Citizenship exam

[priyam]

I am very new to this process. I might have very dumb questions...
Eagerly waiting for response!!!

I got my GC in 2001 and I will complete my 5 yrs in March 2006. I am thinking of applying GC's for my parents...Hence I want to get started with citizen application process soon.

-How soon can you take Citizenship exam?
-Where do you have to take it?
-How is this different from interview?
-Can anyone give me big picture of this overall N400 application process please.

What do you mean by DCF?? I read about this on this forums somewhere.

[nowinfl]

The process is quite simple:

1. Fill out N-400 with fee of $390
2. Wait about 2-3 months for fingerprinting notice
3. A month later, get fingerprints done at local INS center (you actually get treated nicely, for a change)
4. 3 months later, you get an interview notice
5. Interview lasts about 20-30 min, where they ask you 5-6 history/civics questions (two senators from your state, who become president if sitting president were to die, etc), and make you write one sentence in English (I was given "My wife is a good cook")
6. At the time of interview, you are told if you passed the exam, and also possible Oath ceremony dates
7. Normally, within a month, you take oath, and that's it buddy!

Total time it took for me was 8 months from start (sent app) to finish (took oath)

[immihelp]

read http://www.immihelp.com/citizenship It has all the information.