silvermug

Hello, had my oath ceremony this morning. It didn't take long and it was really fun!! Just wanted to use this moment to say a BIG!!THANKS!! To Visa Journey. I'm now a US CITIZEN. I applied for passport after ceremony. Good luck to people that are still waiting..!

I also went to my oath this morning. It was solemn. Good speakers. It lasted for about an hour.

The passport application though... That's where we spent around 2 hours. A lot of people applied.

Thank you vj for the support. and good luck to the others!

Following

The oath ceremony was a very neat experience, definitely like a lot of people have said it is. My wife, parents, and mother-in-law went with me to the ceremony. We left early in the morning to beat traffic and find parking near the ceremony. It was held at the Oakland Paramount Theatre, located near downtown Oakland.

We went inside the theater and theater staff were directing family and friends to the second floor, while the applicants go straight to the first floor. There was a row of immigration officers and you could choose any IO to hand your oath letter and GC. Some had longer lines than others(noticed they we're scrutinizing people) and I saw one that was not attending anyone so I went with him. Handed him the oath letter and GC, didn't request any additional documents. He only asked if anything has changed and I said no. He then directed me to a specific USCIS employee who I would give my documents to. I went with the specific employee, handed her the documents, then she told me my assigned seating area. Headed down toward the assigned seating area where another USCIS employee told me where to sit.

Not too long after, a federal government employee introduced himself and started going over how the ceremony would be conducted. He also talked about what to do when you're a citizen. A really cool singing group sang a few songs(acapella) along with the national anthem.

Then the director of the San Francisco USCIS office went up and called out 96 countries, 882 people total. She called them out alphabetically and we had to stand once we heard our country's name. Once everyone was standing, we took the oath of allegiance. Then a state department employee came up to swear in the people who were applying for their passport that same day, which I did. Then they played a video message from the president, then concluded the ceremony. IOs then began going to the rows with our certificates in hand and were calling out our names so we can receive them. All in all, the ceremony took a little over a hour to complete.

Once I had mine in hand, I double checked the information(very important, talk to a IO if any info is wrong) and then I signed it. I already had my passport package pre-filled out, so I didn't have to get in line to apply. I just handed it to a state department employee and he told me within a week I can check on the state department website to track my application.

It really was an awesome and moving experience at the oath ceremony, it makes me all the more proud to be an American citizen. I hope this review is helpful to everyone out there, and good luck and God bless to all still waiting! :)

did they tell you how long it's going to take for you to get your passport?

Silvermug

Did you receive any update on your phone or email?

Yes. When the put me in line for oath. And then when they sent me the mail with oath schedule. I received both sms and email.

Silvermug,

I'm hoping i got place for the same oath ceremony. I did my interview in SFO last week. I was placed inline for oath 2days later. Hope i get a notification too.

sending good vibes to you, as well.

Received notice in the mail: oath date may 18.

Little update on my case - My lawyer is sending all paperwork requested in N14 today. We were able to obtain ALL papers requested plus few more recommended by lawyer.

Lets waiting game begin now!

sending good vibes your way...

Little update on my case - My lawyer is sending all paperwork requested in N14 today. We were able to obtain ALL papers requested plus few more recommended by lawyer.

Lets waiting game begin now!

sending good vibes your way...

Update:

I got the denial letter in the mail a little over 4 weeks after the interview. The denial decision was based on the fact that as at the time I filed, my spouse and I were not physical living together in the same household. The IO totally ignored the exemptions pertaining to "Involuntary Separation". As I earlier indicated, my wife and I live in different cities due to our jobs' situation. In spite of all the evidence I provided the IO still went ahead and denied the case.

I consulted an attorney who happened to be a former IO. She was furious that I got denied. She told me I was unlucky to get a crappy/inexperienced IO.

She outlined 3 options :

- Appeal the decision: the prospect of overturning the decision is very bright but it will take forever for USCIS to adjudicate. It will cost me $3700 in attorney fees n appeal fees.

- reapply now and hire an attorney to handle the case. It will cost me $2000 in lawyer and application fees. But the decision will still be at the discretion of the IO.

- Wait and file next year under the 5 yr rule for which the IO's discretion will not come to play and it will be certain that I will get approval barring any criminal record or overstaying my visit abroad.

I decided to wait till next year and file using the 5 yr rule.

The attorney's suggestion is that if your case is not that cut and dry, it is a good idea to hire an attorney to go with you to the interview. That way the IO will not use intimidation or other tactics to deny your case.

The attorney's fees are probably a little over average but I paid $2000 and my case ended up straight forward. Just having the lawyer appear with you at the interview, I was quoted $800. I charged the rest of it as payment for my peace of mind. One thing I asked my attorney early on: How confident are you in winning my case? And then you asses his body language and the way he answers it, not just his words. The body language is more important.

I would wait for the 5-year mark as well, if I were in your shoes... Unless there is a pressing reason you should be naturalized now.

If I were in your shoes...

...and there is a pressing reason worthy of the additional work the move would create, then I would file now. Otherwise, I'd just wait for the 5-year mark. It will make the process less complicated.

Good luck!

Hey Silvermug,

Did the officer who interviewed you tell you when your oath ceremony would be? Or when you would be scheduled? I got interviewed March 25th(got approved) and the officer told me in 3 weeks I should get a notification about being scheduled. Last Thursday I got the same notification you got today, I'm wondering if they're back logged and are filling up the ceremonies with people who have been approved earlier

Nope, fhe officer didn't tell me any time frame. Just said that the oath schedule will be sent in the mail.

The latter.

Nothing has been sent out yet.

You are inline for an oath. Like being inline for an interview.

Okay. Thanks JimmyHou. I thought it'd be sooner but I guess not

The latter.

Nothing has been sent out yet.

You are inline for an oath. Like being inline for an interview.

Okay. Thanks JimmyHou. I thought it'd be sooner but I guess not

I got an update from USCIS today.

Witamar,

It was by mail. The officer had not yet reviewed the file thoroughly at time of interview, which was very early in the morning. I looked back over the checklist uscis gave us and I should have provided additional documents. I told my wife it is all my fault.

I checked the timeline and your wife's interview was in 4/12. What was the outcome of the interview? Was it "decision can not be made at this time"?

N-14/RFE for evidence of marital relationship. No problem. Gather docs and pictures and return them to the Dallas Field Office.

Did you apply under the 3 year rule? Or 5?

I just had my interview. Boy, it was very long. Took almost an hour.

In the end, I have been recommended for approval.

I will post my experience later on. I am still drained from almost an hour of stressful interview.

This is the second time a December marriage-based applicant has been asked to withdraw their petition. Over the past few months, several immigration websites have reported that USCIS has been cracking down on marriage fraud... actually, maybe since the beginning of last year.

There were two cases (that I read) here on VJ where USCIS contacted the applicant's ex-wife (once in person at her home and once by phone) after the interview. There was one case I remember where the applicant was asked why her husband wasn't with her (he was at work) and asked to speak to the husband on the phone during the interview. In all three cases the applicants were approved eventually (if I remember correctly), but these were somewhat unusual experiences. So it's clear that USCIS has been, in some cases, putting more effort into investigating marriage-based applications (or 5 year applications stemming from marriage-based green cards). Perhaps the request to withdraw the application is a new tactic to help relieve the pressure? Maybe they think that if an applicant thinks they don't have a strong case they'll just go away? I'm just guessing here...

It's noteworthy though, that both our December applicants who were told to withdraw their applications were not denied at the end of the interview.

Do you, by chance, remember the user for that 5-year case that got grilled? I would like to read that thread or at least the posts of that user.

I am applying under the same rule.

Sorry to hear, spring333. I am new to the forum but that seems to a strange interview with grilling and RFE.

I agree with you, W2 carried all the information and is a better document than "letters".

I agree... the tax returns would carry employment information, wages, w2s.

Had my interview today.

Passed test but then IO started grilling me about my marriage, asking to withdraw petition which i couldnt without my lawyer. After 50 min or so of grilling i got RFE!

Sorry to hear this, spring333. I am thinking you are applying under the 3-year rule, is that correct?

Did the IO tell you why he recommends that you withdraw the petition? What was the RFE?

Now I am getting nervous too

I dont get why they are making big deal of this thing? If they had any concerns they should have solved them during ROC. If ROC is approved why are they looking for more now? This should be straight forward thing.

No kidding. I also don't understand why they have to revisit/rehash when that was already done during ROC. If they question every decision their colleagues made for the ROC applications, that is quite a re-work.

So... while we're waiting...

How long has everyone been living in the US?

Let's hope all the answers are over 3 years!

10 years.

I had my interview today at the USCIS Oakland Park, Florida office. Interview was for 8:30 am. I arrived at 8:00 am. Was called in by the IO at 9:40 am. She looked pleasant. I was sworn for the oath for the interview. After which she told me that I have the option to withdraw my application or go through the interview process and be denied at the end because technically she thought i am not eligible to apply under the 3 yr rule bcos I live apart from my wife. I work as an inspector and my job takes round the southern part of Florida. My company insisted that i maintain a residence in the Miami area. My wife works for the VA and she resides an 8 hr drive away from me in Florida. She has tried to transfer to a VA facility in the Miami but we have been unsuccessful. I presented evidence to support my claims. We have been in bona fide marriage.

I insisted that I duly qualify to apply for naturalization under the 3 yr rule since we are living apart for career reasons. I told her I cannot make the decision to withdraw my case without speaking with an attorney. At that point she told me she was going to call her supervisor to explain the law to me. A lady came who introduced herself as acting supervisor. She tried to clean up the statement made by the IO by saying that they will set up a committee to see whether there are exceptions in the provision that might apply to my case.

So they went ahead and tested me on the civic and all the interview questions. Civic questions were straightforward.

Long story short, the IO gave me a piece of paper saying decision cannot be made at the time and that I will be contacted in the mail. So my fingers crossed at this time.

That IO was tough. But personally, I would have preferred that kind of IO instead of having an IO who will make it look like everything is fine and then leaves me hanging, asking myself, "what are they waiting/looking for to make a decision?"

The good thing is -- you know the reason and she was very specific when she said, "technically...not eligible under the 3-year rule". It's a technicality that is specific to the 3-year rule.

Hi co-applicants. I just wonder if you have a lawyer. I don't have one and I am thinking if it is better for the N-400 process to hire one, even now.[/color][/size][/background][/font][/color]

I have a lawyer. I spoke to him before I filed and then retained him. If you think your case does not have complications, I wouldn't get one. If you got an RFE that bugs you, I would consult one. I have one because my case kind of worries me and it's also because I am a worrier. I get freaked out quite easily, it is for my sanity and peace of mind :/

From what I read, most folks who get lawyers are those with previous arrests, if you registered to vote, possible physical presence or continuous residence issue, had previous tax issues... I think the general rule is that if you did something against the law, then it might be a good idea to get a lawyer.

State department regulations require you to enter and leave the U.S. on a U.S. Passport of you are an American citizen.

While it is true that the U.S. had no exit checks, it's not true that the airlines only check your ability to enter the country of destination. I've been asked to show my visa and green card several times on exit. There are also several reports, including here on visa journey, of airline officials calling over an ICE agent when such a document can't be presented. This has also happened to Visa-waiver overstayers. This doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen in some cases. If I were a U.S. Citizen traveling on an Egyptian passport, I wouldn't be able to produce a green card or valid visa if asked. As a citizen of a visa waiver country, you may not be asked, but I've seen British and French citizens asked the same thing.

Having said that, I've never come across anyone who got into trouble for leaving on a non US passport. Then again, I've never come across a one who tried. Also, there's no specified penalty under law for not complying with this regulation;

I'd advise you to get your passport before you leave, you can go to a passport agency and get same day service if need be.

There is a same-day service?!?!? Oh good, I really have to read more. Haha.

From the way you wrote your post, I don't think you have to worry about that part of the test. Besides, if you are from Ireland, I think English is one of its commonly used languages.

I'm honestly not sure all that material is needed. I get that a number of people were asked for their birth certificates at the interview, for example, but I can't imagine that would be applicable for the majority. Why do they need my birth certificate to check that my name and birthdate are correct? They already have a copy of my passport that has my birthdate in it.

Bank statements, joint lease, etc? Like, we already did all that stuff for AOS and ROC, why are we having to do it all again just because we're filing based on USC marriage?

No kidding. I feel like it's ROC all over again, re-verifying bona fide marriage.