Vpanda85

I had my naturalization ceremony today. It was a really great ceremony with a great judge speaking as well. I liked that there were representatives from the SS and the Women League who allows you to register to vote. Got that updated and out of the way.
 
720 new citizens from 92 different counties.
 
Finally done with immigration. Feels good to be a citizen. Good luck to everyone on their immigration journey.

Status changed today to "Oath ceremony will be scheduled".
 

I had my oath ceremony on 4/11 at the St. Paul River Center. Similar to @elmers experience, there were around 1000 people. The oath ceremony letter said to arrive at 12.45pm but the ceremony started at 2pm. Guests were allowed but seating is limited, so I suggest to arrive early so your guests can get a good spot. You cannot sit with your guests (they have seats at the back) and you get seated in specific rows that aids with distribution of certificates after the ceremony. The ceremony lasted for about 45 min.
 
One nice thing is that give you a SSN form to fill out & submit to SSA officials after the ceremony to get your SSN citizenship status updated. This saves you a trip to the local SSA office. The submission of the form is a bit chaotic but still worth waiting after the ceremony. 

It took exactly 6 weeks and a day from the time we handed the application in at the post office to the time we received my wife's passport in the mail. (Expedited Service)
 
5/15 - Submitted to USPS with expedited service.
 
5/19 - Application status shows as "In Process". Check was also processed around the same date. 
 
6/23 - Application status shows as "Approved"
 
6/27 - Received passport in the mail
 
7/21 - Received the original certificate of naturalization back in the mail

It took exactly 6 weeks and a day from the time we handed the application in at the post office to the time we received my wife's passport in the mail. (Expedited Service)
 
5/15 - Submitted to USPS with expedited service.
 
5/19 - Application status shows as "In Process". Check was also processed around the same date. 
 
6/23 - Application status shows as "Approved"
 
6/27 - Received passport in the mail

Just received wife's Naturalization Certificate back from passport agency.  It took about 7 weeks to get it back after passport was delivered. 

5/20 - Passport received

5/20 - Application approved. 

I had my naturalization ceremony on Wednesday. It was a really nice ceremony, great judge speaking and I liked that they registered you to vote and let you update your SS card there. Contrary to the other poster, the league of women voters was speaking to everybody (including myself, a male) and they were very helpful to anyone having trouble.
 
Just some tips:
- Bring a pen to fill out the citizenship and SS forms. Keep your phone on you as the SS form has to be filled both in paper and online.
- There are parking lots nearby that are much cheaper than the river center one if you walk 3-5 minutes!
- After the ceremony, take some cheesy photos and celebrate with your family. If you wait about 20 minutes, the mad rush for social security dies down and it becomes reasonably easy to navigate.
 
Anyway, it is nice to be a citizen - I also applied under the three year rule. Gathering the required evidence was fairly easy. I think some people at the ceremony applied as late as December of 2023 so they are moving quite quickly.
 
All the best to everyone still going through the process!

Congrats!! I have not been very active here after getting being naturalized lol. Very glad your journey is over!!

I had my oath ceremony on 4/11 at the St. Paul River Center. Similar to @elmers experience, there were around 1000 people. The oath ceremony letter said to arrive at 12.45pm but the ceremony started at 2pm. Guests were allowed but seating is limited, so I suggest to arrive early so your guests can get a good spot. You cannot sit with your guests (they have seats at the back) and you get seated in specific rows that aids with distribution of certificates after the ceremony. The ceremony lasted for about 45 min.
 
One nice thing is that give you a SSN form to fill out & submit to SSA officials after the ceremony to get your SSN citizenship status updated. This saves you a trip to the local SSA office. The submission of the form is a bit chaotic but still worth waiting after the ceremony. 

Congratulations!! 

My case was approved this morning, and oath ceremony is scheduled for early May!

We received my wife's NC exactly 4 weeks after passport was received.  It arrived in a large orange envelope and NC was not folded.  Envelope did not show in Informed Delivery scan of mails being delivered (since it a large envelope).  
We have already completed her SS update (in person) and Global Entry update to include her new US passport (it was done in person on a walk-in basis, since it was an update). 
She is finally done with everything.

Thanks for posting your experience. I'm with you... facial recognition it is! If I'm able to board Delta international flights with just my face, I'm pretty sure USCIS's facial recognition capabilities are far more advanced.
 
Were you able to take guests?
 
And a short update on my end... last night I got the "Card being Produced" email for my I-751. So I guess no combo interview next Friday. 

Update on 3/16: 
We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review.  Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled One more step closer. Glad that this didn't take too long! 
 

All the best! I'm hoping you get approval on the spot!

I had my N-400 interview this morning. Thankfully, the office was open today and I didn't have to deal with rescheduling due to the office being closed the last two days because of the snow storm. The interview was pretty straight forward and I passed the civics test but the outcome was "decision could not be made". The IO explained that my A-file is in transit and that needs to be reviewed as well. I asked if it was due to my I-751 but also reiterated that my I-751 was approved. The IO said they have to do some "due diligence". N-400 status still shows Interview Was Scheduled. 
 
The interview itself and questions were straightforward, nothing out of the ordinary. The IO was personable and made me feel very comfortable. I brought some additional evidence along like W2s for 2022, more recent statements for the evidence I had already submitted and any originals (as applicable) but the IO did not ask for anything specific. The IO did not allow my spouse to accompany me to the interview. The IO asked personals questions about my application (address, # of times both of us were married, # of kids, plans to have kids, international trips, club membership) that she updated and then the standard questions that go with each application (are you willing to take the oath of allegiance, etc.).
 
Documentation provided to the IO (all of it was returned back to me):
Expired Green Card I-751 Approval (since I don't have the new green card yet)  Driver's license  List of international trips I've taken since N-400 filing  Civics questions:
Rights of US citizens Who wrote the Federalist Papers? How many amendments does the constitution have? We elect a president for how many years? One of the longest rivers in the US  Why does the flag have 50 stars?  Reading: Who lives in the White House?
Writing: The president lives in the White House. 

A final worthless update: yesterday (24th), the status updated to "On February 24, 2023, we issued your Certificate of Naturalization for your Form N-400" despite receiving the certificate on the 20th, same day of the oath ceremony. 🤷‍♂️

Received the 10 year card today. Also completed my N-400 interview today and outcome was decision could not be made. 

I had my N-400 interview this morning at the Minneapolis FO. Thankfully, the office was open today and I didn't have to deal with rescheduling due to the office being closed the last two days because of the snow storm. The interview was pretty straight forward and I passed the civics test but the outcome was "decision could not be made". The IO explained that my A-file is in transit and that needs to be reviewed as well. I asked if it was due to my I-751 but also reiterated that my I-751 was approved. The IO said they have to do some "due diligence". N-400 status still shows Interview Was Scheduled. 
 
The interview itself and questions were straightforward, nothing out of the ordinary. The IO was personable and made me feel very comfortable. I brought some additional evidence along like W2s for 2022, more recent statements for the evidence I had already submitted and any originals (as applicable) but the IO did not ask for anything specific. The IO did not allow my spouse to accompany me to the interview. The IO asked personals questions about my application (address, # of times both of us were married, # of kids, plans to have kids, international trips, club membership) that she updated and then the standard questions that go with each application (are you willing to take the oath of allegiance, etc.).
 
Documentation provided to the IO (all of it was returned back to me):
Expired Green Card I-751 Approval (since I don't have the new green card yet)  Driver's license  List of international trips I've taken since N-400 filing  Civics questions:
Rights of US citizens Who wrote the Federalist Papers? How many amendments does the constitution have? We elect a president for how many years? One of the longest rivers in the US  Why does the flag have 50 stars?  Reading: Who lives in the White House?
Writing: The president lives in the White House. 

Congrats! Should be approved soon!!

N400 interview scheduled for 2/24
I-751 approved on 2/17, new card production ordered. Not sure if I will receive my card in time for my interview. Fingers crossed!

Thanks for posting your experience. I'm with you... facial recognition it is! If I'm able to board Delta international flights with just my face, I'm pretty sure USCIS's facial recognition capabilities are far more advanced.
 
Were you able to take guests?
 
And a short update on my end... last night I got the "Card being Produced" email for my I-751. So I guess no combo interview next Friday. 

The MSP office allows spouses but not in the interview room if it is not a combo interview. Mine was just for N400 so my spouse waited in the lobby area. MSP office is really chill.