I had my naturalization interview yesterday (5/310) at the Raleigh/Durham, NC USCIS office. Here is the narration of experience.
As you get in the building one stands in a line where they look at your appointment letter and GC and give you a ticket with a number on it. You then have to go to the 2nd floor and wait for you ticket # to be called out. I had to wait good 20-25 mins before my number was called. Once it was, I stood up and waited outside a door. The IO then opened the door greeted me and lead me in to his office. Then I was made to swear an oath that every thing I would say will be the truth and I said "I do".
The IO asked for my appointment letter and GC 1st thing. The IO had my entire file right from I-485/ I-130 (2006) till date. Then he went through my N-400 application. From my N-400 application, he pointed out that, while I had put my middle name on the application, it was not explicitely mentioned as such in my birth certificate. So he said we will have to delete my middle name from the N-400 form. He did so with a red pen. He then went over the form really quickly. He verified my current address. Then as he was going through the pages of the form he asked about selective service, (I came to US after the age of 26), asked of previous criminal record, I said I have none. Asked if I agree to serve in US military etc. if needed, I said yes. Finally asked me if You still working with .... Then he wrote 1 change made on the last page of the form and signed with his red pen. He asked me to sign my full name and print my full name. Then he asked me to sign 2 photos.
Than he asked me to read a sentence: How many senators do we have?
Than he asked me to write the answer to that question: We have one hundred senators.
Than he went through the list of 6 questions (civic/history)
What is the national anthem called?
What is the rule of law?
Which ocean is on the west coast of US?
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Who can vote?
Why do some state have more representatives?
Passed 1st 6, all set.
Than officer said congratulations you have passed your naturalization interview and asked to wait outside to receive the results of my interview.
I was waiting outside in the sitting area. 30 mins later a lady came and called out my name. I went near her and she said " you have passed you interview here is a letter, we will send you a notice about your oath ceremony within 30 day". The letter she gave me was N-652 which said you were interviewed on this day at such an such a time by this officer, and then a tick mark on - you have beed approved for naturalization
and at the bottom other tick mark on - we will send a letter for oath ceremony.
Thats it, waiting for an oath ceremony letter in earnest.
My N-400 timeline:
application sent to Lewisville, TX USCIS lockerbox
USCIS local office: Raleigh/Durham, NC
Sent N-400 12/19/09
PD 12/23/09
Check cashed 12/23/09
NOA 12/28/09
FP notice 12/29/08 (received 01/04/10)
FP Date 1/30/08 (walk in done on 01/06/10)
IL: 04/03/10
ID: 05/03/10
Oath Date : XX/XX/10