Always21,
I started in Phoenix - the slowest location around. Then move to El Paso.
When I move to El Paso, it got speed up because El Paso was faster than
Phoenix. But then the nightmare began - INS lost my paperwork, yes the whole
file.
INS blamed it on computer conversion. Yes it happened :-(
So total time was about 5 years.
Well... I'm back in Phoenix... last year one of my friend did it in Phoenix,
file paperwork in October and was interviewed in Febuary so I would say
about the same timeline or faster because I have to go for fingerprinting
next week.
AL
"Always21" wrote in message
news:34$343100$3080032$1135174868@britishexpats.com...
>
>> WOW that fast, huh?
>> I was thinking that maybe it will take about 9 to 12 months to get
>> citizenship.
>>
>> I just filled the paperwork just before 1st of November but it was
>> returned
>> because stupid me forgot to sign the check :-) then refilled it
>> november
>> 17th and get the notice soon after that.
>>
>> Just yesterday, I got a letter for fingerprint. A bit suprise at the
>> speed
>> for citizenship this time. Let's hope it doesn't take more than 5
>> years this
>> time as it took for my PR.
>>
>> "Always21" wrote in message
>> news:34$343100$3074999$1135003368@britishexpats.com...
>> >> Always21 wrote:
>> >> > I thought I would post my citizenship interview experience at the
>> >> > Baltimore office yesterday. Everything went smoothly. The
>> >> > interviewer
>> >> > was friendly and asked me if I was a football fan in the UK. He
>> >> > looked
>> >> > at my passport, green card and ID, very quickly ran through my
>> >> > application to verify everything (we had a second child since
>> >> > applying
>> >> > so he added that, but did not ask for any evidence) and then
>> >> > asked
>> >> > for
>> >> > documentation. He didn't specifically request things (and I had
>> >> > taken my
>> >> > whole life with me!) so I gave him copies of three years of tax
>> >> > returns
>> >> > (my citizenship is based on marriage), three months of bank
>> >> > statements
>> >> > and three months of mortgage statements. He also took the tax
>> >> > transcripts I had requested from the IRS, although I'm sure
>> >> > returns
>> >> > OR
>> >> > transcripts would have been fine on their own.
>> >> > I had taken my civics and English test when I went for
>> >> > fingerprinting in
>> >> > November, so the interview lasted probably not more than five
>> >> > mintues.
>> >> > He was trying to get me through by 2pm so that I could go to the
>> >> > oath
>> >> > ceremony at three, and we finished right before two, so I was
>> >> > able
>> >> > to.
>> >> > I'm glad to finally be done with USCIS, and that it ended up
>> >> > being
>> >> > so
>> >> > much quicker than I expected to get citizenship. Here is my
>> >> > timeline:
>> >> > August 15th - USCIS received application
>> >> > September 21st - Fingerprinting
>> >> > September 21st - Took civics test
>> >> > November 3rd - Received interview date
>> >> > December 15th - Interview and oath ceremony
>> >> > --
>> >> > Posted via http://britishexpats.com
>> >> Congratulations! It sounds like the process went pretty well for
>> >> you.
>> >> I
>> >> can imagine it must have been an onerous and worrisome process.
>> >> Even
>> >> though it went smoothly, there was all the paperwork, the
>> >> documentation, the gathering of all your papers, the
>> >> fingerprinting,
>> >> the fees, the test and the stress of the interview.
>> >> Did you feel any tinge of remorse, or loss at the prospect of
>> >> letting
>> >> go of your sole (presumably UK) citizenship? Was it an easy thing
>> >> for
>> >> you, or did you struggle with the decision? Please, see my other
>> >> post
>> >> on "Taking the Oath..." for an understanding of why I ask.
>> >> -elgoog
>> > Thanks frrussre. I have downloaded the US passport applications to
>> > fill
>> > in (need to get one for my 3-month-old too) and will go to the Post
>> > Office after Christmas (ie when I can get in the door) to get
>> > pictures
>> > taken and send off the apps.
>> > Elgoog, yes I definitely felt something while taking the oath, as I
>> > don't consider I have given up my UK citizenship, but rather I now
>> > have
>> > dual citizenship. I guess perhaps it was a bit of guilt I was
>> > feeling,
>> > as part of the oath is about having no mental reservations. I'm sure
>> > everybody feels it a bit though.
>> > --
>> > Posted via http://britishexpats.com
>
> I was expecting 1 - 2 years!
>
> I assume you are dealing with Baltimore also? I recommend you study your
> civics stuff as they may very well let you take the test when you go for
> fingerprinting, as I did. It was great not having to worry about that at
> the interview.
>
> Why did your PR take five years?
>
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
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