Citizenship second interview!!

[Rush123 0]

*** new on this side I tried to post this message-not sure if it went true**

Hello there,

Any help will be appreciated!

I'm a 10 years GC holder(base on I360)

I applied for a citizenship on Jan 2015, I had my first interview in Nov 2015. During the interview, the IO went over the form and there was a question if i served in the army, I said no. My lawyer correct me and said yes( he knows I have been in the military in my country) then it turn in big mess. Then the IO told me you did?? Why your green card application also said no. I told the IO that truly I thought I have been asked about US military so I marked no, I was in the military in my country back home. I explain myself that I have no problem to say it I'm actually very proud that I could do something for my country and it was misunderstanding. This went fine.. Then was the question if I ever used a weapon, I said no. Then she was confused how come I was in the military and didn't use weapon. I explain to her that my job in the military didn't require weapon, it turn up to big issue she asked me for a written statement during the interview and I gladly did. I received in the end of the interview the form of the result and it says decision cannot be made. The IO told me she needs to review everything and if she needs evidence from me she will let me know.

I received few days ago "naturalization re-interview" letter. They didn't request any evidence. Just to bring my GC, I.D and passport.

My lawyer said they probably want to ask more questions about my military ( I thought the 45 minutes questions was enough).

Is it weird that they don't want any evidence from me?

What do I need to expect from this interview?

Any opinion on this matter will help. Thank you.

I'm nervous, don't know what expect..

[quan12 6]

RUSH123,

I do not know much about immigration reforms but I think your lawyer screwed you up knowingly or took that action in order to get more money from you. That's totally wack of him to do that. Why didn't he/she tells you to answer yes to those questions instead of waiting till your interview date to bring it up. USCIS hate lies and that's what they did saw after your lawyer brought that issue up. I think you will be fine because if they wanted to deny you they would have sent you a letter of denial due to not practicing good moral. Just go to the interview with evidence even if they didn't ask for it and just say nothing but the truth. (lockthatlawyerinthetoilet#

[Rush123 0]

This lawyer helped me a lot with my GC case so I thought he knows what he is doing. I guess he tried to correct me.. I honestly didn't lie and said the truth I thought it's US military. I think the IO understood that, the thug is she asked me spotty of questions about my service and about me not using a weapon. I tried to contact the military in my country but not luck to provide evidence of the weapon. They said: "they don't provide this kind of information". I have no idea what to do... :/

I meant a lot of questions not "spotty" sorry.

Thx for the responding

[charmander 692]

Question: Assuming your lawyer reviewed your naturalization application package and went over your answers in Part 11, how in the world he missed you marked "No" in your application if he already knew you served?

Many permanent residents come from countries that require a mandatory military service and USCIS knows about this. Check this map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription#/media/File:Conscription_map_of_the_world.svg

All the red and orange countries on that map have mandatory military service. Though field office agents seem picky about it, they have nothing in their power to investigate what you exactly did in your service. But it still boggles me how in the world your attorney missed this in your application package? Say he didn't check your answers while you submit your application, didn't he at least review your answers before your interview? He should have known this question was going to be asked.

Edit: Regarding potential questions for military service in your next interview. I don't think they would care about your answers, they probably just want to see if you could answer the questions quickly, confidently, and consistently. You are neither the first nor the last person ever to serve a military service in your home country and apply for naturalization. Good luck!

Edited April 6, 2016 by charmander

[Rush123 0]

Dear Charmander,

Thank you for your respond!

Trust me I have been thinking about all this situation for 120 days( since my interview). I was thinking the same as you.. I feel useless, my lawyer told me " I told you to look over you file before the interview" which I did and I thought it's completely fine because I truly thought its U.S military. The IO told its fine that I served in the military and all good, just the weapon section doesn't seems right because she never hard about someone in the military that didn't training on weapon. I was sitting there 40 minutes explained EVERYTHING , my job didn't required weapon, It wasn't combat job, and explain all the training in my military. I guess she didn't believe me.. It's sad because I am saying the truth! Furthermore, I can't bring anything from the military back home to support my statement.

[charmander 692]

Dear Charmander,

Thank you for your respond!

Trust me I have been thinking about all this situation for 120 days( since my interview). I was thinking the same as you.. I feel useless, my lawyer told me " I told you to look over you file before the interview" which I did and I thought it's completely fine because I truly thought its U.S military. The IO told its fine that I served in the military and all good, just the weapon section doesn't seems right because she never hard about someone in the military that didn't training on weapon. I was sitting there 40 minutes explained EVERYTHING , my job didn't required weapon, It wasn't combat job, and explain all the training in my military. I guess she didn't believe me.. It's sad because I am saying the truth! Furthermore, I can't bring anything from the military back home to support my statement.

Telling the truth is all you could do. You shouldn't worry about a written statement because not a single armed force in the world would reveal the kind of training its soldiers go through in detail to another country. It could be a long time ago but just try to remember what kind of duties you were assigned to, what positions you served, and remember quick, confident, and consistent answers would be the key.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You didn't have boot camp/basic training, even if you had a desk job?

[Rush123 0]

Of course I did but it didn't include weapon.

[charmander 692]

Of course I did but it didn't include weapon.

I believe you. Some people serve in a submarine as part of their military service, some just peel carrots and potatoes for months. On paper I had weapons training during my service but all I did was shooting 6 rounds with an ancient M1 rifle.

Anyway you should still answer "Yes" to Part 11 Item 19 that asks if you received any military, paramilitary, or weapons training since you completed a basic training. If the interviewer specifically ask weapons training alone, then say "No".

[Rush123 0]

Lol, thank you charmanders!

I'm not sure if during the interview they go over my N400 application again but I'll make sure to say yes this time. The more I think about it the more I think I confused the officer, probably she thought I didn't have a training at all. Do you have any idea of I need my income taxes at all? They didn't look at it in my previous interview and this time they ask just for ID, GC, and passport...

Thank you!

[charmander 692]

Lol, thank you charmanders!

I'm not sure if during the interview they go over my N400 application again but I'll make sure to say yes this time. The more I think about it the more I think I confused the officer, probably she thought I didn't have a training at all. Do you have any idea of I need my income taxes at all? They didn't look at it in my previous interview and this time they ask just for ID, GC, and passport...

Thank you!

Unfortunately that I cannot answer 'cause I haven't got to the interview stage yet. Military service is something I am more familiar with b/c I was asked about my service during my AOS interview and will be asked again during N400 interview.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

I believe you. Some people serve in a submarine as part of their military service, some just peel carrots and potatoes for months. On paper I had weapons training during my service but all I did was shooting 6 rounds with an ancient M1 rifle.

Anyway you should still answer "Yes" to Part 11 Item 19 that asks if you received any military, paramilitary, or weapons training since you completed a basic training. If the interviewer specifically ask weapons training alone, then say "No".

^^That just threw me off for a moment.

I think it's time say bye bye to your lawyer.

[Rush123 0]

I wish it was that simple... I paid him enough money for this case and suppose to come with me to the 2nd interview. I don't have money to hire a new lawyer, so in this case is to go alone or to take a lawyer with me to the interview.

[quan12 6]

Not a conclusion but just a guess. Think your lawyer knowingly did that in order to earn more money from you. Sorry to say but just what i think. Its never a most that you need to have a lawyer through out your immigration journey. Maybe if your case is complicated then I'll say k.

[NikLR 13,231]

You have not ever fired a weapon in your entire life? Especially not in the military?

It's part of basic training in the US military, no matter what division, to learn how to fire a weapon.

http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/discovering-the-weapons-used-in-basic.html

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/weapons/a/Military-Weapons.htm