May 10, 2012:
According to the delivery confirmation from U.S. Post Office, my N-400 application package was delivered early this morning to USCIS (P.O. Box in Phoenix, AZ).
May 11, 2012:
USCIS accepted my application and entered it into their system (as I later found out from the email notification I received).
May 15, 2012:
I received an email from USCIS notifying me that my application has been received and a receipt number has been assigned to my case. USCIS sends out notices by email only if the applicant completed Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition, which is optional.
Dear Applicant/Petitioner:
Your USCIS application/petition has been received and routed to the National Benefits Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number NBC*00269xxxx. With the official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you may visit www.uscis.gov where you can check the status of your application using My Case Status. We suggest you wait until you have received your Form I-797 before checking My Case Status.
In addition to the email, I also received a text message on my mobile phone with essentially the same but shorter notice:
USCIS: Your application was received. Receipt # NBC*00269xxxx. Official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) to follow in mail. Msg & Data rates may apply. NO NOT REPLY.
Even though I haven’t received Form I-797, I was able to check the status of my application online using the receipt number included in the email above. Surprisingly, my case status is already at the Initial Review stage (not Acceptance as I was expecting).
On May 11, 2012, we received this N400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION, and mailed you a notice describing how we will process your case. Please follow any instructions on this notice. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you…
During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation. USCIS reviews the applicant’s/petitioner’s criminal history, determines if there are national security concerns that need to be addressed, and reviews the application/petition for fraud indicators.
Also on May 15, 2012, my check for the payment of $680 was cashed.
May 17, 2012:
Received Form I-797 via regular mail. The notice contains three dates:
- Received Date: May 10, 2012
- Priority Date: May 10, 2012
- Notice Date: May 14, 2012
Entire N-400 Citizenship Application Process:
- Step 1: Application
- Step 2: Acceptance (this post)
- Step 3: Fingerprinting
- Step 4: Interview
- Step 5: Oath Ceremony
Hello,
I’m on the same date fange as you. I received my I-797 last week. It had the notice date of May 14th, 2012. Let’s see how long my journey takes. Good luck on yours. I’ll periodically update my status here as well. I live in Atlanta and mailed mine to Dallas location.
Thanks,
Charlie
Hi Charlie,
Sounds great! Please keep us posted. I’m hoping to be able to complete the application process just in time for the Presidential election 🙂
Hello, Thanks for this your post, I was curious to google this as I submitted my application on May 18th. I received the email of acceptance on May 23rd, and today the 24th the checks (me and my wife) of $680 each were cashed. I hope to receive I 797 soon. I learned that from a friend that within a maximum of three weeks will be asked for Biometrics, after that depending on the log (approx 45 days) will go for the interview and test. I hope to be done before August 10, so I can fly and spend some time with Mom before school starts on August 20 (Am I too optimistic?). Good luck to all.
Well, we can still hope, right? Personally I didn’t expect August – I’ll be happy with October. But if all goes well, why not!
Good luck to you too.
My GC expires in August and I’m expecting for it to completed by then. So at what stage do you actually become a naturalized citizen? At the Oath Ceremony?
Yes, you become a citizen at the Oath Ceremony.
Do you have to wait until the ceremony? After the interview/test there is a section to be completed with an oath. Charlie I hope you get done before your GC expires. Best wishes.
It depends. Sometimes a ceremony is available right after the interview, but sometimes it has be to scheduled for a later time.
Expiring GC doesn’t affect one’s permanent resident status. You are still a permanent resident even if your GC has already expired, whether you apply for citizenship or not. Of course if you need it for travel you should then have a valid green card. In addition, there is a requirement in the USCIS Guide to Naturalization that a GC with less than six months validity (at the time of N-400 filing) must be renewed. However, other people have claimed that it is not a hard requirement. I’m not sure on this one. Hope you get through without an issue, Charlie.
Just received this email notification:
Your Case Status: Initial Review
On May 29, 2012, we mailed you an appointment notice to have your fingerprints taken. Please follow the instructions on the notice.
Received the notice in the mail; fingerprints are schedule for June 21st.
How is it going with you guys?
Charlie
No change for me yet. Hopefully in a week or so.
Some ASCs accept walk-in’s with a fingerprint notice, so you could potentially complete it before your scheduled date. But many wouldn’t let you, so it depends on the center and your luck.
Yeah, I’m actually out of town for couple of weeks; I was really dreading that the appt is not during that period. Got lucky I guess, the appt is scheduled for the next day when I’m back in town…
Finally my status changed today to Biometric notice sent. I’ll include more details in the Step 3, Security Checks post later on.
Got the fingerprinting appointment notice in the mail today, scheduled for 6/25.
I have received my appointment for finger prints on June 8th as I expected (14 days from receipt of my application ), but I was surprised that the finger prints date is July 2nd, kind of far, but I guess there are many applicants may be. I will try walk in if they accept, good luck to all
Did a walk-in fingerprinting today. In and out in 15 minutes. More details in a new post here:
My Journey to U.S. Citizenship – Step 3: Fingerprinting
That’s pretty awesome; if I had read your post earlier I would’ve tried walking in myself. My regular scheduled appt is for tomorrow; will just go then. Did they mention to you anything in regards to how long will the process take after fingerprinting?
No, they didn’t, and they wouldn’t know either since they are not the ones doing the background check. Good luck to you tomorrow.
Just got back from my fingerprints; it took me longer to drive back and forth from that place to my home than the whole process itself and I only lived 5 miles from it. Long story short, it took less than 15 minutes in and out
I am so happy that I knew of the walk-in. My scheduled appointment for fingerprint was July 3rd, but they allowed me to do it in South Florida on June 12. It took less than 5 min, and no waiting. Glad that I saved 23 days. I am hoping that will help me get my interview time way sooner. Good luck to all
Great! All three of us got fingerprinting done this week – good luck on the next steps.
When I was told I had passed my Citizenship Test I was told I had to return the following week for the swearing-in ceremony. Think it depends on where you have to go.
Penny, Yes it depends on where you have to go, my friend in Chicago was told do you want to take the oath now or come back tomorrow, LOL so he swore in right on the spot passing his test. Now it is 16 days from doing fingerprints, I am hoping withing a month to be scheduled for the test. Good luck to all.
Hello, I went to the USCIS website and punched in my NBC number but then went two values back in the last two digits and was surprised that s/he is inline for interview with the message “On June 27, 2012, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was placed in line for interview scheduling. When scheduling is complete, you will receive a written notice with a time and place for your interview. Please check the website for further updates on your case. If you move, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address.”
Now does that mean I am very close? or it goes by center, and those NBC numbers are not processed in order? Just anxious and waiting lol. Best
Sounds like good news. I guess it means if your background check is going smoothly it should be your turn soon.
Based on what you just wrote Ahmed; I took that logic and applied to application this random application…nbc*002660000
My number is roughly 20000 numbers away..wow..It’s going to be a long ride
Testing and Interview
On May 23, 2012, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was placed in line for interview scheduling…etc etc etc
Well, guess what, my wife received the interview appointment letter in the mail today. And she did the fingerprinting one week after me! So I guess it is good news bad news now: Good because once security check is cleared, USCIS appears to be moving very quickly nowadays. Bad news is that mine apparently didn’t go as smoothly as it potentially could 🙂 I still hope to be interviewed in the next two months or so, though.
I didn’t understand what you mean IR. You and you wife applied around the same time which according to your post is in May? And she received the interview letter already? Does the interview letter means the background check is good to go? I’m sorry to hear about yours? How did you get to the conclusion that yours didn’t go smoothly? Do they update the status with that?
Yes, my wife and I applied for citizenship on the same day. She did fingerprinting one week after me due to travel, but already got the interview letter today, scheduled for early August. I was joking about my background check not going smoothly, because there is a wide margin with regard to how long it takes to complete all security checks. But again, my wife’s background check was apparently completed in less than a week.
To be honest I’ll still be happy if mine is done within a month, or even two. After that I’ll start bugging USCIS to figure out why.
Congratulations IR, That is a good news and yours will arrive sooner than what you think. Every body is telling me this is an election year and they are moving super fast. I did fingerprint on June 12 (was scheduled for July 2nd but did walk-in 🙂 . I am hoping next week to be in line for interview. Yes sometimes background checks takes some time. Good luck IR.
Hello Guys, now the I get this message when I punch in my NBC number “On July 9, 2012, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was placed in line for interview scheduling. When scheduling is complete, you will receive a written notice with a time and place for your interview. Please check the website for further updates on your case. If you move, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address.”
I should receive the appointment letter soon. Best wishes for all.
How about the interview? Can you do that walk-in too? 😀
Congrats! One step closer.
I wish they do 🙂 We just tweaked our vacation plan because of my wife’s interview – we could probably ask to re-schedule it, but really didn’t want to risk anything.
I made an Infopass appt today; explained uscis agent my situation of my green card being expired in a month and that i’ve applied for the citizenship. I got a temporary extension of six months on my passport. Now, I don’t have to check on my n-400 status on their website every second now.
I better get a oath by the end of this year.
Wish everyone well
Good! Was the extension free of charge? Did they put an stamp on your passport showing the new expiration date?
As long as you don’t travel outside the U.S. I think an expiring or recently expired green card is no big deal. Your LPR status doesn’t expire, even if the green card has. But you’ll most likely become a citizen by year end anyway, so no worries.
Charlie, It is good to hear that you have an extension. From what I hear, all of us will hopefully take the oath no later than Sept 1st. I am like you I log in every hour to see if I have been scheduled for interview. Good luck to all.
Hi Guys,
I am in the same boat as you guys. I got the status saying –
On July 3, 2012, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was placed in line for interview scheduling. When scheduling is complete, you will receive a written notice with a time and place for your interview. Please check the website for further updates on your case. If you move, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address.
What does it mean? Does it mean that I have passed the background check? And I i will be getting an interview soon?
Any input would be greatly Appreciated.
That is correct: Your background checks have cleared and you’re now heading to citizenship tests and interview.
To add to what IR_Blog said, the time it will take for you to be scheduled for interview will depends on how many are ahead of you, I hope not many LOL, I will be waiting as well, best wishes.
Thanks Ahmed!!! Still waiting! 🙁
Your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION is now scheduled for interview. You will receive a written notice with a time and place for your interview. If you have not received the written decision within 14 days of the date above, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance. – I guess the interview letter is now in the mail.
Congrats DM – It didn’t take you long to be scheduled for interview. I’ve been on the waitlist since June 25th.
Good luck.
Congrats DM, that is a great news. Best wishes. Charlie you are making me feel better as I have been in line to be scheduled for interview since July 9th. I am hopeful this week both of us will be scheduled. Best wishes.
Thank you all! I got the letter in the mail today. I think I will try to call them and see if I can get in sooner! The interview is a little more than a month from now.
Hi guys , I applied for my citizenship N-400last week ,I checked on the post office web. It shows that they got my application on sunday the 29th of July , still didn’t get anything from them ( email /text message) any idea why??
Tnx
You’ll probably hear something very soon. It is quite normal for their response time to vary by a few days, depending on the volume of new filings.
Yes , but the thing is I just found out that they didn’t email me but was on my junk mail lol
Getting an email from them means that the application was approved ? Coz after checking my app status it’s under initial Review.
On July 31, 2012, we received this N400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION, and mailed you a notice describing how we will process your case. Please follow any instructions on this notice. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or contact our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.