Gingerspike

24 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

congratulations

 

Thank you! 🥰

My husband applied on April 12 for the first time, non-expedited. It is now shipped  and would arrive within 10 business days from today. They say regular processing takes 10-12 weeks but this just took 7-8 weeks. 

With great joy I can now truly say today I am now an American citizen! We would have not done it correctly without the help of this wonderful community full of information and advices! Thank you so much everyone! ❤️
 

On May 20, Thursday, my i-751 was finally approved and on May 21, Friday, USCIS LA called me to inform me my oath taking will be on Friday, March 28. After the call, I immediately received my N445 (oath invitation and questionnaire) in my email. 
 

I waited for my the physical oath taking mail to come in my mailbox but only the I-751 NOA approval came. Hence, what I did is I printed the oath invite I received in the mail and answered and signed it prior to oath with the same date as the oath taking. I brought my conditional green card, the printed oath taking invite, and the formal I-751 approval NOA to the ceremony. 
 

Earlier today, May 28, I arrived at USCIS building at 8:30 am (my oath time is 10:30 am). This time, the line was at the left side of the building, not the courtyard. I went to see if I can line up and a guy approached me, asking me for my oath invite. I showed him the printed one and told him I don’t have the physical mail and he said it’s fine. He said I can wait on the side since it’s a bit early for me. The line is already forming halfway the building and I waited on the side but the guy went back to me and said  I can fall in line too as they might accommodate me earlier than my time. I queued as I watch them set up the canopies. 
 

Around 9:05 am, they started to check in people. When it’s my turn to check in, the lady asked for my oath invitation/ questionnaire and green card. She asked if I have any USCIS document issued like EAD. I said no. She then said “You only have a conditional green card. Do you have any evidence of the approval of I-751?” I am so glad the mail arrived early and I gave it to her. She then proceeded me to ask the yes/no questions, then she handed me a packet and my punched gc and oath form. She then asked me to go to the next canopy. 
 

Second canopy is the oath taking. They do it in batches, so there were six of us who pledge the oath of allegiance. After that, we were directed to go to the third canopy. Here you will submit the punched gc and oath form. The guy on the desk in turn looked for my certificate in their folder and handed it to me. I checked everything to make sure spelling and DOB are correct. 
 

Then of course, last part is the picture taking in front of the US flag. 🤣 I actually got home around 10:20 am, way before my originally scheduled oath taking time. 
 

I wish everyone well and good luck on your journey too and I hope my VJ posts will provide information to help you navigate all the process to become a US citizen. Peace out! 🇺🇸🇵🇭😎🤩🥳
 

On 5/25/2021 at 8:48 AM, SadFace said:

Hi everyone!

 

I mentioned that I made error in my N400, month later after filing I was sitting at club meeting and I reaized that I am a member on lockal flight club, so answer for "9 A. Have you ever been a member ... club, party etc." should be yes. and I should list that club.

Did enyone add such information during interview, how did it go? did they ask more information about club? did they declline you? 

You can add it during your interview. When I was asked the question and I was supposed to add something, like a religious club, she said that’s fine and didn’t even add it in my file. The officer can add it when you will have your interview. 

Congratulations on finishing this chapter of your life! And thank you for the detailed experience here. I am excited for my oath this Friday in the same courtyard. I am still waiting for the NOA and I have til tomorrow to receive it in my mail. If not, I will print the one they sent in my email. Again, congratulations! ❤️

On 5/22/2021 at 1:10 PM, Moro said:

I am very happy for you. Congrats!

Thank you so much! 

31 minutes ago, J/G said:

Hello, THANK YOU! I’ll have my ceremony on the 26th. Two days ahead of yours. Good luck and congratulations! 

Thank you and congrats again! I watched a youtube video of one lady who did her oath in LA around March. She said her husband who was taking the oath with her was asked to get a pic in Walgreens since officer did not get his pic at the time of interview. 

Can you let me know your oath taking ceremony experience as soon as you can pls? I am planning to bring passport photos so I will not run to Walgreens if they don’t have my photo. 🤣🤣🤣 thank you!

Congratulations!!! You can now finally breath! I remember I provided you a long answer on whether or not to bring your husband with you but I am so glad it ended well. 

I will also have my Oath Taking Ceremony scheduled next week (date below). We may or may not see each other there, lol! I am so happy for you. 

Update: Just received a call and email from USCIS LA and they provided me the date and time of my oath taking ceremony. T_T See my signature. 

52 minutes ago, Greatdane11 said:

Congratulations 🍾.  Could you please share your field office , and does it still give you any estimated completion time ? I checked few days ago just to see that it says “14 months” as my estimated time .... This is really disturbing , I filed my I-751 in June,2019 and haven’t heard anything apart from “ My case is ready to be scheduled for an interview” I guess the CR-1 is always a problems since we haven’t had any interview on the USA soil. 
Also, I believe NY is way too slow / the backlog is terrible ......... NBC is really really frustrating.

I haven’t met anyone on here with similar timeline and is in Brooklyn.

Thank you! 🥰 My field office is Los Angeles and no, it doesn’t show the time of my completion since April for me. I got frustrated too as they transferred my I-751 to NBC but comparing to other cases too, they are starting to pick up the phase. Crossing fingers for you too! ❤️

Finally!!! They approved my I-751 today and my N400 is now updated to Oath will Be Scheduled. 🥰🥰🥰 I now have a little breathing room. Here is my timeline from myUSCIS. 

Here is my timeline from USCIS. I filed under the 3-yr rule. 

At last!!!! I received news today that they approved my I-751 and my N400 update is now Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled!!! I can now breath a little better. 😂 I will update here when is my oath taking schedule. 

15 hours ago, Mr & Mrs Umer said:

Finally they scheduled my interview for end of May for N-400 and I-751 still pending. I wonder if it's going to be a Combo interview or just N-400.

ROC I-751 Filed 2019-03-08

Still pending and no status change observed

Filed N400 online 2020-03-19

Bio Reused Notice 2020-12-14

Interview scheduled 2020-04-14

Actual interview on 2020-05-2X

Sacramento, California is my local USCIS Office.

Is there any way to figure out if its going to be combo or just N-400?

You can go and check your NOA in your myuscis account. It is usually uploaded there prior to receiving your physical one in the mail. It will say there if you are the only one needed. 

4 hours ago, Moro said:

That’s a big milestone. Congrats for that. My N400 interview is 18days. My husband will join just in case they decide to a combo interview.. I recently had to do an I-551 stamp and they told me to have my hubby come along. Thanks for posting just a detailed note. Your civic questions seem easy enough ;)

Thank you and good luck too! Would love to hear your experience too.

3 hours ago, xeajhn said:

I don't know, when they transferred my case. The online status was same from December 2019, "ready to schedule for interview", Actually, its still the same online, which is very weird..

A lot of people are taking their spouse's and requesting combo interview. Have you tried this?

Yes. But mine was transferred to NBC. Here was my experience. I have a simple case but I think yours was retained in LA while mine got transferred to NBC to balance their workload.

58 minutes ago, xeajhn said:

Two days before my N-400 interview , I have received an other letter, they scheduled my I-751 interview on the same time when i was scheduled for N-400.

My interview was scheduled at 6:30 am down town LA office. I got there at 6:00am. There was a long line to enter. We entered the building at 7:25am. Then after check-in we waited for at least on hour to be called by the officer.

The officer asked do you have any further proofs for your marriage, i handed over the tax returns, kids birth certificates and some other documents. He told me to wait again in the waiting room.

He came back again in 15 minutes and called us in.

They started with i-751, and after questioning, the officer told me, he is going to recommend my i-751 for approval. Then he moved to N 400, test questions, reading writing, and he told me congratulation, he is recommending my case for approval. He worked on computer for 10 minutes, while we were waiting quietly.  Then he printed us the letter for oath ceremony for coming Monday.

My online status has changed to "Oath ceremony scheduled" but I-751 is still "ready for schedule for Interview".

 

Congratulations! I had my n400 interview too in LA last April 12 but just that. My i-751 is still pending that is why they cannot give me a schedule for oath taking. Was your i-751 transferred to NBC prior to your current status "ready for schedule to interview'?

59 minutes ago, J/G said:

@Gingerspike First of all, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

 

Per your suggestion I checked My USCIS profile and saw my interview notice has been uploaded. It'll be in a month from today at 8 am! Yay! THANK YOU! 

 

From reading the section about "Who should come with you?" Only the following people may come with you to your interview:

• If you do not speak English fluently, you should arrange to have an interpreter available by phone. Do not bring an interpreter to the interview. If you need a Sign Language Interpreter or Certified Deaf Interpreter, call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 as soon as possible.
• Your attorney or authorized representative may come with you to the interview, or be available via phone.
• If you have a disability and have an individual who assists you, that individual may come with you.

None of the above applicable to me, so I think my husband is not required to be present. I will phone the number at the bottom of the notice to double check. I'm sure they love when people call them to ask questions that we already know.  

 

Also, local LA question, did you park at the structure at the Judge John Aiso St.? Or did you take train to Union Station?

 

THANK YOU!

 

There is a mall in front of the building, right across the main entrance and it has a public parking. The crosswalk has direct access to the main entrance of the building. You are going too 300 N Los Angeles office, correct?

You're welcome! I have question for you though. Was your i-751 transferred to NBC when you filed for N400 while your i-751 is also pending?

3 hours ago, nikkimujj said:

My husband's citizenship interview was scheduled (yay!) one week before my due date. We're feeling a bit nervous about this timeline and worried about him missing the interview if baby decides to come on that day/time. Does anyone know what our options the day of are? For example, if we don't try to reschedule but then I go into labor that day before his interview. Any possibility to notify them or reschedule the same day? Will we have to just re-file and start the whole N400 process over again?

We really don't want to reschedule in advance because we've obviously waited a long time for the interview, but it might be a better alternative than having to refile. Field office is Newark. Thanks!

When I did my N400 interview yesterday, I saw and overheard one attorney rushing to the check in window and told the lady "Hi! I am supposed to be here with my client but she called me just now saying she has COVID symptoms and can't come." Lady said something about having something in written and then attorney said "Thank you so much and sorry about that" then left. So if anything happens on the day, they can actually accommodate a reschedule but make sure you will provide some form of evidence why you cannot come on that day and have it re-scheduled.

Unless the question specifically said provide one or two answers, all of the questions will only require one answer. I suggest keep the answer the easiest to remember. 

Waited for 1.5 hour before called. Interview only lasted 20 minutes.

47 minutes ago, J/G said:

Hello All, 

 

Filed my N400 on Sept 2020 (Marriage Based; 3 years rule, Pending I751 since Sept. 2019). I received an email Apr 12, 2021 stating that "On April 12, 2021, we scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization" and that a paper notice will be mailed to me. I'm so excited. Here are my questions: 

 

• Today, April 13, 2021 at 4am, I received an email from no-reply(at)uscis(dot)dhs(dot)gov stating that, "We have taken an action on your case and it needs your attention. Sign in to your account to view your case status and additional steps you need to take," when I logged in to my USCIS and DHS USCIS accounts I don't see anything changed from yesterday. Even as current as I type this post, I do not see anything changed on my status. My I-751 have been on "Case Was Transferred And A New Office Has Jurisdiction" per 12 October 2020; my N-400 is "Interview Was Scheduled" per 12 April 2021. Was this a glitch in the system? or the email I received on the 13 April was referring to the status change to Interview has been scheduled notice I received on 12 April? I was afraid that this was an RFE notice, but nothing seems to change on my accounts. Any thoughts? 

 

• A user, name @Gingerspike recently had a N-400 interview with a pending I-751 in Los Angeles office see the post below. I'm also in the same boat, N400 interview with pending I751. She attended the interview with her husband, but the husband was not required to attend and was told to wait in the building Lobby. My husband is currently recovering from a health issue and is on a wheelchair. Initially we were planning to attend the interview together but if he's just there to wait in the lobby I feel bad for him. Would it be an absolute requirement for him to be present with me or can he stay home while I attend my interview? Who should I contact to give me the most reliable advise on this? 
• When I attend my interview should I bring everything I submitted for my I751 or only things that are listed in my interview notice for N400, which I have yet to receive in the mail? Any advise? Should I mention to my IO that I have a pending I751? 

 

• I read that some people was able to do N400 interview, oath ceremony, register to vote and US passport in the same day. Would I be able to do this in Los Angeles office? If so how do I proceed? Or did I misread this information?

 

THANK YOU in advance for your advice and thoughts.

 

Best, 

J/G

 

Hello J/G! I will answer what I can based on what the officer told me yesterday since we both have i-751 pending but called for an N400 interview. See my answers in purple text.

Today, April 13, 2021 at 4am, I received an email from no-reply(at)uscis(dot)dhs(dot)gov stating that, "We have taken an action on your case and it needs your attention. Sign in to your account to view your case status and additional steps you need to take," when I logged in to my USCIS and DHS USCIS accounts I don't see anything changed from yesterday. Even as current as I type this post, I do not see anything changed on my status. My I-751 have been on "Case Was Transferred And A New Office Has Jurisdiction" per 12 October 2020; my N-400 is "Interview Was Scheduled" per 12 April 2021. Was this a glitch in the system? or the email I received on the 13 April was referring to the status change to Interview has been scheduled notice I received on 12 April? I was afraid that this was an RFE notice, but nothing seems to change on my accounts. Any thoughts? - It is probably for the "email I received on the 13 April was referring to the status change to Interview has been scheduled notice I received on 12 April." We have the same status as of current for both N400 and i-751. 

Initially we were planning to attend the interview together but if he's just there to wait in the lobby I feel bad for him. Would it be an absolute requirement for him to be present with me or can he stay home while I attend my interview? Who should I contact to give me the most reliable advise on this?  - When I received my N400 notice but nothing for i-751, I contacted USCIS through the email system in the MyUSCIS account asking if I should bring my husband for the interview since I have a pending i-751 and would like to clarify if it's a combo interview. I received a call from them a week later saying that my letter is for N400 only and I will be the one who needs to show up in the interview. I still asked if I can bring my husband just in case and they said it is up to me but the notice is that I am only called for an N400 interview. It is really up to the officer who will conduct the interview if she will do a combo or not. When the officer called me yesterday and she told my husband he is not needed, once in the office, she told me that it was the usual protocol to bring the spouses during a combo interview but since it is the pandemic and they are short staffed plus I already brought updated documents with me and provided it to her yesterday, my i-751 will be reviewed as is. Since your husband has a medical condition making him at risk, I don't think he is needed tomorrow but tell officer that when they looked for him.

When I attend my interview should I bring everything I submitted for my I751 or only things that are listed in my interview notice for N400, which I have yet to receive in the mail? Any advise? Should I mention to my IO that I have a pending I751? - You can actually see the notice already and the interview schedule in your myUSCIS account while waiting for the physicial NOA to arrive in mail. The officer already knew your case prior to seeing you but I still told her beforehand since I have my husband with me. In your case I suggest inform him that you do have a pending i-751 but your husband is at home with a medical risk for him to join you. Since you are only being called for N400, I think it will not be a big deal but make sure to bring updated documents with you after the time you filed your N400 plus the list of items in your N400 notice. The officer asked me yesterday if I have updated joint bank accounts, lease, car insurance, etc. I gave her those plus a couple printed pictures. She was happy and appreciate it because it is expected from applicants like us to bring updated documents when we have pending i-751. She even said people don't even read the i-751 notice, only the N400.

I read that some people was able to do N400 interview, oath ceremony, register to vote and US passport in the same day. Would I be able to do this in Los Angeles office? If so how do I proceed? Or did I misread this information? - I was half expecting that yesterday too but what I noticed in LA office for purely N400 applicants only is that they make them return a week after for the oath. Officer told me they do oath talking every Tuesday and Thursday. However, given I have a pending i-751, she told me it might take time for me to receive the oath notice in the mail as they will review my file "as is" because of shortstaffing. According to my myuscis account, it will take 7 months for me to receive final word. I hope it will be earlier.

Good luck on your interview and hope this helps! Let us know how it goes.

23 minutes ago, Lola Lolo said:

You’re welcome and thank you kabayan! Kabayan are you going to apply for dual citizenship? If yes can you keep me posted of what are the steps and documents needed. Thanks again kabayan!😊🥰

Definitely! I am planning to have it too after I get my oath and passport.

Justa had my N400 interview and exam yesterday and passed it. However, they still need to adjudicate my i-751. Although officer said my case was easy and it will be reviewed as is, it will take time to adjudicate it. She said they are shortstaffed but other than that, is there a reason why the i-751 are taking long? Here was my experience yesterday. MyUSCIS app said it will take 8 months for the N400 to be processed. I-751 stuck in Case Has Been Transferred to a New Office. 
 

2 hours ago, Emmz said:

so u can apply naturalization n400 even though u still have pending ROC I-751?

Definitely! I had my N400 interview earlier pending i-751 application. I passed the exam and interview but needed to wait for the i-751 to adjudicate. She said it may take a while but I am not worried that it will get denied.