Baltimore N-400 Timeline
- Thread starter Future-American
- Start date
Took Oath as Citizen today
My wife and I became US Citizens today.
Oath Ceremony was at Baltimore District Court . Oath Letter mentioned we sholuld be there at 10am sharp. However nothing started till 11am. That is because they were preparing naturalization certificate and doing some paperwork etc. There were 50 people who took Oath today (from 21 different countries !). Some people did bring their family members, kids etc. People came in all sorts of dress including jeans and t-shirt. So dont have to dress very formally.
At 10.45am we were called row by row (there are about 10 rows with 12 seats in each row) to come over and give our signed Oath Letter and greencard to Court Clerk. She will ask you to go thru your Naturalization certificate to make sure name and everything is correct.
At 11.30 sharp, a female judge enters and all of us are asked to stand up briefly. She gives a short speach such as how she is also daughter of immigrants from Europe and how they realized their dreams etc.. After that you read out your Oath of Allegeience (all of us together). We were called individually and granted Naturalization Certificate. If you requested name change you also get a letter which says our name change request is granted and mentions our new name . There is no separate ceremony for name change.
Once the judge came in ceremony got over in 45 minutes. There is a cafetaria inside the court and court room where swearing in takes place is very spacious and comfortable. It has gallery seats and few people came with infants in car seats etc. You can bring in camera , one dude even had a laptop and working on it during waiting period from 10am to 11am.
Today we also had several kids from local school who came in to greet us. Those kids lead Oath of Allegience and also sang some patriotis songs. They had prepared some handmade flags and US themed craftwork and gifted all of us. It was so nice !
If you completed your interview and did not receive your Oath letter or if you want to change your oath date do not hesitate to take infopass and go to Baltimore office directly. They can easily change Oath date for you.
My wife and I became US Citizens today.
Oath Ceremony was at Baltimore District Court . Oath Letter mentioned we sholuld be there at 10am sharp. However nothing started till 11am. That is because they were preparing naturalization certificate and doing some paperwork etc. There were 50 people who took Oath today (from 21 different countries !). Some people did bring their family members, kids etc. People came in all sorts of dress including jeans and t-shirt. So dont have to dress very formally.
At 10.45am we were called row by row (there are about 10 rows with 12 seats in each row) to come over and give our signed Oath Letter and greencard to Court Clerk. She will ask you to go thru your Naturalization certificate to make sure name and everything is correct.
At 11.30 sharp, a female judge enters and all of us are asked to stand up briefly. She gives a short speach such as how she is also daughter of immigrants from Europe and how they realized their dreams etc.. After that you read out your Oath of Allegeience (all of us together). We were called individually and granted Naturalization Certificate. If you requested name change you also get a letter which says our name change request is granted and mentions our new name . There is no separate ceremony for name change.
Once the judge came in ceremony got over in 45 minutes. There is a cafetaria inside the court and court room where swearing in takes place is very spacious and comfortable. It has gallery seats and few people came with infants in car seats etc. You can bring in camera , one dude even had a laptop and working on it during waiting period from 10am to 11am.
Today we also had several kids from local school who came in to greet us. Those kids lead Oath of Allegience and also sang some patriotis songs. They had prepared some handmade flags and US themed craftwork and gifted all of us. It was so nice !
If you completed your interview and did not receive your Oath letter or if you want to change your oath date do not hesitate to take infopass and go to Baltimore office directly. They can easily change Oath date for you.
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Got my passport
This info is specially for people who lived/applied around Baltimore-Maryland area. I took oath on Friday, Apr 25th. I am travelling abroad on May 2nd for which I need visa. Easiest way would have been to go to Washington DC and get passport in a day. This is what I did.
(i) Just did a google search for rush passport service and found an agency www.rushmypassport.com , with them I booked a slot for MOnday - April 28th for my wife and I. They sent clear instructions about next steps.
(ii) After Oath Ceremony at about 1pm went to Columbia Main Post office. This is the only facility in Baltimore which accepts walk-in passport applications (they accept even on Saturday). I requested them to seal the passport application and hand it back to us.
(iii) Shipped the selaed envelop to rushmypassport facility in DC.
(iv) They received it at Monday mornig 7.45am. They immidietly submit application to DC passport agency and an automated email and call confirms me that passport is submitted. They even provide me FEDEX tracking number for return shipment. (They keep the airbill handy)
(v) As per FEDEX tracking details - my passport is ready and delivered to FEDEX facility at 2.45pm.
(vi) My wife and I have our passports back at 9am this morning (Tuesday 4/29) with al original documents.
Here are my comments :
(i) This agency charges around $200 for rush prosessing. So best option is to go to passport agency directly. Because I was extremely busy at work I could not go personally. However going to agent is not a bad idea as they do this everyday and therefore have very clear instructions in their website.
(ii) Dont get fooled by some websites which claim same day passport etc. When you actually call them they say all their appointments are in full. Please book in advance if possible.
This info is specially for people who lived/applied around Baltimore-Maryland area. I took oath on Friday, Apr 25th. I am travelling abroad on May 2nd for which I need visa. Easiest way would have been to go to Washington DC and get passport in a day. This is what I did.
(i) Just did a google search for rush passport service and found an agency www.rushmypassport.com , with them I booked a slot for MOnday - April 28th for my wife and I. They sent clear instructions about next steps.
(ii) After Oath Ceremony at about 1pm went to Columbia Main Post office. This is the only facility in Baltimore which accepts walk-in passport applications (they accept even on Saturday). I requested them to seal the passport application and hand it back to us.
(iii) Shipped the selaed envelop to rushmypassport facility in DC.
(iv) They received it at Monday mornig 7.45am. They immidietly submit application to DC passport agency and an automated email and call confirms me that passport is submitted. They even provide me FEDEX tracking number for return shipment. (They keep the airbill handy)
(v) As per FEDEX tracking details - my passport is ready and delivered to FEDEX facility at 2.45pm.
(vi) My wife and I have our passports back at 9am this morning (Tuesday 4/29) with al original documents.
Here are my comments :
(i) This agency charges around $200 for rush prosessing. So best option is to go to passport agency directly. Because I was extremely busy at work I could not go personally. However going to agent is not a bad idea as they do this everyday and therefore have very clear instructions in their website.
(ii) Dont get fooled by some websites which claim same day passport etc. When you actually call them they say all their appointments are in full. Please book in advance if possible.
Thanks for those comments Jc8018.
I've also just found that if you need to get IRS tax transcripts (highly recommended, since tax transcripts are the only authentic source that proves you've actually filed income taxes, as opposed to your tax return which is a document you prepare) there are a number of sources to get it from. Some DOs like NYC specifically ask for tax transcripts, and I know one person whose decision was not made because he only had tax returns instead of transcripts. I think this depends from office to office, but better to be safe than sorry.
If you have at least 2-3 weeks before your interview, you can get the tax transcripts by ordering over the phone by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. However, like me, if your interview is in less than a week there are some companies that deliver your tax transcripts by fax/email in 1-2 business days for as much as $40.
I just walked into the Annapolis IRS office -- and they seemed to have experience in dealing with USCIS -- and got the last 4 yrs of my tax transcripts on the spot for no fee. So you can just visit your local IRS office and get these for at least the last 3 years. The IRS office can also expedite tax transcripts for previous years by directly ordering them for you.
I've also just found that if you need to get IRS tax transcripts (highly recommended, since tax transcripts are the only authentic source that proves you've actually filed income taxes, as opposed to your tax return which is a document you prepare) there are a number of sources to get it from. Some DOs like NYC specifically ask for tax transcripts, and I know one person whose decision was not made because he only had tax returns instead of transcripts. I think this depends from office to office, but better to be safe than sorry.
If you have at least 2-3 weeks before your interview, you can get the tax transcripts by ordering over the phone by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. However, like me, if your interview is in less than a week there are some companies that deliver your tax transcripts by fax/email in 1-2 business days for as much as $40.
I just walked into the Annapolis IRS office -- and they seemed to have experience in dealing with USCIS -- and got the last 4 yrs of my tax transcripts on the spot for no fee. So you can just visit your local IRS office and get these for at least the last 3 years. The IRS office can also expedite tax transcripts for previous years by directly ordering them for you.
I just had my naturalization interview in Baltimore today at 8:00AM. Here's the latest experience from Baltimore.
We first waited in the outer hallway until the office completely opened and we were asked to come into the interview waiting room (Rm 103). While we were there, the adjudicating officer called my name and introduced himself and escorted me into a small room (looked like his office). There, I was first sworn in and he quickly went over the application while he was checking things away. He asked to see my green card and driver's license -- and NOTHING else (all those tax returns, transcripts, utility bills in vain). Then he essentially updated some travel information, and asked me the civics questions -- he stopped at 6 questions and then asked me to read one of the questions from his sheet, and to write a small sentence he said. It was over in less than 10 minutes. Then was the unusual part -- where he never told me whether I passed or not, but just escorted me to another waiting room, and said someone will come and tell you the result of the interview. I waited for about an hour while people were coming and going, and almost everyone coming into the waiting room had a "Naturalization Interview Results" sheet clutched in their hands. I didn't have any.... It sounded like something was wrong.
After about an hour, one of the IO's at the counter called me up, asked for my "A number" and went to look for my file, and came back and told me that I passed and scheduled me for an oath date on May 12 at 1PM. I thanked her profusely of course, because I could have easily waited there for another hour before anyone noticed!!
I'm really impressed at how good the customer service at the Baltimore USCIS office was, and except for the last hiccup in waiting for so long, everything went very smoothly.
I already made an appointment at the US Passport agency in Washington for May 13 -- I have to travel in about 7 days after that.
Good luck to everyone else...
We first waited in the outer hallway until the office completely opened and we were asked to come into the interview waiting room (Rm 103). While we were there, the adjudicating officer called my name and introduced himself and escorted me into a small room (looked like his office). There, I was first sworn in and he quickly went over the application while he was checking things away. He asked to see my green card and driver's license -- and NOTHING else (all those tax returns, transcripts, utility bills in vain). Then he essentially updated some travel information, and asked me the civics questions -- he stopped at 6 questions and then asked me to read one of the questions from his sheet, and to write a small sentence he said. It was over in less than 10 minutes. Then was the unusual part -- where he never told me whether I passed or not, but just escorted me to another waiting room, and said someone will come and tell you the result of the interview. I waited for about an hour while people were coming and going, and almost everyone coming into the waiting room had a "Naturalization Interview Results" sheet clutched in their hands. I didn't have any.... It sounded like something was wrong.
After about an hour, one of the IO's at the counter called me up, asked for my "A number" and went to look for my file, and came back and told me that I passed and scheduled me for an oath date on May 12 at 1PM. I thanked her profusely of course, because I could have easily waited there for another hour before anyone noticed!!
I'm really impressed at how good the customer service at the Baltimore USCIS office was, and except for the last hiccup in waiting for so long, everything went very smoothly.
I already made an appointment at the US Passport agency in Washington for May 13 -- I have to travel in about 7 days after that.
Good luck to everyone else...
My wife and me had our naturalization initial interview in Baltimore today. Our experience was nearly the same as those written in this and other forums.
We arrived at the interview waiting room (RM 103) around 11:00 am. During the seating, we saw many were called in but only a few went out through the RM 103.
Finally 40 minutes pasted the scheduled time, my wife was called. Around 20 min later, she entered RM 103 from the main door and told me she needed to wait at RM 101. I guessed that I would be called immediately and we did not talk too much.
I continued to wait for another 20-25 min and it was my turn. The whole process took ca 10 min, and I was given a sheet with oath date. The officer escorted me out through RM 103.
We waited additional 2 hours for her oath date at RM 101. She said that the officer was from nearby USCIS office and only recommended for the approval. That is why she was in the RM 101 waiting for the result from a senior official.
I feel USCIS (at least Baltimore USCIS office) is working hard to reduce the workload, as Baltimore office is very crowded with small and separated cubs. Also, employees are very nice and friendly.
Good luck to everyone.
__________________
01/15/08 N-400 received by VSC
02/07/08 NOA received
02/28/08 FP done (with Notice date 02/06)
04/17/08 IL letter received (with Notice date 03/31)
05/03/08 Interview at Baltimore DO
Oath Date scheduled: May 12, 2008
We arrived at the interview waiting room (RM 103) around 11:00 am. During the seating, we saw many were called in but only a few went out through the RM 103.
Finally 40 minutes pasted the scheduled time, my wife was called. Around 20 min later, she entered RM 103 from the main door and told me she needed to wait at RM 101. I guessed that I would be called immediately and we did not talk too much.
I continued to wait for another 20-25 min and it was my turn. The whole process took ca 10 min, and I was given a sheet with oath date. The officer escorted me out through RM 103.
We waited additional 2 hours for her oath date at RM 101. She said that the officer was from nearby USCIS office and only recommended for the approval. That is why she was in the RM 101 waiting for the result from a senior official.
I feel USCIS (at least Baltimore USCIS office) is working hard to reduce the workload, as Baltimore office is very crowded with small and separated cubs. Also, employees are very nice and friendly.
Good luck to everyone.
__________________
01/15/08 N-400 received by VSC
02/07/08 NOA received
02/28/08 FP done (with Notice date 02/06)
04/17/08 IL letter received (with Notice date 03/31)
05/03/08 Interview at Baltimore DO
Oath Date scheduled: May 12, 2008
that probably explains why I had to wait close to an hour in Rm 101 before anyone scheduled me for the oath. I got the feeling that there were two types of adjudicating officers in Baltimore today. One group clearly were home-based officers, who quickly approved cases, and most of their interviewees waited about 10 mins in Rm 101 to have their oath scheduled. I saw a lot of interviewees who came into the room after their interview after me, receive their oath dates before me.
The other group of officers, as Jchello said, were perhaps junior officers from other CIS offices that needed to get prior approval from a senior officer. This is probably why my officer did NOT tell me the outcome of the interview, even when I asked him.... plus, I waited an hour exasperating about the outcome of the interview, when finally the immigration officer who was manning the counter just called me up to check on my case, because she knew I had been sitting there for a very long time.
The other group of officers, as Jchello said, were perhaps junior officers from other CIS offices that needed to get prior approval from a senior officer. This is probably why my officer did NOT tell me the outcome of the interview, even when I asked him.... plus, I waited an hour exasperating about the outcome of the interview, when finally the immigration officer who was manning the counter just called me up to check on my case, because she knew I had been sitting there for a very long time.
Congratulations, Rwickra and Gchello. Your timeframe of applying & filing your N-400 applications is similar to mine and I heard thru my friend (immigration lawyer's intern) that many people, who applied in Dec 2007/Jan 2008 thru lawyer, got interview appointment notices and/or completed their citizenship path, but I haven't received my interview appointment letter yet. Should I call IO if I am scheduled for an interview and/or what the status of my case is?
Do you know what the phone menu options at USCIS are? or should I request to talk to IO via INFOPASS?
or should I wait for few more days or weeks or months before I should call IO?
I appreciate it if you advise me. Thanks.
I believe that Balitmore office processing times on USCIS website is sometimes not entirely accurate because of many dec 2007/jan 2008 applicants including Rwickra and Gchello who got their appointment letter or completed their journeys.
Do you know what the phone menu options at USCIS are? or should I request to talk to IO via INFOPASS?
or should I wait for few more days or weeks or months before I should call IO?
I appreciate it if you advise me. Thanks.
I believe that Balitmore office processing times on USCIS website is sometimes not entirely accurate because of many dec 2007/jan 2008 applicants including Rwickra and Gchello who got their appointment letter or completed their journeys.
USGC485,
Actually, I didn't file through a lawyer, and based on the turnout at yesterday's naturalization interviews, I saw only 3-4 people with an attorneys, almost everyone else it seems, handled the process per se.
The timelines at Baltimore have been a bit wierd. Many of the other people I got interviews with had priority dates around July-August 2007, and for some reason, even after filing end Nov/Dec 2007, I still had mine with them. Gchello in particular filed his in Jan! I think there's definitely some variability depending on how long it takes to have your fingerprints and namecheck cleared, I suppose.
You might want to go to the Baltimore USCIS office using an INFOPASS appointment made online. I tried calling on the NCSC hotline using the advice of some of the other posters, and whenever I get an customer rep, he/she NEVER puts me through to an IO the minute they find out my application was filed in November. They always cite the processing times of the Baltimore DO posted online (May 7, 20007... which is clearly a joke), and tell me to call back when my case processing time has passed. I've even several times to have my request escalated to an IO and everytime I was denied. I finally gave up and made an INFOPASS appt, and just walked into the Baltimore office... no waits, no hassle and you have an IO that will answer any question you ask -- and has better information to ask it. Fortunately, I received my IL just 2 days before my scheduled INFOPASS appt, so I ended up just asking some generic questions from the IO about oath scheduling etc. I would recommend that you take this route.
I know that IOs will do a personalized search and provide you with updates about your FBI namecheck/fingerprint status rather than the customer reps on the NCSC hotline who just read standardized paragraphs to you.
Hope that helps!
Actually, I didn't file through a lawyer, and based on the turnout at yesterday's naturalization interviews, I saw only 3-4 people with an attorneys, almost everyone else it seems, handled the process per se.
The timelines at Baltimore have been a bit wierd. Many of the other people I got interviews with had priority dates around July-August 2007, and for some reason, even after filing end Nov/Dec 2007, I still had mine with them. Gchello in particular filed his in Jan! I think there's definitely some variability depending on how long it takes to have your fingerprints and namecheck cleared, I suppose.
You might want to go to the Baltimore USCIS office using an INFOPASS appointment made online. I tried calling on the NCSC hotline using the advice of some of the other posters, and whenever I get an customer rep, he/she NEVER puts me through to an IO the minute they find out my application was filed in November. They always cite the processing times of the Baltimore DO posted online (May 7, 20007... which is clearly a joke), and tell me to call back when my case processing time has passed. I've even several times to have my request escalated to an IO and everytime I was denied. I finally gave up and made an INFOPASS appt, and just walked into the Baltimore office... no waits, no hassle and you have an IO that will answer any question you ask -- and has better information to ask it. Fortunately, I received my IL just 2 days before my scheduled INFOPASS appt, so I ended up just asking some generic questions from the IO about oath scheduling etc. I would recommend that you take this route.
I know that IOs will do a personalized search and provide you with updates about your FBI namecheck/fingerprint status rather than the customer reps on the NCSC hotline who just read standardized paragraphs to you.
Hope that helps!
Thanks, Rwickra. I will make an appointment on Monday via INFOPASS to go to Baltimore office to ask some questions regarding my case since infopass is not available today, but first I will try to call USCIS without infopass. just worth a try so I don't have to drive all the way to Baltimore office since I live about one hour drive from Baltimore. Gas prices are awful and ridiculous as they went up recently. I hope they will not hit 4 dollars per gallon this summer.
by the way, I understand that you have been trying to talk to IO via customer service. do you know what the phone menu options that you selected to contact IO are?
Anyways, thanks and congratulations again!
by the way, I understand that you have been trying to talk to IO via customer service. do you know what the phone menu options that you selected to contact IO are?
Anyways, thanks and congratulations again!
Call the following number and the following sequence of menu options.
If you can trace your case status online, you can go to Level 2 support. If you cannot (my case still appears as an invalid number online), you can go to Level 1 support.
Level 1 support: 1-800-375-5283; options 1,2,2,6,2,2,1
Level 2 support:
Call 1-800-375-5283; options 1,2,2,6,1
Now enter your receipt number
press 1 (now listen to the case update info)
press 3 (to continue to next step)
press 4 (multiple cases filed but if the companion cases are separated)
(Xfering to the service center where your case is pending)
(now you will hear a message prompting to take notes etc. then it will be transferred to an Immigration Officer, give him/her your Application number and he/she will look up the information for you)
Good luck!
If you can trace your case status online, you can go to Level 2 support. If you cannot (my case still appears as an invalid number online), you can go to Level 1 support.
Level 1 support: 1-800-375-5283; options 1,2,2,6,2,2,1
Level 2 support:
Call 1-800-375-5283; options 1,2,2,6,1
Now enter your receipt number
press 1 (now listen to the case update info)
press 3 (to continue to next step)
press 4 (multiple cases filed but if the companion cases are separated)
(Xfering to the service center where your case is pending)
(now you will hear a message prompting to take notes etc. then it will be transferred to an Immigration Officer, give him/her your Application number and he/she will look up the information for you)
Good luck!
Nws,
Do you still visit this website? I remember that you had filed N-400 a month before me, and your IL didn't arrive when expected (as didn't mine). Have you already received your citizenship?
My dateline:
PD -Feb 6, 2007
FP-March 3, 2007
No IL
Do you still visit this website? I remember that you had filed N-400 a month before me, and your IL didn't arrive when expected (as didn't mine). Have you already received your citizenship?
My dateline:
PD -Feb 6, 2007
FP-March 3, 2007
No IL
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Rwickra, Thanks for your help. I did call the customer service.. Guess what I got responses from customer service and officer?!
First of all, the customer service (Level 2 support) asked me for my receipt number. After I gave my receipt number and she entered it on the computer, she said my receipt number is not found on the computer system (I also checked my online status that it is not found either).
She transferred my call to the official agent (I think she tranferred me to the high level officer). An officer was very polite and nice. He checked my case on his computer system and my case is opened by an officer at the Baltimore office and the interview notice will be sent out to me as soon as an officer finishes reviewing my case.
I asked him when the interview will be. He said "I am showing that no interview dates are given yet, but I am showing that your case is being reviewing on April 25, 2008. You are still within the normal processing time for your case at the particular office in Baltimore, Maryland where your case is being processed so at this time we asked that you remain patient for the receipt of your interview notice."
(Second Question): I asked if my fingerprint result is cleared. He said, "Since the fingerprints were taken more than 60 days ago and you have not received a notice notifying you that the fingerprints were incorrectly taken or there was an error in processing or if you have not been notified in regards to having the fingerprints retaken since it has been 60 days then there are no errors in the finger printing. I am showing on the computer system that your fingerprinting was taken on Jan 26, 2008 and your fingerprint results were received on Feb 1, 2008 at the particular office in Baltimore, Maryland. It means there are no error in your fingerprinting."
That's it. I hope it is a good news!
First of all, the customer service (Level 2 support) asked me for my receipt number. After I gave my receipt number and she entered it on the computer, she said my receipt number is not found on the computer system (I also checked my online status that it is not found either).
She transferred my call to the official agent (I think she tranferred me to the high level officer). An officer was very polite and nice. He checked my case on his computer system and my case is opened by an officer at the Baltimore office and the interview notice will be sent out to me as soon as an officer finishes reviewing my case.
I asked him when the interview will be. He said "I am showing that no interview dates are given yet, but I am showing that your case is being reviewing on April 25, 2008. You are still within the normal processing time for your case at the particular office in Baltimore, Maryland where your case is being processed so at this time we asked that you remain patient for the receipt of your interview notice."
(Second Question): I asked if my fingerprint result is cleared. He said, "Since the fingerprints were taken more than 60 days ago and you have not received a notice notifying you that the fingerprints were incorrectly taken or there was an error in processing or if you have not been notified in regards to having the fingerprints retaken since it has been 60 days then there are no errors in the finger printing. I am showing on the computer system that your fingerprinting was taken on Jan 26, 2008 and your fingerprint results were received on Feb 1, 2008 at the particular office in Baltimore, Maryland. It means there are no error in your fingerprinting."
That's it. I hope it is a good news!
YAY, MY IL ARRIVED TODAY. HIP HIP HOOORRRAAAY
alright my timeline:
VERMONT service center
PD: DEC. 19TH, 2007
FD: FEB 13TH
NAME AND BACKGROUND CLEARED FEB. 18TH (PUT IN LINE FOR INTERVIEW)
IL: JUNE 12 AT 1:40 (ARRIVED TODAY MAY 5TH)
HOOOORRRRRAAAAAAYYYYYYY
How do you know name chack cleared?
Thanks
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