Mom2LilNoah

It's been more than 4 months since I was interviewed in Atlanta, Georgia and today I got some good news to share too.

I finally received my oath letter. It's going to be this coming May 19 in Birmingham Museum of Art.

Please update my timeline. Thanks a lot. To Rebelheart, congrats to you too. The wait has finally come to an end. Thanks to VisaJourney in general, especially to those who have been of help to make my naturalization process a great journey. :dance:

Thanks Rebelheart, I'll keep an eye for updates...let me know what you scooped out of here or anywhere.

I just sent you a reply to your message.

Best regards,

Mom2LilNoah

Did you request to change your name? Or you just wanted the judicial oath. To be honest with you, it may take up to 6months - 1yr, depending on your residential location. All the best with that. In the mean time, call the 1-800 number and find out if you can request an administrative oath.

All the best.

I actually didn't. I wanna keep my married name (the name I used as a result of my marriage), and have been using in all my government, bank, official, and other pertinent records as a legal resident of the U.S. Therefore, I did not ask to have it changed. Birmingham is just 1 hour away from my place of residence and given the fact that there's one in May, I am crossing my fingers that I am one of them.

However, during the discussion of that issue, she said that it's considered changing of name hence, judicial oath ceremony. I don't know, it isn't fair that some applicants, particularly Filipinas did not go through this. There's definitely inconsistencies in the system.

Anyhow, thanks a lot for the response.

When the IO told me that the judicial oath ceremony will take place this year, I thought it's gonna be early this year but I was wrong because it's over 2 months already since my interview and I still haven't heard from whatever office it is to send me the appointment.

Then I took an action last week by contacting our senators by filling out a form online. Then today, I got a call from the office of one of our senators that there's gonna be one in May. That sounds promising rather than waiting for the unknown. I am not complaining about the longevity of the wait, it's about the wonderment of "WHEN".

To Rebelheart, I'd like to believe that if you were to take the judicial oath ceremony just like myself in Birmingham, Alabama, we would have the same schedule then if they give one for the public. Let me know what's your current status.

I am just glad they respond at a very reasonable time.

Are you sure you did not recieved your appt letter after your interview? somtimes immigration officers asking you when is the best date you can do your oath taking check your files again if its not you can ask them via calling the USCIS, the ceremony takes about 3 +/- hrs depends on how many persons doing the oath taking

Hi...the oath ceremony you're talking about is different from the usual ceremony because the judicial oath ceremony is more private I believe. I was supposed to take the oath after my interview but since I opted not to have my current name changed, my IO told me that I will have an oath-taking this year (it's been close to 2 months though since my Interview) and I still haven't received my appointment yet which she said I will get by the mail. My district office is Atlanta but instead of going there, they told me that I can take it in Birmingham Alabama, which is the best part of it since I am from Alabama. Ms. Rebelheart has more or less the same status as myself and I wish there's somebody here who can share their experience if they went through the "judicial oath ceremony" which I have a strong feeling happens only to Filipinas/Filipinos.

You're talking about Philippine Consulate right? Coz I haven't heard of USCIS offices doing such thing for oath ceremonies?

I'm sorry, the 2nd post was off topic in relation to the original post.

Now I remember the name...CONSULAR OUTREACH which they do every now and then in different states.

I just wanna know if anyone here, preferably Filipinas/Filipinos who went through judicial oath ceremony. Can you guys please describe how it works, how long it takes to get the appointment letter from the day you're interviewed, and other things related to it? It's been over a month since I had my interview and I wonder if the waiting time is normal and is there an office that I can call, particularly here in Birmingham, Alabama where I'm supposed to take the oath, instead of Atlanta?

I'd appreciate your 2 cents of this post.

Whoa!I'm very sorry sis I didn't wear my eyeglasses yesterday I know Consular outreach is January I didn't know I typed June . You will need your Naturalization Certificate when you apply for dual Citizenship and I see that date is getting closer and you didn't receive the appointment yet for the oath-taking?You might just apply early next year if you miss this one or who knows they might have another Consular outreach within a few months? I believe they do it every year. Again I'm very sorry for the typo error.

It's ok. There's nothing I can do right now but patiently wait for my appointment, do the next few steps re: updating my status with SSA, getting a US passport, etc. then start gathering the pertinent documents for the dual citizenship application and fly to DC for the oath-taking. It's like hitting 2 birds in one stone coz I could visit my bestfriend and have them too during the oath-taking, di ba mas bibo? Not unless there's gonna be another outreach program in the neighboring states.

Thanks again and have a great week ahead of you.

Hi there,

Are you planning to apply for dual Citizenship? They have Consular outreach there in Alabama on June 30, 2010. Hopefully you will have your Oath taking soon so you won't miss this CO in your area. Anyway Congrats at least you're done with US Immigration thingy.

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/PR-Co...%2013Jan10.html

I got disappointed the moment I realized that it's not June 2010 that they will have the consular outreach here but January 30, 2010. Because it's January 18 today (my citizenship oath-taking date is unknown) and sure it's gonna take a few weeks for the exact date for the oath-taking to take place, then that's when I start gathering all those dual citizenship requirements and then the oath-taking...it's definitely IMPOSSIBLE...wish it was June :(

Hi there,

Are you planning to apply for dual Citizenship? They have Consular outreach there in Alabama on June 30, 2010. Hopefully you will have your Oath taking soon so you won't miss this CO in your area. Anyway Congrats at least you're done with US Immigration thingy.

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/PR-Co...%2013Jan10.html

Thanks you sooo much for sharing the information. Yes, I am planning to apply for dual citizenship and that news is awesome. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get an oath-taking appointment soon, so I can start gathering the reacquisition requirements and send them in to take advantage of their service here in our state though it's more or less 3 hours from our city but it does not matter. Thanks a lot again, I'll try to call their office once my appointment is determined.

Oath is done only ONCE but passport shud be renewed every 5 yrs. I renewed my passport in washington dc by just mailing the application but had my personal appearance here in Atlanta. You don't have to go to DFA office personally for renewal of passport.

Members, please keep those inputs coming. Based on your replies, oath-taking will take place but ONCE (meaning, there's no need to take the oath again ever). On the other hand, passport should be renewed every 5 years, which I know because I had my Philippine passport amended and renewed 2007 and will expire 2012. And I sent my application in Washington, DC without going there or anywhere else and I got my new passport by mail too.

So I am just wondering, Ms. Happywi...why do u have to go to Atlanta? Is it an immigration office? I am from Alabama so I am just curious if instead of renewing my passport in person, like DC, is it possible for me to show up within the vicinity of our state?

Sorry guys, have a lot of questions. Just wanna clear some foggy clouds out there.

If I was to reacquire my Filipino citizenship, I'd be required to take the oath in front of the consulate in Washington, D.C. where my state of residence is under jurisdiction. I'm fine with that. But my question is, is it true that I have to take the oath or renew my passport every 5 years w/c I read in one of the discussions here w/c I quote, "She would then have to go to the consulate every five years to renew her Philippine passport. We don't live anywhere near one, so that means paying airfare and hotel for our family to get there every time she needs to renew."?

I've been looking for a specific part of that law mentioning the "5 years" and still can't find it. Is there anybody here who can show it to me? I would love to hear your input on this for accuracy.

In my books, it is ok to do the oath-taking face-to-face once but doing it every 5 years is ridiculous especially for applicants who has to travel that far. Besides, it also involves money, how about for those people who can't afford to do so, like me? Legislators, please do some amendment. What do u guys think?

Odd that in your situation that they allowed your spouse in too, as I thought they don't allow spouses to be in the same room for Citizenship interviews?

Yeah congratulations. To me, I consider it a great Christmas present this year. I agree with Ant... I remember there was even an elderly woman when I had my interview who was accompanied by her daughter, I assume. By just observing them, the daughter was not allowed to go with her. Unfortunately, when they got out of the office, the IO was explaining to her aloud, take note (everybody heard it on that side of the room, not unless some were dozing off) that she did not make it for reasons that she did't comprehend 75% of the interview process, poor woman, and that they have to come back after 3 months.

IOs deal with applicants in different ways, some are lenient, some aren't. And if some Filipinas were given an option what name they prefer to be shown on the certificate, instead of imposing what should be followed, I could have taken my oath the same day even if it's already 23 to say, 30-35 minutes late for the ceremony. I don't know why there are inconsistencies as to what policy they should follow as far as that goes. And why is it that I only heard such issue among Filipina women, is it because the Philippines is the only country that is using a different naming system in the whole world?

At any rate congrats and Merry Christmas to all!!!

Can anyone please update my timeline? Just follow Rebelheart's because we have the same current status as of this time.

* ( waiting for Judicial Oath Ceremony appointment )

Thanks a lot and congratulations to all July/August passers and certificate holders.

Mom2LilNoah:

Congratulations!!!!

Thank you.[/color]

Nice to know you made a good swift finished on your interview. Same as with you, not really on rush about the certificate and I don't want to get that hassle too, changing my middle name on all id's, even in my marriage cert. Did you IO says the judicial is a private affair only???

There were things that I should have asked the IO while I was there but only remembered when I was outside the facility, and yes, that's one of my questions. I wonder if some Filipinas here attended that kind of ceremony and if it also includes some other nationalities, hmmmm.

I never been asked, instead she erased my middle name on the application and right down my mother's last name, that she said my middle name in my birth Certificate. then the issue was open up...

She did not ask me either. She looked at my BC and just crossed out my legal middle name now and change it to my single middle name. Then explained to me how naming system works.

Hope we have both a private Judicial Oath next year!! .. would be great doing so with our beloved family. The Oath in ATL last Monday was jam-packed , all relatives we're squeezed and standing in the back-row of the conference.

Ditto on that. Yeah, from the number of people I saw last Tuesday, accomodation is sort of unbelievable for the ceremony, might end up like canned sardines

God bless and Thanks too! "Advance MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family!!!"

You too and have a safe trip, wherever your destination is.

To Raleigh2009 and Bilson4real, thanks a bunch.

Congratulations as you say the hard part is over. Enjoy your oath ceremony when you eventually have it.

Thanks a lot. I will be updating my timeline as to the date of my oath-taking and as I've said, thanks to all the members who took the time to answer my concerns and questions about Naturalization issues and I sure did gain a lot of insights from here, even not-so-good posts in response to my once-stolen wallet that I recovered two days after. But yes, I'm glad that part's over.

How was your interview? We can't wait hear the good news. Congrats.

First of all, thanks to this forum for I learned a lot of things and in a way prepared me for some good and not-so-good expectations of the naturalization process, especially the interview stage. I PASSED (I'll tell u what happened in the next few paragraphs). Second, my apologies for not being able to post my interview experience yesterday as promised. I was dog tired (waking up early, left at 6:00 a.m. and traveled 6 hours in all for the said big event, with my 21-year old son in tow, gee, that was very exhausting) and of course our stay at the waiting room took forever, seemed like. Then coupled with precipitation the whole day that caused us delays getting to places (for breakfast, lunch, and other forces of nature ;-)

I was scheduled for a 1:25 p.m. interview but my name was called at 2:20 p.m. (the facility that day was full packed, both the 2nd and 3rd floors) and got there 30 minutes prior to my sched. My son got restless because it's around that time that he takes a nap, poor hubby of mine, had to deal with the whining while I was interviewed.

After going through security and checked in at the 2nd floor of the building, I was sent to the 3rd floor instead and when my name was called, we were led again to the 2nd floor. The interview went well . Ruby Wynn, the IO, made me so comfortable that we ended up acting like old buddies and having a great conversation on issues like my picture-taking incident when I had my biometrics, and about the name change that was brought up after the tests were administered.

Anyways, she first made me raise my right hand to tell the truth and so on and so forth and then asked for my passport, GC, and driver's license. Take note, she did not even ask me anything else like evidence of joint accounts or bills though I had an overkill of those in my big-o bag. She went over my files and asked for my BC, then proceeded with the tests below:

* I was asked to read: Who elects the Congress?

* and write : The people elects the Congress.

Civics Questions:

1. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

2. Name one of the 2 longest rivers of the U.S.

3. Who is the Speaker of the House now?

4. What do you call the first ten ammendments of the Constitution?

5. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

6. We elect a President for how many years?

Then as most Filipinos go through with the name-change issue, she told me to do the same thing but I opted not to change my legal name using my maiden last name as my married middle name. That even if it was already 2:23 already while the intervew was on-going, she will still let me take the 2:00 p.m. oath-taking considering my place of residence, which was very nice of her to offer. But I insisted on keeping my middle name and attend the judicial ceremony not in Atlanta but in Birmingham, Alabama next year, what a relief. No big deal, to tell you frankly. What's important is that I'm through with that leg of the process, all I have to do is drive 1 hour from home next year, relax and enjoy the cremony, right? Besides, I'm in no hurry to get my certificate, but just be safe from the regular increase of fees. Obviously the certificate will be handed to me next year and don't have to go through the hassle of changing my middle name in all my bank, government, and other records. So that's it guys. Thanks for all the help and yes, it was a success. Being a member of this forum helped me a lot. Nevertheless, I will keep u posted about when the oath-taking will take place. THANKS from the BOTTOM of my HEART. Let me close my post with these:

I've been itching to get online before catching some Zzzzzzzs. So here I am. I stand corrected because my friends failed to mention that part of their success stories. I completely understood what you were trying to convey and I just hate the fact that I have to drop my maiden last name :-( Anyways, what gets me is that, we all went through different immigration-related stages and had they said that that's how the US naming system is, we could have started using such from the very beginning to avoid the hassles. How I wish there was an agency or office re: court house (where some of us got married) who takes charge of educating or informing immigrants about the "name change" part especially when it's time for us to be eligible to apply for naturalization :-(

All I can say now is.....it's indeed great to be a member here.

At any rate, I guess we'll just have to do what we think is right and best thing to do. Again thanks for posting your experience and congrats again...you're now free from anxiety because you're just an oath away and you're done, that's the best part.

HI Mom2LilNoah:

So??? birth certificate is more appropriate legally docs. than a marriage certificate which court house supply to us??? why they didn't correct it from the start of filing of marriage??? hehehehe

If I used Anna Santos Smith from the start of AOS till N400, I guess won't have this issue.

Well, though it's a blessing in disguise for me... I read somewhere here in VJ 1 filipina member got oath and just knew about that problem, so she got her different name on her Citizenship Cert. so she needs to go to court house and do the change name.

Lucky me, I asked about the "NAME THING issue" before she put me on oath ceremony in time she finds the problem issue about someone is using my Alien#. Now I could just wait to clear that "a guess" of identity theft issue and will do the judicial oath to correct issue of different used names. I don't mind waiting for my oath,not a rush .. I still have 5 yrs used of my Phils. passport and my 10 yrs. GC

God bless!

Hi Rebelheart, sorry to hear about your plight regarding the "name change". Two of my friends had their interviews in Atlanta the 3rd of this month and never had a rpoblem related to this. And early this year too, I have 2 other friends who got their certificates with no problems at all. With the way our naming system in the Philippines works, I am pretty sure, they dropped their respective middle maiden name and used their father's last name as their middle name after they got married. I know how disappointing that is. In all my records and documents, I am using my maiden name as my middle name and used as my legal name, shown on my son's BC. I know there's a possibility that it's going to happen to me too but I am hoping it's not. Thanks a lot for wishing me luck and be rest assured that I'll let you know tomorrow evening. It's gonna be a 4-hour drive so keep an eye for the update.

Thank you for all who greeted me congratulations! Here my recap of my interview .. and why Oath got busted!!

Wake-up in the Monday morning, Greet my hubby a very special "Happy Birthday"! Fix myself, drove-out, reached Immigration about an hour drive. Waited to the parking for 1 hr keep playing back the Cd-rom to review myself again and again. 30 mins. before my Interview schedule @ 925am ... I checked-in to the entrance door, being scanned, went to the 2nd floor to give my appointment, just checked the time I get in, and asked me to go upstairs at the 3rd flr instead.

Up to the 3rd flr., went to the reception and being asked to wait. Called by 10am by a female Officer. Asked my Greencard, Driver's license and my old/new Philippine passport. She took all her time juggling my 7-8 inches thick Immigration files. Putting post-it paper in between all my files from petition.

Took me in swearing...... Then asked me the 6 questions:

1) what is amendment?

2) highest court in US?

3) first 10 amendment?

4) who is the president?

5) capital of your state?

6) one promise you make when you be a citizen?

Reading test: What is one right in Bill of Rights?

Writing test: Freedom of speech is one right.

Started to give me questions about my info in the application....

Then the "BIG ISSUE" came the "NAME CHANGE" .... she crossed-out my middle name (w/c is my father last name) and put instead my mother's last name.. and started saying:

Here in US , when you got married .. you still gonna used your middle name when your single (w/c is my mother's name) and then your last name will be your husband name.

example : (single name) WWW (1st name) - XXX(mother's name) - YYY(father's name)

(married name i used on all my id's) WWW (1st name) - YYY (father's name) - ZZZ (husband name)

(US legal way use of name in Immigration) WWW (1st name) - XXX (mother's name) - ZZZ (husband name)

So.. she said If I want to use - YYY (father's name) as my middle name, a change name should take in court house. She said they got judicial oath ceremony but it's gonna be schedule next year. Well, I said I want to take the Oath this afternoon since I'm there already, and do change name in my county court house someday. Then she let me signed my id picture and application form.

She then keep looking on the system, keep scanning on my profile bar and then printed something. Started talking to me like, you passed the exams, but something here on the system showing that , there's a 2 N400 application sent... She said hold-on and I'll ask my supervisor.... I'll log you in this afternoon.

Came back on me, gave me a piece of paper N652 ( notice that I passed the interview) then saying that come back for 2pm for it has Oath same day. She didn't mentioned that I need to get a notice of Oath taking before oath, or saying that needs further evaluation of my file.

So I thought it's a "GO" for Oath, so I went home to picked my husband, my son and my cousin. We went there arrived at 1pm, and everyone's called-in for Oath at 2pm. So I approach the staff and told her that I am interviewed 10am this morning. She went upstairs and i guess talked to the officer interview me. She came down, saying to me that she called me few minutes but I'm not there anymore, and told her I need to pick-up my family for oath, bcoz my husband in a wheelchair.

She started saying she's sorry, her supervisor said "NO" on my Oath even she put me in the afternoon, bcoz of this " guessing of IDENTITY THEFT on my Alien# ... that someone filed another application for same no.

EVEN, i explained to her, that I applied in Texas Center for N400, my mistake that I didn't check online that it should be in Vermont Center bcoz texas don't accept anymore applications. But i told her Texasnotified me abut the mistake, so they are the one gonna send my application to Vermont Ctr. So to my understanding, i have 2 filed - 1 in texas and vermont, but someone inside didn't corrected that error in the system. She already said she explained it to the supervisor, but the supervisor want to make sure the system be cleared 100% ( I don't blame his judgement, bcoz it's someone's inside mistake and not me.

So I told her, talked to my husband instead of this issue.... so she did, and then asked me when I am going to be back in US after my New Year's vacation in my home country. I said end of January 2010. She said , I need to give them 1 month atleast to correct the issue and they will schedule me for Oath when I come back.

For that ... I insisted to her to get a "Judicial Oath Ceremony" for that change name issue about whose name should be used in US way. First I think of just go on with the new name she put on my file ( WWW-XXX-ZZZ) when I took oath next year, But it crossed to my mind, that all my credit cards, banks, certificates are on my WWW-YYY-ZZZ) name. For me, it's more convenient for me to do the change name in citizenship, than calling or visiting all these private and government offices bcoz of the name the Immigration want me to use bcoz it is the legal way in US way.

She said Judicial oath is free than getting it on our county court house but it needs to be scheduled. I said back to her... U asked me until February for my oath ceremony bcoz you need to clear my Alien# file issue, might as well wait for that schedule but with a judicial oath ceremony instead for my name change. since I am going to do change name even I took the Oath today... seems like " HITTING 2 BIRDS in 1 STONE next year!!!!

Well the consolation for me now is "I'VE PASSED" and DONE with the stress to review for interview/exam. Though I'm not done yet dealing with the Immigration stuff...

Bilson4real & Raleigh2009: Congrats for your interview and having same date oath ceremony. God bless All!!!

Mom2LilNoah : Good luck for tomorrow .... let me know if you going to get that "change name" issue too!!! well, i am guessing you gonna get that issue "ONLY IF" you used your father last name as your middle name in the application form. ( well, that's how the legal way in the Philippines, get married the mother's last name is the one to be abolished not the father's name) But here in the US , it's the opposite way.

Congratulations to you too. Hopefully, we will see face to face on 12.18.2009.

Congratulations to the 3 of you. But I am wondering why Rebelheart got a same-day oath, and not the 3 of you? Is it because of the time of your interview that you have to come back? Please let me know, I am curious. Mine is tomorrow, wish me luck.

Best of luck to the three (3) of you. Hope you guys don't mind sharing your respective experiences the day you're interviewed so I can read them before my interview the following day. Today, I just realized that two of my friends applied for citizenship too but only disclosed it after they got their certificates. They had both their interviews the 3rd of this month in Atlanta.

Good luck!!!

pmkroger:

Congrats to your Oath taking!

4keerthi:

Congrats on passing your interview and same day oath taking!!

--- seems it's me, bilson4real & raleigh2009 turns on Monday .... yaaaaayyy!!

BEST OF LUCK to us guys!

And to think my wife didn't want to surrender her green card because of all the grief we were put through to get it. Should let you bring a 12 gauge shot gun to your oath ceremony so you can blow it to pieces. And you do not have to carry your USC certificate with you, don't have to carry anything as long as you are not driving or taking the airlines. Best wishes on your interview, good luck is not getting into a traffic jam and getting a reasonable IO, wish you the best of luck. Studying for the test and providing evidence is up to you.

Thanks NickD for the reminders. I made a few readings already about what to do after getting my certificate. Yes, I am trying to mentally arm myself with the Civics/History part, has reviewed my N400 form and checking twice my appointment letter to make sure I get all things in my purse. And also, my outfit's ready too, together with my husband's and son's. Trying to dress to the nines :-)

And of course I need all the "best wishes" I can get. I can't wait to post my experience here. Have a great day!!!

First and foremost, I wanna thank all the members who replied to my post, even to the one who tried to "bless me out" for bringing my GC with me. Thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to offer me suggestions and great solutions, I truly appreciate your help.

Here's the good news ....

I got my wallet back first in the morning today from the store where I last went. All my cards and other pertinent documents are intact, except for my around 40-dollar bills and Visa card. The person who stole it, used my card to pay his/her merchanside that day. When I went to my bank, I had to get a police report of the incident to get the money back used by the thief.

I actually got a call back from the Manager about the stolen wallet the same night I lost it but I just waited til I got my wallet in the flesh, to make sure that I got it back before letting everybody know here that I am indeed lucky to get it back. The relief I felt was beyond words, the moment I saw my black wallet about to be handed to me.

God is soooo good. Again, thanks a lot for everything. This forum has never ceased to help me...1 more week, and I would be interviewed and probably get a same-day oath. My sincerest gratitude.

Thanks for the referral. So, the only solution available for me is get a replacement. Since I believe it won't be here before my Interview, does that mean I have to reschedule my appointment?

Sorry to hear about that. I think that you ought to report it stolen.

Here is the page on the USCIS website about replacing a green card. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0000ecd190aRCRD