Naturalization Interview Experience 4/17/2008

[MikesAibeen 0]

N-400 Application Date: October 27,2007

Interview Date: April 17, 2008

My interview was at 8:30 in the morning. I was about 20 minutes late because of highway 40 being closed down, we live 3 hours away and didn't know. There were 3 people inside the waiting room (Rm 212). I placed my appointment letter in a slot and after about 2 minutes, I was called in. He led me to his office and I realized that I was the only one scheduled at 8:30am when the immigration officer commented aboout me being late. I quickly explained what happened and he was cool about it. Before taking a seat, he made me raise my right hand and swear to answer truthfully throughout the interview.

We got seated and on the table is a thick file of documents which has copies of my identification card and permanent resident card on the top. The immigration officer proceeded on introducing himself and gave me an overview of the process. He told me he didn't see any problems with my application and my english is very good so it will depend on how I do on the test. He smiled and asked me if I prepared for it and I confidently replied yes.

First, he asked for my greencard and driver's license. He was going to make copies when I told him that I've brought copies and he's welcome to them. He was grateful about it.

He then went through the N-400 form I submitted originally with the application to make sure all the entries are right, using a red pen. He was very nice and told me that if I have any questions or concerns to feel free and ask. One by one, he read the questions on Part 10-1 to 39 of N-400 which I replied to accordingly. He skipped some of the questions that didn't apply to me. He then printed a paper which contained the changes I made from the form N-400 (weight, my name, etc.) and asked me to sign it using the name on my greencard. Then he told me to read the oath at the very end of the form to myself and to inform him when I'm done. He then asked me to tell him in my own words what the oath meant. He printed another form which is basically a request or petition for a name change and he made me sign it using the name on my greencard.

Then the oral test which was very easy. He read the questions from his computer.

How many stars are there on the flag?

Who is the first president of the United States?

What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?

What is the name of the official residence of the president of the United States?

What is the executive department of the government?

What is the supreme law of the land?

He printed the paper and at the back of it he made me write the sentence "They work well together." And made me read a sentence "He buys many things."

Then he told me that since my application is based on a marriage to a US citizen, he need to see my husband. I told him he's in the car waiting. He was parked a few blocks away. He was kind enough to let me use the office phone so I can call my husband. I informed him that I did not bring a cellphone inside the building because in the past we were told cellphones will be confiscated. He apologized for the messy office and told me that the office is not really his and that he's just filling in for somebody as he usually does fingerprinting.

He gave me a paper which says I've attended my scheduled interview and that he's recommending approval of my application.Then he told me that we were pretty much done and to expect the oath ceremony letter to arrive within 4 to 6 months. I asked him if there's a problem if I travel abroad while waiting for it and he said no. He told me the next scheduled interview was at 9:30 and he was glad we got done quickly. My poor hubby had to walk quite a ways. There was a ball game and that's why we coudln't find a place to park closer to the building. He told me that I can wait for my husband outside so he'd know where to go and that when he comes in, we just need to ask for him at the room where they do the fingerprinting. So we did and my husband volunteered to show his ID, the IO looked at it and that was it. He wished us well and we left.

All in all, it took less than 20 minutes although the appointment letter said, the proceeding will take about two hours. I was never asked to submit any documents mentioned in the appointment letter, aside from my greencard and driver's license. I am glad and thankful that the immigration officer who interviewed me was very nice and down to earth.

To those who are waiting for their interviews, I hope you all will find this post helpful. Good luck and God bless!

Abby

Edited April 18, 2008 by MikesAibeen

[raymaga 25]

Glad you had a pleasant interview experience.

I'm waiting for my interview date right now and I'm getting more nervous about the test every day. I am not a good test-taker, and my memory is poor to nil (I'm getting OLD!!!!).

I will be sooooooooooo glad when this is all over with.

Good luck for an early oath ceremony date!!!!

[tammiandtom 0]

Congrats!!!!!!

That is odd that they said they needed your spouse. The letter should have mentioned that, what if you drove all that way there by yourself???

[ilovecookies 0]

a big congratulations to you!!!

thanks so much for the post, it's very helpful. i hope i pass my interview.

[sj5 4]

congratulations!

you're done with document aggravations.

[followmydreams 0]

Congratulations!

Your journey in nearly over.

And thanks a lot for your shared experience, it is really helpful for all of us here!

Edited April 20, 2008 by followmydreams

[*JG* 2]

That is wonderful. I look forward to the same ease when Andre goes next year, here, in St. Louis.

Can I ask where you went for the interview? Was it the Federal Building?

[NickD 203]

To those who are waiting for their interviews, I hope you all will find this post helpful. Good luck and God bless!

Abby

Found it very helpful, Abby, thank you for sharing your experience.

Our field office is located on the south side of St. Paul out in the sticks with a large parking lot and I kind of learned to get on the internet to check on weather and road construction.

But was under the impression that the interview was a one shot affair, you have to make yet another trip for that oath ceremony?

Would like to find printed copy of that M-476 "A Guide to Naturalization" did download the *.pfd file, but for some reason, government forms and publications don't get along with my computer, had problems printing it out. I did use Adobe Arcobat 8 to extract pages of the civics and English samples and put those on my wife's notebook she has to drag with her on her job, so she can study them.

My wife is excellent at reading and writing the English language as she has been doing that for the last 30 years, just occasionally gets tripped up on pronunciation. But everyone so far just loves her accent, such a pleasant voice.

[MikesAibeen 0]

I'm not quite done yet! I still have the oath ceremony to attend to. :dance: Read the study guide and you will be fine. The test was very easy. Good luck and I hope you guys will make it in time for the presidential election in November.

Tammi,

I thought the same because it was never mentioned in the appointment letter. But just in case, hubby took a day off from work. I didn't need the documents but ended up needing my husband with his identification card. To be on the safe side, bring both!

NickD,

Yes, the oath ceremony is another trip. I was given a study guide and a CD when I went in for my fingerprinting last January. I was there for a short time. It took longer because I have to wait for hubby to come in.

Jomo's girl,

Yes the same office, you have to walk past the biometrics room and it's the third one on the right. I had a very pleasant experience, I'm sure you guys will have the same.