Vasto_Lorde

On 4/21/2021 at 8:57 AM, JFH said:

Excellent! I'll be interested to know what condition your certificate of naturalization is in when it is returned to you. I have heard recently of people receiving them with staple holes, folds, damage, creases, etc in them. 

I got my naturalization certificate back and it was in good shape. i did not see any obvious damage or holes.

On 4/12/2021 at 11:01 AM, Vasto_Lorde said:

I applied for a US passport and passport card after I got naturalized on 03/17/21. I paid for expedited service.

 

State Dept Received Application: 03/25

Current Status: In Process

 

My passport arrived today. Still waiting on my passport card, which will come separately.

22 hours ago, JFH said:

Excellent news! This was expedited service, right?

Yep! I paid for expedited service.

Just got an email indicating my passport card and passport book are on the way as of 4/16/21

I applied for a US passport and passport card after I got naturalized on 03/17/21. I paid for expedited service.

State Dept Received Application: 03/25

Current Status: In Process

7 minutes ago, JFH said:

Home and done!

 

I had a same-day oath so I am now a USC. 
 

Good luck to everyone else still waiting.

I have been waiting for this all day. I am so happy for you and your family, this is a huge burden lifted off you. Congrats!

@JFH - I wish you the very best with your interview tomorrow. I am rotting for you 100% (except if you're a Tottenham Spurs fan)

17 hours ago, ayshak said:

Congratulations
What is the address of the bellevue office? 

@ayshak - 12224 Ne Bel Red Rd, Bellevue, WA 98005

2 hours ago, nikgon said:

But that's the same link on which, according to Shivoham, the forms are obsolete. The form itself says "EXPIRATION DATE: 3-31-2021" (whatever that means), so I'm curious what happened there where the OP claimed somehow they got an obsolete form.

That's the form I submitted yesterday with no problem whatsoever.

34 minutes ago, nikgon said:

Does anyone know if those new forms are posted somewhere?

 

Also, can we fill in forms digitally and then print out? (You mentioned black vs blue ink, I'm wondering if it's ok at all to print them out after filling in digitally.)

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/forms.html

Use the DS-11 form filler then save and print out that PDF and take it with you to the passport office.

21 minutes ago, JFH said:

Oh heck! I looked terrible that day. I rushed there from work and my hair had been blowing in the wind as I drove there with the car windows down. 

Oh, I feel you. I looked like ####### that day. I made sure the picture for my passport and passport card looked much better.

31 minutes ago, JFH said:

For those who have recently had their interviews, which photo did they put on your certificate of Naturalisation? The one from the biometrics appointment or did they take your picture again at the interview? 

Yup! it was the picture of me from my biometrics appointment

Just got home so sharing this recap of my experience from earlier today.

Interview Process

My interview was scheduled for 12:15PM so I got to the front door of the USCIS building at 12 noon. Showed the security team the notice letter USCIS sent me for the interview and then you go through their security screening. The next stage is the intake process during which they take your temperature, review your notice and then give you a ticket with a number that will be called when it's your turn to be interviewed. They ask you to go upstairs to wait to be called. Note that there are two wings you can choose to be seated in. There are at least 4 areas your number can be called from so pay attention. After I was called to the back, the office swore me in and proceeded with the civics questions, English comprehension, and writing test. I completed all that and then she went through the yes/no portion of my N-400. Made a few minor updates and after all righteousness was fulfilled, she administered the oath. Afterwards, she asked me to wait outside for 30 minutes to get my naturalization form. It probably took 10 minutes for the form to come out and that was it. From the time I walked in to the time I exited the building was an hour and 15 minutes total. The office did not ask for any of the documents I brought nor did she give me a hard time. I pretty much only spoke up when I was spoken to. 

Passport Application

After I got done with USCIS, I drove straight to the Bellevue Passport office on Bel-Red to apply for both a passport and passport card. I did not have an appointment so I had to wait a bit for the people who had appointments to be seen. I probably waited between 30 to 45 minutes. I had already completed and printed a copy of the passport application form found on the State Department website and the gentleman at the passport office took my photograph for $15. I paid for expedited processing and to require a signature when USPS delivers it to my house. Cost me about $265.

Conclusion

It feels great to be done with USCIS so that's awesome. I don't know about any of you here but I have been in the US for 20 years and to finally get the thing I have been chasing for such a long time has me feeling a bit odd. It's like you anticipate a thing for so long and then you get it and afterwards, you're not quite sure what to do with yourself. I think that's where I am mentally at the moment. I am thrilled and happy but there's still that *thing* in my mind. Finally, if someone is driving you to the USCIS building, I recommend not paying to park there. If you go down on Marginal way for like 5 minutes, there's a Starbucks with lots of open and free parking that the person who drove you can just go hang out and wait for you until you're done. For the remainder of you about to go through the process, I wish you the best. I am rooting for all of you. Cheers!

2 minutes ago, murph32 said:

Just wanted to give everyone an update as I just got home from my naturalization interview. I passed, and re: the name change, at the start of my interview the officer asked if I had any documents to give her to scan into the system that hadn't yet been given to USCIS, so I gave her my name change order then and she updated it in the system then and there and showed me the updated entry to make sure it was correct. Then she just asked me the civics questions and confirmed my name, date of birth, what was on my list of aliases, what my job was, and if I had taken any new trips since I filed the N-400, then just went over part 12 of the form with me. She administered the oath then and there and after everything was done, showed me back to the waiting area where I waited about 20 minutes for my naturalization certificate/packet. It was a lot quicker and more laid back than I expected, from arriving to leaving the building took in total about an hour. Next up is to see if I can get a USPS passport appointment - I've been checking the website on and off and haven't been able to see a single slot yet.

Congratulations!

20 hours ago, rowrowrowtheboat said:

Yes, they do same day oath of allegiance. I did my naturalization interview today. I waited in the lobby for about one hour before I was called inside. The IO conducted civics test first, followed by reading and writing. Then he went through my N-400, including every question of Part 12, nothing picky, all normal questions found on N-400. Then I took the oath. The whole process took about 30 minutes. I waited another 30 minutes to get my certificate of naturalization. The IO was very nice. The whole interview process was very smooth. I saw 5-6 candidates in the lobby today, and they all passed. The problem of Seattle is that you have to wait a long time before your interview is scheduled. But the interview part is very smooth and nice for most people that I read of. So you just need a little more patience to be scheduled. This forum has been a very positive spiritual support for me. I am very grateful to this forum. Good luck to everyone. 

Thanks for the update!

5 hours ago, Shivoham said:

these status messages don't matter at all. My interview is on mar 15, yet the estimated completion date shown to me is in 2022. Go by what we have in our great tracker. 

Please do share back with us whether the oath of allegiance was administered the same day as your interview.

5 minutes ago, Love_Victoria said:

Our's was employment based too but I was asked for the marriage certificate. No harm is carrying it.

Makes sense

Question for people who filed their N400 based on GC you obtained via your job, what documents are you taking for your naturalization interview? Here's what I am gathering to take but don't know what I'm missing:

- Interview notification letter

- Tax transcripts from 2014-2019

- Passport

- Green Card

- Selective Service document

- My resume

What else? I was wondering if I needed my marriage certificate but not sure if needed since my application is not tied to marriage.

1 hour ago, SHV said:

Update: my interview in Seattle was 24 Feb. I just got a notice today (5 March) for an oath ceremony 25 of March. 

 

Does anyone know how long the oath ceremony is now given COVID, and what COVID precautions they are taking for in person oath ceremonies?

I do not know the answer to your question but I must admit I am surprised by your situation because I was told by a colleague that he had his oath administered the same day of his interview.

56 minutes ago, Shivoham said:

How are people in King county finding the appointments for US passport? I am checking all locations in king county, none seem to have even a single date until april end, and it doesn't even give an option to book further in May. 

 

I stalked the USPS Scheduling page and got some something for the last week of March.

I spoke to someone at my job who had their interview today and he told me that Seattle is still doing same day oath ceremonies.

I was able to snag an interview appointment at USPS in Redmond on the 26th of March.

3 hours ago, JFH said:

I’m in Grays Harbor County. Plenty of slots here at our local post office. 

Good for you. There's nothing available within 40 miles of my zip code.

1 hour ago, JFH said:

Thank you! That’s very helpful. I have my interview on March 22 and have already booked my passport interview for the next morning. We are hoping to travel for our wedding anniversary in September so your timeline for the passport is very helpful. 

Where did you book your passport interview? I can't get any open slots at the Bellevue Bel Red USPS office.

1 hour ago, JFH said:

FINALLY!!! My status has changed to “interview scheduled”! No document displayed yet. It must have only changed in the last 20 minutes as I have been checking constantly all day. I imagine I will have the appointment letter on the online portal tomorrow. 

Yay! So happy to hear this. Congratulations. Fantastic news, you must be chuffed to bits over this news.