Citizenship second interview!!

[IguanaCouple 26]

I find it hard to believe you didn't fire a single weapon and I'm sure the CO thought the same. At least in the IDF every single kid that's conscripted has to know how to disassemble, clean and of course, load and fire an automatic rifle.

In hindsight it would have just been simpler telling them you had weapons training even if you didn't. Just saying. What country are you from if I may ask? I'm curious they don't require you to ever come in contact with a weapon regardless of job description.

[Rush123 0]

I was in the IDF( I guess you were too). I had TIRONUT for one week then I sent to my course. There are case out of the ordinary like mine that prevent me form doing the basic weapon training (medical reason). I explained the IO that my job didn't require weapon and she asked me any question she could about what my training was cover, what my course was cover, my rink etc... The thing I was focused on keep telling her I DIDNT TRAINED ON WEAPON and I was so nervous for this big changing life interview for becoming American citizen that I forgot to mention that I didn't use a weapon for my medical reason, but the most of the people in the military do. Anyway, it's a big mess now. I can't provide my medical case from the military I have tried to call and explained this to the IDF but I guess it doesn't work that way...

Honestly I don't know what to do.. How to preper for the interview? What interview it is, especially that they didn't ask for anything else beside ID,GC and passport...

Edited April 7, 2016 by Rush123

[IguanaCouple 26]

I haven't applied for citizenship yet (I'm applying next month) so I don't know. I replied yes to both conscription and weapons training on my K-1 visa and GC applications and they never asked me anything about it.

Lying on your immigration applications is taken very seriously and is grounds for deportation even if it was found out after you get citizenship. (I understand you didn't do it willfully but they are a little crazy about these things.)

They know most Israeli Jews serve in the IDF that's probably why they sat on your case for so long. Your lawyer screwed up big time by the way you should fire him and get a new one. I'd be really pissed with him if I were you.

I think you'll be fine though since you voluntarily revealed it in the interview and they didn't find out by some other means.

[Rush123 0]

Good luck to you!

I was so upset trust me, but there is nothing I can do now to change the past. I don't have money to hire a new lawyer. So it's going by myself or taking him with me.

What my changes that the IO will approve my case this time?

The way understand this matter they don't believe me and I guess that's why I received second interview..

[Rush123 0]

Good luck to you!

I was so upset trust me, but there is nothing I can do now to change the past. I don't have money to hire a new lawyer. So it's going by myself or taking him with me.

What my changes that the IO will approve my case this time?

The way understand this matter they don't believe me and I guess that's why I received second interview..

[kiwibean 50]

I wonder what you could take with you? Even though they said you didn't need to take anything, I can't see that it would hurt.

Do you (or your parents) have any paperwork anywhere about your service? Maybe it says somewhere, something about your medical issues? Do you have, or could you get, a doctor's letter about your medical issues? I don't know if it's still an issue, but if it is, you'd think a letter from your doctor would at least confirm you have that condition.

How about photos of you in the military? I know that photos of you without a gun can't PROVE that you didn't use one, but maybe they could show that you weren't in that type of unit?

Good luck!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

OP: Your problem isn't lack of documents but your poor explanations, which make it seem like you are hiding things. You neglected to say why you didn't have weapons training, because everyone knows that all armies give their people basic weapons training, otherwise what is the point of a military? They need people who can use weapons and go to war if needed. They aren't going to have people stabbing enemies with potato peelers. I personally still don't believe that you had no training at all, even with a medical condition (unless you had no hands or something). You mention a course, were you an atudah? They still go to bootcamp, man. The whole truth of your military training is vital to get citizenship. If you tell the truth, it is no problem. If you lie, then it is a problem.

[TBoneTX 45,841]

*** Thread is moved from the US Citizenship main forum to the Case Progress subforum. ***

[Rush123 0]

Dear Harpa,

I understand your point of you, but it's not always black or white. First of all I am woman( didn't mention before), thank God I have two legs and two hands. I have nothing to hide, im not a spy or a criminal- I'm a simple person that wants to live her life.

I haven't been in atudah( atudah is someone that completed is high school and continue for another 2 years of education AA and then start the military service).

There are variety of jobs can do in the military. Not everyone carries weapon and not everyone go to war if there is a war. They usually send all high school kids for booth camp before join the military, I didn't go because of my bad asthma condition(I born with it). Before starting the job in the military there is KABA( a test to know what job a person qualified). After the basic training they send the soldiers to their filed course then starting their job. First, I couldn't do a fiscal basic weapon Training because of my asthma condition( it's in the range and the dust doesn't do good for most asthma people). Second, a year before my duty in the military I had a lot of back problem and I couldn't hold heavy things so my doctor at that time recommend it to the military has well. So, I did a basic training but not included weapon. The IO asked me all the questions about my training and I answered them all. Also, the IO asked me if I'm willing voluntary to give a statement about all I said. I said yes. She typed everything I said AGAIN and I sign it and another officer as a witness. Btw, she didn't want to give me a copy of my statement which I don't understand how I can't get a copy when my signature on that paper. Anyway, I was nervous and forgot to mention my health condition. Honestly, I think it's normal to be nervous during interview and especially with the interview I had.

After I explained it all( hope I did), what should I expect from this interview? Should I mention my medical info in the beginning of the interview? What questions I might be asked? Do they go over my application again? They didn't ask for any documents beside my GC and ID. I am asking all these questions because I want to go ready for the interview.

I'll appreciate your respond, thank you!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I think that everyone knows that there are non-combat jobs in the military but it is still rare to not have any weapons training. You said you forgot to mention the medical condition to the IO but now it seems like you did? No one can fault you for being nervous but I don't see much reason to be - if you are eligible for citizenship then it seems to me that the hard part (the greencard) is behind you. With citizenship you can be confident that you are admissible to the US and everything.

All you can do now is understand why some statements seem strange (put yourself in the IO's shoes) and explain everything from the ground up and hope the early missteps (like saying no to being in the military) are overcome.

I hope you did say yes to military for the greencard application. Good luck.

[Rush123 0]

Thank you for your respond.

I didn't!!! She asked me why on my green card application I haven't marked yes. I said: I thought it's us military unit so I marked no. I explained that I have no problem say that I actually been in the military I'm proud that I could do something for my country and its misunderstanding and I'm sorry. In the end she said its ok but the weapon doesn't seems right and she need to do research and I said ok.

I hope everything will be fine...

[IguanaCouple 26]

From the IO's point of view you lied on your GC and your citizenship applications. Technically speaking they could revoke your GC for that alone and you'd have no recourse. They ask those questions on the application for a reason so that if someone lies they can be deported even if they are citizens. An 86 year old naturalized American citizen is being deported to Germany after it was found out he was a guard at a Nazi death camp. The legal basis for the stripping of his citizenship and deportation will be that he lied on his application (The application asks if you are or were a Nazi/communist etc)

But like I said I think you'll be fine. They just have to cover their bases (From their point of view you could be a spy trying to hide your military service). If everything checks out I don't think they are gonna waste their resources on harassing/deporting you.

Edited April 8, 2016 by IguanaCouple