Appointment time was 10:40 am, start time was actually 11:10, completion time was 12 noon (= 50 minute interview).
Key points:
1. The IO was very professional and I was treated with courtesy throughout.
2. He went through my overseas travel history very extensively going back to 1982 and checked all travel after 1999 against my passports.
3. He kept my most recent reentry permit (as expected).
4. He did ask about traffic tickets (briefly) but as all these were old and “minor”, he did not belabor these.
5. He asked for proof of tax status. Fortunately, I had requested the last three years tax transcripts from the IRS and he asked if he could keep them. I concurred and he seemed pleased; he did not have to photocopy them!!!
6. My English language test was very simple and uneventful.
7. Even tho’ I had only 48 hours advance notice from the USCIS, I went ahead and took the new pilot (2008) history/civics test (142 questions) rather than the old 96-question version.
8. Questions can be seen at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...toid=dcf5e1df53b2f010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD
9. I got the first six correct and the test stopped there (pass rate = 6/10).
10. All questions were very easy ones, none of the few “ringers” (for me anyway) in the list came up.
11. At this point my blood pressure and heart rate returned to normal.
12. He then asked me to sign a naturalization certificate (for the oath ceremony) and gave me a completed form N-652 stating that, subject to final review (by his boss), I will be approved for US citizenship.
13. I will be sent a letter of the oath ceremony to be @ either Trinity University or the Institute of Texan Cultures. The ceremony should be within 60-90 days.
14. Apparently at the oath ceremony, a number of new citizens are invited to give a brief (4-5 minute) talk at the ceremony on their immigration experience and I agreed to do this. He also seemed please by my compliance. Little did he know that I love a captive audience?
Regional office: Mesquite, Texas
Local office: San Antonio, Texas
• 28th July 06: N-400 application mailed
• 7th August 06: Resubmitted with correct check (first check based on incorrect data on USCIS web site)
• 9th August 06: Priority Date and Application Number issued (& check cashed)
• 15th August 06: Fingerprint (FP) notification (6 days from Priority Date; missed FP date due to absence from town
• 31st August 06: Request to reschedule FP
• 5th September 06: Proactive visit to the FP office as a “walk-in” (27 days from Priority Date)
• 20th April 07: Notice to attend interview (227 days from FP; 254 days from Priority Date. Note: file was not removed from USCIS status site)
• 9th May 07: Interview complete. Application approved. (273 days from Priority Date).
Lessons learned:
1. My straightforward situation has meant that the process has not been difficult. No lawyer needed so far. However, I would use a lawyer for complex or ambiguous situations
2. Be prepared for the USCIS to operate with lightening speed. If away from town do not have post office hold mail but have friend/relative receive mail and check all USCIS communications.
3. In emergencies, just showing up at the FP office as a “walk-in” does work.
4. As the Khanna forum has indicated, removal of the case status from the USCIS website is not a reliable indicator that the interview letter is imminent.
5. Its worth getting (free) IRS tax transcripts to take to the interview.
Key points:
1. The IO was very professional and I was treated with courtesy throughout.
2. He went through my overseas travel history very extensively going back to 1982 and checked all travel after 1999 against my passports.
3. He kept my most recent reentry permit (as expected).
4. He did ask about traffic tickets (briefly) but as all these were old and “minor”, he did not belabor these.
5. He asked for proof of tax status. Fortunately, I had requested the last three years tax transcripts from the IRS and he asked if he could keep them. I concurred and he seemed pleased; he did not have to photocopy them!!!
6. My English language test was very simple and uneventful.
7. Even tho’ I had only 48 hours advance notice from the USCIS, I went ahead and took the new pilot (2008) history/civics test (142 questions) rather than the old 96-question version.
8. Questions can be seen at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...toid=dcf5e1df53b2f010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD
9. I got the first six correct and the test stopped there (pass rate = 6/10).
10. All questions were very easy ones, none of the few “ringers” (for me anyway) in the list came up.
11. At this point my blood pressure and heart rate returned to normal.
12. He then asked me to sign a naturalization certificate (for the oath ceremony) and gave me a completed form N-652 stating that, subject to final review (by his boss), I will be approved for US citizenship.
13. I will be sent a letter of the oath ceremony to be @ either Trinity University or the Institute of Texan Cultures. The ceremony should be within 60-90 days.
14. Apparently at the oath ceremony, a number of new citizens are invited to give a brief (4-5 minute) talk at the ceremony on their immigration experience and I agreed to do this. He also seemed please by my compliance. Little did he know that I love a captive audience?
Regional office: Mesquite, Texas
Local office: San Antonio, Texas
• 28th July 06: N-400 application mailed
• 7th August 06: Resubmitted with correct check (first check based on incorrect data on USCIS web site)
• 9th August 06: Priority Date and Application Number issued (& check cashed)
• 15th August 06: Fingerprint (FP) notification (6 days from Priority Date; missed FP date due to absence from town
• 31st August 06: Request to reschedule FP
• 5th September 06: Proactive visit to the FP office as a “walk-in” (27 days from Priority Date)
• 20th April 07: Notice to attend interview (227 days from FP; 254 days from Priority Date. Note: file was not removed from USCIS status site)
• 9th May 07: Interview complete. Application approved. (273 days from Priority Date).
Lessons learned:
1. My straightforward situation has meant that the process has not been difficult. No lawyer needed so far. However, I would use a lawyer for complex or ambiguous situations
2. Be prepared for the USCIS to operate with lightening speed. If away from town do not have post office hold mail but have friend/relative receive mail and check all USCIS communications.
3. In emergencies, just showing up at the FP office as a “walk-in” does work.
4. As the Khanna forum has indicated, removal of the case status from the USCIS website is not a reliable indicator that the interview letter is imminent.
5. Its worth getting (free) IRS tax transcripts to take to the interview.
Congratulations rwsh, even more so for passing the new format of the Citizenship test.