futurecoloradogrl

Hoping you hear something soon!
 
I'm at the almost 12 month anniversary, my interview was over a week ago & could not be sworn in due to 'the computer system is down', so my file was tossed into a cardboard box on the floor of the office, but USCIS site never updated to show I attended the interview. Concerned I'm in limbo yet again as others have said even when they chose to wait to attend a ceremony their oath date was mailed right away and online status changed immediately. Would love to finally have some certainty in my life so I can go visit my family..

Updating with my experience for reference just in case anyone in future has similar questions! Thrilled I finally did it, officially became a citizen and got my certificate, feels weird that the 5 years of stress is over with & might take a while to get used to. 
 
- Guests: I took my partner and two friends with me, my partner had to show his driver's licence and friends showed their UK passports to the security officer with no issues. It was really special getting to have them there. 
 
- GC combo approval: as mentioned in my reply above, the card got produced and arrived days before the ceremony, and I handed it in when checking in.
 
- Outfit: I'd originally set aside a long lightweight dress and dressy sandals to wear, but Florida decided to be properly cold so I wore a sweater and skirt with boots and no one said anything. The most casual outfits I saw were an American print button-up shirt with vintage style jeans (loved it!) and a trendy zip-up jacket with wide leg jeans. Men were mostly wearing suits, and women were either wearing some kind of suit-style outfit, or a modest style dress in various designs. My guests were flying home immediately after and no one minded their jeans and sweatshirt travel outfits. 
 
- Successfully applied for my passport at the post office today and got quoted 2-3 weeks for express. 
 
- I only needed my state ID, most recent green card, and the paperwork attached to the ceremony letter which I'd already filled out at home - the letter only just arrived on Thursday, my ceremony was on Monday. Took my paperwork folders from the interview just to be safe.
 
- Did get slightly told off at check-in when the desk attendant verbally confirmed some of the questions on the paperwork - I said 'yep' to one of them and was sternly told 'it's YES, not YEP'. So make sure you say 'yes' or 'no' very clearly!
 
Will fill out my Orlando office experience on my timeline.

My ceremony had people in jeans and shirt, suits, sweaters, the whole spectrum. Totally up to you.
 
 
If you have traveled outside the US since you filed the N-400 you may want to bring the details of those trips. I had two trips, but the officer already saw those on her computer and added them as we were speaking.

You can try the same-day urgent processing if you travel within two weeks (so in mid February). The advantage of this is in that you don't have to mail anything to the DoS, and thus you avoid the risk of losing the certificate in mail, either when sending or receiving the document (it's extremely difficult to replace). For the future passport extensions you can then simply use the old passport instead of the certificate to prove your citizenship/nationality. 

Congrats! 
 
Yes, you can bring guests to your ceremony. We were the first group of the day at the local office, and applicants were put in one line for the security and guests were put in the line after them. They made sure applicants went through before the guests. We had 40+ applicants and about 100 guests for our group. 
 
Bring the card that you have with you. If you don't have new one by the time your oath, don't worry about it. 
 
Everybody was wearing smart casual clothes, some people had suits. Nobody wore sundress as it was very cold here in Virginia
 
Make appointment for your passport for the same day of your oath or for the next day. The lady at our post office was kind enough to make copies of the certificate. We've paid for expedited service and got the passport 2 weeks later and certificate week after. I think with the post office fees it was around $260. We brought our own picture for the passport. 
 
I think it was the oath letter, drivers license and green card. We had SS card with us too just in case. 
 
Everything took about 30 minutes. Don't stress about it

You cannot surrender what you don't have. However, if you have 2 year conditional GC at the time of oath, you should surrender it.
 
I'd say short skirts aren't the best things to wear to an official event. Options: rent some clothes or wear a long dress that's more or less formal looking.

I submitted in early Feb 2023, in-person biometrics in April, case status changed to 'interview scheduled' late November, and interviewed January 3rd. I was getting the same message in the couple of weeks before the status changed to scheduled. Now sat in limbo again after interview, despite getting recommended for approval from the officer and having what should be a very straightforward case (no name changes, taxes owed, criminal history, etc). Seems to be down to sheer luck.

USCIS is such a terrible organization. They embody all of the stereotypes when we think of government organizations

Update on my slow Orlando case! Had my interview today and got approved, yay! Unfortunately their computer system was down so I wasn't able to be sworn in today or have anything approved electronically - hopefully the letter with a swearing-in date will come fast and not keep me waiting too much longer. So close to the end of this process! 

I got about 5 weeks between 'interview was scheduled' and the interview date. Based on what I remember seeing other posting, I'm under the impression 4-5 weeks is a pretty normal amount of time between the notice and the actual interview.
 
 
 
 

That's true! We are very lucky to live within walking distance to downtown so have just been prioritising other things, but thinking we should make a start on it soon. We have the car and the insurance, just that (at least in Florida) the DMV will only issue a licence that's valid for the extent of your US ID, and my green card was about to expire when we registered the car, & we only recently got the green card extension papers. I need to get my husband to take me to practice driving again after a long break, and then we need to schedule the tests once I'm confident behind the wheel again. We don't often go places in the car, but he was driving me to the doctor today and I thought how nice it would be to get to drive myself to the beach or go thrifting again in the future! Two of my favourite things I used to do all the time before moving to the US.
 
That makes sense! My two closest friends I met during university, even though we weren't close at the time yet spent much more time together years later. I hope things have become easier for you over time at least. 
 
 
I really appreciate all the kind responses & helpful suggestions! Most of all it's nice to know that others are experiencing similar issues and a reminder that we're not all alone in moving across the world and struggling to find good friends. 

That's true! We are very lucky to live within walking distance to downtown so have just been prioritising other things, but thinking we should make a start on it soon. We have the car and the insurance, just that (at least in Florida) the DMV will only issue a licence that's valid for the extent of your US ID, and my green card was about to expire when we registered the car, & we only recently got the green card extension papers. I need to get my husband to take me to practice driving again after a long break, and then we need to schedule the tests once I'm confident behind the wheel again. We don't often go places in the car, but he was driving me to the doctor today and I thought how nice it would be to get to drive myself to the beach or go thrifting again in the future! Two of my favourite things I used to do all the time before moving to the US.
 
That makes sense! My two closest friends I met during university, even though we weren't close at the time yet spent much more time together years later. I hope things have become easier for you over time at least. 
 
 
I really appreciate all the kind responses & helpful suggestions! Most of all it's nice to know that others are experiencing similar issues and a reminder that we're not all alone in moving across the world and struggling to find good friends. 

That's true! We are very lucky to live within walking distance to downtown so have just been prioritising other things, but thinking we should make a start on it soon. We have the car and the insurance, just that (at least in Florida) the DMV will only issue a licence that's valid for the extent of your US ID, and my green card was about to expire when we registered the car, & we only recently got the green card extension papers. I need to get my husband to take me to practice driving again after a long break, and then we need to schedule the tests once I'm confident behind the wheel again. We don't often go places in the car, but he was driving me to the doctor today and I thought how nice it would be to get to drive myself to the beach or go thrifting again in the future! Two of my favourite things I used to do all the time before moving to the US.
 
That makes sense! My two closest friends I met during university, even though we weren't close at the time yet spent much more time together years later. I hope things have become easier for you over time at least. 
 
 
I really appreciate all the kind responses & helpful suggestions! Most of all it's nice to know that others are experiencing similar issues and a reminder that we're not all alone in moving across the world and struggling to find good friends. 

It's more an "ou" sound like out.  My ex-SIL is from Nova Scotia and still calls the toilet a "toelet" and a couch a "cooch" which threw me for a loop.  
 
@futurecoloradogrl once you have a driver's license and you're working, that will probably make everything a lot easier.  You're essentially stuck as a shadow of your husband.  It's difficult to forage your own path at the moment and the lack of those freedoms also add to the complexity of the situation.  

One thing that has really helped my husband was joining a tennis club. If there is a hobby you enjoy, it could be helpful to meet people through that hobby because you at least already have one thing in common. It sounds like a lot of your struggle is related to COVID though, which is hard to work around if you aren't comfortable being social in-person and cannot drive. However, there is also a lot of value in online friendships so that is still a place to start, and I think following your hobbies is a good way to find like minded people, even online. 

My husband, the immigrant, struggles with this immensely. He has been in the US since 2018 and he does not have any friends. He has a few acquaintances at the gym and at his job, but he hasn't made any real solid friendships. Culturally, in my opinion, it is difficult to make friends here in the US, at least in the northeast where people are extremely busy and preoccupied with their own lives. Most of my friends are ones I've had since childhood, but even we barely see each other.
Meanwhile, when I go to my husband's country, I have a ton of friends I've made on my own and people are much warmer, inviting, and interested in relationships. Just my opinion, but please know you are definitely NOT alone. Moving and starting over again is really, really hard.

I actually think this is very typical - even more so now post covid but was also always the case. I've lived in my husbands home country for 5 years and still don't feel like I've made any close friends here. I think relocating and making friends as an adult is just a hard and slow process, even without all the covid dramas! I've talked to other friends who've moved away from home (but not to a new country) and they seem to have the same issues I have had... I think it just takes a loooooong time.
 
I left friends back home that I had known since grade school & friends I made in University (a very easy place to connect with others) && unfortunately being in a school type environment where it's easy to connect OR having 10+ years of life experience together develops a kind of closeness that just hasn't been very attainable for me here with my current job & lifestyle - I moved across the world to a city where my partner and I had no connections, worked in a small, male dominated office & outside of the gym and work I didn't know where to go to find others. 
 
I've tried an abundance of different methods to meet people & learned to adapt to having 'less friends'... I too tried Bumble BFF & did make a friend out of it but it took a lot of work TBH, I met up with tons of women that I didn't really connect with and when I found a friend I did like we had to really put in the work - it was like dating ahaha, we prioritized getting together once a week and slowly a friendship developed. I've connected with others in local 'expat' groups on FB. Over the years, I've made a few connections through work, gotten to know some of my husband's friends and their partners, and managed to make a couple friends through random encounters in every day life (hairdressers, bars, cafes, etc.) But overall, none of these new friendships have come anywhere close to my friends that I have in  my home country - which again, makes sense, I can't expect someone I've hung out with 5-10 times to be as comfortable and open with me as a friend of 10+ years.  I've learned to just take things as they come, try my best to put myself out there & to continue investing into my core friendships back home - despite the distance, many of my hometown friends and I are closer than ever and probably talk more frequently because I live so far. 
 
Anyway, I guess I don't have any real advice here... Just want you to know I believe this is a very normal experience when relocating anywhere new (especially a new country and especially post pandemic) and you're not alone! Like most good things in life, good friendships just take time. 

If you're a Facebook user, try searching for Brits in the US and Brits in FL.  I've joined a couple of Canadian pages and it's nice to relate to the things we miss, the things we still don't quite grasp so find entertaining and where to get the "goods" when we need comforts from back home.  Today's discussion was whether Canadians actually say "aboot", which we don't.
 
My husband is British so the search has been to find "proper sausage" to make sausage rolls.  Admittedly, most of the sausage around here is dreadful.  He liked the availablity of appropriate quality sausage in Canada and has found a place I believe called Jolly Posh that is legit and delivers to Texas, so guess what came for us...lol!
 
That said, there are probably a couple of your hubs friends that you are likely to find some common interest with.  I know...seems a bit lame to piggyback friends, but eh...if it works, it works!  

My experience is that friendship here seems to be different then back home. I have a few friends and one closer friend but not like back home. I did find our local library has activities and stuff you can sign up for. I found making friends there even if just while at the activities seem more real. I don't know it's just different. 

That's a tough situation. I see that you are in Orlando, that's a fairly transient place with a lot of tourists/visitors, it doesn't have the welcoming vibe other cities have. Even though FL has not been as affected by the pandemic as other places, I'd imagine a place that is so based around tourism has been affected. Maybe if you can connect with other expats in the area, that might be good as they could be feeling similar to how you feel now. The plus side about Orlando is that it is large enough that there is an international community there.
 
Also, not having the ability to drive in FL is basically a prison sentence. You will need to get a DL and be able to drive to meet people and go to places. Maybe there are other DMV's in your area that will have shorter wait times to get a DL? Are you waiting on the actual driver's test still or do you just need to walk in, do the knowledge test and that's all?

IME friendships develop from shared interests: work, school, church, hobbies, kids’ school, kids’ hobbies, etc.
 
So for example,  as you are at the I-751  phase of your immigration journey you have I-9 documents that let you work. If the job you have doesn’t have people  you want to be friends with or people who don’t want to be friends with you, consider finding  a new job.  If  you don’t have a job, consider getting one.  
 
“Pandemic life has made meeting people next to impossible “
 
I’ve been to Florida a couple times since July 2021. It does not appear to me Florida is participating  in the pandemic. 

My NextDoor turns political in most posts. Most blame mayor for everything, just because the mayor isn't from their party. I once got tired and asked the chief complainant to run so that we gladly elect her. Her main task will be to successfully do what she complains about...I will be honest, most who complain are stay at home old ladies.. @Allaboutwaiting

Try meetup.com. Search for groups in your area. There are so many with varied interests; I bet more than one will appeal to you. 
Some groups that don't meet in person currently, do so online.
 
Something else you can do is organizing a virtual reunion with your whole class from university or high school. It's so fun catching up online with everyone talking at once.  You might reconnect with someone and become virtual bff's!
 
And if you're into working out, there must be groups near you that gather outdoors to exercise together. If there's none, you can organize yours -there's an app called Nextdoor where you can talk to people from your neighborhood-.

If you like reading? Have you considered looking for an online bookclub in the area? 
As you are from the UK you can also look to see if there are any "Brits in Florida" groups and start connecting with people from your home country online. 
I would also look at connecting with your friends back home. I am in several whatsapp groups with close friends and family and we try to schedule group calls every other week or so... 
 
You should also try re-think your negative mindset. You do not know if your husband's friends have no interest in you as a person/friend. 
Perhaps try to develop closer relationships with the individuals you like. 
Invite them out for coffee, drinks or dinner when you can socialize again. Or start chatting to them online about common interests. Slowly build up friendships that are more personal and not just based around your husband's decision on when to spend time with them. 
 
The pandemic has really thrown socializing for a loop though so I don't think your feelings are unusual. 

Same here. Was being able to read it from informed delivery. Glad they reused my finger prints too haha