I started my citizenship journey in the middle of May 2008. Got my N-400 ready and mailed it with a copy of my GC and a listing of traffic tickets(they were old, but I just listed them).
In two weeks I got the receipt for my N-400, and then in about another week I got the notice to appear for Fingerprinting. Went to the Columbus, DO office at the specified time and did fingerprinting and got the booklet to prepare for Citizenship interview. After exactly 2 months time since fingerprinting I got the notice to appear for interview at the Columbus, ohio DO.
Interview Experience:
I got there about half hour early and my interview was around 8:30 am. Parked the car in the nearby garage and walked to the Columbus, DO office. When I went for fingerprinting I noticed that interviews/infopass appointments etc., are held at the 3rd floor. So I took the elevator to the 3rd floor and as I exited the elevator I can see security. Here you handover your interview letter go through the security checks and when complete you go and sit in the waiting area. It's small about 20-35 chairs and there were about 20 people waiting already. Some going through the booklet that had all the 96 civcs questions. Some people were called and came out with a approval letter quickly and I hoped the same. I waited for about 20 minutes and when my name was called walked in with the IO. He was friendly and I followed him to his office were he asked me to swear stating that I will say the truth. Then he asked me to take a seat and I noticed that my file was right in front. He went through the entire application very quickly. It was like so your name is blah, blah and you don't want a name change and you have been a permanent resident for 5 years etc., I kept phase with him replying to the questions in the application. I had also listed that I am a member of AAA club. Then we got to the moral character questions where I listed my traffic tickets which were all older than 5 years. He asked me if I had been arrested or had a DUI. I said 'NO' only cited for traffic violations. He now underlined 'CITED' and wrote for traffic violations only. Then we got to the SSA registration question and asked me if I have registered as I have lived here at an age where registration is required. I told him that I wasn't registered and as I was in valid non-immigrant status and pulled out the SSA letter and showed him that registration wasn't required (I had every possible documentation that has been listed in the citizenship posts here with a copy as well so I can give one to the IO if he needs it). Now he wanted to see my green card as he forgot to ask for it earlier. Once he looked at it he asked me to sign the application, pictures and then he signed the application. Now he asks me 6 questions from a printed list that had 10 and once I answered 6 correctly he asked me to read question 8 from the list and then write down 'TODAY IS A SUNNY DAY'. He gave a paper and asked me to verify if my name is spelled correctly as that is how it will appear on the certificate. After I checked it he gave me the paper that said your application has been recommended for approval and said I should get the oath letter in 2 weeks. I tried to find out when the oath would be and he said it can be as soon as two weeks or it can be upto 4 months depending on the courts schedule. Nevertheless I got the oath letter within 5 days of the interview.
Oath Experience:
I got to the US district Court about 10 minutes before my oath appointment time and was called in by the last three digits of the alien number. When you go in and sit they collect the final questionaire and ask you to come back in half hour. Then when you go in you are given the voter registration forms which are collected after you fill it. Now they take us to the courtroom where the oath ceremony is. There were about 50 people from 30 different countries. The judge came in gave a short speech and then we were sworn in as "US CITIZENS". Then we got our certificates and we took pictures with the judge and we were done. All in all the entire process was done in about a hour and half.
Now I got back to my car and drove to a FEDEX/KINKOS to make a black&white and color copy of my Naturalization certificate. Then I stopped at the SSN office and picked a number to update my citizenship status. Waited for an hour there and when I was called, I gave my SSN and the original naturalization certificate and asked that my immigration status be updated in SSN records. After about 15 minutes they printed a paper that showed my US Citizen status and asked me to sign it. I asked for a copy of it but didnt get one as they said its updated in their system.
I had already prepared my passport application as well so I stop at the post office next. I gave the application, 2 passport pics, application fee and the original naturalization certificate (I was leery in giving it but I had no choice, so I gave it for processing the passport). I got an receipt which said regular process takes 3 to 6 weeks. Two weeks later I got the US passports in my mail box.
I would like to thank everyone for their contribution here as it gave me a idea of what to expect and how to prepare. I am sharing my experience so it helps others as well. May God Bless us all.
N400- Mailed to NSC in - May 2008
N400- Receipt received - May 2008
Fingerprinting letter - june 2008
Fingerprinting done as scheduled - june 2008
Interview letter - Sep 2008
Oath letter - Sep 2008
Oath date - Oct 2008
Oath completed - Oct 2008.
US Passport applied and received - Oct 2008.
In two weeks I got the receipt for my N-400, and then in about another week I got the notice to appear for Fingerprinting. Went to the Columbus, DO office at the specified time and did fingerprinting and got the booklet to prepare for Citizenship interview. After exactly 2 months time since fingerprinting I got the notice to appear for interview at the Columbus, ohio DO.
Interview Experience:
I got there about half hour early and my interview was around 8:30 am. Parked the car in the nearby garage and walked to the Columbus, DO office. When I went for fingerprinting I noticed that interviews/infopass appointments etc., are held at the 3rd floor. So I took the elevator to the 3rd floor and as I exited the elevator I can see security. Here you handover your interview letter go through the security checks and when complete you go and sit in the waiting area. It's small about 20-35 chairs and there were about 20 people waiting already. Some going through the booklet that had all the 96 civcs questions. Some people were called and came out with a approval letter quickly and I hoped the same. I waited for about 20 minutes and when my name was called walked in with the IO. He was friendly and I followed him to his office were he asked me to swear stating that I will say the truth. Then he asked me to take a seat and I noticed that my file was right in front. He went through the entire application very quickly. It was like so your name is blah, blah and you don't want a name change and you have been a permanent resident for 5 years etc., I kept phase with him replying to the questions in the application. I had also listed that I am a member of AAA club. Then we got to the moral character questions where I listed my traffic tickets which were all older than 5 years. He asked me if I had been arrested or had a DUI. I said 'NO' only cited for traffic violations. He now underlined 'CITED' and wrote for traffic violations only. Then we got to the SSA registration question and asked me if I have registered as I have lived here at an age where registration is required. I told him that I wasn't registered and as I was in valid non-immigrant status and pulled out the SSA letter and showed him that registration wasn't required (I had every possible documentation that has been listed in the citizenship posts here with a copy as well so I can give one to the IO if he needs it). Now he wanted to see my green card as he forgot to ask for it earlier. Once he looked at it he asked me to sign the application, pictures and then he signed the application. Now he asks me 6 questions from a printed list that had 10 and once I answered 6 correctly he asked me to read question 8 from the list and then write down 'TODAY IS A SUNNY DAY'. He gave a paper and asked me to verify if my name is spelled correctly as that is how it will appear on the certificate. After I checked it he gave me the paper that said your application has been recommended for approval and said I should get the oath letter in 2 weeks. I tried to find out when the oath would be and he said it can be as soon as two weeks or it can be upto 4 months depending on the courts schedule. Nevertheless I got the oath letter within 5 days of the interview.
Oath Experience:
I got to the US district Court about 10 minutes before my oath appointment time and was called in by the last three digits of the alien number. When you go in and sit they collect the final questionaire and ask you to come back in half hour. Then when you go in you are given the voter registration forms which are collected after you fill it. Now they take us to the courtroom where the oath ceremony is. There were about 50 people from 30 different countries. The judge came in gave a short speech and then we were sworn in as "US CITIZENS". Then we got our certificates and we took pictures with the judge and we were done. All in all the entire process was done in about a hour and half.
Now I got back to my car and drove to a FEDEX/KINKOS to make a black&white and color copy of my Naturalization certificate. Then I stopped at the SSN office and picked a number to update my citizenship status. Waited for an hour there and when I was called, I gave my SSN and the original naturalization certificate and asked that my immigration status be updated in SSN records. After about 15 minutes they printed a paper that showed my US Citizen status and asked me to sign it. I asked for a copy of it but didnt get one as they said its updated in their system.
I had already prepared my passport application as well so I stop at the post office next. I gave the application, 2 passport pics, application fee and the original naturalization certificate (I was leery in giving it but I had no choice, so I gave it for processing the passport). I got an receipt which said regular process takes 3 to 6 weeks. Two weeks later I got the US passports in my mail box.
I would like to thank everyone for their contribution here as it gave me a idea of what to expect and how to prepare. I am sharing my experience so it helps others as well. May God Bless us all.
N400- Mailed to NSC in - May 2008
N400- Receipt received - May 2008
Fingerprinting letter - june 2008
Fingerprinting done as scheduled - june 2008
Interview letter - Sep 2008
Oath letter - Sep 2008
Oath date - Oct 2008
Oath completed - Oct 2008.
US Passport applied and received - Oct 2008.
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