ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Citizenship General Discussionanyone recently had an interview in Dallas?
I'm just about to file for my citizenship (although the fee makes me clench my teeth!!) and was wodering what sort of wait time there is for people filing in Texas?

Also anyone had an interview in Dallas an can relay their experiences?

Thanks!!
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-07 15:16:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionMailed my N-400
I think thats probably the fastest time that I have ever got an application together for USCIS. It was still pretty thick because of the multiple bank statements from 2006-2009 but it had less content diversity than the I-751.

Hopefully it will be accepted and processed quickly. In the meantime, I guess I need to study hard for the test. wacko.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-15 16:49:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionFlash cards?
Thats exactly what I am going to do! Making my own cards will be a better idea and cheaper than buying them, plus I survived on flash cards and index cards when I was at university and it seemed to work for me wink.gif


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-18 14:47:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionFlash cards?
Thanks everyone. I really must have been half asleep when I looked at the website because now I see it clear as day good.gif . Thats cool that you can print them out too.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-17 13:03:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionFlash cards?
Does anyone who has taken the test have any flash cards for the test that they want to sell second-hand?

If not, can someone tell me where I can buy a set of flash cards? I looked on the uscis website and can't find anywhere that I can buy them(then again it may be because my brain is fried as I've had precious little sleep with being up with my baby most of the night!!) smile.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-17 11:51:00
US Citizenship General Discussiontaking a baby to biometrics?
I have a travel system (car seat that locks into stroller base), so she will be "hands free" smile.gif

For the interview my hubby is definitely accompanying me to hold her and also because if they do the oath on the same day its important for him to be there with me.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-30 11:10:00
US Citizenship General Discussiontaking a baby to biometrics?
Thanks everyone. I can't do a walk in. I tried that before with my I-751 as I missed the appt due to being ill and was turned away. She isn't a screamer at all. Shes a very good baby so she will just have to accompany me. smile.gif


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-29 16:35:00
US Citizenship General Discussiontaking a baby to biometrics?
I have my biometrics on August 11th and knowing how USCIS are, I was wondering if I will be able to bring my daughter with me as my husband will be working that day. She will be 10 weeks old when I have to do the finger printing.

Thanks! Kat
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-29 16:10:00
US Citizenship General Discussionqu about test questions
I want to clarify something. On some of the test questions, there are several answers which on some questions mean the same thing but on others they really don't.

i.e. What is the rule of law? Answers include no one is above the law. Leaders must follow the law, everyone must follow the law. Do I learn all those answers or just give one to the interviewer?

Thanks, Kat
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-29 16:29:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDallas Interview next week
Good luck to you Prince! Mine is on Monday at 9.40am. I'm shocked that USCIS are open that early but kudos to them biggrin.gif


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-26 20:35:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDallas Interview next week
Thanks everyone for the replies smile.gif

Ant: My daughter is indeed growing like a little weed and is already 3 mths old. She never ceases to amaze me and I love being a mother and I am sure you do as well to your little guy smile.gif

I finally got Maddie's birth cert but it took about 6 weeks for it to arrive. I didn't include it with the packet but what I did was photocopy the details that the hospital gave us and included those. I will bring her actual birth cert with us to the interview. We didn't get an RFE for it.

She is going to be with us when we go to the interview. My husband will look after her while I take the test. She goes everywhere with us, so this is no exception.






CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-24 16:41:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDallas Interview next week
Hey everyone,

My interview/citizenship test is next week in Dallas! Is there anyone who has had a recent interview there and can share your experience? Also will the oath ceremony be on the same day?
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-23 15:21:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionN-400: Children/Babies at Oath, Interview, and Biometrics...
Hey Ant,

My Interview is next week and my husband and our 3 month old daughter will be there with me. She won't have any recollection of it but we are a family and this is very much a family event in my eyes, so they will both be there. wink.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-23 15:28:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionOath ceremony qu's
My oath ceremony is on thursday this week and I'mm wondering hwo long it will take as my hubby has to be back at work at a certain time. Its going to be held in a courthouse in Ft Worth, Tx and is at 9.30am smile.gif

Also what did you guys wear to your oath? I know it says proper attire, but I don't know how formal it has to be?
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-20 11:28:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionMy Oath ceremony today (detailed with pic) - Fort Worth Texas
Well today was the final step in the long immigration process. I had my oath ceremony scheduled at 9.30am in the US district Courthouse in Fort Worth Texas. I knew that traffic would be bad so we (husband and 4mth old daughter) left well in time. Got to the courthouse and theres a sign saying no recording devices. Back to the car I trot (in my heels) and deposit the camera and cell. Back again to the courthouse I trot and the guard asks if I have a cell. I say no and that I left it back in the car with my camera. He tells me I should have my camera to take pictures. I trot back to the car and retrieve the camera. By this time thanks to the wicked wind blowing I realized there was no point at all in getting up early to straighten my hair which now resembled a complete fuzz ball or cousin IT from the Addams family huh.gif .

Anyhow back to being on-topic. We are told to go to a jury holding room and an immigration officer tells us we have 73 people from 27 countries represented and goes off into a speech about how well we have done to get to this point and be citizens. Our greencards are collected along with the oath ceremony letter. two people were not allowed to do their oath. One travelled outside of the US for an extended period of time and another had lost her GC. We are also given a little book on the constitution of the United States and the words to the Oath and a history of the US book. In between all that I take to my daughter to the restroom (totally unfriendly for babies!) and change her diaper in her car seat while kneeling on the floor. My daughter was also talking up a storm and wanted to ensure that she was heard over the immigration officer laughing.gif . We kept her entertained but she was very chatty. The officer also tells us that we are US citizens now and have voting rights and that we have all the rights as everyone else and dont have to carry a greencard anymore, just our drivers licence. She also mentioned that as citizens we can now petition our relatives and encouraged us to do this. She was very much on our side encouraging us to use our rights as citizens, which was a nice change as usually when I have spoke to immigration officers they make you feel like you are inferior.

That all takes about an hour and my husband had to then leave to go to work unfortunately (he works in a hospital ER). I make friends with a girl called Mia from Mexico who is super nice. We then all go up to the courtroom, are given a US flag and each country is read out and we stood to be applauded fr representing our country. Judge McBryde comes in and says ALL RISE (that was cool cos it was the first time I had ever been in a US court, so it was very official).

He tells us congratulations and how its a great honor to be conducting the ceremony and its a nicer part of his job. All the family members sit behind the gate by the way and the aliens (although not very alienish now!) sit in the jury box and thereabouts. We place our right hand in the air and say the oath of allegiance, followed by the pledge of allegiance with our hand on heart.

After that he says that court is adjourned and leaves and then the certs are handed out (very informally as they just called the names - didn't get mine right of course- and you had to raise your hand and they brought it to you.

We were then allowed to take photos and we did that then outside we were given a voting form to fill in/mail in.

My daughter was a wee gem as she was so darn good and fell asleep in the courtroom, which was awesome as she had to be with me in the jury box. I was told if she cried, I would have to take her out, but thankfully she was good (which she normally is).

Finally its all over and I am very grateful to those of you on VJ who have helped me in this journey over the years. Its definitely worth it to get to this point and be a citizen of a great and powerful country as the United States.

For those of you that are waiting to get to this stage, have faith, work hard and never lose sight of that end point.

I'll be back to petition my parents in a few years, as they plan to move here having just bought a house here but until then, toodle-pip and good luck to each of you smile.gif


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-22 21:20:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDallas Citizenship Interview today - my experience
Thanks everyone!

Ant: I brought my daughter's travel system in with us and we had her napping in that until she woke up then we played with her and held her on our knee/shoulder etc. I have just stopped breastfeeding as she weaned herself off, so she was bottle fed. With all the people in the waiting room around us, she was kept entertained by people watching and giving anyone and everyone a big smile. She isn't shy at all! She was a good girl for those 3 hours and didn't get fussy at all. smile.gif

There were a lot of people who had kiddos with them:)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-29 10:41:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDallas Citizenship Interview today - my experience
First of all don't trust craptastic mapquest for directions huh.gif . We hit heavy traffic coming through the mid cities in Haltom city and North Richland hills this morning and could not find the office at all. It was a nightmare. We were still driving around 5 mins before my appointment, then eventually found a road near it by accident. It was in an industrial estate. Once inside the industrial area, there were signs with the address of the USCIS office on it, so we arrived 2 mins before my appt time at 9.40am. We got insie and I gave my letter to the security guy who was really nice. They told me to go upstairs, so we did and waited for 2 and a half hours past my appt time... the waiting room was jam packed full and they didn't even have enough buzzers (like you get at a restaurant) so I had to listen hard to my name being called (no PA or loudspeaker system). It was ridiculous cramming everyone in like fricking sardines. My husband and 3 mth old daughter were with me. I met and got talking to a girl from Uruguay (not sure if thats spelt right!!) and a lady from Canada and we quizzed each other using my home-made flash cards. That was fun. I spent the rest of the time feeding and entertaining my baby and talking to my husband, in addition to complaining about the wait. Hey, you have to spend the time somehow!

Ok so fast forward and 2 and a half hours later, I get called . Hubby and daughter were not allowed to go with me. The IO introduced herself as Officer Brown (Lorraine Brown). She was really nice actually. We went back to the interview room and she made me raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth etc. Did that, sat down and she asked for passports and Greencards. Then she asked for our tax returns including w2's, daughters birth cert and mortgage statement. She asked me to print my name on the photos I had submitted with the application. My file was in front of her and had everything dating back to the original green card i applied for in 2006. She asked me facts like where i worked, what as and how long for. Also to verify address and name including any aliases I'm known by. Got asked the usual terrorist questions and if I would serve in the military to defend the country if asked. Said yes to that and no to terrorist qus tongue.gif

Then she said we will now start the test. I had to read a sentence "the president lives in the white house" then write the capital of the united states is washington D.C.. then we did the qus:

Whats the capital of your state?
who did us fight against in ww2?
who vetoes bills?
eisenhower was a general in what war?
who was first president?
..and another that I can't remember now, sorry!

After that, she said congratulations you have passed your test and i am recommending you for citizenship. Told me I would receive a letter in about a weeks time and my oath would be within a mth.

Told me congrats again, i extended my hand and we shook hands and she escorted me back to the waiting room and told me to have a great day. The oath is in the same place and i wish I had done it today but they were way behind and all places had already been filled. Interview took about 15 mins.

Total time spent in USCIS today? just over 3 hours!!

The journey is nearly over for me and I am so grateful for having you guys here on VJ to guide me and answer my queries. Its been a trip thats for sure, but I will be proud to take my oath and become a citizen of the United States of America.

P an P; i know your interview is tomorrow. Goodluck!!! From 114 east, go right on Beltline rd and then take Shorthorn (you will start seeing signs for the address of the USCIS building) to Premier to campus drive to campus circle east. DONT go on the service rd as mapquest suggests. It will take you onto the President George Bush turnpike and you have to turn around to 114 again, which is what we did originally as we naively followed mapquest directions.
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-28 16:23:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionN-400 July 2009 and August 2009 Filers.....
Added mine! seems to be going much faster than the ROC.

USCIS Lockbox Arizona
UserName.............Sent........NOA.....Biometrics..Int Letter..Interview....Oath......Office
Alyssa84............07/02/09...07/06/09...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Saint Paul, MN
Leviathan23.........07/22/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Milwaukee, WI

USCIS Lockbox Texas
UserName.............Sent........NOA.....Biometrics..Int Letter..Interview....Oath......Office
Fasi................07/06/09...07/10/09...08/04/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Detroit, MI
Anya-D..............07/14/09...07/22/09...08/10/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Raleigh, NC
Collie..............07/15/09...07/22/09...08/11/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Dallas, TX
PrinceandPrincess...07/17/09...07/24/09...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Dallas, TX
CanAmCharlotte......07/17/09...07/22/09...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Charlotte, NC
Satyam..............07/17/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...New Orleans, LA
roi_aggie...........07/20/09...07/23/09...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Orlando, FL
SSharma.............07/20/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Dallas, TX
zombie2006..........07/21/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Charlotte, NC
amana1..............07/22/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Dover, DE
AntandD.............08/18/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Buffalo, NY

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CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-29 16:21:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussiontravelling while removing conditions?
Thanks guys! I appreciate it smile.gif

I'm excited for the time to come to file the removal of conditions and to complete the next stage of the process biggrin.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-11-25 17:00:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussiontravelling while removing conditions?
Hi everyone,

I think that this is the best place to put this, but I apologise if it isn't. I will be sending in my documents to have my conditions removed to obtain my 10 year green card in April 2008. My husband and I will be going on a cruise in May 2008 and it just occurred to me that I'm not sure if I can travel during that time.

Does anyone know if I can?

Thanks in advance,

Kat
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-11-21 23:39:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionmission accomplished
Congrats smile.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-08 12:03:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionAnyone filing with Texas service center?
Thanks guys!

Hey In_Love! We still have to attempt to meet up at some point smile.gif I can't believe that its nearly time to be thinking about immigration palava again. Time just flies!
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-08 19:50:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionAnyone filing with Texas service center?
I am starting to get my package together to remove conditions in the next few months and will be going through Texas service center. I know that wait times are always a nightmare, but I'm curious to hear from other people who are filing in Texas as to what sort of time period you waited/have been waiting for?

Thanks smile.gif

Kat
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-08 11:31:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionQuestion about photos/bills
Hi guys, I have 2 quick questions.

1. Is it permissable to print out photos from the computer onto plain paper or must it be on photo paper so it is sized like an actual photo? I was thinking about putting a few photos onto one page to save extra bulk, but I'm unsure as to if this is acceptable or not?

2. How many different months of the same utility bill over the 2 year period should be included in the packet? i.e if you have a years worth of water bills, should I include just one or should I include a few from different months?

Thanks!

Kat
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-09 17:53:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionScanning the Green Card
Thanks for the replies guys!

Hey Melanie, the 90 day window opens up in April but with life being so crazy and busy, I'm starting to get things together now so that I can leisurely do a bit each week on my days off wink.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-13 20:33:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionScanning the Green Card
Hi guys,

How good does the resolution of the back of the Green card have to be? I have scanned mine for a few different things like when we bought our home for example and that darn hologram just looks like a black strip. Any ideas how to make the resolution better?

Thanks,

Kat
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-10 18:50:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionCard Production Ordered
Awesome! Congrats! good.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-15 17:04:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFinally Aproved
You stated that you got married in aug 2005 and applied in oct 2005 therefore when you made your application you were married for 2 months. The green card type is based on the time that you made your application, regardless of how long the process takes.

Congrats! good.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-16 09:57:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionfinally get done with the GC stress.. :dance:
Congrats! thats encouraging to see specially as you filed with TSC! good.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-22 11:49:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionIt is fast
Wow thats an awesome turn around. Congrats good.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-02-05 21:05:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionMajor RFE, Confused with Lawyer's Opinion
I believe that truth should always prevail. You submitted the application and didn't even know that you were divorced. If the decree does not have your signature, then you legitimately were oblivious to your marital status when you submitted your application. USCIS should take that into consideration and if I was in your position, I would send in a new petition with the waiver with an explanation of what has been going on. I don't believe that an immigration attorney will be able to help you any further than you can help yourself.

I am truly sorry that you are going through this and that your marriage didn't work out. Stay strong.
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-02-19 16:03:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionNew Card arrive on Valentine's Day!!!
Congratulations biggrin.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-02-19 16:05:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionGreeting cards/letters
I have an absolute ton of random bits n bobs in our filing cabinet. I have kept every card and letter for the past few years from family and friends addressed to Shannon and I (including ones we sent to each other) and I'm not quite sure as to how many I should include in the packet. I don't want to bombard USCIS with too many. What would you guys suggest? Also on this topic, how many photos did you guys include?

Thanks,

Kat smile.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-02-20 15:49:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionWill you become a U.S. Citizen?
I will definitely go the full way to citizenship so that I can hold both British and American citizenships/passports, so that we never have to deal with USCIS again. The fees are certainly extortionist but i would rather just pay a large fee as a one-off instead of having to keep track of a green card and when it will expire etc. It will also be nice not having to be quizzed by homeland security entering the U.S. and Europe as I will have a passport for both sides good.gif In the event in the future that we see war/terrorism in either country like a world war III, we will be able to have choice as to where we live. The way we personally see citizenship is that it portrays diversity and its best not to put all your stocks in one mutual fund so to speak smile.gif

Kat
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-02-27 12:53:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionApproval Notice
Congrats to you! good.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-18 08:50:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionKeeping Proof of Relationship.
Keep all your utility bills, leases, tax returns, cards addressed to you both and cards that you gave to each other, in addition to trip itineraries that you both went on, movie tickets. Its a great habit to just get a file and anything relevant should be put into it. We started it as soon as we got the 2 year GC approved and now we have a huge file of stuff that I am currently going through to put in my packet. good.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-18 08:49:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionDating greeting cards?
Thanks for the answers everyone smile.gif

The cards are being included as additional evidence. We are of course sending a few copies that span the last 24 months of each utility bill/bank statements/mortgage etc as main evidence, but I feel that additional evidence like cards and ticket stubs are also worth their own weight in evidence, as does our attorney who we used for the initial process of AOS. Alas we don't have the envelopes, so I can't send those.
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-03 19:37:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionDating greeting cards?
Hi everyone smile.gif

I took a 2 week sabbatical from putting my package together as my sisters were vising from N.Ireland, and so now its back to working on it! Is it necessary to put dates on greeting cards? I usually date my cards when I send them with the month and year. I am captioning all my copies, ( to explain who the card is to and from and the event for which it is intended for) that I am scanning and printing but is it really necessary to put the date on the caption or card as well?

Did anyone else do this?

Thanks!!

Kat luv.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-03 12:35:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionClose call! Biometric apptt in 8 days!
Thats good to know. We will be filing our I-751 packet at the end of April and will be on a cruise during mid May, and I just hope that the letter won't come while we are away.

Kat
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-09 11:33:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionNSC- Current Status: Card production ordered!
Congrats to you both good.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-09 11:22:00