Posts filed under 'Immigration'
Did the citizenship Interview…questions are not all that hard, took about 5 minutes. But what they didn’t say on the letter was that I needed two passport style photos - so I went down to get some after the interview, and had to wait an additional 2 hours after that.
Date/Event
—-
10/10/2008 - N400 and $675 mailed in
10/14/2008 $675 check cashed
10/17/2008 Receipt of N400 received
10/25/2008 Fingerprint appointment for 11/5 received
11/5/2008 Fingerprints Taken
11/10/2008 Letter for Initial Appointment dated
11/17/2208 Letter for Initial Appointment received for 1/8/2008
1/8/2009 Did Citizenship test/interview. Swearing in set for “in a few months” after “background checks complete”
Total time: almost 3 months
Money: $675, + $8 for passport photos
Travel: 2 trips to the Cleveland Federal Building
Time (excluding time to fill out forms): 2 hours, 20 minutes
January 8th, 2009
Well I had my fingerprints re-taken on November 7th, and by November 10th the USCIS sent me a letter asking me to show up for my initial application interview on January 8th(!). So far, it’s well ahead of published processing times, which last time I checked said that as of August ‘08 they were processing N400’s from January.
Date/Event
—-
10/10/2008 - N400 and $675 mailed in
10/14/2008 $675 check cashed
10/17/2008 Receipt of N400 received
10/25/2008 Fingerprint appointment for 11/5 received
11/5/2008 Fingerprints Taken
11/10/2008 Letter for Initial Appointment dated
11/17/2208 Letter for Initial Appointment received for 1/9/2008
Total time: 1 month, 7 days
Money: $675
Travel: 1 trip to the Cleveland Federal Building
Time (excluding time to fill out forms): 20 minutes
November 17th, 2008
Got an appointment to get my fingerprints taken - again - on November 5th. Of course, they already took my fingerprints in 2003 when I had my Permanent Residency done. Bear in mind the reason for it this time is for an FBI background check. They collect money for getting them done again, but they also actually take them again. Not the most efficient use tax dollars, to be sure.
Date/Event
—-
10/10/2008 - N400 and $675 mailed in
10/14/2008 $675 check cashed
10/17/2008 Receipt of N400 received
10/25/2008 Fingerprint appointment for 11/5 received
Total time: 18 days
Money: $675
Travel: none yet - one pending trip for fingerprints
October 28th, 2008
Although mildly worried that I may be living in a non-pro-America part of America, I have decided to become an American. There are several reasons for doing so, not the least of which is arguably the best enshrined free speech laws. It’s true that compared to Canada that the health care here is not so much enshrined, as it is thought of lovingly by small groups, like an image of Jesus burnt onto a waffle. Some influence certainly comes from my spouse, who has sparkled my eyes, and entranced me with her humour, love, and war machines, making me never wish her to get away from me, unlike some Canadian rockers of yore. But the American spirit has always been something that impressed me, even though I will remain both a smug Canadian and Imperialist American dual-citizen.
N-400 Form submitted, 10/10/08
$675 check cashed a week later, to help defray the cost of now federally employed banking CEO’s, no doubt.
Days waiting thus far: 13
Not counting the mandatory three years I had to wait after becoming a Permanent resident or the following two years, mulling it over as I am known to do.
October 23rd, 2008
