KaelRos

4 hours ago, Vante said:

Been pretty silent, guess everyone is still waiting like me. 

What’s left for you? 

14 hours ago, Ane21 said:

Great news! I received my interview appointment letter set on May 03 😁. 

Great news! Almost there 🙏🏾

1 hour ago, jordanmic said:

You guys have helped me so much throughout this journey so I wanted to share my timeline as a small thank you:

 

From F1 student to US Citizen via marriage:

 

May 2019: Initial filing (I-485 adjustment of status)

May 2019: Biometrics notice in mail

June 2019: Biometrics done

September 2019: Interview notice

October 2019 (1st week): Work Authorization card received

October 2019 (2nd week): Green Card interview and approval

October 2019 (3rd week): 2 year Green Card received

 

August 2021: Filed for Removal of conditions (I-751)

January 2022: Case updated to show fingerprints are not needed to be retaken

May 2022 (1st week): Removal of conditions approved (no interview)

May 2022 (2nd week): 10 year Green Card received

 

September 2022: Filed for citizenship

February 2023: Interview scheduled

April 2023: N-400 Interview and same day oath ceremony

 

Here is how long it took for each filing:

It took 5 months to get 2-year green card (between filing I-485 and approval)

It took 9 months to get 10-year green card (between filing I-751 and approval)

It took 7 months to get citizenship (between filing I-400 and approval)

In total it took 4 years to go from being on a student visa (F1) to becoming a US Citizen.

 

Notes:

We did not use any lawyers.

We are located in Los Angeles, CA.

 

Tips:

Research, research, research. (VisaJourney, ***removed***, and Reddit's u/uscis were of immense help)

Take as many documents with you as you can, but only show what is asked of you.

Be kind, confident, and honest.

 

That was really fast! Congrats 🎊 

1 hour ago, Joyoussinger said:

I'm so happy for you! Congratulations!

Thank you so much! 

On 3/24/2023 at 4:10 PM, Joyoussinger said:

Some of those are mentioned in the interview letter. Best of luck to you!

Thank you! It went well and it was a video interview. Now the case is on « Oath Ceremony will be scheduled ». The IO didn’t ask anything about all the documents I had with me, only to show her my Green Card. She was really nice. It was almost like having a good conversation with somebody you just met. We talked about the weather, countries, vacation…all while I’m answering all her questions. 

17 hours ago, Joyoussinger said:

I need to amend my comment because it isn't quite accurate. I think that if we were only concerned with the N-400, we would have taken along  some evidence of us living as a married couple, since the three year rule is based on marriage. 

Yes, we’ve decided to bring in addition to what they asked in the interview letter: tax returns, spouse’s birth certificate and US passport, bank statements, health and car insurances, marriage certificate and a copy of my N-400 application. 

51 minutes ago, Joyoussinger said:

The list of required documents is in the interview letter. Beyond that, since your I-751 has been approved, those may be all you need. We took a bunch of stuff with us because we had a pending I-751, Just know the answers to the civics test questions!

Thank you so much! Now I’m relieved to hear that. It was a little confusing between the people who still have I-751 pending and bring a lot of stuff and those who don’t. 

4 minutes ago, Joyoussinger said:

We're home, after a long day. A nice thing happened that I want to share. The IO wanted to see a bank statement from my personal account. We had only sent joint account statements, because my personal account has nothing to do with it, and I was confused. Then, I realized that she must have noticed transfers of money from my account into our joint account and wanted to see the reason for that. She said that normally we would have to go home and email the statement to her, and the oath would have to be scheduled for another day.

Instead, she said that if we could get it to her within 15 minutesl, Neil could take the oath today. We got it to her and Neil is now a citizen!

Congratulations to both of you 🎉
I have my N-400 interview next week but I’m already stressing out 😬

What will you suggest I bring with me that day? 

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

Always, if you file under 3 year rule and especially if you have I-751 pending.

Yes I filed under 3 years rule but didn’t apply right after I became eligible. And I have no I-751 pending, it’s been approved the same day after I started the N-400 application. 

3 hours ago, Spardasa said:

So I was in the parking lot for my wife's N-400 interview, but did not come in. She was approved with no problems, but I was there in case I was requested (for combo interview). 

 

Her 751 hadn't been approved yet at that time as well, but the IO did her interview solely as a N-400.  

Thank you for your response! 

On 2/28/2023 at 10:28 PM, * Kristin * said:

SUCH a proud day! Husband had his interview at the Santa Ana office this morning. Note: there is a lot of construction in the area and some of the roads are pretty torn up right now (they are doing something to the tram tracks, perhaps?). Because of that, the parking lot that is immediately adjacent to the building was not accessible (the road was closed). Nevertheless, there is another parking lot (I think it was called P2) about five minutes' walk away.

 

Appointment time was 9:20 a.m. We got out of the car at 8:40 a.m. and walked over. There was a small queue outside the building. They let one party in at a time to go through the metal detector. Some features in the building are ancient -- for example -- the metal detector won't function properly if the automatic door is open (therefore, if you are queuing outside, you must stand back a little). We queued for probably 12 minutes or so. When going through the metal detectors, the guard said that I (the spouse) wouldn't be allowed in.

 

There are restrooms on the ground floor right when you enter. The interview rooms are on the second floor. The ceremony location is on the third floor.

 

When you enter the interview area, you'll check in at some windows on the far side of the room. The ask for your appointment letter and scan you into the system. Then, you sit down and wait.

 

We got in and situated about 9:05 a.m. There are two individual-stall restrooms within the interview room. Directly outside of the interview room, there are two cash-only vending machines -- one with beverages, one with snacks.

 

As I mentioned before, interview time was 9:20 a.m. 

 

9:20 a.m. comes... and goes. The officers call people from the front of the room, but also the back. So bear that in mind when choosing where to sit. 

 

9:56 a.m., husband gets called in. 

 

Spouses cannot go into the interview, so I went to the vending machine and walked around the hallway, stretching my legs. 

 

16 minutes and 43 seconds later, husband comes out! Success! Wahooooo! 

 

INTERVIEW DETAILS

- The officer asked for his passport, green card and driver, then said he was going to start reviewing his case

- Asked husband to write a sentence on a digital pad (write what I say)

- Then, asked him to read what it said on the pad (he read the sentence allowed)

- After that, the officer asked him the questions. Questions that were asked were:

• What is freedom of religion?
• What stops the government from being too powerful?
• Who is Commander in Chief of the Military?
• Who did the US fight in World War II?
• If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
• Name two US federal holidays. 

After the questions, he asked he was married to me (yes), asked if we had kids (no), how long he lived at our current address, if he'd been outside the US in the past 10 years, if he worked at his current employer, if he had served in the military (US? no? where -- and how long). Asked if he had any outstanding tax balances (no). Asked he had ever voted in an election (no). Asked if he belonged to any domestic or terrorist organizations (no). 

 

All in all -- he said it was very straightforward. The officer was direct (e.g. no pleasantries) and efficient. 

 

I think we were both expecting it to be much more complicated and complex. 

 

The officer did have a big stack of paperwork (my husband's file) in front of him. Not sure if it was his file for just the N-400 or if it was the file that includes everything.

 

After the interview, we (together) went upstairs to the ceremony. There were probably 15 - 18 other people in the room. Handed over your  Green Card... sat down and waited (probably 15 min). Did an oath. Got packet with certificate of naturalization. Informed how to apply for passport, etc. Congratulations! 

 

Wahoooooooo!!!!!

 

Extremely proud! 

Really nice, congrats! And thank you for all the details. 

On 2/23/2023 at 2:29 PM, Crazy Cat said:

I wouldn't put any faith in that estimate.  Dallas office says 15.5 months.  My wife filed N-400 in Aug 2022.  She took the oath and became a citizen only 5 months later. 

Hello, my N-400 interview is at the end of this month. Should I go with my wife? Thank you! 

15 hours ago, hopelifebetter201 said:

my I-751 application was approved on Oct, 10 without an interview. 

Congrats 🍾🎊🎉 

3 hours ago, Carmina06 said:

July 2020 filer here.. Really concerned that my 24-month letter extension is expiring in 2 days and still have no update on my case other than the fingerprints. What do i do if it expires? ;(

I was in the same boat and since I didn’t hear anything from them in 2 years and my 24 months extension letter was going to end, I’ve decided to apply for naturalization on 08/29. The same day, literally 2 or 3 hours after I started my application, I got a notification saying my I751 was approved, they mailed my new card on 08/31 and got it on 09/02.
I’m not saying the same thing is going to happen to all of us but it’s worth the shot. If we are going to wait for that long, we may as well wait for something better like the naturalization. So if you’re eligible, I would say go ahead and to do it and see what happens. Good luck! 
 

9 minutes ago, Imradi said:

Did they do your interview already or was that eventually skipped ?

For the GC or N400? If it’s for the green card I had an interview for my first one but not for the Remove Conditions ( I751) which I think, if I’m not mistaken, there isn’t any interview. For my N400 they skipped the fingerprints and now I’m waiting for the interview which I guess may take awhile. 

10 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

Congrats! Where was your case? YSC?

Thank you! Yes YSC and they just told me my ‘’card was mailed to me’’. Now the wait for naturalization begins. 

On 6/21/2022 at 2:33 PM, JP John said:

Just filed N400 this morning on my first day of the 90 days.  Shows 16.5 months here in Charlotte NC.

Hey there, just today I filed N-400 too and the same day my I-751 has been approved. I also live in Charlotte. 
What is your timeline? 
Thank you! 

On 8/26/2022 at 11:39 AM, Jay5021 said:

@OldUser Thank you so much. I will look into filing the N400 then. Appreciate your help. 

 

@Imradi I believe you have to call and schedule an appointment with them specifically for the I-551 stamp. 

I heard for the stamp you can call your local USCIS. At least that's what the guy at the DMV told me when I asked him what to do after my 24 months extension letter expires and want to renew my driver's licence. 

I'm a July 2020 filler and on August 26th got noticed that my new card is being produced, right after I created my account for N-400 application, the same day. 

26 minutes ago, Ben & Katy said:

My spouse applied for ROC in July 2020 and got an 18 month extension letter.  Last December they sent her a new extension letter for 24 months which expires October 2022.

She applied for N-400 in mid May and got her interview July 1st, 2022.  She passed the citizenship test with flying colors despite difficulties with the English language still.   They had the original submission of the I-751 on the desk during the interview.  Her ROC interview was approved without interview.  She is now in line for the oath ceremony which will probably be this September/October.  We are excited that after 2 years of waiting we are finally at the end of our 

28 minutes ago, Ben & Katy said:

My spouse applied for ROC in July 2020 and got an 18 month extension letter.  Last December they sent her a new extension letter for 24 months which expires October 2022.

She applied for N-400 in mid May and got her interview July 1st, 2022.  She passed the citizenship test with flying colors despite difficulties with the English language still.   They had the original submission of the I-751 on the desk during the interview.  Her ROC interview was approved without interview.  She is now in line for the oath ceremony which will probably be this September/October.  We are excited that after 2 years of waiting we are finally at the end of our journey.

 

Congratulations! Same here, filed in July 2020 but my extension letter expires in September 2022. I didn't file for N-400, something I should have done. Now, I have to travel in August and as soon as I'm back that's the first thing I'm going to do. 

On 2/2/2022 at 7:45 PM, Guido51 said:

anyone still following this?

 

waiting is really depressing 

We are all in this together 

On 12/12/2021 at 11:12 PM, Dzfiction said:

Thanks ! I just don’t understand why is it taking too long to schedule a dam interview??? What’s the hold up really and don’t tell me please because there’s is too many of us too many cases !!!! I don’t get it we pay for everything but the service sucks where is the problem please someone tell me ???! I’m going crazy . How hard can it be to schedule an interview for a straightforward case like ours with all documents and everything??? Really???

I totally understand your frustration! Sorry! 

58 minutes ago, Dzfiction said:

Did you request the 24 month extension yourself? Because I didn’t get anything from them yet !!! Btw I filedI-751 August 2020 got the 18 month extension that’s it!!!

No, I didn't, never even called them to get any updates on my case. Is this unusual? 

Hi everyone! We filed in July 2020 and still waiting for any sign from USCIS. My Green Card expired, of course, but thankfully they sent me the 18 months extension, which is until March 2022. 

However, last week they sent me another extension of 24 months which, in my understanding, adds 6 more months to the first one. 

Since my driver license is also valid until March, according to the first extension, should I let the DMV know I got 6 more months? Or just wait until it's time to renew it? I just don't want to have any problem with them. Thank you! 

On 9/21/2021 at 1:08 PM, Crazy Cat said:

Agree.  Some people mail their packages 2 or 3 days before the window opens....then they worry that the package might arrive early.  Filing a day or two after the window opens is the best policy, imo.

Hey there, I've been eligible to file since June but I haven't done it because I'm still trying to renew my green card. Is it advised against waiting too long to file for N-400? What would be the smart thing to do? Wait for my green card or just go ahead and apply for the citizenship? Thank you!

3 hours ago, Ben & Katy said:

We filed for ROC around mid July 2020 to the Phoenix lockbox.  
extension letter received end of July 2020.

fingerprints taken December 2020.

Dead silence ever since….

next month will be one year we filed ROC.

The original 2 year GC was awarded based on filing through Juarez Mexico consulate October 2018.  Feels odd so many people that filed at the same time or after are already getting their GC’s and we are stuck at not knowing when we get ours.

Filed mine in July. I got the extension letter few weeks later. In August fingerprints have been applied. Nothing since. 

All we can do is wait. My extension letter is valid through 03/22 so is my driver's license. I think I read somewhere here about the possibility of extending the letter. I need to ask about that. 

You're not alone. Good luck! 

2 hours ago, Dachis said:

August 4

Same here, nothing since.