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My Journey from GC to N-400 Naturalization Citizenship STATE CHANGE from NEW JERSEY TO DELAWARE
Hi All,
On Jan 17th 2020 I received my USA Citizenship and I thought of sharing my experience as it was something that definitely was not straight forward and took a long time.
I came to USA on L1-B in AUG 2007 and then in about 6 years I received my GREEN CARD(GC) in SEPT 2013, my company assisted me all throughout to get the GC (EAD as well).
After I received my GC in SEPT 2013, I went to Indian almost every year 3 weeks and then finally applied for USA-Naturalization (N-400) on JUNE 2018 (I had completed 4 years and 9 months on GC and was eligible to file for N-400. I did this on my own and filled the form and paid the fees by Credit Card no issues at all.
Around Sept 2018, I had to go for my Bio Metrics in NEWARK NEW JERSEY (I stayed all along in NJ), around SEPT 2018 I had to move to DELAWARE (DE) and while I moved I ensured I submitted the ADDRESS CHANGE on USCIS (AR-11) and I even received an email confirming from USCIS received my address change request (Make sure to keep this email). After this around NOV 28th 2018 I had to go to India for Emergency and I only returned to USA on FEB 04th 2019 (So about 2months) and since I had registered for USCIS (my.uscis.gov) I got an email saying my N-400 NATURALIZATION INTERVIEW was scheduled for FEB 06th 2019 in NEWARK NJ office.
Went to NEWARK NJ office (There is paid parking, you have to pay approx $15 and can keep your car for whole day), once you are in their is a big line as folks have appointment they are almost always flooded with lot of applicants but not to worry your appointment if given will happen on same day. Once you are thru the security check, you Check-in at the counter where they take your appointment letter and then may be at your appointment time plus 30 to 45 mins you will be called and interview happens.
My N-400 Interview happened as well on same day (After a wait of about 1hour), She asked for my ID and I gave her DELAWARE Driving License and she said ohh you changed the state to which I said yes and I have submitted the AR-11 form as well for it. They somehow couldn’t locate that (Thankfully I had that email on my phone /print out and I showed it to them). So it was USCIS Mistake that they their systems had issues and my record was not updated. The Officer checked with her supervisor and went ahead and still conducted my Interview in NJ (Even after my state had changed). Officer (Lady) was nice and I was asked 6 civics question which I cleared and was asked for English writing and reading (pretty simple) and then she verified all my information on the form was correct and if anything was missing/changed since I had submitted my N-400 form in JUNE 2018 (like marriage, divorce, kids, job, overseas travel etc). The USCIS software was in mess on that day and she gave me the confirmation letter (Saying I passed my interview and my application was recommended for approval). She said I have to go to Pennsylvanian for Oath Ceremony as that’s where my case was transferred and I will receive notice of it in about max of 3 weeks.
I left the USCIS office with the letter and waited all along for 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and even 3 months now no letter (I contacted USCIS online thru my uscis account I had created but everytime answer was we are working on your case). Almost now I was in SEPT of 2019 and my interview happened in FEB 2019 (so 7 months and no answer from USCIS). Finally I wrote to my SENATOR in DELAWARE (Thomas Carper) thru the online facility to contact the Senator. My Senator’s office contacted me within 2 weeks and sent me few forms giving them authorization to talk to USCIS and get my info (which I immediately sent them back). After about 2 weeks I got response from my Senator that the USCIS contacted them back and said I was missing the AR-11 Address change form (wow I had submitted this in SEPT 2018) never mind I said I resubmitted AR-11 address change and I printed that email and I sent it back to my Senator (office) all this communication with my Senator was thru email.
They asked me to wait about 90 days and if no response from USCIS we can contact them further, and coincidentally after 90 days USCIS scheduled my N-400 INTERVIEW (yep again the INTERVIEW) for JAN 14th 2020. I was surprised I have to go for interview again but it was ok and this time it was in the Philadelphia office (PA). So finally after 11 months from my N-400 Interview in Newark NJ I was again scheduled for interview in JAN 2020 at Philadelphia (PA) office since I moved from NJ to DE.
Jan 14th 2020 I went to PA USCIS office reached about 45 mins before my interview (They have PARKING Right infront of the USCIS building and its $20 FLAT, there is plenty of street parking at about $2 for 2 hours I think but you have to put coins, instead of street parking and worrying about that 2 hour limit I parked in the $20 parking).
At USCIS office in PA (very nice office), I went thru security checkin, they their was a CHECKIN COUNTER, she accepted my N-400 interview letter and asked me to wait at specific counter where my name would be called, I waited for about 10 mins my name was called the officer there clicked my picture and took my finger print. Later I was asked to go upstairs (2nd floor) where my interview will take place.
I waited about 45 mins and finally the officer called my name, I went in and the officer asked me why are you here 😊 (and I was like for my N-400 Naturalization interview), then she said but you have already cleared it per the records and then I explained her all the details (which I have already put above). The Officer was awesome and all I can say there are some GOOD VERY GOOD OFFICERS who know what they are doing and they are there for PEOPLE. She just confirmed all my information again and any changes (I just had 1 job switch) so she made the change and then she said we are all done here and she approved my application and she said I dnt have to go thru the English and civics test as I have already cleared it. She immediately wrote to her OATH Scheduling officer that I would prefer any FRIDAY for the OATH CEREMONY (She asked me if I would like to come back to PA office for OATH or Prefer DELAWARE, DELAWARE Oath schedule was for March 2020 where as PA has 6 oath ceremony every week 3 on Tuesday and 3 on Friday every week). I said I would just come to PA and get this done with.
To my surprise when I came back home at night of JAN 14th 2020 (my interview day at PA) I received 2 emails from USCIS , my application was approved, my oath ceremony was scheduled. On Jan 15th I opened the my.USCIS.gov and to find that my OATH CEREMONY was scheduled on JAN 17th, boom wow this was SUPER FAST 3 days after my INTERVIEW was my OATH CEREMONY. I just printed that letter as notice in email would take another 3 days to come and that’s why it is very important to have my.uscis.gov account and checking that for updates and making sure alerts are enabled from that site (i.e. email or text).
Jan 17th 2020 I reach for my Oath Ceremony, I checked in at the counter and they made all of us wait (we were 61 on that day waiting for our OATH Ceremony). Finally they got us all in the Conference room and after that a lady gave quick instructions (Make sure the notice that you receive for Oath Ceremony is filled out and signed make sure to put the date as your oath ceremony date). Next they called us one by one to check our Certificate for accuracy (all good) we go back to our seat after it. Then a quick 30mins (video presentation and all steps that we have to take after naturalization, etc). Then the National Anthem followed by Oath and then the Certificates were given one by one to us. This is it done and then you can register for Voting their itself in the USCIS office. All in all it took about 2 hours in total after I checked in till the end. You can get your relative for Oath Ceremony it is permitted and you can take pictures.
Following are some very important details from my experience and I would like to put in here:-
1. Make sure every email from USCIS is saved properly, put it in different folder.
2. Make sure to create the my.uscis.gov and enable all alerts/notifications form them.
3. Make sure if you are changing the address the USCIS is informed AR-11 and this form/address change is available from your my.uscis.gov site.
4. If you have State change between your Naturalization process make sure you don’t wait any longer than 70-90 days and connect with your SENATOR of your current state to get them to help you with this immigration. Senators are helpful and easy to reach out to. Before contacting a lawyer and paying huge $$ and yes I don’t say Lawyers are not needed they will be if your case is very complex but if its plain and simple then Senators should be able to get the information from USCIS for you.
5. There is no harm travelling overseas while you are in the Naturalization process ( I did it myself for 2 months just before my interview).
6. Do not panick all is good and just taking time but don’t stop following up on your case.
I wish you all the best and success ahead, if any questions ask below and I will try and help/answer them.
All in all the Civics and English test is super easy and the youtube 100 Civics question if listened/practice once everyday for about 1 week you will get it easily.
On Jan 17th 2020 I received my USA Citizenship and I thought of sharing my experience as it was something that definitely was not straight forward and took a long time.
I came to USA on L1-B in AUG 2007 and then in about 6 years I received my GREEN CARD(GC) in SEPT 2013, my company assisted me all throughout to get the GC (EAD as well).
After I received my GC in SEPT 2013, I went to Indian almost every year 3 weeks and then finally applied for USA-Naturalization (N-400) on JUNE 2018 (I had completed 4 years and 9 months on GC and was eligible to file for N-400. I did this on my own and filled the form and paid the fees by Credit Card no issues at all.
Around Sept 2018, I had to go for my Bio Metrics in NEWARK NEW JERSEY (I stayed all along in NJ), around SEPT 2018 I had to move to DELAWARE (DE) and while I moved I ensured I submitted the ADDRESS CHANGE on USCIS (AR-11) and I even received an email confirming from USCIS received my address change request (Make sure to keep this email). After this around NOV 28th 2018 I had to go to India for Emergency and I only returned to USA on FEB 04th 2019 (So about 2months) and since I had registered for USCIS (my.uscis.gov) I got an email saying my N-400 NATURALIZATION INTERVIEW was scheduled for FEB 06th 2019 in NEWARK NJ office.
Went to NEWARK NJ office (There is paid parking, you have to pay approx $15 and can keep your car for whole day), once you are in their is a big line as folks have appointment they are almost always flooded with lot of applicants but not to worry your appointment if given will happen on same day. Once you are thru the security check, you Check-in at the counter where they take your appointment letter and then may be at your appointment time plus 30 to 45 mins you will be called and interview happens.
My N-400 Interview happened as well on same day (After a wait of about 1hour), She asked for my ID and I gave her DELAWARE Driving License and she said ohh you changed the state to which I said yes and I have submitted the AR-11 form as well for it. They somehow couldn’t locate that (Thankfully I had that email on my phone /print out and I showed it to them). So it was USCIS Mistake that they their systems had issues and my record was not updated. The Officer checked with her supervisor and went ahead and still conducted my Interview in NJ (Even after my state had changed). Officer (Lady) was nice and I was asked 6 civics question which I cleared and was asked for English writing and reading (pretty simple) and then she verified all my information on the form was correct and if anything was missing/changed since I had submitted my N-400 form in JUNE 2018 (like marriage, divorce, kids, job, overseas travel etc). The USCIS software was in mess on that day and she gave me the confirmation letter (Saying I passed my interview and my application was recommended for approval). She said I have to go to Pennsylvanian for Oath Ceremony as that’s where my case was transferred and I will receive notice of it in about max of 3 weeks.
I left the USCIS office with the letter and waited all along for 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and even 3 months now no letter (I contacted USCIS online thru my uscis account I had created but everytime answer was we are working on your case). Almost now I was in SEPT of 2019 and my interview happened in FEB 2019 (so 7 months and no answer from USCIS). Finally I wrote to my SENATOR in DELAWARE (Thomas Carper) thru the online facility to contact the Senator. My Senator’s office contacted me within 2 weeks and sent me few forms giving them authorization to talk to USCIS and get my info (which I immediately sent them back). After about 2 weeks I got response from my Senator that the USCIS contacted them back and said I was missing the AR-11 Address change form (wow I had submitted this in SEPT 2018) never mind I said I resubmitted AR-11 address change and I printed that email and I sent it back to my Senator (office) all this communication with my Senator was thru email.
They asked me to wait about 90 days and if no response from USCIS we can contact them further, and coincidentally after 90 days USCIS scheduled my N-400 INTERVIEW (yep again the INTERVIEW) for JAN 14th 2020. I was surprised I have to go for interview again but it was ok and this time it was in the Philadelphia office (PA). So finally after 11 months from my N-400 Interview in Newark NJ I was again scheduled for interview in JAN 2020 at Philadelphia (PA) office since I moved from NJ to DE.
Jan 14th 2020 I went to PA USCIS office reached about 45 mins before my interview (They have PARKING Right infront of the USCIS building and its $20 FLAT, there is plenty of street parking at about $2 for 2 hours I think but you have to put coins, instead of street parking and worrying about that 2 hour limit I parked in the $20 parking).
At USCIS office in PA (very nice office), I went thru security checkin, they their was a CHECKIN COUNTER, she accepted my N-400 interview letter and asked me to wait at specific counter where my name would be called, I waited for about 10 mins my name was called the officer there clicked my picture and took my finger print. Later I was asked to go upstairs (2nd floor) where my interview will take place.
I waited about 45 mins and finally the officer called my name, I went in and the officer asked me why are you here 😊 (and I was like for my N-400 Naturalization interview), then she said but you have already cleared it per the records and then I explained her all the details (which I have already put above). The Officer was awesome and all I can say there are some GOOD VERY GOOD OFFICERS who know what they are doing and they are there for PEOPLE. She just confirmed all my information again and any changes (I just had 1 job switch) so she made the change and then she said we are all done here and she approved my application and she said I dnt have to go thru the English and civics test as I have already cleared it. She immediately wrote to her OATH Scheduling officer that I would prefer any FRIDAY for the OATH CEREMONY (She asked me if I would like to come back to PA office for OATH or Prefer DELAWARE, DELAWARE Oath schedule was for March 2020 where as PA has 6 oath ceremony every week 3 on Tuesday and 3 on Friday every week). I said I would just come to PA and get this done with.
To my surprise when I came back home at night of JAN 14th 2020 (my interview day at PA) I received 2 emails from USCIS , my application was approved, my oath ceremony was scheduled. On Jan 15th I opened the my.USCIS.gov and to find that my OATH CEREMONY was scheduled on JAN 17th, boom wow this was SUPER FAST 3 days after my INTERVIEW was my OATH CEREMONY. I just printed that letter as notice in email would take another 3 days to come and that’s why it is very important to have my.uscis.gov account and checking that for updates and making sure alerts are enabled from that site (i.e. email or text).
Jan 17th 2020 I reach for my Oath Ceremony, I checked in at the counter and they made all of us wait (we were 61 on that day waiting for our OATH Ceremony). Finally they got us all in the Conference room and after that a lady gave quick instructions (Make sure the notice that you receive for Oath Ceremony is filled out and signed make sure to put the date as your oath ceremony date). Next they called us one by one to check our Certificate for accuracy (all good) we go back to our seat after it. Then a quick 30mins (video presentation and all steps that we have to take after naturalization, etc). Then the National Anthem followed by Oath and then the Certificates were given one by one to us. This is it done and then you can register for Voting their itself in the USCIS office. All in all it took about 2 hours in total after I checked in till the end. You can get your relative for Oath Ceremony it is permitted and you can take pictures.
Following are some very important details from my experience and I would like to put in here:-
1. Make sure every email from USCIS is saved properly, put it in different folder.
2. Make sure to create the my.uscis.gov and enable all alerts/notifications form them.
3. Make sure if you are changing the address the USCIS is informed AR-11 and this form/address change is available from your my.uscis.gov site.
4. If you have State change between your Naturalization process make sure you don’t wait any longer than 70-90 days and connect with your SENATOR of your current state to get them to help you with this immigration. Senators are helpful and easy to reach out to. Before contacting a lawyer and paying huge $$ and yes I don’t say Lawyers are not needed they will be if your case is very complex but if its plain and simple then Senators should be able to get the information from USCIS for you.
5. There is no harm travelling overseas while you are in the Naturalization process ( I did it myself for 2 months just before my interview).
6. Do not panick all is good and just taking time but don’t stop following up on your case.
I wish you all the best and success ahead, if any questions ask below and I will try and help/answer them.
All in all the Civics and English test is super easy and the youtube 100 Civics question if listened/practice once everyday for about 1 week you will get it easily.
All Replies (5)
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