We were notified this week about interviews for naturalization in January, we do not have conditional green cards if that makes any difference.

I read through some older threads on here and see that some people are sworn in on the same day as the interview and others have to come back on a different date. It also looked like perhaps some people weren't aware ahead of the interview that they were going to be given the option to take the oath on the same day, but that could just be how I'm reading their posts and so may be wrong on that.

The letter we have does not mention any swearing in ceremony or oath taking, just an interview. We have to attend the same place where we got our biometrics which is the USCIS services office in Jackson, MS, but the nearest Field Office to us is in New Orleans, I'm not sure what exactly the Jackson office is but it's not a field office.

Is there any way to know if we are likely to be offered to take the oath that same day, or is just a wait and see scenario?

Depends on the current arrangements at the office in question. Some are doing same-day oath. My local office is doing the oath there and then in the interview room with just the applicant and the officer, no ceremony. But that’s just how that particular office has chosen to handle things. Because it’s a big, busy office the oath ceremonies were huge and conflict with our current restrictions on gatherings in this state so they have been stopped. Your office may not have such restrictions in place or may have enough space to conduct ceremonies as normal with everyone spaced 6 feet apart (I have seen pictures of such ceremonies). There just isn’t the room to do that in some locations.

Im hoping to have a same-day oath. It will at least help with the huge delay I’ve had with my case. I applied in September 2019 and currently have an estimated completion date of March 2021.

Thanks Steph! There are restriction in the City of Jackson and in our state of no more than 10 indoors so pretty sure that will remain in place next month too. Will just wait and see what happens I guess as I don't know if they typically do ceremonies in that location in non covid times or not

Good morning, Horticulturalist from another Mississippian. I'm in Hattiesburg, MS. Are you enjoying the below freezing weather here this morning? Hubby naturalized in NYC so I'm unfamiliar with the oath ceremony down here.

Yes! I can't handle the heat so may have chosen the wrong state to live in, lol! But I'm loving the crisp morning air and sun shining here in Jackson.

Rete, I have another question you may know the answer to as you've a lot more knowledge in these things than I do. We applied and paid the fees Nov 2019 for two adults and our two kids at that time. However, my oldest son turned 18 earlier this year so does that mean I'll have to have him reapply as an adult for naturalization, that the younger one becomes a citizen by default when we do but my older son will not now? I don't suppose there's any way round that or a way to amend the current process in any way? Our green cards expired earlier this year too and we chose not to renew them due to the cost as we were waiting for naturalization, but he will not have naturalization nor a valid green card so looks like I'll have to pay all the dollars and apply for both now so that he can come with us to the UK later this summer, that's if the green card can be renewed in time!

Yes, the 18 year old will have to naturalize on their own, unfortunately.

And yes, again, you will have to apply for the renewed green card for him. There is no rush for him to naturalize so you can hold off on that for a year or so. He is and will remain a permanent resident.

One suggestion is that after applying for his green card renewal online, try to take him with you to the USCIS office and see if they will stamp his passport with the I-551 to tide him over until the green card comes in the mail.

Oh thank you so much Rete, I did not know about the I-551 and I will look into that and see if they will stamp his passport with it.

Went through this in CA a couple of months ago. At the end of the interview I was asked if I was free that afternoon and scheduled for the oath ceremony. Wife had similar that afternoon but they screwed up with printing so she had to wait 2 weeks. Could go either way :-)