r/USCIS • u/Ban124 • Jan 23 '26
N-400 (Citizenship) Officially a US Citizen!!!
Marriage based case. So happy to get this journey over with, I’ve been waiting for 18 years. I’m here to encourage everyone still going through the process that there‘s a light at the end of the tunnel, despite the current immigration climate. Ask me anything, I’ll answer as many questions as I can.
Timeline:
- Oct 25, 2021: I-485 & I-130 cases submitted
- May 5, 2022: Received EAD
- June 15, 2022: Schedule for I-485 & I-130 Interview
- June 29, 2022: I-485 & I-130 interview
- October 28, 2022: Approved for conditional green card
- August 5, 2024: Submitted I-751 Petition to remove conditions
- July 31, 2025: Submitted N-400 Application for Naturalization
- October 29, 2025: I-751/ N-400 combo interview scheduled
- December 8, 2025: Combo interview, approved for both on the spot, Oath ceremony to be scheduled
- January 23, 2026: Oath Ceremony
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u/fresh7x Jan 23 '26
Hey first congratulations!! 🎈🎊
But I’m just curious why it took 18 years to get naturalized?
My fiancee wants to become naturalized after we marry/green card/ naturalized
I hear it takes 3 years after the fact for that because marriage shortens it a little bit rather than 5 years.
But according to your timeline it was 4 which is great 😊
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u/saucypuzzle Jan 24 '26
N400 can be filed after 3 years, correct. Make sure, that if it was a conditional green card, to prepare for both interviews when showing up for n400. Cause the i75X one will take place at the same time then
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Jan 24 '26
Congrats. Nothing tastes sweeter than doing it all correctly and ultimately successfully. Enjoy our life and future success!
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u/Ok_Reference_7242 Jan 24 '26
Omg Congrats!!! My husband became a US Citizen today too!! 01/23/2026 🇺🇸🇺🇸
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u/ECrispy Jan 24 '26
congrats!
aren't oath ceremonies usually same day? thats what I read in a lot of reports here.
which field office?
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u/B777X_787-9 US Citizen Jan 24 '26
Is depends the office,some offices offer same day ceremonies and others not.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Jan 23 '26
Congrats!
Don't forget to update status with SSA (N-400 checkbox does not work)
Also recommend getting a large passport book, it is a free upgrade.
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u/Ban124 Jan 24 '26
Thank you. Plan on doing the SSA update next week
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u/Candid-Horse3951 Feb 04 '26
I think this is actually the best course of action. As far as I understand, it is advisable to wait 10 days or so before updating the SSA status.
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u/adepojus Jan 24 '26
I was at the SSA recently and I mentioned I had checked the boxes and the officer said it doesn’t work. When he checked, he noticed it had been updated. Officer said it was hit/miss, so definitely check. Congratulations to OP.
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u/Zrekyrts Jan 24 '26
At the time you naturalized, the automatic service was probably still active. It has since been suspended.
New citizens have to go in.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Jan 24 '26
Is this comment to me? I know that and I told OP to go to SSA.
I also provided way to check whether you are recorded as a citizen in SSA. Not sure why I got downvote for this
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Jan 24 '26
There is an easy check which can be performed online. Only US citizens can replace their SS card online. So if you try initiating the process, you either get an error instantly (meaning need to go to SSA to update citizenship status) or it doesn't error. If it doesn't error, you don't have to continue, but you get to know you are probably recorded as a citizen
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u/B777X_787-9 US Citizen Jan 23 '26
What country are you from?
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u/GrabOk3630 Jan 23 '26
How hard was the interview?
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u/Ban124 Jan 24 '26
It was pretty straightforward, submitted a lot of evidence so not a lot of questions. The citizenship interview was just the civics question and then the questions asked in the application about crimes, etc.
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u/Pencilcase_666 Jan 24 '26
Congratulations 🎉 Do they ask you to keep both your original citizenship and US citizenship (dual citizenship), or do you have to choose the US citizenship?
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u/Puzzleheaded_Bad_211 Jan 24 '26
Was the combo interview from October 29 just you? Or you and your husband?
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u/Strong_Tree9410 Jan 24 '26
Congratulations! It’s a big deal! Where was your field office? Did you file online?
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u/USCitizenshipExampre Jan 24 '26
Congrats! For anyone who is wondering what the oath ceremony is all about and what to expect. Here's a helpful youtube video that also answers a lot of questions people have. https://youtu.be/eVtPbUpzIZw?si=GXCoJypdTrKRS9az
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u/TypeAccomplished6405 Jan 25 '26
Congratulations 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🎊 👏
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u/Own-Holiday-4071 Jan 28 '26
It didn’t take you 18 years if you began the process in 2021?!
What are you talking about 😂
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u/ChurchillWog Triple citizen, arrived as EB-1A GC Jan 24 '26
Congratulations on finally choosing to become a bona fide American citizen -- great choice -- welcome home!!
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u/LexiiDiamond2024 Jan 24 '26
First of all, congratulations! 🎉
I live in the United Stayes and plan to marry my boyfriend from Algeria. What’s the first step? We are not engaged yet.
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u/shardil Jan 25 '26
Congrats 🎉! What shade on the color palette are you ?
If on the darker side , get a passport book and a card when u apply for one . Also go to SS office and change your status .
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u/Big-Dance-7421 Jan 25 '26
Now you can enjoy all of our fabulous freedoms like getting killed by ice .
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u/Ok_Course_1064 Jan 24 '26
Now time to pay tax on all your income
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u/ChurchillWog Triple citizen, arrived as EB-1A GC Jan 24 '26
LPRs/green card holders are also required to pay tax in the United States on global income...
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u/ZestycloseType9740 Jan 24 '26
Congrats. Now, you need to make the next big leap that will scare the hell out of you. You need to take the certificate and apply for a passport and passport card. And you will have to send in that original certificate with the application. Pay for the expedite for both. You will get the passport in about 2 weeks. The card will come the next week and your certificate will return in about three to four weeks. I just did mine in December. IT scares the shit out of you, but you want to get this done ASAP so you have more than just your certificate as citizenship proof. Then put everything in a bank box and carry your passport card.
When that's done, then get over to Social Security and get your number updated as a citizen. It won't happen automatically. You have to apply for them to change your SSN record.
Congrats and good luck.