UCT

I filed on 4/7/2022 and interview today.

I have completed my interview and oath today. I found it is very helpful to read other people's experience. So I am here to share mine. To summarize, I have name change in my N-400 application. I want to share how I got same day oath with the name change. When I submit the N-400 application, I stated that I would like to change my name. But I learned from other people's experience, oath day won't be the same day if you would like to change your name. As soon as I received the interview notice, I went to Bellevue district court to change my name. I paid $301 for the name change at court. It was very easy. Just appear in front of judge and answer a few simple questions. It only took 5 minutes for the hearing. I then brought the court order to the interview. My interview was at 9:45. I arrived at 9:18. After passed the security check, there was a line for checking-in. There were about 15 people in front of me. It took 15 mins to check-in. After checked-in I was instructed to go upstairs and wait in the waiting room. There is no sign in the waiting room. The staff would come out and call your number. In the waiting room, there were many people (30~40 people). But I only waited for 3 minute. Staff came out and called my number, then walked me to a cubicle. I can see my wife is right behind me doing her interview (she was called 2 minutes before me, even thought I checked in first). The interview was virtual. The lady who interviewed me was very very nice. She made some jokes when asking the civil test questions. She started with civil test, then went through every question in the N400 application. When she asked my name, I told her I actually went to court and changed my name already. She said that's good because they can't do name change here. And because I had my name changed at court already, I can have same day oath today. My wife's name is changed as well. So I let her know when we got to the session of my wife's name. She was able update all the names without any problem. It only took me 15 minutes to finish the interview. (my wife's interview took ~15 minutes as well). After interview, staffs congratulated me and told me to wait downstairs for the oath ceremony. There was a line in oath ceremony entrance. I gave the staff my green card at the entrance. There were about 50 people in the oath room. The oath was fast, 15 minutes later, I received my certificate of naturalization. Total exactly 1 hour from leave my car to return my car. The next step is to get my passport. For urgent travel (within 14 days), you can call the service center to get your passport faster. The normal passport can take 4-6 weeks (expedited) or 7-10 weeks (normal). I will travel in 2 months. The problem is it takes time to schedule application in the passport acceptance facility (e.g. USPS). You can only make appointment within 4 weeks at USPS but there is no any date available. To get a slot, you would need to make appointment before 6am to book the date just opened 4 weeks later. I counted the date and book the passport appointment before my interview 4 weeks ago. So my application appointment is later this week. Hope this helps. Good luck, everyone.