LI Filer

So, I'm a citizen! I attended my ceremony yesterday at Federal Plaza (Brooklyn office - Floor 8 ). It was a 10am start and we were out of the building by around 11:30am. Big shout out to the security staff at the front of the building, who were as ever sparkling in their insolent effrontery and rudeness. I assume it must be in their training that if someone doesn't speak English too well, screaming what you are trying to say to them louder and louder directly in their face will help them to understand what you mean. Never having to deal with these goons again was a large motivation for applying for citizenship to be honest, and I am glad to see the back of them.
 
The ceremony experience was all very straightforward, and somewhat anti-climactic to be honest. The ceremony was basically conducted in a waiting room. If you've been to the USCIS office at Federal Plaza before and waited in a hall with a ticket in your hand watching the TV screens to announce your number, then it's basically that room. There were no videos to watch, no speeches were given, no anthem was played, there wasn't even a US flag in sight. I felt overdressed in trousers, shirt and tie, as most people were dressed very casually. There were probably between 50 and 75 other people there, and interestingly it appeared that they were doing same day interview/oath ceremonies for some people in attendance, although they were taken to another room for their oath and were not involved in our ceremony beyond having their documents checked in the main room.
 
The process went something like this:
Everyone had line up to have their form checked, confirm a few questions about anything that had occurred since their interview, and hand in their Green Card (they also took my EAD/AP card but they didn't seem to bothered about those). They then had you check your naturalization certificate for any errors. If there was an error they would correct it on the spot at no cost for you, but if you left without requesting the change then you were on the hook for the full cost of a replacement at a later date. They took the certificate back once I had confirmed all the details, and they handed me two envelopes - one was a welcome letter from the President, the other contained information about what to do next as a US Citizen, a passport application form, and a copy of the constitution. They also gave me a small American flag. After you had been up to the window to do the above you were told to sit back down again. It took a while to check everyone in, but we were allowed to use phones or read a book so the time passed pretty quickly. Once everyone was checked in, an officer stood at the front, read the oath for us to recite, then told us to sit back down again. Officer said she had information available if we wanted it about applying for jobs at USCIS now that we were citizens, which got a few wry laughs from the crowd. She then called us up one by one to the window to collect our certificates and we were free to go. If anyone has any questions about the day feel free to ask. Before the event, I was mainly curious about what people would wear, and if they would allow family in to see the ceremony, and the answers to those questions were 1) wear pretty much whatever you like and 2) yes, my wife was allowed in no questions asked at all. I was also interested in the actual process of the ceremony, but now I realize there was very little to wonder about. It was all very straightforward and easy to navigate, but it had all the excitement and romance of the easiest trip to the DMV you've ever had. I'm over the moon to be at the end of this process, and can now fully embrace life in the US, but it would have been nice to have experienced a little bit of pageantry and occasion while taking the final step. That might just be the British person in me talking though. We love a drawn out ceremony.
 
The rest of the day was lovely though, my wife and I had lunch, and then wandered around Manhattan in the sleet and snow. Our wedding day was beset by awful weather so it felt like completing the circle for the naturalization day to bring more of the same. I think it'll take a few days to sink in that we are done with all the admin and fees and intrusion, but already it feels great to know that life here will now be much more straightforward, and that I can now become fully involved in all the rights and responsibilities that come with being a citizen.
 
Thanks to anyone who has offered help and guidance over the years, it's genuinely appreciated. Good luck all.
 
 

I had my oath ceremony at the Federal courthouse in Central Islip, NY on Friday, 3/10 (just over four months from my initial online application), which was scheduled for 9am.
 
Arrived into the spacious parking lot at 8:20am, and was allowed into the courthouse. Virtually no one on line to pass through security, so it took less than 3 minutes, though you not only have to turn off your phone, you also need to surrender your phone for them to hold onto until you exit later on with a claim ticket (I say ticket but it was actually a small block of wood with a number on it).
 
Led upstairs into one of the courtrooms, and they seated the oath takers in the order which they arrived into the courtroom. Each chair had two letter-sized envelopes...one letter from the President, and another packet with the oath printed and voting information. Families had to wait downstairs, until the actual oath was taken. Most of the folks were dressed professionally...most were business casual, about 5-6 men in full suits and ties (I wore a full suit and button up shirt but no tie), with a handful of people very casual in jeans and sweaters and sneakers. 
 
My own rough count showed around 120 applicants or so, and around 9am, they started lining up folks by one clerk (around 10 folks at a time), and taking everyone's green card and asking them some basic questions on the oath ceremony letter (have you traveled outside of the US, have you had any trouble with the police, etc.). Then they had you get into two separate lines with two different clerks to check the actual naturalization certificate for errors, made you sign in, and it was also where they handed you the certified name change form. The process was organized, if a bit slow. With approximately 120 applicants to process this way, it took almost 2 hours to get through. Surprisingly, about 7-8 people were no-shows, for whatever reason. 
 
Finally, about 15 minutes before 11am, the families were allowed into the courtroom, the judge was finally called, and he administered the oath and made a very short speech. This lasted not more than 5 minutes, and that was that. The judge left, and no videos were shown or anything. And then the clerks called out each name one-by-one, and you were handed your naturalization certificate, at which point you could leave.
 
Walking out of the courthouse, it was exactly around 11am, so I was there for two hours total, with the vast majority of that time just waiting. Without a phone or anything else to do, you just sit and wait (and count, lol) and people watch. I'd suggest taking some reading material if you get bored easily. 
 
I had made a passport appointment for my local USPS office at 1pm, so the timing worked out perfectly. At the courthouse itself, there was no place to apply for a passport, though inside the courtroom, they were registering people to vote. That concludes my citizenship journey, and again, I was surprised at the speed of the entire process. All that's left to do is wait for my passport (expedited), and I'll be done done. Thanks all for your experiences and advice. Below is my updated and final timeline:
 
Online application: 11/4/2022
Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022
Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY)
Interview: 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY (Long Island) office
Approved: We recommended approval; submitted for quality review: 1/31/2023 (status updated immediately after interview)
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled: 1/31/2023
Oath Ceremony Has Been Scheduled Notice: 2/8/2023
Oath Ceremony Scheduled at Central Islip: 3/10/2023
Oath Ceremony Took Place & Received Naturalization Certificate at Central Islip Federal Courthouse: 3/10/2023

I had my oath ceremony at the Federal courthouse in Central Islip, NY on Friday, 3/10 (just over four months from my initial online application), which was scheduled for 9am.
 
Arrived into the spacious parking lot at 8:20am, and was allowed into the courthouse. Virtually no one on line to pass through security, so it took less than 3 minutes, though you not only have to turn off your phone, you also need to surrender your phone for them to hold onto until you exit later on with a claim ticket (I say ticket but it was actually a small block of wood with a number on it).
 
Led upstairs into one of the courtrooms, and they seated the oath takers in the order which they arrived into the courtroom. Each chair had two letter-sized envelopes...one letter from the President, and another packet with the oath printed and voting information. Families had to wait downstairs, until the actual oath was taken. Most of the folks were dressed professionally...most were business casual, about 5-6 men in full suits and ties (I wore a full suit and button up shirt but no tie), with a handful of people very casual in jeans and sweaters and sneakers. 
 
My own rough count showed around 120 applicants or so, and around 9am, they started lining up folks by one clerk (around 10 folks at a time), and taking everyone's green card and asking them some basic questions on the oath ceremony letter (have you traveled outside of the US, have you had any trouble with the police, etc.). Then they had you get into two separate lines with two different clerks to check the actual naturalization certificate for errors, made you sign in, and it was also where they handed you the certified name change form. The process was organized, if a bit slow. With approximately 120 applicants to process this way, it took almost 2 hours to get through. Surprisingly, about 7-8 people were no-shows, for whatever reason. 
 
Finally, about 15 minutes before 11am, the families were allowed into the courtroom, the judge was finally called, and he administered the oath and made a very short speech. This lasted not more than 5 minutes, and that was that. The judge left, and no videos were shown or anything. And then the clerks called out each name one-by-one, and you were handed your naturalization certificate, at which point you could leave.
 
Walking out of the courthouse, it was exactly around 11am, so I was there for two hours total, with the vast majority of that time just waiting. Without a phone or anything else to do, you just sit and wait (and count, lol) and people watch. I'd suggest taking some reading material if you get bored easily. 
 
I had made a passport appointment for my local USPS office at 1pm, so the timing worked out perfectly. At the courthouse itself, there was no place to apply for a passport, though inside the courtroom, they were registering people to vote. That concludes my citizenship journey, and again, I was surprised at the speed of the entire process. All that's left to do is wait for my passport (expedited), and I'll be done done. Thanks all for your experiences and advice. Below is my updated and final timeline:
 
Online application: 11/4/2022
Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022
Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY)
Interview: 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY (Long Island) office
Approved: We recommended approval; submitted for quality review: 1/31/2023 (status updated immediately after interview)
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled: 1/31/2023
Oath Ceremony Has Been Scheduled Notice: 2/8/2023
Oath Ceremony Scheduled at Central Islip: 3/10/2023
Oath Ceremony Took Place & Received Naturalization Certificate at Central Islip Federal Courthouse: 3/10/2023

Applied on 5/Nov/2022
Got notice on 17/Jan/2023
Interview and oath ceremony on 7/March/2023
City: Seattle
 
My wife, my minor kid & I became citizens on 7/March/2023. Here are some of my experience worth sharing,
 
1. I read in the forums we assemble outside the building 15 minutes before our scheduled time. But my experience was different. We showed our interview letters 15 minutes before my scheduled time and we all were let in. My wife 30 minutes after my appointment was also allowed to go in.
2. I was given a numbered appointment chit immediately. But my wife had to wait for a few minutes to get one. But Biometrics for both of us were done together right after we checked in.
3. My advice: Even if your interview (& your family members interview) are scheduled apart, go together. There is high likeliness that you all get in together. Also from my experience, getting in even 30 minutes earlier was a possibility. In fact the guy who checked-in us into the interview line suggested the same view.
4. We all would go to the first floor for interview. If you take the stairs, it ends in first floor. The waiting area there  is for citizenship interviewees. Interviewers come from one of the many locked doors either escorting interviewees with whom they just had a chat with or calling out the number from chit. They will escort you inside to their room.
5. There was a tablet to read and write. Stylus pen was provided to write a sentence.
6. Once done, a printout paper mentioning I passed, was provided. Then you come out into the waiting area. I preferred to wait for my wife to complete her interview so that we all could go for oath together. That took another 45 minutes or so. We went down to the auditorium for taking oath. It was 1:30ish by then. 
7. Green card for adults were no longer required and taken away. My kid's green card was left alone for us to submit during passport application as a proof of legal residence. Both of us got a package each. There was a passport application, instruction on how to register to vote, message from the US President, a flag and few other brochures. We were told the oath ceremony will start at the top of the hour.
8. Roughly less than 100 people were in the auditorium. Relatives & friends were also allowed. Only Oath takers stood up and repeated the oath loud as the officer articulated it. 
9. Then a message from the President was played. Then citizenship certificate was handed over by the officer. 
10. People took pictures at the dais. 
 
We wish all applicants all the best. Thanks.

Hello!
 
I recently posted last month to share my N400 Interview Experience, so thought I'd follow up now that I've gotten my Oath Ceremony out of the way and am officially a US citizen!
 
Main points to note
 
Guests - we were permitted to attend, however, from what I could see I would advise against it - the guests were told to sit at the back of the room and there wasn't a great view of the ceremony from that area Additionally, the ceremony lasted all of 10 minutes yet took nearly an hour for everyone to be checked-in and seated - for that reason alone it doesn't seem worthwhile to bring them, but totally understand some people were fine with this and just wanted their loved ones in attendance Oath Ceremony Questionnaire - I completed and signed this prior to the event. There has been questions about needing to do it in front of a USCIS officer, but from what I could see they had everyone that hadn't filled it out prior to arriving do so before they could join the check-in line, so recommend doing it in advance to save yourself time Arrival - I recommend turning up no earlier than 30-40 minutes before the ceremony. I arrived 45 minutes early and despite breezing through security and up to the third floor, was sent back down to the lobby to wait an additional 10 minutes before they'd check me in Dress Code - despite the recommendation to dress appropriately, I did notice a lot of people in jeans and sneakers.. I also observed a couple of guests wearing sweat pants! I dressed according to instruction, but seems that they were fairly lax about what people were wearing Naturalization Certificate - this featured a photo of myself from a previous biometrics appointment (I recognized the shirt I was wearing that I incidentally no longer own). I was glad they had this on file as I had heard mixed advice on bringing your own photos as back-up  
Oath Ceremony
 
The check-in line (where you provide your questionnaire to the officer along with green card, etc.) took around 20 mins of waiting before I made it to the front. I handed over my green card, EAD card, and questionnaire. The USCIS officer asked if anything had changed that would prevent me from completing the oath, e.g., divorce, arrests, etc. I replied no, and they took my documents and handed over my Naturalization Certificate and congratulated me! I was then directed to a seat where there was a couple of envelopes that had passport application, details on registering to vote, a letter from POTUS, the mini flag, etc. 
 
It took a ton of time for them to check-in and seat everyone (an additional 30 mins!) so I busied myself reading the documents provided. Finally the time came to do the ceremony - they had us all stand, raise our right hand and wave our mini flags in our left hand as we recited the oath that the USCIS person read out for us to repeat. After that we were seated again and they proceeded to provide us additional information on registering to vote, applying for a passport, updating SS details, etc. They allowed for photos to be taken after the ceremony, but instructed attendees and their guests to do so on the second floor where an area had been setup for them.
 
After that we were permitted to leave row by row. It was super quick to get out of the building, which was a relief as I was concerned it would take longer! Overall, the USCIS staff were super helpful and friendly - tons of smiles, congratulatory wishes, etc. 
 
I hope this provides some insight into the process - good luck to those of you who have yet to complete this stage! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. 
 

Iris took oath of citizenship as scheduled. The appointment listed on the letter was 12:30 pm. I looked up the court house, and interestingly it said 1:30 pm.  We still aimed to get there before 12:30 pm.
 
https://www.azd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Naturalization Ceremony-Tucson.pdf
 
The presiding judge listed was Jennifer G. Zipps ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Zipps ) who was appointed to the bench by President Obama after her predecessor was killed in a mass shooting in 2011.
 
Judge Zipps did in fact preside over the proceedings.
 
We parked at a nearby garage in downtown Tucson, around NOON. We walked from there and  arrived at the door of the court house with a line of about 20 people ahead of us. As expected  there is security check point  at this court house. By the time we got to the actual court room it was 12:24 pm, and there was a line of 40 or so people ahead of us to enter the court room. While in line, a USCIS officer checked for Iris's oath letter, and quizzed her on travels (yes, one week in Mexico). The officer then kicked me out of the line and told me I could enter the court room, provided I stayed behind the gate area. In front of the gate is where normally jurors, prosecutors, defendants, and the judge sit. There were few seats left for guests to sit in, but I managed to find one.
 
Iris was one of the last applicants to enter the gate area. The lucky few who came after her got to sit in the jury box, which must have been cool. 
 
Another USCIS officer acted as emcee before Judge Zipps arrived, and ran through stuff like registering to vote, getting a passport, and reminded those applicants who had kids with green cards in their physical and legal custody that those kids would become citizens. He then said they had two paths to evidence of citizenship: passport or certificate of citizenship. The officer said he was not allowed to state which was better. Which was weird to me. The latter is obviously better, and there isn't actually a choice between the two: get both. Plus this close to the border, get the kid a passport card too.
 
The officer announced the countries being represented in today's field of applicants, and asked applicants to rise when their country of citizenship was called. He was hard to understand and Iris missed out when Burma was mentioned. As expected  Mexico dominated this field of applicants. Canada was a distant number 2, as in exactly 2 people out of 50 stood up. Just one European (Finland). 
 
Finally Judge Zipps arrived. She first invited guests who were standing in the back to sit in one of the chairs (i.e. the jury box!) in front of the gate, but no takers.
 
USCIS (or the Daughters of the Revolution who were the organizers) had arranged for a one of applicants to leads us in the pledge of allegiance. She was seized by stage fright (which alarmed her husband who was sitting next to me) and quickly another applicant was asked to issue the pledge. Understandably he was a caught off guard and had a slow start. After the first couple lines, the audience helped him out and we finished it with him in roaring fashion.
 
We then stood for the national anthem.
 
The judge read in alphabetical order the names of each country being represented and this time Burma was heard by Iris and she stood.
 
Rwanda came and went, with no mention of Mexico. So for 5 seconds,  the Mexicans must have thought they were skipped. Then she announced Mexico, over half of the applicants stood, and the crowd roared its approval!  Perhaps she is this playful when sentencing convicts.
 
Next the judge asked any of the applicants or guests to approach the podium to say whatever they wanted. It was quite moving to listen to the words of applicants and guests, as they talked about what being a U.S. citizen meant to them or their congratulations to the field of applicants and in particular their loved whom they came to support.
 
I lost it when a Cambodian in a dress uniform (afact, a U.S. Coast Guard chief petty officer or higher) spoke about how he would do anything to protect this country, moments before he was about to take oath. I was prepared with tissues.
 
This went on for 45 minutes as dozens had their say, ranging from toddlers to folks well past 60. I had the impression Judge Zipps would have waited until everyone had their say well into the evening if necessary.
 
Finally the judge directed her clerk to lead the field of applicants in reciting  the Oath Of Citizenship.
 
We rose as the judge left the court room and viewed a recorded video message from President Biden. 
 
After some photos,

we were out of there, and headed to dinner to celebrate. We did not wake this morning hung over, but did sleep more soundly than usual.
 
I was surprised the certificate didn't come with a paper folder with gold USCIS logo as mine did. Maybe they ran out.
 
Also surprised that the photo they used didn't come from the biometrics taken at her interview and instead was that of her green card.
 
Overall the entire experience is consistent with that I've seen portrayed by Hollywood, as opposed to mine in 2018 which was nice, but the Campbell, CA community center lacks the grandeur of a federal court room.
 
On to the passport application on Monday.
 
Some takeaways if you are having a court room oath:
Your guests should arrive early to get a front row seat. This court room had just 3 rows of seating. You however should enter the court room as late as possible you want a seat in the jurors box.  Bring a rigid folder to secure your certificate  
 
 
 

Just had my oath ceremony notification for Brooklyn - Tuesday March 14th.

Update:
Exactly 8 days after my interview (2/1), received a notice today (online) that the oath ceremony has been scheduled for March 10th at the Central Islip, NY court house. I had requested a name change with my initial application (and confirmed by the IO during my interview), and since it'll a judicial ceremony, I should be all set. 
 
Again, surprised at the speed of everything during the process. It looks like I'll be done in exactly four months from start to oath. 

Hey everyone.  I had my interview today and here is a recap.  Note: I applied on the basis of the 5-year rule.
 
TL;DR: I got approved! Yay! 
 
My appointment was at 7:35 am at the Nashville field office.  I arrived there at 7 am and the parking lot was already quite busy.  I went in at 7:20 and proceeded through airport-like security.  The security officers were very nice; one said I looked quite spiffy.  LOL!  I was called up to a counter to get biometrics done and then sat in the waiting room.  At 7:45, I was called in for my interview.  The IO was pleasant but all business.  There was no small talk whatsoever other than the initial "good morning."  She asked me to remain standing, raise my right hand, and went over the standard oath.  She asked for my permanent resident card and passport, looked them over, and then went over the interview process in brief.  She asked if I was okay with doing the Civics test first, to which I said sure.  Here are the six questions that she asked me, all of which I answered correctly.  I was lucky to get quite straightforward questions.
 
1. Name one state that borders Canada.
2. What is the highest court in the US?
3. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?  
4. Name one Native American tribe.
5. Why does the flag have 50 stars?
6. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? 
 
Reading test: Who elects the Congress
Writing test: The people elect the Congress
 
She then asked me some basic questions from the application - full name, address, occupation, my last trip outside the US, and what age I was when I first arrived.  This last question almost gave me a panic attack.  I first got to the US when I was 21, as a student, and did not start my immigration process until I was well past 26.  So I know that selective service did not apply to me.  But she still asked why I did not register for it.  I told her I was on a student visa and had no idea at the time even what selective service was, let alone register for it.  She seemed to buy that explanation and made some notes in the computer.  She then told me that she had made some changes to my application, one of which was simply a job title update and the other was the selective service question, and asked me to verify the changes.  It was then that I realized why she was asking about the selective service.  I answered "No" to the question in the application since answering "Yes" would have taken me down the path of completing a statement etc... which did not apply to me.  She changed that answer to "Yes" at the interview and we moved on.  Just thought I'd mention this in case someone else also has this happen to them.   
 
From then, it was the standard yes/no questions and finally, she congratulated me saying that I was approved, and handed me the approval letter. Unfortunately, the center I was interviewed at stopped administering same-day oaths so I have to wait for that to be scheduled.  I mentioned an upcoming out-of-country trip that I had planned months earlier and asked if she could make a note asking for the oath to be scheduled after my return.  She was happy to do that and I saw her jot down my return date in the file.  I am fully aware that that doesn't mean a whole lot since there is a good chance that the note gets ignored.  I have already planned for that eventuality. 
 
10 mins after leaving the building my case status was updated to "Oath Ceremony will be Scheduled." 
 
Best wishes to everyone who has an upcoming interview or waiting for one to be scheduled.          

If I'm not mistaken, you need to bring your physical green card (and not just a scan). I would also add driver's license, and any expired passports if you traveled outside of the country in the past 5 years. My IO also asked for proof of selective service registration (not sure if this applies to you). 
 
Finally, my attorney advised me to take two passport photos as a backup, and sure enough, the IO for my interview asked if I had additional passport photos, and I was glad to have an extra set of two photos. 

By law, provided you maintain residency in your state or USCIS field office district between the interview and oath it is fine. 
 
In addition, by policy provided this doesn’t drop physical presence below 50 percent for the statutory period (usually 3 or 5 years) before oath  it is fine. There is a legal theory that this policy is illegal but I haven’t seen a successful challenge.  
 
I traveled between interview and oath, and so has my wife (who takes oath later this month). 
 
You want to travel now because there is no telling when a U.S. passport will be issued. 

Update:
Exactly 8 days after my interview (2/1), received a notice today (online) that the oath ceremony has been scheduled for March 10th at the Central Islip, NY court house. I had requested a name change with my initial application (and confirmed by the IO during my interview), and since it'll a judicial ceremony, I should be all set. 
 
Again, surprised at the speed of everything during the process. It looks like I'll be done in exactly four months from start to oath. 

Well checked MyUscis before sleeping and my N400 interview has been scheduled!!! Checked the documents and it’s March 23rd!! Excited and nervous!! Now to study like crazy after a trip to Iceland next week!!

Update:
Exactly 8 days after my interview (2/1), received a notice today (online) that the oath ceremony has been scheduled for March 10th at the Central Islip, NY court house. I had requested a name change with my initial application (and confirmed by the IO during my interview), and since it'll a judicial ceremony, I should be all set. 
 
Again, surprised at the speed of everything during the process. It looks like I'll be done in exactly four months from start to oath. 

Update:
Exactly 8 days after my interview (2/1), received a notice today (online) that the oath ceremony has been scheduled for March 10th at the Central Islip, NY court house. I had requested a name change with my initial application (and confirmed by the IO during my interview), and since it'll a judicial ceremony, I should be all set. 
 
Again, surprised at the speed of everything during the process. It looks like I'll be done in exactly four months from start to oath. 

If I'm not mistaken, you need to bring your physical green card (and not just a scan). I would also add driver's license, and any expired passports if you traveled outside of the country in the past 5 years. My IO also asked for proof of selective service registration (not sure if this applies to you). 
 
Finally, my attorney advised me to take two passport photos as a backup, and sure enough, the IO for my interview asked if I had additional passport photos, and I was glad to have an extra set of two photos. 

If I'm not mistaken, you need to bring your physical green card (and not just a scan). I would also add driver's license, and any expired passports if you traveled outside of the country in the past 5 years. My IO also asked for proof of selective service registration (not sure if this applies to you). 
 
Finally, my attorney advised me to take two passport photos as a backup, and sure enough, the IO for my interview asked if I had additional passport photos, and I was glad to have an extra set of two photos. 

If I'm not mistaken, you need to bring your physical green card (and not just a scan). I would also add driver's license, and any expired passports if you traveled outside of the country in the past 5 years. My IO also asked for proof of selective service registration (not sure if this applies to you). 
 
Finally, my attorney advised me to take two passport photos as a backup, and sure enough, the IO for my interview asked if I had additional passport photos, and I was glad to have an extra set of two photos. 

In Tucson the ISOs were wearing blue jeans. 

This was my experience in 2017 in San Jose. Alas no one warned me, and I had to get photos the next day.
 
Years later I asked my wife's lawyer why, and  the explanation is that the device that prints certificates of naturalization will not print a certificate with the same photo more than 2 times. Extra photos give ISOs an 3rd and 4th opportunity to recover from a printer issue.
 
I didn't prepare my wife with photos for her (January 31 too) N-400 interview. But we lucked out: Tucson takes new biometrics at reception before proceeding to waiting room.
 
Congratulations on your approval.

I posted this in the NY thread, but as a November 2022 filer, re-posting it here with my experience:
 
Update on my filing:
 
Online application: 11/4/2022
Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022
Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY)
Interview: 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY (Long Island) office
Approved: We recommended approval; submitted for quality review: 1/31/2023 (status updated immediately after interview)
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled: 1/31/2023
 
Waiting on oath ceremony to be scheduled (with a name change on my original application). Was surprised to see this notice, as I passed all of the tests, but I received an expected "A decision cannot be made yet about your application" notice, due to prior arrests in the past (long time ago and final outcomes were just violations/disorderly conduct). Both IO and my attorney mentioned that all cases with prior arrests take more time to process (1-3 months), so wouldn't be surprised if my "oath will be scheduled" changes, but for now, waiting on either oath to be scheduled and/or final approval. 
 
Hardly anyone on line to enter building...was able to enter 25 minute prior to my appointment, checked in, and was called 10 minutes earlier than my scheduled time.
 
IO was business-like but friendly enough, though very poker-faced. Ran through civics test (basic enough questions), simple reading of one sentence, and writing the response on the tablet, bunch of yes/no questions, and then asked if I had been arrested before. Answered yes, and when asked what happened? Just replied it was a long time ago (26 years ago) and that they were disorderly conducts (a violation), produced official court dispositions, which she took and just moved on. All in all, was done in about 10 minutes, said I passed but because of the arrests, it has to be approved by a supervisor, and that there's no way to tell how long it would take. 
 
After getting in the car, checked USCIS website and it was already updated to approved and oath ceremony will be scheduled, so not sure if that was in error, just a temporary update, or whether it was already fully approved, but will keep checking to see if I receive an oath ceremony date. 
 
Oh, and I forgot to mention, my attorney (who did not attend the interview with me), advised that I should take additional passport photos (in addition to the submitted ones for the original application), and sure enough, the IO asked if I had additional passport photos, which I did, so I handed them over. 
 
Not sure if there would have been a delay or issue if I didn't have backup, additional passport photos, but I was super glad that I did. 
 
I also took the following documents with me, though was only asked to see green card, driver's license, selective service registration info, and original court dispositions with seal (for prior arrests):
 
Valid and current foreign passport, green card, driver's license, selective service registration, original court dispositions with seal, 5 years of tax returns, utility bill, marriage certificate (my naturalization was not based on marriage but took it anyway), and current W2 paystub. 
 
I was dressed business casual (V-neck sweater over a button-up sweater, dark washed jeans, and dressy/casual sneakers), and I felt this was very appropriate compared to other applicants and immigration officers, who were mostly all dressed similar. 
 
Hope this is helpful, and let me know if any specific questions. 

I posted this in the NY thread, but as a November 2022 filer, re-posting it here with my experience:
 
Update on my filing:
 
Online application: 11/4/2022
Biometrics reuse notice: 11/9/2022
Interview scheduled notice: 12/23/2022 (Interview on 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY)
Interview: 1/31/2023 in Holtsville, NY (Long Island) office
Approved: We recommended approval; submitted for quality review: 1/31/2023 (status updated immediately after interview)
Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled: 1/31/2023
 
Waiting on oath ceremony to be scheduled (with a name change on my original application). Was surprised to see this notice, as I passed all of the tests, but I received an expected "A decision cannot be made yet about your application" notice, due to prior arrests in the past (long time ago and final outcomes were just violations/disorderly conduct). Both IO and my attorney mentioned that all cases with prior arrests take more time to process (1-3 months), so wouldn't be surprised if my "oath will be scheduled" changes, but for now, waiting on either oath to be scheduled and/or final approval. 
 
Hardly anyone on line to enter building...was able to enter 25 minute prior to my appointment, checked in, and was called 10 minutes earlier than my scheduled time.
 
IO was business-like but friendly enough, though very poker-faced. Ran through civics test (basic enough questions), simple reading of one sentence, and writing the response on the tablet, bunch of yes/no questions, and then asked if I had been arrested before. Answered yes, and when asked what happened? Just replied it was a long time ago (26 years ago) and that they were disorderly conducts (a violation), produced official court dispositions, which she took and just moved on. All in all, was done in about 10 minutes, said I passed but because of the arrests, it has to be approved by a supervisor, and that there's no way to tell how long it would take. 
 
After getting in the car, checked USCIS website and it was already updated to approved and oath ceremony will be scheduled, so not sure if that was in error, just a temporary update, or whether it was already fully approved, but will keep checking to see if I receive an oath ceremony date. 
 
Oh, and I forgot to mention, my attorney (who did not attend the interview with me), advised that I should take additional passport photos (in addition to the submitted ones for the original application), and sure enough, the IO asked if I had additional passport photos, which I did, so I handed them over. 
 
Not sure if there would have been a delay or issue if I didn't have backup, additional passport photos, but I was super glad that I did. 
 
I also took the following documents with me, though was only asked to see green card, driver's license, selective service registration info, and original court dispositions with seal (for prior arrests):
 
Valid and current foreign passport, green card, driver's license, selective service registration, original court dispositions with seal, 5 years of tax returns, utility bill, marriage certificate (my naturalization was not based on marriage but took it anyway), and current W2 paystub. 
 
I was dressed business casual (V-neck sweater over a button-up sweater, dark washed jeans, and dressy/casual sneakers), and I felt this was very appropriate compared to other applicants and immigration officers, who were mostly all dressed similar. 
 
Hope this is helpful, and let me know if any specific questions. 

Hello VJ Community,
 
I attended my N400 interview today at NYC Federal Plaza so thought I would share my experience with you all!
 
Before I begin, I want to summarize a couple of main points since it is quite a lengthy read:
 
I noticed some people were being given orange pieces of laminated paper that had “SAME DAY OATH” printed on it in large font – contrary to my prior belief, it appears that same day oath ceremonies are being held on the third floor at Federal Plaza  
My experience was not that pleasant – the officer conducting my interview was snappy – additionally, he had my I-751 paperwork with him but opted not to review it there and then. He only ran through the N400 with me and stated he would be reviewing the I-751 paperwork when he had time – his exact words were that he would do it “maybe today, maybe later this week” (you can read on below for the full debrief)  
Background: I filed N400 based on the 3-year rule (married to a US citizen). I filed in Oct 2022 and received my interview notice in Dec 2022. Prior to this I had filed my I-751 in Oct 2021, although that had remained pending. The only update I received was that it had been transferred to another office to speed up processing - this was after the filing of my N400, so I had anticipated a combo interview.
 
The interview:
My interview time was at 8:35AM, so my spouse and I arrived 30 minutes early. Despite it being chaotic outside the main entrance, we made it through the security checkpoint in 15 mins. We proceeded to the 7th floor, and upon arriving at the reception area, an officer asked to see my paperwork – he looked over it briefly and at this point he directed my spouse to wait downstairs while waving me though to check-in. This caught us by surprise as we had anticipated a combo interview – we tried to explain we were married but he cut us off mid-sentence and repeated that my spouse needed to leave as the appointment was for me only. We said a quick goodbye and I continued on ahead. Total check-in and wait time was around 25 minutes before I was summoned by the interviewing officer.
 
I was taken to an interview room and asked to raise my right hand, promise to tell the truth, etc. After that I was seated and the officer asked for my identity docs (passport, state ID, interview letter). To my surprise, the officer stated I was not eligible for naturalization since I did not meet the 5-year rule! I figured this was a test of some sort so I informed him I was filing under the 3-year rule as an LPR married to a US citizen since 2020. He nodded along and then asked if I had filed for ROC? I confirmed I had and that it was still pending. He nodded again and stated, “well then you are aware that the N400 cannot be approved until the I-751 is processed and approved?”. I confirmed I was aware of this.
 
The officer then asked me to provide proof that I was eligible to file under the 3-year rule. I went through my stack of evidence and presented him with my marriage certificate. Upon seeing it he got snappy with me and said, “I don’t care about that, I want to see evidence of an ongoing relationship” – before I could react he proceeded to reel off a list of evidence (again, in a snappy tone) that he wanted to see: “taxes, leases, joint finances” ... fortunately, I had all of this, so was able to satisfy him regarding those requests and he seemed content. He took it all and piled it up but didn’t actually look through any of it - I realized after the fact that he asked for no proof of my spouse’s citizenship or identification.
 
After this, he signaled that we’d begin the civics test – he whizzed through the procedure and then asked the following questions:
 
When do we celebrate Independence Day? Name one of the writers of the Federalist Papers? Who lived in the USA before Europeans arrived? What major event happened on 9/11 in the USA? Where is the Statue of Liberty located? Who was the President during the Great Depression and WWII?  
Interestingly, as I answered each question he would not tell me if I was correct – he just continued onto the next question before stopping after #6. At this point he said we would begin the reading/writing test. I read and wrote the statements as directed and again, he did not confirm whether it was correct – just proceeded to the next part which was to question me on my N400 form.
 
For this section he asked every one of the Yes/No questions to which I answered accordingly. I had to provide paperwork of a police caution dating back to 2006 – he was interested in seeing this and even stated enthusiastically that he’d “never seen one of these before!” – I thought it was a funny thing to share but said nothing. Secondly, he quizzed me on a ticket I’d received in April 2022 for running a red light on my bicycle. I provided details and gave him the ticket for the fine I’d received and subsequently paid via the DMV website. I thought it was interesting that he opted to keep those – I understood that typically officers only want to check a fine has been paid but assumed due to my police caution he was being diligent.
 
After this, he said that the N400 interview was now complete but there was the "problem looking over your police documents and of the I-751 that is still pending". I nodded along as I understood his rationale for needing to look at the police docs - in every prior interview (for K1, AOS, etc.) it has been a talking point but has ultimately been approved without issue. I did however take the opportunity to ask if the I-751 was at another office as I assumed it must still be. He shook his head and replied “no, I have it here – and I’ll be reviewing it when I have time… maybe today, maybe later this week” – he even pointed it out from a stack of folders on his desk. I was surprised to only be learning this now. In hindsight, it may have been worth questioning him further but given his earlier snappiness and lax reply regarding it sitting on his desk awaiting review, I sensed I wouldn’t get a helpful response so did not ask anything else.
 
At last, he stated that the interview was now complete, and that he would escort me back to the waiting area. I gathered up my things and he walked me out – as we walked along the hallway towards the waiting area, he turned to me and said that I’d "passed the civics test and I’d be hearing about next steps within a few weeks". I thanked him and wished him a good day. 
 
Overall, this whole process seemed a little unconventional compared to what I’d read about other people’s experiences - particularly the need to review the I-751 separately. I'm curious if anyone has had a similar experience or general thoughts to share on the situation.
 
Feel free to reach out if you have questions about any of the above!

Because my VJ  timeline is broken and not editable by me, and requests to fix this have been without effect, I will briefly summarize our timeline:
 
7/1985 - I became a Resident Alien which is the same as an LPR in 21st century terms
1/2018 - I took oath of U.S. citizenship 
2/2018 - filed I-129F for my fiancée Iris
12/2018 - K-1 interview 
1/2019 - POE
1/2019 - Marriage 
3/2019 - I-485 filed
1/2020 - I-485 interview and approval 
10/2021 - I-751 filed 
10/2022 - I-751 approved (no interview)
11/2023 - N-400 filed based on 3 year rule 
12/2023 - interview scheduled for Jan 31. 
 
We went to the Tucson field office on January 31, 2023.  This is the smallest field office I’ve seen (my other experiences being Chicago, Denver, San Jose).  Rather than over a 100  people in the waiting room as we are accustomed to, there were zero when we arrived 11:45 am. It doesn’t add up to me: less than 70 miles from the border in a metropolis with  400,000  Latino people.  There should have been a line out the door.  
 
After clearing the security check point, the receptionist took new biometrics. Photo + plus each pinkie fingerprinted.  
 
We then waited for the ISO to call  Iris.  He would not let me join her in her marriage based interview.
 
Iris took the normal pre-interview oath in the interview room. Then whule setting up the phone call with Iris’s attorney (San Jose based) he made small talk with her, asking her where we met and about her travels.  When we mentioned this to her lawyer after a quick debrief, the  lawyer asked us, in a perturbed tone: “the officer asked her questions on the record before calling me?”. 
 
So that was a no no by the ISO.  
 
After her lawyer joined the meeting, the officer first did the reading / writing tests:
 
Reading: ”Who lives in the White House?”
 
Writing: “The president lives in the White House.”
 
Iris got the first  6  civics questions right.  Fortunately she wasn’t asked to name her Senator (Sinema) or Representative (Ciscomani) as she was having trouble with pronunciation of those. She was asked to name the VPOTUS and a territory (PR).  No questions about dates in history. She doesn’t recall the other 4 questions.  
 
Then the  ISO:
 
*  reviewed the questions on her N-400 form
 
* asked about travel history prior to January 16, 2020 (the “resident since” date on her gc). Our lawyer shut that line of questioning down.     Had we done DIY  and not included history from prior to becoming an LPR, that might  have delayed the case.  
 
* Asked  her more questions about her  travels, including:
+ Asked where will she travel next after taking oath of citizen.  
+ When he asked Iris how many times her husband had been to Burma (7) he  expressed surprise and asked her to confirm. 
 
* Asked to see her AZ drivers license (recommended by her lawyer to bring and not listed  on the interview letter) 
 
* Asked to see her green card 
 
* The ISO did not ask for the following evidence that Iris brought per the interview letter and/or lawyer’s advice:
 
+ marriage certificate 
+ her passports,
+ my passport (not submitted with N-400)
+ my naturalization certificate
+ my divorce decree  (not  submitted with N-400)
+ evidence of joint accounts since filing N-400 
+ social security card 
+ travel history since filing N-400 

* The ISO did not ask for the following which was a good because we didn’t bring:
 
+  tax transcripts (submitted with N-400)
+ 2022 tax return, not filed yet.  
+ passport photos (I was blind sided for these at my own N-400 and it slipped my mind to have these ready for  Iris)
+ birth certificates of my kids (all adults at the time Iris and I married)  which were not submitted with N-400
 
After 15 minutes, the interview concluded with a written recommendation for approval. 30 minutes from check point  to parking lot.  
 
Today her oath was scheduled for Friday February 24, at a federal court house in Tucson in a “special proceedings” court room.   Note that there is no name change being requested. I plan to attend. 
 
Her passport appointment is scheduled for Monday February 27.  
 
“But that’s illegally claiming to be a US citizen!”  That’s ok.  We neither agree nor care.
 
She will apply for both a passport and passport card.  A passport card is handy when you live 64 miles  from the border and have a foreign accent.  

Oh, and I forgot to mention, my attorney (who did not attend the interview with me), advised that I should take additional passport photos (in addition to the submitted ones for the original application), and sure enough, the IO asked if I had additional passport photos, which I did, so I handed them over. 
 
Not sure if there would have been a delay or issue if I didn't have backup, additional passport photos, but I was super glad that I did. 
 
I also took the following documents with me, though was only asked to see green card, driver's license, selective service registration info, and original court dispositions with seal (for prior arrests):
 
Valid and current foreign passport, green card, driver's license, selective service registration, original court dispositions with seal, 5 years of tax returns, utility bill, marriage certificate (my naturalization was not based on marriage but took it anyway), and current W2 paystub. 
 
I was dressed business casual (V-neck sweater over a button-up sweater, dark washed jeans, and dressy/casual sneakers), and I felt this was very appropriate compared to other applicants and immigration officers, who were mostly all dressed similar. 
 
Hope this is helpful, and let me know if any specific questions.