N-400: From Application to Citizenship (TAMPA)

[Chris_FL]

My path to citizenship after a family based Greencard in 2012 (later voluntarily abandoned due to scheduling conflicts) and a "new" family based Greeencard in 2013.
Second Green Card activated 01/03/2013. Originally from Germany, now located in Florida, NBC-Case, Field Office: Tampa. No lawyer or professional help used.

01/03/2013 - Greencard activated

10/05/2015 - N-400 packet sent via USPS to Texas
10/08/2015 - N-400 packet received
10/12/2015 - Credit Card charged (I used the new form)
10/20/2015 - NOA1 received - Priority Date: 10/8/2015
10/23/2015 - Biometrics Letter received - Biometrics set for 11/04/2015
11/04/2015 - Biometrics completed (Tampa FL)
12/02/2015 - In line for interview - e-notifications received at 11:01pm
01/21/2016 - Interview scheduled e-notifications received at 5:24pm
01/27/2016 - Interview letter received - Interview set for 3/1/2016
03/01/2016 - Interview in Tampa Field Office
03/01/2016 - In line for Oath - Oath letter received after interview, oath scheduled for 03/04/2016
03/04/2016 - Oath Ceremony in Tampa Field Office
03/07/2016 - Applied for passport (expedited)
03/16/2016 - Received passport

I had one interaction with the USCIS help line, but they could not give me any more information than I found myself on the myUSCIC portal.
The myUSCIS portal can be very slow to update - my case was still "scheduled for interview" while I took the oath.

The process and the interview in Tampa were handled with utmost professionalism. Interview took 15 minutes at most.
I had only minor deviations from a 100% clean application and those were taken care of during the interview.
Due to upcoming travel, I requested an early oath ceremony. Again, this was taken care of perfectly.
Bottom line: Be honest, be diligent, be prepared and be polite. It will help you in this process.

If anybody has any questions, I am glad to help. Post a reply here or send me a message.

Chris

[YSM]

Hey Chris, Many thanks for an excellent log of summery.. really helps one to get an idea about the time lines.. Very nice of you..Thanks again.

[Chris_FL]

You are very welcome. Hope it helps.

The time period of > 6 weeks between "In Line for Interview" and "Interview Scheduled" was a bit longer than usual in my case, but that may have been due to the holidays around Christmas and New Years.

Chris

PS: By the way, my entire biometrics appointment took exactly 7 minutes from the security post at check-in until back in the parking lot - including a customer service feedback survey. That was pretty impressive and I have the time stamps to prove it.

[Chris_FL]

One last date to add: So, finally, after years of waiting, you get your Certificate of Citizenship. You proudly go to get a passport issued and they immediately take the certificate from you to send it to Philadelphia. How cruel. So then you get your passport and the Certificate of Citizenship comes with a separate letter. Some people wait weeks for theirs, mine took 5 days longer than the passport book - including a week end. All good.

01/03/2013 - Greencard activated

10/05/2015 - N-400 packet sent via USPS to Texas
10/08/2015 - N-400 packet received
10/12/2015 - Credit Card charged (I used the new form)
10/20/2015 - NOA1 received - Priority Date: 10/8/2015
10/23/2015 - Biometrics Letter received - Biometrics set for 11/04/2015
11/04/2015 - Biometrics completed (Tampa FL)
12/02/2015 - In line for interview - e-notifications received at 11:01pm
01/21/2016 - Interview scheduled e-notifications received at 5:24pm
01/27/2016 - Interview letter received - Interview set for 3/1/2016
03/01/2016 - Interview in Tampa Field Office
03/01/2016 - In line for Oath - Oath letter received after interview, oath scheduled for 03/04/2016
03/04/2016 - Oath Ceremony in Tampa Field Office
03/07/2016 - Applied for passport (expedited)
03/16/2016 - Received passport
03/21/2016 - Received returned Certificate of Citizenship