Citizenship

I completed my N-400 last week, and it was received by USCIS. The check was cashed within 3 days. However, the Receipt USIC sent me to show that they received my N-400 application eidently shwos the wrong date of birth and A#.The receipt was maield to mya ddress and addressed to me. i am worried that some thing fishy is going on. imagine, they cashed my check which had my A#; plus each page on the application has my A#; plus copy of greencard; and at the back of the passport photoss, there was my A#; and on the check. How could they get this wrong - both the A # and date of birth. I am so worried this is going to drag my application should they fail to match me to other records. It sounds very intentional.

Providence RI Local Service Center
Texas Service Center
N-400 received 3/20/09
Check cashed 3/30/09
Biometrics/fingerprint 4/21/09
Interview 6/17/09
 1) Asked to read a sentence.
 2) Asked to write a sentence.
 3) Verifed information on N-400
 4) Asked 6 questions from the handbook/cd
Oath taking on 8/03/09
Pleasant, smooth, easy, very nice and profesional.
5 months for the whole process.

I had interview yesterday, officer is nice,
and reviewed entire N400 application. If you forget any thing this is the time to correct by telling the truth. I had to correct the zipcode.
Civic test 7 questions asked. Read & write test.
Approved, letter will be sent in 3 to 4 weeks for the oath Cermony.

Application mailed 1/2/2009
Receipt Date I-797C 1/8/2009
Finger Prints Taken 1/31/2009
Interview Ltr Received 4/11/2009
InterView Date 6/17/2009

Total process around 6 months, pretty good.

I am still in shock after the interview this morning. The officer was nice and I passed the test with flying colors. My citizenship application was granted and I was told to wait in the lobby for the oath ceremony notice. When the officer came out again, she told me that my application had been "continued" based on the suspicion that my marriage was illegitimate. Their decision defies logic. I already got a green card one year before my marriage. Why would I want to marry someone for citizenship when I can get it on my own? I feel that I was treated unfairly like a second class citizen in spite of the fact that I am not a citizen yet.

Put in the N400 for myself and wife end of Feb.
Figer printing appointment was about a month later,
and the inteviews were at the end of May.
We received the ceremony letter anout a week later
(ceremony is tomorrow (June 17) in Oakland)
so the whole process has taken about 3 and a half months. No great dramas with the interviews. I think that after the first words out of our mouths they knew we spoke English and the knowledge test was trivial. you hav eto get 6 out of 10 questions and after asking 6 questions and getting the right answers, he didn't bother with the last 4 questions.
p.s. this entry box editor sucks...

BTW, no-one at USCIS can tell me how lon th eceremony tomorrow will take so we have to book a babysitter for the whole day.

I sent in my father's N-400 application in mid-April and have not heard or seen from the USCIS. I wrote a personal check as well and it has not been cash out. We are waiting for the finger print letter and interview letter. How long will this take to recieve these letters? What could go wrong (besides lost in post mail).
Please, give me advice!
Thanks in advance!

If everything is in order, process is much smoother than most people fear.

We (wife and me) had a minor issue that came up when we reviewed the copy of our application once again upon receiving the interview notice. Found errors in entering one of the travel dates. NOTE: The error when corrected actually reduced the days spent outside the U.S. - so did not think it was a big issue - but were worried nonetheless having had heard many horror stories of experiences with USCIS/INS in the past (H1, GC).

Also, one of the questions in the application was about filing non-resident return. I work in NY and live in NJ, so have to file tax returns in NY as a non-resident and then claim credit on the NJ resident tax return. I had marked "No" for the question about having ever filed taxes as non-resident. "Yes" with "...but" was not an option! Had this answer in mind if interviewer ever specifically asked that question - "Never claimed to be a non-resident on Federal and NJ tax return, but since I work in NY, I also have to file in NY as a non-resident." .... I am sure this would not have been a big issue, but if my above quoted prepared response is useful to some in similar situation, it would be great. In any case, officer asked the question as "Have you failed to file tax-returns" and "Do you owe any taxes".

Sorry for this disjoint narration, but immihelp's "Comments" box is not a user friendly editor (at least when using Firefox Mozzila) (and this is about the only negative thing I would say related to immihelp!) - and being unfriendly, the editor does not allow one to go back and make additions (unless you erase the whole text ...).

In any case, coming to the point, the travel date discrepancy turned out not to be a big deal - the officers focus (as also of the questions 7A,B and C) is to make sure that a): you have shown that you indeed want to be a permanant resident (and a citizen) b): you have maintained your status as a permanent resident and have demonstrated it by maintaining a place of residence (mortgaged house or continuous apartment lease) and by filing regular returns with NO "non-resident" tax returns filed in the preceding 5 years (relates to FEDERAL tax returns only). NOT A LEGAL OPINION - OBSERVATION, ANALYSIS, & LOGICAL INFERENCE FROM STORIES HEARD, EXPERIENCES READ.


One more note - my wife and I gave the invitation letters at the reception at the same time, but were interviewed 2 hours apart by different officers.

Still another note: Newark office does the oaths on the same day as the test (if passed) - and has 3-4 times for the oath taking ceremonies. Me and my wife were going to be in different groups because our interviews were 2 hours apart. I went up to the window and requested that they put my wife in the later group along with me - they agreed without any problems. (Of course, at this point we had both passed the test and it was just a matter of taking the oath - and so saw no reason to fear the USCIS because both of us were citizens (practically - not technically!).

Bottom line: Keep your cool. Corrections, if not eggregious, are allowed to be made at the time of the interview without much problem.

No comments on the exam portion - if one expects to be granted U.S. citizenship, the least one can do is learn to read and write 'some' english and study a mere 100 questions (and in the process learn more about the U.S.)

All the best

I PASSED ONLY THE QUESTIONARY PART OF THE INTERVIEW FOR MY NATURALIZATION I STILL NEED TO PASS THE WRITTING SECTION.DOES ANYONE KNOW IF I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPEAT THE FIRST PART AGAIN WHEN I GET CALLED THE SECOND TIME?

some Civic Questions have more than 1 answer.

for eg: 37) what does judicial branch do
  Ans: i) reviews laws
         ii) explains laws
          iii) resolves disputes
          iv) decides if a law goes against the constitution


if I tell only 1 answer, would it be enough. Please help

Jan 20th 2009 - N400 submitted
Feb 20th 2009 - fingers printed
April 22nd 2009 - passed the tests & received receipt that my application has been approved, and will be notified by mail for the Oath Ceremony

almost 3 weeks has passed...I haven't received any notification letter to take the Oath Ceremony. Should I worried if maybe the notification letter lost in the mail?!? Where to check? Tried to call 18003755283 with no luck...