Interview for n-400 - Spouse allowed or not ?

[besthopes 9]

I will file for n-400 (based on marriage) in few months and I have a question that if my spouse comes with me to USCIS office for citizenship interview. Does USCIS officer takes interview in front of spouse or the interview is only between the beneficiary and USCIS officer ?

[Prixxi82 7]

Is a private interview, she has to wait outside, because they need to be sure that you know the answers of the civil questions or to any other thing they ask you like read and write a simple sentence

[jkelly07 120]

no but he can wait for you in the waiting room, you are called, then you enter in a office with the officer, spouse not allowed.it should only take 15 min,

[besthopes 9]

Sorry to ask but does it help (in marriage based applications) when spouse also joins till the waiting room area ? Does USCIS officer notice that I came with my spouse ?

I am asking because we also have a baby and if this does not help in anyway then my spouse can stay home with baby. USCIS office is about 4 hours away from where we live.

[Messybrownhair 251]

Let him watch the baby in the waiting area while you do your interview, or let them both stay home. My son and husband are probably coming with me when the time comes but they will just wait. I have a pretty easy going toddler though

[NickD 202]

For the three year, no better evidence to have a child in your marriage. We also had a 4 1/2 hour drive that amounts to 9 hours. Is tense for the applicant, so sure wanted to be with my wife. Good thing too, was unreported detours, and I knew the roads, she would have been lost.

We also studied the civics test on the way over. Feel like I should have been with her at least for part of the interview, because on all our evidence, my name, was also on those legal documents. But no way, had to sit in the waiting room. Her interview was very long 45 minutes and rather exhausted when she was one. Was glad to be along so she could rest on the long drive home.

What happens to her, also affects me, so wanted to do this as a family. But the word family does not seem to be part of the USCIS vocabulary.

Never heard of a ten minute marriage interview, must have been a good interviewer that already realized you went through the AOS and ROC stages. Not our luck, wife introduced me when she was called, her interview couldn't even turn her head and say nice to meet you. Only heard of one situation where the interviewer wanted to meet the spouse.

Only ten minute interviews I have heard of was for the five year. We had quite a stack of evidence, wife's interviewer wanted to go through every bit of it. Don't need any of this for the five year.

[engineer21 51]

My husband will be coming along, but he'll have to wait in the waiting room.

I'm sure it can't hurt when you're applying based on marriage. But personally I just want the moral support more than anything else. It's an excuse to take off work anyway. Also I don't like to drive to places I don't often visit

Added bonus: if it goes well we can celebrate immediately after!

[Hedi 24]

I wasn't able to accompany my husband on the day of his interview, as I am a teacher and that day, we were administering state wide testing and there was no way I could get a substitute. So, he went to his interview on his own. While I would have liked to be there with him for moral support, he told me that had I gone, I would've waited outside. His interview took all of 20 minutes-from start to finish- and the IO didn't even ask whether I was there or not.

I think if your spouse can be there for support, it's wonderful, but the spouse's presence is not mandatory.

I have to add that I took the day off for my husband's oath ceremony and that was a great day.

Good luck to you!

[christeen 966]

Interview will be separate... But they can wait in the waiting room... Good luck, study the questions and you will do just fine.

[besthopes 9]

I will send my application after two months. Wanted to know whether spouse presence will be mandatory or not for marriage based n-400 applications, so asked the question. Thank you everyone for inputs.

[Darkarma 2]

For my Interview I went alone. Spouse was working. It was not a problem. Infact the interviewer never asked for my spouse.

Edited April 14, 2014 by ravi_niu