New Timeline thread for San Antonio & Austin area

My Interview Experience at San Antonio

My interview was scheduled for 8:35 AM at San Antonio today 9/7/07. I have to say that it was not as smooth as I was expecting it to be.
I was called in at about 8:45 and was out by 9:10 so about 25 mins.

My issue was that the officer was Hispanic and with Spanish accent, I found it very difficult to understand him. Unfortunately I kept asking him to repeat and it was obvious that I was pissing him off.

He asked me about my first, middle and last name, and was stuck on my middle name. It took me 5 mins to explain him how I write my full name and usually father's name is the middle name. I was glad I had my birth certificate with me.
Next he asked me all the questions from the form it self,
When did u become permanent resident?
How u become permanent resident?
Have u registered for selective service?
Where have you stayed in last five year?
How many times I have traveled out side US and purposes?
Do you file your taxes?
Did u get any tkt where you were arrested? - No DMV records needed, I also didn’t have them.

In terms of documents all I needed was my GC, selective svc paper, driver’s license, birth certificate. No other document was asked.

Then he asked me where was I born, I said India and immediately asked me what was the address, so with my utter stupidity, I gave him my address in India :) which again raised his eye browse and he caught my neck for giving addr of India, so immediately I apologized and gave him my TX address. (Lesson - Always give ur US address)

He also mandated me to write in cursive writing while signing my name, which I am not comfortable with so I asked him do I have to write in cursive, he said yes. So I some how managed to write it.

Then came a bit easy part, he asked me 10 questions from history and I got them all right.

Asked me to write an English statement, which I wrote in regular writing, this time he was okay with that.

Finally came the words which I wanted to hear, that I passed and gave me the letter.

Lessons during the interview -
Be patient - very patient
Be prepared for totally unexpected issue
Be alert during the interview.
Don’t assume that interview will be piece of cake like I did even if your case is straight forward.



Thanks,
Application Mailed in Date - 05/09/2007
Check was cashed - 05/11/2007
Receipt Date - 05/23/2007
Finger Print Date - 06/15/2007
Interview Date - 09/07/2007 ( Reccomended for Approval )
Oath Date - ??
 
Congrats

dipalmodi said:
My interview was scheduled for 8:35 AM at San Antonio today 9/7/07. I have to say that it was not as smooth as I was expecting it to be.
I was called in at about 8:45 and was out by 9:10 so about 25 mins.

My issue was that the officer was Hispanic and with Spanish accent, I found it very difficult to understand him. Unfortunately I kept asking him to repeat and it was obvious that I was pissing him off.

He asked me about my first, middle and last name, and was stuck on my middle name. It took me 5 mins to explain him how I write my full name and usually father's name is the middle name. I was glad I had my birth certificate with me.
Next he asked me all the questions from the form it self,
When did u become permanent resident?
How u become permanent resident?
Have u registered for selective service?
Where have you stayed in last five year?
How many times I have traveled out side US and purposes?
Do you file your taxes?
Did u get any tkt where you were arrested? - No DMV records needed, I also didn’t have them.

In terms of documents all I needed was my GC, selective svc paper, driver’s license, birth certificate. No other document was asked.

Then he asked me where was I born, I said India and immediately asked me what was the address, so with my utter stupidity, I gave him my address in India :) which again raised his eye browse and he caught my neck for giving addr of India, so immediately I apologized and gave him my TX address. (Lesson - Always give ur US address)

He also mandated me to write in cursive writing while signing my name, which I am not comfortable with so I asked him do I have to write in cursive, he said yes. So I some how managed to write it.

Then came a bit easy part, he asked me 10 questions from history and I got them all right.

Asked me to write an English statement, which I wrote in regular writing, this time he was okay with that.

Finally came the words which I wanted to hear, that I passed and gave me the letter.

Lessons during the interview -
Be patient - very patient
Be prepared for totally unexpected issue
Be alert during the interview.
Don’t assume that interview will be piece of cake like I did even if your case is straight forward.



Thanks,
Application Mailed in Date - 05/09/2007
Check was cashed - 05/11/2007
Receipt Date - 05/23/2007
Finger Print Date - 06/15/2007
Interview Date - 09/07/2007 ( Reccomended for Approval )
Oath Date - ??
Click to expand...



Congrats..all is well if it ends well...hope u get oath letter soon
 
Oath Letter Received

I was surprised to find the oath letter in my mail so fast. My oath is on 27th Sept. in San Antonio.

Can any one share what should I expect in the oath ceremony.


Thanks,
Application Mailed in Date - 05/09/2007
Check was cashed - 05/11/2007
Receipt Date - 05/23/2007
Finger Print Date - 06/15/2007
Interview Date - 09/07/2007 ( Reccomended for Approval )
Oath Date - 09/27/07
 
My Timeline - Interview Yesterday

Sorry for not posting earlier, as I use the info in this forum, but it's time to give back.

Here is my timeline. As far as I can see, it moved at warp speed.

My time line


PD:-06/13/2007
ND:-06/28/2007
FP:-07/26/2007
IVND: 08/17/2007
IV:-09/14/2007 --Recommended for approval
Oath:-????

I know 3 other people around my timeline, 2 have been fingerprinted and still waiting on interview notice, and the other has yet to be fingerprinted. I speculate a ton of applications hit them right before the fees went up.

Interview experience: Painless and easy. Take all the documents you can think of as they go through your whole file. The questions were easy, I overstudied for the test. Just waiting on the oath letter now.

Rusty
 
Update - Got oath letter

Looks like I'm scheduled for Thursday October 25, 2007 in San Antonio. The letter is dated Oct 4, and I received it today.

PD:-06/13/2007
ND:-06/28/2007
FP:-07/26/2007
IVND: 08/17/2007
IV:-09/14/2007 --Recommended for approval
Oath:-10/25/2007

** Update 10/25 - All done.. passport wait is next..
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Updating my dates, specially in view of the recent receipting delays:

N-400 Applications Sent: 07/20/2007
N-400 Applications Received: 07/23/2007
US Postal Return Receipt Received: 07/26/2007
Check Cash Date: (Husband): 10/22/2007 (Wife): 10/22/2007
Notice Received: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Receipt Date on Notice: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Priority Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Fingerprint Notice Received: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Fingerprinting Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Interview Notice Received: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Interview Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Final Approval Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Oath Ceremony Letter Received: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Oath Ceremony Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
 
Updating my dates again:
(All the details and dates!)

N-400 Application type: Employment based Green Cards.
N-400 Applications Sent: 07/20/2007
N-400 Applications Received: 07/23/2007
US Postal Return Receipt Received: 07/26/2007
Check Cash Date: (Husband): 10/22/2007 (Wife): 10/22/2007
Notice Receipt Postmark Date: (Husband): 10/31/2007 (Wife): 10/31/2007
Notice Received: (Husband): 11/02/2007 (Wife): 11/02/2007
Notice Date: (Husband): 10/26/2007 (Wife): 10/26/2007
Receipt Date on Notice: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
Priority Date: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
N-400 application receive date (as indicated on USCIS status website): (Husband): 10/19/2007 (Wife): 10/19/2007
(Notices indicate missing evidence, which we will be asked to provide at N-400 interview. We will be informed seperately about what missing evidence to bring)
Fingerprint Notice Received: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Fingerprinting Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Interview Notice Received: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Interview Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Final Approval Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Oath Ceremony Letter Received: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Oath Ceremony Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
 
Finally! After 1 year's waiting, I got my interview letter last week. Interview is scheduled for tomorrow. The delay was caused by name check.

PD: Oct 02, 2006
FD: Oct 20, 2006
Interview Notice: Oct 18, 2007 (for Nov. 7, 2007).

For anyone got stuck in the name-checking process, just be patient.

Thanks for this forum.
 
Anyone got oath letter in San Antonio/Austin area lately?

I didn't get oath letter, instead I got a letter to re-do fingerprint because the first one has been expired. F*#& that!



indianapolis said:
Finally! After 1 year's waiting, I got my interview letter last week. Interview is scheduled for tomorrow. The delay was caused by name check.

PD: Oct 02, 2006
FD: Oct 20, 2006
Interview Notice: Oct 18, 2007 (for Nov. 7, 2007).

For anyone got stuck in the name-checking process, just be patient.

Thanks for this forum.
Click to expand...
 
Application was approved at the interview in San Antonio this morning. I will post my interview experience later this evening.

Here's our timeline so far:

N-400 Application type: Employment based Green Cards.
N-400 Applications Sent: 07/20/2007
N-400 Applications Received: 07/23/2007
US Postal Return Receipt Received: 07/26/2007
Check Cash Date: (Husband): 10/22/2007 (Wife): 10/22/2007
Notice Receipt Postmark Date: (Husband): 10/31/2007 (Wife): 10/31/2007
Notice Received: (Husband): 11/02/2007 (Wife): 11/02/2007
Notice Date: (Husband): 10/26/2007 (Wife): 10/26/2007
Receipt Date on Notice: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
Priority Date: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
N-400 application receive date (as indicated on USCIS status website): (Husband): 10/19/2007 (Wife): 10/19/2007
(Notices indicate missing evidence, which we will be asked to provide at N-400 interview. We will be informed seperately about what missing evidence to bring)
Fingerprint Notice Postmark Date: (Husband): 11/01/2007 (Wife): 11/01/2007
Fingerprint Notice Date: (Husband): 10/30/2007 (Wife): 10/30/2007
Fingerprint Notice Received: (Husband): 11/03/2007 (Wife): 11/03/2007
Fingerprinting Date: (Husband): 11/17/2007 (Wife): 11/17/2007
Interview Notice Date: (Husband): 01/22/2008 (Wife): 01/22/2008
Interview Notice Received: (Husband): 01/24/2008 (Wife): 01/24/2008
Interview Date: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Interview Done: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Final Approval Date: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Oath Ceremony Letter Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Oath Ceremony Letter Received: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
Oath Ceremony Date: (Husband): ??/??/???? (Wife): ??/??/????
 
Recent Oath Ceremony Dates.

Does anyone know how long it is taking to get scheduled for an Oath Ceremony date these days in San Antonio/ Austin?

Also, any folks who have completed their interviews recently?
I completed mine on February 7th, 2008 and am wondering for what date I might receive the Oath Letter?

What is involved between the interview and oath letter? Is it just a matter of scheduling?

Also, any folks who have been to the Institute Of Texan Cultures / Trinity University and Delco Center in Austin....

Can you comment on how large was the size of the oath ceremony (area, number of people)? This would help in knowing how soon a center would be filled to capacity.

Keeping in mind the recent large influx of applications, I wonder whether USCIS plans on using the same centers as before or moving to places that offer larger capacities to accomodate the increase in applications (and hence approvals)?
 
Ceremony schedule

Obajaj,

I had the interview on 2/7 too. We may see each other in the waiting room.
You are lucky, both you and your wife had the interview on the same day. I believe you should have the Oath Ceremony on the same day too.
My wife had the interview on 1/30. I hope we can have the same Oath Ceremony date.

In terms of the Ceremony schedule, you can check the following website.
<http://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/calendar/>
Check the "San Antonio Division", and click "Magistrate Calendar - All Magistrate Judges". Search for "Naturalization" and you can find the schedule and location. 2/14, 2/28 and 3/13 are on the schedule.

Good luck.
 
cxlst2,

Thats very useful information. Thanks very much.
It looks like they have increased the number of Oath Ceremonies in San Antonio, as I believe they only used to have them on the last Thursday of every month.

I hope we get our Oath letters soon and I hope your wife and you get scheduled on the same day.

In my case, my IO gave me an additional printout of the N652 approval form which he asked me to give to my wife before her interview, so that she could give it to her IO after she was approved (It would help her IO to make sure we scheduled on the same day/place for Oath)

All the best.
 
Received my Oath Ceremony Letter today, for March 13, 2008 at the Trinity University in San Antonio:
(My wife's letter should also arrive any day now)

Here is my entire timeline again:

N-400 Application type: Employment based Green Cards.
N-400 Applications Sent: 07/20/2007
N-400 Applications Received: 07/23/2007
US Postal Return Receipt Received: 07/26/2007
Check Cash Date: (Husband): 10/22/2007 (Wife): 10/22/2007
Notice Receipt Postmark Date: (Husband): 10/31/2007 (Wife): 10/31/2007
Notice Received: (Husband): 11/02/2007 (Wife): 11/02/2007
Notice Date: (Husband): 10/26/2007 (Wife): 10/26/2007
Receipt Date on Notice: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
Priority Date: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
N-400 application receive date (as indicated on USCIS status website): (Husband): 10/19/2007 (Wife): 10/19/2007
(Notices indicate missing evidence, which we will be asked to provide at N-400 interview. We will be informed seperately about what missing evidence to bring)
Fingerprint Notice Postmark Date: (Husband): 11/01/2007 (Wife): 11/01/2007
Fingerprint Notice Date: (Husband): 10/30/2007 (Wife): 10/30/2007
Fingerprint Notice Received: (Husband): 11/03/2007 (Wife): 11/03/2007
Fingerprinting Date: (Husband): 11/17/2007 (Wife): 11/17/2007
Interview Notice Date: (Husband): 01/22/2008 (Wife): 01/22/2008
Interview Notice Received: (Husband): 01/24/2008 (Wife): 01/24/2008
Interview Date: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Interview Done: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Final Approval Date: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Oath Ceremony Letter Date: (Husband): 02/14/2008 (Wife): ??/??/????
Oath Ceremony Letter Received: (Husband): 02/16/2008 (Wife): ??/??/????
Oath Ceremony Date: (Husband): 03/13/2008 (Wife): ??/??/????
 
Wife's Oath Ceremony Letter arrived.

This Just In:
Wife's Oath Ceremony Letter arrived...
(Luckily we have been scheduled at the same place/time at the Trinity University in San Antonio, TX)

Here is my entire timeline again:

N-400 Application type: Employment based Green Cards.
N-400 Applications Sent: 07/20/2007
N-400 Applications Received: 07/23/2007
US Postal Return Receipt Received: 07/26/2007
Check Cash Date: (Husband): 10/22/2007 (Wife): 10/22/2007
Notice Receipt Postmark Date: (Husband): 10/31/2007 (Wife): 10/31/2007
Notice Received: (Husband): 11/02/2007 (Wife): 11/02/2007
Notice Date: (Husband): 10/26/2007 (Wife): 10/26/2007
Receipt Date on Notice: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
Priority Date: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
N-400 application receive date (as indicated on USCIS status website): (Husband): 10/19/2007 (Wife): 10/19/2007
(Notices indicate missing evidence, which we will be asked to provide at N-400 interview. We will be informed seperately about what missing evidence to bring)
Fingerprint Notice Postmark Date: (Husband): 11/01/2007 (Wife): 11/01/2007
Fingerprint Notice Date: (Husband): 10/30/2007 (Wife): 10/30/2007
Fingerprint Notice Received: (Husband): 11/03/2007 (Wife): 11/03/2007
Fingerprinting Date: (Husband): 11/17/2007 (Wife): 11/17/2007
Interview Notice Date: (Husband): 01/22/2008 (Wife): 01/22/2008
Interview Notice Received: (Husband): 01/24/2008 (Wife): 01/24/2008
Interview Date: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Interview Done: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Final Approval Date: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Oath Ceremony Letter Date: (Husband): 02/14/2008 (Wife): 02/20/2008
Oath Ceremony Letter Received: (Husband): 02/16/2008 (Wife): 02/22/2008
Oath Ceremony Date: (Husband): 03/13/2008 (Wife): 03/13/2008
 
Finally all done.

My wife and me finished our oaths on 3/13/2008, although we received our certificates earlier this morning.
Applied for passports this morning (3/14/2008). We avoided the Post Office rush (most of them require an appointment to even turn in a readily filled passport application) by going to a district county courthouse in downtown Austin which accepts walk-in applications. We were told that regular processing passports are currently taking 4-6 weeks and we're ok with that.

So, thats it folks. I won't be checking this particular thread much. To contact me, you can send me a private IM, which I will setup to forward to my email address.

All the best everyone.

Here is my entire timeline again:

N-400 Application type: Employment based Green Cards.
N-400 Applications Sent: 07/20/2007
N-400 Applications Received: 07/23/2007
US Postal Return Receipt Received: 07/26/2007
Check Cash Date: (Husband): 10/22/2007 (Wife): 10/22/2007
Notice Receipt Postmark Date: (Husband): 10/31/2007 (Wife): 10/31/2007
Notice Received: (Husband): 11/02/2007 (Wife): 11/02/2007
Notice Date: (Husband): 10/26/2007 (Wife): 10/26/2007
Receipt Date on Notice: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
Priority Date: (Husband): 07/26/2007 (Wife): 07/26/2007
N-400 application receive date (as indicated on USCIS status website): (Husband): 10/19/2007 (Wife): 10/19/2007
(Notices indicate missing evidence, which we will be asked to provide at N-400 interview. We will be informed seperately about what missing evidence to bring)
Fingerprint Notice Postmark Date: (Husband): 11/01/2007 (Wife): 11/01/2007
Fingerprint Notice Date: (Husband): 10/30/2007 (Wife): 10/30/2007
Fingerprint Notice Received: (Husband): 11/03/2007 (Wife): 11/03/2007
Fingerprinting Date: (Husband): 11/17/2007 (Wife): 11/17/2007
Interview Notice Date: (Husband): 01/22/2008 (Wife): 01/22/2008
Interview Notice Received: (Husband): 01/24/2008 (Wife): 01/24/2008
Interview Date: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Interview Done: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Final Approval Date: (Husband): 02/07/2008 (Wife): 02/07/2008
Oath Ceremony Letter Date: (Husband): 02/14/2008 (Wife): 02/20/2008
Oath Ceremony Letter Received: (Husband): 02/16/2008 (Wife): 02/22/2008
Oath Ceremony Date: (Husband): 03/13/2008 (Wife): 03/13/2008
Passports Applied on: (Husband): 03/14/2008 (Wife): 03/14/2008
 
Recent Interviews anyone?

Hi,

My wife and I had our N400 interviews on 4/4/2008 in San Antonio. We both received the N652 with the "Congratulations" item checked...

Any idea when we should expect to receive our oath letters?

Does anyone know the oath ceremony schedule in San Antonio in the upcoming months (May, June, etc.).

All the best to everyone.
 
lonestar1 said:
Hi,

My wife and I had our N400 interviews on 4/4/2008 in San Antonio. We both received the N652 with the "Congratulations" item checked...

Any idea when we should expect to receive our oath letters?

Does anyone know the oath ceremony schedule in San Antonio in the upcoming months (May, June, etc.).

All the best to everyone.
Click to expand...

I sent my application mid APril 2008 and recived the fingerprint letter today for next thursday. I have used up my vacation for the year, do you know if SA would allow for a walkin on this coming Saturday? Also, anyone else have experience on how the current N400 process is taking in SA? The fingerprint request seems to have come in quite rapidly.
I was wondering if I should reschedule the interview to a more convenient time, but folks advised to check in this thread on how the current process is going.
 
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