Interview Appointment was at 9.05 today at Raleigh DO.
We showed up at 8.45a.
The entry guards were friendly, but had difficulty in understanding what we had come there for, finally he said he thought we had to go second floor. My wife pointed out thats what the IL said, 2nd floor at this facility. Remember no cell phones, food and liquids (besides weapons etc...). I had to make a run to the car to drop off the cell phones and a bottle of water. We had our infant daughter with us and they were fine with a bottle of formula for her.
At the second floor, there is a big waiting area. About 15 folks seated. No official in sight. We see a door marked Reception/Checkin, but it is for staff only with badge access. So we wait there, uncertain about what to do next, when a lady walks out and asks for and collects interview letters. This happened periodically over the day, and someone would come and collect ILs from new arrivals. It would help if they had a notice/note stuck somewhere to that effect, as most folks were puzzled what to do. However, other folks waiting explained the procedure to the new arrivals.
It was quite a wait. And the room got a bit warm, may be their cooling system is not yet fine tuned. Saw some folks in suits, so they must have been uncomfortable.
I was called in at around 10.30a. I was told my wife would go after me, and hence has to wait outside with the baby and we cannot go in together.
The adjudicating officer, first asked me swear to tell truth today and in the form etc... some standard verbiage I guess. Replied I do.
She wanted my GC, DL, and Passport.
Then went over the N-400, asking and making notes. Questions were such as, were any of my parents US citizens, address, phone number, ssn, any trips after submitted application. The a flurry of "no" questions as in N-400 form such as are you a terrorist/prostitute/drug peddler etc. Then the section about oath of allegiance, whether I am willing to take it, join armed forces if required etc. I then signed those sections in N-400 as well as the 2 pictures submitted during application of N-400. One thing to note is that the signature is basically your full name written in cursive. My usual signature is a undecipherable scribble, so she explained to me to sign my name in cursive at all places during the interview.
Then she asked me maybe 6 civics questions, and was able to answer them all.
Then she printed a sheet that had one english sentence, and asked me to read it. The she said "please write "this house is very clean" or something to that effect and on doing that, she wrote "Passed" on it.
At that point we were done. She did some entries in her computer, and printed out a letter saying my application for naturalization has been approved. She said there will be letter mailed to me saying when the Oath ceremony will be held. I enquired about the timeline of that, and she said she didnt know. Also, I asked her if it was being done locally at all, she didnt answer or provide any details, and was looking exasperated at my questions... she almost seemed more happy than me that it was done
. The whole thing about 10 minutes for me, and then after a 5 minutes interval, the same adjudicating officer called my wife and took around the same time.
Its a bummer that we could not do the oaths today and get it over with ... another PTO day to be wasted ... and who knows how long it will take.
Anyway, getting closer now, only formality of oath taking remaining.
Hope this posting helps folks waiting for interview at Raleigh DO.
