I need advice regarding Naturalization

Marusia_GC said:
Indeed, the IO asked me for those memberships, and even looked attentively at all the cards - but she could see them when I opened a transparent business card holder, where I kept my GC, DL, SSN and other cards. She even asked me whether I had a card from the New York Academy of Sciences (I was a member for a short time there, and mentioned on my application, but soon after I joined it, I realized that it was totally useless- at least for me, and quit at the next term. I had a certificate from NYAS somewhere with me, but did not want to waste time going through the whole bunch of documents to find it, so I said I had terminated my membership in ~ 2005, and did not have any card from this membership any more). She also looked at my MAA letters and membership fee receipt. She wrote something on my application, but I did not notice whether she made any copies of my membership cards, except for the IEEE card. This could be because I told her that for a few years I have been an officer (a Chair) of one of the Technical Committees of the IEEE. She asked me about my functions in this Society, and I briefly told about this - it was easy. So they do ask about professional memberships!
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I had IEEE listed as well. The IO did not ask anything about it at all.

Cool, so the IEEE got one more US citizen member then :D
 
Marusia_GC said:
Indeed, the IO asked me for those memberships, and even looked attentively at all the cards - but she could see them when I opened a transparent business card holder, where I kept my GC, DL, SSN and other cards. She even asked me whether I had a card from the New York Academy of Sciences (I was a member for a short time there, and mentioned on my application, but soon after I joined it, I realized that it was totally useless- at least for me, and quit at the next term. I had a certificate from NYAS somewhere with me, but did not want to waste time going through the whole bunch of documents to find it, so I said I had terminated my membership in ~ 2005, and did not have any card from this membership any more). She also looked at my MAA letters and membership fee receipt. She wrote something on my application, but I did not notice whether she made any copies of my membership cards, except for the IEEE card. This could be because I told her that for a few years I have been an officer (a Chair) of one of the Technical Committees of the IEEE. She asked me about my functions in this Society, and I briefly told about this - it was easy. So they do ask about professional memberships!
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Well, you must be the first (and maybe the last) person to be asked about this.
I've followed this forum for at least 6 years and I don't remember anyone ever reporting that they were questioned about their professional societies memberships, leastways asked for membership cards. I am sure that what happened was that either you launched into some sort of an unprompted explanation about your memberships first and the IO then followed up, or the IO saw some documents in the folder that you brought, became curious and followed up with some questions. If you had simply gave yes/no questions without any extra info when that portion of N-400 was being reviewed, the IO would have simply moved on to the next section. However, when applicants start unloading any detailed info without being asked to do that, the IO's will often follow up.
 
Marusia_GC said:
Yes, she saw the cards and started asking even before going through my N-400 and test questions. Just after she looked through my DL, GC, and passports. She also saw my I-94 and EAD cards there and took them away from me. I also handed her unused Advanced Parols documents that I had at the stage of I-485 in 2003-2007.
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I never heard of officer looking at I-94, EAD and Advanced Parole. Your case is very exceptional. I am surprised that officer even looked at your professional membership cards :).

Now wait for the Oath...
 
Very talkative IO that you got. My IO was like a robot and we were finished in about 10 minutes with the whole interview ;)
 
Marusia_GC said:
My son's interview was also very fast, just 10 minutes. He said that his IO was chilled and very up-to-the-point. But he is also not very talkative, just "yes" and "no", and also his case is very simple and straightforward - not much to show yet, not many documents...
And, yeah, I was kind of surprised how well I was treated! I was prepared for someone who would be as mean as those ladies in the local police department, who talked with me as if I were a criminal, shouted at me, did not let me explain what I needed, did not want to ask my questions, and literary made me burst into tears each time I came there with this stupid record, of which I wanted to get rid of. That's why I was so afraid of the interview, that's why I was so nervous, felt so low, and have been almost dying as a result of 3 months of chronicle sleeplessness... but I had to work and communicate with students/colleagues/sponsors, and not show what's going on to anyone around me... It was really very tough time for me. I am glad that we passed this stage successfully. Thanks to everyone who supported me!
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Glad that everything worked out. I understand that you work in academia and that's stressful enough. One advice that I have based on your postings and all the worries is (if you do not have already done it) to seek some professional psychological help to get rid of the anxieties you are experiencing. These can cause serious health problems later on. You definitely need to see a doctor. Just a friendly advice to you from a colleague and fellow IEEE member.
 
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Marusia_GC said:
That was probably because I put all my cards in a transparent business card case - she was surprised that I have so many membership cards, and was just curious. Besides, they need to test speaking abilities. Since this was at the very beginning of the interview, I guess she just used it as a topic of discussion. Since she saw my EAD and other old immigration documents, she took them from me saying that I would not need them any more. She put them in my file that she had in front of her. Also, long ago, in 2002-2003, when I was going through I-140, I had to provide numerous recommendation letters, some of them were related to my IEEE activities, and I had also sent to USCIS (INS at that time) copies of a few awards from IEEE, so maybe she saw these in my file before the interview. I don't know - each case is individual. But I have noticed that she was treating me with big respect. She also asked me about my son, even looked at his case in the computer, and said that our oath would be scheduled together. She also asked me a few quite personal questions - about my ex, how I manage to combine teaching & research with spending time with my child. I said yes, it had been very very tough, but I did it, and now my son has been even working together with me on sponsored research projects as an undergraduate lab assistant, so we do spend much more time together, unlike parents and teenagers-students in the other families. Maybe asking these questions she was checking on my son's case as well, since he got his GC through me.
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Yeah, I think she was just letting to "show and tell" (and grabbed old gov-issued docs) and "testing" English and probably even did some updates in the computer while you talked.
 
Marusia_GC said:
Thanks, I know I should. However, I would prefer not to go to any psychologists (there is a counselor on campus, and many faculty and staff get used to go there as needed, but everything one says is recorded, and you never know whether what you say would not work against you). I would prefer to wait at least until the oath. A regular physician prescribes me medicines to control blood pressure and coup migraine attacks, but I do not want to dim my brain by any anti-anxiety tablets, I need to keep clear analytical thinking to be able to do my work. Anyway, thanks. This is not a medical forum, and nobody is interested in what medicines I take or not. Thanks again, and I will update further on the naturalization related process. And if I come up with more questions, I will ask them.
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I know, it is not a medical forum, but for what it is worth, a very close relative of mine is taking anti-anxiety medicine and he is in academia as well. On the contrary, once he had his anxieties under control, his academic career took off. So there is no mind-blurring effect. What happens is that your seratonin level will be kept under control so that you do not get these panic attacks. If you want privacy, you can go to an expert off-campus. I would not ignore such a medical situation if I were in your place. Once the oath will be over, there will be other problems which will trigger your anxiety. There is no end to this if you do not control it.
 
Oath Schedule ST.Louis MO

I think some dates for oath St.Louis are as below so your date may be close to these. may be you can check with courthouse
Friday, June 22, 11:00 a.m. Washington University School of Law-Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom, St. Louis, MO
Friday, July 27, 11:00 a.m. TFE Courthouse, 3rd Floor, Courtroom 3 North
 
Marusia_GC said:
It has been a week since my interview and 17 days since my son's. No updates so far, the web status is still "Test and interview". Does it happen that the applications are recommended for approval, but then somehow rejected? I know that oaths here are held once a month (someone told me that even 4 times per year). Probably, it is not enough time to worry, but still - how much time it usually takes to get the final decision (final approval) and placing at least in the line for oath scheduling?
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Depends on DO and it is very much clear from my case. My oath is now scheduled but I do not know the date. My interview was after your son's interview. Once your case is approved then it might take some time and it is hard to say when?
 
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