lovelyalex

How's everyone doing?

3 hours ago, elmesq said:

Hi, just received my notice for interview. Does anyone that has already done the interview was able to take the oath in the same day?

Highly unlikely for your local office.

Naturalization Ceremonies

The Washington Field Office rarely conducts same-day naturalization ceremonies but will do so for military N-400 filings, Section 319(b) N-400 filings, as well as on most N-400 re-examination days (second interview to pass the naturalization test).

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices/washington-dc-washington-field-office

If you don't get a same day option realistically you're looking at getting an oath date within a month of approval, based on timelines.

8 hours ago, TatieM said:

Hi guys! I had my interview last Thursday and received n 652 form, it stated " We will send you a written decision". Does anyone know what this means? The interview seemed to go fine. It was short and the officer didn't ask any tough questions. The only document he asked to leave for him was tax transcript for 2016, which i previously sent with my package. I am so worried. These USCIS guys love to keep suspense. Should i expect RFE?

In some field offices cases are reviewed if interviews etc are carried out by more junior/less experienced officers.  They might be looking over something from the 2016 tax transcript to double check something, so couldn't give you an answer right away.  Don't panic though!  If you search the forum you'll see that the "decision cannot be made yet" outcome is fairly common, especially the last few months.

Congrats @lucybelle !!!!

On 10/26/2017 at 4:10 PM, Lilith70 said:

I was reading the Dept of State website and it requires two pictures for passport

 

I JUST did my application this week at the post office and they only need one picture. 

3 hours ago, La Isla Bonita said:

Do we need to bring 4 passport size photo during the interview?

I've heard mixed reports, but I was not asked for them.  I didn't bother bringing them just in case either.  You wouldn't need 4 either.  For those that did bring them to the interview it was because there was issues with the picture that was taken at their biometric appointment, so really I think only one or two would have sufficed.  Not sure why people are bringing 4, especially given how expensive passport photos are nowadays!

Oh jeez AND you have to apply for a visa!?  what a pain!  I've had to file visas for business travelers to India for work and it's such a hassle.  Hopefully it's a little easier for you guys as "former" Indian nationals @skmv and @kirat17 ?

On 10/20/2017 at 1:44 PM, himalayanV said:

Paint me red and blue guys, I am an American!
What a beautifully ceremony in Albany. Hoping the rest of you get through this asap..you're close!

-HV

WOOOOO!!!  Congratulations!!!!!!!! 

On 10/23/2017 at 9:41 AM, Gazy said:

My Visa Journey has finally come to an end! I am now a US citizen. I had my oath last Friday. Was such a nice experience.

Congrats Gazy!  Welcome to the gang!!!

Don't forget to pay a visit to the social security office in a week or so to update them!

I've seen a few people posting or mentioning they need to travel relatively close to their oath date to their home countries or elsewhere.  You are required to have a US passport. Please do your research regarding expediting a passport IN ADVANCE of your oath ceremony. 

If you're lucky you might be able to take care of it the same day as your oath ceremony in the same building or area... but for some of you, your nearest passport office that can handle expedited passports may be several hours drive from where you live, or even across state lines. 

You do not need to be a US citizen to make an appointment at your nearest passport agency.  If you want to avoid unnecessary stress or further complications get your ducks in a row before time! Do not wait until after your oath to start the process.  "Life or death emergencies" may require additional documentation to support to need to expedite.

Further information can be found online: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/services/expedited.html

Passport agencies: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies.html

Life/death emergencies: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/life-or-death-emergencies.html

11 hours ago, kirat17 said:

I have my oath ceremony tomorrow and I am traveling to India on Nov 1st. I was hopeful reading some of the posts here that I would have the option of expediting my passport application and it shouldn't be an issue as I still have about 10 days. So today thought of making an appointment at the passport agency right after the ceremony tomorrow as @Mehrdad576 had done.

And guess what! The nearest passport agency is 6hr away either in Atlanta or Miami. I am in Jacksonville,FL. Now I need to make a trip to either of those within these 10 days to get my US passport 

 

Anyways, I have a question. My Indian passport is still valid and will remain with me, correct? Can I travel to India using that? I mean I ll carry both passports but at the port of entry in India can show my Indian passport so that I don't have to apply for Indian Visa on my US passport? Is it valid? Any information in this regard will be helpful!

I think entering/leaving India on your India passport is fine. I think getting out of the USA may not be an issue but it was made very clear to me during my oath ceremony that they would not allow me back into the US without a US passport on my person, that I'd been travelling with.

26 minutes ago, CutePuppy said:

Thank you for the reply!! Greatly appreciated it!!

I have my interview scheduled at the Boston Office, I certainly hope parking will not be an issue...

Question:

In the section of "You MUST BRING the following with you to the interview:", it did not mention about the Tax Return for the past five years, but I assume that is still needed correct?

Is there anything else that I should bring with us or be prepared for?

Guess what... parking is an issue!   Unless you like spending $42.  My advice is (unless you live way far out of the city) to Uber in, or park further out and take the T in.

So when I went to my interview I brought with me an entire copy of my naturalization packet, which included my tax returns.  They didn't ask for any of it.  It's certainly not like AOS interviews at all.  I went into the little office once I was brought back from the waiting area and the officer already had a file open in front of her with all my information.  All of my USCIS history in front of her.  It was kinda crazy to see. Unless they've asked for a specific document or evidence don't sweat about bringing additional stuff with you.

The entrance to the USCIS office at Government Center is kinda weird, they've closed off a bunch of the doors to the building so if you enter from the street side, you have to walk all the way around to the back (where the pedestrian area is) and then go through the metal detectors and stuff there.  The waiting area is busy, but it's clean and there is plenty of seating.

The USPS website will also be able to you tell you which post office near you accepts passport applications and when.

18 hours ago, Holt said:

I have my Oath on 26 this month. I wonder if there was a long line at the ceremony, I would prefer to go to the local field office (which is few miles away from the ceremony) and to apply there. I don't know which is the better way. 

I don't really know how the procedure applying at the ceremony works... If we filled at home, and we just gave the package to them ?

At my oath ceremony there were people there to talk about passports but we couldn't complete forms or apply right there. If you're not in a rush for your passport I would just recommend the following:

• Have your oath ceremony.
• Go home.
• About 10 days after your ceremony go to your social security office and update your status with them (they will want your certificate to do this, but they don't keep it)
• Fill out the passport application at home, get the picture and supporting documents ready.
• Then go to your local post office that accepts passport applications.  
• Apply for your passport there, pay the money etc.
• Then in a couple of weeks you get your passport and supporting documents sent back (separately)

1 minute ago, Holt said:

Ah I see, is it a long line we need to wait ? (at your local post office)

I think it depends on the time of day and your post office.  

On 10/13/2017 at 4:05 PM, Mehrdad576 said:

and I am a US citizen. Thanks everyone for your help.

i had my oath yesterday in detroit in the morning. the oath was done by 11 am and the passport agancy was right across the street. i had an appointment and i filled out everything the night before. went there and applied for passport and got my passport same day. i had my passport 2 hours after my oath ceremony.

again thank you guys

@lovelyalex @nesh123

That's amazing!  Congratulations @Mehrdad576 and fantastic news that you've already taken care of your passport too!

On 10/13/2017 at 1:56 PM, Lona.C. said:

I received my CON in mail today 

Yay!

On 10/13/2017 at 9:25 AM, CutePuppy said:

Can you please share your interview experience at the Boston office?  Is there anything in particular that I should be aware of or study for?  I am just reading the book they gave us at the moment.  "Learn About the United States, Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test" (rev. 05/17)

 

Should I focus on something else as well for the interview?

 

You'll be fine!  They'll review your application with you, asking all the yes/no questions again, and making a note if anything has changed - such as your travel outside of the United States, if you've joined any associations etc.  Just know the questions and answers in the civics guide.  They'll only as a maximum of 10, and stop at 6 if you get them correct.  If you have anything weird with your case, or things that might need explaining, such as behind on taxes, divorce papers in progress,  job changes etc, they'll just want you to explain those and take copies of any supporting documents you bring.  My experience was very positive and I recall I wrote a "review" of sorts about it in the May 2017 thread, but I don't have it to hand I'm afraid.  The waiting before the interview was longer than the actual interview! 

7 hours ago, Lona.C. said:

anyone ?  ( I already looked at passport processing time table but cant find anyone from MA or close by ) 

They're mailed back from separate offices.  I would expect it to come back within a week or two of the passport.  Don't panic yet!

1 hour ago, Gtown1 said:

Thanks for your feedback as always. The reason for my query is that I need to travel out of the country for work at the end of next week (5 days after oath) and I am trying to figure out a way to apply and get the new passport. Unfortunately, this is a last minute travel and I am concerned about getting the passport back in time. Someone mentioned that the Passport agency can do expedited processing of passport requests. Not sure if that is a possibility.

You can expedite a passport but I don't think even expedited via mail would get it to you in time, unless it is what the passport authority call "life and death" related (which they can turn around in 3 days)... But, I could be wrong.  Your best bet is to call the passport folks for advice.  You used to be able to go get it done in person at a local passport agency center.  There may be one close to you if your local field office is Albany.  (Also worth noting the expedited services are an additional $60 on top of the passport fee.)

You should be proactive though and make your enquiries for the above NOW.  Call and make an appointment for the day of/after your ceremony, or the following day.  Do not delay!

On 10/5/2017 at 11:14 PM, Gtown1 said:

Was there anyone from the Passport office or were any instructions provided on applying for new passports as part of the Oath ceremony. 

Yes there was someone there but they basically tell you what you already know.  You still have to go to a post office etc and complete the application there.  There was a passport application form in with my certificate envelope actually.

On 10/4/2017 at 2:45 PM, Gazy said:

@lovelyalex  Alex , did you get a decision or approval letter in the mail after the interview separate from an oath letter?

Sorry! Just seeing this now, things have been nuts at home.  So no, no approval letter or decision letter.  The oath letter starts something like "thank you for your interest in becoming a US citizen" and then goes on to say when your oath date is.

3 hours ago, CutePuppy said:

Thank you for sharing your timeline,  I am surprised that you had to go to Hartford CT for biometric appointment, thats odd...  Why didnt you do it in MA?

 

One other question...  I thought the Interview usually happens on the same date of Oath Ceremony, that is not the case for you???   And why didnt you apply for Passport at the end of the Oath Ceremony :)?

 

Thank you for your time and replies

It's possible their nearest ASC was in CT and they live in SW Mass. But for my bio I was asked to go to Revere, but then my interview was in Boston and my oath was in Boston.  Sometimes you get punted to your nearest USCIS application support center for biometrics, even though the county you live in (which is not in the same county as Revere) is served by Boston.

I was a Boston filer.  I applied in early May.  Had my interview end of August, oath just recently on Sept 21 < that's my timeline. It too me 6 months and 17 days (201 days) from start to finish. Now some say Boston is quicker than most field offices, and I also don't know if my "case" is as a quick read as others or if my biometric results too a while to come in, or other variables that might not make my example of any help for comparison, but there ya go!

USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
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lovelyalex.....|03/01/10|05/03|05/08|05/09/17|05/31/17|07/19/17|07/25/17|08/29/17|09/21/17.|Boston, MA....|NBC
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lucybelle......|07/16/14|05/08|05/12|05/12/17|06/07/17|06/16/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Raleigh, NC...|NBC
lvivlion ......|03/20/02|05/08|05/16|05/20/17|06/02/17|06/08/17|--/--/--|08/22/17|9/15/2017|Pittsburgh,PA.|
falmaind.......|08/05/14|05/08|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|El Paso, TX...|
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d & c..........|08/07/14|05/10|05/17|05/15/17|06/05/17|07/07/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|New Orleans,LA|
Akrod..........|05/29/10|05/10|05/16|05/17/17|06/07/17|06/12/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Miami, FL.....|
Gazy...........|01/17/13|05/10|05/15|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Cleveland, OH.|
level3.........|06/01/07|05/12|05/17|05/18/17|06/05/17|06/20/17|06/26/17|07/27/17|08/14/17.|Charleston, SC|
Virjil1988.....|--/--/--|05-15|05/22|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Charlotte, NC.|
magic123.......|05/31/14|05/19|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ....|
Danysen........|08/08/14|05/20|05/24|06/02/17|06/20/17|07/10/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Miami, FL.....|NBC
cmellgren......|05/09/14|05/22|05/24|05/24/17|06/16/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Memphis,TN....| 
hopephilly.....|08/05/14|05/22|05/25|05/30/17|06/21/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|PhiladelphiaPA|
alebrije.......|08/12/14|05/23|06/07|06/12/17|06/28/17|--/--/--|07/20/17|08/17/17|09/20/17.|Houston, TX...|IOE
ge08...........|--/--/--|05/24|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Houston, TX...|
savanp90.......|--/--/--|05/24|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ....|
MA NYC.........|--/--/--|05/24|05/30|05/31/17|06/20/17|07/24/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|NYC, NY.......|NBC
MnMJourney.....|07/28/14|05/24|05/30|05/25/17|06/12/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|NYC, NY.......|NBC
kirat17........|06/11/14|05/24|05/30|05/31/17|06/22/17|07/24/17|08/22/17|09/26/17|--/--/--.|JacksonvilleFL|NBC
HimalayanV.....|10/12/10|05/26|05/30|06/05/17|06/23/17|06/27/17|07/28/17|09/06/17|10/20/17.|Albany, NY....|NBC
elmesq.........|03/23/11|05/13|05/17|05/30/17|06/12/17|07/27/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|Washington, DC|

USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================ 
UserName.......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office...|NBC/IOE
laufine........|07/24/12|05/01|05/03|05/08/17|05/30/17|06/26/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA|NBC
nesh123........|--/--/--|05/01|05/04|05/11/17|05/31/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Detroit, MI....|
Waitinggame16..|08/02/12|05/02|05/15|05/17/17|05/27/17|07/03/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago IL.....|
roxer021.......|--/--/--|05/08|05/08|05/16/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|...............|
rubya..........|07/12/12|05/08|05/10|05/12/17|06/01/17|06/20/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Cincinnati OH..|
nitrous_guy....|08/07/14|05/10|05/12|05/12/17|06/08/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago IL.....|
Gazy...........|--/--/--|05/10|05/15|05/15/17|06/08/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Cleveland, OH..|
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Mehrdad576.....|08/10/12|05/16|05/19|05/19/17|06/05/17|07/10/17|08/22/17|09/27/17|10/12/17|Detroit, MI....|
jill r.........|--/--/--|05/18|05/18|05/25/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|St Louis, MO...|
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Dia0077........|--/--/--|05/22|05/25|05/25/17|--/--/--|07/10/17|--/--/--|09/18/17|--/--/--|San BernadinoCA|
currentuser....|08/26/12|05/26|05/30|06/05/17|06/23/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL....|
zool...........|09/06/10|05/03|--/--|05/06/17|05/31/17|06/05/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Detroit, MI....| 

USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA.....|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office...|NBC/IOE
deborabr.......|01/22/13|05/23|05/30|05/30/17|06/20/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Anchorage, AK..|

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Legend: 
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card.
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS.
Cashd: Date your check was cashed / credit card was charged by USCIS.
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification.
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In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling.
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DO NOT DELETE THIS LINK: N400 May 2017 filers - Google spreadsheet document

2 hours ago, Lilith70 said:

Can someone give me an advice as to what questions are being asked during the interview?  How long will it take?  

They'll review all of the YES/NO questions in your application.

They may ask questions about the status of your taxes and want to see the documents you're bringing from the IRS.

They'll review some of the other questions in the application, such as are you a member of any groups or associations.

They'll ask why you want to become a citizen!

Try not to overthink or worry.