LovelyTena

To all the brand new US Citizens I thought you'd be glad to know that I applied for my US passport on may, 24th and I got it last friday june, 6th!! Way faster than the 4-6 weeks they give as an estimate!

Now my journey is truly over...

Good luck with everything!

Hi Churipu,

I applied last Fri (6/6/08) and just got it in the mail today... wow...

It only took them less than a week to process mine.

Did you receive your citizen cert seperately in the mail??

I don't know where mine is at??

Tena

Congrats to you!!!!

Congrats on passing it!!

I hope you get your Oath letter soon. You're almost done!

Tena

And here I am to deliver my SUPER-DUPER good news!!!!!

Not only I passed my interview with flying colors (to use the IO's words lol) I have my Oath Scheduled at 3:00 pm THIS AFTERNOON!!!!!!!! Isn't that amazing?? When she told me the ceremony would be today I had to ask her to repeat it again because I thought my ears had just failed me I just came home for a bit, we'll drive there later on (the district office is only about 25 minutes drive)

Anyways...here's how it went. I arrived about 40 minutes prior my appointment's scheduled time, ended up being called over an hour later . My IO wasn't a born American because she had a really thick Spanish accent that actually made it a bit difficult to understand her when she was talking, also because she spoke very subtle too...but she was very friendly and nice so I'm not complaining! She made me raise my right hand to swear I would be telling the truth, then she started asking for my passport, ID and green card. She then asked me "Have you taken your test Mrs?"...me--> I wasn't sure what she meant by that so I asked "what test?", she said "I mean, have you been studying?" DUH! I panicked a bit because I was kinda nervous and thought that maybe I had forgotten to do something or whatever ...anyways..she proceeded to ask me the questions, I got lucky because they were really easy ones...I do not remember them all, only 5 out of 6 for some reason...

1.Who has the power to declare war?

2.When was the constitution written?

3.What colors are the stripes on our flag?

4.Where is the White House located?

5.What countries did we fight in WWII? (I was expecting this one since Italy is one of them )

6. I cannot remember this one...if I do I will post it later

Then I was asked to write "I have three children", she requested I write "3" both in word and figure.

She stopped telling me I passed the test, then she asked for the IRS tax transcripts.

Then she went over my N-400 form asking me all the YES/NO questions towards the end. She then asked for my personal info and all to see if I would match what was in the form. Then she updated my trips-outside-the-US list and enquired a bit about a long stay I had in Italy in 2007 (almost 6 months but for a week), she wrote down my explanation telling me they have to justify longer trips, then wrote down that I went to Italy again after I filed for the N-400. That was pretty much it. The last thing I had to do was of course to answer her question about whether or not I wanted to be a US Citizen and sign the form in front of her. That's when she handed me the paper about the ceremony at 3:00 pm today...which is also when my jaws dropped

I probably forgot some details... BTW it sounds longer than it actually was...the whole thing was probably no longer than 15 minutes after I was called inside.

I suppose I was not that lucky with the waiting time for the interview, but I really was blessed to be able to do everything in one day...Baltimore rocks!!

Good luck to everyone who is still waiting, I might post later about the ceremony!

P.S.

For those who are interested, in Baltimore the spouse isn't allowed to be present at the interview.

OMG!!! Churipu!!! I'm so excited for you. You will be a citizen this afternoon!!!

You truly deserve this..after all the wait

Awww... this is such a great news!!

Let me know how it goes this afternoon!!

Tena

It's over!!! I am at the my journey of citizenship of US.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1820975

Thanks for all of your help and supports

Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!!

Tena

It's OVER!!! I'm now a citizen of United States of America.

I enjoyed the ceremony even though it was a little long... and there were a lot of crying children/babies.

There were 129 people receiving the citizenship today at St. Paul ceremony. I got there around 9:30am to check in.. handed the lady my oath letter and green card. The ceremony started at 10:30am. Friends and family members are allow to take as many pictures and they actually were seated right next to our seating areas. Everything was done within 45 minutes..and they just handed out your citizenship cert by your seating number.

That was it.. I'm so glad my N400 has finally completed.

Thanks for all your support and help guys.. I'll be around!!

Good luck to all of you waiting!!

Tena

Hi guys,

I'm so happy and very excited!! The journey is almost over. I can't wait. I am going to actually stopped by the cityhall to apply for the passport right after I receive the citizenship cert.

I'll let you all know all the details about it when I get back.

Tena

Go to Social Security first... then get your passport.... Congratulations.

Social Security???? What for??

Hi guys,

I'm so happy and very excited!! The journey is almost over. I can't wait. I am going to actually stopped by the cityhall to apply for the passport right after I receive the citizenship cert.

I'll let you all know all the details about it when I get back.

Tena

After almost 4 months of waiting (my interview was on Jan 10th) I finally got my Oath Ceremony letter today in mail. So my ceremony is on May 30th at 11:45am in Jerrefson City, MO!

I see the end of the long tunnel already LOL!

Here is my timeline: (wow...shy of 1 year since I sent my N-400 to NSC)

06/27/2007 - Sent N-400 to NSC

07/03/2007 - NSC cashed the check

07/13/2007 - Date on NOA

07/19/2007 - Got NOA in mail

07/23/2007 - Biometric appt. letter in mail

07/30/2007 - Biometric appointment at St. Louis DO

11/09/2007 - Interview letter in mail

01/10/2008 - Interview at Kansas City DO

05/03/2008 - Oath Ceremony letter in mail

05/30/2008 - Oath Ceremony in Jefferson City

Congratulation Lexa!! your journey is almost over My oath is scheduled tomorrow. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Tena

Well my friends, we are almost there, the letter for the Oath ceremony arrived in the mail today, almost one week after we had the citizenship interview, the date my wife has to be there is May 20th @9 am.

We'll let you know how it goes.

K.

Congrats to both of you!!! The journey is almost over

There are 100 questions total and the amount of questions they ask you depends on the person who's doing the interview. They only asked me 3 questions total.

So it`s not like you have a list of "?"s, it`s whatever interviewing officer wants to ask you? What if he/she doesn`t like me and will ask the most difficult ones? here we go again;-)

lol.. you're funny!! No, I don't think it will be because the officer like or dislike you ... All questions should be studied. I bought flash cards from the USCI website, was a bout $10.00. It was very useful. I was asked 6 questions..pretty easy. I thought 6 was standard and if you get them all right.. they normally stop there, but again.. may be I'm wrong. IDK. Just study hard, there are not that difficult IMO. Good luck!! B)

The appointment was scheduled for 1:30 pm, we checked in 15 minutes before (as recommended in the interview letter) and she was given the gray envelope with the passport application form in it, she got called in around 1:40 pm - I stayed in the waiting area with our daughter - she came out an hour later with the Immigration Officer who introduced himself and asked me if I was her husband, then he asked for the name of our child and my ID, after I complied he said: "congratulations, your presence here helped expedite the case, you will be getting a letter in the mail soon". Later on I found out that I could have been with her during the interview (did not know that).

My wife was carrying the Naturalization Interview Results letter in which the officer had checked the following:

You passed the tests of English and U.S. history and government.

USCIS will send you a written decision about your application.

Congratulations! Your application has been recommended for approval. At this time it appears that you have established your eligibility for naturalization. If final approval is granted, you will be notified when and where to report for the Oath Ceremony.

She was asked six (6) questions:

- What do the stars on the flag mean?

- Who is the Vice President of the USA today?

- How many states are there in the Union?

- Who is the head of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government?

- In what month do we vote for the President?

- What is the most important right granted to United States citizens?

She had read: "Who meets in the U.S. Capitol Building?" and write: "They are a happy family"

I think the interview also concentrated on our personal life as she was asked about my birth day, our home phone number, zip code, our marriage date, how did we meet, etc., questions that were asked when we went for our residency appointment, oh well, since there was nothing to hide she answered them correctly.

We are relieved that this "journey" is almost done, thank you very much for your support and for sharing your experiences along the way, it made the trip a whole lot less stressful, now we are on the look out for the Oath Ceremony letter which I believe will take place in the month of June.

.

.

Congrats!! I'm happy for you both. Hopefully she will receive the notice to take oath soon =)

I agree with the previous posters. I have been reading many of your topics you started. Calling the 800# or going into for the info pass won't tell you much info since no one knows how long anything take. My case is almost a year old if you look at my time line. I did the biomestic in October and didn't hear anything from them until March to go to interview. It also depends on file office and your local office. It's a long process and I understand your frustration..but there is nothing else anyone can do to speed up the process.. all we can do is wait.

Stay positive and just "wait" for it to happen.

Good luck!! I just went through the interview last week (4/15) and already got the letter for Oath ceremony. She will be worried (because I was very worried and nervous).. just tell her to stay positive. Plus I think if she gets the first 6 questions right.. they will stop at that. She wouldn't have to do 10 of them. The writing and reading is also very simple. The officer that interview me only went through the application that I sent in to make sure everything was up to date. It's nothing like job interview.

Anyways.. good luck!!!

Tena

Thank you for all the congrats everyone

I'm just so happy and excited that on May 7th... I'll finally be a US citizen!!

I'll be able to vote and go to Europe. My bday is May 5th so this is the BEST bday gift I could ever asked for.

Thanks again for all of your supports.

Tena

Hi my fellows... N400 applicants!!

I'm excited to announce that I **JUST** received the letter for "Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony" in the mail. I can't tell you how happy I am as most of you probably know about what I went through at my interview session.

Anyways~ I just have to share this great news with you all. I'm scheduled for Wednesday May 07, 2008. Its wayyyy faster than what I was told and expected. I guess God is on my side after all!!!

I'll let you know the process of the oath.

Thank you and good luck to all of us

Tena

This is super fast. I just received the Interview Letter yesterday. However I have planned a trip to go back Hong Kong next week because my mother will undergo a surgery. My question is - can I call immigration to postpone my interview one month later because I was told that after filing the n400, we are not suposed to travel abroad. Or do I have to cancel my trip? Please advise..thanks everyone.

It's up to you if you to decide. If it's important for you to be back to HK, then you should go.

However, I can tell you that requesting them to reschedule your interview may delayed your process. You're very lucky to get such a quick respond to your application. You won't be able to decide when you can go in.. they actually will tell you when is the next available date is.

Good luck!!

I got my new interview date today - 19 June, 5.30pm --10 weeks after original date!

Not sure if my letter to them crossed - I think it did. i doubt I'll get a reply though.

I'm not happy, but guess I'll have to just accept more delay and move on, otherwise I'll drive myself insane.

N400 sent to TSC 26 July 07

NOA received 26 November (cheque cashed 19 Nov.)

Finger print appointment (1) 17 December 07 Oklahoma City

Finger print re-take, FBI couldn't read previous version - 22 January 08

Interview letter received 25 February 08

Interview appointment 11 April 08, Oklahoma City - SENT AWAY - Staff illnesses.

Hi annatenna,

I am sorry about what happened to you! I would have been very upset if someone sent me away, but you know.. they are GOV agency so I guess they can do whatever. I still don't think its right for them to put you out another 10 weeks and let those who filed after us July filers interview and get oath taking first. Why do they bother giving us priority date if they are going to place us behinds other people who filed later?

My St. Paul office WASN'T busy at all when I was there. In fact there were only 3 other people interviewing that afternoon. I understand how it feels to have to wait... This N400 process is taking wayyyy too long for all of us. Just hang in there. I don't even know whats going to happen to my case. Good luck for the interview. I hope they will speed up the oath date for you after all the trouble they put you through.

Tena

Tena OMG!!! I'm so sorry. I don't know what to tell you about keeping your mouth shut or not - that is up to you. I will be praying that they can reapprove everything and that you'll have no delays.

Good Luck! Keep up your prayers.

Staashi ~ Thank you so much for your reply and praying for me . I am trying my best to deal with it. It's not that I need to be a naturalized right now.. It's not really going to change anything. I just am sick of the leghty process its taking and I want to vote this Nov.

Thanks for the reply.. I really appreciated.

Tena

Gee Tena I don't know what to say. I feel so sorry about what happened. Probably you did the right thing. Who knows what would have happened if someone up the line had discovered your trip. They may have decided that you purposely filed early and God knows what draconian penalty they might have imposed. We went to Thailand in the winter of '05 - '06 and did not know about the six month rule. I came back early but my wife stayed because her mom was ill. I learned of the rule just a few days before she would have stayed too long, phoned her and told her to get on the first available flight. She was out a total of about 176 days, just under the wire. We are still nervous about it though because we have taken other trips there for 2 or 3 months and it may look as though she does not care about getting citizenship. We're with you in spirit. Let us know when you hear something.

Bob & Mon ~ Thank you for your sympathy I'm glad that Mon doesn't have to go through what I am going through. I am actually felt better now that I actually brought that up to Officer Bass since I am that someone else will have to look at my N400 later on to actually approve it anyway. So.. I am glad that its being handled now than getting the denied later. The way the law and information is written is very confusing and them (the officers that day at St. Paul) don't even know the answer. I am just a little sick of waiting But oh well.. what can a girl do? I was young and stupid to take that trip and not listening to my parents. Anyway, I really appreciate your reply and I will update as soon as I hear something

Tena

Tena I kinda was worried there had been some problems because you didn't post anything in the "wish me luck" thread yesterday:unsure: I am so sorry this happened, but I think telling the truth is always the best thing to do. Your trip was a long time ago so I would think that after further evaluation they will approve your case, although this is causing delays..which sucks considering you filed in JULY last year! Please keep us posted, I am sure things will work out for you.

Churipu~~ thanks for the reply. This citizenship journey is getting wayyyy too long. I want to vote this Nov and I was planning to go to France this coming August..now everything will probably be postponed. I still have faith in the Officer and I am praying that God will be on my side for being honest. I just have to wait and see what happens. It is kinda stupid that I have been here for over 10 years and always have been a good residence. I paid all my taxes and blah blah.. you know!! And I am married to a native born, but since it is not 3 years yet.. I can't applied based on marriage. Dumb huh? But thanks I will let you know as soon as I find out. I wish you luck and I am sure I will be congratulating you when you complete your interview

Tena

Staashi,

Don't be so hard on yourself, I have read that normally another officer goes trough the files after the interview, it is possible that they have find it any way. I wish that this does not afect your process

Lady_K ~ thank you for your reply. I will have to wait and find out. Please keep your figures crossed for me

Tena

Tena OMG!!! I'm so sorry. I don't know what to tell you about keeping your mouth shut or not - that is up to you. I will be praying that they can reapprove everything and that you'll have no delays.

Good Luck! Keep up your prayers.

Staashi ~ Thank you so much for your reply and praying for me . I am trying my best to deal with it. It's not that I need to be a naturize right now.. It's not really going to change anything. I just am sick of the leghty process its taking and I want to vote this Nov.

Thanks for the reply.. I really appreciated.

Tena

Congrats!!!

You both are very lucky not to have to deal with INS anymore. I'm very happy for you!

Best wishes!!

Hi everyone!!! I am back!!! ***warning this is long***

The interview went fine...however there is a little BIT of a problem

I really SHOULD NOT have opened my big mouth!!

So..here how it went.

We arrived at the St. Paul (Bloomington INS) around 1:30pm. My appointment was at 2pm. I had with me all of my taxes docs from the time I became a permanent resident, my marriage cert, passports, and transcript from my college.

I was called into the office around 2:15pm. The office was really nice, her name is office Bass. Right away, she told me that she will go over the N400 that I sent in just to make sure they have everything upto date and that she will ask me 6 questions and if I get them all right.. she will stop there.

I was asked to raise my right hand to swore in to tell the truth Then she began going through everything on my N400. She asked me about the current address, what I currently do, other names used, marriage.. etc. Then a couple more questions about the trip I just took to Mexico and about speeding tickets She told me that I was supposed to list the speedy, parking, etc tickets on there. I didn't know.. so we updated that. Then she asked me to write

"Today is a very sunny day" on the bottom of my N400. Here are the questions I was asked:

1. Who is the current President?

2. Who become the president if both vice president and president die?

3. How many stars are on the flag?

4. Who is the main writer of decoration of dependence?

5. What is national anthem?

6. Who said "Give me liberty or give me death"?

I got them all right.. so we stopped. Then she asked me to read some easy sentence (sorry, I don't recall the sentence)

So she said great everything looks good.. blah blah blah.. Then she handed me the letter of recommendation for approval and said that I will get notice in the mail about Oath. And proceeded to say that it probably takes 2 months but can go up to 6 months. I was so happy and excited. Everything sounds fine right?? Yeah I thought so too.. Until she asked me:

Office Bass: Great.. looks good. Do you have anything to ask me?

Me: Hmm nope.. but so everything is ok? You don't need anything from me about the trip to Viet Nam I took back in 01-02 for 10 moths?

Officer Bass: "Huh? Trip to Viet Nam??" with confusing face "Did you list it on your app?"

Me: "Yep.."

Officer Bass: More confusing face.... "let me see" then she started flipping through my N400 again. "Oh ohhhh"

I thought to myself OMG!!! WTH?? What now??

Officer Bass: I gotta call someone about this

Then she got someone on the phone.. All I heard was.. "yep.. hmm...umm.. Well... hmm" Then she asked me, "Do you have anything to prove that you still were intended to come back or kept your residency?" I was like "NO" I tried so hard to hold it together but I couldn't help but started to cry!!! She missed reading my N400 and the box that I entered 290 days out of the country!!!

She told me that she has to take back the letter she gave me and said that she will have to look at this again this weekend because no one at the office know what's going to happen to my case!!! I have been living here for over 10 years but I went to VN back in 01 for about 10 months.. I waited till I got my 5 years residency back last year and I sent in my N400. Now they don't know that they will approve it since they are not sure if they count the TOTAL DAYS outside the US starting from when I left Dec 25 01 all the way to Oct 22 02 ??

or day to day basis (like I came back in Oct 02 so five years from then to Oct 07, but N400 was received on July 29 07..so how many days I was out.. ) I didn't know what to do or say, but handed her back the letter and gave her my taxes info that I filed when I came back and my college transcript I had that shows I was still taking online classes when I was gone. I don't have anything else since I was living with my parents before I took the trip and we rented an apartment. I know I probably should have kept my mouth shut and should have not question or ask anything.. but I was trying to make sure everything was going to be ok and that no RED flags will show up from that point and trying to be honest.. And if I didn't bring this up.. Officer Bass would have been in a BIG trouble! Well.. thats what she told me. She kept on thanking me for being honest and remind her about this... and that my honesty will only get N400 get through quicker.. of course after EVERYTHING is looked at!!! She could tell that I was really bummed out. She said I will get the letter in the mail to let me know what is going to happen to my case.

So.. thats my story.

1. I passed the test, but I don't know if I will have to wait until October this year or not?

2. I might have to pay the new fee?

3. I might have to reapply and go through this process over again?

Well.. I feel like hanging myself now.. What would have happened if I didn't open my big mouth? Will God be on my side??

Thanks for reading this!! and Congrats to those who went through fine with everything!!

Thanks everyone!!

I'm leaving right now.. I am still so nervous. This is worst than my job interview!!!

I'll be back to let you know the result later this afternoon!!

Tena

Hey guys...

Wish me luck!!! I am going for the interview tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes...

I can't wait to get this done and over with!!

Tena

They wont take your passport or green-card away, you are just using it as a form of identification.

Only time I would think they may take away a green-card would be at the swearing in ceremony when you become a US Citizen, at that point you will have no need for a green-card.

I'm actually more concern about the Passport. I don't mind them taking my GC away cuz yes you're right.. I won't need it when I take oath. I'm just thinking of them taking my passport and shred-it or something. I traveled a lot on my TH passport and would like to keep them.

There are many people who are Dual Citizens, they have Two Passports one from the "old country", and one from the USA, again they wont take your passport away.

Thanks so much. I appreciate your comment