Citizenship

Hi. I'd like to share my timeline for those who are interested. I was once in your shoes and I understand you are nervous for the next steps. I was nervous too.

I applied online through the USCIS Website.

N-400 Naturalization Process Timeline

December 23, 2018 (Day 00): N-400 Submitted Online
December 23, 2018 (Day 00): Notice of Action Letter Received Online
December 28, 2019 (Day 06): Bio-metric Appointment Notice
January 17, 2019 (Day 26): Bio-metric Appointment Date
August 8, 2019 (Day 229): Interview Scheduled Notice Online (no date)
August 9, 2019 (Day 230): Interview Scheduled PDF Posted Online (with date)
August 12, 2019 (Day 233): Interview Scheduled Received in Mailbox (with date)
September 12, 2019 (Day 264): Naturalization Interview Date
September 17, 2019 (Day 269): Notice of Approval for Citizenship
September 17, 2019 (Day 269): Notice to Attend Oath Ceremony PDF Posted Online
September 23, 2019 (Day 274): Notice to Attend Oath Ceremony Received in Mailbox
September 27, 2019 (Day 278): Oath Ceremony Date. HOORAY!!!

Interview Date Experience:
I went with my husband but the office asked for me to go into the interview by myself. My report time was 7:45AM. We got there at 7:15AM. We waited and got called into the interview around 8:35AM. The questions was straightforward. The interviewer asked me 5 questions at most from the Naturalization book, asked for me to READ one line from the tablet and WRITE the answer to the line I just read from the tablet. The interviewer will tell you exactly what to write. Then they go over everything on your application. I'd say make sure you study your application. The interviewer asked me to state the phone number I put down on my app, what was the last country I visited, what type of organizations I've been involved with. If you have other things to add/fix on your application, the interviewer will adjust it right then and there. Also, remember all the Y or N questions at the end of the application. The interviewer asked me to answer ALL of them, line by line. The interviewer also asked me what some of the words on the application means. Words like "defendant", etc. He asked to make sure YOU understand the questions and the answer you gave. Prep yourself well. Look up the terms to make sure you know the meaning. The interview was over in 30 mins. They no longer do SAME day naturalization in Baltimore. I received a letter indicated that I passed the test but they still need to check if all my paperwork is good to go. I went home right after.

...oh the wait...nothing is more nerve wracking then waiting to hear back from the officer between your interview and results. It was the longest week. I'm pretty sure I check my online account like every hour. It soon updated that my application got approved. The best day.

Naturalization Ceremony
We got there early. It was a happy day. We supposed to report 30 mins before indicated time, which was 8:30AM. The office will seat you in one section of the waiting room. Your guest can go ahead and find their seats in the ceremony room. The check-in time took awhile. There were 70 people to be naturalized in this session. The room was packed with happy faces. It took them from 8:30AM to 9:30AM to check us in. There's nothing to complain here. We waited this long to be sitting in this seat, one hour is fine. The ceremony only took 30 mins. We sang the Star Spangled banner, stated the Oath, listen to the President congrats, stated the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received our Certification in a graduation manner. They call our name one by one and we just walk to the front of the room to get our certificate. I'm impressed by the level of detail and organization at this facility. After that, HOORAY!! I'm now a naturalized citizen. I went home and signed the form right away. I also scanned them in high res and made 30 copies of it. I'm applying for my Passport this weekend. I'm sad that I have to part ways from the Original for a few weeks. They'll soon will return it to you though.