Los Angeles, CA - N-400 Timeline

Congrats Bobsmyth and I485waiter!

I just recieved my natz certificate! I had my oath at the LA Convention Center along with 6,128 others. They had three ceremonies today with about 6,000 people each! It was straight forward. Long lines that went fast considering the amount of people. I got there at 12:00 and filed in quickly. We sat for an hour, ceremony took about 45 minutes. There was a lot of waiting to pick up natz certificates after, but I asked if I could get in line right away b/c my 3 year old was "acting up" It wasn't really true, she was actually more patriotic than myself, singing with her hand on her heart, clapping everytime everyone else did, and waving her new American flag so proudly - well she was born here after all. Well that is it 2 hours total.

Good luck to all of you, I will miss you on this thread. This forum has been so supportive and helpful - thank you so much!!!

ftm
 
> At the end he said, he is recommending for Approval (N-652) and quickly
> explained next steps (none of that registered in my mind though :) ) - told
> me to not to register to vote yet - told me to update SSS after Oath and
> gave me a flyer indicating the same. He also gave me a couple of booklets
> (Citizen's Almanac and "Declaration of Independence and Constitution of
> US", what he called "Parting Gifts". Apart from the SSS flyer he also gave
> me a flyer about Oath Ceremony usual locations, directions and instructions.

Looks like you got more "parting" gifts than I did. My IO must've been in a real hurry to get out (it was 4:45pm after all). All I got was the flyer about oath ceremonies.

For other readers of this thread, I posted my interview experience in this thread:

http://www.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=284958

Sorry, would have posted it here first, but this thread is so long! :)
 
Can some one please kindly advise if I can take an early finger print on Buena Park FP center. I belong to Santa Ana USCIS office, but always get scheduled on Beuna Park FP center. now it is my 2nd finger print notice. My background check was cleared according to the IO during my last infopass visit. I want to trigger the next stage ASAP since I have been stuck by the background check for too long...

------------------------------------------------------
N-400 CSC
PD Dec 2006
1FP letter Dec 2006
1FP Jan 2007
2FP letter Aug 28 2008
 
^Someone might be able to tell you, but you should just try your luck. Tell them you will be very busy on the date you were given.
 
I walked in when the place opened... no one asked questions regarding the fact that my appointment was two weeks later.... I think if you are in front of the line... nobody will care.... Make sure you don't mention it to the guards or clerks.... and just give it a try!

It worked for me and my wife.
 
GC2Nat said:
The G-56 letter to meet with adjudication officer was actually for the history+civics interview. Few other people whom i met at immigration office experienced the same thing. Looks like due to elections, they are pushing up the interview dates which is good. Officer did not asked for any papers other than GC and drivers license.

After finishing the interview, the officer advised to expect oath date in Sept since they are doing that in bulk nowadays, but if not in Sept then it will be after elections.
Click to expand...

- Update-
Recvd oath letter today for Sept 26 @ LA Sports Arena. I think there are two oath dates in Sept. 11th and 26th and on each day around 18,000 individuals will get naturalized in 3 batches of 6,000.
 
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AT LA Field Office

Hi There

I am new to this forum and had some questions. I filed for my citizenship on Feb end 2008 and they received it on Feb 28th 2008. In a week, I got my Fingerprint notice and and did the same after 2 weeks, I guess.

I initially got a letter a week back called I-797c Notice of Action asking me and my wife to appear for interview on Oct 14th 2008 at LA Field Office 300 North Los Angeles Field Office. This letter looks proper like light green with light black lines like H1B, Green card paper material

Yesterday, I got a letter both me and my wife from US Dept of Homeland Security, US Citienship and Immigration Service asking to appear for interview on Sep 15th with Adjudication officer at 1241 S Soto Street. This letter is on plain A4 paper coming out of HP printer I guess (Not on light green paper)

From what I see before, It looks like my interview has been preponed.

1. Anybody out there with similar experience as I mentioned above.

2. Is there a site where I can go to look for Questions on Civics and history

3. I guess, I read long back saying the 2008 citizenship test has been modified. Do we have read the booklet that they gave during fingerprinting

Appreciate any answers to above questions

Thanks in advance
 
Congratulations!

LuckyMe_LA said:
Hi There

I am new to this forum and had some questions. I filed for my citizenship on Feb end 2008 and they received it on Feb 28th 2008. In a week, I got my Fingerprint notice and and did the same after 2 weeks, I guess.

I initially got a letter a week back called I-797c Notice of Action asking me and my wife to appear for interview on Oct 14th 2008 at LA Field Office 300 North Los Angeles Field Office. This letter looks proper like light green with light black lines like H1B, Green card paper material

Yesterday, I got a letter both me and my wife from US Dept of Homeland Security, US Citienship and Immigration Service asking to appear for interview on Sep 15th with Adjudication officer at 1241 S Soto Street. This letter is on plain A4 paper coming out of HP printer I guess (Not on light green paper)

From what I see before, It looks like my interview has been preponed.

1. Anybody out there with similar experience as I mentioned above.

2. Is there a site where I can go to look for Questions on Civics and history

3. I guess, I read long back saying the 2008 citizenship test has been modified. Do we have read the booklet that they gave during fingerprinting

Appreciate any answers to above questions

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

It looks like they are really working faster now at LA DO. By the way, did your wife file N-400 for herself too or is your N-400 based on 3-year marriage to a US citizenship. If it is based on 3-year marriage, it is unusual for USCIS to ask for the US citizen spouse to attend the interview with the applicant. It is actually the first time I've heard of it. Has anybody heard of such a case?
 
One last post from me. Thanks for everyone that posted information to help me keep sane ;)

I had my oath ceremony on Thursday Aug 28th at noon. I left West LA at 11AM get even though the traffic around the convention center is crazy, we were still able to park and get in the at noon. The event is in the West hall but parking is easier in the South hall. I suggest getting taking Pico and make a right on S Hall Dr. We saw some $20 parking but the parking at the convention center was only $12. Takes about 10 minutes to walk from the South hall to the West hall. The food court is open in the West hall but NOT the South Hall. New citizens are directed to a hall where the line snakes around the inside. The guest entrance if to the right of the main doors and there was a huge line too. They started letting people in promptly at noon. It took me about 20 minutes to get in (I was far back in the line) . They do not check your appointment letter before entering the seating area so I suggest taking your guest with you, and then after entering the hall just have them walk to the chairs for the guests. It will save time and because of the large number of guests they may have to stand in the back if you came late.

The new citizen line snakes again in the hall and you will be instructed to go to one of 80+ tables. The person at the table will take you green card (and not give it back!) and appointment letter, then write OK and a number on it. The number is the table number you need to go after the ceremony to pickup your naturalization certificate. Next you are handed a flag and a letter from the president and shown to your seat. If you are planning on applying for a passport, take one of the forms from the post office representatives. You can also download and print the form ahead of time. Bring two passport photos or have them take right there (do it before you sit down). They only take checks, cash and ATM (no credit cards) so check the USPS site for fees. The guests and new citizens sit in different sections. You will also receive a voter registration card. They hand out pens but bring your own since they only have a limited number.

Our ceremony started exactly at 1pm. Remember this is a court so hats off and do not take photos of the judge (many people do none the less!). The court will be declared in session and the government will petition citizenship from the judge. The judge will administer the oath of allegiance and w00t, your a citizen! After a short speech by the judge some other people spoke and the national anthem was sung. A video was played of President Bush congratulation the new citizens and a music video of "God bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood (I admit I was a little emotional after the music video!).

After the ceremony the guests will be asked to exit the hall. Next the new citizens will get their naturalization certificates. You will be asked to sit and wait for your row to be directed to the tables. They start in the same order as entering the hall so just wait. It actually only takes about 20 minutes for all 6000 people. While you wait, fill in the voter registration. Someone will come though the rows and collect them. When your row is called goto the table number as written on your invitation letter. Once you get your naturalization certificate take a few minutes to review it for any mistakes BEFORE you celebrate ;) Any changes will cost money the moment you leave the hall. If you wanted to apply for a passport go stand in line at the rows of post office representatives. Remember only cash, check or ATM cards are accepted. They cut the line off for applications about an hour before the next ceremony. I was still in line to pick my certificate when the line was closed. So make sure you arrive early if you want to make the cut off. There is no difference in applying at the ceremony or at the post office. I applied the next day at my local post office and skipped the extra hour wait.

Your guests will be waiting at the exit. I was out the door at 2pm. Vendors sells hard cover folders for $10 to put your certificate in. I'm frugal but the folder is quite nice and the certificate is protected with a clear film. It will be a littler harder to loose this than mis-placing the certificate.

Besides applying for the passport, getting there early doesn't really make a difference. Do not attempt to go to a different day or time than specified on the letter. You will NOT be processed since they will not have your certificate there. Most new citizens were dressed nicely but a saw a few people with jeans and a girl workout pants! Guests may wear anything but most people had their “church” outfits on.

It's been a long journey but I'm glad it's over. From J-1 to H-1B to GC to Citizenship took me 11 years. I did the N-400 process without a lawyer since my case was straight forward. My on line status still says “Current Status: Case received and pending. On October 15, 2007, we received this N400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION...” so pay no attention to it since it doesn't seem to be updated, at least for me.

If there are any other South Africans on the board send me a private message.

Good luck to everyone and congratulations to myself!

N-400 Mailed: 07/26/2007
N-400 Received:
Check Cashed: 10/16/2007
Priority Date: 7/25/2007
Notice Date: 11/06/2008
Finger Print Notice Date: 11/07/2007
Finger Print Notice Received:
Finger Print Date: 11/29/2007
Interview Notice Date:0 4/16/2008
Interview Date: 06/17/2008
Oath Letter Notice Date: 07/31/2008
Oath Date: 08/28/2008
 
Congratulations!

It makes me happy to read your account of the conclusion of your journey towards US citizenship, especially that you are also from LA like me. I wish you all the best!
 
Interview experience

Scheduled at 1:15pm, arrived at 12:50pm in the room 6024, 6th floor, dropped IL in window 51, counted 50 people, noticed how people get called every 10 minutes and prepared to wait another 4 hours or so.

All of the sudden, 1:40pm I'm get called in :confused: and escorted by middle-aged asian IO (no, not in detention center :) to his office.

Right hand raised, "swear to tell truth, nothing but the truth", asked for my passports, GC, DL. Asked if I had registered for Selective Service (gave him original post card I got from Selective Service last month - he put it in my file), verified date of birth, address, employment, how many times traveled international (only 2, 2-weeks)

Started asking how I got my GC, all the details, gave him some supporting documents, he put them in my file.

Started going through my N-400 application, verifying everything, all those yes/no questions, not arrested, yes had traffic tickets - told about my traffic tickets, all of them paid, clean DMV record right now - HE DIDN'T ASK FOR DOCUMENT PROOF!!?? and I had all documents about every ticket but did not volunteered to give them. "didn't ask, don't give, yes, no, sir!"

All of the sudden, without warning started asking me civic questions :) I answered all of them except "first 13 states" - could remember only 10.

Asked to write "We have a very clean house" :)

At this point, he congratulated me and told me that I'm passed exam and recommended to approval.

I'm doing my last name change and I asked if this could delay my oath scheduling - no not at all, same procedure as for everyone (?), signed 3 copies of name change document.

Gave me form N-652 with "No decision can be made at this time" checked :eek: then his initials over that check, and "Congratulations...." checked :confused:

I asked if I have a chance to have my oath this month since there are huge naturalization ceremonies happen this month, he said - there is a good chance :confused:

Said that he is going to make copies of my passports (old/expired and current) - I offered photocopies, he said - no need to make them himself. Ok. Went to copy machine, he made copies of passports' first pages and handed them back to me. I reminded him about pages with travel stamps and offered my copies, took out sheet protector with all my passport photocopies and birth certificates, started to give it to him one-by-one, he said - give them all to me :D (then I realized how smart I was to separate documents in different sheet protectors and only show ones that asked about!)

At the end told me to expect letter from USCIS within 90 days (hey, what about "good changes to have oath this month"?) and wished me best with my new life.

Overall, very pleasant experience with strict, yet very courteous IO. We didn't make a small talk but he made me feel at easy during the interview.
 
POCTOB said:
yes had traffic tickets - told about my traffic tickets, all of them paid, clean DMV record right now - HE DIDN'T ASK FOR DOCUMENT PROOF!!?? and I had all documents about every ticket but did not volunteered to give them. "didn't ask, don't give, yes, no, sir!"
Click to expand...

Wow, you mean that a USCIS employee actually followed the rule about not demanding proof of payment for minor traffic tickets??? It is indeed a shocker!

Anyway, congrats on passing the interview. A few more weeks, and you'll be able to forget about this nightmare.
 
Congrats to everybody who received the good news while I was gone! I am glad they are processing May 2008 already, now that difference in only 4 month, doesnt make sense to continue gathering statistics anymore.

OMG... my interview is next week on Monday and with my crazy life lately, all I did so far is
1)order tax transcripts (still haven't arrived, but I have 2004-2006 + 1040 of 2007)
2) memorised new revised Civics, ( but I am not sure how do I ask officer to use revised instead of old??)

starting to panic a little..

ok, i need to
1)put all my documents (copy of what I sent + new ones) in sheet protectors (??) and in a binder (??)
2) umm.. i guess refresh my memory on posted interview experiences
3) prepare my most formal wear possible

am I forgetting something?

I will post the top 10 hardest questions later, it's mostly people's names, like newspaper writer and women's rights activist etc.
 
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revised civics

Hi,

How can I get a hold of the revised civics brochure? What I have has been revised on 08/06 (handed in March 08). Thanks.

L.
 
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