Immigration.com

My interview was scheduled for 8.00am i was there @ 6.30 which was early but its good , they dont allow you in until 30mins to your time.
it wasnt as cold, i had a running stomach.. for some reason my stomach started aching
We were searched at the gate as we entered the compound ( make sure you have your appointment letter and passport out)

o the second entrance , a lady confirms your appointment again , you queue not for long the the last security check ( all phones off), you leave your phone here and given a tag.

finally you walk along mowed grass to the main entrance, a lady takes your ppassport and appointment letter, at this point you are give a number mine was C423 you are made to wait outside until your no is called. give you original documents for scrutiny make payments and wait..if you have forged documents this is the moment you should start running away..

finally i was called to window 9 am lucky coz most guyz goin to window10 were either denied or put on AP(ni mzungu ako hapo)
i was interviewed by a black lady and from the accent i realized she is Kenyan..she had a serious face but she knows her job too well..
the interview went like this..

CO: raise your hand ... do you swear to tell the truth n ..nothing but the truth?
Papa: Yes
now at this moment she started typing .................................at this point i felt i had it already...and relaxed no questions for close to 2 mins
CO: are you single
papa: yes
CO: Any kids ?
Papa: YEs i have a son with my ex
CO: DO you support your child ..
Papa: Yes
co: his name please
Papa: blabla....
co: thats very impressive American government loves children
(guys if you have a child please and you may want him to join you in the future, kinldy say the truth..a child must not suffer coz you didnt agree with the mother)
CO: heighest qualification?
Papa: bal bla
CO: where do you intend to stay
Papa: blabla
Co: your relation with host?
Papa: blabla
Co: where do you work?
Papa: blabla
Co: your designation?
Papa: blabla
CO: your visa has been granted,!
finally she gave me a piece of paper on how to pay the USCIS , she further told me i can pay when i arrive but its advisable to pay before i live

I will be around for a while now that i dont have pressure maybe travel in may!
Blessing to makiki, karendi, obeezy, neckelly, dubai-B, frank80 and all other that i haven't mentioned ...It shall be well
just speak the truth and the truth shall set you free!!

I finally had my oath ceremony today at Cadman Plaza US District Court, Brooklyn.

I am not going into details as to what happened during the ceremony, I think everybody knows that much. But my experience today was very very positive and I really had fun. Having been sat through a friend's ceremony about 3 months ago, I wasn't expecting to have this much enjoyment out of this ceremony but I was wrong. All officers, organizing and directing the ceremony were extremely friendly, cordial and patient with everybody. Especially the officer Black who acted as lead person, was very entertaining and informative. He helped made the rather painful process, really fun (I didn't know that they are actually immigration officers who are conducting the interviews). Also the lady from the City of New York was a delight to listen to. She literally entertained everybody while giving tons of useful information about our responsibilities as new citizens.

We were told that today's ceremony was one of the most crowded one in a long time and officer Black included that this was the largest naturalization ceremony he ever presided over. We had 278 citizens from 56 different countries. The ceremonial room was packed and there were no room for the families. They had to watch the whole thing from upstairs.

The judge's speech was moving and 3 pages long(I could see his notes from my seat). But he spoke fast and everything took about 10 minutes. After that we were called to pick up our certificates. All in all, it was very enjoyable ceremony and I truly had fun.

Right after the ceremony, I rushed out, hop in the subway and went to the DMV located in lower Manhattan(11 Greenwich St). Since I had my first name changed, I wanted to update my driver's license first. Spent there about 1,5 hours but I got it done. From there, I went to banks and updated my info. I didn't think I would have enough time to apply for US passport today but since I finished at earlier stops quickly, I decided to go ahead and apply. I went to the post office in Grand Central. I opted for the expedited and I am told that it should arrive in 2 weeks. Oh, I also applied for the passport card. I heard that it is quite useful in Europe. So we'll see...

This has been quite the journey for me that started in 1997 and today, I can finally say that I am a proud US citizen. Besides, I am so glad that I won't be dealing with USCIS anymore. Going forward, I'd like to thank everybody here from the bottom of my heart whom I really learned a lot about the process. I wish everybody in here still waiting for the interview or the oath best of luck. Hang in there, you're almost there...

I just had my interview at LIC office on Monday August 6, 2012 at 3:15 pm. Everything went great and the officer was really warm and friendly. Before I was called in I noticed that everyone who came out of the interview was being given an oath date of August 29th. When my interview was finished the officer said I would get an oath letter in the mail because it was after 3pm and they don't give letters after 3pm. I asked if it would be for August 29th, and she said she was not sure whether it would be that day or in September. Now, I had been told by plenty of friends that between their interview and oath the max time was 2 weeks, and me being optimistic me, I had alreaady made plans to travel during labor day to Canada. I have green card and asylee status and my travel document expired two months ago. Is there any chance that in case my oath letter arrives and has a date on it for September that I can go and ask if I can reschedule the oath for an EARLIER time? Has anyone had success with that?

This forum made me sleep better on many nights and told me what to expect at every step. Nothing was a surprise from Asylum to US Passport.

Waited many many years and got my Asylum I485 approved in 2002. Applied N400 in Aug 07, FP in Jan 08, Citizenship interview in April 08 and got my Oath in May 08. Applied for passport routine service at the oath ceremony and got my passport in 9 days. My online status still shows my case pending since Oct 2007 !!

The interview was taken by an officer who had good country specific knowledge of my COP. The officer had a thick file which had every application I ever sent to INS/BCIS/USCIS in Nebraska. He went thru my asylum application in detail and asked me several questions on whether I was ever arrested, any organization I joined in COP, whether I had visited my COP and what was my last date of visit to COP. When I said I never went to COP and my last date was in 1997 sometime the officer said "then its no problem" and went thru my N400 application and I was done in 10 min from that point. All the questioning and concerns were about my old presence in COP and whether I ever visited after my asylum application. My passport was seen in detail and he was comparing it to a printout of some sort in the file. While giving me a congratulation letter he said my file is being sent to an supervisor for review as it was an asylum case. My oath letter came 15 days later than other family members who gave interview on same date. All of us were interviewed by different officers at the same time in different rooms.

During last several years I have met several people who had applied for asylum and we kept in touch. All of them had similar experience in Citizenship interview about COP. DUI, Misdemenors in Traffic were also problems that some faced.

Visiting COP is a bad idea and I would advise you not to unless it is an emergency because it will come up and you will have to give a logical reason for your visits. During my citizenship interview I realized how vulnerable we are even with GC if it was thru asylum. The GC can be cancelled anytime if fraud is suspected.

My experience with USCIS has been very good and everyone was very efficient and helpful when I called or met or gave interview. Every file is unique and every officer has a lot of discretionary powers so time lines can be a little different.

Thanks to all of you who ever posted anything as feedback whatever it is is very helpful. Thanks to Rajeev for this free servive....Highly Appreciated.

NB: If you feel your timeline has many different results on the forum call USCIS and insist to be connected to an IO. The CSR who picks up initial calls when you call USCIS are all civilian employees who have the same access to info you see online. The IO can read the actual file and tell you current status and resend lost or misplaced letters etc. Patience is the key !!

Just want to share my experience.

Application sent: June 12 2012
Applied on my own, no lawyers.
Submitted the following documents
- N400
- G-1145
- 2 color photo
- GC photocopy
- Birth cerficate photocopy
- check for $680
- Cover letter

FP done: July 25 2012
- location: 170, Portland st, Boston
- went there 1 hour earlier than interview time, no issues. was allowed in the line right away.
- took around 1 hour total including waiting time and FP

Interview : Sep 14 2012 2pm.
- location: JFK building, Boston
- went there on time, had to wait for around 30 mins even though there were less than 10 people in-line.
- the interview was for 20 mins, the officer was very polite.
- standard questions from the application about travel outside country, any convictions etc.
- was asked 6 civic questions and had to write a sentence in english.
- was asked wait for few mins for the oath letter
- after 10 mins wait, was handed over the oath letter.
- took around 1 hour

Oath: Sep 20 2012
- location: merchants row, fanueil hall
- total time: around 3 hours
- number of people: 300
- first the each everyone, participants in the main hall, visitors in gallary.
- then checkin participants, check the oath letter for signature etc, punch a hole in GC (invalidate) and hand it over again, to be seated.
- Oath, pledge of alligence, speech by a judge and some other person
- after all these are done, certificate is issued by the seating order

Interview today in Seattle. Arrived 8:10am was called in at 8:30 - really nice guy reviewed my file, asked me a couple questions about my name change. Questions:

Name 1 war America fought in the 1900's - WW2
Who is the chief Justice - Don't know
How many representatives in the house - 435
How often do we vote for them - every 2 years
When do we vote for the president - November
He asked me one more but I can't remember right now

Then he asked if I was free today for the Oath

So, Oath today, hours from now I will be a citizen!

DO: Seattle
07/15/2012 -- N400 Sent
07/17/2012 -- Received/Priority date
07/19/2012 -- Notice date
07/26/2012 -- Received FP notice
08/16/2012 -- Completed FP as per schedule
08/20/2012 -- In line for interview, was emailed/texted 8/28/12 with the update - I think they must be behind with online updates
08/28/2012 -- SMS received, interview has been scheduled, waiting for notice to arrive.
09/01/2012 -- Received IL, scheduled for 10/04/12

Just wanted to update you all, Yesterday afternoon completed our interviews at Irving,TX.

Mine was at 230 pm and wife's at 300 pm went there around 2pm and a white male IO called me at 345 pm and
started going thru the application very quickly and asked me to sign the application and photos that was
mailed previously along with application and asked civic questions then said your application is approved
will mail you oath letter in 2-3 weeks time, same is the case with my wife incidently same IO interviewed
her too. Does anyone know how long it takes to receive the oath letter, there was no paper stating that
approved other than his words..Is it common not to give the oath letter right after the interview ?
I checked this morning no case update on the online.. Do I need to be worried or be happy -

1) What Ocean near east coast
2) What is freedom of religion
3) How many no of senators
4) What state borders Canada
5) When was the constitution written
6) When must all men register for selective service

June'07: GC
DO: Dallas,TX
PD 07/25/12

07/24/12: Day0 N-400 sent by FedEx Standard Overnight to Lewisville, TX
07/25/12: Day1 delivered
07/27/12: Day3 received email that application is received
07/30/12: Day6 Check Cashed
07/31/12: Day7 NOA received
08/02/12: Day9 FP Notice received with a scheduled date of 08/27/12
08/27/12: Day34 FP done
08/29/12: Day36 Online Status changed to "In Line for Interview Scheduling"
08/30/12: Day37 Online Status changed to "Scheduled for Interview"
09/04/12: Day42 IL Received with interview scheduled date of 10/04/12
10/04/12: Day52 Interview done waiting for the oath letter

Status is same for Spouse too.

My wife recently had her interview on June 6. the process was pain free except for one minor issue. she had become canadian citizen few days before and didnt have her canadian passport on her at the time of interview. Verbally the visa was approved but on the sheet handed to us, it said visa rejected due to Canadian Passport. We mailed the passport to the consulate the very next day and it was received by the consulate the next day. We are still awaiting a reply from the consulate and have been unable to contact the consulate via phone/email. Does anyone know how long does it normally take for a process like this to be resolved. her case is not going through any administrative processing and they only required the canadian passport. the packet was sent to them via DHL.
thanks.

Hi, I would like to share my experience of our interview in US consular in Montreal. Our appointment was schedule on June 20th 2011 at 8h30am. We arrived at the US consular at 8h00am and we got our interview only at 11h00am as there was a lot of peoples waiting in front of us. The interview went well. The typical questions are: How long have you been working? When did you apply for the visa? Confirmed the country of birth? How long have you been leaving in Canada? Confirmed your current address?

The documents needed for the interview: 2 pictures, employment letter and updated police certificate which we don’t have at the time of the interview but the officer let us go because we have a Nexus Pass. Ouff.. But I recommend you to have updated police certificate anyway. To get the police certificate, you will need to go to 1 of the 4 locations in Montreal which specialize in background check. The officer did not asked for our 2010 tax statement.

Thing that change from the previous post is US consular does not issues visa along with your passport the next day anymore. You need to register for a DHL location within CANADA only. We choose Richmond, BC as we work in Seattle. It take about 4-5 days for the passport to be delivered to DHL office. When the passport is ready for pickup and if you have register for DHL drop off location, you should received email confirmation that you package is ready for pickup.

For people that are flying from the State, my recommendation is to allow 2 weeks after the interview date to schedule your returned flight or buy an open return tickets.

In the package, you will see you passport along with the visa stamp on it and a sealed envelope. Do not open the envelope. The envelop should only be open by US officer at the border.
It took 1 hours to complete the whole process at the border.

Good luck all
EB3 Priority date September 01 2005

CP interview in Delhi (India) - tips and recommendations

went for my CP interview in Delhi and am writing my recommendations here. These were written for Delhi specifically, but general principles are same for all places. Add ur suggestions to make it complete.

going for CP interview involves:
1. Pre-travel arrangements
2. travel from US to India
3. Pre-interview work (on landing in India)
4. Interview
5. Post interview/travel back to US/port of entry

1. Pre-travel arrangements:

1a. --- Air Tickets: keep a minimum 3 day buffer between landing in Delhi and interview date. Also ur return journey should be scheduled for atleast 6 days after interview (in case ur name check in Delhi consulate is delayed). Changing a travel date on an already bought airline ticket can be expensive. I had to shell out $470 per head. L

1b. --- Stay in Delhi: if you have no friends/family relations and want to stay in a hotel - check this website: http://www.hotelsnewdelhiindia.com
or … Ashok Samrat/Maurya Sheraton/Taj Palace hotels are located in Chankyapuri close to US embassy. Ashok: +91 11 2611 0101, rate apprx Rs 11250 ($244) daily; Maurya Sheraton: +91 11 2611 2233, rate apprx 13500 ($293) daily; Taj Palace- +91 11 2611 0202, rate Rs 16,000 (apprx $350) daily. Rates are taxes included

1c. --- Medical appointments: call up and fix ur medical appointments from the US itself. Keep a 3 day buffer between ur landing and interview date. You may choose between Apollo hospital/Dr Dawesar- Bhikaji Cama Place/ Dr. Chawla- Prithviraj Road/ Dr Khosla – Jorbagh. All in South Delhi. I went with Dr Dawesar and my friend went with Apollo, so will write these 2 experiences. Apollo gives you reports in minimum 3 (sometimes 4) days, Dr Dawesar gives reports in 2 days.

1d. --- Immunizations records: go to ur family doctor in the US and ask him/her to prepare an immunization card in which to write all ur immunizations. Or you can take the proof without getting it written in the card. If you don't take ur shot records with you, you WILL BE FORCED to get the shots in India. No exceptions. Here is USCIS link for vaccines needed: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...info_1331.html
for adults: MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella (chicken pox), Tetanus/Diphtheria. You will need a TB skin test (PPD) and a chest x-ray. PPD test will delay results by 48 hours, so just ask the doctor for chest x-ray.

1e. --- Transit visa: if you, an Indian citizen, do not have a valid *unexpired* US/Canada visa stamp in the passport, and are going via any country in europe except Netherlands (Amsterdam), you WILL NEED a transit visa for that country.
(on your return journey, you will have either an immigrant US visa stamp or a non immigrant US visa stamp if your CP interview is unsuccessful/delayed)

1f. --- Police clearance certificate (PCC). Anyone going for CP interview who has been living in the US – needs only 1 PCC from the local Indian consulate. (NY/Chicago/Houston/SF) and you don’t need PCC from India for this person. If they lived in any other country, they need PCC from that country also. PCC is valid for 6 months (there are recent reports of US consulate Delhi writing that PCC is valid for 1 year).

1g. --- Documents: per your visa category. e.g. for employment based - original certificates, notarized current employment letter dated within 1 month of interview, all proof of legal status in the US, federal income tax return copies – last 3 years, proof of marriage, I-134 if you have a dependent spouse etc etc. (employer’s tax return is NOT needed), DS 230 part I and II are to be filled again even if you sent them earlier to the NVC.

1g(i) --- Birth Certificate is needed at the time of interview for every person. DOB certificate should have ALL of these:
* father's name
* mother's name
* baby's name, sex
* date of birth

- if DOB cert is N/A, then u need secondary evidence of DOB:
statement from local municipality that DOB cert is N/A (copy will be taken by Embassy after checking the original) + your Grade X cert that has DOB (copy taken after checking original) + affidavits from 2 parents/relatives (originals)
- if incomplete DOB is available, then u need
incomplete DOB cert (copy taken by Embassy after checking original) + affidavits from 2 parents/relatives (originals)
- to get a corrected DOB certificate from local municipality, u need affidavits from both parents sworn before a 1st class magistrate (not a notary), then submit them to the local municipality and then the municipality will issue the corrected DOB certificate.
- Affidavits: Both parents or 1 parent + 1 older brother/sister atleast 10 years older or 1 parent + 1 uncle/aunt or 2 uncles/aunts etc.

1h. --- Photos: You need 5 photos, 3 for medical and 2 for Embassy. Take atleast 3 passport size photos (not necessarily immigrant visa style, just frontal view) for medical exam, if ur medical exam is on the same morning as you land in Delhi, b’coz you won’t have time to go for immigration style photos before medical. Immigration style photos will be cost effective done in Delhi.
Those el cheapo ($6-9) disposable cameras that you get from any store in the US are good. A shot from this camera (film sensitivity ISO 400 or 800), with flash, and white background, done at a distance of 5 feet, and printed as a post card size (4x6) photo will give you great result. You will need to cut it to size. Take multiple snaps (there are 24 in each camera) and get many copies of the shot you like. (More on immigration style photo later).

1i --- Visa Interview letter: if you haven’t received your interview letter, send someone to US embassy (they just need your case number and Name) to collect your interview letter.
You WILL NEED this letter for your medical exam and to enter US embassy.
.

3. Pre-interview work (on landing in India):

3a. --- send an email to US consulate Delhi, ASAP. if i remember correctly (recheck with US consulate New Delhi website):
* in the email header section, you need to write - "REQUEST SPECIFIC INFORMATION"
(yes, all caps. if you don't write this header, then your email will be delivered to the general email section and response will be delayed).
* in the body of email - write your Name, Case number and ask them to initiate a quick name check and that you have reached Delhi.
US consulate New Delhi starts name check (FBI name check) after the person has reached Delhi.

3b. --- Taxi cab. Preferably hire a taxi cab, for 1 day in Delhi, as you will need to go to many places. Rates are: Tata Indica (compact car) with AC: Rs 700 minimum for 80 Kilometers, then Rs 7 per Km; and Night charge of Rs 150 starts at 11pm. Where would you need to go?
3b(i) * medicals (1 place if going to Apollo, 3 places if going to other doctors)
3b(ii) * immigration style photo
3b(iii) * US embassy, to tell them to initiate your name check.
.

3b(i) * Medicals:
Take your visa interview letter, 3 photos. Labs done are HIV test and RPR (Syphilis) test. You may need a TB skin test (PPD) and a chest x-ray. PPD test will delay your medical results by 48 hours, so just ask the doctor for chest x-ray.

- With Apollo, you get everything done at one place (medical exam, immunizations, PPD, labs, chest x-ray). they give you results in 3 days.
- with Dr Dawesar, you get medical, immunizations at her office. Labs are drawn at another place about 2 miles from her office, x-rays are done at another place 2 miles away. She gets a chest x-ray done, no PPD. you get reports in 2 days (save 1 day over apollo).
***** get appointment with her in the morning. After her appointment, go for Blood draw first and then for chest x-ray. so you can reach the blood collection office before 12 noon, otherwise you will have to wait until next day or go to Connaught place (Lal Labs, main office near Janpath, 10 miles away in traffic) to get your labs drawn on same day. x-ray clinic is fine.
Charges: Rs 800 per person for medical, Rs 400 for labs (HIV and RPR test), Rs 200 for chest x-ray, Rs 1450 for Chicken Pox, Rs 550 for Hepatitis B, Rs 100 for MMR, Rs 50 for Tetanus/Diphtheria vaccines.

3b(ii) * Immigration photos: Go to Malcha Marg shopping complex (5 min walk from US embassy). It is a convenience store (White Sales Corp.) actually, who takes pictures with digital camera. Good work. Rs 100 for 3 photos. It takes about 1 hour for the photos to be ready - during this wait, go to the US embassy (there is no parking place outside US embassy, just passenger drop off. Nearest parking is in this shopping complex).

3b(iii) * Embassy visit: In the 1 hour you are waiting for your immigration style photos to be ready, go to the US embassy and tell them to start your quick (FBI) name check.
.
4. Interview:

- Visa interview letter checked outside the embassy. You may go earlier than your indicated time.
- You may carry a bag for documents/ladies’ purse to the inside of embassy. Cell phones and remote car keys are not permitted inside. Deposit them at the security counter outside with phone in switched off mode.
- go inside, hand over the interview letter to any of the embassy help people, sit in the lounge, and ……wait.
- after about 1 hour, you will be called for checking/collection of documents by a local staff person. You will sign DS 230 part II, sign a statement that you will not leave your prospective employer and will notify the consulate if your job is gone, submit documents and 2 photos. Make sure they take 2 photos (if they take 1 photo, then you will need to carry 1 photo to be given to the USCIS immigration person at your port of entry (POE)
- if any fee wasn’t paid in full earlier (e.g. visa fee etc), then you will have to pay them at this stage. They will accept cash, both INR and US$
- come back to your seat, and ..

……… wait …..

- in about 3 hours, you will be called for final interview by the Visa officer. The person will ask some questions about ur employment, ur family etc., and if satidfied, ask you to raise right hand and take oath. ……. congrats.
- if your name check is incomplete, the visa officer will let you know and give you the option of collecting your passport and documents in person or having them mailed to anywhere in India.
- get your passport and the sealed envelope, to be given to the immigration officer at POE. (x ray is not needed). Carry 1 photo extra.

5. Post interview/travel back to US/port of entry

- you don’t need to fill I-94
- go to the New immigrants line if there is one at ur POE.
- the officer will take the sealed envelope and open it right there. The papers will be the forms that you had filled at the embassy and 1 photo. If the photo is not there, be sure to give it to the person there, else ur plastic card will be delayed.
- Immigration Visa stamp will be endorsed and you will be allowed entry to the US.

>>> NOW, you ARE a PERMANENT RESIDENT <<<

- in 2-3 weeks, you will get a welcome letter with a case number. Do Case status check at the USCIS website for ur plastic card.
- 3 weeks you should receive ur new SS card
- 4 weeks you should get ur plastic card.
- enjoy ur new life as a PR.
- Remember, you are a PR, not a Citizen, so any serious offense may lead to deportation.
.