Sarhan Abdelbaser

Mabrook Safroot!!!

Can someone update my status please? I had my oath ceremony today! Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!!

My wife and I had our interviews and oath ceremony in Seattle today We had separate interviews. My wife was interviewed by a nice pregnant asian lady. My wife had our three kids with her. The IO was very nice and made my wife relax. She actually drew things with my 4 1/2 year old son!

My IO was determined to try to shake me up. As we were walking to the interview room, he asked me if I have a lawyer. Then, he asked me if I'm nervous. I said yes a little bit. Then he asked if I had a reason to be nervous I said absolutely not, it is an important milestone and it is natural to be nervous a little bit. After I swore to tell the truth, he went through my application line by line. At the begininning, he told me now is a good opportunity to correct anything that I might have miss represented. His questions might seem innocent to you, but his tone of voice and body language give a different impression.

By the way, Seattle is not a good place to do a name change. I was told their office does not do this process. If I decided to change my name, my oath ceremony would've been months from now. The IO told me that I need to apply for a name change in a court then provide USCIS with the proof and then they would issue my citizenship certificate. I saw no advantage for doing this now, so I decided not to change the spelling of my name now and do it later.

In any case, I'm glad to say I'm an American Citizen today It's been such a long journey and I'm just happy today

Thank you all for your suggestions! I simply can't find that one passport that has one of my three thrips out of the US in the past 5 years. Each trip only lasted about three weeks. I have nothing to hide. If this turns out to be an issue, I will provide whatever satisfies the IO. It is what it is, and I'm not going to stress over this

I just can't believe I can't locate this passport. I'm a book keeping freak!! I even had the boarding pass stubs from this missing trip and I threw them away just six months ago!

Oh well, I will let everyone know what happens tomorrow!

The missing passport has one trip that happened in the last 5 years. I still have my e-ticket, so I will print it and take it with me like Haarp suggested. One would think immigration has at least the entry dates electronically....

I'm not going to stress out over this. I just hope it doesn't turn ot to be an issue.

Thank you all! Please keep the suggestions coming if you think of any good ones.

I'm gathering the required documents for my interview in two days. I was able to find all my previous passports for the the last 20 years except one passport from 6 years ago. I traveled once with this passport after becoming a permanent resident, so technically there is one trip that the officer may not be able to verify my exit and entrance dates of the US. My wife and son traveled with me, so their passports have the exit and entrance dates. I know this doesn't prove anything as far as I'm concerned.

I'm going to continue to look for it. I haven't lost hope, but if I couldn't what should I do? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys! I will probably end up saving everything. It is an addiction

How long should we keep immigration documents after N400 approval? I have documents from 16 years ago, F1 visas, I-20s, H1B1 visas and their petitions and Green Card applications through employment. How long should I keep all these documents? What does the law say abot this?

Thanks for the advice countmein! I decided I'm going to take the kids with us. It won't be fun without them

I'm looking forward to next Tuesday!

Thanks Sarhan. You don't have to wait too much longer. The oath was supposed to be administered by the director of that office but since she was out of the office today, another senior office administered it. There was no judge present today so I doubt there were any name changes since it usually requires a judge to sign off on that. Hopefully there'll be a judge present next tuesday so you can take the same day oath.

BTW, the interviewers come out from various doors around the waiting area so you really have to pay attention to when they call your name. There's no specific door or screen to watch for. I would advise you to sit in the area on the right when you reach the top of the stairs since that's where most of the interviewers come out from.

Other than that, just breathe and relax. The whole interview experience was a lot easier than I expected.

Thanks for the advice! Were there people with kids during the interview and oath ceremony? I'm thinking the oath ceremony can get very interesting with my three under 5 years old children

Had my interview and oath today.

Here is my experience:

Got there at 945am for my 1030am interview appointment. My name was called at 1050am by a young asian lady.

She went through all the information in my application form noting changes that have occurred from the time I sent in my application till now.

Answered the first 6 questions correctly.

1. How many amendments does the Consitution have?

2. What is the name of the current vice-president?

3. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

4. We elect a senator for how many years?

5. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

6. Why did the colonists fight the British?

Reading:

Who can vote?

Writing:

Citizens can vote..

When the interview was completed(15 minutes total), she told me that she was recommending approval for my application and that there was an oath ceremony at 1230pm. Gave me a blue slip with the oath time and date.

Oath ceremony took about 2 hrs. There were 91 approved applicants from 29 countries.

Time to get the SS updated and apply for passport.

Overall, it was a relatively easy and painless process.

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N-400: December 2010 Applicants

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USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox

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UserName.........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Fprints..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice....|

=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

darklady109......|12/01/10.|12/06/10.|12/11/10.|02/04/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|HudsonValley,NY|

Benrick..........|12/02/10.|12/07/10.|12/06/10.|01/25/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Baltimore,MD...|

DC Sparrow.......|12/02/10.|12/07/10.|12/13/10.|01/05/11.|01/19/11.|02/24/11.|03/02/11.|Philadelphia,PA|

Mood.............|12/07/10.|12/09/10.|12/14/10.|01/07/11.|02/08/11.|03/10/11.|--/--/--.|Houston,TX.....|

Khanshahid.......|12/07/10.|12/13/10.|12/16/10.|01/13/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Brooklyn,NY....|

Pat001...........|12/10/10.|12/15/10.|12/16/10.|01/12/11.|01/25/11.|02/24/11.|--/--/--.|Baltimore,MD...|

Gogal2020........|12/13/10.|12/20/10.|12/17/10.|01/12/11.|01/25/11.|02/24/11.|--/--/--.|Baltimore,MD...|

Togun09..........|12/13/10.|12/15/10.|12/18/10.|01/19/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington,DC..|

Foreignbody......|12/15/10.|12/20/10.|12/20/10.|01/28/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington,DC..|

Ssma2007.........|12/17/10.|12/22/10.|12/22/10.|01/19/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Hartford,CT....|

Batkamano60......|12/17/10.|12/27/10.|12/23/10.|01/24/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Lovenjstar.......|12/22/10.|01/04/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....]

ED*Riza..........|12/23/10.|12/29/10.|01/03/11.|01/26/11.|03/01/11.|03/22/11.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....](was deschuled twice-3/14&3/29)

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USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox

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UserName.........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Fprints..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice....|

=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

Safroot..........|12/03/10.|12/07/10.|12/11/10.|01/06/11.|01/28/11.|02/15/11.|--/--/--.|SanFrancisco,CA|

Kweli............|12/04/10.|12/17/10.|12/15/10.|02/09/11.|02/17/11.|03/18/11.|--/--/--.|St Paul,MN.....|

bradcanuck.......|12/06/10.|12/14/10.|12/17/10.|01/07/11.|01/24/11.|02/28/11.|--/--/--.|Santa Ana,CA...|

jso..............|12/06/10.|12/16/10.|12/18/10.|01/13/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Portland,OR....|

Nycbra...........|12/06/10.|12/14/10.|12/15/10.|01/06/11.|01/26/11.|02/16/11.|--/--/--.|SanFrancisco,CA| REtook Fprints 01/19

Sarhan Abdelbaser|12/08/10.|12/14/10.|12/14/10.|01/26/11.|02/05/11.|03/08/11.|--/--/--.|Seattle,WA.....|

Countmein........|12/08/10.|12/15/10.|12/18/10.|01/11/11.|01/27/11.|03/02/11.|03/02/11.|Seattle,WA.....|

Vidafareed.......|12/13/10.|12/16/10.|12/20/10.|01/19/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|St Louis,MO....|

alex68...........|12/14/10.|12/17/10.|12/16/10.|01/11/11.|02/25/11.|04/20/11.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL....|

Nessa............|12/17/10.|12/21/10.|12/22/10.|01/19/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Kansas City,MO.|

Californian......|12/17/10.|12/22/10.|12/22/10.|01/05/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Los Angeles,CA.|

RobAndTania......|12/29/10.|01/10/11.|01/12/11.|01/28/11.|02/09/11.|03/14/11.|--/--/--.|Indianapolis,IN|

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

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

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

UserName.........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Fprints..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice....|

=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

Example..........|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|City,State.....|

Example..........|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|City,State.....]

Congratulations Countmein!!! I was waiting to read your experience today. Thanks for sharing! Our interview is next Tuesday. The wait is almost over!! The only question I have and I can't find an answer for is whether if I can do my oath on the same day if my application has a name change......

Congratulations again

Approved.

I went in, appointment at 10:35, called in at 11:00. Swore to tell the truth. Then he went through the application and confirmed everything.

We did the test, I don't remember the questions it happened so fast. I got 6/6.

He didn't ask anything personal or anything outside of the norm "Are you a communist or Nazi."

He told me my Oath letter will go out and I will more than likely be scheduled for the 24th, but there's no guarantee. He also suggested I get passport photos taken and download the passport application from the state dept. website and take it to the Oath ceremony so I can send it in right away.

I have a feeling I am going to get pushed to April for some reason, which is bad news. But only time will tell - now waiting one final time on USCIS... for the Oath letter.

HUZZAH!

Congratulations!! I thought once approved, the oat ceremony is on the same day. Or is this only true for some offices? I think in Seattle the oath ceremony is on the same day.

Does anyone here have experience applying for citizenship and changing their name in Seattle? I'm interested to know if doing the name change delays the Oath ceremony.

Mabrook Safroot!!

I just got my yellow letter, so hopefully this means the interview letter is not far behind! How long did it take after the yellow letter for all of you? (that is if you got one!)

I got both yellow letter and interview letter in the same day! You should be getting yours soon!

Mabrook Sarhan hope everything goes as planned 4 u bro,

I got my interview letter yesterday 2/8/11 for 3/10/11 .

Guess it is time to start studying, or may be not yet

Thanks mood and Safroot!

I hope things turn out well in Egypt! May God protect everyone especially those in Tahreer Square!

We received our interview letters today. I was very impressed that they scheduled me and my wife for one interview at the same time. I wonder how they will ask us questions together. Any experience there?

The other nice thing is that our interview is scheduled exactly on our 5 year anniversary I guess my planning is flawless Just kidding! God willing everything will go ok. We feel blessed!

Can someone please update me? Interview letter received 2/5/2011. Interview Date 3/8/2011.

By they way, doing the walk in fingerprints doesn't seem to speed things that much. Comein and I have almost identical timelines. He did his walk in 2 weeks ahead of me and his interview is only 6 days earlier than ours. Just an observation.

Today I received an email update stating that our cases have been transfered to a local office. Very impressive considering the fact that we only did our fingerprints just 5 days ago! Interview letter should be on the way

What happens if the interview date was before the five year anniversary of becoming permanent residents? Would we have to come back to USCIS or do they approve our cases by mail?

Congratulations on the new baby!!

Our cases have identical timelines with the exception of you doing a walk-in 2 weeks earlier than me. This should be a good case study for verifying if a walk-in can speed up one's case! I'm looking at around mid March for my interview time.....

We did our fingerprints today. I have to say USCIS improved a lot. The process was very easy even with three kids. We were in and out in about half an hour!! Good job USCIS

Looking at everyone's timeline, it looks like we should expect interview letters in about 3 to 4 weeks

Thanks god, today i woke up to find the best text message on my phone about the Case status update. i checked the website and it says that i'm at the stage of "Testing and interview", my file has been transferred to the local office and an interview will be scheduled soon. Alhamdolillah, i hope i get the letter soon.

Mabrook ya Safroot baih!! I think you should celebrate by going to the zoo, but stay away from the lion

Hi All,

I'm a green card holder with a pending citizenship application. I just renewed my passport and found out that someone decided to completely change the spelling of my first, middle and last name! I have to travel to Canada for a business trip. Would it be ok to travel with the new and old passports and other documents that show the old spelling of my name? My old passport, driver's license and green card all have consistent spelling. Will I face any trouble when I fly back to the US?

Please let me know if you had a similar situation or if you know a reference I can read.

Thanks mood!

Thanks for the info countmein! It will be interesting to see if your application will go faster because you did your walk in. I'm going to wait until our appointment on the 26th. What is weird is that my wife and I both received an email notification at the same time. She received her appointment letter on Monday and I'm yet to get mine

Well, I just got my letter today! Please someone update my FP date to 1/26/11. It is the same time and date as my wife. I wonder if we will receive the same interview date!

I did the walk in today at the Seattle office. My wife is due any moment so i wanted to get this out of the way asap. Of course, the date I was given for the biometrics is 01/26/2011 which is right before the due date.

Was there at 745am and explained the situation to the information counter. They told me wait when the fingerprint section opened at 8am. Once the counter was opened, I walked up and explained my situation and the clerk told me that she would take my form but there was no gurantee that there would be availability. At about 10am when I was trying to decide if I should just leave, my name was called. Fingerprinting got done in 10 mins.

To answer your question Sarhan, there were many couples there with infants, toddlers, kids etc so you should have no problem. I also noticed that if you have an appointment for that day, it doesn't matter what time you get there cause it's on a first come first serve basis. Spoke to this guy who has an appointment at 10 am but was there at 745 and he was among the first few when the counter opened.

Thanks for the info countmein! It will be interesting to see if your application will go faster because you did your walk in. I'm going to wait until our appointment on the 26th. What is weird is that my wife and I both received an email notification at the same time. She received her appointment letter on Monday and I'm yet to get mine