My
US Citizenship N-400 application Timeline
Feb 14, 2005
I sent out (by regular mail) my N-400 application, attaching two passport format
pictures,
a photocopy of both sides of my US Permanent Resident Card (Green Card),
a photocopy of my previous marriage divorce certificate (English translation),
and personal check $390 ($320 N-400 Application Fee, and $70 for fingerprinting)
to:
U.S. Department
of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
California Service Center
Attn: N-400 Unit,
P.O. Box 10400,
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1040
Feb 23, 2005
My check $390 was cashed today.
Mar 02, 2005
Received from USCIS a receipt with Priority Date Feb 16, 2005, Receipt
Number WSC*9....9.
Mar 07, 2005
Updated: April
2, 2005
Received from USCIS a Fingerprint Notification, scheduled on March 31, 2005
in their local facility in Downtown Phoenix (intersection of E. Thomas Road
and 24th Street).
I was asked to bring with me Green Card and this appointment notice.
The failure to appear could be a reason for my N-400 application's denial.
Mar 31, 2005
I came a little earlier, and was waiting one hour.
The fingerprinting procedure took a half hour.
They don't use any ink (and paper, either) for taking prints,
only a kind of lotion without color and smell.
All my ten fingers were scanned by rolling over computer pad.
Computer evaluated quality of all prints (passed/failed).
The fingerprints quality is very important.
If FBI computer fails to analyze your fingerprints,
and compare them against a big bunch of their databases,
you would need to come back and retake fingerprints.
Until FBI clears your fingerprints,
your N-400 application's approval will be pending.
USCIS employees take away the original USCIS Fingerprint Notification,
so, if you want to keep something to remember, make photocopies.
On my opinion, these USCIS employees were polite.
By the way, this USCIS fingerprinting facility has a free parking lot.
If you want to know more about this new computerized fingerprinting technology,
go to FBI website http://www.fbi.gov.
Check out these two links:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/takingfps.html,
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/iafis.htm