shadowboxer

Congratulations!

Don't remember if I asked you before: did you get a BBG and have dual citizenship now or did you lose your German one?

Hi Just Bob-

I did not go for dual citizenship... while preparing the BBG I realized I had no binding ties to ye olde country at all.

Ah well...

Take care

Rebecca

Thanks for all the congrats... it still feels a bit unreal.

I applied for passport right at the courthouse... that was kinda frustrating- first they give you a fancy certificate and then they take it away

Can't wait to go abroad now.

Hello,

I just want to thank all of you for helping me pass the time during my citizenship journey.

Today I took the oath in Concord NH- in a very emotional and suprisingly warm ceremony.

Wow, am I glad it's over... now beginning a new chapter- and somehow I will miss my good old "oh, you Americans!" exclamations.

Good luck to everyone- and "God Bless America"

Rebecca

Our oath letter stated specifically not to wear jeans, maybe they changed that in the last year.

Yeah, mine stated the same about wearing jeans. Guess I will be all business casual for a change when I take my oath.

Good luck,

Rebecca.

Hello,

Unfortunately, they just took my fingerprints (Manchester, NH). They take nice pictures, though- the one on my green card was one of the best pix I ever had on an official document...

Good luck,

Rebecca.

My only concern is that it has been 10 days since i recvd email for RFE and I havent recvd the letter yet.

Does anyone know that If I make INFOPASS appt, that USCIS will be able to give me a copy of RFE OR COPY OF FINGER PRINT LETTER that I never reccvd.

Hello,

I'd give it a couple of more days... If I remember it correctly, my Biometrics letter came about a bit over two weeks after the status was updated on the website. I had gotten really concerned but received the letter on the day I eventually decided to make an infopass appointment.

Hang in there

Good luck!

Rebecca

Not even sure why they want your employment history, it's not like they are going to give you a job and want your work experience. In regards to fees, certainly no credit offered to make sure you can pay them. Had to pay those far in advance. Besides, they want to look over your income taxes to see how much you are paying to live here.

LOL- that's why I did not submit my tax transcripts. They did not want to see them either... probably figured how little my employer pays...

Hello,

When you say "exactly"- are you refering to the classial mm/dd/yyyy dates?

Maybe you still have copies of your W2s or paystubs or anything like that to at least indicate the month and year of employment and living situation...

Oh, and out of personal experience: when I filled in my N-400 I only gave approximate dates (like "March 05- July 07") assuming that this information should be close enough.

Never had any issues

Good luck!

Rebecca

Hello,

sorry, I won't be much help but now that you mention it I've started asking myself the question about the passport as well.

(My German passport has expired and as I will renounce German citizenship anyhow- I never bothered to renew it. Thus, I would not think it important to bring it.)

Was anybody ever asked for a foreign passport before the ceremony?

Thank you- and enjoy your ceremony!

Rebecca.

Hello,

To my great amusement I received the same letter shortly after my biometrics appointment. For a moment I even considered xeroxing and framing the thing.

The way I understand it, answering yes to any question of the section about arrests and citations triggers the yellow letter

Just like you, I disclosed a speeding ticket with a fine of $210. I did not submit any evidence for this with my application as the guidelines state clearly that any traffic violations under $500 do not need to be "proven".

However, the issue came up during my interview and I was glad that I had brought a copy of the ticket as well as the check I had written to pay the fine. The officer took a copy of both "documents" and that was the end of it.

As the previous posters stated- just relax... you will be fine.

Wishing you smooth sailing for the rest of your journey,

Rebecca

@mbmw

LOL- I was actually thinking that, too... would be nice for you if they could squeeze you into that ceremony

For me, they apparently had me wait until I hit the 5 months mark that is currently stated as the average processing time.

Well- soon it will be "good riddance, USCIS"!

Take care,

Rebecca

deleted- double post

@mbmw

Hi, I thought I'd just give you an update on my Manchester NH timeline... I got my oath scheduled for Monday, March 29... so much for my theory that ceremonies take place on the 3rd Friday of each month .

Wishing you the best for your interview!

Rebecca

Thanks

First of all- congrats to Kaizen!!!

Second- I am thrilled to report that I received my oath letter today. The ceremony will be held on Monday, March 29 in Concord NH. The end is finally in sight!

Good luck to everyone!!!!

Rebecca

Hello,

As I am still waiting for my oath letter I have had plenty of time to think about my perfect oath ceremony. All came down to one single scenario:

Go there and get over it quickly. Just me- No fuss, no guests, nothing . Perfect! (Almost like my wedding-well of course my husband attended as well...)

Actually, Boiler's suggestion is even better- but it would not even have to be in an email. A quick online chat would do for me as well.

Wishing all of you a good journey!

Rebecca

Thank you so much for this info.

I have a friend who actually went to the Manchester office on the third Friday of the month and had his Oath the Same day, It depends on how many seats they have filled at the court room I think.

But mine is also on the the last Friday of the month, so I'm crossing my fingers and waiting, I'm exited enough just for the interview, but having the oath the same day is ever more exctiting.

Thanks again.

Hello mbmw,

wow, your friend was really lucky

But then I guess all of us "New Hampshirerites" lucked out- never heard anything negative about the Manchester field office. My own interview went great and the officer went out of his way to make me feel comfortable.

Good luck on your journey!

Rebecca.

I also found this per the New Hampshire Court where the proceedings happen: I wonder if i call the court and see if they have one scheduled.

CEREMONIES

Naturalization ceremonies are held at the Warren Rudman U.S. Courthouse located at 55 Pleasant Street, Concord, New Hampshire. These ceremonies are scheduled at the request of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services ("CIS") approximately once a month during the months of January through July and September through December.

The U.S. District Court is responsible only for the court proceeding. Any inquiries about the naturalization process should be directed to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS).

Hello,

As you quote some New Hampshire guidelines I might just give my input as well.

I applied in early November and I had my interview at the Manchester NH offce on January 13- at this point hoping that my oath date would be right around the corner. However, they seem to stick to their corridor of "90-120 days" to notify the future citizens of the oath date.

As far as I know, Concord NH holds oath ceremonies on every 3rd Friday of a month.

I am still waiting for my oath letter to arrive- now expecting to be scheduled for April or May- thus completing the 5 months national average for processing applications.

Good luck

Rebecca.

Thanks, now I know that I am not alone. Hope we both get a letter soon and get this over with.

Hi Kaizen,

you definitely are not alone

I am in the same boat as well. I had my interview on January 13 and am currently waiting for the oath letter to arrive. Guess they were not kidding about the 120 days... I am trying to look at the bright side- by now my max. waiting time is reduced to the 90+ day frame, and I'm counting down.

A spring oath ceremony might not be that bad, after all!

Wishing you guys all the best... may your oath letters be delivered soon

Rebecca

Hello,

I'd recommend business casual as well- For my interview I put on some dressy black pants, nice sweater... (Couldn't fall back on work clothes as it's only jeans and shirts and sneakers there...) Most important should be that you feel comfortable with what you are wearing (I'll definitely leave those stupid heels at home for the oath ceremony ).

Good luck!

Rebecca

Interviewed and approved on Jan 12 but no update or letter for oath ceremony yet.

Hi calOC,

I'm in the same boat. I had my interview on Jan 12. When they told me that it could be up to 120 until they'd schedule me for the oath I didn't really believe it- considering that Manchester NH is such a small office. However, it looks like they were not kidding . Of course, my regular passport is expired- so that I really pray I won't have to leave the country any time soon...

Good luck,

Rebecca

Hi Gene,

If I was you, I'd wait out for the 5 year residency. It will make things so much easier...

Even though I am still happily married I decided to wait until the 5 years of residency had been fulfilled- thus reducing the paperwork and headaches of sending in everything but the kitchen sink with my N-400 application. Funny enough, my interview was scheduled for the day of my 6th wedding anniversary.

Unless you are in a situation where there is an urgent need to become a citizen ASAP I'd say just sit back and wait.

Good luck!

Shadowboxer

P.S.: Love your signature. Have not seen good old Guybrush in quite a while!

Hello,

Just want to wish you good luck for tomorrow...

I had my interview last week- and things went just fine- despite my fear off goofing up on the answers or not being able to speak or understand English any more

But talking about things that can drive you nuts... of course there is always something to wait for- once the interview is done there is the next exercise in patience just lying ahead... when will the freakin' oath letter arrive???

Alles Gute fuer morgen!

Rebecca

when i filed to lift my condition, i had my fingerprints done on September the 11th of 2008, my N400 was received November 23th 2009, i have not got my fingerprints letter yet, do you think they will use the same fingerprints from 09/11/2008? its been 14 months and 12 days i think since i last had my fingerprints.

Hello meod,

I'd assume that they'll do the biometrics again- after all, you want to get your money's worth out of your application fee (which did include a whopping fingerprint fee )

Alles Gute,

Rebecca.

Hello,

I had a speeding ticket and checked "yes" on this question. Even though my fine was below $500, the officer asked to see documentation for it during the interview. (Even though the instructions state that documentation is not necessary for fines below the $500 line.)

From what I read in other boards, you should be fine, though. If I was you, I'd bring a copy of the tickets (or any other documentation) to the interview. I'd definitely disclose it- better late, than not at all...

Good luck,

Rebecca

Hello,

I'm the new kid on the block .

Great forum- it is a shame that I "discovered" it sooo late in my own visa journey!

Would somebody mind putting my info in the list as well? My friendly field office is Manchester, NH.

My timeline is as follows:

11/2/09 mailed application to Lewisville TX Lockbox

11/5/09 cashed check

11/9/09 received NOA

12/2/09 Fingerprinting

12/12/09 Interview letter

1/13/10 Interview done- now waiting for oath letter

Thank you so much- and have a great weekend!

Rebecca