and put it next to your bag in the tub. The security guard found and took out of my purse two bottles of prescription pills, which he made a joke about, and I said something along the lines of "just in case!" with a smile and he easily let me through.
 
I used the restroom in the lobby, then went to the 6th floor and room that's assigned on my letter. The room that's actually on my letter was an office style room (with cubicles as well as individual interview rooms) across the hall from the waiting room, and everyone assigned to that room like me was waiting in the waiting room. The security guard in front of the interview room took my letter. The waiting room was very comfortable and had a TV playing current news as well as some plants, pictures on the wall of people smiling, and a small play section with toys for children. I sat in the waiting room with about 50 other people. This very elderly Asian man was called for his interview at one point, and he turned around with a huge grin and waved at everyone else in the waiting room, which I thought was really adorable and heartwarming. Interestingly, I felt like I waited a very short time in the waiting room, as I was called before others who were there before me. My interviewer actually came to the waiting room to call me in person, whereas most others' names were called on a loudspeaker that plays in the waiting room, a name being called once every 10 minutes or so.
 
I went with him across the hall into the office-like room with lots of cubicles, and went to his actual office in the back. He first had me swear I tell the truth, and then I sat down and he asked me for my green card and my California State ID card (I don't drive). That's all he asked me to show, even though I brought lots of other stuff related to my application. So he first had me do the civics exam "to get it over with!". He wrote my answers down pretty much verbatim on a worksheet he had in front of him, which had 10 questions on it. As you know, after getting 6 right, it's over, you pass. These were the questions I was asked:
 
What is freedom of religion?
When was the Constitution written?
How many people are in the Senate?
When must one sign up for Selective Service?
What is the ocean on the East Coast?
Name a state that borders Canada.
 
Then, he made me read "The American flag is red, white, and blue." and then write the same sentence in a spot on a piece of paper. Ridiculously easy.
 
Next, he went through the entire N-400 I had submitted, a copy of which was in front of him. We actually went through all of the things in the application that I had answered, but it did not take long because I am not married and have no kids. He asked me some interest-based questions, like how my undergrad experience was at the university I went to, and also what I am researching in grad school. And he did ask me about the trips I had taken outside the U.S. since getting my green card, and they were all short winter break trips to my parents' country, to "visit grandparents". Then came all the "no" questions. He looked at me in the eyes for each one, the ones about crimes, guerilla, drugs, unpaid taxes, Communism, all that stuff.
 
Then, it was done. He told me that I passed! He had me sign a piece of paper he printed out that showed all my basic personal info, that would go on my naturalization certificate. And then he gave me a pamphlet about American facts, a flyer about "what to expect at the oath ceremony", and also the Form N-652/approval notice. Then, he told me that the next oath ceremony would be mid-February, but I probably won't be able to get into that one, so I would probably have my oath in March or later (update: I got the mid-February oath ceremony). He told me I should expect my oath notification in the mail in a month to 90 days (update: I got it in the mail in 8 days).
 
I wasn't particularly worried about passing the interview, but I felt so happy and relieved when I stepped out of the office and out of the Federal Building.

I hope this helps you know what to expect, as well as quell any nervousness you may have about this. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Just got back from my oath ceremony! I’m finally a citizen! Here’s everything I can recall and know about being part of the huge ceremony in Los Angeles.
 
Firstly, did you know you can look up the date and times for all the oath ceremonies coming up in the LA Convention Center? Just Google it, I did a few days before the ceremony! I realized after doing so that the actual ceremony began at 1:30PM. My assigned arrival time was 1:00PM, and I realized (through reading other experience posts) that they stagger the arrival times for people so that the hall can slowly get filled with the 3000+ people showing up that day. So I assume there were people who were assigned to arrive at 12:00PM, 12:30PM, etc.
 
I took a Lyft to the Convention Center, got there at around 1:05PM, found my way into the massive room with hundreds and hundreds of people in line to get through security. This took a LONG time. There were a lot of kind staff members around to answer questions and keep everything moving. I was really one of the last one hundred people to arrive. I brought water in a mason jar (too hipster for the security), which was my mistake, because they dumped out the water and threw away my jar. I should have used my collegiate water bottle! But, my banana and dried mangoes got through just fine.
 
After security, you are corralled into the actual ceremony room with a huge American flag and two huge screens on either side of it, as well as a stage and podium in front of the flag. There is a row of tables on the left side of the room with a bunch of citizenship and immigration services workers sitting there, doing your final question/interview. I went to one, showed them my green card and my notice (for the ceremony), and they looked at the back where you have to answer No to everything as well as fill in your personal info. He asked me three questions verbatim to which I answered No, and then one question backwards “Are you still willing to…” and that was a Yes! Then, he stapled my green card to the oath notification, wrote a number on the notification, and gave it back to me. The number corresponds to the table I return to after the ceremony to get my naturalization certificate. I went to the bathroom (weirdly, there are stairs to get up to the bathroom, and I felt bad for the older folks who seemed to struggle to get up the stairs) and then went to the main ceremony seating area for the applicants. Like I said before, there were many staff members, and they swiftly guided us to our seats. At this point we are also given a welcome packet and a tiny American flag! We are seated pretty much in the order we arrive/finish the final interview/walk in towards the seating area.
 
The ceremony itself was short and sweet, you will enjoy it! There’s a speech by the judge, and then he immediately administered the oath of allegiance, and we became citizens! There was lots of cheering and flag-waving. Then there was another speech by someone from USCIS, then we did the Pledge of Allegiance (good times in Elementary School), and finally we sang the Star Spangled Banner along with a very talented guest singer. Then, they played a music video (prepared by USCIS) of America the Beautiful, which was really sweet and showed naturalization ceremonies from cool places all over the U.S., like Mt. Rushmore. I knew from reading past oath ceremony experience posts that a video of the President congratulating us was supposed to play, but they didn’t show any sort of video by the President...this was the first oath ceremony (well, the 9AM one was technically the first) in Los Angeles after Trump’s inaguration. It was funny, they misspoke when presenting the video, they said something along the lines of “we will now show two...excuse me, one video, please enjoy”.
 
After that it was pretty much over. We sat around for a good 15 minutes before we were allowed to get up and go to our assigned table (table number written on our notice!) to pick up our Naturalization Certificate. I got a random lady to take a picture of me holding the certificate and the flag. Then, I went to the bathroom, walked out through all the families and friends waiting for their loved ones (felt kinda sad to do it alone), hopped on a Lyft and went home, barely beating the return traffic. I called the Lyft at 3:38PM.
 
I definitely got teary-eyed a couple times during the ceremony, and I thought it was amazing how they honored people who served in the military who were being naturalized, by having them sit in the front row, reading their names aloud, showing them on the big screens, and allowing them to be dismissed first!
 
Personally, I thought it was great that I was able to get there right before the ceremony began. I was probably one of the last hundred people to get through security, do the questions and take a seat. Because, it takes less time to dismiss everyone by their arrival/seating order, than the time it takes to be in the massive crowd, get through security, do the questions, and get into a seat before the ceremony. So personally I’m glad I didn’t have to sit around in the ceremony hall waiting for everyone to trickle in. It was also really hot today and I got sweaty armpits, so go for something flowy if you’re doing this in LA on a hot day. The dress code is really whatever you think is proper - I saw girls wearing graduation style/borderline inappropriate dresses as well as older folks just wearing comfy everyday “out of the house” clothes, and everything in between.
 
I’m so happy that this process is over and I’m finally a citizen of the United States! I’ve lived here for a total of 16 years (I’m currently 24) and I am so excited to contribute and give back to this country I call home!
 
(I had my interview in late January, and I want to make a post about that too. For some reason, they processed my approval after the interview SUPER quickly! I think it was just because I was a really simple (?) applicant in the fact that I have no children, am not married, am a student, am perfectly fluent in English, lived here forever, etc. I received my oath ceremony notification in the mail literally one week after my interview.)