Feb 3, 2022 Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Citizenship and Naturalization
Green Card
Discussion topics:
Discussion topics:
Release Date: January 15, 2010
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Rule Formalizes Longstanding Policy to Expedite Citizenship for Service Men and Women
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the publication of a rule formalizing DHS' longstanding policy to expedite and streamline the citizenship process for men and women bravely serving in America's armed forces.
Release Date
05/17/2021
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. The grant opportunities will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.
Went through my Oath Ceremony on Wednesday. It was a tremendous event and I'm very proud to now be a US Citizen. There were 727 applicants and numerous family members present at The Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA. Surprisingly the process of getting us to our seats, starting the Ceremony and handing out the Naturalization Certificates went very smoothly, USCIS has done this a number of times so I guess they have the system figured out pretty well.
I just returned from my trip and it was amazing. I wanted to share that my passport application experience was stress free. I made an appointment and took all of the documents they requested which included the travel itinerary or letter from my employer about my job related travel. I had both but they only used one and I also paid the expedited fee . My appointment was on Wednesday at 1:00 PM. I spent 45 min in total and was asked to return 11:30 AM Thursday to collect it.
Had my Naturalization Interview this morning and all went well, I was issued an N-652 indicating that my application has been recommended for approval. After weeks of stressing over this it took about 20 minutes from start to finish, the I/O was a very nice Gentleman, I probably thanked him a little too much at the end but I was very happy and proud.
So I had my interview on Sept 3rd and I went in without the Original Country of Citizenship Passport however as my previous posts state that I had made color copies of each page in my Passport book. Furthermore, I got each page notarized by a Notary Public and obtained a letter from Swiss Embassy that my original Passport (number xxxxx) is with them with effect from data xxxx for Schengen visa processing etc. So I was ready but still I was hoping that the I/O wont ask for my Passport and I don't have to bring all of this up.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is launching new efforts to highlight U.S. citizenship and immigrant civic integration to celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. These initiatives will also improve customer service and support aspiring citizens on their path to naturalization.
The initiatives include:
I wanted to thank everyone for all the helpful comments and guidance posted in this forum!
Went to the USCIS office in Manhattan yesterday for my interview at 730 am. After going through security went to the waiting area and handed my interview notice to the receptionist. My name was called by the IO at 8 am. It must have been a very quiet day and there were no more than 15-20 people in the waiting area!
My parents had their citizenship interview few days back. My father passed the interview. My mother had been concentrating more on the civics part and never went over the N-400 application. When the USCIS officer asked her about tax returns and other questions she got confused and couldn't answer then correctly as she was scared to answer them wrong. She passed the civics. On the form she was given at the end stated that she needs to be retested again for understanding language.My father has his oath ceremony next week.
I had my interview at the JFK Building, Boston. My appointment time was around 8am. I got there at 7:30. I was called in at around 9 am. It was a standard interview. I took oath to tell the truth. He asked for my GC, Passport and proof that I had registered for selective service. That is all he asked for.
We went through the N-400 first. He was very detailed. Chatted about my work in between. I had already prepared my travel log since the time of my application and he added that as an addendum to my application. After that we did the civics exams.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 11 August 2016:
FAQ: Canadian citizen (or any person) getting married to a US green card holder; Consequences of denial of an H-1 transfer petition; When is an H-1B amendment necessary; Applying for green card for parents; Getting H-1 transfer while an amendment/extension is pending.
Other: Accompanying student minor, son to live in the USA on B-1/B-2 visa; Reentry permit applying for US citizenship; Parents moving to the USA healthcare and other issues; effect on priority date if I-140 employee remains outside the USA, etc; Affidavit of Support I-864 co-sponsor; Green card holder applying for spouse - Final Action dates on visa bulletin; H-1B extension if old I-140 is revoked, etc; Applying for H-1 through a new company, etc.; How to prove country of birth, etc.
My friend had a naturalization interview on June 28. He passed the tests, but they asked for tax transcripts for the past 3 years and proof that he is current with all of his income state tax obligations.
On July 11 he went in person in Chicago USCIS office and gave the required evidence. On the same they, he received email that a recent action was taken on his case. The online status was saying that request for evidence was asked and he has deadline until June 28 to do so. Once again, he gave them the required documents on July 11.
Here is my short story. Me and my wife applied in March, 2016. We were scheduled for interview in SF district for August, 4. Few weeks before the interview we submitted address change request and later got our confirmation letters. The new physical address is the same city and the mailing address is the different district. Everything remain same for my wife but something wrong happened to my case. It was cancelled and in few days scheduled again for August 30 but in the _different district_ - the Santa Clara district where my mailing address is in.
Nearly $10 Million in Funding to Support Citizenship Preparation Programs in 21 States
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today awarded nearly $10 million in grants under two funding opportunities to 46 organizations that will help permanent residents prepare and apply for U.S. citizenship. Located in 21 states, these organizations will receive federal funding to support citizenship preparation services for permanent residents through September 2018.
| 1. | Legal Fees (for our Office) 1,800 - $2,400 depending on type of case, due at the commencement of the case |
| 2. |
Filing Fees to the USCIS (Single Applicant): Form N-400, See USCIS Fee Calculator |
| 3. | Federal Express Expenses: approximately $75 - $100 |
We completed our interviews and oath ceremony this week. I speak from my personal experience only but I believe when you submit your N-400 applications, they try to keep track of both spouse's cases together. We filed 3 years ago and both our case statuses would change at the same time, even though I know I was the primary applicant responsible for the delay due to name and security checks.
My citizenship journey is over. I am a naturalized US citizen as of 09/23. Things that I learned from this forum gave me confidence to complete the journey. I must detail my experience for the benefit of the posterity.
Seattle USCIS DO naturalization interview experience
My wife and I went for our interviews yesterday which went well and we did attend a same day oath ceremony at the Seattle office yesterday - we are finally US citizens. Here is my experience:
I went through security and was directed by the lady at the front desk to sit in the waiting room if I was there for the Oath Ceremony and told to have my green card ready. I was about 30 minutes early (my appt was for 1:30). At 1:35 PM a gentleman came out and said that all applicants must line up and take out the form and green card, He also said the top left line should have the city where the Oath was taking place not our home address and the home address should be on the bottom right only.
My appointment was scheduled at 7:15 am. Yes, 7:15 in the morning. I arrived the USCIS office on W. Badura Ave. at 6:45 am. There were about eleven people waiting by the front door already. The guard opened the door at 7:05 am. After I went through the security and set in the waiting area, it was twenty after seven. There were five people waiting in the interview area. The rest was in for info pass or fingerprint.
DO: Houston
2.26.14 : N400 Couriered to Lewisville, TX
2.27.14 : Package Delivered
2.28.14 : USCIS Priority Date
3.05.14 : Check cashed
3.05.14 : N400 accepted - Email Notification
3.06.14 : NOA received
3.07.14 : Online Status FP appointment notice mailed
3.13.14 : Received FP Notice - 03/25/14
3.14.14 : FP done - walk in
3.19.14 : Status changed to In Line for interview scheduling
7.11.14 : Status changed to Scheduled for Interview
7.21.14: Received Interview Letter
8.19.14: Interview
8.19.14: Oath Letter
8.27.14: Oath
02/06/14: N-400 couriered to Phoenix, AZ - Santa Ana CA DO
02/07/14: Delivered
02/07/14: Priority Date
02/12/14: Check Cashed
02/14/14: Received NOA letter
02/21/14: Online Status FP appointment notice mailed
02/24/14: Received FP Notice - 03/04/14
02/25/14: FP done - walk-in Santa Ana CA
03/03/14: Online Status Changed to "In Line"
07/18/14: Received Interview Letter
08/20/14: Interview