Interview and Oath completed today
I started little bit late today around 8:42am from South Brunswick and pulled over by a cop near my house for not completing stopping at a stop sign but let me go with warnings but gave ticket (fine of $54) for unclear plates. He said the black frame around the license plate makes the plate not completely visible. Frames actually block only the words "Garden State" and nothing else.
Reached Newark area around 9:45am and missed the parking lot before the federal building and had to take u turn and come back and parked on Green street ($11) and walked to the federal building. After security check downstairs, went to 15th floor (room# 1512 was the appointment room). Showed the drivers license and the interview letter to the security in 15th floor and went to window #1 and given the interview letter exactly @ 10am my appointment time(there were lot of people waiting without giving the interview letter. After an announcement around 10:30am, lot of people provided the interview letter).
10:00am - Given interview letter at window#1
11:10am - People were called for oath ceremony (1st of 3 oaths that take place everyday. And I was in 2nd oath which happens at 2pm)
11:15am - I was called for interview (one person who was sitting next me came around 9:30am for 10:20am interview but went for interview only around 12noon)
11:30am - I am done with my interview and passed the exam and came out
- INS Officer asked me to do the normal stuff by raising your right hand and say "Yes. I do" before sitting down for the actual interview and tests.
- She scanned thru the application asking questions about what is provided in the application including name, dob, most of the questions for which we answered "NO" and then "YES" for constitution related questions. She almost asked me all the questions including my trips outside US, child, married, etc.,
- I answered the first 6 questions correctly
- Name one war fought by USA in 1900's (World War I)
- House of Representatives have how many voting members (435)
- For how many years we elect a representative (2 years)
- Supreme court chief justice (John Roberts)
- which month we vote for president (November)
- Father of the nation (George Washington)
- She asked me read "Who was the first President of USA ?"
- She asked me write "George Washington was the first President of USA"
Then she said that I passed the exam and asked me to wait outside.
12:25pm - Called at window to sign the certificate of naturalization (first asked me to sign the copy and then asked me to sign the original one) and told me to come back around 1:30pm for 2pm Oath ceremony. They told me that there is a cafetaria in 2nd floor.
12:30pm - Went to 10th floor and got SSN application form to update my status and went to 2nd floor and had lunch.
2:00pm - Called people for Oath ceremony and it was over within 30 minutes. Showed videos, message from president Obama, sang a song, took pledge of allegiance. And they gave the certificate of naturalization that I signed around 12:30pm along with passport application
2:40pm - I went to SSN office at 10th floor and submitted the completed application to update the status
3:00pm - Came out of the federal building and walked into Post Office just across the road but the passport service closes at 2pm. Planning to apply for passport at County clerk's office tomorrow ($25 less than you apply at post office).
Finally immigration is over for me. My wife didn't apply for citizenship as we are planning to go back to India after 3 years and would like to keep her Indian citizenship because we would like to buy agricultural land which you cannot buy with OCI card. Both our kids (daughter and son) are US citizens.