Chicago IL - N-400 Timeline

I got home today and the interview letter came on Saturday. The appointment date is March 6, 2007.

Does this mean my name check has been cleared?
 
Naumank4273, according to other threads I've read here, USCIS will not schedule you for an interview unless your name check is complete. So, it is my belief that ur name check result was okay. Also, for peace of mind, you can schedule for an infopass appointment to speak with an immigration officer to confirm completion of name check. When you arrive at USCIS, depending on your approach with the officer he/she will either check it in their system or send you away. Also, remember that I had made an appointment with them on 01/22 and the officer told me my name check was completed 01/05, b/4 actually receiving the IL on 01/26. Yes, I'm aware that some of the officers are not very friendly, just be extra nice to the officer that attends to you and be sincere. Good luck.

Regards.
Tightcat.
 
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Interview Details

DMAX said:
Received interview letter today in mail. Case status did not disappear from USCIS website. Oh Crap! now I got to study for it. ;-)

Somewhere in this forum, I read that in 07, interviewees have to go thru more detailed civic test. Does anyone know about it? Also does any one has soft copy of the latest USCIS test booklet? If you do, can you please post the link or actual copy here?

Thx,

DMAX & Chicagolady, good luck to both of you on ur interviews. :) Pls, kindly share your interview experiences at your earliest convenient. Thx.
 
Interview experience - Chicago

My husband had his interview today morning at 101 W Congress Parkway.

Here is his experience provided by him.

The whole process of the interview was pretty much the same as others have provided. Here are few keys things I noticed and

happenned during my process.

1) A couple came to the check-in counter and said that they do not have the interview letter with them. So person at the check-in counter asked for their green card and printed out a duplicate copy of the interview letter. I am not sure if that is the norm or not, but that's what I heard and saw.

2) There were people carrying cell phones and using them in the waiting area.

3) No food and drink at all.

4) The IO asked for my passport, GC and driver's license. No other documents.

5) Told me to write a sentence on the back of the test paper and then asked me 6 Qs.

5) IO then went over the N-400 application and confirmed the information. She was a bit surprized that I had not traveled outside the US since 2003.

6) She congratulated me and said that you will get the oath letter in 30-60 days.

7) I confirmed with her if anything else was pending and if my name check was completed. She said everything has been cleared.

8) I had one speeding ticket and she did not ask for any documents related to it but confirmed whether I had been arrested or put in jail


The complete process was very professionally executed from all respect be it on-time, courteous, etc


Let me know if anyone has any questions and not to mention that this board rocks !!!
 
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Interview Done Successfully

Got done with an interview today. Everything went smoothly. My wife and I were in and out in 45 minutes. We were called separately at scheduled times (7:45 AM). It started out with taking oath.

Subsequently, IO asked my Green Card, passport and driving license, nothing else (no traffic letters etc. etc.). She just asked how many tickets I got.

I answered six civic/history questions correctly, wrote and read a sentence.

Finally, IO also went thru my N400 line by line, made few corrections, and asked me to sign N400 and another paper. At the end, IO congratulated me and escorted me out of the interviewing area.

Now we will wait for an oath letter.

Good luck to all.
 
Congratulations DMAX! Enjoy the day.

DMAX said:
Got done with an interview today. Everything went smoothly. My wife and I were in and out in 45 minutes. We were called separately at scheduled times (7:45 AM). It started out with taking oath.

Subsequently, IO asked my Green Card, passport and driving license, nothing else (no traffic letters etc. etc.). She just asked how many tickets I got.

I answered six civic/history questions correctly, wrote and read a sentence.

Finally, IO also went thru my N400 line by line, made few corrections, and asked me to sign N400 and another paper. At the end, IO congratulated me and escorted me out of the interviewing area.

Now we will wait for an oath letter.

Good luck to all.
 
Signature

psana said:
When did you get your Interview letter? My FP was done on 1/10/2007.

I received my IL on Dec 12, 2006.

If you haven't received IL so far that means you could be stuck in Name Check process. I suggest you take Infopass, visit USCIS office and talk to an IO in person to see where your case stand.

Good Luck.
 
Finally 'All done'

Hi guys,

Yesterday I had my Oath at 219 S Dearborn, 25 th floor at 12:00 noon. It went off well got my certificate by 1:45 PM. My friend had advised me to go between 12:30 - 1:00 PM for 12:00 noon oath as he said there would be many guys in the line and even if we go there at 11:45, you end up standing in the line and get inside by 12:45 - 1:00 PM. I did not take chance - went there at 11:45 PM and I saw a huge crowd. By the time I went inside it was 12:40 PM. After every one got in and settled, it was almost 12:50 PM and the USCIS officer(s) handed out Oath and other info about passport and vote registration etc. We were waiting for Judge to come and meanwhile, he told us to go to washroom etc before arriving in of judge. She came in at 1:15 PM and then it was all very quickly processed. INS officer presented our case and requested judge to administer the Oath. We had our oath and she congratulated and gave a small talk for 7 minutes about this great country and she left at 1:25 PM. Then the officers distributed the certificates and it was planned very nicely and very efficiently. I was all done by 1:40 PM. I was happy that everything went well and thanks to guys on this Forum. It has been a great help!!!

My wife has to go through all this next week as she her oath scheduled next week at 12:00 at the same building. It is too bad we did not get it together. I tried calling CS and they said it was not possible.

I went to local PO at Naperville with my 2 kids and my wife for our passport. I thought, I could apply passport for all of us (kids and self) at one go. But, the officer told that it was not possible as we need to attach certificate with each application and hence, we could do one after another. I thought, this may not be a correct rule. How could I apply if I have 10 kids and this way, I will spend 2 years to get passports for all the kids. I thought, there should be a better way and am I missing something? If you guys have any info, please respond.

By the way, my wife said that she would get her certificate next week and asked if we could send one kid's passport application with her certificate and another kid's application with my certificate, she said it was so that we could get our passports in a couple of months, the officer said it was not possible as we need to send both the original certificates with one kid's application in case both parents are US citizens. I am not sure if that rule is correct. Please respond if you have any ideas on this issue.


Thanks and good luck!!!

10/16/2006 - Recd date & Priority date
11/04/2006 - FP at Naperville
11/16/2006 - Interview letter sent
11/22/2006 - Recd Interview letter
01/08/2007 - Interview at Chicago
01/30/2007 - Oath! (letter recvd on 1/16 - dated 1/10)
01/30/2007 - Applied for passport
 
Interview Today

We, me and wife, had our Interview done today at 1:00PM (both cleared). Same stuff as posted on this site, 7 questions, write a line and read it. The IO gone through my N400 and told me that I passed and shall get oath letter in 2 to 3 months. IO told my wife 4 to 6 weeks, but I don't care much at this stage. This board is really helpful.

N400 Sent: 11/7/2006
Priority Date: 11/9/2006
FPL Recvd: 11/24/2006
FP : 11/28/2006
IL Reced: 12/18/2006
Interview: 1/31/2007
Oath Letter: TBD
Oath Date: TBD
 
Received Oath Letter (N-445) Today

Oath is on 2/15/07 @ 8 AM in Everett McKinley Dirksen Building at 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

Should I fill N-445 right away or wait until day of Oath? Any suggestions.
 
Successful interview

It was a breeze. I was chatting as we walked down the corridor, and before I got to IO's office, IO said, "No problem with english there", took oath by raising your right hand before I sat down on the chair.

Showed DL (state ID showing address), PR Card, current passport. Asked if I applied under employment category. Before going over my application, I was asked 6 civics questions. They actually write down what you say for the answer, and then asked me to write a sentance. The IO was very pleasant and jolly person, which made the interview experience much more pleasant.

I asked if all background/name checks have been completed, and IO said "yes" while nodding.

IO said one last step is needed before I become a citizen, i.e. the oath ceremony, and that I should receive a letter indicating time and location.

Regarding NC, I think it must be cleared before they send you IL. What threw me off is when I called 1-800 number and cust svc. rep said, still pending NC. I think they don't have full access to information, if current info is not available to them, they relay old info.

DO has your complete file about 1" thick. I noticed A# markings on the folder. They use two stamps - 1st stamp says "A 077" and the 2nd stamp about 80% smaller pitch says "xxx xxx" thus making up your entire A#. This means A077 probably refers to something, e.g. service center, year in sequence, etc. Just an observation.

Lastly, for all those who are awaiting IL after FP, I'd just say, just be patience and wait. I only went for 1 InfoPass. My first 3 - 4 months were full of anxiety, then I hardly called 1-800 or visited this site, just stayed dormant.
 
Oath on 2/15/07

Received the oath letter. Its on 2/15 at 8AM.

Did anyone upgrade I-130 for spouse after the citizenship?
 
hanimi said:
....the officer told that it was not possible as we need to attach certificate with each application and hence, we could do one after another. I thought, this may not be a correct rule. How could I apply if I have 10 kids and this way, I will spend 2 years to get passports for all the kids. I thought, there should be a better way and am I missing something? If you guys have any info, please respond.

By the way, my wife said that she would get her certificate next week and asked if we could send one kid's passport application with her certificate and another kid's application with my certificate, she said it was so that we could get our passports in a couple of months, the officer said it was not possible as we need to send both the original certificates with one kid's application in case both parents are US citizens. I am not sure if that rule is correct. Please respond if you have any ideas on this issue.

What the officer told you is correct. As per the Passport application instructions:

If You Claim Citizenship Through Naturalization of Parent(s). Submit the Certificate(s) of Naturalization of your parent(s), your foreign birth certificate, and proof of your admission to the United States for permanent residence.
 
Finally had my Oath done yesterday 8:00 am at 219 S. Dearborn location! :) :) :) In total 141 new citizens took the ceremony. My interview was done on 11/28/06 but never received the 1st Oath letter (must be lost in the mail during the holidays). Instead, I received a letter from USCIS informing me that I missed my Oath appointment and told me to wait for a re-schedule. The 2nd Oath letter was received 1/27/07.

Thanks for everyone here! Good luck for all you still in the process!
 
psana said:
Got oath letter and the date is Feb. 27, 2007. A friend of mine got his inteview on the same day I did but his oath is on 2/21/2007. May be they are scheduling to many cases.

N400 Sent: 11/7/2006
Priority Date: 11/9/2006
FPL Recvd: 11/24/2006
FP : 11/28/2006
IL Reced: 12/18/2006
Interview: 1/31/2007
Rcvd Oath Letter: 02/09/2007
Oath Date: 02/27/2007
 
Days to Oath

I went as far as Page 20 of this thread, and compiled number of days before in receiving Oath Letter, to the Oath Day, and total number of day to Oath day from your Interview day.

It seems that Chicago DO has sped up in processing Oaths after the Interview Date
 
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NoJob

How come it took you so long ?

my priority dt is 10/02 and I'm still waiting for my IL. I'm from chicago area.



NoJob said:
I went as far as Page 20 of this thread, and compiled number of days before in receiving Oath Letter, to the Oath Day, and total number of day to Oath day from your Interview day.

It seems that Chicago DO has sped up in processing Oaths after the Interview Date
 
Done with Oath Ceremony today

Overall it took me little over 3.5 months ( 113 days to be precise) from soup to nuts. My experience with oath ceremony was very standard, just like everyone else. Only pain in the back side was wait time for passport application at USPS across the street from court. I would recommend trying your local USPS coz everyone just go to USPS right after ceremony.


Good Luck Everyone.
 
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