Bulent

Folks,

I had my interview this morning in Chicago. It was scheduled at
7:45am, I was at the door (539 S LaSalle) at 7:15 but they opened the
doors at 7:25. I was the first one to be called in at 7:50. The
interview took 10 minutes, I was asked 6 questions from the standard
96 question list. I wrote down a very simple sentence. Interview went
smooth. I had indicated on my form that I was cited for two traffic
tickets, one speeding, one other moving violation. (I had checked yes
on question 16). The officer asked if I had been arrested before and
why I answered that question yes. I said that I had never been
arrested before and said they were minor traffic violations. She asked
if any were DUI and I said no. She did not even ask for the court
dispositions but I gave them to her to include with my application,
just in case. She said fine. I also gave her the paperwork I got from
the Circuit Court showing that I was never arrested before. She took
that too. But it looked like she was not even interested in them since
none of them were DUI.

Finally she gave me the "Congratulations!" paper and said I will get a
letter in the mail for the oath ceremony. She said 30-90 days. I
looked up on the upcoming ceremonies at

http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Press/ceremony.cfm

and there are a lot in March, so hopefully it will be soon.

Will let you know once I get the letter. Good luck to all.

June 11, 2003 Mailed N-400 (Chicago)
June 12, 2003 N-400 Rec'd by BCIS
June 18, 2003 $310 Check cashed
June 20, 2003 Received first NOA
July 3, 2003 NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
July 9, 2003 Received NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
July 29, 2003: Fingerprinted.
December 8, 20O3: Received NoA dated December 2,20O3, interview date
February 26, 2003.
February 26, 2004 - Passed interview / waiting for oath ceremony

Luca

bulent said the following on 2/26/2004 1:02 PM:
    > Folks,
    >
    > I had my interview this morning in Chicago. It was scheduled at
    > 7:45am, I was at the door (539 S LaSalle) at 7:15 but they opened the
    > doors at 7:25. I was the first one to be called in at 7:50. The
    > interview took 10 minutes, I was asked 6 questions from the standard
    > 96 question list. I wrote down a very simple sentence. Interview went
    > smooth. I had indicated on my form that I was cited for two traffic
    > tickets, one speeding, one other moving violation. (I had checked yes
    > on question 16). The officer asked if I had been arrested before and
    > why I answered that question yes. I said that I had never been
    > arrested before and said they were minor traffic violations. She asked
    > if any were DUI and I said no. She did not even ask for the court
    > dispositions but I gave them to her to include with my application,
    > just in case. She said fine. I also gave her the paperwork I got from
    > the Circuit Court showing that I was never arrested before. She took
    > that too. But it looked like she was not even interested in them since
    > none of them were DUI.
    >
    > Finally she gave me the "Congratulations!" paper and said I will get a
    > letter in the mail for the oath ceremony. She said 30-90 days. I
    > looked up on the upcoming ceremonies at
    >
    > http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Press/ceremony.cfm
    >
    > and there are a lot in March, so hopefully it will be soon.
    >
    > Will let you know once I get the letter. Good luck to all.
    >
    > June 11, 2003 Mailed N-400 (Chicago)
    > June 12, 2003 N-400 Rec'd by BCIS
    > June 18, 2003 $310 Check cashed
    > June 20, 2003 Received first NOA
    > July 3, 2003 NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
    > July 9, 2003 Received NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
    > July 29, 2003: Fingerprinted.
    > December 8, 20O3: Received NoA dated December 2,20O3, interview date
    > February 26, 2003.
    > February 26, 2004 - Passed interview / waiting for oath ceremony

Did you remember exactly how many times you left the US in the past 5
years? I have never been away more than 15 days, but I certainly do not
remember the exact dates of my vacations in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Is this
a problem? Can I answer 'to the best of my knowledge' or something like
that?

John

bulent,

Congratulations to you !!

One question for you.
My wife will be filing the N-400 within 3 weeks.
Your timeline shows :
"June 11, 2003 Mailed N-400 (Chicago)"
I am under the impression that for your area and ours we
must submit to Lincoln, NE.
If you would, please clarify.

Once Again, Congratulations.

John


"bulent" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Folks,
    > I had my interview this morning in Chicago. It was scheduled at
    > 7:45am, I was at the door (539 S LaSalle) at 7:15 but they opened the
    > doors at 7:25. I was the first one to be called in at 7:50. The
    > interview took 10 minutes, I was asked 6 questions from the standard
    > 96 question list. I wrote down a very simple sentence. Interview went
    > smooth. I had indicated on my form that I was cited for two traffic
    > tickets, one speeding, one other moving violation. (I had checked yes
    > on question 16). The officer asked if I had been arrested before and
    > why I answered that question yes. I said that I had never been
    > arrested before and said they were minor traffic violations. She asked
    > if any were DUI and I said no. She did not even ask for the court
    > dispositions but I gave them to her to include with my application,
    > just in case. She said fine. I also gave her the paperwork I got from
    > the Circuit Court showing that I was never arrested before. She took
    > that too. But it looked like she was not even interested in them since
    > none of them were DUI.
    > Finally she gave me the "Congratulations!" paper and said I will get a
    > letter in the mail for the oath ceremony. She said 30-90 days. I
    > looked up on the upcoming ceremonies at
    > http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Press/ceremony.cfm
    > and there are a lot in March, so hopefully it will be soon.
    > Will let you know once I get the letter. Good luck to all.
    > June 11, 2003 Mailed N-400 (Chicago)
    > June 12, 2003 N-400 Rec'd by BCIS
    > June 18, 2003 $310 Check cashed
    > June 20, 2003 Received first NOA
    > July 3, 2003 NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
    > July 9, 2003 Received NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
    > July 29, 2003: Fingerprinted.
    > December 8, 20O3: Received NoA dated December 2,20O3, interview date
    > February 26, 2003.
    > February 26, 2004 - Passed interview / waiting for oath ceremony

skyisblue

congratulations bulent,
Wanted to ask you if they asked you about tax returns transcripts?
thanks

N-400 Prirority date :- July 7 2003
Finger print NOA recd : July 15 2003
finger print done :- Aug 7 2003
Interview (case status disappered ) :- Jan 8 2004
NOA for Interview dated :- Jan 9 2004 recd on :- Jan 13 2004
Interview scheduled for :- March 10 2004 (chicago)

Bulent

Luca -

I had left the US 6 times during the past 5 years, I had kept all my
plane ticket stubs and my boarding passes so I was right on the money
on my application. I had left the US for 64 days total. The Turkish
passports need to be stamped at every entry and leave from Turkish
ports so I had stamps in my passport to prove the dates. And also the
officer checked the entry stamps that were stamped in my passport when
I arrived to US each time. Do you have such stamps?

John -

Yes I sent the forms to Lincoln, Nebraska.




"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<g6v%[email protected]>...
    > bulent,
    >
    > Congratulations to you !!
    >
    > One question for you.
    > My wife will be filing the N-400 within 3 weeks.
    > Your timeline shows :
    > "June 11, 2003 Mailed N-400 (Chicago)"
    > I am under the impression that for your area and ours we
    > must submit to Lincoln, NE.
    > If you would, please clarify.
    >
    > Once Again, Congratulations.
    >
    > John
    >
    >
    > "bulent" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Folks,
    > >
    > > I had my interview this morning in Chicago. It was scheduled at
    > > 7:45am, I was at the door (539 S LaSalle) at 7:15 but they opened the
    > > doors at 7:25. I was the first one to be called in at 7:50. The
    > > interview took 10 minutes, I was asked 6 questions from the standard
    > > 96 question list. I wrote down a very simple sentence. Interview went
    > > smooth. I had indicated on my form that I was cited for two traffic
    > > tickets, one speeding, one other moving violation. (I had checked yes
    > > on question 16). The officer asked if I had been arrested before and
    > > why I answered that question yes. I said that I had never been
    > > arrested before and said they were minor traffic violations. She asked
    > > if any were DUI and I said no. She did not even ask for the court
    > > dispositions but I gave them to her to include with my application,
    > > just in case. She said fine. I also gave her the paperwork I got from
    > > the Circuit Court showing that I was never arrested before. She took
    > > that too. But it looked like she was not even interested in them since
    > > none of them were DUI.
    > >
    > > Finally she gave me the "Congratulations!" paper and said I will get a
    > > letter in the mail for the oath ceremony. She said 30-90 days. I
    > > looked up on the upcoming ceremonies at
    > >
    > > http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Press/ceremony.cfm
    > >
    > > and there are a lot in March, so hopefully it will be soon.
    > >
    > > Will let you know once I get the letter. Good luck to all.
    > >
    > > June 11, 2003 Mailed N-400 (Chicago)
    > > June 12, 2003 N-400 Rec'd by BCIS
    > > June 18, 2003 $310 Check cashed
    > > June 20, 2003 Received first NOA
    > > July 3, 2003 NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
    > > July 9, 2003 Received NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
    > > July 29, 2003: Fingerprinted.
    > > December 8, 20O3: Received NoA dated December 2,20O3, interview date
    > > February 26, 2003.
    > > February 26, 2004 - Passed interview / waiting for oath ceremony

Skyisblue

congratulations bulent
I wanted to ask you if they asked you about tax return transcripts?
thanks

N-400 Prirority date :- July 7 2003
Finger print NOA recd : July 15 2003
finger print done :- Aug 7 2003
Interview (case status disappered ) :- Jan 8 2004
NOA for Interview dated :- Jan 9 2004 recd on :- Jan 13 2004
Interview scheduled for :- March 10 2004


bulent wrote:
    > Luca -
    >
    > I had left the US 6 times during the past 5 years, I had kept all my
    > plane ticket stubs and my boarding passes so I was right on the money
    > on my application. I had left the US for 64 days total. The Turkish
    > passports need to be stamped at every entry and leave from Turkish
    > ports so I had stamps in my passport to prove the dates. And also the
    > officer checked the entry stamps that were stamped in my passport when
    > I arrived to US each time. Do you have such stamps?
    >
    > John -
    >
    > Yes I sent the forms to Lincoln, Nebraska.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<g6v%[email protected]>...
    >
    >>bulent,
    >>Congratulations to you !!
    >>One question for you.
    >>My wife will be filing the N-400 within 3 weeks.
    >>Your timeline shows :
    >>"June 11, 2003 Mailed N-400 (Chicago)"
    >>I am under the impression that for your area and ours we
    >>must submit to Lincoln, NE.
    >>If you would, please clarify.
    >>Once Again, Congratulations.
    >>John
    >>"bulent" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >>news:[email protected]...
    >>>Folks,
    >>>I had my interview this morning in Chicago. It was scheduled at
    >>>7:45am, I was at the door (539 S LaSalle) at 7:15 but they opened the
    >>>doors at 7:25. I was the first one to be called in at 7:50. The
    >>>interview took 10 minutes, I was asked 6 questions from the standard
    >>>96 question list. I wrote down a very simple sentence. Interview went
    >>>smooth. I had indicated on my form that I was cited for two traffic
    >>>tickets, one speeding, one other moving violation. (I had checked yes
    >>>on question 16). The officer asked if I had been arrested before and
    >>>why I answered that question yes. I said that I had never been
    >>>arrested before and said they were minor traffic violations. She asked
    >>>if any were DUI and I said no. She did not even ask for the court
    >>>dispositions but I gave them to her to include with my application,
    >>>just in case. She said fine. I also gave her the paperwork I got from
    >>>the Circuit Court showing that I was never arrested before. She took
    >>>that too. But it looked like she was not even interested in them since
    >>>none of them were DUI.
    >>>Finally she gave me the "Congratulations!" paper and said I will get a
    >>>letter in the mail for the oath ceremony. She said 30-90 days. I
    >>>looked up on the upcoming ceremonies at
    >>>http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Press/ceremony.cfm
    >>>and there are a lot in March, so hopefully it will be soon.
    >>>Will let you know once I get the letter. Good luck to all.
    >>>June 11, 2003 Mailed N-400 (Chicago)
    >>>June 12, 2003 N-400 Rec'd by BCIS
    >>>June 18, 2003 $310 Check cashed
    >>>June 20, 2003 Received first NOA
    >>>July 3, 2003 NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
    >>>July 9, 2003 Received NOA: Fingerprinting Schedule
    >>>July 29, 2003: Fingerprinted.
    >>>December 8, 20O3: Received NoA dated December 2,20O3, interview date
    >>>February 26, 2003.
    >>>February 26, 2004 - Passed interview / waiting for oath ceremony

Luca

bulent said the following on 2/26/2004 11:21 PM:
    > Luca -
    >
    > I had left the US 6 times during the past 5 years, I had kept all my
    > plane ticket stubs and my boarding passes so I was right on the money
    > on my application. I had left the US for 64 days total. The Turkish
    > passports need to be stamped at every entry and leave from Turkish
    > ports so I had stamps in my passport to prove the dates. And also the
    > officer checked the entry stamps that were stamped in my passport when
    > I arrived to US each time. Do you have such stamps?
    >
    > John -

I don't. I traveled to Italy and they do not stamp Europen passports.
That's why I can't in good faith be precise. I know I went there a
couple of weeks in 2000, stuff like that, but I can't remember the dates
at all. So what should I say in the form?

Lkish

By the way,

I knew from reading prior posts over the years that the issue of leaving the US
would come up down the road so my husband and I kept a simple list of where we
went and when. The N-400 application is a bit strange in that is asks how long
you were out of the USA - not taking into consideration if you entered on a K-1
visa in one year. We fully explained the differences (we did not marry until
12/98 so he was out of the country for most of that year).

We included tax returns, both Federal and State, with the application. Now that
the interview is set for the end of March, we have ordered and received tax
transcripts for the last 5 years as well as 2003 taxes, which we just
completed. We also ordered his DMV transcript as he has a speeding violation
and a moving violation (illegal U-turn). When we submitted the application we
called the 800 hotline back in late 2002/early 2003 and they told us not to
include these. Well if you have been reading the posts they want to see these
so defintely send them in. Better to have too much than too little.

Linda

Bulent

Skyisblue-

In my case, these are the only things that they wanted to see:
-Green card
-Passport
-Selective Service Card

I had applied based on 5 years of PR, so I did not have to show tax
returns, but the officer asked if I paid my taxes, and I said yes.
But if you are applying based on marriage to US Citizen, then I guess
they want to see those to see if you filed jointly.

Luca-

I do not know what to tell you. Is there any way that you can contact
the Italian Consulate and try to get that info from them? Maybe they
are keeping track of your entries.



Luca <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > bulent said the following on 2/26/2004 11:21 PM:
    > > Luca -
    > >
    > > I had left the US 6 times during the past 5 years, I had kept all my
    > > plane ticket stubs and my boarding passes so I was right on the money
    > > on my application. I had left the US for 64 days total. The Turkish
    > > passports need to be stamped at every entry and leave from Turkish
    > > ports so I had stamps in my passport to prove the dates. And also the
    > > officer checked the entry stamps that were stamped in my passport when
    > > I arrived to US each time. Do you have such stamps?
    > >
    > > John -
    >
    > I don't. I traveled to Italy and they do not stamp Europen passports.
    > That's why I can't in good faith be precise. I know I went there a
    > couple of weeks in 2000, stuff like that, but I can't remember the dates
    > at all. So what should I say in the form?

Luca

bulent said the following on 2/27/2004 6:48 PM:

    > Skyisblue-
    >
    > In my case, these are the only things that they wanted to see:
    > -Green card
    > -Passport
    > -Selective Service Card
    >
    > I had applied based on 5 years of PR, so I did not have to show tax
    > returns, but the officer asked if I paid my taxes, and I said yes.
    > But if you are applying based on marriage to US Citizen, then I guess
    > they want to see those to see if you filed jointly.
    >
    > Luca-
    >
    > I do not know what to tell you. Is there any way that you can contact
    > the Italian Consulate and try to get that info from them? Maybe they
    > are keeping track of your entries.


Italian Consulate keeping track of something? LOL, I don't think so.
They have problem with the proverbial hole in the ground. Will try to
reconstruct as well as I can, thanks anyway.
    >
    >
    > Luca <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    >
    >>bulent said the following on 2/26/2004 11:21 PM:
    >>>Luca -
    >>>I had left the US 6 times during the past 5 years, I had kept all my
    >>>plane ticket stubs and my boarding passes so I was right on the money
    >>>on my application. I had left the US for 64 days total. The Turkish
    >>>passports need to be stamped at every entry and leave from Turkish
    >>>ports so I had stamps in my passport to prove the dates. And also the
    >>>officer checked the entry stamps that were stamped in my passport when
    >>>I arrived to US each time. Do you have such stamps?
    >>>John -
    >>I don't. I traveled to Italy and they do not stamp Europen passports.
    >>That's why I can't in good faith be precise. I know I went there a
    >>couple of weeks in 2000, stuff like that, but I can't remember the dates
    >>at all. So what should I say in the form?

Bulent

I received my oath letter on Thursday the 4th. I am set for March 23,
8:00 am. I was interviewed on Feb 26, letter was dated March 1st, and
sent on March 2nd.

June 12 2003 Priority Date (Chicago - Lincoln Nebraska)
March 23 2004 Oath Ceremony
Around 9 months from start to finish.






Luca <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > bulent said the following on 2/27/2004 6:48 PM:
    >
    > > Skyisblue-
    > >
    > > In my case, these are the only things that they wanted to see:
    > > -Green card
    > > -Passport
    > > -Selective Service Card
    > >
    > > I had applied based on 5 years of PR, so I did not have to show tax
    > > returns, but the officer asked if I paid my taxes, and I said yes.
    > > But if you are applying based on marriage to US Citizen, then I guess
    > > they want to see those to see if you filed jointly.
    > >
    > > Luca-
    > >
    > > I do not know what to tell you. Is there any way that you can contact
    > > the Italian Consulate and try to get that info from them? Maybe they
    > > are keeping track of your entries.
    > >
    >
    >
    > Italian Consulate keeping track of something? LOL, I don't think so.
    > They have problem with the proverbial hole in the ground. Will try to
    > reconstruct as well as I can, thanks anyway.
    > >
    > >
    > > Luca <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > >
    > >>bulent said the following on 2/26/2004 11:21 PM:
    > >>
    > >>>Luca -
    > >>>
    > >>>I had left the US 6 times during the past 5 years, I had kept all my
    > >>>plane ticket stubs and my boarding passes so I was right on the money
    > >>>on my application. I had left the US for 64 days total. The Turkish
    > >>>passports need to be stamped at every entry and leave from Turkish
    > >>>ports so I had stamps in my passport to prove the dates. And also the
    > >>>officer checked the entry stamps that were stamped in my passport when
    > >>>I arrived to US each time. Do you have such stamps?
    > >>>
    > >>>John -
    > >>
    > >>I don't. I traveled to Italy and they do not stamp Europen passports.
    > >>That's why I can't in good faith be precise. I know I went there a
    > >>couple of weeks in 2000, stuff like that, but I can't remember the dates
    > >>at all. So what should I say in the form?

Brenda Ballard

where can you obtain a book to study for the test... my husband is
canadian and want to apply as soon as he can,,,,,,,,,,,he has been in
the us for one year how long does he have to wait....our 130 was just
approved,

bb

suiram

First, he generally needs to wait 3 years - 90 days from the day he obtained LPR status to submit N400.
As to the regards of "study book", you can find it here: http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/require.htm, under "Knowledge of English Language, U.S. History, and Government"

Keep in mind that USCIS is working on a new version of natz. test - I think they are going with something akin to the on-line test.

citizen-cane

skyisblue

hello,
today i completed my N-400 interview in chicago. Took 15 min for the interview.
The officer asked me to take oath and then asked me 6 questions from the 96 civics and us govt. questions. I answered all of them.
then he went over the application asked me how many times i have been outside the country and how long, checked my passport and greencard.
he asked me if i was ever arrested i told him i was citied twice for traffic voilations. He went over the Selective service documents. Finally he asked me to sign the applications and photographs.
he handed me a letter saying my application has been recommended for approval and that i will get the oath letter in 1-2 months.
hope i get it as fast as Bulent got it.
good luck to everybody.

timeline
N-400 Prirority date :- July 7 2003
Finger print NOA recd : July 15 2003
finger print done :- Aug 7 2003
Interview (case status disappered ) :- Jan 8 2004
NOA for Interview dated :- Jan 9 2004 recd on :- Jan 13 2004
Interviewed and passed :- March 10 2004