October 2009 N-400 Tracker

Had an infopass appointment y'day (20-Jan) which was of no use. They said they have no further updates. Any suggestions please??
 
Hi All,

Finished my interview and oath on Jan 22 Friday. Interview went well, it took about 15-20 minutes. Overall the entire process took less than 3 months. Thank you all for maintaining this excellent site. Kudos to Bobysmith, Jackolantern, Jhonnycash ( with his list of docs for interview), Taking my birth certificate really saved me.

Thanks again
Hattrick
 
:D Had my interview yesterday, turned in my letter 5 min before time of appt (make sure to go ahead of time because you may need to stand in line to get in)... I had to wait 1hr and 10 min before being called in, but everything went great. After the oath, we went straight to the test 'to get it out of the way', she said. : )
Just reviewed the application to make updates, added one trip we took out of the country after submitting the application, verified all the details, and she said she will recommend me for citizenship : )
She said I should receive the letter soon, to take my oath during the next couple of weeks.

She was really nice and even though I was a little nervous she made me feel very comfortable.

Let me know if you have questions.

PS To be able to get there faster I left my purse in the car and just took a fabric bag with all my documents, she didn't ask for anything though... : )
 
Passport Processing Time

It's taking 3 weeks for passport processing.

------------------------------------
DO: Fairfax, VA
10/09/09: N-400 Mailed Lewisville, TX
10/12/09: N-400 Received
10/19/09: PD
10/22/09: NOA date
10/23/09: Check cashed
10/29/09: FP notice date
11/13/09: FP appointment
11/30/09: IL date
12/02/09: YL received
12/30/09: ID
12/31/09: OD
01/09/10: Passport Application
01/29/10: Passport Received
 
Ya! My wife passed her interview yesterday!!! Just waiting for the Oath Ceremony letter now!! =)

THANKS to everyone who participated in this forum and for making this forum a nice place to share ideas, concerns, and questions...it's like a big family in here!

She left the waiting room for the interview and came back to tell me she passed in 20 minutes!!

Her IO was super super nice! Very kind man and repeated questions slowly to her when my wife asked her to repeat the questions.

The IO asked a lot questions regarding the N-400.

Her 6 questions were;

1. Who is the governor of your state? - Arnold Schwarzenegger

2. What is one promise you make when you become a U.S. citizen? - Be loyal to the U.S.

3. What is one responsibility that is only for U.S. citizens? - Vote

4. Who is the Father of our country? - George Washington

5. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? - Freed the slaves

6. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? - Freed the slaves

She was asked to write: "The president lives in the White house"

My wife says to know the 100 questions and be able to answer questions regarding your N-400....which you guys probably already know =)

While we were waiting for the IO to call my wife in for the interview, I noticed that most of the IOs seemed very friendly and kind when approaching/calling out applicants' names... it's just like any other test, be prepared and bring the documents that came with the list.

Bring your passport(s), green card, ID, spouse's proof of citizenship (if applicable), any proof of your residence such as bank statements, credit card applications, mail, apartment rental agreement, etc...

I believe most people pass this test, but others (for whatever reasons) have returned to speak with IOs regarding supporting documentation.

THANKS again for all who've contributed to this forum!!! and GOOD LUCK to everyone! =)
 
October 2009 - Des Moines, IA

GC date - 19 Jan 2005
N400 application date - 20 Oct 2009
N400 priority date - 28 Oct 2009
FP date - 23 Nov 2009
Interview date - 5 Jan 2010
Oath - ??
 
San Diego

I did not keep track of the Citizenship process while it was happeneing in any great detail and now it is complete. I recently joined this fourm (although I have been an occasional visitor throughout the H1-B and GC process) and I thought I would post my timeline for anyone in San Diego who may be interested.

N-400 Recieved by USCIS - Oct 9, 2009
FP date - Nov 25, 2009
Yellow letter - sometime in Dec (one speeding ticket in Dec 2003 which I disclosed on the application).
Interview - Jan 12, 2010.
Oath - Jan 20, 2010 (Golden Hall in downtown SD).
Passport applied - Jan 22, 2010 - still waiting.
 
Had my Oath on Feb 12, Friday.

99 applicants from 39 different countries! I know it was something very important but I didn't think it was going to be so moving. I even cried... It was a beautiful ceremony. **Good luck to you all!!**

** If you changed your name, you cannot update your Driver's License until Social Security records are updated (I was told 2 business days from filing the update with SSA.
** When you request your passport, you need to send your Naturalization Certificate, and they will return it to you trough mail...
 
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Citizenship Application Approved - 23 Feb 2010 - Lawrence, MA

Hi All

I am extremely happy to state that my Citizenship Application was approved yesterday (23 Feb 2010) @ Lawrence, MA USCIS District Office.
Firstly, sorry for the delay in posting this experience as I was a bit busy with the work.
Secondly, I thank each and every one (Members, Moderators etc) in this Forum as it immensely helped me throughout my GC and Citizenship Experience. This

Forum is one wonderful tool providing lots of information helping you in preparation throughout your Application Journey

USCIS District Office: Lawrence, MA

Actual Appointment: 14 Jan 2010 (9:30 AM) - Postponed as it was scheduled earlier than my 5 yr GC Anniversary (18 Jan 2010)

Re-Scheduled Appointment: 23 Feb 2010 (8 AM) - Reached @ 7:20 AM


Parking: Museum Parking Garage ($1.50 per hour) - Paid $3 as it was 1hr 20 min by the time I left.


Security Check-In: Airport Type/Courteous Staff (Shoes need not be removed - The Security guy joked that they do not want any smell when I asked him about removing of shoes). Did not check ID


Reception: The Appointment Letter was taken (did not check ID) and was offered to be seated in the waiting area

Waiting Area: About 15 people already waiting (around 7:35 AM).
Waited for 30 min before being called in @ 8:05 AM (My Wife was with me)
A White Male USCIS Officer called my Name. I walked to him and was greeted courteously and I inturn greeted him. He gave me the way to walk inside the first door and had to swipe his card to open the second security door (back to back doors).

We walked thru a corridor (with rooms on both sides) till we reached his room and was asked to enter and stand for a brief moment. He came inside with me, closed the door behind me.


Interview: I was asked to raise my right hand for swearing. Once done, was offered a seat
He was checking/printing etc in his computer constantly throughout the interview. (I couldn't get a glimpse of it as the computer was facing him).
He asked me if I had any trouble finding their office (I said no) and offered me an apology for rescheduling my appointment to a later date and said that they have been scheduling few appointments earlier than the GC anniversaries and had been calling people about the cancellations and re-booking.

Documents: He asked me for Green Card, Passport(s) and Driver's License/State ID (No other document was asked for though I had a bunch of documentation)
He verified the GC and Driver's License (Front & Back of both) and kept them aside (did not touch the Passports)

He then told me that he would be administering the English/History/Civics/Geography Exams first to get them out of the way.


English Test: (Printed questions from the computer)
Reading Test: What do we pay the Government (The sheet had 3 questions and I was asked to read the 1st)
After reading it, he asked me whether I knew the answer. I said "Taxes". He added "and speeding fines also" (It threw me off at this point as I had 4 speeding tickets on my N400 and immediately knew that he might give me a tough time when the Citations question came up.)
Writing Test: He then handed me a different paper to write "We pay Taxes"

Checked off with a red ballpoint pen to indicate that the answers were correct and proceeded to administer the History/Civics/Geography Test.


History/Civics/Geography Test: (Printed questions from the computer)
He asked me the following Questions and was recording my answers using a red ballpoint pen

1. What is Freedom of Religion? (Question# 10)
2. How many U.S. Senators are there? (Question# 18)
3. When must all men register for the Selective Service? (Question# 57)
4. When was the Constitution written? (Question# 66)
5. Name one state that borders Canada? (Question# 92)
6. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States? (Question# 90)

Once completed, he told me that I passed the Test and proceeded with my N-400 Application Review

N-400 Application Review: (My N-400 Application was neatly filed along with my GC papers in a thick file infront of him all this while)

Details: He then reviewed each and every question/section in the N-400 (even details like SSN, Wife's Name, Wife's DOB, Marriage Date, Her Status etc). All the details in part 3, 4, 8 & 9 of N-400)
Addresses/Employers: He asked me all the addresses that I stayed at and all employers I worked for (He was helping me with the details when I was trying to recollect in between)

As he was validating my addresses, I told him that there was a typing mistake in the year for one of the addresses (2009 instead of 2007).

He then corrected it with the red pen but then I offered him an updated Page 3 with the correct info. He gladly took it, thanked me and said that it helps. He then took out the earlier corrected paper and put it in the trash can behind him and filed the new updated page I gave him back in the file

Note: Since I left my GC Employer in 1.5 months after receiving GC, I was worried if he would bring up the issue but he never even mentioned about it. He was just verifying all the names of employers only

Trips: I did not have any trips outside US (I never went out of US since I came here 13 years ago. Not even for 1 day). He was surprised that I did not have any trips and asked me if I have been to Canada and after I said No, he verified my 2 Passports (Old & New) for any trips.

Part 10: He validated each and every question and I answered as was documented in the N-400 earlier. He checked off each and every question with the red pen as I gave him the answers

Part 10 D: Once he reached the Citation section, he asked me the following question:
Have You ever been Arrested, Cited, Detained? for which I answered "Cited for speeding". (As expected earlier, he started probing more in regards to my Traffic Tickets)
I had documented 4 Speeding tickets: 2 in 2001 in PA (about $150 fine each), 1 in 2003 in NJ ($212 fine), 1 in 2008 in MA ($300 fine)
For the NJ ticket, I documented as FINE PAID (LESS THAN $500) as I couldn't recollect the amount of fine paid at the time of my application, but later found as $212 from the court documents faxed to me days before the Interview.
I had the following docs related to citations:
Original Citations and the Cheques for the amounts paid for both the PA tickets.
Original Citation and the Court Disposition (Proof of payment) for the NJ ticket.
Letter (proof of payment) from the Merit Rating Board for the fine paid along with a copy of the citation in MA.
Official Certified Driving Record from MA RMV


He started off saying that I had traffic citations and the one in MA has $300 fine and asked me how fast I was going. I answered that I was doing somewhere in 70s but he said that I should have been speeding much higher as he said that in MA, for every 1 mile, it's $10 fine. He went on to say that I was driving recklessly, for which I said no and did not agree with him.
He went on to say that he drives the same roads that I drive and he doesn't want his family to get hit by me
He also said that I paid $500 fine for the NJ citation and went on to say that I had a problem (In my mind, I was thinking, that he will definitely not approve my Application and I have a long road ahead of me for proving my innocence). I clarified that the fine I paid for the NJ citation was less than $500 and it was about $200 and further added "$212 to be exact". At this time he asked me whether I had ever been to court for which I replied NO and he further asked me if I had ever appeared before a Judge for which I also answered NO
He did not ask me for any documentation (proof of payments, court dispositions etc)

He then proceeded with the rest of the questions.
Suddenly, he asked me when I came to US and tried to search the date in his paperwork but I answered him as August 1997, then he verified my GC Resident Since" date on the GC (I was worried at this time as I thought that he started to review my whole immigration history since when I entered the country).
Actually he was trying to validate my age to see if I was eligible for Selective Service Registration. ( I heaved a sigh of relief)

After completing all the questions including the Oath Requirements, he asked me to sign the N-400 and the 2 photos that I sent in along with the Application.

Once completed he did not say anything and was calmly filing his paperwork (He was filing the Tests paperwork along with the N-400, the photos and the Interview Appmt Letter etc). I was just watching him do this

He then stamped my paperwork in the file with the big red lettered "Approved" stamp. (That's when I was a bit relaxed)
He then asked me if I was nervous for which I answered "Yes, A Little Bit". He then comforted me saying that I need not be worried.
Finally, he told me that I was Recommending my Application for Approval and congratulated me and shook my hand.
He then handed over the N-652 paper (marked Recommended for Approval) and said that my Oath was scheduled for 21 April 2010 (10 AM) @ Worcester, MA (Mechanics Hall). He also told me that I had to wait in the waiting room and someone will be handing over me the Oath Letter

He then escorted me back to the waiting room (He was saying that he hoped that I will take care of my speeding) for which I replied that I will and I learnt my lesson.


Waiting Room: After wating for 5 minutes, a lady announced my name and handed over the Oath Letter instructing me what to do.

Thanked her and left the USCIS Office around 8:35 AM

Don't worry, my interview was not this long. It was 15 minutes only. My Wife who was in the waiting room timed it (She said I went in @ 8:05 AM and came back @ 8:20 AM)

Conclusion:

Sorry for the long post.Just wanted to provide as much info as possible for the people who are in the Citizenship Queue. (This is the least I can do)


Please let me know if you have any questions.


Now Waiting for the Oath


The Journey is not yet finished for me as I have to file I-485/EAD/AP for my Wife once I get my Citizenship (I-130 already filed in Dec 2009 and pending in CSC)
 
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Update on Des Moines DO:
GC date - 19 Jan 2005
N400 application date - 20 Oct 2009
N400 priority date - 28 Oct 2009
FP date - 23 Nov 2009
Interview date - 5 Jan 2010
Oath - 3/12/10
PP applied - ??
PP received - ??
 
N400 stock interview with happy ending.

N-400 Stock interview but happy ending.

10.28.2009 - N-400 mailed to Phoenix, AZ.
10.29.2009 - N-400 received
11.02.2009 - Priority Date (Notice Date 11.02.2009)
11.06.2009 - LUD (N-400)
11.06.2009 - Notice of Action Received (Notice Date 11.02.2009)
11.08.2009 - LUD on Already approved I-485 and I-765 (ON SUNDAY) (why?)
11.10.2009 - LUD (Request for Evidence via e-mail)
11.11.2009 - LUD (Message remain thesame about REF)
11.12.2009 - Finger Print Notice received
11.18.2009 - Finger Print Completed (Walk-in).
11.23.2009 - called FBI about FP and they said it was sent back same day. (11.18.2009).
11.23.2009 - original FP Appointment Date
11.23.2009 - Yellow letter/checklist received. (dated 11.18.2009) same day i did my walk-in FP.
12.14.2009 - Called USCIS and was told by 2nd level officer that i have been placed on waiting for interview.
12.22.2009 - LUD. e-mail at 4.30am: Current Status: This case has been sent for a standard interview.
12.26.2009 - Interview Notice Received (dated 12.21.2009).
01.25.2009 - Interview Date (not so good) (decision cannot be made)
02.26.2010 - Another interview date (stock interview and recorded)
04.21.2010 - Oath Date.

This is a summary of my experience. After my first interview, i passed the test and every other thing was good but the IO said she need to see my wife. (my application was married based). She then gave me another interview date for 02/26/2010, for me to come with my wife and evidence of a bona fide marriage. my wife could not go with me at my first interview due to work. so i went with my wife for my second interview and to my surprise, it was a stock interview and recorded. IO made us sign some papers and sent me out first and interviewed my wife with series of questions. the IO then send my wife out and called me in and asked me more or less same questions she asked my wife. I have no fear and we answered all questions to the best of our knowledge. IO then stopped the tape after the interview was over. IO called my wife in and said she was going to review the answers and mail out a decisions that same day. today i just received my Oath letter for April 21 2010. I want to thank everyone in this forum and pray that Almighty God who did mine for me and my wife will also do the same for any of u waiting. All u guys need to do is believe and pray. If anyone have any questions, i will be happy to answer. right now i am thankful to God that it was a happy ending. I did not go with attorney because we could not afford it and beside our marriage was real.
 
We went to the Oath Ceremony last week, 3/31. Enjoy the touching moment. Thanks to everyone who've contributed to this awesome forum! THANKS! =)
 
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