Interview & Oath (Houston, TX)
I kept off the forum for a while. The last update was my interview being rescheduled for a week later; to match the 5 year completion date (Oct 28, 2009).
Interview Day (Oct 28, 2009)
Getting to the USCIS was a bigger deal than the interview itself. Battling the morning rush hour reached there at 8:29 AM (Interview was at 8:30 AM). Parked on the street and rushed inside the empty USCIS building. There was just one person waiting in the Naturalization Area. Later 2 more joined me. All of us were rescheduled, as we hadn’t completed 5 years on the actual interview date. USCIS seriously needs to take this into consideration when scheduling an interview. The interview was straightforward; the IO rapidly browsed thru the thick folder of documents, saw my transcripts, degree certificates, etc. Asked 6 questions (The Bill of Rights, 4 years - Presidents Term, Mississippi River, 1787, Native Americans, Nancy Pelosi, We the People). Asked to read “When is Columbus Day?”. Write “Columbus Day is in October”. Reviewed the application form once more. That’s it. Done. Waited back in the Naturalization area and picked up the oath letter in next 10 minutes. Oath was on Nov. 18th.
Oath Day (Nov 18, 2009)
Took the forum’s advice and reached MO Campbell Educational Center (Aldine ISD’s Basketball Stadium) 1 hour late at 8:00 AM! Good decision. There was no waiting in lines in bitter cold. And no queues at the booths. The booths were sorted based on the last 3 digits of your Alien #: 000-100, 101-200, and likewise. They are manned by eager volunteers. You eyeball your Naturalization Certificate for discrepancies and give it back. Entering the seating arena the volunteers hand out booklets: Declaration of Independence & the US Constitution, Passport Application forms, Voter Registration forms, etc. The place was packed and people were dozing off on the seats, walking about. Felt bored to sit, so stepped outside to go get Cappuccino at the corner McDonalds. The actual ceremony started at 10:00 AM; Boy Scouts parading the flags, the judicial proceedings, swearing the oath, pledge of allegiance to the US flag, national anthem, speech by guest speaker. Then people were called out (as per the color sheets they were given while entering) to pick-up their Naturalization Certificates. There were people waiting in lines to take picture with the judge and the guest speaker. The order they call people is Last in Last out. So, I was one of the last to get out! Went straight from there to the US Post Office and submitted my Passport application (Passport and Card, all for 120 bucks).
That’s it guys. Thanks for all your inputs, there is a wealth of information on these forums. And selfless gurus jumping to your aid. Thanks to Rajeev Khanna for making all this happen.
Some Tips:
Do early walkins for fingerprints only if necessary. Otherwise you might be triggering early interviews. And have to make two trips for the interview.
Name change doesn’t seem to add any extra time, at least at the Houston DO. Again that might vary on a case by case basis.
Just take the bare minimum documentation for the interview, if your case is straightforward.
Seems like you can get to Oath Ceremony even as until 9:00 AM.
If you insist on getting there at 7:00 AM, you have plenty time for breakfast and coffee at McDonalds on the corner. You can walk there.
When done you can also exit thru a back road, don’t crowd to get onto Aldine-Bender in the front.
TIMELINE
5 Year based N-400
GC Date: Oct 27, 2004
DO: Houston, TX
*****************
07/31/2009 (Day 01): N-400 Mailed to Lewisville, TX (Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation)
08/03/2009 (Day 04): N-400 Delivered @ Lewisville, TX
08/05/2009 (Day 06): Check Cleared
08/10/2009 (Day 11): NOA Received (Priority Date: 08/03/2009)
08/12/2009 (Day 13): Online Case Status changes to RFE (Finger Print Notice)
08/18/2009 (Day 19): FP Notice Received
08/25/2009 (Day 26): FP Done (Original Appointment Date: 09/04/2009)
09/05/2009 (Day 37): Online Case Status changes to CASE SENT to DO
10/03/2009 (Day 65): Missing Interview Letter arrives at the Door Step!
10/20/2009 (Day 82): Original Interview Date (Was rescheduled to later date for me to complete 5 Years)
10/28/2009 (Day 90): Rescheduled Interview Date (Done, Approved, Received Oath Letter)
11/18/2009 (Day 110): Oath Done
11/18/2009 (Day 110): Applied for the US Passport
