carpe diem

Hey carpe diem

I am a November NYC filer and just read your timeline. Wondering how your experience was with NYC office - interview, oath etc. Sounds your filing-to-oath process took about 4 months? Thank you!

Hi Tentenseven, I think I posted earlier in this thread about my interview and oath so you could search for posts around those dates. The interview was pretty much a non-event: very long wait, but interview itself probably took five minutes. The oath ceremony was much more moving than I had anticipated. I think it may be hit or miss in NYC -- I have also met people who took the oath in the USCIS building. My filing-to-oath was faster than others from NYC in my month. I would like to think it is because they thought I am fabulous but I'd speculate it's a combination of luck and a name that, as far as I know, I don't share with anyone in the world.

Good luck!

Supergeil! Looks like all the May filers from NYC will have crossed the finish soon. (Yes, I have kept on eye on you and uham...)

Not sure if you will see this but again thanks for the support Carpe diem!!! I'm almost on the finnish line

Hey uham, I stopped by just to see how you were doing. Congrats!!!! All's well that ends well.

Congratulations to fellow NYers uscwifey and soch! Giving Uham a virtual hug: hang in there, I'm rooting for you along with uscwifey. Keep us posted.

Thanks uham10, and glad to see your update! You're almost there.

Funny how I posted earlier today, WAITING! And we rec'd an updated later in the day:

Your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION is now scheduled for interview. You will receive a written notice with a time and place for your interview. You should receive this notice within 14 days.

NOW WE WAIT FOR THE WRITTEN NOTICE....

Yay!!!! Finally. I'm very happy for you.

Well you are looking pretty good with 11am. Even if it doesn't work out that way, I'm sure you are happy just to be at this point as am I.

Congrats fellow NYers! Glad to see some movement. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for soch and uham.

My interview was scheduled at 11:45 but I didn't get called until close to 3 pm. I didn't get approved on the spot but took the oath about three weeks after the interview. I had the impression that my IO still had to get approval from his supervisor. So don't read too much into it if you don't walk out of that building with a naturalization certificate or an oath letter (unless the IO has told you there are issues, of course).

Good luck!!!!

Better to be over-prepared than to run the risk the officer asks for something you don't have... Below is a brief description of the documentation that was requested during my interview at Federal Plaza.

"Uham, my only other tip is that if you are applying after three years based on marriage to a US citizen, to bring evidence that you have lived with your spouse for each of the past three years. I had brought some original documents, including tax returns for three years and maintenance bills (but only one from last year and one from this year) but I felt a bit underprepared. Had I known that the officer would ask for this stuff I probably would have brought two documents (say a joint bank account statement and a maintenance bill) for 2008, 2009, 2010 and very recently."

I'd also bring something to read (and perhaps a snack). Others have had different experiences but I had to wait 3.5 hours.

I know I am very lucky! The envelopes were sent from the passport agency on Hudson Street in Manhattan. So glad I went there on Saturday instead of to the post office....

Congrats, I'm happy for you! I went to the post office yesterday and WITH expedited fee the guy said it would take about three weeks...

For what it's worth, I had an interview at Federal Plaza in late August (with a different officer), and at the end the officer said he would recommend me for approval but that his supervisor needed to sign off. I was slightly disappointed because I think some people walk out with their oath scheduled, but it didn't seem to delay anything as I took the oath exactly three weeks later. I am crossing my fingers for you and hope you get scheduled for the oath soon.

Good luck!

So I took the oath today! The ceremony, in the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side (the first event on the occasion of its reopening) was lovely and I was moved by the warmth with which we were welcomed as new citizens by the judge, the USCIS officials, and especially the museum representatives. I will never forget it.

Yes, I went to Hudson Street - it was open on Saturday because it was Passport Day so no appointment was needed and no travel itinerary either. There was also no line - I don't think people knew about it since it had been postponed before. If you go to the agency (open Mon - Fri), you need proof of travel within two weeks and should call for an appointment. Pity you couldn't have gone on Saturday!

Yeah, my oath is three days too late... But I'm glad you're getting your passport so soon, you deserve it after everything USCIS put you through!

Passport applied for at the passport agency in Manhattan. Didn't pay for expedite service or overnight delivery but was told I should have it in 5 business days. Surprisingly there was no line there, I don't think people know that it's passport day today.

That's awesome! Did you go to "the" passport agency at 376 Hudson Street? I just looked into it and thought that you need to have proof of travel plans within two weeks. http://manhattan.about.com/od/citylife1/a/howtopassport.htm I was just going to go to a post office that's closer to my home / work but if it saves a lot of time (and the $60 expedite fee) I might go to the passport agency instead.

My interview went well but unfortunately the IO gave me N-14 form so I will need to go for a Re-Interview which will be in November.

I think I blame this on myself, I listed a traffic citation on my application but somehow I forgot to take the paper work with me and ofcourse with my luck, she seemed to want the most. I had several other documents but this is what is really going to delay my case.

The IO also said, when I go back to the re-interview, i take with me some other evidence with me which i presented today because a few month will have passed by then. Is this normal? Anyone has experience with re-interviws?

Sorry to read that uham... I know that sinking feeling (I had it when I didn't have documentation to show I lived with my husband for each of the three years about which the IO asked, although it turned out to be not a big deal). It's annoying that you have to prepare again, but you'll be able to vote in the next elections!

I got my oath date! It's September 20, less than two weeks away... May filers, it has been fun to go through this process with all of you. I'll log on every once in a while to see how you're doing, and I'm especially rooting for fellow New Yorkers who are still waiting for interview letters.

Mostly, many thanks to the great folks who are maintaining this website!!!! It's been an amazing resource over the years and a great place to hang out with people going through the same immigration processes. I won't miss dealing with USCIS but I will miss the camaraderie of these forums.

Carpe diem, Thanks for the wishes. I hope my interview will be as smooth as yours. My interview is mid morning at 10a. Any other tips?

Uham, my only other tip is that if you are applying after three years based on marriage to a US citizen, to bring evidence that you have lived with your spouse for each of the past three years. I had brought some original documents, including tax returns for three years and maintenance bills (but only one from last year and one from this year) but I felt a bit underprepared. Had I known that the officer would ask for this stuff I probably would have brought two documents (say a joint bank account statement and a maintenance bill) for 2008, 2009, 2010 and very recently.

One funny thing is that my questions included the one about where the Statue of Liberty is. I felt like pointing in the general direction of Liberty Island and saying: "Over there!"

Soch and USCWifey, hang in there!

Carpe diem - I sure hope so. Just hope letter is not lost in mail. On the website it says something about waiting for an interview to be schduled.... I guess it would say interview date Blah blah... so hope nothing is missing in mail.

Soch, a few days before I got my interview letter, I got an email stating:

"Your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION is now scheduled for interview. You will receive a written notice with a time and place for your interview. You should receive this notice within 14 days. If you do not receive this notice within 14 days from July 25, 2011, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance. If you move, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address."

I think, but don't remember for sure, that the same message showed up on the login page.

nothing... waiting, waiting.... should we worry other NY filers have received a letter?

Soch, I can't be of help but am crossing my fingers for a speedy interview appointment for you... I have a feeling it will arrive soon, not that I have a special gift for predicting these things.

Uham, good luck next week! For what it's worth, my interview lasted less than 10 minutes and was a non-event. The worst part was the 3.5 hour wait before the interview. If your interview slot is close to lunch time, make sure to eat well before heading over or bring snacks. Also bring something to read or do (I wasn't allowed to use my iPhone). I didn't get an oath notice on the spot, but today I received a message saying it's on its way.

Awesome, congratulations!

And good that you don't have to trek to Garden City for the oath.

Good luck with your interview in two days, N400-2011! Almost there...

I received my interview notice today, it will take place on August 31! Can someone update my information on the chart?

Uham10 and USCwifey: I hope you'll get yours soon.

David-and-Mae: your situation sounds very frustrating!

Carpe Diem, approximately when did you receive the "yellow" letter?

This past Monday, July 25 (same day I got the text and email).

In case any fellow New Yorkers are obsessing over this: yesterday I received an email and text message indicating my interview date has been scheduled and that I will get a notice within two weeks. I also got the yellow "this is not an interview notice" letter in the mail.

Glad to read it went smoothly. Congratulations!!!!

Thanks! And I just secured a ride to garden city so I don't mind that location now. Would have been almost two hours on public transportation...

Congrats N400-2011! I've been rooting for you and am glad you got the letter before us May filers from NYC. Sorry to hear about the location (#######?) but at least it will be so nice to put this behind you. Good luck!