New Orleans- N400 Tracker

Interview and Oath ceremony

Guys,

Finally, I am done!!

Let me share with you guys my experience.

Interview:

Date: 03/03/2010
Appointment Time: 10:30 am

I arrived to the office about 9:45 am. I think it was too early. I would recommend you to get only within 15 minutes of your appt time. I had to wait until 11:15 to be called. A lot of people that arrived after me was called before. So don't stress to much for being super early.

So, the officer called me, very nicely she greeted me and asked me to follow her. Then she asked me to rise my right hand and swear that I was going to say only the truth. Then we sit down, she told me she was going to ask me some questions and then we wil go over the application. Saying that she asked me to read a simple sentence that I don't remember exactly what it was, but it was about the constitution, then she handled me a paper and asked me to write " we have 100 Senators", finally she asked me 6 questions:
- What is the name of the national anthem?
-What did happen in September 11, 2001?
-What is the rule of law?
-How old you have to be vote?
-Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
-What ocean is on the west?

While I was answering them, she wrote my answers down in a form. Then, she said very well. Let's go over your application; when she finished she asked me if I have the documents that support my marriage, and I answered yes and showed them to her. (Taxes for the last 3 years, marriage certificate and birth certificates of my children). She asked if she can keep the taxes and I said yes. Then, she pulled out my pictures and I asked her if we can change them because I didn't like them. She said that was not a problem and we exchanged them. Then she asked me to sign the pictures, she printed out some papers and I signed them. She handled me a form that says I was recommended for oath ceremony. I asked her how often they have ceremonies. She said every week and that I will receive a letter in the mail. Asked me if I had any question, I said no and she escorted me to the exit.

I received the oath letter the following week on the 7th. My ceremony would be on the 18th.


Oath Ceremony day:

Date: 03/18/2010
Appointment Time: 1:30 pm

I arrived there at 1:20 pm, passed the security. Got in line for about 10 minutes, handled the oath letter and green card to a lady sitting on a blue table. One thing I noticed here was that the people don't read or don't understand the questions on the oath letter. The letter is clear to say that if after the interview you have either married, divorce, travel out of the country, join the communist party (basically the same question you had in the application). The officers had to asked some people again, are you sure you understand your answers. Then, they figured out they don't. Please read the questions carefully, you suppose to answer no to all of them, unless something have happened AFTER the interview.

At the blue table a lady showed me my naturalization certificate and asked me to check if everything was correct, then sign it. Then, I was instructed to sit. We wait until 2 pm to start. The same officer that was my interviewer opened the ceremony asking each person to stand up once his native country was called. Then a video, words from some immigration official, oath, video from the President. Finally, they started calling each person to handle the certificate, picture and done.

Sorry for the typos and spelling errors.

Thanks to all and good luck.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks NOLA_08 for the detailed response. It would be very much helpful for future interview applicants like me.
 
Got my oath letter on Friday. My oath date is 4/13 at the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge.
 
Passed Interview !!!

I Passed the Interview yesterday. The interview lasted just 10 mins, but had to wait for 1 hour before. The officer did not ask for any additional documents other than Interview Letter, Passport, Green card & Drivers license. She verified the application and asked the same questions on the N400 form again. She recommended for oath by giving N-652 (Interview Results). She also gave N-445 (Notice of oath ceremony). The oath is set for 04/29/10. Thank you all.

CIVICS:
1) One war fought by the US in 1900s.
2) Chief Justice of the US.
3) In what month do we vote for President.
4) The house of representatives have how many voting members.
5) We elect US representatives for how many years.
6) Who is the father of our country.

READ:
I cannot remember !!!

WRITE:
FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY IS GEORGE WASHINGTON.
 
N-400: New Orleans

I see all posts are really old, so I will try to start a newer more recent timeline. My husband and I are currently in the process of naturalization. Here are our dates so far:

12/26/2012:Mailed N-400 (FedEx)
12/28/2012: Check Cashed
01/04/2013: FP Notice Received (01/14/2013 FP appt)
01/14/2012: FP Completed


still waiting..........
 
N400- New Orleans filing, Sept '13

Seems like this thread has been dormant for a while...
Progress on my N400 application so far:

Sep-03-2013: Priority date
Sep-11: NOA received
Sep-14: Biometric notice received
Sep-27: Biometrics completed (per notice schedule)
Oct-21: Placed in-line for interview scheduling
Nov-13: Interview scheduled
Nov-18: Interview letter and Yellow letter received, interview scheduled for Dec-18

Anyone else with the Big Easy as your district office?
 
Updated timeline, Sept 2013 priority date

Complete timeline:
Sep-03-2013: Priority date
Sep-11: NOA received
Sep-14: Biometric notice received
Sep-27: Biometrics completed (per notice schedule)
Oct-21: Placed in-line for interview scheduling
Nov-13: Interview scheduled
Nov-18: Interview letter and Yellow letter received, interview scheduled for Dec-18
Dec-18: PASSED interview, N652 with ‘recommended for approval’ recd
Jan-6-2014: Oath scheduled (online update)
Jan-9: Oath letter recd
Jan-15: Scheduled oath date, oath completed, US CITIZEN!!

Interview, Dec-18-2013:
Quick interview, lasted less than 15 minutes. Officer swore me in, then quickly went over most questions from the N400 form. I had reported 2 traffic tickets and answered yes to the ‘have you ever been arrested, cited, etc’ question, so she asked if fines were less than 500$ and since they were, she changed my answer to no. I had answered no to the question about selective service, because I had valid F1 and H1 statuses before my green card was approved, but she changed the answer to yes and wrote F1, H1B on the form. My civics test questions were:
1. What is the name of the national anthem?
2. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
3. What ocean is on the west coast?
4. What is the rule of law?
5. What major event happened on September 11, 2001?
6. When must all men register for selective service?

She wrote my answers on her pre-printed sheet of paper with the questions and stopped after the first 6 were answered correctly. Don’t remember the reading and writing sentences.
Then she asked me to verify my name and date of birth, sign my pictures, sign the N400 forms and gave me a N652 with ticked boxes for 'passed English and history tests' and 'congratulations, your application has been recommended for approval'.

I got to the USCIS office about 30 minutes prior to my interview time and I was out of there a little over an hour later. The officer checking me in told me they had 36 scheduled interviews that day (some might have been I-485 ones).

Oath, Jan-15-2014:
The Metairie office has oaths every Wednesday afternoon. On the oath letter, where you sign your name, make sure the place is listed as Metairie LA. Upon arrival, we were asked to form 2 lines and return our green cards and check the naturalization certificates for any errors. Ceremony started at about 2 pm, included a couple of speeches, oath, pledge of allegiance, signing of the national anthem and presentation of the certificates and lasted about 45 minutes. We had 52 applicants from 28 countries.
The certificates have the digital picture they take when you go for biometrics, not the one you submit with the application.

Next step, apply for a passport!
 
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