Here's my experience in Saint Louis.
After over 14 years in the US, I finally decided it was time to become a citizen.
My interview date was set on a Tuesday 06/08/2010 at 2:30PM. That would be about 5 days shy of 4 months after applying. Not too bad.
Anyways, went with my spouse to the interview to the St. Louis downtown office. Wore a suit, just because I had one handy and because it was an 'interview'. Not necessary at all. Very rainy and windy. We were at the Security check by 2:00PM. Security check was smooth. Took the stairs to second floor, used the restroom, and walked into the waiting area. There are directions to the tray where the interview appointment notice should be kept, that essentially determines the order in which you are called in. The waiting area was sparse - probably 6-7 folks at the most.
At about 2:25, the officer walked out and picked up the last one in the tray, which was mine. The IO, Cari F, was about as pleasant and courteous as you can expect of anyone. She was indeed quite nice & polite to me, from the very beginning. She walked with me to her room. Asked about the weather outside. And as soon as I was done with the weather report, she swore me in, and I sat down. She asked to see my Green Card. And then handed it back to me.
One of the first questions - more like a curious query - from her was about how did my parents in India adjust to the fact that I was marrying an American. I explained the circumstances and how my parents really liked her a lot the first time they met, and it was smooth sailing from then on, and in fact was thrilled that we married. She smiled and nodded agreeably.
We made some more small talk about how we met etc, and then she said she is going to start the test. So she rattled off 6 questions from a paper that had 10 questions in it. I answered all 6 correctly.
1. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
2. Who is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces?
3. What party does our President belong to?
4. What are the two main political parties?
5. Name the Senators from MO.
6. Not sure if I remember this..could have been about when the Constitution was written.
She marked all the answers, and then flipped the paper over, and asked me to read:
"Who makes the laws of the Country?" and write the answer as "The Congress makes the laws of the Country"
That was the test - done & passed.
Then she took my N400 application and went line-by-line (going through my request for a name change etc..) and asked to rattle off where I lived, where I worked, and on and on. She did stop at the Organizations listed - and asked me more in depth about National MS Society. She had her reasons - let's just say.
Came to the sections about Arrests/Detain - and she noticed they were moving violations. I explained I did my best to get some records from DOR about these speeding tickets, but no records existed. I showed her that documentation, even though she said she's okay.
From there on, we signed the N-400. She told me I am being recommended for citizenship (whew!) and that I should expect an Oath letter to be sent to me within 90 days. Signed another paper to that extent. She asked me about my travel plans for the next couple months - and I mentioned a planned trip to India in mid-August. She said she will expedite the Oath ceremony. And mentioned that in case my passport is getting delayed, I could always drive up to Chicago and get it taken care of within a few hours.
So that's about it. She asked me if I had any questions. I didn't have any. Cari then walked me out to the waiting area. The whole thing took about 17 minutes. And it could not have gone any better. I'd say I probably got the best ICE had to offer.
My wife was thrilled! We went home.
And then the following Monday I have the Oath letter in my hand. In fact the letter was dated 06/10. So in two days the letter was mailed. (Thanks Cari!!!)
My ceremony at the Old Courthouse is at noon, Friday, July 2nd.
The perfect gift from the US Govt for Independence Day Weekend!
Here's the final timeline:
Mailed N-400 - 02/13/2010
Priority Date - 02/16/2010
FP Notice Date - 03/04/2010
FP Date - 03/23/2010
Yellow RFE - 04/05/2010
Intrvw Note Dt - 05/06/2010
Interview Date - 06/08/2010
Oath Letter Dt - 06/10/2010
Oath Date - 07/02/2010
After over 14 years in the US, I finally decided it was time to become a citizen.
My interview date was set on a Tuesday 06/08/2010 at 2:30PM. That would be about 5 days shy of 4 months after applying. Not too bad.
Anyways, went with my spouse to the interview to the St. Louis downtown office. Wore a suit, just because I had one handy and because it was an 'interview'. Not necessary at all. Very rainy and windy. We were at the Security check by 2:00PM. Security check was smooth. Took the stairs to second floor, used the restroom, and walked into the waiting area. There are directions to the tray where the interview appointment notice should be kept, that essentially determines the order in which you are called in. The waiting area was sparse - probably 6-7 folks at the most.
At about 2:25, the officer walked out and picked up the last one in the tray, which was mine. The IO, Cari F, was about as pleasant and courteous as you can expect of anyone. She was indeed quite nice & polite to me, from the very beginning. She walked with me to her room. Asked about the weather outside. And as soon as I was done with the weather report, she swore me in, and I sat down. She asked to see my Green Card. And then handed it back to me.
One of the first questions - more like a curious query - from her was about how did my parents in India adjust to the fact that I was marrying an American. I explained the circumstances and how my parents really liked her a lot the first time they met, and it was smooth sailing from then on, and in fact was thrilled that we married. She smiled and nodded agreeably.
We made some more small talk about how we met etc, and then she said she is going to start the test. So she rattled off 6 questions from a paper that had 10 questions in it. I answered all 6 correctly.
1. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
2. Who is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces?
3. What party does our President belong to?
4. What are the two main political parties?
5. Name the Senators from MO.
6. Not sure if I remember this..could have been about when the Constitution was written.
She marked all the answers, and then flipped the paper over, and asked me to read:
"Who makes the laws of the Country?" and write the answer as "The Congress makes the laws of the Country"
That was the test - done & passed.
Then she took my N400 application and went line-by-line (going through my request for a name change etc..) and asked to rattle off where I lived, where I worked, and on and on. She did stop at the Organizations listed - and asked me more in depth about National MS Society. She had her reasons - let's just say.
Came to the sections about Arrests/Detain - and she noticed they were moving violations. I explained I did my best to get some records from DOR about these speeding tickets, but no records existed. I showed her that documentation, even though she said she's okay.
From there on, we signed the N-400. She told me I am being recommended for citizenship (whew!) and that I should expect an Oath letter to be sent to me within 90 days. Signed another paper to that extent. She asked me about my travel plans for the next couple months - and I mentioned a planned trip to India in mid-August. She said she will expedite the Oath ceremony. And mentioned that in case my passport is getting delayed, I could always drive up to Chicago and get it taken care of within a few hours.
So that's about it. She asked me if I had any questions. I didn't have any. Cari then walked me out to the waiting area. The whole thing took about 17 minutes. And it could not have gone any better. I'd say I probably got the best ICE had to offer.
My wife was thrilled! We went home.
And then the following Monday I have the Oath letter in my hand. In fact the letter was dated 06/10. So in two days the letter was mailed. (Thanks Cari!!!)
My ceremony at the Old Courthouse is at noon, Friday, July 2nd.
The perfect gift from the US Govt for Independence Day Weekend!
Here's the final timeline:
Mailed N-400 - 02/13/2010
Priority Date - 02/16/2010
FP Notice Date - 03/04/2010
FP Date - 03/23/2010
Yellow RFE - 04/05/2010
Intrvw Note Dt - 05/06/2010
Interview Date - 06/08/2010
Oath Letter Dt - 06/10/2010
Oath Date - 07/02/2010
