The day of reckoning is near...

[discoviking]

After 7 months wait, the interview is coming up nect week, on 2/2 in Newark, NJ. I was a bit surprised to see that they scheduled the interview on a Saturday, at 8:40 in the morning no less.

I have already made a dry run to the USCIS building to time it and figure out where to park, so the only thing left now is to read through the test booklet for the n'th time and count down the remainding days..... 8days and a few hours left as a Norwegian LPR....

Timeline so far:

N-400 received on May 23, 2007
Fingerprint appontment on June 22, in and out in 30 minutes!
Interview scheduled for Feb 2008

[discoviking]

Got to the Newark, NJ office at 7:45, appointment was at 8:40. Went through security and checked in at the window.
My name was called at 8:30, and went to the interviewers office. I was put under oath, and he started looking through my files, then asked for my greencard and foreign passports, including my expired ones whick had my original K1 visa in it. I asked if he needed to see my confirmation letter that I registered for Selective Service, but he did not need it, since it was from 1985.

Next he went through the application to confirm all the informaton on it. He had a couple of questions regarding the marriage history to clarify the dates, but did not need to see any documentation since I was appying based on over 5 years of legal residence. I have no criminal record either, only a couple of traffic tickets and a fine from Fish and Game for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but that was of no concern, either.

Then he moved on to the test, were I got 10 out of 10, and asked me to write a sentence in english.

After that, i signed the two photograps and the application, was given another piece of paper to fill out (notice for Oath ceremonmy at 9:30 the same day) and told to go back out to the waiting room.

20 minutes after that I was called to a different window, where I was asked to verify the information on my naturalization certificate, was handed two booklets, and told to sit down until called for the Oath ceremony.

At 9:30, everyone waiting for the ceremony was told to go to a different room, where they showed a couple of short videos, gave some information, and then we were sworn in. After that we recited the pledge of allegiance, watched a message from President Bush, and were given our certificates.

A little after 10, I was in my car heading back home.


Timeline:
Arrived on K1 June 1984
Permanent Green Card received 1985
N-400 received by BCIS on May 23, 2007
Fingerprint appontment on June 22, in and out in 30 minutes!
Interview scheduled for Feb 2,2008 - Approved!

Next: Register to vote, and get a US Passport.

[hilarya]

I'm so happy for you. What kind of history test did they do? Was it hard?

[discoviking]

They were using the old test, I am not sure when they will start using the revised one. When I went for my fingerprints, they gave me a booklet with all the questions and answers, and the interviewer picked 10 out of the 96 questions in the booklet. The history related ones were "Who wrote the Star Sprangled Banner?' (Francis Scott Key), and 'What did the emancipation proclamation do?' (Freed the slaves).

The only question I had a problem with was when he asked me to name the two Senators from New Jersey, and I could not remeber Robert Menedez's first name. The interviewer let that one slide, since I got the last name. (The other NJ senator is Frank Lautenberg)
The questions on the old test are not hard if you read through the booklet a few times.

[hilarya]

cool. Thank you for the info. My hubby won't be eligible to apply for citizenship until 2011, but I just wanted to make sure that I know how hard the test is. Congratulations to you again! I am very happy for you.

[discoviking]

Thanks! 2011 will be here before you know it, though..

[Pinkpig]

At 9:30, everyone waiting for the ceremony was told to go to a different room, where they showed a couple of short videos, gave some information, and then we were sworn in. After that we recited the pledge of allegiance, watched a message from President Bush, and were given our certificates.


Next: Register to vote, and get a US Passport.

Congratulations to the newest citizen of The United States of America!!

[SAD ANITA]

After 7 months wait, the interview is coming up nect week, on 2/2 in Newark, NJ. I was a bit surprised to see that they scheduled the interview on a Saturday, at 8:40 in the morning no less.

I have already made a dry run to the USCIS building to time it and figure out where to park, so the only thing left now is to read through the test booklet for the n'th time and count down the remainding days..... 8days and a few hours left as a Norwegian LPR....

Timeline so far:

N-400 received on May 23, 2007
Fingerprint appontment on June 22, in and out in 30 minutes!
Interview scheduled for Feb 2008


when I read about the Newark experience ,, it brought tears to my eyes ,,, you see my hubby was arrested in that office @ our AOS interview,,, really really bad experience:blush:

[karmen25]

How cool ! You already finish with all the process but congratulations .... I still need to wait into 2011 too.

[discoviking]

when I read about the Newark experience ,, it brought tears to my eyes ,,, you see my hubby was arrested in that office @ our AOS interview,,, really really bad experience:blush:
Wow. I'm sorry to hear that, Anita. I hope you get him back soon.

How cool ! You already finish with all the process but congratulations .... I still need to wait into 2011 too.
My new passport arrived in the mail today, so I'm all done now...

[Luckysprite]

discoviking ... I am a little slow getting to this post .. but congratulations!! :)

[Marie]

Disco, I hadn't seen this thread earlier either: Did they keep your foreign passports?

[discoviking]

No, they have no jurisdiction over my Norwegian passports. I still have them, the most recent is valid for another 5 years. Got my US passport 2 weeks later, and voted for the first time last week....

[Marie]

ok that's what I was wondering. I couldn't remember where you from. Yeah because i'm holding on to mine as well whenever the time comes.

[discoviking]

The US still allows dual citizenship, so they don't make you surrender your original passport, nor do they notify your country that you have received US citizenship. Norway on the other hand doesn't allow dual citizenship, so I suppose Norway expect me to notify them and surrender my passport to their embassy, but I'm in no rush....

Which country are you from?

[Marie]

France :) They tolerate dual.

[discoviking]

Yeah, that's why it took me over 20 years to decide to finally send in the N-400. It's kinda final for me, and I'm pretty much just holding on to the Norwegian passport for sentimental reasons. I won't be travelling on it or try to renew it, obviously.

[Marie]

if i had to choose, i wouldn't file for citizenship here so i'm glad it's not a choice i have to make

[discoviking]

Well, I can always EWI from Sweden if I ever wanted to move back.... Don't see that happening, though. Seriously, it shouldn't be that difficult to go back if it came to that, I still have family there that could sponsor me.