mustang-sally

4 hours ago, rubya said:

You`re right 100%, we saw examples of people were sent back home with form N-14 even though the instructions say the opposite.

 

I would prepare for every thing to avoid delay...

I had a speeding ticket and put "no" on the form. I didn't know it was classed as a citation until after I mailed my application.

l told the IO about it at my interview, he asked if it was over $500 and I told him it was $200.50. He said it doesn't matter, I had the paperwork with me but he didn't ask to look at it. 

Every ones experience is different so yes, go prepared with all your information. I had a bag full of papers, tax returns, marriage and divorce certificates, court papers from my speeding fine, etc....and didn't need any of them, but I'm glad I took them as you never know what they will ask for.

8 hours ago, jj23521 said:

I also checked NO and did not mention a speeding ticket.  The official N400 instructions says the following.  Let me know if I'm misinterpreting it....

 

 

**************

NOTE: You must submit documentation of traffic incidents if:

(1) The incident involved alcohol or drugs;

(2) The incident led to an arrest; or

(3) The incident seriously injured another person.

You do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines or incidents that did not involve an arrest or did not

involve drugs or alcohol, if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 or points on your driving record.

 

 

 

You are supposed to mention a citation even if it is a speeding ticket. You just don't need to submit documentation if it's under $500 and doesn't involve an arrest, they cannot deny you for a speeding ticket under $500.

 I didn't mention my speeding ticket on the form but I did tell the IO about it at the interview, he was ok with it and brushed it off as my fine was $200. I printed the court documents to prove I had paid the fine but he never asked for them.

36 minutes ago, rubya said:

Thanks that what I`m doing. I got court disposition, police report, and driving records,and the receipt too. It was 2013 too. case is dismissed, the original fine $ 1000, but I paid $104 for court fees after dismissing . IS this consider less than $500. Or they consider the original charges ??? it  was not alcohol or drugs or even arrest or detain, it was citation.

Just make sure you tell the immigration officer the whole truth and have your paperwork handy. The IO will write any changes on the form and you will sign the form after he/she has gone through it all. 

I don't know if they consider the original charge maybe you could contact an immigration attorney to ask for advice on that.

2 hours ago, rubya said:

can I tell them in interview day?

I put 'no' on my form to that question. I had a speeding fine from 2013 for $200.50 that I never realized was a citation until after I sent my application in. 

Right before the IO went through the form at the interview I told him about it. He asked If the fine was over $500 and I said "no". He told me it didn't matter.

I had the court paperwork with me but he never asked for it. 

Just be honest about it and take the citation paperwork with you.

On 3/28/2017 at 3:03 PM, rimini said:

So does it mean that if I wait after 5 years, all I need to submit are tax returns and bill statements, compared to providing more details at 3 years?

 I filed after 5 years. All I included in my application was the N400 form, a check, a copy of front and back of green card and 2 passport photos (which you may or may not need). At the interview I had a bag full of papers but all he wanted to see was my drivers license and passports (I had 2 as I renewed it 2 years ago) and name and address of my new employer (I changed jobs in January).

I was never asked for any tax papers or marriage certificates or proof of address or anything like that.

2 hours ago, NikkiB said:

I sent two passport pictures with my application because I'm just paranoid like that 

I will also be taking passport photos to my interview on the 10th Just in case... Glad your interview went well

I sent 2 passport pictures with my application because I am paranoid too 

 I did notice they were in a small bag clipped to the front of the N400 application form in my interview. Maybe they need photo proof of who you are as your driving license and passport are not enough 

The photo from the biometric was on the naturalization certificate, I didn't see that photo at the interview at all.

14 minutes ago, Heading2VietNam said:

I wouldn't say that there isn't one field office processing cases within 5 months.  The Indianapolis, IN field office just sent me a text message on Monday 3-20-17 to inform us that my wife's interview is scheduled, we are just waiting on the letter to come in the mail to get an exact date.  If it's anything like the other 3 Indianapolis VJ members that filed close to the date I did, then our interview should be between 4-17-17 - 4-28-17.   Just about 10 weeks from when they received our N-400 packet till the date of our interview.  Add 3 to 4 weeks for the oath ceremony, that could possibly put us just a little over 3 months from our NOA to citizenship.

My field office was St Paul, Minnesota, the office with the slowest date!! 

The date on my NOA was 12/02/2016 and my interview and same day oath ceremony was 03/16/2017, just 15 weeks from start to finish. 

20 hours ago, Mardy said:

Ok, under the 5 year rule application, it needs 5 years of my tax transcript/return. I have 2013 to 2016 transcripts & sent a copy with my n-400. I have read some of the posts here that we can fill in a form to request for an old transcript but has to pay something. I still have a copy of my 2012 income tax return. Do you think I can just use the return for 2012 while the rest of the years are transcripts for the interview ?

I applied under the 5 year rule. I took 3 years of tax returns with me - 2013, 2014 and 2015 (my accountant still has 2016).

At the interview all I was asked for was my driving license, green card and passport.  I had a bag full of evidence and wasn't asked for any. 

I walked in one day after my appointment at a different ASC in a different state (long story lol). I had no problem and was in and out in 20 minutes. 

I had my interview last Thursday (March 16th). I was not asked for any photographs but I did include them in my original application. 

All your questions were exactly the same as mine, including the reading, writing and civics. I thought they were chosen at random, looks like they have sets of questions. 

Congratulations on passing 

Here is my detailed account of my interview.....sorry it's so long!! 

I hope it helps and shows how straightforward and easy it was.

I got there at 8:30am and my appointment was at 9:00am. After going through security I went to the waiting room and handed my appointment letter to the receptionist who told me to take a seat. My name was called just after 9.
The officer talked about the weather and asked about my trip while we walked to the interview room.
In the room he asked me to remain standing and raise my right hand and promise to tell the whole truth during the interview, he then had me sit. He asked for my green card, drivers license and passports ( I had 2 passports, old and new as I renewed mine about 2 years ago). He took copies of the green card and drivers license and just flicked through the passports. 
He had a thick file in front of him with all my information. He said he was going to go through my application first. At this point I mentioned a speeding ticket I received over 3 years ago that I didn't put on my application. He asked if the fine was over $500 and I told him no, it was about $200 and I paid it within 2 weeks, he said it didn't matter. He went through every single section of the application and made notes as he went along. I told him that I had quit my job in January and started a new one the same month, he wrote that down and my new employers information. He then told me where he had made notes on the form and then had me sign the application in 2 places.
He had me read " Which state has the most people" and write "California has the most people" and he told me it has been a long time since he had interviewed a British person and thought it was silly that I had to do the English part as I could probably teach him the language lol.
He asked me 6 questions
1. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them?
2. What is one of the reasons the colonists came to America?
3. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
4. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
5. What is one right or freedom from the first amendment?
6. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
He then told me he was recommending me for approval and gave me form N652, which has his name and the interview results. I keep this form for my records. He asked if I could come back that afternoon at about 2:00pm for the oath ceremony, which I said yes. We chatted for a few minutes about dogs (I'm a dog groomer), he asked my advice as his Labrador barks too much lol. I was in there a total of about 20-25 minutes.
He showed me back to the waiting room and I waited about 30 minutes for my oath letter then I was free to go and come back later. 

7 minutes ago, vegasbound said:

Hey @EV11 Yes, I did get a clear answer about traveling while N400 is pending. As for the change in employment status, some suggested to only mention it when asked specifically during the interview since it is not a major deciding factor. Do you have differing information?

Hi @vegasbound i quit my job in January and started another job in the same month. The officer asked about my current employment and just noted it on the application form when i told him. That was it, no further questions.

While I was waiting for my oath letter after my interview, one of the immigration officers came into the waiting area. He started talking to the receptionist in a loud voice about how the person being interviewed in his office had altered the interview date on their letter and now he was going to have to deny their whole application. He was very rude to the receptionist and made everyone in the room feel uncomfortable.

I couldn't believe that someone would jeopardize their future by doing something like that. 

You sign up here 

https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/disclaimer.do

11 hours ago, Ramii said:

hello Team

 

anyone know which wed site I can register to so I can get access to soft copy of all the correspondences that we get from USCIS ( Letters) for N400

18 minutes ago, vegasbound said:

Ok. So a quick check on the processing time for St. Paul, MN (where mustang-sally just did her interview and oath at the same day), it is showing that they were processing April 1 applications as of January 31. Compared to my own field office, Las Vegas, which was processing May 18 as of Jan 31, and I haven't even gotten my interview date yet. I'm starting to doubt the accuracy of the information provided. It really feels like a guessing game at this point.

 

I live in West Wisconsin. One Thursday a month St.Paul holds interviews and a same day civil oath ceremony for applicants who live in West Wisconsin. Today there were just 23 of us in the oath ceremony. The whole day went so smooth. 

I was called in at 9am. I took the oath, the officer went through my application, asking me questions. I mentioned a speeding ticket from 3 years ago that I didn't put on the form, he asked if my fine was over $500, I said "no", so he just said not to worry about it. I had to read "Which State has the most people". Then had to write "California has the most people".

6 questions and that was it, we chatted about dogs, he said having me read and write English was funny. He asked about my drive up to Minneapolis. I had to wait about 30 minutes after the interview for my oath letter. We went shopping and came back at 2pm for the ceremony. 

I passed my interview and have same day oath ceremony in about an hour. It was so easy and i had the friendliest immigration officer ever.....and i went shopping in Ikea which is just across the road. I am so happy 

7 hours ago, Richard-UK said:

Hey everyone.  Is it possible to request a change of field office for Interview?  I will be scheduled for Jacksonville which is a six hour drive from Pensacola.

 

New Orleans where we had our fingerprints taken is 3 hours and Atlanta is just four hours.  Either of these would be preferable.

 

Obviously we do not want to rock the boat by chopping and changing but just wanted to know if it is possible.  If so did it cause other issues?

 

Many thanks.

Hi Richard, 

My fingerprint appointment was made for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I called the service number and asked if my interview would be there too and they said it would. I mentioned that St Paul, Minnesota was much closer. They insisted my appointment would be in Milwaukee but they would make a note on my file.

I had my biometrics done in St Paul, I did a walk in a day after my appointment in Milwaukee. I was in and out in 20 minutes, no problem even though I had missed my original appointment. I then received my appointment letter for St Paul just 5 weeks later. My biometrics was 12/30/16, my interview is 03/16/17. It can be done and won't necessarily cause a delay.

6 hours ago, mimolicious said:

My husband had his interview and test yesterday in Manchester, NH. He said the test was easy, he got all questions correct on civics and writing. They didn't test his reading because before the test they went over his n-400 which the IO said was proof enough he could read. Start to finish the test took 5 or 6 minutes and 3 or 4 minutes going over the n-400. Although my husband brought extra supporting evidence the IO asked for none of it, but he did want proof other than joint bank accounts, joint mortgage and insurance ect so the IO asked my husband if he had any text messages between us so my husband showed him his phone and then my husband stated I was in the waiting room, the IO said that was proof enough. In total my husband spent about 40 minutes with the IO , my husband said 30 minutes of that time was spent chit chatting about Jordan- evidently the IO was in the military and spent some of his time stationed in Amman(my husband is from Amman). At the end the IO congratulated my husband, handed him a pocket version of the constitution and recommended his n-400 for approval and stated he would receive a letter in the mail informing him of the date for swearing in. When the interview was over the IO walked my husband out and introduced himself to me, he was super friendly!  That was it and to say the least we are super happy and relieved.

 

Note- even though we have some pretty big red flags like difference in religion and culture, big age difference(I am 21 years older), I was divorced with children and a few others-our journey from beginning to end was super easy. Each stage was approved quickly and never at any point did we get an RFE. We completed this entire process from start to finish on our own with no help of an attorney and I didn't stumble across Visa Journey until my husband was waiting for his CR-1 interview( the reason I found VJ is because I was looking to connect with other couples from Jordan). I never used the guides on VJ, I just followed the instructions on all forms and applications and doubled and triple checked all of the answers, documents and supporting evidence and asked a question or five from the very knowledgeable members of this forum. But I do recommended using the guides if you have any questions-they are very straight forward and PLEASE don't be afraid to ask questions here in VJ as there are always willing, able and knowledgeable members of this forum who will be happy to answer you and guide you along the way.

 

Congratulations and thank you for the detailed description. I have my interview in 16 days and it's always good to read about other people's experiences. 

6 hours ago, mimolicious said:

Tomorrow my husband takes his citizenship test. Nervous and excited at the same time!

Good luck for tomorrow.  

On 2/17/2017 at 8:17 AM, Laloka said:

My status just changed!

On February 16, 2017, we scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

Congratulations @Laloka that's really good news. 

I hope we have a lot more interviews scheduled in the next few weeks. 

6 minutes ago, EV11 said:

Woo Hoo well done my fellow Brit  Happy to see you got your interview letter and USICS actually listened to you too! We filed our N400's on the same day but I live in the Big Apple so not expecting to hear anything anytime soon  Please let me know how it all goes for you!

Thank you, it looks like St Paul is a month behind NYC in processing times so you might hear something soon. I have been a permanent resident since Nov 2008, a friend of mine who has lived here for 31 years applied the same day as me, we did fp's the same day and she has her interview next week....maybe they are hurrying through the 5+ year applicants? 

1 hour ago, L0bster00 said:

This is so exhausting. I am still at FP Scheduled status- God knows when i will be in line and then after that one month more for the interview and then God knows when the OATH will be.  Should i just give up ? or keep on checking the status ? 

Every case is different and every office is different. Maybe your online status won't change and you will just get a letter in the mail, I have heard of that happening. Try to be patient, I know it's frustrating but you will have your interview eventually. 

I received my interview letter this morning. When I first got my fp appointment it was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I called the customer service line to see if they could send me to St Paul in Minnesota instead as it is 2 hrs closer to where I live in Wisconsin. They told me no but they will make a note of it and I could do a walk-in appointment to St Paul for fp's, which I did.

My letter says my interview is in St Paul Minnesota on March 16th at 9am.  (looks like they did listen to me)

My status just changed - 

"On February 2, 2017, we scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization , Receipt Number NBC* *********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."