DallasDreamy

@seetsuh Deeply Appreciate the info! However, would you be so kind to confirm that you actually sent the Passport "Card" rather than the Passport "Book"? Pardon my question, but no where in the SSA Form SS-5-FS  (Page 2, Last Paragraph - "Evidence of US Citizenship") do we see that the Passport "Card" could be submitted. If the Passport "Card" is acceptable, this is a great tip!!!  Spending an additional $30 to get the Passport Card and not be worried of SSA's delays (in case an international trip arises in the interim, one could use the Passport Book to travel while the Passport Card is at SSA for the Citizenship Status update.) Hence my question. Anyone else successful in updating their citizenship status at SSA using the Passport "Card". Thanks again!

@seetsuh Deeply Appreciate the info! However, would you be so kind to confirm that you actually sent the Passport "Card" rather than the Passport "Book"? Pardon my question, but no where in the SSA Form SS-5-FS  (Page 2, Last Paragraph - "Evidence of US Citizenship") do we see that the Passport "Card" could be submitted. If the Passport "Card" is acceptable, this is a great tip!!!  Spending an additional $30 to get the Passport Card and not be worried of SSA's delays (in case an international trip arises in the interim, one could use the Passport Book to travel while the Passport Card is at SSA for the Citizenship Status update.) Hence my question. Anyone else successful in updating their citizenship status at SSA using the Passport "Card". Thanks again!

@DC909 - This is very beneficial! Deeply appreciate posting the detailed timeline! 

Final update
 
Finally received my social security card in the mail. I was hoping it would get here before May 11th and it did. I immediately went and applied for a new Real ID DL yesterday as soon as I got the social. 
 
3/31/21 - Documents dropped off at USPS to be mailed to SSA local Victorville, CA office.
4/5/21 - Documents delivered at local Victorville, CA office.
4/12/21 - Called to inquire on my documents and I was told I would get a call back that day.
4/13/21 - Received call back and the rep told me my document still have not been scanned, and that the process will take about a month due to high volume.
4/16/21 - Called to inquire on my documents and I was told that since it has not been 4 weeks since the received my documents, they could not give me an update.
4/21/21 - Called to inquire on my documents and I was told documents still have not been processed. 
4/24/21 - Received my documents back as well as the acceptance letter. 
4/27/21 - Received new Social Security card in the mail.

Great that you both got your passports on the same day and could travel to meet your emergencies. Have a safe trip.
 
I applied via USPS on 12th and opted for the expedited processing. Got an update that it is "In-Process" on the 14th and my check was cashed on the 15th. So I am expecting to receiving it in another two weeks or so, probably by the end of the month or early May.
 
Relieved that the citizenship journey is finally over. Once I get my US passport, I have another small journey left - to renounce my Indian citizenship and apply for a OCI card. 
 

Great to hear that @eddieboo4321@gmai! Congratulations and have a safe trip! Posting this from flight (WiFi slow but glad to have it).

Great to hear that @eddieboo4321@gmai! Congratulations and have a safe trip! Posting this from flight (WiFi slow but glad to have it).

@bzbee and @DallasDreamy, so after my Oath, i went to the Passport Agency on Monday Morning, got my passport in afternoon, they had to ask me to redo my picture which I did but it was not as cool as i wanted to but who cares...now sitting at DFW airport waiting for my flight ✈️..
 
Finally it is done..... 
 
rest of the people good luck to you everyone...

@MagentaLife - Thank you 🙏  ! Just remember you are at the very end of this Marathon! What stressed me out more than anything was the rare possibility of getting a traffic ticket in the last few days just before the ceremony. So just be careful when driving. I have read several anecdotes in other threads here and in other forums of folks getting ticketed in the last few days and not being able to get all the tickets paid and bring the "proof" to the ceremony. In most cases, they managed to get it all resolved but that possibility stressed me out till the Oath Ceremony was over. Wishing you a stress free 14 days... as of today only 13... (take it one day at a time).

Appreciate the wishes and certainly wishing you both the same @bzbee and @eddieboo4321@gmai!  A long arduous journey came to an end for me early this AM!  Here are some details if it is useful to anyone:
 
Per the USCIS Supervisor who administered the Oath, approximately 300 applicants were being naturalized today at the Irving, TX office.
Time Slots: 7:30 AM. 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM and 1:45PM
The Oath Ceremony was held simultaneously by two Supervisors (On the Ground Floor  and 1st Floor). Approximately 20 - 25 per floor.
The Oath Ceremony took about 20 minutes from start to finish (Instructions on verify the Naturalization Certificate, Don't Laminate, Sign Only in Black Ink, Register to Vote, Apply for Passport, and Update Citizenship Status in 14 days - Social Security)
 
Regarding my passport, I have such an amazing info to share. As I had mentioned, I had an URGENT trip planned and ticketed on Tuesday (4/13) and managed to get an appointment at the Dallas Passport Agency at early AM today. (This was such a touch-and-go situation due to trying to schedule the appointment - countless phone calls and kept checking frequently at the https://passportappointment.travel.state.gov/ site). Anyway, reached the Dallas Agency (at 1100 Commerce St) at 9:00 AM and received the passport book and card at 11:00 AM. Whew! Now I can actually breathe after all the stress!  (Well... after the journey, some of the other items may need to be done - Updating Citizenship Status at SS, Updating Global Entry with Citizenship Status, Registering to Vote etc)
 
I want to take a minute to thank so many of you here at VJ for your encouragement, valuable tips and thoughts!  @bzbee @eddieboo4321@gmai @MagentaLife @ImmiGeek - Special thanks to each of you!
 

Congratulations 🍾🎊🎈! 14 days to go for me! Can’t wait. 

Glad to find your safe journey and maneuver of those exciting situations(such as fixed trip, needing an urgent passport etc). Glad that we are helping one other. Thanks for the detailed post. Please make sure that you clearly understand and execute all the required things to be done POST-Naturalization (It will be a good idea to give a reading of my notes in my signature).
Dont rush for SSA updates, first check if you really need it or not. If required, just use passport card and the covering letter(  A sample is given in my notes) . That way you dont lose your very valuable Naturalization certificate and passport book. Remember, Now its time for you to SAVE your naturalization certificate in  a SAFE, once you receive it from DOS(Dept of State), you will NEVER get a need to use this ORIGINAL Naturalization Certificate further(Hope you got the CERTIFIED Naturalization certificate copies from USCIS after Oath, if not read my notes for more details).
Also thanks for detailing the QUICK passport (with in hours) process that you are able to work it out. Can you add details such as Did you walk-in to each of the post office to try without an appointment? How did they accept URGENT passport request? Do you need to show any proofs such as your flight tickets etc? Any additional cost? If I get these details, I will update my notes for those who needs an urgent passport. 
Again, take time, be careful in doing next steps. Dont rush. Good luck.

@eddieboo4321@gmai and @DallasDreamy the day is finally here , so excited. Our journey is finally reaching the goal.
You guys have your ceremony in the morning and will become citizens a couple of hours before me (mine is late in the afternoon).
 
Congratulations!! Celebrate well and be a model citizen.
 

Went and got my photo taken for the passport yesterday. Not happy with how it came out, will go and get another one today. Gotta look good on my US passport 

First post for me, but I have been following this very useful Dallas thread for a few weeks now. I wanted to share my timeline. 
 
March '20 - N-400 application sent in online
Then it was a long waiting game with no movement in my application till January '21
Jan '21 - New Biometrics done 
Jan '21 - 'We scheduled an interview'
March '21 - Interview Approved and same day Oath in Irving!!
March 31 '21- passport book and card received (did expedited)
 
The next step is to update my SS. I called the SS office at the Dallas location but no one answers. I'm hoping it will automatically update in next few weeks, without me sending in any documents. Any input will be appreciated.   
 
Thank you all and good luck! A lot of patience is required, but I think all of us will get there!
 
 
 

345,600 seconds or so ... counting every second 😎

345,600 seconds or so ... counting every second 😎

@bzbee & @DallasDreamy
 
4  More days to go ....... 🥳 

congrats..

@bzbee and @eddieboo4321@gmai - 9 More days and counting!

T - 9 Days 😎 @bzbee & @DallasDreamy

@bzbee and @eddieboo4321@gmai - 9 More days and counting!

Congratulations to you both 👏
 
Looks like Dallas is catching up on the backlog, that's wonderful!!
 
Yes, book an appointment online with USPS - https://tools.usps.com/rcas.htm
 
Don't need documents to book an appointment, its free to book and you can change/cancel it at any time. Dallas area post offices have about a month long wait list for passport appointments, so I suggest you book
yours right now.
 
Another place you can apply at is the County Clerk. Usually a walk-in, no appointment needed, but you might have to wait a bit for your turn depending on how long the line is.
Check your nearest facilities (both County Clerks & USPS) here - https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/
 
Good luck.
 

@MagentaLife - You should start looking for an appointment at USPS using the USPS Scheduler. Appointments quickly fill up so you may want to widen your search area.  To schedule the appointment (proactively) say on April 26th (Oath Ceremony Day - Afternoon) or later, nothing is needed other than an email address and a phone number. I would also recommend going to the US Department of State and fill out the DS-11 Form using the "Form Filler". This allows you to fill out the form and download it in a PDF format for you to print and take to the USPS. Obviously you will need your Certificate of Naturalization + a Photocopy of it, Passport Photo (You can get it at any USPS that has photo facilities, or CVS). The Fees/Payment can be made by Personal Check or Money Order. You will need two checks or money orders (One for the Department of State  - Application Fees and another to the Postmaster - Execution Fees). 
Decision Points that you may want to think over:
1. Passport Book only or Passport Book + Passport Card (Personal opinion - Apply for both) -  @seetsuh and  @MrKo point out that the Passport "Card" can be utilized to update your Citizenship Status with SSA instead of sending in your NC 
2. Routine Service or Expedited Service ( Fees obviously differ) - Personally I plan of Expedited Service
3. Regular Book or Large Book (Same form factor and cost but obviously the Large Book has more pages) - Personally I will be applying for the Large Book as it will be of use my frequent business related trips.
4. Standard Delivery or 1- 2 Day Delivery - Personally I plan on the 1 - 2 Delivery
 
Also take a look at an excellent resource by @ImmiGeek - Section 3.3 After Receiving your Naturalization Certificate.

The Passport Card and Passport Book proofs both Identity and proof of US citizenship, you only need one or the other when mailing off your application if you do not want to send in your certificate. I would suggest getting the Passport Card and use that to update your SSN.