Naturalization Interview: A Full Review

[Calypso 464]

This post appears lengthy but the actual interview with the IO took only less than 10 minutes, from the time he called my name until he told me I passed and was all set to leave.

Parking

334 E Temple St. - flat rate $8

My husband and I drove from Marina del Rey. There was heavy traffic in the last seven miles of the 110 Freeway.

Security

The interview schedule was at 9:45 am on 300 N Los Angeles St. We were on the security screening line for about eight minutes. When it was our turn, my husband placed his stuff on the tray but the guard noticed his sharp keychain and said that he wasn't allowed to take the particular accessory design inside the building. I made my husband memorize my interview room number and told him to meet me there. He left the building and looked for a spot to hide his keychain someplace else. I got inside the building at 8:33 am.

The Long Wait

I greeted the guard outside Room 8509 and he asked for my interview letter. I handed it to him and he pointed the waiting room. It was packed because most of those who were getting interviewed invited one to three family members with them.

After more than an hour of sitting there, I asked the couple beside me what time their interview was. I know they were already there before we arrived. The man said his wife was scheduled at 9:45 am. Several minutes past 11 o'clock, an IO called the wife and two minutes later, my IO showed up at 11:22 am. My husband and I waited for nearly two hours! He would occasionally walk around and talk to the funny guard outside the waiting room. My husband found out the guard was born in the Philippines and he was quite entertaining.

Inside Suite 8509

The IO introduced himself and told me that the lady beside him will be with us during the interview for her training but she won't be asking me questions. She's only there to observe.

The three of us walked towards his office while he was holding my N-400 form. He asked if:

- the name on the form is accurate and whether I intend to keep or change it

- I'm still living in the same address on the file and how long I've resided there.

I said yes, four months.

He requested to see my passport, 10-year permanent resident card, and state ID. He made copies of those and told me to place my stuff on the table inside his room. I saw on his table a very thick file which most likely contained everything we sent starting from the I-129F.

After making copies of my IDs, the IO and the lady joined me inside the room and he led the oath. We all sat and he told me my test was about to begin.

What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

Who is the Governor of California?

Who was the First President?

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

Name two national US holidays.

I got the first six correct. He gave me a paper and pointed at the portion to read aloud, "Who lives in the White House?" and handed me another paper and a pen then told me to write, "The President lives in the White House."

He went back to holding my N-400 form and asked:

Is your name spelled correctly here?

How long have you lived in your current address?

- I answered four months. He then chuckled and commented, "Oh, I've already asked you that!"

It made me think that the IO asked a few questions repeatedly to check if my answers were consistent.

Did you bring any evidence that you are still married to your husband, such as joint bank account statements?

I named some documents and he kept saying, "We already have that on your file."

I told him that they only got our 2009, 2010, and 2011 tax transcripts so I bought one for 2012. I handed the 2012 tax transcripts to him. I also gave him our:

- joint bank account statements from 2010 to present, reflecting all four addresses we have lived in (one for every quarter)

The IO said to the lady being trained that she should look at the statements and check for changes on the balances and if there's activity, then that's a good sign. Now I'm glad I didn't redact the details of the bank statements. I would normally redact those using thick, black ink, to conceal the balances and actual account numbers.

- current lease agreement (I submitted two lease agreements for previous addresses during our ROC)

He didn't have a copy of our current lease.

- renter's insurance policy

He verified if all the details I've written on my form are accurate such as my previous addresses and employment history. I'm currrently unemployed so he asked, "How do you support yourself?" I told him the truth: my husband and I agreed that it's better if only one of us would experience work-related stress. He smiled and asked what my husband's job is. I said he's a senior software engineer. The IO nodded.

More questions:

Have you made trips outside the country?

Yes, three times.

When was the last one?

In May 2012 when my husband and I visited the Philippines for the first time since I arrived in the US.

He asked about my marital history and my husband's. This is both our first marriage (and hopefully the only one ever). He also asked if we are currently separated or filing for divorce. Of course not! Do you have children? Not yet.

For part 10 of the N-400 form, he didn't read to me every single yes or no question. He simply picked the first two or three questions from each portion and then skipped the rest. He then gave me a paper with my name, country of birth, and address to check if everything is correct and made me sign it together with parts 13 and 14 of my N-400 form.

The IO went outside the room with the lady and made copies of our joint bank statements, current lease agreement, 2012 tax transcript, and renter's insurance policy.

When he came back, he said that I passed my interview and congratulated me. He handed me Form N-652, Naturalization Interview Results (it has a line that says I should take the letter to the oath ceremony). The IO told me to expect my oath letter in the mail "in a couple of months." Hopefully that was only the standard answer and my oath ceremony gets scheduled sooner!

I thanked him and the lady a few times over and left.

The Finale

The guard saw me and said that the IO who interviewed me was the kindest person there is in the interview suite. I agree. The IO asked me very easy questions and although he wanted to see more documents, he always spoke softly without a hint of intimidation or condescension.

The guard gave me advice in Filipino, "Tell your husband you didn't pass and that you have to come back in August to redo the interview."

I exclaimed, "Hindi ako marunong magsinungaling!" (I don't know how lie to my husband!)

The guard laughed.

I returned to the waiting room and my husband was very surprised to see me. He thought the interview would run at least 30 minutes. Nevertheless, I got a hug and a kiss from him in front of strangers who tried to congratulate me. We then walked to Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles and had some unagi roll, salmon, and beef noodles for lunch.

Acknowledgement

Special appreciation to my husband and also to the N-400 February 2013 Filers. Thank you so much!

[hikergirl 277]

Thanks for the thorough post and Congratulations!

Interesting that they looked for bank account activities.

[TatTot 7]

Wow! Congratulations and thank you for this wonderful review!!! God bless!

[Hedi 24]

Congratulations again, Calypso! You have a great memory. My husband forgot two of the questions he was asked right after his interview.

I am glad you got the interview over with and I hope you have your oath ceremony very soon (like this month).

Hope you are feeling better.

[Calypso 464]

Thanks for the thorough post and Congratulations!

Interesting that they looked for bank account activities.

Thank you, K. I'm guessing the reason why the IO asked me for more evidence during the interview was because at that specific time, his job was not only to interview me but to also teach something to the female trainee or intern who sat with us in the room. He was probably giving her pointers such as checking whether there are activities in our joint bank account or not and other things to look for when interviewing someone. Perhaps that lady is being groomed to be an IO who will eventually handle N-400 interviews.

Good luck on your upcoming interview!

Wow! Congratulations and thank you for this wonderful review!!! God bless!

Thanks! Congratulations on your recent wedding. Mabuhay!

Congratulations again, Calypso! You have a great memory. My husband forgot two of the questions he was asked right after his interview.

I am glad you got the interview over with and I hope you have your oath ceremony very soon (like this month).

Hope you are feeling better.

Thank you once again, Hedi, for the greetings and advice. I'll be patient because the seemingly most difficult part is over.

[Markieboy 104]

Thanks for the review, Calypso!

Congratulations for completing your long journey!

[TatTot 7]

Thanks! Congratulations on your recent wedding. Mabuhay!

Oh Thank you! Long journey to take but it's all good in the hood! Mabuhay!!!

[Harsh_77 718]

Congratulations...!!!

[Calypso 464]

Thanks for the review, Calypso!

Congratulations for completing your long journey!

Congratulations...!!!

Thank you! A few more steps and then it'll be over.

[menina 50]

Congratulations! So happy for you!

[TBoneTX 45,266]

Calypso-Bonette! Si, man!!!!!

Excellently written and thorough review, si man. You'll hang around VJ to provide advice for others, one would presume.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Congratulations Calypso! Thanks for sharing with us your experience.

[Sirdaniel42 86]

Thank you for sharing and Congratulations

[Gboree 65]

Calypso, Congratulations!!!!! and that was a nice summary you have there

My interview is coming up pretty soon

[mounir412 101]

Congratulations!!!