Citizenship

Can anyone share approximately how long does it take to fill out the n400 application?

Hello everyone,

I need help regarding my case. I applied in January 2018 and haven't got an interview yet due to unforeseen circumstances. I am so tired of waiting and calling USCIS. Should I write to my congressman office? If so, how? I live in Ohio and filled at the Cincinnati field office. Or should I file a lawsuit against USCIS? Almost two without an interview. I am mentally and emotionally tired. Thank you very much.

So the timeline from what i have been reading on here doesnt seem long at all. This gives me hope. someone told me when you apply during election year they speed it up to make for more eligible voters.

Anyway, here is my timeline:

Applied: July 2, 2019
Notice of Biometrics: July 13, 2019
Biometrics aapt: July 29, 2019.

My anticipated completion date changed from May 2020 to DECEMBER 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I applied even though i am still waiting for the conditions to be removed off my GC. I have been a PR but spouse of a citizen.

I have friends who have recently gotten their citizenship from my area. It goes fast. I pray everything goes smoothly.

Finally, my journey of becoming a U.S. citizen comes to an end. Since I have visited this website many many many times during my journey, I would like to provide you all with my experience in great detail to help you in any way I can.

Waiting is certainly a difficult task, especially when you don't know how long to wait for.

Below is my timeline:

(1) N-400 Application Submitted Online (Receipt Notice): June 21, 2018
**I applied on a 5-year rule and was a permanent resident since 2003**

(2) Biometrics Date: July 7, 2018
**I sent my biometrics appointment letter along with a letter asking to reschedule my biometrics appointment, as I was traveling outside the country for summer vacations**

- Biometrics Rescheduled: August 10, 2018

(3) Interview Date: November 6, 2018 at the "West Palm Beach" USCIS Office
**I passed the English and Civics Test. However, my application was not recommended for approval. The officer gave me an N-652 form which said that "a decision cannot be made" and that I will receive a decision by mail. Even though I knew I was eligible, the officer still asked me to wait for a few weeks, as she had to review my file along with my long travel history to see if I was eligible and get an approval from the supervisor, so she could render a decision on my case**

- After one month, I made a call to the USCIS customer service to ask about the progress on my case. The customer service officer on call asked me to wait for 120 days before he could make an inquiry on my case.
- In mid December, I took a trip to Pakistan (2 1/2 months) and got married. I also went to Thailand for 9 days from Pakistan during that trip for honeymoon.
- When I came back in mid-March, I called the USCIS again, as it had been 131 days after the interview, and I still had not received any update on my case status. The officer on call filed a service request to the field office that I was interviewed at. After 1 week, I received a reply back saying that my case is still being actively reviewed and that I should wait to receive a decision through mail.
- From mid-March to mid-May: I made countless calls to USCIS customer service during these months to schedule an info pass, but they all said my reason was not valid enough for an info pass and that my case is still under normal processing time.
- At the end of May: I sent a letter directly to the officer who interviewed me requesting her to review my application and make a decision as it had been well beyond 120 days. On the bottom of form N-625, it said that I was allowed to write directly to the officer- asking any questions related to my case.
- Beginning of June: No response from the officer. I then called USCIS customer service again to file a service request. After a few days, I again received the same response (your case is still being actively reviewed and that I should wait to receive a decision through mail).
- Mid of June: I went to an attorney to discuss my options. The attorney asked me to either wait and keep on trying or file a lawsuit with him against USCIS (gave me a figure of 7,500 to 10,000 dollars for doing that). I was not in favor of considering his second option, so I decided not to give up.
- End of June: I wrote another letter directly to the officer requesting her to review my application and make a decision on it. Again, no response.
- On July 1, 2019: I went to the Congressman to seek help and see if there was anything he could do for me.
- On July 2, 2019: I received an update on my status online saying that "my case has been approved, and my oath ceremony has been scheduled". I quickly emailed the constituent representative (congressman) asking them to not take any action regarding my issue, as I had received an update on my case status.

(4) Oath Ceremony Date: July 18, 2019
**I took the oath ceremony. I declared that I traveled (they asked for the travel dates) and also told them that I got married during that trip (they asked me for my original marriage certificate and made a copy of it). At the end of the ceremony, the marital status on the certificate still said single. The officer was very helpful and asked me to wait till everyone leaves. I had to wait for about 15 minutes after everybody left to receive a corrected naturalized certificate**

My journey was smooth except for the part where I had to wait in the dark to receive an approval on my case. Everyone said that my case is still under normal processing time but no one realized how long I had been waiting for after the 120-day rule. From the date of interview, I waited approximately 7 months to only receive a decision.

My total journey was almost 1 year and approx. 1 month long.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I would be more than happy to respond. USCIS is a great federal agency who is always striving for excellence, so keep your hopes high and stay positive!

Hi All,

Just wanted to provide interested veterans with the details of the processing time from start to the end:

Timeline:
March 21, 2019 | We received your application.
March 27, 2019 | We reviewed your biometrics.
May 01, 2019 | We scheduled your interview.
June 05, 2019 | You Attended your Interview.
June 05, 2019 | We approved your application.
June 10, 2019 | We scheduled your naturalization ceremony.
July 17, 2019 | Oath Ceremony.

**See my original post below posted on 03/28/2019 "N-400 Processing Time as a Combat Veteran"**

Hi All,
Trying to see if anyone here has/had an experience with filing the N-400 as a combat veteran during hostile period defined in section INA-329. Curious if the process will be expedited for veterans i.e. from the interview scheduling till the oath ceremony or will it be the same as the civilian processing? Thanks in advance

Hi everyone, so I've been reading a lot of the old topics about people passing their tests but not getting a decision, however, i dont see any updates on those people. So my husband went for his interview on 7/16/2019 and even though he got his green card through marriage with me we filed for n400 regular sine it was already 5 years that he had his GC. He went in and said the interview went great, the officer was really nice and he passed all parts of the test. The officer didnt look at his folder full of our marriage cert, selective service, etc but did ask for his social security card which was the only thing we didnt take, my husband said he didnt have it and she said ok even though the social number is written on his application. The office continued to go down the list of questions and asked my husband if he has ever been in removal proceedings and he said no but he was before marrying me and apologized for getting confused and explained that his case was denied so he was put in removal proceedings but case got dismissed once we got married. The officer said ok and continued. My husband said he signed all the paper work and signed the back of his passport photo and the interview took no more than 15 minutes. He got out smiling and said that the officer said congratulations you passed the test and we will send you a letter if we need anything else if not you will get the ceremony letter. When he got out i looked at his paper and it said he passed and had the boxes checked USCIS will send you a letter about their decision and a decision can not be made yet. She didn't say anything about a supervisor needing to look at his application for approval or anything. This was the downtown fields office in Los Angeles. Anyone had this issue and how long did it take to get the ceremony letter? Can his removal proceedings be an issue even though it was dismissed? Thanks in advanced.

Hello,

Has anyone interviewed recently at the Fairfax, VA office? I interviewed 2nd week of July.

Have you received an oath ceremony date or have an idea of when to expect the oath ceremony date. I plan on travelling in September and wanted make sure I am available for the ceremony date.

Thanks

Hi, everyone, I applied at TX center after completing PR period. Giving herebelow my time line.
Apl. Date: July 5, 2019.
Recd. Case no: July 14,2019.
Biometric notice: July 18,2019.
Bimetric Scheduled on: July 31,2019.
Estimated completion on website : March 2020.
Hope everything runs as scheduled.

Hi everyone, I live in Phoenix and applied for my naturalization in September 2018. The estimate on my account says Dec 2019! Yes unfortunately Phoenix has one of the longest backlogs in the US.
I was checking the processing time for the cities that I have the option to move to and some of them are significantly shorter than Phoenix.
Has anyone had the experience of moving to another state after filing their application form? Does it help if I move to another location with a shorter backlog? or it will cause more delay?.

I appreciate your input on this.

Thanks!

Hi everyone! My brother just had his citizenship interview at the Oakland Park office. Everything went well, he passed the test but the IO said they will review and send the decision by mail. My brother said the IO was very nice.
Anybody knows how long for a decision after interview? Ant Oakland park experiences?
Thank you!