Anyone who has been through U.S. immigration process knows how frustrating it can be. You send in your application, then you wait for months, sometimes even years for a decision. For some applications, you can find the processing time online so you know roughly how long you have to wait. But when the application involves FBI name check, like the citizenship application I have been in, the wait seems endless at time, because USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has no control as to how long it will take FBI to clear the applicant. So when I received a letter from USCIS last week, I almost couldn't believe that the wait is almost over. The letter is short and sweet:

You are hereby notified to appear for a Naturalization Oath Ceremony on:
    "date"

at:    US DISTRICT COURT
        "address"

Please report promptly at "time"


You must bring the following with you:
......

Proper attire should be worn.

So I am going to become a U.S. citizen after all these years!

Immigration timeline:
02/2002 - Applied for family-based permanent residence (I-485 & I-130)
07/2002 - Been fingerprinted for I-485
09/2002 - Been informed of interview date for permanent residence application
09/2002 - Got medical exam from an immigration approved physician
09/2002 - Been interviewed by local immigration officer, got I-551 passport stamp on site, which allowed me to reeneter U.S.
11/2002 - Received conditional green card
07/2004 - Petition to remove conditions on residence (I-751)
06/2005 - Applied for citizenship (N-400)
09/2005 - Been fingerprinted for N-400
10/2005 - Been interviewed by local immigration officer for both I-751 and N-400, passed tests of English and U.S. history and government
06/2008 - Been fingerprinted for N-400 again, because according to FBI, fingerprint results expire after 15 months
08/2008 - Been informed of oath ceremony date