Sukhdeen Niwas

@promenad - thanks for posting your interview experience and congratulations on almost getting there.

I was exactly in the same boat as you ["decision cannot be made" etc.] about a month ago [my interview was on Sep 23]. And my oath is on Oct 24 so things can change really rapidly.

From what I have read on this thread, the "no decision" doesn't even delay the oath. For example my actual approval happened about 10 days after the interview but I am still taking oath within a month or so of the interview date. I find that is true of lot of other folks too who got approved but were unable to take oath the same day.

So relax and stay positive. All the best.

I had my N400 interview on Sep 23 [I had filed on June 09, 2018].  Just moments ago, I got an email that my case had been decided. I am a member of the naturalization pending club as well. Below is my interview experience.

My interview was scheduled at 12:45 PM. I live less than 2 miles from the USCIS office and took it easy. Wrong move - they call you roughly based on the time you made an entry so if you can go a bit ahead of the scheduled time, you may need to wait less once you are there. In my case I had to wait till 2:05 PM but had I entered 15 minutes prior, my wait would have been at least an hour less. Also while they do call in order, they seem to group a few cases by entry door number so do not be worried if a few numbers after your number get called before you.

There is an accessible parking right in front of the entrance. You do not need to pay the $8 for parking that you pay otherwise - but there are only 3 such spots. Visitors are allowed to go with you [but they cannot attend your actual interview] and you are supposed to wait on the second floor inside. Any and all types of pointed items are banned - knives, napkin pins etc. are all banned. Besides that however, you can take anything you want including as many laptops and cellphones. Sadly besides texting, nothing works in the waiting area - and even that works only if you connect to an internal WiFi there. I tried Sprint, TMobile and Verizon to make sure. Speaking of visitors, there is nothing besides water available inside and there are no shops nearby. So make sure anyone with you who cannot stay hungry [seniors or folks with medical conditions] takes at least some eatables with them because there is no way to predict how long you will need to wait inside. 

Once I was called at 2:05 PM, the door opened and my interview office asked me to accompany her. Taking me to her office, she first apologized to me for the long wait and asked me to take an oath to answer everything correctly. She asked me if I had a greencard with me and I showed it to her. She asked me if I had my prior passports and I told her that I had probably gotten rid of those so I did not have these with me but I did have my current valid passport with me. She asked me to not worry and it seems not to have mattered in the end.

The actual interview questions on history and the English test were quickly dispensed with. I was made to sign on a touchpad multiple times during the process. Also the English sentence writing test was done on the pad as well. Among the questions asked to me on history was the name of the Chief Justice - she stopped after I answered the first six correctly.

After that, it was supposed to be a brief affair but while over there, I realized that I had answered NO to the question about any prior army/military training. I had attended something called NCC[National Cadet Corps] training in India and I informed the officer in detail about it. I was then asked [in a very plain voice] why I had answered No on my application. I explained that while sitting there I suddenly remembered this and besides it would have been hard to provide much details about it on the application. The officer noticed my nervousness and told me that I just needed to make sure I answered everything honestly and leave the rest to the adjudicator and there was nothing to worry. I also informed her that I had left blank the section about convictions etc. because I had heard conflicting opinion about what to put there - even though I had gotten multiple traffic citations/tickets. She asked me to let her know what all I had gotten tickets for and what was the maximum fine I ever paid and if I ever went to prison for anything[whether traffic related or not]. I was able to share these details with her [the maximum was less than $150]. 

The officer then informed me that I had "cleared" the interview but that my file had not yet come in from the storage and that I would have to wait. I was told that the interview is over and I could ask any questions. I tried to probe more about why my case could not be decided. I was told that sometimes all the material needed to adjudicate a case is not available on interview day but that I would get a letter in the mail with either the interview date/location or I would be asked to present myself with some materials that may be needed for adjudication - however I would not be called for an interview again as I had already passed it. I was also informed that there is no timeline for how long adjudication may take. I asked if it may take upto an year and was told that it doesn't take "that long". With that and after printing and handing me a 652 form showing my case had not yet been decided [Passed the test, decision cannot yet be made about your application etc. etc.], the officer walked me out of the "interview" block very courteously. I was out before 2:45 PM.

I always expect the worst and got very negative thoughts why my application had not been decided. I braced myself for spending the whole life on a Greencard 😉 or. even having to leave the country!! But on looking at information on the Internet, I found that this was by no means a rare scenario and people often got their case approved in a few days if not on the interview day. The two worst cases I found had to wait 8 months and more than 2 years but they were really exceptional cases. I also remembered how @El79  and @AHG had waited with patience so I just decided to wait. However just to make sure, I also searched for and found my older passports and read more about why military training could be a red flag for naturalization. Anyways I got an email this morning that there was activity on my case and logged in to find that my case had been approved.

I will update once I get a letter with my interview date and location. A big shoutout to @AHG and @El79 whose past example of waiting patiently for USCIS wheels to move was an inspiration for me. Thanks to them and numerous other folks who share their experience here and help each other as we navigate this sometimes nerve-wracking experience. 

Hello - Thanks to everyone on this thread - it has been a great help.

I had filed my N400 on June 9, 2018 and got interview letter about 3 weeks ago [around Sep 1].

My interview is today around noon - I will update you folks how it went.