does anyone know whats that interview all about during the N-400 process...

[gyenigun 0]

does anyone know whats that interview all about during the N-400 process...? i am just curious that if it s just like the one they did during the conditional greencard process...like asking questions to your spouse and you ...or else...?

any idea...?

[moonhunt 1]

does anyone know whats that interview all about during the N-400 process...? i am just curious that if it s just like the one they did during the conditional greencard process...like asking questions to your spouse and you ...or else...?

any idea...?

It is two parts.

First part is checking N400 application form for any update or change.

Adjudicator may ask further information regarding N400 application data if they feel boredom.

Second part is English/Civic/History questions, which has two format - old and new -.

So for first part, you may feel like same thing from AOS or Conditional greencard process.

[lucyrich 20]

If you file based on the "three years married to and living with a US Citizen spouse", then there is some chance they might check into the validity of the relationship. There is a possibility they might want to speak to the spouse, and they might want to see evidence that the relationship was bona fide and that you're still living together.

Having said that, normally, by the time you've gone through removal of conditions, the issue of the marriage validity has been decided, and they don't normally revisit it much unless some new evidence comes up that would make them doubt their earlier decision.

The vast majority of people posting their experiences here report the kind of interview moonhunt described: going over the N-400 to see if anything has changed since filing, followed by an English and Civics exam. Normally, they don't discuss much about the marriage, they don't want to talk to the USC spouse, and the USC spouse isn't allowed in the room with the interviewer.

[NickD 203]

If you file based on the "three years married to and living with a US Citizen spouse", then there is some chance they might check into the validity of the relationship. There is a possibility they might want to speak to the spouse, and they might want to see evidence that the relationship was bona fide and that you're still living together.

Having said that, normally, by the time you've gone through removal of conditions, the issue of the marriage validity has been decided, and they don't normally revisit it much unless some new evidence comes up that would make them doubt their earlier decision.

The vast majority of people posting their experiences here report the kind of interview moonhunt described: going over the N-400 to see if anything has changed since filing, followed by an English and Civics exam. Normally, they don't discuss much about the marriage, they don't want to talk to the USC spouse, and the USC spouse isn't allowed in the room with the interviewer.

Or comparing your original evidence with the copies of it you sent in, page by page, getting to the trip section and even if you are not close to the limit of days, checking your trip dates against your passport just to see if you can copy correctly, making comments about the number of step kids you have, (we have eight), checking your affiliation with nasty organizations, then looking you straight in the eye when asking you those questions, are you a prostitute, did you try to overthrow the USA government, etc. Wife was asked three times if she ever committed a crime she was never caught at.

Civics test went like a snap for her, six quick questions with six answers even before the question was finished, then writing, I am a good cook. Wife read the oath aloud, proves she can read English, then signed the N-400 in front of her IO, she passed.

She get a real stickler for an IO, many have reported nothing close to that, but it can happen. She was in for 43 minutes, IO wouldn't even look at me.

[moonhunt 1]

If you are o.k. with old format, you can check this posting for youtube video recording for sample interview.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=150798

Unless you have extreme situation that USCIS adjudicator concerned such as marriage fraud, good moral character issue including drunken driving, or criminal history things like that,

you will be asked for N400 questions for confirmation.

If your case have something strange attached to your A# file,

they may check that, too.

[gyenigun 0]

thanks for the quick answers...so, what my understanding is spouse has to be present during the interview eventough they dont ask any questions...right...?

[lucyrich 20]

thanks for the quick answers...so, what my understanding is spouse has to be present during the interview eventough they dont ask any questions...right...?

Normally, no, the spouse does not have to be present. And normally the spouse isn't even allowed to attend the actual interview, but instead is stuck outside in a waiting room somewhere.

If your interview letter requests that the spouse attends, pay more attention to it than you pay to this thread. But if the interview letter doesn't say anything about the spouse attending, feel free to go alone if that's more convenient.

Many spouses go to the waiting room to provide moral support, and to be there just in case they're asked to come in, and I wouldn't discourage any spouse from going if the logistics can work out. But it's not normally required.

[motu 6]

My wife just got her interview letter and other than marriage certificate, USC spouse's birth certificate or Naturalization certificate or passport and death and divorce papers of previous spouses - it doesn't say nothing about the spouse or the spouses' presence being required. Though I will go with her and wait, I guess. Good Luck

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

The applicant doesn't need to bring the spouse.

Save him/her a boring day waiting in various lines. He/she won't even be allowed in.

[moonhunt 1]

The applicant doesn't need to bring the spouse.

Save him/her a boring day waiting in various lines. He/she won't even be allowed in.

For US Citizen spouse accompanying issue, it is very rare to ask US citizen spouse's presentation.

But sometimes it may happen for marriage based case like Lyuba's case.

It is depending on USCIS adjudicator.

They may go with random spot check for whether their marriage is real, and US citizen spouse is real person.

But in most case, US Citizen spouse may sit in waiting room for their beloved to finish their interview.

A lot of extreme evidence request may come from USCIS adjudicator, but it is really up to whom you will meet during the interview, and the date/time of the interview.

US citizen spouse presence request may come one in million cases, but if you are the one, your case may be delay for this when your spouse is not there.

Sometimes there is no logic or consideration for USCIS.

During the process, USCIS can squeeze the case whatever they want.

We may argue with them based on legal and other ground, but it will be time/money consuming tasks.

Golden lesson for USCIS experience for last 13 years is "better overprepared than hearing sorry!", and "Always looking at USCIS viewpoint than my own convenience viewpoint".

Edited March 17, 2009 by moonhunt

[NickD 203]

I am positively amazed as to how my wife can drive and find things in Caracas, that city is a mess with road layouts like a maze, but not the same for her driving around here. Was a detour on the interstate, she would have gotten lost for sure on the way to her interview, I knew all the backroads, didn't follow that stupid detour, so we only lost about five minutes. She also gave up her culture to come here, and quite a difference in our legal system that as a USC, grew up with.

Milwaukee was another mess with a key exit blocked, had to drive north another four miles then zigzag back, dropped off my wife and daughter just in time, then another three blocks to find a place to park. USCIS can make you wait 2-3 hours and have, but if you are one second late for an appointment, they can cancel it. And the immigration results will definitely have an effect on me as well as on my family. It's a lot more than moral support. Wife is also not accustomed to driving on icy snow covered roads, but learning. Plus it's at least a nine hour drive for us, and yes, sitting in that waiting room is boring, but the price one has to pay to keep his family. But was so a six hour guard duty assignment in the military, least not that bad, could sit down and even use the rest room. We reviewed the civics test on our drive over that was actually the key learning session for us. And yes, felt bad that my wife's IO wouldn't even turn her big fat head to at least shake my hand, but that's her problem, not mine. But everyone was very friendly at the oath ceremony, so can leave with pleasant memories.

[jasminelily 1]

I am positively amazed as to how my wife can drive and find things in Caracas, that city is a mess with road layouts like a maze, but not the same for her driving around here. Was a detour on the interstate, she would have gotten lost for sure on the way to her interview, I knew all the backroads, didn't follow that stupid detour, so we only lost about five minutes. She also gave up her culture to come here, and quite a difference in our legal system that as a USC, grew up with.

Milwaukee was another mess with a key exit blocked, had to drive north another four miles then zigzag back, dropped off my wife and daughter just in time, then another three blocks to find a place to park. USCIS can make you wait 2-3 hours and have, but if you are one second late for an appointment, they can cancel it. And the immigration results will definitely have an effect on me as well as on my family. It's a lot more than moral support. Wife is also not accustomed to driving on icy snow covered roads, but learning. Plus it's at least a nine hour drive for us, and yes, sitting in that waiting room is boring, but the price one has to pay to keep his family. But was so a six hour guard duty assignment in the military, least not that bad, could sit down and even use the rest room. We reviewed the civics test on our drive over that was actually the key learning session for us. And yes, felt bad that my wife's IO wouldn't even turn her big fat head to at least shake my hand, but that's her problem, not mine. But everyone was very friendly at the oath ceremony, so can leave with pleasant memories.

My hubby had already agreed to drive me to the interview location in the future as long as I tell him in advance so he can request a day off from work. I get lost easily and he grew up here his entire life, so he knows the road better than me. I also want him to be there just in case the IO woke up on the wrong side of the bed and ask for his presense (based on 3 year marriage USCIS has right to request), then he might not be able to get off work right away, better let him ask a day off to be with me, better safe than sorry. Well... he is happy that he has an excuse for a day off anyways, he gets paid on salary, not hourly, haha.......

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

My wife hates anything related to immigration, she doesn't want to hear about anything. She really disliked coming to the AOS interview with me and she was surprised I had to bring so much evidence of our marriage.

She had to go through naturalization herself because she just missed by a few days becoming a USC through her parents, she read the booklet on the test on her way there on the bus and she still makes fun of people taking pictures and waving flags at the oath.

Mmmmm, let's see, yeah, I will not ask her to come to my naturalization interview....