jamieswith

Congratulations Kumar.

Houston seems to be doing a lot better these days than it used to!

I got my interview letter yesterday(04/07/09) and interview is on 05/19/09. But we didn't receive interview letter for my wife. But both of us received document checklist/ yellow letter.

I replied to the old post as somehow it is giving an error when I reply to the new post , probably due to formatting.

Congratulations! hope your journey is at an end soon!

And again

Called USCIS 1800 then pressed 1,2,3..Talked with a Level 1 CSR, then transfered me to Level 2 CSR.

She was very friendly and she answered all my questions for my hubby's application.

Then, she suddenly told me that as of today, they already sent the Interview Letter to our address!!!!

And she also told me that if we didn't receive it in two weeks time, we should call them again.

I guess I'm going to wait outside for the USPS van tomorrow, sat., and next week

I already checked our mailbox today but there's no letter from USCIS that's why I called again

I've said many thanks to the Level CSR that I've talked to. Not all of them are as open as she is

Can't wait for hubby to come home from work and tell him the good news

Good luck to everybody and those of you who didn't got their Interview Letter yet, try to call the USCIS

You have to remember, predicting the USCIS is like predicting an earthquake...

Sure people might know that something should happen within a 50 year time span... but unless the movement is right upon you and you can feel some pre-shocks... its fruitless trying to predict anything with accuracy! lol

People have been trying for decades to predict earthquakes... and beyond being able to say "hmmmm i detect extra stresses in the fault line! it might be closer to happening today than it was yesterday" - there's not a huge amount scientists can do.

The same with USCIS... i've seen many try to make predictions - they rarely succeed! lol

Your A-File within USCIS follows the Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle - you can either tell where it is, or what it is doing - but never both at the same time.

Regards,

Jamie

I know I am over anxious to get my interview letter, but I have done the calculation with some other VJ members timelines and notice that my interview letter should have been here on Tuesday. Today is Thursday and it still hasn't arrived. I am sure it will be here any day. My anniversary date is 5/18...my timeline isn't complete, but my signature is up to date.

When should I officially be worried?

Oh I remember those days.I had a chart and did all the calculation and so on. Never did pan out like it was supposed to. My local office is really bloody slow, so you never really know what's going on. I wouldn't worry, but I know you will. =) I use to call the USCIS every other day because I had nothing better to do and they kept telling me to call back if I had any questions, so I did.LOL. Got to know the postman really well too. Good luck waiting.

Should I submit the RFE with a lawyer? I did all paper work for n-400 myself. Should I consult at this time?

See what the RFE is asking for - it might be something simple (perhaps the copy of your green card or marriage cert was not clear enough - or you forgot to include proof of your spouse's citizenship or something... or it might even be evidence you sent, but that they lost!)

If its something simple - why waste the $$$???

Wait until it comes, then get all your ducks in a row... if they ask for something that concerns you, and you feel the need for a lawyer... then go ahead... but seriously - most of the time the Naturalization is probably the simplest and easiest part of the whole immigration process.

It's kindof anti-climactic in a way - that they should make it so easy when the rest of your journey is so hard!

Congratulations! same day as mine! (but mine is in Houston)

Hey everyone

Well, after my interview last Tuesday( April 2nd), today i received my Naturalization Oath Ceremony letter...Uau, that was fast..Thank God cause i couldnt deal with the wait any longer..

Oath ceremony on April 22nd ( again, fast) on Pomona...Looking foward to it, almost an American Citizen ! ! !

Almost over..

Wish all the best

My wife didn't realize that her picture will be on the Naturalization certificate. She said if she knew this, she would have had her photos retaken. When she goes to her interview, can she bring a new set and ask the officer to replace the ones she originally submitted?

Yes - you get the option to provide new photos at the interview.

Congratulations Maz!

I had my interview today and everything went well. I even got my oath letter for April 21th.

Good luck everybody...

Hopefully you hear back soon lappa.

The IO I had during my interview must have been used to the problem with the glossy pictures that you described, because she used an eraser on the pictures to get rid of some of the glossy area so that I could sign.

I was going through the paper the IO gave me aver again. She clicked only 2 places that is "You passed the test of English and U.S History and Goverment", "A decision cannot yet be made about your application"

The IO asked about my job which I recently changed and she updated that info in her file. She asked all N-400 questions which I studied well before I went to the interview. Before she start the 100 question she made me sign on the side of passport size photos which was very hard because it was glossy. (not on the back of the photo) She gave me a paper to make sure my name and date of birth and asked me to sign. Then, she gave me the last page of N-400 to sign. She did not ask the tax transcipt but the guy with her asked me and I gave transcript of the last 3 years + the one I recently filed, the current utility bills and checking account statement that I got on that day's morning from mail box. She went thorugh the old photos which I have attached with my I-751 and asked about my husband's son who is living with us. The guy who was with the IO was checking my passport to make sure the trips that I made. She asked about future plan I told her we are saving some money to buy a house. She asked me if I have plan to move other state. I said I have a lot of friends and family member here so definetly we will not move to some other state. She commented about the place we stay is a nice, beatiful place. She made sure the house telephone number after she said she could not make a decision on that day. We are staying the house since we married. I thought she would call me on that day so I repeated the house number one more time. After the interview I was siting and waiting for her call at home but nothing happened. It was more like AOS interview than a N-400 interview.

Thank you so much for everybody for your support and consolation. Forgive me if I made any mistake because I cannot write in better English that this.

Lappa

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Wife's interview when pretty much the same way, except she did fire back all the civic question answers. Religious freedom is what she wanted, but you did pass all the tests, so that is all that matters. Going the same way in the respect that nothing negative was said, but she was told her application would be sent away for some place of a higher approval and sounds like that is what your IO was trying to tell you. It's my understanding that all these applications have to be approved by a field officer supervisor.

I firmly instructed my wife from reading this site to ask if you could say the oath the same day, and if not, when could she expect her oath letter. That gave me a commitment as a follow up that I needed to talk to my senator.

While your interview doesn't sound that positive, it also doesn't sound that negative neither, negative would be you didn't pass the tests, required more civics or English study, or the most common one, you need more evidence. In which case, they should tell you which evidence they want, utility bills seems to be the most common lately.

Did she check that box that says, you passed but awaiting final approval? If so, you should be okay.

When people say good luck at your interview, I translate that to mean not running into a traffic jam, or having an competent IO, the rest is not luck, but being well prepared. Wife had bad luck, not with the traffic, I drove her and knew different roads to get their on time, but had an incompetent interviewer, now that is bad luck.

Would have been interesting to ask questions to that guy that was observing, you have to show a degree of confidence in these or any interview, I know that is not easy, but I feel you are okay if they did not request more information. But know that checking your mail box for God only knows how long, is more stress. You may get a letter for your oath, or one more more evidence. Just have to see what happens.

As for Jamieswith - less then 4 months!! yeah you should feel guilty ;-) check my timeline LOL 17 months@@

Ermmm.... thanks AusCal lol I think! lol

Now, I am wondering, what to believe...

Any suggestion?

Hmmmmm let me see - that someone at USCIS is over-worked and under-organized?

That would be my guess! lol

I feel so bad to have had such a relatively simple time when some of you guys are having so much trouble!

Good luck!

She did not say a reason. I think she is not capable to make a decision since she is new and young. I don't know. Her assistant also very young look like just graduted from college. If she can not make a decision why should I signed to the oath letter and photos?

That was one of the first things that came to my mind when you described your interview. I'm wondering if maybe she's not authorized to approve you without having her decision reviewed by a senior officer first. Or maybe she was insecure and wanted to check back first. You answered the questions just fine and if everything else in your papers is in order, you should get approved soon. Don't worry too much, everything will turn out o.k. I know the wait is hard. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Yes, when i see your timeline i feel quite guilty about it lol

Congrats mate. I'm glad all went well and you got your oath letter the same bloody day. =)

Congratulations.

Hopefully you get your Oath letter soon! I feel so lucky to have gotten my letter the same day! It means I have a date on the Calendar I can plan for!

It's so much easier waiting when you know how long you're waiting.

Regards,

Jamie

My Interview today

Appointment is 1:20

Arrived at 1 at San Jose USCIS

The place is like a ghost town..pretty empty

I was asked to go to Room 219

There are around six people waiting for interview

While I was waiting

An officer came out with an Indian woman and asked to see her husband. He told him that his wife failed the civics test

The reason? She studied the OLD test. People pls double check that you are studying the NEW test!!!

I was called in at around 1:45

He is a no-nonsense extremely stern officer. No small talk. Got all my identification and passport and asked me to swear that I tell the truth.

He was very diligent on checking every single trip on my passport

Asked all questions in the application

Asked me if I have filed my taxes. I said a few weeks ago ....He just asked if I owed any taxes. I said no and he did not ask to see any proof.

Then he asked me 6 questions:

Who was brought here as slaves

Why did the colonist fight the British

What is the name of vice president

Who makes laws

What is the supreme law of the land

How many amendments are there

Stumbled on two of them out of nerves but did finally get them right.

He asked me to read: Who can vote

Then asked me to write Citizens can vote

He asked me to sign the application form and on the 2 photos I submitted.

He kept looking through my file but eventually gave me the sheet that says Congratulations!

Asked about the Oath and all he said was that I would received notice within 90 days.

Thanks everyone for all your posts...looking forward to the upcoming Oath

Congratulations, Jamie! What a relief, right

For sure!

Congratulations Jamie,

sound really easy after you pass it but it is a bit nerve racking while you are waiting.

Did you go with your spouse?

Nope, I called ahead of time and they said she would not be required.

The officer really didnt seem that interested in my spouse - she focussed mainly on first my form, and then seccondly on my request for a modified oath... there was a lot of paperwork for that, but the officer seemed more interested in my sincerity... and about how my beliefs would impact me if e.g. my family was attacked... which I explained that I would defend myself or my family with minimal force, but it was the intent to kill that i had an issue with... she seemed happy with that...

I am very glad to hear about the successes, and saddened about the cancellations and delays!

I have a question for those who have had their interviews. Do the IOs verbally ask you to answer each question in the application, or do they just glance at all the answers you gave and ask for clarification, etc. when necessary? Neither is a problem -- I'd just like to know what to expect. Thanks, and good luck to everyone who isn't done yet!

Mine (who turned out to be, looking at the form, the district adjudications supervisor) verbally asked me every question on the form, making notes along the way... and then went through the additional paperwork for my modified oath.

I got a VM from USCIS (the new standard for incompetence) today informing me that they canceled my appointment for tomorrow because they do not have my file.

To say that I am pissed or up set is an understatement at this point, considering that they had the last two months to get the file from wherever it is.

She left her number and her name and I can assure you that she will be getting an ear full from me tomorrow morning when I return her call.

They dont have your file, but they have your phone number...thats odd!

They mean your physical paper immigration file.

They had mine right there - it was about 9 inches thick with documents etc - there were some things i was supposed to bring according to the letter, but simply was not required to hand over because they still had the original certified copies from when we applied for AOS.

That depends.

Do you have religious believes that prohibit you from taking up arms? If so then yes, but you should have already gotten and submitted documentation for that.

You needed to indicate it on your N400, and write a letter of explanation, and get a letter from your Religious organization confirming how long you have been a member and the stand on taking up arms... etc etc...

If you are just a consciencious objector, unfortunately they do not consider that grounds for a modified oath... which just stinks...

Congratulations to all those who passed today....

Jamieswith what is the modified oath thing??? Will I have to do that too?

I already sent two photos do I need 2 more???

Now I am getting all stressed out about what I need to take

I was the same.

You should get 2 more photos and take them with you - sometimes they loose or damage the photos, or sometimes they just dont like them...

Think of it this way - if you dont need those photos, you have them ready for your passport application, but if you DO need them - you have them and there is no need to get them for that.

Regards,

Jamie

I remembered questions 5 and 6 - they were

5) How long do we elect a president for?

6) How long do we elect a senator for?

Well I just got back from my Interview.

This was at the Northpoint Drive USCIS office in Houston.

Passed with flying colours - it was quite dissapointingly easy.

Arrived 15 minutes early, after 5 minutes i was called into a cubicle at the side to be administered my history/civics and english test.

Only asked 6 questions since I got them correct:

1) When was the declaration of independance signed

2) What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution? (the IO actually asked what do we call the first bit of the constitution, i had to ask her if she was talking about the preamble or the first 10 amendments, and so she clarified)

3) What is one of the longest rivers in the USA?

4) Who is the speaker of the house?

5), 6) -> i dont remember but they were easy... lol

I was then informed I had passed that part of the interview... and asked to go back into the waiting area...

After another 5 minutes I was called and taken up into an office for the main interview.

We spent a long time going over my application, and the documents that we had submitted... she did NOT want me to open my big box... though i offered several times lol she wanted only my 2008 tax returns, passport, greencard and then to discuss the modified oath with me, talking about my beliefs and exactly what I would or would not do.

She then printed out some additional paperwork that was required for the modified oath, examining my beliefs in detail (it was 12 pages to fill in!) but she did not wait for me to fill it in - and went ahead stamping my whole file with "approved" while i filled in the paperwork.

We then talked a little bit, just friendly while she re-checked everything and attached the extra sheets I'd just filled in - and she gave me the congratulations letter and told me to go back outside and wait in the waiting area.

After 5 minutes an IO came out and gave me my appointment letter for my Oath Ceremony!

April 22nd @ 7am - 5 minutes from my house!

So that was it - i arrived at 1.45 for a 2pm appointment, and despite LOTS of additional paperwork to fill in related to the modified oath, I was still out at 3pm.

Wow, after so much stress it was easy in the end... I think bringing in SO MUCH documentation made the IO feel she didnt need to see it lol.

So thats my experience - overall pretty simple and easy... despite the modified oath requirement!

Regards,

Jamie

I remembered questions 5 and 6 - they were

5) How long do we elect a president for?

6) How long do we elect a senator for?

Well I just got back from my Interview.

This was at the Northpoint Drive USCIS office in Houston.

Passed with flying colours - it was quite dissapointingly easy.

Arrived 15 minutes early, after 5 minutes i was called into a cubicle at the side to be administered my history/civics and english test.

Only asked 6 questions since I got them correct:

1) When was the declaration of independance signed

2) What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution? (the IO actually asked what do we call the first bit of the constitution, i had to ask her if she was talking about the preamble or the first 10 amendments, and so she clarified)

3) What is one of the longest rivers in the USA?

4) Who is the speaker of the house?

5), 6) -> i dont remember but they were easy... lol

I was then informed I had passed that part of the interview... and asked to go back into the waiting area...

After another 5 minutes I was called and taken up into an office for the main interview.

We spent a long time going over my application, and the documents that we had submitted... she did NOT want me to open my big box... though i offered several times lol she wanted only my 2008 tax returns, passport, greencard and then to discuss the modified oath with me, talking about my beliefs and exactly what I would or would not do.

She then printed out some additional paperwork that was required for the modified oath, examining my beliefs in detail (it was 12 pages to fill in!) but she did not wait for me to fill it in - and went ahead stamping my whole file with "approved" while i filled in the paperwork.

We then talked a little bit, just friendly while she re-checked everything and attached the extra sheets I'd just filled in - and she gave me the congratulations letter and told me to go back outside and wait in the waiting area.

After 5 minutes an IO came out and gave me my appointment letter for my Oath Ceremony! April 22nd @ 7am - 5 minutes from my house!

Wow, after so much stress it was easy in the end... I think bringing in SO MUCH documentation made the IO feel she didnt need to see it lol.

So thats my experience - overall pretty simple and easy... despite the modified oath requirement!

Regards,

Jamie

You know....I took everything under the sun, heck even things they asked me to bring for the interview.

KyngSilva Do you need to see the docs that you requested?

IO : NO

KyngSilva: Are you sure?

And that was that.....I'll keep the copies thou...make a nice scrap book of it and pass it on to the grand kids some day.... Have fun at your interview...don't stress out. =) Oh and it get's funny when they ask you to read and write in English....

Well I just got back from my Interview.

This was at the Northpoint Drive USCIS office in Houston.

Passed with flying colours - it was quite dissapointingly easy.

Arrived 15 minutes early, after 5 minutes i was called into a cubicle at the side to be administered my history/civics and english test.

Only asked 6 questions since I got them correct:

1) When was the declaration of independance signed

2) What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution? (the IO actually asked what do we call the first bit of the constitution, i had to ask her if she was talking about the preamble or the first 10 amendments, and so she clarified)

3) What is one of the longest rivers in the USA?

4) Who is the speaker of the house?

5), 6) -> i dont remember but they were easy... lol

I was then informed I had passed that part of the interview... and asked to go back into the waiting area...

After another 5 minutes I was called and taken up into an office for the main interview.

We spent a long time going over my application, and the documents that we had submitted... she did NOT want me to open my big box... though i offered several times lol she wanted only my 2008 tax returns, passport, greencard and then to discuss the modified oath with me, talking about my beliefs and exactly what I would or would not do.

She then printed out some additional paperwork that was required for the modified oath, examining my beliefs in detail (it was 12 pages to fill in!) but she did not wait for me to fill it in - and went ahead stamping my whole file with "approved" while i filled in the paperwork.

We then talked a little bit, just friendly while she re-checked everything and attached the extra sheets I'd just filled in - and she gave me the congratulations letter and told me to go back outside and wait in the waiting area.

After 5 minutes an IO came out and gave me my appointment letter for my Oath Ceremony!

April 22nd @ 7am - 5 minutes from my house!

So that was it - i arrived at 1.45 for a 2pm appointment, and despite LOTS of additional paperwork to fill in related to the modified oath, I was still out at 3pm.

Wow, after so much stress it was easy in the end... I think bringing in SO MUCH documentation made the IO feel she didnt need to see it lol.

So thats my experience - overall pretty simple and easy... despite the modified oath requirement!

Regards,

Jamie

Well I just got back from my Interview.

This was at the Northpoint Drive USCIS office in Houston.

Passed with flying colours - it was quite dissapointingly easy.

Arrived 15 minutes early, after 5 minutes i was called into a cubicle at the side to be administered my history/civics and english test.

Only asked 6 questions since I got them correct:

1) When was the declaration of independance signed

2) What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution? (the IO actually asked what do we call the first bit of the constitution, i had to ask her if she was talking about the preamble or the first 10 amendments, and so she clarified)

3) What is one of the longest rivers in the USA?

4) Who is the speaker of the house?

5), 6) -> i dont remember but they were easy... lol

I was then informed I had passed that part of the interview... and asked to go back into the waiting area...

After another 5 minutes I was called and taken up into an office for the main interview.

We spent a long time going over my application, and the documents that we had submitted... she did NOT want me to open my big box... though i offered several times lol she wanted only my 2008 tax returns, passport, greencard and then to discuss the modified oath with me, talking about my beliefs and exactly what I would or would not do.

She then printed out some additional paperwork that was required for the modified oath, examining my beliefs in detail (it was 12 pages to fill in!) but she did not wait for me to fill it in - and went ahead stamping my whole file with "approved" while i filled in the paperwork.

We then talked a little bit, just friendly while she re-checked everything and attached the extra sheets I'd just filled in - and she gave me the congratulations letter and told me to go back outside and wait in the waiting area.

After 5 minutes an IO came out and gave me my appointment letter for my Oath Ceremony! April 22nd @ 7am - 5 minutes from my house!

Wow, after so much stress it was easy in the end... I think bringing in SO MUCH documentation made the IO feel she didnt need to see it lol.

So thats my experience - overall pretty simple and easy... despite the modified oath requirement!

Regards,

Jamie

You know....I took everything under the sun, heck even things they asked me to bring for the interview.

KyngSilva Do you need to see the docs that you requested?

IO : NO

KyngSilva: Are you sure?

And that was that.....I'll keep the copies thou...make a nice scrap book of it and pass it on to the grand kids some day.... Have fun at your interview...don't stress out. =) Oh and it get's funny when they ask you to read and write in English....

im curious, if one filed for US citizenship based on a 3 yr marriage to a USC, after the oath taking and US citizenship application successful, is their a minimum number of years requirement to be married to the USC?

No, but if there is any kinds of grounds to suspect that there was any kind of fraud before the citizenship application was approved... then you CAN loose your citizenship... and you can be in a lot of trouble.

You MUST be living in Marital union right up until the Oath ceremony, for citizenship based on 3 years residency - if there is ANY grounds to suggest you were seperated or otherwise not living in Marital union before then - you WILL loose your citizenship.

Regards,

Jamie

I hope so!

My main concern left is over my request for a modified oath - on religious grounds I cannot swear to take up arms (I'll do anything else requied but not kill)

I think I have all my documentation in order on that front - I have a letter documenting my membership, history etc etc along with other things... and the stance of my religeon is very well known on this front, so really, I hope there is no issue with that - but still it's a variable, and I don't like uncertain variables....

Well fingers crossed - trying to drill in the name of my local representatives currently - for some reason in every mock test I do - their names escape me lol - it might not come up, and even if it does its not enough to make me fail... but... still... argh lol

@ jamieswith

You will be fine!

Another thing I remembered, is, that I brought printouts of laws, regulations and rules for every exception I filed under. We were stationed overseas for an extended period of time, so I printed all the laws applying to that. My maiden name is spelled slightly differently in German than it is in English, so I printed out the rule for that. I don't have a state driver's license since we're military, so I printed out the regulation for that. And so forth.

Check...and Check.

LOL.

I have a huge (18 inch cube) lockable file box full with everything i could possibly need - talk about level of paranoia lol - and now I've just been adding copies of statements and renewal notices etc that were generated today lol.

So I think I'm ready on the evidence front - unless i've been a bone-head and forgotten something silly lol - which would be just my luck lol.

Hopefully though I never even need my huge file-box - hopefully the officer sees it coming in and goes.... "erm....oh.... erm.... never mind - lets just look at the stuff i really need" lol - and things will go quick, because if he makes me crack open my box, we're gonna be there a while! lol

1 hour and a bit to go until I leave for interview... still asking myself what i've forgotten.

...a blood sample....the deed to your first child...