currentuser

Hello,

Received oath ceremony letter for 9th May (no name change). FO: Chicago, USCIS building. Interview was on 17th April.

My Wife has a name change, will she receive a separate letter for name change?

26 minutes ago, nitrous_guy said:

Had my interview today at the Chicago office.  

 

It it was a breeze. Very nice female officer. 

 

Box ticked on piece of paper was “recommended for approval”. 

 

Process went like this :

 

Pass security line

Go up to second floor, follow directions to citizenship interview which is to the right, if you take the stairs. 

Then you see the person behind the glass, who gives you a number.

This is where I think gets really bad. You are asked to sit down and there are two doors. One on left and one on the right. You have to constantly keep on hearing from what door an officer will come and call your number.

Anyhow, our number got called, my wife and my kid were asked not to come inside and wait outside. 

 

I follow the officer to her room, she asks me to put my stuff down and stand up with right hand up and take oath.

 

She has my file and ask me for 4 things, my interview letter, my drivers license, my passport and my green card. 

 

She takes photocopies of everything except the interview letter and then asks me for my left and right index finger scan for fingerprints. 

After this she takes my photo. 

 

Then she go through file and asks for my name, dob and when we got married. 

 

She asks me for our marriage certificate since the one I provided wasn’t good quality, so she scanned and printer our original marriage certificate that I provided to her. She puts this new copy onto our file. 

 

Asks me a few more questions regarding my current job and my telephone number and whether they have changed. 

 

I had a new job and a new number since I sent in my application, so she asked me if my job was in the same field , and I said yes. Then she updated my new number on my application and on her computer. 

 

She asks me if any of my trips were longer than 6 months , I said no. 

 

Now came the test part. Questions asked:

 

what is freedom of religion

when was the constitution written

what state borders Canada

what Ocean is on the east coast

what age must you register for selective service

How many US senators are there

 

she stopped the test here and then proceed to ask me to read from one of the 3 questions on a piece of paper:

 

what is the color of the United stage flag

 

then she hands me another piece of paper and asks me to write in the answer, that she tells me:

 

the color of the the flag is red, blue and white. 

 

She then proceeds to my application again, asking the yes/no questions. 

 

During these yes/no questions, she asked me what does the constitution mean to me, what does the president do and what does jail mean to me. I answered these questions, and I guess she was happy with my answers lol. 

 

Then she said that I had more than enough paperwork and she was happy with it. 

 

Sbe he told me I passed all my test and then she prints a document that she says for me to check since that’s what will show on the citizenship certificate. It had my full name, my nationality and a couple of other things that I can’t remember. Point was to make sure the spelling etc were all correct.  When I was happy she asked me sign on that piece of paper. 

 

She then prints another piece of paper that had her name and she crossed two boxes with a red pen:

pass the test

recommended for approval 

 

she then said that I will get something in the mail in 3-4 weeks. 

 

Whole process took at max 30 mins. 

 

Know your answers and your application and it should be easy!

 

Hopefully this experience is helpful for others

 

 

@nitrous_guy  

Congratulations..a real descriptive and helpful update. Couple of questions -

1. So since they took your snaps. Probably they did not ask for two photographs?

2. What is the parking scene at Chicago Office...is it better to take train ?

3. Do they allow kids to come in?

I have my interview in 3 weeks in the same office...

Chicago sees to be moving again, Received a message that interview was scheduled for us, now waiting for letter, hopefully in next 3 weeks or a month.

On March 13, 2018, we scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, Receipt Number NBC*XXXXXX. We will mail you an interview notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

2 hours ago, Waitinggame16 said:

Finally I can post my update!!!! Had our interview today and it went great. Interviewer was super nice and efficient and it was a breeze to go through. It was such a huge help to have any changes to my application printed out in advance so that the interview flowed nicely. 

You guys there is nothing to worry about. Have the 100 questions learned , know your application and let the officer do their thing . 

Cannot wait for my oath to be scheduled and to get this done!

Thanks to you all for sharing this journey with me so far! 

Super, many congratulations !!!!

Is USCIS Case Status Website down since morning? I am unable to reach it..tried PC and Phone..anyone else experiencing the same?

On ‎9‎/‎30‎/‎2017 at 9:05 PM, La Isla Bonita said:

 

@currentuser Hope you will be IN LINE soon. I understand how frustrating it is to be waiting.

@La Isla Bonita and @Waitinggame16

Thank you, your wishes worked......received message just now.

"On October 2, 2017, we started the interview scheduling process for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization , Receipt Number NBC*00XXXXXXX. We will send you an interview notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice.

There seems to be a delay in updating the website seems..

On ‎9‎/‎22‎/‎2017 at 12:09 PM, Waitinggame16 said:

I called USCIS the other day and just listened to the online message and it said if I did not receive an interview letter after 90 days following July 3rd (which is the day I went 'in line' then I could submit a query so I plan on doing that in the first week of October. I don't think it will achieve much but I am going to do it anyway to at least feel like I'm doing something. 

@waitingame, @La Isla Bonita - My case is till under bio-metrics notice received....never moved to in-line, three months passed after biometrics on 9/22, which means the background check is still on and it has not reached the local Chicago office yet? I tried creating an online inquiry and it won't create saying it is under normal processing times. Will try calling 1-800 number not sure what to expect, other than wait.

1 hour ago, Waitinggame16 said:

Yes to this. I do this these forums can help some people but others aren't good at accepting that some people will just go slower than others and it makes their journey more stressful. I feel like I flip flop that I'm thrilled to see everyone move but I get so frustrated to be stuck at the same time. Good luck to her though. 

 

Congrats on the Oath letter @lovelyalex! 

I am still in line and Chicago is getting more and more backlogged. In the event that my FILs condition worsens more and we have to leave, can we give up our apartment without it looking like we abandoned our residency? Like we have bank accounts, jobs to return to and car lease payments but do we have to maintain a rent payment? I don't want to be screwed if we leave for a couple of months . In that case a friend will keep track of our mail and let us know when the interview happens

@waitinggame16 - Are you waiting for Interview, mine is still in Biometric letter issued stage, not passed background check stage it seems. Real wait is still ahead. 3 months gone finger printing done.

Congrats @lovelyalex!!!!

1 hour ago, hello28 said:

Her biometric date was actually June 22, so about 59 days.  (She sent original papers to Phoenix AZ).  Anyone we can call for something like this?  Thanks,

@hello28 - I am in the same boat, already 58 days passed since biometrics....also Arizona case.

12 minutes ago, currentuser said:

Chicago Office has quiet a backlog?

@Waitinggame16 and @nitrous_guy look at last quarter data from USCIS, there are 24k + cases pending decision for Q2 for Chicago (Non - Military Cases)

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/Naturalization Data/N400_performancedata_fy2017_qtr2.pdf

Chicago CHI

Received - 10,966 ;

Approved - 6,433 ;

Rejected - 682;

Pending - 24,113.

Guess we have long way to go..............

22 hours ago, lovelyalex said:

Still no update for me!  I think it's just me and @nesh123 and @Waitinggame16 who are still waiting to go "in line" from a May bio date?

Chicago Office has quiet a backlog?

Went for fingerprinting this morning, it was pretty quick and went smoothly. Myself and wife were out in 10 minutes. Got the red book for preparation, I asked for the CD and was told that those are not given anymore, is that right? Waiting begins now.

ADDED details for: currentuser

====================================== USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox ======================================

UserName........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath.....|Field Office....|NBC/IOE

mirian&john.....|07/17/14|05/02|05/10|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Raleigh, NC.....|

la isla bonita..|04/10/14|05/08|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX......|

magic123........|05/31/14|05/08|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ......|

falmaind........|08/05/14|05/08|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|El Paso, TX.....|

Akrod...........|05/20/10|05/10|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Miami, FL.......|

Gazy............|01/17/13|05/10|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Cleveland, OH...|

allajustin......|02/20/14|04/28|05/05|05/04/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Pittsburgh,PA...|

================================ USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox ================================ 

UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office.........|NBC/IOE

laufine..........|07/24/12|05/01|05/03|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA......|

Waitinggame16....|08/02/12|05/02|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago IL...........|

vosnmars.........|08/12/13|05/04|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA......|

nitrous_guy......|08/07/14|05/10|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago IL...........|

currentuser......|08/26/12|05/26|05/30|06/05|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago IL...........|

=======================================================

Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. (Modified Instructions to use fixed width font. Makes for easier reading. Not sure how folks live with ugly format)
2. Please use your VJ name to avoid confusion. 
3. Double click on 'Code' (gray) section to edit info
4. Copy this whole section including instructions and paste it to your typing field.
5. Make changes and Reply.

6. Red Font = "I'm A United States Citizen"!

Legend: 
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card.
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS.
Cashd: Date your check was cashed / credit card was charged by USCIS.
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification.
Fprints:  Date assigned for fingerprinting (Bio-metrics). If you do your biometrics via walk-in prior to your scheduled appointment, please enter the date in bold blue.
In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling.
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview.
Interview: Date of your interview.
Oath: Date Oath taken.

Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview.