DavetheScot

Well the journey is over. Traveled to Atlanta the day before and stayed at one of the many hotels next door to the USCIS Center for a 7.15am interview. Went through an airport type entry system then booked in at reception and was told to go to the 2nd floor to wait for my Interviewing Officer (IO). I was called by my Korean, I think, IO at around 8am and was relieved of my appointment slip. He took me to his office, asked for my drivers license, green card and passport then he got me to raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth; he then asked me what the truth meant to which I replied that it meant that I would not lie. He then went through my N-400 for accuracy, asking various questions in each section like, when did you arrive in the US, when did you get married, what are the names of your children, are they here with you, what is your wife's name, how did you meet her, what was the last date you entered the US, etc, etc. When I told him I did not remember the exact date I re-entered the US and that it was already documented in the N-400, he insisted that I tell him so that he could verify what I had written - basically know your dates and entries from the N-400 because they will check what you had written. I then was asked the civics questions, I got the first 6 correct so he stopped there, he got me to read a statement in English the write a sentence in English. Then he went out to the waiting room and brought my wife into his office and asked her a number of questions that he had already asked me. Once he had done this he advised me that he was approving my citizenship and taped my green card to my file. He then asked me how long it had taken for me to get to Atlanta from my home town. I told him that it had taken over 5 1/2 hours the previous day - he then checked the time to drive the route using Mapquest on his computer and said that I should have been able to do it in 4 hours . Nevertheless, because I was over 4 hours from Atlanta, he advised me that he was scheduling me for the same day oath ceremony that would be held at 1pm . I was instructed to go back into the waiting room and wait for one of the administrators to call my name to confirm the appointment before we were allowed to leave the building for lunch. The hardest part of the interview was understanding the IO's English! We left the building at around 10am and visited the local mall and had lunch, returning to the USCIS, going through the airport style security point again, for 1pm. My wife was then told that she would need to wait on the 3rd floor with all other relatives and that they would be called forward at the time of the ceremony. Then it was the waiting game. At around 1.45 we were led into the ceremony room, about 125 of us, and waited again. We were then filed in front of 2 administrators to check that the spelling and dates on our naturalization certificates were correct and then handed a seat number to go to, on which there was a flag and a USCIS envelope containing a passport application, the oath of alliegance, the national anthem and a couple of "welcome" papers. After the relatives were called down, the ceremony began, albeit with a number of technical hitches with the video projectors. We were shown a film of the US showing loads of different lifestyles and scenery then we were told to stand and raise our right hand. We were then sworn in as US citizens . Much applaud followed. We were then shown a video of the President addressing us as new citizens and finally swore alliegance to the flag. We then collected our certificates and took lots of pictures. Unfortunately, because the ceremony slipped in time, I did not get a chance to visit the passport office in Atlanta so I will need to submit my application through the local post office. Well that's it folks - best of luck to those that still have to go through these final steps - it's worth it!!

PASSED!!! So excited!!

I had my citizenship interview in Atlanta, GA today... PASSED I missed the same day oath by about 5/10 mins but hey, I still passed! My appointment was at 12:45 and they saw me about 25 mins late. My interview lasted about 30 mins, but the interviewer was just slow and methodical. He was very nice and mainly nagged me about my out of state ID.

All in all very simple and easy

Congratulations on passing your interview. I am scheduled for mine, also in Atlants GA, on December 3 at 07:15. Did they offer the same day oath or did you find out about it after the fact? I would obviously be excited if I could take it the same day to prevent another overnight stay and a day's travelling each way. Did you ask for the oath at the interview, before or after it, or did they just tell you that you were too late? Sorry for all the questions but I would like guidance on when to bring up the topic or if they do.

Actually yes, his says the same. I was trying to recall it by my memory, obviously that didn't work well - ha. Keith actually read it to me last night and I didn't read it myself until now. But I didn't think I was "necessary" but I will try to go in anyhow since you say your hubby has and you have seen others who have.

Hi, I am due to have my interview in Atlanta at 07:15 on December 3 but am unable to find out if the same day oath ceremony is currently available or under what circumstances. I notice from your timeline that you did get the same day interview - is this common or because you traveled from Mobile? I have a four hour car journey to Atlanta and therefore need to stay there the night before the interview due to the early appointment; I was hoping I could take the oath the same day to prevent having to do the trip all over again some weeks later.

Did you find out about the same day oath ceremony that day or beforehand? Any info would be appreciated.

Are the time lines on USCIS from the date they receive you application? and if you are transfered how do you find out the processing time for AOS then.. I was transfered to CSC and can only find employment based information...grr.. although by my impressions from reading on here it is usually "loosely based" a good thing to be transfered.

Thanks to all.

The current processing date for marriage/family based AOS transferred to the CSC (supposedly to speed up the application process) is June 18, 2007. I was told this during a phone call to them this morning when I was enquiring about my AOS that has a receipt date of June 15, 2007. Even although they report that they are working on a date later than my receipt date they advise they still can't process an enquiry. So the morale of the story is it dosen't really matter when they are processing you still can't find out when you will receive your paperwork and they continue to post that dratted 6 months period on the USCIS website (even although it is incorrect and there is no way anyone can get it to reflect the correct situation).

Best wishes on your travels through this maze of the USCIS non information.

Dave

Congratulations :thumbs:

Congratulations and thanks for the update on the interview - i'm sure it will put a lot of people still waiting on theirs at ease. :thumbs:

Congratulations :thumbs:

Well, my ghast is flabbered! Despite USCIS advising me yesterday by e-mail that they had written to me with a letter of approval, my EAD arrived today dated August 28. Yipppeeee!

Strange how inconsistent the USCIS is in the text provided to applicants? Well that appears to have been true in all sorts of communication (or not) provided on any subject.

Now I continue to wait on the AOS form the black hole of the CSC.

Timlines to date:

K-1 Visa

Consulate : London, United Kingdom

I-129F Sent : 2006-10-10

I-129F RFE(s) : 2007-01-19

RFE Reply(s) : 2007-02-07

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-02-20

NVC Left : 2007-03-01

Consulate Received : 2007-03-02

Packet 3 Received : 2007-03-08

Packet 3 Sent : 2007-03-13

Packet 4 Received : 2007-05-27

Interview Date : 2007-05-18 Submit Review

Visa Received : 2007-08-23

US Entry : 2007-05-25

Marriage : 2007-07-04

Port of Entry

Port of Entry : Dallas Fort Worth

POE Date : 2007-05-25

EAD Stamp : Asked for one but they would not provide

Biometrics Taken : Yes

Employment Authorization Document

CIS Office : Chicago National Office

Filing Method : Mail

Filing Instance : First

Date Filed : 2007-07-06

NOA Date : 2007-07-13

Bio. Appt. : 2007-07-31

Approved Date : 2007-08-28

Date Card Received : 2007-08-31

Comments : Originally advised by e-mail that the EAD had been approved August 30 - on receipt I find that it was approved August 28?

Adjustment of Status

CIS Office : Atlanta GA (then transferred to CSC)

Date Filed : 2007-06-08

NOA Date : 2007-06-15

RFE(s) : None so far

Bio. Appt. : 2007-07-11

Sorry for not including my timeline - only recently found this forum. Hopefully this will be fixed now with this post as I completed the timeline section this morning. Not sure how to add touches to the timeline though - didn't see any applicable part in the template. However, my EAD was never touched after my biometrics - first notice I saw were the two e-mails telling me it had been approved. My AOS was touched on Aug 15, 20 & 21 at the CSC (it was transferred there from the Nattional Benefits Center on July 20).

Dave

I received two e-mails today advising that my EAD has been approved,

Application Type: I765, APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On August 30, 2007, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I765 APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

Will I get another e-mail/letter telling me that a card has been ordered or does this letter automatically mean that the card has been ordered? If so what is a typical lead time for receipt of card from approval using the National Customer Service Center in Missouri?