Hi all, I have found a lot of useful information in this forum, so I'd like to share my experience with the naturalization process.
Naturalization process:
I applied on the 5-year basis.
N-400 - dated Oct.4, 2010 (sent off that day)
Notice of receipt for N-400 - dated Oct.6, 2010
Notice for biometrics (fingerprinting) - dated Oct.18, 2010, Appt. Nov.03, 2010
Interview Notice - Dec.21, 2010 (Appt. for 8:20, was called for interview 10:00)
Oath, receipt of Naturalization Certificate - Dec.21, 2010 (13:30)
VERY Useful information:
Consultation "clnic" where for $30 they will check out your application and will advise you on various immigration issues
(you can come more than once with questions for the same money).
An attorney will even go with you to the interview if you want (that would probably cost more). UCIS-certified attorney:
BAPTIST IMMIGRATION CENTER
507 Titus Str., McKinney TX, 75069
Tel. (972) 562-4561
Mo-Fri 8:00 - 16:00 or 17:00
The place was never crowded (at least when I came there, twice, around 8 am or a bit earlier), very fast service.
The "Clinic" building is next to the church, if you face the church from the street it's on the right, with its own tiny parking lot.
My background:
Came to the US as a wife (married in Moscow-Russia) in April.2000
Within 1 year the marriage fell apart. (No kids.)
In Mar.2001 me and the ex.#1 were arguing and I slapped him. He said "I will teach you a lesson" and called police. The report was filed, but no charges pressed.
Divorce final - Jun.2001
Remarried Dec.2001 (to someone else).
Applied for removal of conditional status Jan.2002.
Jan.2003 - received notice of Termination of Status and initiation of removal/deportation procedures. Hired a 10-grand-EXPENSIVE attorney (Harry Joe - he's supposed to be one of the best in DFW area) (we had to sell hubby's extra vehicle - luckily (for me) we had it to sell, in order to pay the attorney). We were an average family, much closer to poor than to rich. (No kids.)
Jun.2003 - Immigration court hearing; my conditional status was removed, status of (unconditional) permanent resident granted.
Jun.2004 - finally received my green card stating "Resident since 2000"
Divorced Jul.2010 (oh well).
For the last 5 years I worked as a school bus driver, last 4 (and now) for the same district (love it!).
As far as my background and my driving records, I'm as almost as clean as they get - no speeding tickets, one very recent ticket for outdated inspection (remedied immediately, the same day) and 1 maybe 2 warnings (one for supposedly running a stop sign and maybe one for another outdated inspection).
When getting ready to apply for naturalization, I actually called the customer service of the UCIS asking them if I was OK to apply with VERY bad credit report (courtesy of ex.#2), they said - we don't care about your finances (note: none of my debts are government loans or education loans, they care about those), we just look at your "moral character". I also asked questions about being twice divorced, immigration case, police report. They asked me if I lived in the country 5 years or more and when I said yes, they said I qualify all right. All my income and property taxes were and are in order, paid on time - they care about that, too.
Interview
I had to cross Dallas to get from Frisco, TX to the UCIS building in Irving, TX. The night before I packed all the "stuff" in the car plus a bunch of food for "just in case" (I could not find any info if in Dallas-Ft.Worth area they did the Oath Ceremony the same day or not). To avoid traffic, I left home at 6:00, got there before the sun was up, around 6:40 I guess, and sat in the car till about 7:45.
...I showed up for the interview looking like I was going to the airport to be away for at least 2 weeks
. I brought a portfolio with all original documents submitted with application, a purse, a lunch box with knitting and a small luggage on wheels tightly packed full of paperwork (banking statements, insurance policies, bills, taxes - for the whole 10 years; all (and I mean ALL, 20-years-worth of original old passports), all marriage and divorce documents and such. I think I was the only one like that - everybody else I saw just breezed in with thin manila envelopes or small portfolios.
All dressed up in slacks, tailored jacket, etc. What a sight!
I was a bit apprehensive because of all my "stuff", but told myself better look like a moron and have everything, than not bring something and be called for another interview.
...While dealing with deportation case, the attorney obtained a full copy of the police report, but I had no original and the copy was not certified. On the Interview notice it said "bring all originals or certified copies of documents submitted with N-400 application", I went to the police department, they gave me a piece of paper that only stated that a report was filed. Luckily for me, the police officer who came out was still working there and the piece of paper had his direct phone number. I called him, asked for an appointment and he was very nice - "sure come on over, when is a good time for you?" I went there with my copy and he printed and certified the full report for me. I love American police, always so police and so nice.
...I was called in for the interview (around 10:30), the lady officer was also extremely nice. She swore me in (Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth? - I do - You may sit down). I was prepared to be grilled thoroughly about everything. However, first she did all tests (no problems here, I am fluent in English and my friend drilled me on the questions for a month every day, I can surely answer then in my sleep), then she just asked the basic info from the N-400 Application, like full name, date of birth, social, if anything changed since the date of application, if I left the country since the date of the application... We joked how I spent 2 days decyfering stamps in my old passports in order to list all trips outside the country for almost 11 years of my life in the US. Nothing was asked about either of the ex's, not even about the police report. I told her that I had a certified copy of it - she said, well, I already read it. I ask - do you want a copy of the certified copy? She says, well, if you have an extra copy, sure why not (I made a copy at home). I asked told about my "no-inspection" ticket (it happened in Sep.2010 or Oct.2010), she said - who cares.
And that was all. Congratulations, do you want to attend the Oath Ceremony today at 1:30? Heck, yeah - would love to!
...The only thing to add, I guess, is that I'm very good with paperwork and organized everything on the application perfectly, added comment pages on police report (short summary of events, numbered page 8a and included into application after page 8), on first marriage as page 5a included into application as well (just copied the table from the page before on the ex-spouse info) and wrote Attachment #... by hand in all appropriate sections for all attachments. Signed and dated all "a" pages and copy of my green card, as per instructions for N-400.
The whole thing took probably 15-20 minutes. Basically in and out of the door.
I took time to write this "narrative" at length, because when I was searching, there was very little information on the actual interview and what happens "inside there".
Good luck to everybody. Since my journey is over, I don't know if I return to this forum, but I might who knows.
Naturalization process:
I applied on the 5-year basis.
N-400 - dated Oct.4, 2010 (sent off that day)
Notice of receipt for N-400 - dated Oct.6, 2010
Notice for biometrics (fingerprinting) - dated Oct.18, 2010, Appt. Nov.03, 2010
Interview Notice - Dec.21, 2010 (Appt. for 8:20, was called for interview 10:00)
Oath, receipt of Naturalization Certificate - Dec.21, 2010 (13:30)
VERY Useful information:
Consultation "clnic" where for $30 they will check out your application and will advise you on various immigration issues
(you can come more than once with questions for the same money).
An attorney will even go with you to the interview if you want (that would probably cost more). UCIS-certified attorney:
BAPTIST IMMIGRATION CENTER
507 Titus Str., McKinney TX, 75069
Tel. (972) 562-4561
Mo-Fri 8:00 - 16:00 or 17:00
The place was never crowded (at least when I came there, twice, around 8 am or a bit earlier), very fast service.
The "Clinic" building is next to the church, if you face the church from the street it's on the right, with its own tiny parking lot.
My background:
Came to the US as a wife (married in Moscow-Russia) in April.2000
Within 1 year the marriage fell apart. (No kids.)
In Mar.2001 me and the ex.#1 were arguing and I slapped him. He said "I will teach you a lesson" and called police. The report was filed, but no charges pressed.
Divorce final - Jun.2001
Remarried Dec.2001 (to someone else).
Applied for removal of conditional status Jan.2002.
Jan.2003 - received notice of Termination of Status and initiation of removal/deportation procedures. Hired a 10-grand-EXPENSIVE attorney (Harry Joe - he's supposed to be one of the best in DFW area) (we had to sell hubby's extra vehicle - luckily (for me) we had it to sell, in order to pay the attorney). We were an average family, much closer to poor than to rich. (No kids.)
Jun.2003 - Immigration court hearing; my conditional status was removed, status of (unconditional) permanent resident granted.
Jun.2004 - finally received my green card stating "Resident since 2000"
Divorced Jul.2010 (oh well).
For the last 5 years I worked as a school bus driver, last 4 (and now) for the same district (love it!).
As far as my background and my driving records, I'm as almost as clean as they get - no speeding tickets, one very recent ticket for outdated inspection (remedied immediately, the same day) and 1 maybe 2 warnings (one for supposedly running a stop sign and maybe one for another outdated inspection).
When getting ready to apply for naturalization, I actually called the customer service of the UCIS asking them if I was OK to apply with VERY bad credit report (courtesy of ex.#2), they said - we don't care about your finances (note: none of my debts are government loans or education loans, they care about those), we just look at your "moral character". I also asked questions about being twice divorced, immigration case, police report. They asked me if I lived in the country 5 years or more and when I said yes, they said I qualify all right. All my income and property taxes were and are in order, paid on time - they care about that, too.
Interview
I had to cross Dallas to get from Frisco, TX to the UCIS building in Irving, TX. The night before I packed all the "stuff" in the car plus a bunch of food for "just in case" (I could not find any info if in Dallas-Ft.Worth area they did the Oath Ceremony the same day or not). To avoid traffic, I left home at 6:00, got there before the sun was up, around 6:40 I guess, and sat in the car till about 7:45.
...I showed up for the interview looking like I was going to the airport to be away for at least 2 weeks
. I brought a portfolio with all original documents submitted with application, a purse, a lunch box with knitting and a small luggage on wheels tightly packed full of paperwork (banking statements, insurance policies, bills, taxes - for the whole 10 years; all (and I mean ALL, 20-years-worth of original old passports), all marriage and divorce documents and such. I think I was the only one like that - everybody else I saw just breezed in with thin manila envelopes or small portfolios. All dressed up in slacks, tailored jacket, etc. What a sight!
I was a bit apprehensive because of all my "stuff", but told myself better look like a moron and have everything, than not bring something and be called for another interview.
...While dealing with deportation case, the attorney obtained a full copy of the police report, but I had no original and the copy was not certified. On the Interview notice it said "bring all originals or certified copies of documents submitted with N-400 application", I went to the police department, they gave me a piece of paper that only stated that a report was filed. Luckily for me, the police officer who came out was still working there and the piece of paper had his direct phone number. I called him, asked for an appointment and he was very nice - "sure come on over, when is a good time for you?" I went there with my copy and he printed and certified the full report for me. I love American police, always so police and so nice.
...I was called in for the interview (around 10:30), the lady officer was also extremely nice. She swore me in (Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth? - I do - You may sit down). I was prepared to be grilled thoroughly about everything. However, first she did all tests (no problems here, I am fluent in English and my friend drilled me on the questions for a month every day, I can surely answer then in my sleep), then she just asked the basic info from the N-400 Application, like full name, date of birth, social, if anything changed since the date of application, if I left the country since the date of the application... We joked how I spent 2 days decyfering stamps in my old passports in order to list all trips outside the country for almost 11 years of my life in the US. Nothing was asked about either of the ex's, not even about the police report. I told her that I had a certified copy of it - she said, well, I already read it. I ask - do you want a copy of the certified copy? She says, well, if you have an extra copy, sure why not (I made a copy at home). I asked told about my "no-inspection" ticket (it happened in Sep.2010 or Oct.2010), she said - who cares.
And that was all. Congratulations, do you want to attend the Oath Ceremony today at 1:30? Heck, yeah - would love to!
...The only thing to add, I guess, is that I'm very good with paperwork and organized everything on the application perfectly, added comment pages on police report (short summary of events, numbered page 8a and included into application after page 8), on first marriage as page 5a included into application as well (just copied the table from the page before on the ex-spouse info) and wrote Attachment #... by hand in all appropriate sections for all attachments. Signed and dated all "a" pages and copy of my green card, as per instructions for N-400.
The whole thing took probably 15-20 minutes. Basically in and out of the door.
I took time to write this "narrative" at length, because when I was searching, there was very little information on the actual interview and what happens "inside there".
Good luck to everybody. Since my journey is over, I don't know if I return to this forum, but I might who knows.
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