citizenship interview tomorrow, big mess

[ftr_mrs_f 0]

Hello, i've been studying for my interview all day and just now I found a white paper in the envelope that they sent me with the interview date. I don't have that tax form they ask, I only have all our tax stuff that we will present to H&R for the income tax. I also don't have a notarized copy of our daughter's birth certificate. What can I do? my interview is at 8am I totally messed up. Also, is it required that our daughter comes with us to the interview? she's in preschool and we don't know if it would be good for her to be at this kind of place or if it would be positive that she's there with us. Thanks for any answer to my question.

[ConcordUser 18]

Hello, i've been studying for my interview all day and just now I found a white paper in the envelope that they sent me with the interview date. I don't have that tax form they ask, I only have all our tax stuff that we will present to H&R for the income tax. I also don't have a notarized copy of our daughter's birth certificate. What can I do? my interview is at 8am I totally messed up. Also, is it required that our daughter comes with us to the interview? she's in preschool and we don't know if it would be good for her to be at this kind of place or if it would be positive that she's there with us. Thanks for any answer to my question.

It is too late to worry about things. Get good night sleep and go tomorrow to interview and let what ever happens let it happen. They might ask you to send the material that you don't have with you. If your daughter is not applying for the citizenship not sure if she needs to go to interview. Is she is one of the applicants then she should also attend the interview.

[nwctzn 55]

Hello, i've been studying for my interview all day and just now I found a white paper in the envelope that they sent me with the interview date. I don't have that tax form they ask, I only have all our tax stuff that we will present to H&R for the income tax. I also don't have a notarized copy of our daughter's birth certificate. What can I do? my interview is at 8am I totally messed up. Also, is it required that our daughter comes with us to the interview? she's in preschool and we don't know if it would be good for her to be at this kind of place or if it would be positive that she's there with us. Thanks for any answer to my question.

Just be calm and go to your interview with all the documents you have right now. The officer will most likely give you a chance to complete all the missing documents after the interview.

Not sure if they want to see your child, I assume not. Maybe other fellow VJers can comment on that.

As I said, just relax and don't be hard on yourself. You will go through the test and most likely pass and then asked to complete the documents.

Best of luck and please let us know how it goes.

[Jemmi 3]

why dont you take the original birth certificate and they can make a copy there? thats what they did with all my originals. good luck

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Bring the original of the birth cert, they can make a copy.

No need to bring the child, it is boring waiting around for the interview, but you can if you want to- in my office, they had crayons and papers for the kids.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Hello, i've been studying for my interview all day and just now I found a white paper in the envelope that they sent me with the interview date. I don't have that tax form they ask, I only have all our tax stuff that we will present to H&R for the income tax. I also don't have a notarized copy of our daughter's birth certificate. What can I do? my interview is at 8am I totally messed up. Also, is it required that our daughter comes with us to the interview? she's in preschool and we don't know if it would be good for her to be at this kind of place or if it would be positive that she's there with us. Thanks for any answer to my question.

Only you are being interviewed for YOUR citizenship, the spouse is seldom if ever part of the interview so don't worry about your daughter or husband. I assume you have plenty of evidence indicating that you're married and have co-mingled finances? Your daughter's birth cert (notarized or not) isn't the only evidence they're using and just because you don't have a notarized copy won't make or break you passing the interview.

It's past 8 am so it's all water under the bridge now. Fill us in on what happened at the interview

[NickD 202]

Tax returns are always for the year before, 2011 taxes aren't even due yet, should be happy with 2008, 2009, and 2010 tax returns, should have these if applying for the three year marriage.

Spouse, kids at the interview? Rare that they ever want to see real people, wife could claim I am her husband or could be a neighbors kid she brought in. They don't want to see real people, just their papers. If that kid is product of your present marriage to your sponsoring spouse, a birth certificate is just another piece of evidence that you are married and even optional depending on your IO. If any kind of a step kid, yours or your spouse's, not even interested in birth certificates.

If that kid as a US citizen dad, and especially born in the USA, not the least bit interested in that kid, already a US citizen. If it is a kid or kids that were brought here and under 18, only interest from the USCIS is they will be US citizens when you are naturalized. But if you want proof of that, fill out an N-600 and send us 600 bucks.

It all boils down to show me your papers.

Many of us go along with our spouses for moral support, but considered by the field office just to be in the way. Key reason for me wanting to go along was to make damn sure, we got all of our original papers back.

[Jupiter07 12]

If that kid as a US citizen dad, and especially born in the USA, not the least bit interested in that kid, already a US citizen. If it is a kid or kids that were brought here and under 18, only interest from the USCIS is they will be US citizens when you are naturalized. But if you want proof of that, fill out an N-600 and send us 600 bucks.

You don't even have to file N600 unless you have 600bucks to spare. Just apply a passport, book + card for her.

[NickD 202]

You don't even have to file N600 unless you have 600bucks to spare. Just apply a passport, book + card for her.

That wasn't from me, was from the USCIS, I don't get that 600 bucks. But still like to close the door with that kid with the USCIS, N-600 does that, a US passport does not.

[nwctzn 55]

That wasn't from me, was from the USCIS, I don't get that 600 bucks. But still like to close the door with that kid with the USCIS, N-600 does that, a US passport does not.

I was agreeing with you on this issue; i.e., I thought to get the N-600 as well besides the passport book and the passport card. I now say just get the passport card and passport book. It is much cheaper and much faster. Look at the 2nd page of the following publication from USCIS M-560: http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/A4en.pdf

USCIS basically says the same:

How do I apply to have my citizenship recognized?

You have two options:

[1] You can apply to the U.S. Department of State for a U.S. passport. A passport is evidence of citizenship and also serves as a travel document if you need to travel. For information about applying for a U.S. passport, see the U.S. Department of State website at www.state.gov.

[2] If you are already in the United States, you also have the option of applying to USCIS using Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship. However, you may find applying for a passport to be more convenient because it also serves as a travel document and could be a faster process.

Edited February 7, 2012 by nwctzn

[Jupiter07 12]

That wasn't from me, was from the USCIS, I don't get that 600 bucks. But still like to close the door with that kid with the USCIS, N-600 does that, a US passport does not.

That was not MY information. Came straight out of the mouth of the office who interviewed me for my N400. He said filing N600 was optional, but gave me two reasons it's good to file it - proof of citizenship if the child lost his/her naturalization certificate. Which is a good point, but of course there's some sales pitch in there because the child can still provide proof of citizenship w/out the certificate or passport. And since I am not willing to part with 600$, I am NOT filing it.

Oh, he also said it's good to file N600 cos then when the child files for a passport, he/she doesn't have to provide evidence of his/her journey to citizenship. I have no problem providing this evidence if I get to keep my 600$.

Edited February 7, 2012 by Jupiter07

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

- proof of citizenship if the child lost his/her naturalization certificate. Which is a good point, but of course there's some sales pitch in there because the child can still provide proof of citizenship w/out the certificate or passport. And since I am not willing to part with 600$, I am NOT filing it.

A child, never, ever, not in a million, billion, trillion, gazillion years, has a naturalization certificate (Certificate of Naturalization). Why? Because the minimum age for naturalization is 18. Children cannot apply for naturalization and cannot naturalize. Ever seen a 3-year-old taking the Oath of Allegiance?

[Jupiter07 12]

A child, never, ever, not in a million, billion, trillion, gazillion years, has a naturalization certificate (Certificate of Naturalization). Why? Because the minimum age for naturalization is 18. Children cannot apply for naturalization and cannot naturalize. Ever seen a 3-year-old taking the Oath of Allegiance?

CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP

[mari&Ryan 93]

That wasn't from me, was from the USCIS, I don't get that 600 bucks. But still like to close the door with that kid with the USCIS, N-600 does that, a US passport does not.

I 100% agree with bolded part. Nobody wants to spend $600 BUT just to close the door with USCIS for good I did it for my child. It's my responsibility to apply for every single docs for her while she is a minor. I would expect that my mother would do the same for me if i was the minor child. Children will be adult and I don't want to see my daughter having to deal with USCIS again in 10 years from now because some one is asking her to provide a Certificate of Citizenship because the Passport is not good enough. A friend of mine is having this dilema now with his almost 17 year old son, the son is being asked to provide his Certificate of Citizenship even though he has a passport. Now, they have to go back to USCIS after 7 years the father got his Naturalization as he thought he was done with USCIS, guess what? No. If to be done with USCIS means to pay $600 for a CoC so bet it. I 'm getting the three proof of Citizenship for my child (Certificate of Citizenship, Passport and Passport card) and Voila!

Edited February 7, 2012 by mari&Ryan

[bigdog 376]

Eat a good dinner, sleep well, you will be fine.