Citizenship

Hi Everyone,

Adding my experience so far since reading everyone else's has been very helpful to me.

Nov 17, 2016 - Application mailed

Nov 25, 2016 - Application received

Dec 21, 2016 - Biometrics appointment

Jan 4, 2017 - Online status changed to "in line for an interview"

Mid-May - Online status changed to "USCIS has scheduled your interview..."

Jun 14, 2017 - Interview. Passed the civics and language portions. Both of my parents were naturalized after I turned 18 and I didn't have their naturalization dates so that held up my approval. The agent gave me her direct line to call her with the dates.

Jun 15, 2017 - Called the agent back with the missing dates and she told me over the phone that my case was approved and that I should receive my oath ceremony date in the mail. She predicted that the ceremony date would be about a month from now.

Interview Details:
Q1) Who wrote the constitution?
Q2) Who is the commander in chief?
Q3) What political party is the current president?
Q4) What are the two major political parties in the US?
Q5) What state borders Mexico?
Q6) Name 3 of the 13 original colonies

Reading test - "Who elects Congress?'

Writing test - "The people elect Congress."

The rest of the appointment was going over the application. I got there really early and was able to be seen before my confirmed appointment time. The entire interview lasted about 30 mins. It was a little stressful when she asked about the naturalization dates of my parents since I didn't have that information on me. She even had me call my mother during the interview to see if I could get the information. Overall, she was professional and courteous. I don't think I got the nicest agent, but she wasn't rude or anything. I did get the sense that the insistence of getting the missing dates was at her discretion. On the application, that question reads "date mother/father became a citizen (if known)." To me, that sounds optional, so I was a little surprised she was so insistent on getting that information. I also explained to her that my father was ill so he couldn't relay that information to me and I asked if that was going to be a problem and she was a bit vague about it. So, from that, I got the impression some information asked by the agent is probably at his/her discretion. Not a negative, just an observation.
 

NYC Specific Notes:
- there's a ton of construction around the federal building so the entrance is on the other side of the normal entrance. It's not hard to find and there are lots of people around to ask for directions, but it's something to note.
- dress business casual
- phones are allowed in the waiting area
- if your appointment is on a hot day, bring water. The room is big and they have big industrial fans, but it didn't feel like there was much a/c. Yesterday was the end of a heat wave in nyc so it was not awful, but still pretty warm in the waiting room.

Can't wait for my oath ceremony letter to arrive!

Best of luck to everyone and thanks again to everyone who have shared their experiences. It's easy to feel like an island when you're going through this b/c of the bureaucratic system we all have to work through and it's not always easy to tell what is and is not the norm. So I'm grateful for this forum and all the contributors. It's helped me keep my sanity in check!