Community Stories

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 !!

Hi everyone,

I had my interview in NYC. It took about 10 min or less. I was approved on the spot and advised to wait for the oath letter, which I did.

Yes, I renewed my passport and went to COP three times (short trips) - I listed all trips on my application. No questions had been asked. However, being a member of this forum for years, I had all kind of docs with me to defend my decision to go.

No questions about asylum whatsoever. Just wanted to share. Good luck to everyone.

Hi All,

Sorry for the delay in posting about my experience.

As some of you know, I filed in August 2007 and got stuck in the front-log, and was unable to do my finger prints until December 2007. However, luckily, my interview was scheduled right away for March 2008.

In Buffalo, we do not have same day oath, so I knew going in that I would not be sworn in the same day. I did know however, that I would get the oath notice right away (on the spot) if I passed, because they hold ceremonies every 2 weeks.

My application was strong but my interview was weak and I slipped on a question or two. Towards the end of the interview, the asylum officer was very quiet and cold and when I told him that I would send him the document he requested he seemed like he didn't care. Do you think that means he is going to deny my application? How many days did it take for you to get your decision by mail

All,

It's not over till it's over...but it sure is darn close!
So, had my interview today...and in sharp contrast to all the horror interview stories I read here, my interview was like from another world. Had the nicest, kindest elderly gentleman one could find, he referred to me as son a few times, and right upfront said that it will be over in a few minutes. Also said that I was lucky to find the easiest lot of civics questions (apparently they have a set of 10 and I got the easy one).

No idea as to why it took so long. Nothing unusual about my application (no name changes). I reported one traffic ticket, included a copy of the court disposition ($50 fine for running a red light). 

My interview took literally 15 mins. He checked if I was at the same residence, checked if I was working for the same company, went thru my application, asked if I wanted a name change (I said 'no"), asked to see my passport, license, green card, gave me 10 US history questions which I need to write the answers to (got them all correct), asked to write out my name on top of my two photographs and then gave a form that had "Congratulations you have been approved for citizenship...blah blah blah" box checked off. That is it.

I filed my N400 on 25 oct 2011 when completed 4years 9 months of my Legal residency. FP was done on 14 Nov2011. Naturalization interview was on 21 Dec 2011 at San Jose . The officer was extremely nice and cordial. I had an issue of 182 days in one trip and total 846 days away from USA, total 6trips. As advised by Rajiv, I enclosed a letter with N400 about visiting India to see my aged mother yearly who passed away this year and explained the over stay due to my younger brother daughter's marriage as Host after my father's death.