exsocal

I am amazed. While we were on vacation last week, I was scheduled for the oath next week. A full 4 weeks earlier than the interview officer had indicated.

Updating my timeline one last time.

Thanks to everyone here!

Without this wonderful community, the journey to U.S. citizenship would have been much more frightening (and costly)!

Good luck on your individual endeavors and lifes! We will all get there at some point and somehow.

Had the interview today here in Chicago.
The experience was quite pleasant actually. Check-in (1st floor first, then on the 3rd floor) was efficient at 5 and 1min waits. The seating area not overly crowded and was called in at the scheduled appointment time.
The officer was very open and friendly. The interview itself started with the typical oath to be truthful, then showed the IDs and we went right to the test. 6 questions asked and answered, a sentence to read and another to write. Passed.
Then onto the review of my file. He asked a few questions here and there (where did you meet your wife? did you file your taxes?), mostly about facts that were already in the application. In the end I did not need to show any of the extra documents I had brought (tax transcripts, birth certificates, &cet.). Sign the application. Lastly he printed out a form with the information that will show up on the naturalization certificate.
Total interview time 16mins.

Almost done!

Finally got the interview letter with the date. Table below is updated.

Good luck everyone!

USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox

==========================================================

VJName............|Eligible|Sent....|NOA.....|ChkCashd|Biometr.|In Line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice

DebbyNSeyi........|11/27/13|11/29/13|12/03/13|12/06/13|12/31/13|01/27/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Hicksville, NY

gringasuramerican.|11/30/13|11/30/13|12/03/13|12/05/13|01/02|14|01/31/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Miami, FL

jcarlo............|12/16/13|12/03/13|12/12/13|12/12/13|01/09/14|01/13/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY

nachos............|12/04/13|12/05/13|12/12/13|12/13/13|01/07/14|02/04/14|02/14/14|03/18/14|--/--/--|Pittsburgh, PA

Bookworm99........|--/--/--|12/05/13|--/--/--|12/06/13|01/07/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ

raza123...........|02/27/07|12/05/13|12/11/13|12/09/13|01/03/14|01/07/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX

Theempara.........|--/--/--|12/06/13|--/--/--|12/13/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|West Palm Beach, FL

romnick...........|10/26/13|12/06/13|12/09/13|12/11/13|01/07/14|01/07/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Atlanta, GA

Goldfee111........|12/03/13|12/09/13|12/13/13|12/18/13|01/03/14|02/04/14|--/--/-- --/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

LostinNY07........|10/07/13|12/13/13|12/16/13|12/19/13|12/31/13|01/10/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY *Bio date: 01/13/14

mimigrant.........|12/13/13|12/13/13|12/19/13|12/20/13|01/20/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY

Paulette7.........|12/19/13|12/19/13|12/30/13|12/25/13|01/08/14|02/19/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX

Paulette7hubbie...|12/19/13|12/19/13|12/30/13|12/25/13|01/15/14|02/19/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX

bostonian.........|08/05/13|12/23/13|01/03/14|01/02/14|01/22/14|01/24/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA

CbpTLS............|12/30/09|12/23/13|12/24/13|12/28/13|01/16/14|01/20/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

Trochero..........|01/24/01|12/24/13|01/02/14|12/31/13|01/13/14|01/24/14|02/24/14|03/24/14|--/--/--|Orlando, FL

CbpTLSwife........|12/30/09|12/26/13|12/30/13|01/06/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

DM2008............|12/03/13|12/28/13|01/06/14|01/06/14|01/24/14|02/03/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

mikkopel..........|11/04/06|12/11/13|12/16/13|12/20/13|01/20/14|01/23/14|01/31/14|03/04/14|--/--/--|New York, NY

Obormot...........|11/28/13|12/02/13|12/06/13|12/10/13|12/30/13|01/27/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston,TX

==============================================

USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox

==============================================

VJName............|Eligible|Sent....|NOA.....|ChkCashd|Biometr.|In Line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice

David.............|--/--/--|12/02/13|12/09/13|12/06/13|12/27/13|12/31/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Denver, CO

Mary..............|--/--/--|12/02/13|12/10/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|12/30/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL

kdj5k.............|09/01/13|12/06/13|12/12/13|--/--/--|12/31/13|01/03/14|02/03/14|03/10/14|--/--/--|Phoenix, AZ

Nadiia and Eric...|--/--/--|12/06/13|12/12/13|12/16/13|01/07/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|03/24/14|--/--/--|Kansas City, MO

ShadowYU..........|10/17/13|12/28/13|01/03/14|01/06/14|01/30/14|02/03/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Seattle, WA

exsocal...........|07/30/13|12/07/13|12/17/13|12/15/13|01/09/14|01/13/14|02/20/14|03/26/14|--/--/--|Chicago, IL

===============================================================================================================

USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing under 319b, 328 or 329 of the INA)

=====================================================----------------==========================================

VJName............|Eligible|Sent....|NOA.....|ChkCashd|Biometr.|In Line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice

BarkerFamily......|--/--/--|12/09/13|12/21/13|12/13/13|01/02/14|12/26/13|01/23/14|02/03/14|02/03/14|Fairfax, VA

Finally figured out how to update the table with the timelines. Thanks, mimigrant for the instructions in post #3!

==========================================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
==========================================================

VJName............|Eligible|Sent....|NOA.....|ChkCashd|Biometr.|In Line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
DebbyNSeyi........|--/--/--|11/29/13|12/03/13|12/06/13|12/31/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Hicksville, NY

gringasuramerican.|11/30/13|11/30/13|12/03/13|12/05/13|01/02|14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Miami, FL

jcarlo............|12/16/13|12/03/13|12/12/13|12/12/13|01/09/14|01/13/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY

nachos............|12/04/13|12/05/13|12/12/13|12/13/13|01/07/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Pittsburgh, PA

Bookworm99........|--/--/--|12/05/13|--/--/--|12/06/13|01/07/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ

raza123...........|02/27/07|12/05/13|12/11/13|12/09/13|01/03/14|01/07/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX

Theempara.........|--/--/--|12/06/13|--/--/--|12/13/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|West Palm Beach, FL

romnick...........|--/--/--|12/06/13|--/--/--|12/11/13|12/24/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Atlanta, GA

Goldfee111........|12/03/13|12/09/13|12/13/13|12/18/13|01/03/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

LostinNY07........|10/07/13|12/13/13|12/16/13|12/19/13|12/31/13|01/10/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY *Bio date: 01/13/14

mimigrant.........|12/13/13|12/13/13|12/19/13|12/20/13|01/20/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY

Paulette7.........|12/19/13|12/19/13|12/30/13|12/25/13|01/08/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX

Paulette7hubbie...|12/19/13|12/19/13|12/30/13|12/25/13|01/16/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX

nola2014..........|--/--/--|12/20/13|12/26/13|12/30/13|01/23/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New Orleans,LA

bostonian.........|08/05/13|12/23/13|01/03/14|01/02/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA

Trochero..........|01/24/01|12/24/13|01/02/14|12/31/13|01/13/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Orlando, FL

CbpTLS............|12/30/09|12/23/13|12/24/13|12/28/13|01/16/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

CbpTLSwife........|12/30/09|12/26/13|--/--/--|01/06/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

DM2008............|12/03/13|12/28/13|01/06/14|01/06/14|01/24/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

==============================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================================

VJName............|Eligible|Sent....|NOA.....|ChkCashd|Biometr.|In Line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
David.............|--/--/--|12/02/13|12/09/13|12/06/13|12/27/13|12/31/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Denver, CO

Mary..............|--/--/--|12/02/13|12/10/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|12/30/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL

kdj5k.............|--/--/--|12/06/13|12/12/13|--/--/--|12/31/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Phoenix, AZ

Nadiia and Eric...|--/--/--|12/06/13|12/12/13|12/16/13|01/07/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Kansas City, MO

ShadowYU..........|10/17/13|12/28/13|01/03/14|01/06/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Seattle, WA

exsocal...........|07/30/13|12/07/13|12/17/13|12/15/13|01/09/14|01/13/14|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago, IL

===============================================================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing under 319b, 328 or 329 of the INA)
=====================================================----------------==========================================

VJName............|Eligible|Sent....|NOA.....|ChkCashd|Biometr.|In Line |Int Ltr.|Intview.|Oath....|FieldOffice
BarkerFamily......|--/--/--|12/09/13|12/21/13|12/13/13|01/02/14|12/26/13|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Fairfax, VA

I check my status online obsessively every day. No change yet. I also sign up for texts and email alerts. Nothing received yet. It may have to do with the local office. Mine is in Miami, which is always a busy one.

Yupp, I hear you. It can easily become an obsession. But here is one data point from a July 2013 filer in that thread (post #708).

For user LARAREYES, it was 18 days from bio to in-line. But the actual interview scheduling letter took another 1.5 months after being in-line. Argh!

Sample size of 1 is not very significant, but perhaps something to go by.

I honestly don't know how often the website database gets updated, but I'd suspect that it is not real-time when a case officer updates your file. That would for data security reasons from a IT security best practice.

So: hang in there!

This thursday will be 2 weeks that i had my biometrics done and i still have not heard anything about being put in line for interview...SIGH.

I checked the status of my application on the USCIS website after entering the NBC*xxxxx number and it showed that I was placed in line for interview scheduling three business days after giving the biometrics. But I have not gotten any formal letter and I understand that the next letter will be when you are actually scheduled. Which tends to take 10 or so days after being "in line for scheduling".

I'd recommend to check your status on the USCIS website and calculate from there when the letter should be mailed (based on a few other earlier filers in your field office), plus mail delivery time.

Hi Goldfee111: yupp, I am German, as you guessed. ;-)

Judging by the processing times earlier months, PHX and Chicago appear to be faster than Dallas. Not to mention the processing times folks see in Maryland. Check out the July and Aug 2013 filer threads...

One thought on the "accuracy" of the processing times on the USCIS website. They mention the national average processing time goal for N-400 is 5.0 months, with a national avg of 5.1months as of Oct 2013. Chicago is listed as 5.5months. And looking at processing times listed by earlier filers of 3-4months there must be a large number of applications that are not captured by the VJ data and are significantly longer (to drive up the avg to 5.5 months). This probably holds true for other field offices as well.

But eventually everyone tends to succeed in their journey. It's a daunting process at times, but thanks to the (free!) help here there is a support community. So, hang in there!

Ciao.

Hi folks.

As usual, this forum is an invaluable resource through this journey (pun intended). Before I forget all the details here a recap for the benefit of other filers.

Especially the ones in Chicago-land.

Scheduled at ASC Chicago North @N Broadway, Chicago. Did early walk-in a week early due to business trip to a client site.
Arrived right after 08am when the office opens. The location was easy to reach via public transport (El-Red line) and has ample parking. Is situated in a strip mall and looks like a regular shop with only written “Application Support Center” over the doors. Not what I expected from a government building.
One security guard acting as receptionist. Takes appointment letter and green card, asks for reason of early walk-in. Wants to see paper copies of plane ticket. Which I did not bring. Checks with someone in an office (probably local supervisor) and proceeds to give me the sign-in form. After filling out, get a number and asked to sit down in waiting area.
Only 4 people ahead of me. Each taking about 10mins, so I had to wait roughly 40mins in total. Then finger printing all 10 fingers and a picture taken. The officer was very pleasant and chatty throughout the whole process. Efficient too so I was done as well in 10mins. On the way out, she handed me the study guide with the CD without my asking for it.

All in all, much less painful than expected.

And my timeline so far:
Field Office: Chicago, IL
Eligibility date: Jul 30 2013
Application sent: Dec 07 2013
Arrives in PHX: Dec 13 2013
Check cashed: Dec 15 2013
NOA: Dec 17 2013
Biometrics appt letter: Dec 27 2013
Biometrics taken (early walk-in): Jan 09 2014
Biometrics date: Jan 14 2014

In line for interview: Jan 13 2014

Yay, got my passport back yesterday. The IR-1 visa was issued on Aug 31, mailing from Frankfurt took 3 days.

Now, we are all set to go!

@Veronica: Best of luck! And while we considered hiring an immigration lawyer at first, we are now glad we did not.

As our case was fairly straightforward, filling out the forms and getting the required documents was easier than expected.

Ciao,

mhe

I am not 100% sure, but from just having gone through the DCF myself, I would say yes.

The reason being your case documents are in the consulate of your original filing, the case number is indicating your consulate and as was pointed out in other posts, the procedure for DCF changes with every consulate.

@Darnell:

Thanks for pointing this out. My new US employer will be keenly waiting for the unrestricted SSN card.

What is the "SAVE" database?

Is that an acronym of a system in use by the SSA?

Thanks,

mhe

Our Situation:

Greencard based on marriage to a US citizen. 2 kids - 5mos+2.5yrs - with dual nationality (German and US).

Married in the US while on H1B working there, 6.5 years ago. Lived in Germany for 5.5 years now.

GC through consular processing in Frankfurt, Germany.

Preparation:

We prepared and did background reading on the DHS website, US Consulate in Frankfurt's website and this forum (THANKS!).

All forms and work was done by ourselves with reading through form instructions and US Consulate website, plus applying common sense as to the intent of each form.

Timeline:

Apr 19 2010:

We drove to Frankfurt and stayed in the Best Western by the consulate the night before.

Next morning at our appointment, delivered petition I-130. That got approved right on the spot (married 6yrs+, 2kids).

Then were told to go down to the atrium for filing DS-230 part I. That was not expected. A challenge was to write down all

addresses I had lived at since the age of 16 and the times when I had been to the US in my life! Needed some extra sheets to

put it all down. Filled out and submitted the form.

Total time at the consulate: 2.5hrs

May 31 2010:

Faxed in the "all forms complete" and with an anticipated moving date to the US in Oct 2010.

Jun 30 2010:

Consulate internal stamped visa ok to progress

Jul 06 2010:

Received letter with appointment for interview and medical exam.

Aug 04 2010:

Did medical exam in Munich and chest x-ray.

Should call back for results in a week and results would be send to consulate directly. All was ok!

Jul - Aug:

- collect documents: birth certificate, police records (only non-US residences, consulate checks with FBI and local authorities), military record.

- I-864: we did with our own funds from cash and investments (no job in the US yet, only here in Germany)

Aug 30 2010:

09:12 - parking on street, no issue, plenty of space today

09:15 - outside in line to get ticket number (used for all day)

09:35 - finally inside at Atrium

10:10 - see officer, checking that I have all documents: ok

- needed to buy stamps for the return envelope of my passport and GC package, EUR4.25

- paid feed USD404 for visa fee + security fee (what might that be?)

- took all of 5mins

10:30 - next officer taking the documents and passport,

- explains procedure and next steps what to do with greencard, SSN card, etc,

- passport back in <1-2weeks with temp visa - 6months to enter US

- sealed envelope with cut off corner - to show at port of entry to the US

- duration 10mins

11:20 - finally, interview with officer

- going through documents + typing on computer: all complete, all ok

- 3 questions: how long married, do we have kids, where will I work

- more typing on computer

- green card approved!

- duration 10mins

Total duration at consulate <2.5hrs, face time with consular officers 25mins.

Total GC processing time until interview: ~4.5months, including ~1.5months of waiting (mid-April until end of May)

Items to take in hand luggage when entering US next time:

- all of your family (as you are all immigrating now)

- passport with unexpired temporary visa

- chect x-ray (film or CD-ROM from medical exam)

- sealed envelope from US consulate

Post entry to US:

Green card should arrive at our US address within 2-12months (you get a 12mo visa in your passport at first entry).

GC then needs to be presented each time you enter the US subsequently.

SSN card should arrive in 1-2months at the US address.

In summary, the much dreaded process was very painless. The officers were throughout very courteous and professional.

Once the process is understood, it makes sense what is to be established at which step:

1) The petition establishes the identity of your sponsor and the eligibility to sponsor you.

2-3)The remaining two steps are about the immigrant: their identity, health, criminal background and financial means.

Could we have done it faster? Yes. We were asked numerous times when our anticipated moving date is, we arbitrarily picked Oct 01.

Is it advisable to submit in person? Absolutely. It cuts down iterations, when something small is missing (postage stamps, or so).

Then we waited more than a month to fax in the all-forms-complete. So 3months or less might be doable.

How does it compare to getting a German Green Card (Niederlassungserlaubnis) for my wife?

2.5hrs in total including subway ride to local Auslaenderamt, 6 Euros for pictures

vs.

4.5mos in total, ~1000USD in fees, excluding medical, travel to and hotel in Frankfurt

Notes on the Frankfurt consulate:

They have a large waiting area (the Atrium) where they handle all visas and also the interviews - right on the windows,

where the consular office sits behind glas and talks to you via intercom.

A copy machine is avaialable with 50 Euro cents a copy, coins only! A machine for postage stamps is there too, accepting cash and geldkarte.

Restrooms and a snack bar with coffee and stuff complete the facilities.

The security lines at the entrance can be long, as the security staff is of varying competence and speed.

When we had questions during the period, email was very efficient and the answers helpful and accurate.