CortezII

All,

Just wanted to share w/ you my N-400 story (not over yet) through
Atlanta & the TSC. My Naturalization interview and Civics exam is
scheduled for April 24, 2007. I have been studying for the civics exam
- the CD they gave me at the fingerprinting appointment is especially
useful (while driving to & from work).

Timeline is below. I will keep all of you posted on what happens.

- Cortez


Feb. 07, 07 �¢â�¬â�� submitted N-400 App. (plus supporting docs) via US
Priority Mail to TSC
Feb. 12, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC receives N-400 App.
Feb. 13, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC cashes my two checks (Cheques )
Feb. 26, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA stating App. has been rec�¢â�¬â�¢d and
is �¢â�¬��in process" (w/ "exceptions")
Mar. 03, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA to appear for Fingerprinting @ ATL CIS
ASC on Mar. 16, 2007
Mar. 16, 07 �¢â�¬â�� appear for Fingerprint appointment (in & out in
less than an hour)
Mar. 31, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA notifying to appear for Naturalization
interview on April 24, 2007 @ 12:05 PM

Brit3964

> All,
>
> Just wanted to share w/ you my N-400 story (not over yet) through
> Atlanta & the TSC. My Naturalization interview and Civics exam is
> scheduled for April 24, 2007. I have been studying for the civics
> exam - the CD they gave me at the fingerprinting appointment is
> especially useful (while driving to & from work).
>
> Timeline is below. I will keep all of you posted on what happens.
>
> - Cortez
>
>
> Feb. 07, 07 �¢â�¬â�� submitted N-400 App. (plus supporting docs) via
> US Priority Mail to TSC
> Feb. 12, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC receives N-400 App.
> Feb. 13, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC cashes my two checks (Cheques )
> Feb. 26, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA stating App. has been rec�¢â�¬â�¢d
> and is �¢â�¬��in process" (w/ "exceptions")
> Mar. 03, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA to appear for Fingerprinting @ ATL
> CIS ASC on Mar. 16, 2007
> Mar. 16, 07 �¢â�¬â�� appear for Fingerprint appointment (in & out in
> less than an hour)
> Mar. 31, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA notifying to appear for
> Naturalization interview on April 24, 2007 @ 12:05 PM

You're lucky I guess. Sent my N-400 in June last year and find I'm stuck
in the infamous "name check pending" system.

Not so much an application, more like a lottery ;-) Same area
(Charleston, SC via ATL & TSC).

CortezII

> You're lucky I guess. Sent my N-400 in June last year and find I'm
> stuck in the infamous "name check pending" system.
>
> Not so much an application, more like a lottery ;-) Same area
> (Charleston, SC via ATL & TSC).

Sorry to hear. Usually I am the one stuck in reverse. There are two
others in my office who also applied - one in January and one last week.
The one who applied in January only has rec'd her "App. rec'd/in
process" NOA.

The only thing I can think of is that it matters on whose desk the
applications fall on?

I will let you know what happens.

Best of luck,
- Cortez

Rete

> Sorry to hear. Usually I am the one stuck in reverse. There are two
> others in my office who also applied - one in January and one last
> week. The one who applied in January only has rec'd her "App.
> rec'd/in process" NOA.
>
> The only thing I can think of is that it matters on whose desk the
> applications fall on?
>
> I will let you know what happens.
>
> Best of luck,
> - Cortez

Well done, Cortez. So you've made it to the interview/test stage. I
know you, like my Canuck, will pass 100%. Here's hoping that your
security check is complete and that you are given an appointment letter
for the oath taking ceremony.

If you are security cleared and if the DOA does not volunteer an
appointment for the ceremony, politely ask if you can wait in the
reception area for the appointment letter. We were allowed to do this
in NYC as it appears that the appointments are setup around noontime and
later in the afternoon. No harm in asking.

Rete

CortezII

> Well done, Cortez. So you've made it to the interview/test stage. I
> know you, like my Canuck, will pass 100%. Here's hoping that your
> security check is complete and that you are given an appointment
> letter for the oath taking ceremony.
>
> If you are security cleared and if the DOA does not volunteer an
> appointment for the ceremony, politely ask if you can wait in the
> reception area for the appointment letter. We were allowed to do this
> in NYC as it appears that the appointments are setup around noontime
> and later in the afternoon. No harm in asking.
>
> Rete

Rete,

Thanks! I still am a litle surprised by how quickly the N-400 process
has gone so far (knock on wood). I am a little concerned that b/c of
the short time btwn Fingerprinting and the Interview that the security
clearance will not be complete and thus, I will not be given an app't
letter (but I am hoping).

Also, thanks for the suggestion re politely asking re waiting in
reception area for the app't letter - I will definitely do so if it is
not volunteered.

- Cortez

Brit3964

> Sorry to hear. Usually I am the one stuck in reverse. There are two
> others in my office who also applied - one in January and one last
> week. The one who applied in January only has rec'd her "App.
> rec'd/in process" NOA.
>
> The only thing I can think of is that it matters on whose desk the
> applications fall on?
>
> I will let you know what happens.
>
> Best of luck,
> - Cortez

Thanks Cortez. Yesterday I sent an email to the FBI to see if the name
check had been submitted by the USCIS or if it has been completed
already. Although there's a rumor they won't reply to individuals
anymore, if so I'll have to go to the Senator's office.

I thought the USCIS won't schedule interviews anymore until all
background checks are complete? If correct, you shouldn't be held
waiting after your interview for background checks at least.

Good luck.

Rete

> Thanks Cortez. Yesterday I sent an email to the FBI to see if the name
> check had been submitted by the USCIS or if it has been completed
> already. Although there's a rumor they won't reply to individuals
> anymore, if so I'll have to go to the Senator's office.
>
> I thought the USCIS won't schedule interviews anymore until all
> background checks are complete? If correct, you shouldn't be held
> waiting after your interview for background checks at least.
>
> Good luck.

Interview and security clearance are not related. You can be cleared
and wait 5 years for an interview date or have the interview date in 90
days and take 5 years for security clearance.

CortezII

> Interview and security clearance are not related. You can be cleared
> and wait 5 years for an interview date or have the interview date in
> 90 days and take 5 years for security clearance.

All,

Just wanted to let you know that I did attend my naturalization
interview, etc. on April 24. I arrived at about 45 minutes before my
scheduled appointment time (which was 12:05 p.m.). I went through
security, showed my appointment letter, went upstairs and checked in. I
waited until pretty much exactly 12:05 p.m. and was called (there were
about 75 others in the waiting room).

In the interview room, I was asked to supply my NOA, Canadian passport,
Alien Registration Card and Georgia driver�¢â�¬â�¢s license. The
interviewer (Tony) kept my NOA and Alien Registration Card and returned
the two other items. He then asked me to stand and I was sworn in. I
could see on his desk my entire file. He asked me to sign my full name
(not my usual signature) on a sheet of paper (from the number of
signatures, it looked like he interviewed about a dozen others ahead of
me that day)

He then used some sandpaper to sand the left edges of my two passport-
style photos and asked me to again sign my full name on each (where he
had just sanded).

He then proceeded to ask me some questions about my application and as
he flipped through it, he was checking things off. For the English
exam, he handed me a piece of paper that had three numbered sentences on
it and immediately below that, three blank (numbered) lines.

He first asked me to write, "I drove a red car to work." on the first
blank line. He then asked me to read the second sentence (to which he
pointed), which was "Today is a great day."

For the civics exam, he asked me a number of the usual questions. I
cannot even remember which ones! But, I got them all right!

Anyway, after that he said he was going to recommend that my application
be approved and he handed me a sheet of paper that had a box checked off
next to "You passed the tests of English and U.S. history and
government" and "A) Congratulations! Your application has been
recommended for approval."

He then said that he would pass my file on to another officer who would
review his decision. He asked me that if my application is approved,
whether I would be interested in taking the oath ceremony that day? To
which, I replied a resounding "YES"! He then asked me to sign another
sheet of paper and said that I would be given it if my application were
approved and told me keep the first sheet of paper that he gave to me.
He said to wait in the waiting room until the review decision was made
and my name was called, at which time I could go for lunch and come back
for the oath ceremony at 2:00 p.m. He congratulated me and walked me to
the outer office door.

All told, this took about eight minutes! So, I called my wife and let
her know. She said she would meet me there before 2:00 p.m. for the
ceremony. I waited about 15 minutes and my name was called and was
given the second sheet he showed to me, which had the details of the
oath ceremony.

I left for lunch (ate at Chick-fil-A) at mall close by and came back to
the waiting room about 1:15. Around 1:45 the elevator doors open up and
I see my 4 & 5-year-old children with their big smiling faces running
over to me to give me a hug. My wife didn't tell me she was going to
take them out of school and daycare to attend the ceremony (I teared up
a little).

Anyway, the ceremony didn't start at 2:00 p.m. First, all of us who
were becoming US citizens were taken into oath ceremony room #1, and it
took them about 40 minutes to process us (52 of us). They showed us our
Naturalization Certificates and asked us to review to make sure there
were no errors. We also were each given a little American Flag (I asked
for and was given two extras - one for each of my kids).

An officer then went through the ceremony procedures for about 10 more
minutes. Only then did they let the family members in, who were allowed
to take pictures, etc.

When the oath ceremony began, they played the Star Spangled Banner, we
listened to the CIS officer (not that good of a speaker), watched a DVD
message from President Bush, watched a video to the song "I am proud to
be an American...". We then were called up individually and our country
of origin was announced and we were given our certificate in front of
the room (family were allowed to take pictures of us w/ the officer
giving the certificate to us) - it kind of reminded me of college and
high school graduation. After all of us received our certificates, we
did the oath and then the Pledge of Allegiance. I teared up more than a
couple of times during the ceremony.

When it finally ended and we went to DQ to celebrate! All in all, a
great day, just as I was asked to read in the English exam!

- Cortez



Feb. 07, 07 �¢â�¬â�� submitted N-400 App. (plus supporting docs) via US
Priority Mail to TSC
Feb. 12, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC receives N-400 App.
Feb. 13, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC cashes my two checks (Cheques )
Feb. 26, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA stating App. has been rec�¢â�¬â�¢d and
is �¢â�¬��in process" (w/ "exceptions")
Mar. 03, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA to appear for Fingerprinting @ ATL CIS
ASC on Mar. 16, 2007
Mar. 16, 07 �¢â�¬â�� appear for Fingerprint appointment (in & out in
less than an hour)
Mar. 31, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA notifying to appear for Naturalization
interview on April 24, 2007 @ 12:05 PM
Apr. 24, 2007 - interview, civics & english exams, oath ceremony


[/quote]

Mickmills

> All,
>
> Just wanted to let you know that I did attend my naturalization
> interview, etc. on April 24. I arrived at about 45 minutes before my
> scheduled appointment time (which was 12:05 p.m.). I went through
> security, showed my appointment letter, went upstairs and checked in.
> I waited until pretty much exactly 12:05 p.m. and was called (there
> were about 75 others in the waiting room).
>
> In the interview room, I was asked to supply my NOA, Canadian
> passport, Alien Registration Card and Georgia driver�¢â�¬â�¢s license.
> The interviewer (Tony) kept my NOA and Alien Registration Card and
> returned the two other items. He then asked me to stand and I was
> sworn in. I could see on his desk my entire file. He asked me to
> sign my full name (not my usual signature) on a sheet of paper (from
> the number of signatures, it looked like he interviewed about a dozen
> others ahead of me that day)
>
> He then used some sandpaper to sand the left edges of my two passport-
> style photos and asked me to again sign my full name on each (where he
> had just sanded).
>
> He then proceeded to ask me some questions about my application and as
> he flipped through it, he was checking things off. For the English
> exam, he handed me a piece of paper that had three numbered sentences
> on it and immediately below that, three blank (numbered) lines.
>
> He first asked me to write, "I drove a red car to work." on the first
> blank line. He then asked me to read the second sentence (to which he
> pointed), which was "Today is a great day."
>
> For the civics exam, he asked me a number of the usual questions. I
> cannot even remember which ones! But, I got them all right!
>
> Anyway, after that he said he was going to recommend that my
> application be approved and he handed me a sheet of paper that had a
> box checked off next to "You passed the tests of English and U.S.
> history and government" and "A) Congratulations! Your application has
> been recommended for approval."
>
> He then said that he would pass my file on to another officer who
> would review his decision. He asked me that if my application is
> approved, whether I would be interested in taking the oath ceremony
> that day? To which, I replied a resounding "YES"! He then asked me
> to sign another sheet of paper and said that I would be given it if my
> application were approved and told me keep the first sheet of paper
> that he gave to me. He said to wait in the waiting room until the
> review decision was made and my name was called, at which time I could
> go for lunch and come back for the oath ceremony at 2:00 p.m. He
> congratulated me and walked me to the outer office door.
>
> All told, this took about eight minutes! So, I called my wife and let
> her know. She said she would meet me there before 2:00 p.m. for the
> ceremony. I waited about 15 minutes and my name was called and was
> given the second sheet he showed to me, which had the details of the
> oath ceremony.
>
> I left for lunch (ate at Chick-fil-A) at mall close by and came back
> to the waiting room about 1:15. Around 1:45 the elevator doors open
> up and I see my 4 & 5-year-old children with their big smiling faces
> running over to me to give me a hug. My wife didn't tell me she was
> going to take them out of school and daycare to attend the ceremony (I
> teared up a little).
>
> Anyway, the ceremony didn't start at 2:00 p.m. First, all of us who
> were becoming US citizens were taken into oath ceremony room #1, and
> it took them about 40 minutes to process us (52 of us). They showed
> us our Naturalization Certificates and asked us to review to make sure
> there were no errors. We also were each given a little American Flag
> (I asked for and was given two extras - one for each of my kids).
>
> An officer then went through the ceremony procedures for about 10 more
> minutes. Only then did they let the family members in, who were
> allowed to take pictures, etc.
>
> When the oath ceremony began, they played the Star Spangled Banner, we
> listened to the CIS officer (not that good of a speaker), watched a
> DVD message from President Bush, watched a video to the song "I am
> proud to be an American...". We then were called up individually and
> our country of origin was announced and we were given our certificate
> in front of the room (family were allowed to take pictures of us w/
> the officer giving the certificate to us) - it kind of reminded me of
> college and high school graduation. After all of us received our
> certificates, we did the oath and then the Pledge of Allegiance. I
> teared up more than a couple of times during the ceremony.
>
> When it finally ended and we went to DQ to celebrate! All in all, a
> great day, just as I was asked to read in the English exam!
>
> - Cortez
>
>
>
> Feb. 07, 07 �¢â�¬â�� submitted N-400 App. (plus supporting docs) via
> US Priority Mail to TSC
> Feb. 12, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC receives N-400 App.
> Feb. 13, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC cashes my two checks (Cheques )
> Feb. 26, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA stating App. has been rec�¢â�¬â�¢d
> and is �¢â�¬��in process" (w/ "exceptions")
> Mar. 03, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA to appear for Fingerprinting @ ATL
> CIS ASC on Mar. 16, 2007
> Mar. 16, 07 �¢â�¬â�� appear for Fingerprint appointment (in & out in
> less than an hour)
> Mar. 31, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA notifying to appear for
> Naturalization interview on April 24, 2007 @ 12:05 PM
> Apr. 24, 2007 - interview, civics & english exams, oath ceremony
>
>
> [/quote]

congratulations Cortez, & thanks for the detailed information.
i'll be applying for mine through TSC later this month, hope my
applications is as quick as yours!

Ian-Mstm

> All,
>
> Just wanted to let you know that I did attend my naturalization
> interview, etc. on April 24. I arrived at about 45 minutes before my
> scheduled appointment time (which was 12:05 p.m.). I went through
> security, showed my appointment letter, went upstairs and checked in.
> I waited until pretty much exactly 12:05 p.m. and was called (there
> were about 75 others in the waiting room).
>
> In the interview room, I was asked to supply my NOA, Canadian
> passport, Alien Registration Card and Georgia driver�¢â�¬â�¢s license.
> The interviewer (Tony) kept my NOA and Alien Registration Card and
> returned the two other items. He then asked me to stand and I was
> sworn in. I could see on his desk my entire file. He asked me to
> sign my full name (not my usual signature) on a sheet of paper (from
> the number of signatures, it looked like he interviewed about a dozen
> others ahead of me that day)
>
> He then used some sandpaper to sand the left edges of my two passport-
> style photos and asked me to again sign my full name on each (where he
> had just sanded).
>
> He then proceeded to ask me some questions about my application and as
> he flipped through it, he was checking things off. For the English
> exam, he handed me a piece of paper that had three numbered sentences
> on it and immediately below that, three blank (numbered) lines.
>
> He first asked me to write, "I drove a red car to work." on the first
> blank line. He then asked me to read the second sentence (to which he
> pointed), which was "Today is a great day."
>
> For the civics exam, he asked me a number of the usual questions. I
> cannot even remember which ones! But, I got them all right!
>
> Anyway, after that he said he was going to recommend that my
> application be approved and he handed me a sheet of paper that had a
> box checked off next to "You passed the tests of English and U.S.
> history and government" and "A) Congratulations! Your application has
> been recommended for approval."
>
> He then said that he would pass my file on to another officer who
> would review his decision. He asked me that if my application is
> approved, whether I would be interested in taking the oath ceremony
> that day? To which, I replied a resounding "YES"! He then asked me
> to sign another sheet of paper and said that I would be given it if my
> application were approved and told me keep the first sheet of paper
> that he gave to me. He said to wait in the waiting room until the
> review decision was made and my name was called, at which time I could
> go for lunch and come back for the oath ceremony at 2:00 p.m. He
> congratulated me and walked me to the outer office door.
>
> All told, this took about eight minutes! So, I called my wife and let
> her know. She said she would meet me there before 2:00 p.m. for the
> ceremony. I waited about 15 minutes and my name was called and was
> given the second sheet he showed to me, which had the details of the
> oath ceremony.
>
> I left for lunch (ate at Chick-fil-A) at mall close by and came back
> to the waiting room about 1:15. Around 1:45 the elevator doors open
> up and I see my 4 & 5-year-old children with their big smiling faces
> running over to me to give me a hug. My wife didn't tell me she was
> going to take them out of school and daycare to attend the ceremony (I
> teared up a little).
>
> Anyway, the ceremony didn't start at 2:00 p.m. First, all of us who
> were becoming US citizens were taken into oath ceremony room #1, and
> it took them about 40 minutes to process us (52 of us). They showed
> us our Naturalization Certificates and asked us to review to make sure
> there were no errors. We also were each given a little American Flag
> (I asked for and was given two extras - one for each of my kids).
>
> An officer then went through the ceremony procedures for about 10 more
> minutes. Only then did they let the family members in, who were
> allowed to take pictures, etc.
>
> When the oath ceremony began, they played the Star Spangled Banner, we
> listened to the CIS officer (not that good of a speaker), watched a
> DVD message from President Bush, watched a video to the song "I am
> proud to be an American...". We then were called up individually and
> our country of origin was announced and we were given our certificate
> in front of the room (family were allowed to take pictures of us w/
> the officer giving the certificate to us) - it kind of reminded me of
> college and high school graduation. After all of us received our
> certificates, we did the oath and then the Pledge of Allegiance. I
> teared up more than a couple of times during the ceremony.
>
> When it finally ended and we went to DQ to celebrate! All in all, a
> great day, just as I was asked to read in the English exam!
>
> - Cortez
>
>
>
> Feb. 07, 07 �¢â�¬â�� submitted N-400 App. (plus supporting docs) via
> US Priority Mail to TSC
> Feb. 12, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC receives N-400 App.
> Feb. 13, 07 �¢â�¬â�� TSC cashes my two checks (Cheques )
> Feb. 26, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA stating App. has been rec�¢â�¬â�¢d
> and is �¢â�¬��in process" (w/ "exceptions")
> Mar. 03, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA to appear for Fingerprinting @ ATL
> CIS ASC on Mar. 16, 2007
> Mar. 16, 07 �¢â�¬â�� appear for Fingerprint appointment (in & out in
> less than an hour)
> Mar. 31, 07 �¢â�¬â�� receive NOA notifying to appear for
> Naturalization interview on April 24, 2007 @ 12:05 PM
> Apr. 24, 2007 - interview, civics & english exams, oath ceremony
>
>
> [/quote]

Great story! Congratulations! Your interview sounds a lot like mine...
it only took 8 minutes and was very straight forward. And when I
attended my oath ceremony, I teared up more than once also!

Ian