Citizenship

_Applied for N-400 in 2nd wk of June
Got the Notice and Finger Print letters in 2 weeks.
_Got my Finger Prints done on the 4th week of July.
_Out of blue, recently got my Initial Interview letter scheduled for 3rd week of September.

I still cant believe that,,,but I am happy,,,

I just passed my naturalization interview and am very happy about it.

The immigration officer is kind and respectful. I experienced no problem at all.

I arrived at the office around 8:30 AM, was called in 10 minutes, and interview was finished in about 15 minutes and out of there after that.

1. Asked me to swear that I will tell the truth nothing but the truth.
2. Asked me to show ID (I gave him my Driver's license, green card and passport)
3. Reviewed some of the information I have on the application
4. Asked me I think 6 or 7 sets of questions. I answered them all correctly
5. Asked me to read one sentence
6. Asked me to write one sentence
7. Reviewed a little bit of my information again on the application
8. Asked a few questions such as "did you travel outside of usa after you became a PR?" and "where do you work?" etc.
9. Asked me if willing to take oath of allegiance etc.
9. then.... CONGRATULATIONS, you passed!
10. Asked me to write my full name on the photos
11. Asked me to write my full name on the last part of the application (N-400)
12. Told me to wait for the letter for the oath ceremony.
..Everything went well for me. Thank God.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY TIPS:


1. If you are getting NERVOUS a few days before your interview or before your interview, just tell yourself " I CAN DO IT..I CAN DO IT" repeat it many times. I also said to myself, there's nothing to fear but fear itself. I told myself - the immigration officer won't kill me, why would I get nervous and fearful of the interview? - It's the power of positive thinking and it worked for me.
2. Be confident. If you feel less confident always tell your mind - I AM CONFIDENT, I AM CONFIDENT many many many times and you will be in your interview. Again, positive affirmation.
3. Be HONEST on all your answers - very important. BE REAL. TELL THE TRUTH. There's nothing to fear if you're nothing to hide. So, be yourself and just tell the truth, nothing but the truth.
4. Be RESPECTFUL to the immigration officer. Don't be arrogant. Be humble.
5. Study the naturalization test. Review also all the information you have on your N-400 application so that all your answers correspond to what you have written on the application
6. After the interview, please say thank you to the officer.

Hope this helps.

It has been 4 years now and am still waiting for my oath date to come so I can get my citizenship for USA. I have just about given up hope for it now. I keep calling the Immigration people and asking for the status and I keep getting the same answer, it is pending name check. I just cant understand what are they looking for. This oath date has been very costly for me now, my marriage and my carrer is ruined because of that. Any suggestion or advise from anyone to help me as to what I can do to get my citizenship.

Naturalization interview experience

Many thanks to all the folks in this forum and other such forums for all the informative postings and for
also answering any questions specifically asked !. I have spent many a sleepless hour poring over
others responses from others and feeling grateful that others had put out a response outlining situations
and circumstances I was interested in.

My interview process went quite smoothly by the grace of the Almighty.

Hope my narrative is detailed enough to help those looking for details and not so boring for the rest !

Went into the USCIS building at SJ (30-45 minutes prior as recommended). Had to go thru the security steps....remove
shoes, put other personal stuff via the xray maching etc.
Then off to a waiting room where I found quite of few other interview candidates seated.
Dropped off the interview letter at a window in the room(was asked to do that by the security staff ).

Still had another 15 minutes to my slot. SO I started skimming thru the notes I had prepared for the civics exam.
Shortly after my name was called by a USCIS interviewing officer . Very pleasant person. Greeted me by name.
We exchanged pleasantries and was made to feel at ease.

Short walk to the interview room ( the officer's office I am guessing). Once in the room, I was asked to set
my bag aside, stand and raise my right hand and swear to speak the truth. Then I was asked provide GC and
driver's Id for verification. I was walked thru questions related to the N400 application, like DOB, residential
address etc. amongst others.

Was then asked to write down a simple sentence (spoken aloud by the officer) on the N400 form . Then I had to sign a
couple of times (cursive) on the last page of the N400 and on my photographs (the ones I had submitted
with the N400 initially) and print my name once.

Then got to sign another form after I had verified that my DOB, name etc were spelt correct on it.
I think this form is used to printup the naturalization certificate.

Was then handed a sheet with 10 US history & civics questions((eg. What do the stripes on our flag stand for ?)
listed in it. I was asked to read each question aloud and then answer it aloud. Didn't have to write on the sheet.
To the best of my recollection, all the questions on the sheet were from the 100 or so official USCIS sample questions.

Having passed the civics test, I was handed a N-652 form that indicated that I had passed the test and also
'your application has been recommended for approval'. The name of the interviewing officer was also on
the N-652 form. The officer said I should wait for a letter in the mail.
We then wished each other a good day before I left the roon. It all took less than 45 minutes.

Good luck and god bless !
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________
mar/1stWk/08 sent in N400 application.
mar/2ndWk/08 received notice of receipt of N400 application.
mar/2ndWk/08 received notice to appear for fingerprinting
mar/4thWk/08 FP done
jun/1stWk/08 received notice to appear for naturalization initial interview
jul/4thWk/08 naturalization initial interview

How long does it take for the Interview after Finger printing in CA?

i filed N-400 in Oct 07, was fingureprinted in Mar 2008.finally i passed citizenship interview on May 7th but still waiting to be called for oath ceremoney. some of the people i know were interviewd at the same date, they got their citizenship certificate with in same month, i donot know why is my case taking so long.

i finally had my interview..went pretty good...last bout 45 mins. the officer did couple of changes on my n 400 applicaition in total of 7.i did pass the tests and sign the oath form. finally got a congratulations letter stating my application is recommended for approval and a decision cannot be made at this moment and a written decision of the application will be mailed out and if approved , oath ceremony date will be published...do anyone know what this means..got congratuations letter but decision is pending....

I'll be attending my Naturalization interview in Houston at the end of July.

Question: When am I expected to surrender my Green Card? and when or will I be expected to surrender my passport ?

thanks.

Had a quick Question, I'm sure someone would be able to answer..The day you get your citizenship you have to surrender your Green Card and if you have to go to India for any kind of emergency how do you travel ? You can't travel on your Indian Passport and you don't have a green Card either . What are the option available, I saw on the Website of Passport available on Same day if you apply in person and they will have to evaluate the emergency...Does anyone have any experiences in this regard..

Thanks

Mahendra

I filed for naturalization in October 2007. Was called for fingerprinting in March 2008 and my interview for naturalization was on 7th May 2008.
The officer was extremely nice and went through my application, asking me to confirm everything was correct. He then asked me ten questions on US history/civics - all from the list of questions and answers given to study at the time of fingerprinting. The interview only lasted some 25 minutes and at the end, he congratulated me and said he was recommending me for citizenship. My husband was allowed to go to the waiting room with me but not into the interview with me. Cell phones that can take photographs or cameras are not allowed in the building.
I have received my letter stating my oath taking ceremony will be at the Memorial Auditorium on "J" Street in Sacramento (not the Immigration offices you go to for interview) on the 28th May 2008, at which time I will surrender my permanent resident card and receive my naturalization papers.