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Spardasa

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  1. Haha
    Spardasa got a reaction from Gyyomme in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    Officially done with our journey.  Wife had her ceremony few days ago.  Very displeased with the highly limited seating capacity for families.... (try standing with a 1 year old and a 4 year old)....
     
    Government at their finest.
  2. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Chancy in Is a fiance or marriage visa a better path if getting pregnant during the application process?   
    My wife got pregnant with our first child right before we started the K1 visa process.  Did it complicate the process for K1?  No, but it adds stress to everyone.
     
    Did I sweat bullets having to do CBRA + K1 Visa interviews 2 days in a row?  Heck yes.  I was worried the consulate would force us to do DNA testing to verify the child was mine since we weren't 'married' at the time.  Funny enough, the consulate officer had me hold up my 1 month old daughter next to me, saw she REALLY looked like me, and then had me lower her and continued with the interview.
     
    I honestly think it may had helped the K1 visa approval that we had the CBRA interview the day before my wife's K1 visa interview.  
  3. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Redro in Is a fiance or marriage visa a better path if getting pregnant during the application process?   
    My wife got pregnant with our first child right before we started the K1 visa process.  Did it complicate the process for K1?  No, but it adds stress to everyone.
     
    Did I sweat bullets having to do CBRA + K1 Visa interviews 2 days in a row?  Heck yes.  I was worried the consulate would force us to do DNA testing to verify the child was mine since we weren't 'married' at the time.  Funny enough, the consulate officer had me hold up my 1 month old daughter next to me, saw she REALLY looked like me, and then had me lower her and continued with the interview.
     
    I honestly think it may had helped the K1 visa approval that we had the CBRA interview the day before my wife's K1 visa interview.  
  4. Like
    Spardasa reacted to Markip1 in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    So, I'm a citizen! I attended my ceremony yesterday at Federal Plaza (Brooklyn office - Floor 8 ). It was a 10am start and we were out of the building by around 11:30am. Big shout out to the security staff at the front of the building, who were as ever sparkling in their insolent effrontery and rudeness. I assume it must be in their training that if someone doesn't speak English too well, screaming what you are trying to say to them louder and louder directly in their face will help them to understand what you mean. Never having to deal with these goons again was a large motivation for applying for citizenship to be honest, and I am glad to see the back of them.
     
    The ceremony experience was all very straightforward, and somewhat anti-climactic to be honest. The ceremony was basically conducted in a waiting room. If you've been to the USCIS office at Federal Plaza before and waited in a hall with a ticket in your hand watching the TV screens to announce your number, then it's basically that room. There were no videos to watch, no speeches were given, no anthem was played, there wasn't even a US flag in sight. I felt overdressed in trousers, shirt and tie, as most people were dressed very casually. There were probably between 50 and 75 other people there, and interestingly it appeared that they were doing same day interview/oath ceremonies for some people in attendance, although they were taken to another room for their oath and were not involved in our ceremony beyond having their documents checked in the main room.
     
    The process went something like this:
    Everyone had line up to have their form checked, confirm a few questions about anything that had occurred since their interview, and hand in their Green Card (they also took my EAD/AP card but they didn't seem to bothered about those). They then had you check your naturalization certificate for any errors. If there was an error they would correct it on the spot at no cost for you, but if you left without requesting the change then you were on the hook for the full cost of a replacement at a later date. They took the certificate back once I had confirmed all the details, and they handed me two envelopes - one was a welcome letter from the President, the other contained information about what to do next as a US Citizen, a passport application form, and a copy of the constitution. They also gave me a small American flag. After you had been up to the window to do the above you were told to sit back down again. It took a while to check everyone in, but we were allowed to use phones or read a book so the time passed pretty quickly. Once everyone was checked in, an officer stood at the front, read the oath for us to recite, then told us to sit back down again. Officer said she had information available if we wanted it about applying for jobs at USCIS now that we were citizens, which got a few wry laughs from the crowd. She then called us up one by one to the window to collect our certificates and we were free to go. If anyone has any questions about the day feel free to ask. Before the event, I was mainly curious about what people would wear, and if they would allow family in to see the ceremony, and the answers to those questions were 1) wear pretty much whatever you like and 2) yes, my wife was allowed in no questions asked at all. I was also interested in the actual process of the ceremony, but now I realize there was very little to wonder about. It was all very straightforward and easy to navigate, but it had all the excitement and romance of the easiest trip to the DMV you've ever had. I'm over the moon to be at the end of this process, and can now fully embrace life in the US, but it would have been nice to have experienced a little bit of pageantry and occasion while taking the final step. That might just be the British person in me talking though. We love a drawn out ceremony.
     
    The rest of the day was lovely though, my wife and I had lunch, and then wandered around Manhattan in the sleet and snow. Our wedding day was beset by awful weather so it felt like completing the circle for the naturalization day to bring more of the same. I think it'll take a few days to sink in that we are done with all the admin and fees and intrusion, but already it feels great to know that life here will now be much more straightforward, and that I can now become fully involved in all the rights and responsibilities that come with being a citizen.
     
    Thanks to anyone who has offered help and guidance over the years, it's genuinely appreciated. Good luck all.
  5. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Balakasha in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    So I was in the parking lot for my wife's N-400 interview, but did not come in. She was approved with no problems, but I was there in case I was requested (for combo interview). 
     
    Her 751 hadn't been approved yet at that time as well, but the IO did her interview solely as a N-400.  
  6. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from swalker in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    Just returned this past weekend from our Nashville field office interview on Thursday.  I forgot which civics test questions the IO asked my wife, but she was successful in getting 6 right.  After the reading/writing portion of the test, he hammered quite hard on some of her time in Switzerland (and the overstay that occurred...), how we met, if I was a US Citizen, did I file my taxes, and finally discussed her name change request.  I did not go inside since I had our 2 daughters with us. 
     
    He approved her at the end, but told us we'd potentially have to go to Chattanooga for our oath ceremony (Yeah....weird when there is a federal courthouse in East TN that does it that is closer....), but checked statuses online:
     
    Her I-751 was approved and card is being printed
    Her N-400 was approved and is currently awaiting Oath Ceremony scheduling.  
  7. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from AndrewMc in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    Just returned this past weekend from our Nashville field office interview on Thursday.  I forgot which civics test questions the IO asked my wife, but she was successful in getting 6 right.  After the reading/writing portion of the test, he hammered quite hard on some of her time in Switzerland (and the overstay that occurred...), how we met, if I was a US Citizen, did I file my taxes, and finally discussed her name change request.  I did not go inside since I had our 2 daughters with us. 
     
    He approved her at the end, but told us we'd potentially have to go to Chattanooga for our oath ceremony (Yeah....weird when there is a federal courthouse in East TN that does it that is closer....), but checked statuses online:
     
    Her I-751 was approved and card is being printed
    Her N-400 was approved and is currently awaiting Oath Ceremony scheduling.  
  8. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from AndrewMc in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    We just got our interview scheduled for the Nashville Office - Feb 2nd.  
  9. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Sellamalola in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    We just got our interview scheduled for the Nashville Office - Feb 2nd.  
  10. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from SoCal2021 in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    We just got our interview scheduled for the Nashville Office - Feb 2nd.  
  11. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Joyoussinger in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    We just got our interview scheduled for the Nashville Office - Feb 2nd.  
  12. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Joyoussinger in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    Well we got our letter from USCIS on the whole "your I-751 has been sent to a new office" since we submitted the wife's N-400.
     
    They transferred it to National Benefits Center.
     
    I assume this will not be a combo interview then?
  13. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from mnk in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    Just checked my wife's pending RoC case and saw the following:
     
    Case Was Transferred And A New Office Has Jurisdiction
     
    Does this mean we will possibly get combo interview for her RoC/N-400, or what has been some of the experiences?  
  14. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from SoCal2021 in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    Got our email update this morning that: Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS after submitting on Sunday.
     
    Assigned our IOE# as well.....
     
  15. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Joyoussinger in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    Got our email update this morning that: Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS after submitting on Sunday.
     
    Assigned our IOE# as well.....
     
  16. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Joyoussinger in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    My wife has been eligible since August, but we were delayed due to the birth of our daughter.  Submitted her N-400 today and so happy to be on the final leg.
     
    Her I-751 Removal of Conditions is still pending since Sept 2021 of the canned Re-use of fingerprints.....
  17. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from SoCal2021 in N-400 September 2022 Filers   
    My wife has been eligible since August, but we were delayed due to the birth of our daughter.  Submitted her N-400 today and so happy to be on the final leg.
     
    Her I-751 Removal of Conditions is still pending since Sept 2021 of the canned Re-use of fingerprints.....
  18. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from tanksinatra9 in I-751 August Filers - Removing Conditions   
    SRC still waiting after fingerprint update in Sept 2021.....
  19. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Chris&Ale in All ROC applicants Write letters to uscis director   
    Write letters to your elected Congress and Senators of your state instead....
  20. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from WFinished in I-751 August Filers - Removing Conditions   
    Same for us in SRC.
     
    Fingerprints were taken on 9/22/2021 status for us.
  21. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from AmandaandChayne in I-751 August Filers - Removing Conditions   
    Same for us in SRC.
     
    Fingerprints were taken on 9/22/2021 status for us.
  22. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from WFinished in I-751 August Filers - Removing Conditions   
    I joined the club....  mailed it off today, 8-3.  Though, I was a goober and forgot the G-1145 electronic notification form, so may be a bit before I get to know which service center we get.
  23. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Orientalelf in Nashville TN Field Office Filers   
    Green card now in hand See y'all in a year and 9 months when we get to complain and fuss about the slow RoC process
  24. Like
    Spardasa reacted to Cheschirecat in Nashville TN Field Office Filers   
    Got our approval today 
  25. Like
    Spardasa got a reaction from Nashvan in Nashville TN Field Office Filers   
    Green card now in hand See y'all in a year and 9 months when we get to complain and fuss about the slow RoC process
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