hobokenworkingman

My wife had her naturalization ceremony today. It lasted for ~4 hrs - ~260 folks getting naturalized today in Brooklyn, NYC!

We are finally done!!!

This has been a looooong journey and I appreciate all the help and support that all you good folks at VJ have been through this quest.

My wife and I thank and wish everyone the best of luck. Please update our status and dont hesitate to drop me a line if you have any questions.

I bid VJ a fond farewell!

Best wishes to all.

My wife's interview was today at 11 AM and she passed with flying colors!

I accompanied her and her interview was at the Long Island City USCIS office in Queens in NYC. We got there ~ 10:20 (her scheduled time was 11 AM) or so and were shuttled to a waiting room on the 1st floor where her fingerprints and photo was taken (for ID purposes I guess). They also scanned her green card. Then we waited for another 10-15 min and were shuttled to the 2nd floor which is where the interviews take place. I waited in a large room with many other folks and after about 1/2 hr of waiting, my wife was called in. I asked if I could accompany, but was politely gestured as no. The interview lasted ~ 15 min and was very very basic. Questions were - how many in house of reps etc etc (sorry my wife couldnt remember the exact questions), but were very easy. The only things checked were her passport and green card (we took everything - my naturalization certificate, my passport, our tax returns, bank statements, mortgage statements etc etc, just in case she was asked to produce proof of our marriage and cohabilitation), but nothign got asked. She was asked if she could come back within an hour to pick up the oath ceremony letter. So we went and had lunch and my wife went back in after an hour, waited for ~ 20 min and got her letter.

Oath ceremony is scheduled for OCTOBER 18th Friday at 8:30 AM in the brooklyn court house!

Please update!

Congrats to everyone who passed their interviews and good luck to those pending!

Actually USCIS is under Dept of Homeland Security. it has ~ 12550 employees and 12205 or so are considered as employees that are exempt from the funding hiatus b/c they are either presidential employees or funded through other means (ie, through the ridiculously high application fees - I guess that's 1 reason we can be thankful for!). So ~250 employees not working will not be much of a dent (hopefully!) - 97% will be working according to below. I will call up USCIS to see if our local field office will be open for the interview on thursday.

Good luck to all of us!

Here's the breakdown from the Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2013-shutdown-federal-department-impact/?hpid=z1

Department of Homeland Security

TOTAL

EMPLOYEES

EXPECTED

TO WORK

FURLOUGHED

231,117 199,822 31,295 Overall impact

The vast majority of Department of Homeland Security employees will continue to work under a shutdown because their functions “must be maintained under all circumstances to ensure the safety and security of the nation and its citizens,” or because their jobs are not funded by congressional appropriations, according to the agency’s 2013 contingency plan.

Impact on workers

The DHS shutdown plan designates about 86 percent of the department’s roughly 231,000 employees as “essential,” meaning they will remain on the job for the “safety of human life or protection of property.” Some of those workers will also be part of an “emergency relocation group” that responds to possible emergency situations.

Among DHS components, the Transportation Security Administration, which handles airport screenings, will retain about 93 percent of its workforce, while about 78 percent of Federal Emergency Management Agency and 88 percent of both Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protectionemployees will remain on the job. Topping the list with the highest percentage is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, at 97 percent, followed by the Secret Service, with 92 percent.

Actually here's some even better news - from uscis.gov homepage:

a sad state of affairs though...

Wow! that's a long wait - best of luck. Now with this stupid gov't shutdown, i hope things dont get delayed even more. My wife's interview on thursday (!) and we just want this over with. I checked which gov't agencies will be affected and dept of state will remain open and so will uscis, except for if its in a gov't building that has shut down. So I hope 1 fed plaza in manhattan is not affected, for your sake. We are fortunate to have a local field office here in queens and that's where her interview is.

Best of luck - maybe you can schedule an Infopass appt if you want to talk to a uscis officer directly.

Actually USCIS is under Dept of Homeland Security. it has ~ 12550 employees and 12205 or so are considered as employees that are exempt from the funding hiatus b/c they are either presidential employees or funded through other means (ie, through the ridiculously high application fees - I guess that's 1 reason we can be thankful for!). So ~250 employees not working will not be much of a dent (hopefully!) - 97% will be working according to below. I will call up USCIS to see if our local field office will be open for the interview on thursday.

Good luck to all of us!

Here's the breakdown from the Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2013-shutdown-federal-department-impact/?hpid=z1

TOTAL

EMPLOYEES

EXPECTED

TO WORK

FURLOUGHED

The vast majority of Department of Homeland Security employees will continue to work under a shutdown because their functions “must be maintained under all circumstances to ensure the safety and security of the nation and its citizens,” or because their jobs are not funded by congressional appropriations, according to the agency’s 2013 contingency plan.

The DHS shutdown plan designates about 86 percent of the department’s roughly 231,000 employees as “essential,” meaning they will remain on the job for the “safety of human life or protection of property.” Some of those workers will also be part of an “emergency relocation group” that responds to possible emergency situations.

Among DHS components, the Transportation Security Administration, which handles airport screenings, will retain about 93 percent of its workforce, while about 78 percent of Federal Emergency Management Agency and 88 percent of both Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protectionemployees will remain on the job. Topping the list with the highest percentage is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, at 97 percent, followed by the Secret Service, with 92 percent.

Hello everybody.

It has been 92 since I was placed in line for interview so I decided to call 1800 number. I was told that it doesn't mean anything that 90 has passed by. They told me , the only thing they can do for me is to check what is the office situation like in NYC, Manhattan office. After a minute of waiting the officer got back to me and told me that Manhattan office is only processing applications that were filed February 21st. I filed my paper work June 7th. Just wanted to fill you in. So it is gonna be a long wait time. It just seems strange that everybody else had the interviews or at least received the date of the interview and NYC is only processing February applications. Congratulations to everybody who is done and good luck to everyone who is waiting.

Wow! that's a long wait - best of luck. Now with this stupid gov't shutdown, i hope things dont get delayed even more. My wife's interview on thursday (!) and we just want this over with. I checked which gov't agencies will be affected and dept of state will remain open and so will uscis, except for if its in a gov't building that has shut down. So I hope 1 fed plaza in manhattan is not affected, for your sake. We are fortunate to have a local field office here in queens and that's where her interview is.

Best of luck - maybe you can schedule an Infopass appt if you want to talk to a uscis officer directly.

Hey HOBOKENWORKNGMAN, thank you for your message. BTW, are you filing in NYC? Good luck to you guys )

Yup - we're in Queens and went through the dallas lockbox.

Anybody in NYC has received an Interview Date? seems like I am one of the last few people left on the list. Wake up New York office, I just wanna get done with it!

Hey Brsko we got our interview letter back on August 30th after waiting nearly a month post-biometrics. Ours (my wife's that is) is scheduled for Oct 3rd, so hang in there! We also just got a yellow letter in the mail asking for her to bring her passport and "any other travel documents". She only has her Indian passport which she has used for border crossings many times - anyone know what this could be for?

I just got off the phone again, at least my request to re-send the letter was granted ! Now I need to visit the post office so they lose it yet again!!

I was again told that a fax cannot be made before 9th. I am mostly worried for my daughter....need to make arrangements to have her picked up from school and be somewhere while we are at the interview. I am sure it will all end great....but every step just becomes challenging for no reason.

Yes it will definitely end well - don't worry. these are minor hiccups - aggravating and frustrating no doubt, but hang in there and you'll get the letter.

Hello Hobo,

I just received my "Interview Letter" in the mail today. Yay! The letter was mailed out on the 27th and my "Big Day" is on Monday, September 30th at 10:15 AM.

I am hoping soon you'll get yours too.

Yup just did an hour ago! mailed out on 26th and the big day is Thursday October 3rd at 11 am right at our local office, which we can just get to taking the subway!

Please update!!!

happyndinlove, let me know if you've received your letter interview yet. I looked yesterday and mine didnt come. Hoping it will be here today. I Figure that if they mailed it out on monday, it'll take 2-3 days to get here (I'm in NYC).

I HAD MY INTERVIEW AND TEST TODAY AND I PASSED IT!!!! SUPPOSEDLY ILL BE TAKING THE OATH TAKING BUT WHEN I TOLD MY COOL OFFICER THAT I LOST MY GREENCARD, I HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN APPT LETTER FOR THE OATH TAKING AND IT WILL TAKE ONE AND HALF - TWO WEEKS.. NOT BAD AT LEAST IM DONE WITH THE INTERVIEW AND TEST! HE ASKED ME ONLY 5 QUESTIONS ONLY.

Awesome - congrats!!!

Well, exactly one month since I was placed in line for interview scheduling. Sweet!

"Application Type: N400 , APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Your Case Status: Testing and Interview

On August 26, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview. You will receive a notice with a time and place for your interview. If you have not received the notice within 30 days of the date the notice is mailed, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance.

Good luck to all!

~Happy

Congrats! looks like our files are getting processed at the same time. I figure we should get our letters by end of the week. Looking forward to getting this over with!

We got our email/text update saying that we've (my wife that is) been scheduled for interview!

"On August 26, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview. You will receive a notice with a time and place for your interview. If you have not received the notice within 30 days of the date the notice is mailed, 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...."

- This is exactly 1 month after we had our biometrics. Just checked the online status page and they had also updated.

Please update our timeline.

Thanks!

Looks like Dallas lockbox is finally moving!

Anyone know what the time frame b/w getting scheduled and the actual interview date is? the timelines have "In Line" and "Interview Letter" dates but not the time b/w gettign the scheduling notice and the actual interview date. Has to be within 30 days as the notice says, but just wondering if y'all had a more concrete idea...

From the looks of things, I'd estimate our date to be the 1st to 2nd week of October...hopefully a lot earlier than that!

We got our email/text update saying that we've (my wife that is) been scheduled for interview!

"On August 26, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview. You will receive a notice with a time and place for your interview. If you have not received the notice within 30 days of the date the notice is mailed, 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...."

- This is exactly 1 month after we had our biometrics. Just checked the online status page and they had also updated.

Please update our timeline.

Thanks!

There is no interview news yet ! Also, I am wondering why only one of the two of us got the yellow letter.

So that's a little wierd - you got a letter just asking you to bring your license??? Could you share a bit more as to what the letter says? also did you check your online status? did the date of last activity on it change?

Got the yellow letter today asking to bring Driver's License at the time of the interview. Both me and my husband filed but only he got the yellow letter. What does this mean in terms of application moving forward?

Thanks!

cool congrats! When's the interview scheduled for? Now I'm starting to get more anxious, since we've both had the same biometrics dates, but not got the interview nor the email you got on Aug 8th.

Happyindlove - where is your timeline? I didnt see it in the list. When was your biometrics? did you get this 2nd email that feastofroses got on Aug 8th?

One way of seeing this is that perhaps dallas is finally getting its logjam cleared and perhaps we migth be next?

I got an email....somehow I am not getting any texts for any status updates. online status shows "testing and interview" stage.

being scheduled hasn't brought any peace to me :-) all it has done is make me run to the mailbox every time I hear the mail truck and then get disappointed and wonder if our mail got lost!

hmm i think we're all in the same boat. my status also says same thing - testing and interview....looks like some kind of delay/backlog for dallas folks. Although I will say that we're still well within the 102 day time frame of NOA1 to interview. While we're all extremely anxious to get this over with, i dont think there's anything to worry about. Annoying thing for me is that I'm trying to plan vacations abroad and have to automatically nix places which requires visas. Among many other reasons, that's probably the #1 reason to get this over with and get the US passport - freedom to basically travel anywhere you want w/o restrictions!

Hi Feastofrose,

I noticed our timelines are almost exactly the same except, you have been scheduled already and I haven't. My only guess is that perhaps, at the moment there's not many (Dallas) applicants that have been placed in line for interview scheduling. Any idea...?

~Happy

Hi Happy, same here! my biometrics date was just 2 days after yours and my in-line interview notification was also just 2 days after yours, but so far, still no date. At least I'm a little relieved to see that I'm not the only one who didnt get scheduled yet!

Looks like I should expect mine a day or 2 after you get yours.

But yes to your point, I think people have been placed in-line for the dallas folks but perhaps not scheduled yet.

hobokenworkingmen....we got an email update after the in line update that we have been scheduled for an interview. So there have been two updates since our biometrics. The first one on 07/30 saying we are inline and the second one on 08/07 saying we have been scheduled for an interview. That makes me anxiously wait for that letter! :-) I hope we both see it soon!

Wow ok looks like you might be a step ahead, since I dont think we ever rec'd the 2nd email saying that we'd been scheduled. hmm now that's making me worried! Did you get a text too? When you got the 2nd email, did your status change on the online system?

We haven't got our interview letters yet, the email update came August 7th. I called USCIS yesterday but the customer service won't let me even speak because it hasn't been 30 days yet! What is the way to speak to Tier 2 officer? Do I select special prompts on phone?

Many Thanks for any help! I am getting concerned now!

Hi Feast, we're in the exact same boat as you. Our dates are right on top of each other (same biometrics date also - 7-26) and we're based in NYC, so not very far from you either. Eagerly looking fwd to our interview dates too. btw, what do you mean by the email update on the 7th? Only email update we got was on july 30th saying that we were in line for the interview:

"On July 30, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was placed in line for interview scheduling. When scheduling is complete, you will receive a notice with a time and place for your interview. If you have not received the notice within 90 days of the date above, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance......."

Did you guys get something else as well (?)

If the timelines here are any indication, then my guess is that we should see letters by end of next week and interviews scheduled for the end of september. Looks like its a 6-8 week timeframe from biometrics to interview date...

Congrats!!!!

See a few other photos in my photo album. http://www.visajourney.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=lastupby&uid=53636

Does anyone know if you get a letter in the mail as well as the email/text notifications for being placed in line for interview scheduling? We got our text/email notification back on 7-30, but no hard copy in the mail. Just curious.

Also it seems that based on the May filer forum, that after biometrics, its about 6 weeks to the interview...so those who had their biometrics at the end of August should have their scheduled 2-3rd week of September. Anyone know of anything different than this?

ciao!

On August 8, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was placed in line for interview scheduling. When scheduling is complete, you will receive a notice with a time and place for your interview.

Finally!!!

I realized something... Jay2Pnoy's 5yrs LPR is September 5th (she is applying under 5 years). Her status changed August 5th.

My 3yrs LPR is September 8th, and my status changed today, August 8th.

So, for those applying for citizenship before meeting the "continuous residence" requirement (90 days rule), your case will be updated one month before your 3 or 5yrs being a LPR,

Also we got our text and email that we're in line for interview today. The biometrics was last Friday on the 26th and was a breeze. Looking forward to the interview date. Based on the trend here, it looks like the interview should be scheduled for the last week of August to potentially 1 or 2nd week of September at the latest (6 weeks from biometrics date is roughly when folks are getting scheduled).

Please update the timeline.

Thanks!

Congrats to Brijo! that's awesome that you'll get sworn in the same day. The least they can do for your service and sacrifice for our country. Best of luck and stay safe wherever you're deployed.

Hi guys, got my wife's biometrics appt letter - scheduled for the 26th of July. I updated the timeline below (in blue). Please update the formatting if it doesnt show up properly. Thanks

updating andres0603 priority and check cash date

====================================
-- N-400: JUNE 2013 APPLICATIONS --
====================================

===================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
===================================
UserName........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|Priority|Bio.....|In Line.|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
AMANDAJW........|--/--/--|05/29/13|--/--/--|06/03/13|07/03/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA
JOHNW...........|--/--/--|05/29/13|--/--/--|06/03/13|07/03/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA
JACKW...........|--/--/--|05/29/13|--/--/--|06/03/13|07/03/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA
HARRYW..........|--/--/--|05/29/13|--/--/--|06/03/13|07/03/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA
MEL AND RENE....|--/--/--|06/01/13|--/--/--|06/06/13|07/03/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Baltimore, MD
CASEYCANDY......|--/--/--|06/01/13|06/10/13|06/06/13|07/08/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Baltimore, MD
UGLIDUKLIN......|--/--/--|06/03/13|06/11/13|06/06/13|07/01/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New Orleans, LA
BRSKO...........|05/23/13|06/04/13|06/12/13|06/07/13|07/08/13|07/01/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York City, NY (EB: 06/27/13)
ICICI...........|11/--/12|06/04/13|06/07/13|06/05/13|07/08/13|06/26/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Washington, DC (EB: 06/24/13)
BESAANGEL.......|04/16/13|06/07/13|06/14/13|06/11/13|07/03/13|07/01/13|07/05/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|Philadelphia, PA (EB: 06/27/13)
TARAAHMED786....|--/--/--|06/07/13|--/--/--|06/10/13|07/10/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|West Palm Beach, FL
JACKBNIMBLE.....|12/18/12|06/12/13|06/19/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Atlanta, GA
HASAN123........|--/--/--|06/12/13|06/20/13|06/17/13|07/10/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Albany, NY (EB: 07/01/13)
LARAREYES.......|--/--/--|06/17/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Miami, FL
HOBOKENWORKNGMAN|06/18/13|06/19/13|06/27/13|06/24/13|07/26/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY
ON MY MERRY WAY.|--/--/--|06/19/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ
ANDREAS0603.....|--/--/--|06/22/13|07/01/13|06/24/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Charlotte, NC
FEASTOFROSES....|05/17/13|06/24/13|06/26/13|06/25/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA


=============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
=============================
UserName........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|Priority|Bio.....|In Line.|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
HAPPILYCONTENT..|12/09/10|05/30/13|06/06/13|06/03/13|07/01/13|06/19/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles, CA (EB: 06/17/13)
LUXUS...........|01/08/07|06/06/13|06/10/13|06/11/13|07/03/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chatsworth, CA (EB: 06/25/13)
IRMA24..........|--/--/--|06/15/13|06/21/13|06/19/13|07/12/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL
ETHANSDAD.......|--/--/--|06/15/13|06/20/13|06/17/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Seattle, WA
JOHNLEI.........|05/10/13|06/17/13|--/--/--|06/19/13|07/15/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Milwaukee, WI
GISKAT08........|04/--/12|06/19/13|--/--/--|06/21/13|07/15/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Seattle, WA
DYLAN'SWIFE.....|01/11/11|06/22/13|07/01/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Santa Ana, CA


====================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
=====================================================================
UserName........|Eligible|Sent....|ChkCashd|Priority|Bio.....|In Line.|Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
BRIJO...........|09/09/12|06/10/13|--/--/--|06/13/13|06/27/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Memphis, TN
MAE232..........|04/27/13|06/19/13|06/27/13|06/21/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Reno, NV




IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.
* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.
* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that (except when posting "I'm a US Citizen" which you should change to RED
* Please add yourself to the list in "Sent" order, under the office at which you filed
* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.
* Please check that you have not deleted anyone's NAME & DATA.
* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list and ensure the "..." line up
* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly (helps the rest of us)
* If you cannot add (or update) your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.