I wanted to share my interview experience with the folks on the board. I had sent in my N-400 sometime during the week of Oct. 25, 2004. I got fingerprinted on Nov. 22, 2004 and received my interview letter during the week of Apr. 11, 2005. The interview was scheduled for yesterday, June 22, 2005 at 2 PM at the Newark DO. I reached the BCIS office around 1:30 and went directly to the 13th floor, where I submitted my interview letter at the first window. I was called in for an interview around 2:45. The officer was very courteous, and asked some very simple civic questions. He made me write one sentence in English and then informed me that I had passed the interview and that I should wait for the oath ceremony. I was done with the interview and test by 3:10 PM. Around 3:30 the lady at the first window started calling out names and collecting the oath ceremony papers. This dragged on for a while and finally around 5:00 everyone was taken to the 16th floor for the actual oath ceremony. After the oath ceremony we got to see a couple of videos (one from the President himself). I was done by 6:00 - the whole process was smooth and painless.
During the entire process I never checked anything (online status, FBI/CIA/Name checks etc.). So on the whole, it took about 8 months from the start to finish. I think what helps Newark DO office is that they administer the oath the same day as the interview which helps to shave months off the naturalization timeline.
During the entire process I never checked anything (online status, FBI/CIA/Name checks etc.). So on the whole, it took about 8 months from the start to finish. I think what helps Newark DO office is that they administer the oath the same day as the interview which helps to shave months off the naturalization timeline.