CTimeline

Attended interview at CBP at Middleburg heights for Global Entry. It already snowed 2 inches that day and weather was overcast. I arrived at 2pm on Dec 16 2020. The CBP officer took me to his office. He was courteous and asked me if I watched the Global entry video in the waiting room and asked if I had any questions. He asked me to spell my full name and address. He also asked why I am applying for Global Entry. I replied that I love traveling around the world and also travel to work although I am not traveling currently.

          He asked for my passport and took my finger prints of both hands. (He didn't ask for my driver's license which surprised me as that is the proof of my address). After taking finger prints, he told me immediately that I am approved and indicated my GE # which is in my application. He told me that I will get m card in mail in 2 or 3 weeks and it would be in a white envelope and told me to be careful not to discard it. He told that I also get TSA along with GE. He said that I need to take physical GE card only when I travel to other countries (CA, MX) by land entry. (Not needed for air travel). He also told me that it the card can be used a form of Federal ID. He was very friendly and courteous and asked if I had any further questions. Great experience overall. After I came home, I updated my airline profile with my GE #.

This is probably the last task I wanted to do after getting my American citizenship. Now, it is waiting game for me to spread my wings to travel around the world with the luxury of expedited security clearance.

Finally got my physical OCI card today. (Oct 30, 2020). I applied on Sept 23 and it took 5 weeks to get it. (New York Consulate) 😀.  Finally, my immigration journey is over.
I am free to travel anywhere in the world ! (well, maybe next year)

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OCI timeline : 5 Weeks total

Date Of Acknowledgment by embassy          01-OCT-2020
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED       23-OCT-2020
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI      23-OCT-2020
Document received At NEW YORK CGI            23-OCT-2020
Shipment label generated                                  10/27/2020
Shipped by CGI                                                     10/29/2020
Received physical OCI card                                Oct, 30, 2020
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Applied for Global entry (TTP) online which also includes TSA Precheck ! Got conditional approval in a day. Will need to attend an interview to get the Global entry. The appointment slots are very few these days.

Got my updated SSN card with Citizenship status today (Oct 13, 2020). It doesn't have any restrictions unlike my old SSN card. The card was mailed out from SSA administration office in Baltimore, MD.

It took really 6 weeks to get the updated SSN card. I applied on Sept 3, 2020 at local SSA office in Middleburg heights ! Before Covid, this was a day's work using walk-in.

Now, I should not have any trouble with e-Verify if I were to find a new job. This finishes a major milestone in my Citizenship journey.

Pending things as of today are

1. OCI card (already applied)

2. Apply for Global Entry.

Got my original US passport back during the OCI process after 2 weeks. Big relief that it came back safely.😃

I expect OCI card in 5 weeks from now. Hopefully by before Nov 15th.

Got physical mail Oct 3, 2020 from Social security office (SSA) that I would receive a new SSN card in

2 weeks. (bit strange that mail states that I will get a new SSN card when I really applied for  existing SSN card with citizen status update. Maybe it is a blanket message). It has been 1 months since I applied on Sept 3.

Congrats are getting approved ! 😀

Applied for OCI card (Permanent Indian visa) on Sept 23, 2020 at the New York Indian consulate. I hope to get my original US passport back in a week from now. The ETA for receiving OCI card is 35 business days or 7 weeks. (before Nov 15, 2020). Once this task is completed, all my immigration hassles would be over I hope.

Got my original documents from SSN office within a week back (passport card original) but in the mail, there was no message or documentation if my application went thru. When I call local SSN office, they said they will send a formal letter that my application (SSN update) has been processed and later on new SSN card without any restrictions on it.

I am still waiting for official letter from SSA as well as new SSN card. It has been 3 weeks already. Haven't received either of those documents.

Also applied for Social security (SSN) update with citizenship status on Sept 3rd, 2020

Sent filled SS-5 form along with original passport card to middleburg heights SSA office. I am hoping to receive my documents back in 7 business days.

Received my naturalization certificate back in Priority mail. This completes my passport process.😀 .        It took 9 weeks for passport and a total of 10 weeks from start to finish (getting all evidence back).|
Below is the final timeline.

Applied location - Cleveland, OH (at the post office)
Passport applied - June 27,2020
Check cashed      - July 1, 2020
Approval email     - Aug 26, 2020
Physical passport book received - Aug 29, 2020  (in priority mail)
Processing center - National Passport Center, Portsmouth, NH
Passport Processing time  - 9 Weeks
Passport card received - Sept 1  (3 days later)
Naturalization Cert - Sept 5  (5 days later From U.S Dept of state, National passport center, Sterling, VA)
Total processing time - 10 weeks or 2.5 months (till receiving evidence back).

Received passport card in first class mail today (Sept 1, 2020). Awaiting Naturalization certificate in mail this week.

Delighted to receive American passport today (Aug 29, 2020). It came in USPS priority mail. It took 9 weeks for passport processing. As, expected the package was mailed from Portsmouth, NH. I am expecting passport card, Naturalization certificates in separate mails in coming days.

Applied location -    Cleveland, OH
Passport applied -   June 27,2020 (at USPS facility)

Check cashed      -   July 1, 2020
Approval email    -   Aug 26, 2020
Physical passport received  - Aug 29, 2020  
Processing time -    9 Weeks. 
Processing center - National Passport Center, Portsmouth, NH

Finally some heartening news ! Got email that my passport & passport cards are approved and shipped today (Aug 26, 2020) by USPS priority mail. ETA for physical documents is Sept 1,2020.  Naturalization certificate would be sent in a separate mail after the passport.

Applied location -    Cleveland, OH
Passport applied -   June 27,2020
Approval email    -   Aug 26, 2020
Expected delivery - Sept 1, 2020  (for physical passport)
Processing time -    9 Weeks. 
Processing center - National Passport Center, Portsmouth, NH

Hi - Just curious. Is finger printing and Interview being scheduled on the same day ? Thanks.

My passport was applied at post office on June 27, 2020. It has been 5 weeks now. Just called passport center and they told me that my passport is being actively processed at NH. This is one of the bigger centers along with New York but in phase1 (NY is in phase2).

National Passport Center, 207 International Dr, Portsmouth, NH 03801

Just got an email today (July 7) from state.gov. I applied on June 26th.

After dilly dallying for 1 week whether to apply to update SSN or Passport, I have decided to do the SSN update later. Applied for American passport (both passport book and passport card, $140) on June 26th at the local USPS post office (Libraries are closed, 1st time applicant should go in-person). Instead of handwriting the form, I filled the details using the 'Filler form' online and printed the PDF document. 2x2 photos from Costco. The lady who processed my application said it may take 8 to 10 weeks to get my passport in mail ! That time frame is not bad assuming there is a huge backlog ! Once, I get passport, I will update the SSN card with naturalization status. Hopefully the SSA offices are open by then for walk-in's !

Went to BMV in Cleveland, OH  to update my driver's license with my Citizenship status and also to register to Vote. They did both tasks by using my newly issued Naturalization certificate. They punched my current driver's license and gave me a temporary paper copy that I can use to drive. They said I will receive another driver's license (like a duplicate) updated with my Citizenship status. They also said that I will get a packet in 2 weeks indicating my voter's registration (with details on where to vote etc).

Very challenging times...Just called SSA about updating SSN records with my US Citizenship. They said that I have to mail in (certified) below 3 documents to SSN office. The part that is hard to do is to mail the originals. They said they would send back the documents the same day. Now I am debating whether to apply passport first or SSN first. If i send my drivers license, I can't drive lol. 

1. Original Naturalization certificate

2. Original Drivers license or Original passport.

3.  SS-5 form

Finally I am delighted to announce that I have become a US Citizen today after taking Oath at Cleveland USCIS field office ! Proud to be an American...

Congratulations on becoming US Citizen. Quick question. Do they allow you to apply for Passport after Oath ?

Some good updates for Cleveland service center. I got a voicemail today from USCIS about my Oath ceremony. Unfortunately, I was in a office meeting and couldn't take the call. The voicemail message reads that they were reaching me to "schedule a Oath ceremony and would call some other day again".  Good development !

Happy for you. You are few days away now from important milestone  ! 😃

New update..On March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services temporarily suspended routine in-person services to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). USCIS plans to begin reopening our offices on or after June 4, unless the public closures are extended further. USCIS staff are continuing to perform duties that do not involve face-to-face contact with the public. However, USCIS will provide emergency services for limited situations.

Another month of painful wait ! 🤨