N-400 February 2017 Filers

[ksp9 19]

On 5/15/2018 at 8:39 PM, FtWorth1982 said:

Hi, just got my interview notice, scheduled for June 9th. I have a few questions:

 

1. I am applying after 5 years in the US as a green card holder (came to the US on a conditional green card based on marriage, divorced unfortunately, then removed conditions). Do I need to bring a copy of my divorce decree with me? Or should it be an original copy?

2. I have 5 years of tax returns - is that enough?

3. Should I bring my current marriage certificate (I am happily remarried with two beautiful daughters)?

4. How can I find out when will my oath be? I am scheduled to travel for work obroad June 10th-18th.

5. Is there anything I am missing?

 

Thanks a lot!

Yes, you need to bring as much documentation as possible just in case to avoid any RFE.

1. Marital status related all documents (original + copies) i.e. (Marriage certificate , Divorce Decree original, any of your ex's previous spouse details or divorce decree if divorced etc). Just get everything as your marital status will go onto the naturalization certificate. They will try to understand why you divorced as well just in case be prepared. Also your children BC and do you have any child support from your previous spouse then you need to provide that documentation as well just in case.

2. Tax returns including this year, try to get on a phone with IRS representative and check if you can get transcript for 2017 if possible (not sure if that will be ready at this time) but if not then take your W2's and as well tax returns as filed for latest year and tax transcripts for all the previous 5 years

3. They want to ensure that your GC was not given by mistake? So they will question you related to your previous marriage and have all the questions ready and be honest. That is all it matters nothing else.

4. Check your N400 application for all the information you have put in there. Be sure what you put and answer the same when the ISO ask you

5. Ensure that if there is any mistake or updates to be made in N400 application be open and let ISO know right away at the beginning itself about the changes.

6. Take as much proof as possible from your co-mingling with your ex-spouse if you have that documentation on you (like utility bills, lease, joint bank accounts, tax returns - just in case). Your current marriage is solid since you have two children.

7. Expired / Current passport with stamps to match your travel dates just incase (take copies as well)

8. Any traffic related court dispositions / payment proofs / etc

 

I know you think this is overdo with documentation but I have known some who had got RFE and struck for many many more months and lot of info pass meetings , and other avenues ... it's just a matter of carrying few more documents and have it in your hand. So you won't give any choice for the ISO. I did take as I got GC through marriage but was not divorced so we are happily still together for more than 10 years now. But ISO did ask me related to my marriage, my wife and how she got naturalized as well. Just to ensure that I haven't got the GC through some cracks. Once they approve it that's it and this is the last step on their part to ensure that no criminals or law breakers become citizens.

 

Hope this helps you out! There are many experienced folks on here who can suggest. As mentioned the ISO might not even look at any documentation as it happened in my case but the pressure and stress of not having documents and ISO asking for those was not there in my case as I was well prepared. So it might be the case with you and ISO might not even ask you anything. Better safe than sorry.

 

Good Luck! on your interview.

 

On your oath it depends on your local field office and the number of ceremonies and applications they receive. Here in NY it's a big waiting for oath. It took for us at least 4 - 6 weeks post interview for the oath actual date. Check on your field office stats from other posts. That might give you an idea. If possible move your travel plans as my ISO suggested not to make any travel plans as if you miss and then to get re-scheduled it might take another few months as there was big backlog. So, it's better to get over with USCIS and then have your trips if you can postpone it. Some folks had their oath the same week and some on the same day. So, think again.

 

Edited May 21, 2018 by ksp9

[MrsWillard 1]

My oath ceremony has been scheduled... so happy it's almost over!

[sunshinestate2013 136]

13 hours ago, MrsWillard said:

My oath ceremony has been scheduled... so happy it's almost over!

 

Congratulations, @MrsWillard

[kenny874real 1]

I had my interview today at Dallas. I was drilled by IO because i was divorced and i was only married for a year Plus. 

These were the questions after putting me under oath. 

1. What is freedom of religion

2. What Ocean is on the West coast of america 

3. How many senators do we have 

4.What year was the constitution written 

5. When must all men register for selective service 

6. Name a state that Borders Canada. 

 

I answered all my first six questions correctly. Passed the reading test and the writing test. 

Then the grilling started. You were not married for long and you were in a distance relationship. I explained that i was in school. 

 

she asked me did i come to the United states to marry or school, i told her i came to school and i have competed the program. 

 

She asked why didn't i move,  I explained we were already having issues by the time i finished my masters. 

 

She then went through my application to make sure all i filled was correct, were i work, where i have stayed etc. 

 

She then asked me to chose between Thursday or Friday to come back for my oath ceremony, i chose Thursday and she gave me back my paper work. 

 

Every body sharing their experience has been helpful and i feel obliged to do the same. if you were divorced and you filing on the basis of 5 yrs, get ready to be drilled. 

 

Notes

appointment was for 1115am, stayed in the parking lot until 1050.am. I was called in at 1123 and my interview lasted for about 20min

 

Wish you all the best

Edited June 4, 2018 by kenny874real

[march16filer 153]

5 minutes ago, kenny874real said:

I had my interview today at Dallas. I was drilled by IO because i was divorced and i was only married for a year Plus. 

These were the questions after putting me under oath. 

1. What is freedom of religion

2. What Ocean is on the West coast of america 

3. How many senators do we have 

4.What year was the constitution written 

5. When must all men register for selective service 

6. Name a state that Borders Canada. 

 

I answered all my first six questions correctly. Passed the reading test and the writing test. 

Then the grilling started. You were not married for long and you were in a distance relationship. I explained that i was in school. 

 

she asked me did i come to the United states to marry or school, i told her i came to school and i have competed the program. 

 

She asked why didn't i move,  I explained we were already having issues by the time i finished my masters. 

 

She then went through my application to make sure all i filled was correct, were i work, where i have stayed etc. 

 

She then asked me to chose between Thursday or Friday to come back for my oath ceremony, i chose Thursday and she gave me back my paper work. 

 

Every body sharing their experience has been helpful and i feel obliged to do the same. if you were divorced and you filing on the basis of 5 yrs, get ready to be drilled. 

 

Notes

appointment was for 1115am, stayed in the parking lot until 1050.am. I was called in at 1123 and my interview lasted for about 20min

 

Wish you all the best

Congrats, @kenny874real

[sunshinestate2013 136]

8 minutes ago, kenny874real said:

I had my interview today at Dallas. I was drilled by IO because i was divorced and i was only married for a year Plus. 

These were the questions after putting me under oath. 

1. What is freedom of religion

2. What Ocean is on the West coast of america 

3. How many senators do we have 

4.What year was the constitution written 

5. When must all men register for selective service 

6. Name a state that Borders Canada. 

 

I answered all my first six questions correctly. Passed the reading test and the writing test. 

Then the grilling started. You were not married for long and you were in a distance relationship. I explained that i was in school. 

 

she asked me did i come to the United states to marry or school, i told her i came to school and i have competed the program. 

 

She asked why didn't i move,  I explained we were already having issues by the time i finished my masters. 

 

She then went through my application to make sure all i filled was correct, were i work, where i have stayed etc. 

 

She then asked me to chose between Thursday or Friday to come back for my oath ceremony, i chose Thursday and she gave me back my paper work. 

 

Every body sharing their experience has been helpful and i feel obliged to do the same. if you were divorced and you filing on the basis of 5 yrs, get ready to be drilled. 

 

Notes

appointment was for 1115am, stayed in the parking lot until 1050.am. I was called in at 1123 and my interview lasted for about 20min

 

Wish you all the best

Congratulations!

[Life_love 45]

32 minutes ago, kenny874real said:

I had my interview today at Dallas. I was drilled by IO because i was divorced and i was only married for a year Plus. 

These were the questions after putting me under oath. 

1. What is freedom of religion

2. What Ocean is on the West coast of america 

3. How many senators do we have 

4.What year was the constitution written 

5. When must all men register for selective service 

6. Name a state that Borders Canada. 

 

I answered all my first six questions correctly. Passed the reading test and the writing test. 

Then the grilling started. You were not married for long and you were in a distance relationship. I explained that i was in school. 

 

she asked me did i come to the United states to marry or school, i told her i came to school and i have competed the program. 

 

She asked why didn't i move,  I explained we were already having issues by the time i finished my masters. 

 

She then went through my application to make sure all i filled was correct, were i work, where i have stayed etc. 

 

She then asked me to chose between Thursday or Friday to come back for my oath ceremony, i chose Thursday and she gave me back my paper work. 

 

Every body sharing their experience has been helpful and i feel obliged to do the same. if you were divorced and you filing on the basis of 5 yrs, get ready to be drilled. 

 

Notes

appointment was for 1115am, stayed in the parking lot until 1050.am. I was called in at 1123 and my interview lasted for about 20min

 

Wish you all the best

Congrats, i was married for 5.5 years i hope i don't get drilled lol....either way nothing to hide so *shrugs*  Congratulations all the same

[ksp9 19]

28 minutes ago, Life_love said:

Congrats, i was married for 5.5 years i hope i don't get drilled lol....either way nothing to hide so *shrugs*  Congratulations all the same

They wanted to check if your first reason to grant permanent residency is not fluke or wrongly done. Hence the re-repeating of questions related to your marriage if you procured your GC through marriage and related to employment if procured through employment. This is kind of double checking on their part to ensure you are eligible for naturalization (morally). These so called drilling is to establish that you are telling truth as there is a question in N-400 that talks about have u ever married anyone for immigration benefits and you have answered "no". This will say if you are saying truth under "oath" so guys just be prepared in what you have on your application and you will just be fine.

 

If divorced - then be ready how you co-mingled etc like for ROC etc and then what made you to take that decision

If Employed - then be ready why you are still working with the sponsor company or not

 

If this is your true experience then just speak out truthfully as you are under "oath" and nothing matters. You will be just fine.

 

my 2 cents.

[FtWorth1982 1]

1 hour ago, kenny874real said:

I had my interview today at Dallas. I was drilled by IO because i was divorced and i was only married for a year Plus. 

These were the questions after putting me under oath. 

1. What is freedom of religion

2. What Ocean is on the West coast of america 

3. How many senators do we have 

4.What year was the constitution written 

5. When must all men register for selective service 

6. Name a state that Borders Canada. 

 

I answered all my first six questions correctly. Passed the reading test and the writing test. 

Then the grilling started. You were not married for long and you were in a distance relationship. I explained that i was in school. 

 

she asked me did i come to the United states to marry or school, i told her i came to school and i have competed the program. 

 

She asked why didn't i move,  I explained we were already having issues by the time i finished my masters. 

 

She then went through my application to make sure all i filled was correct, were i work, where i have stayed etc. 

 

She then asked me to chose between Thursday or Friday to come back for my oath ceremony, i chose Thursday and she gave me back my paper work. 

 

Every body sharing their experience has been helpful and i feel obliged to do the same. if you were divorced and you filing on the basis of 5 yrs, get ready to be drilled. 

 

Notes

appointment was for 1115am, stayed in the parking lot until 1050.am. I was called in at 1123 and my interview lasted for about 20min

 

Wish you all the best

Wouldn't call it a grilling - just a few routine questions. Congrats though!

My interview is on Saturday. However, on Sunday evening I am leaving the country for 10 days for a work trip I had unfortunately scheduled before getting my interview notice. Assuming everything goes well at the interview, will I be able to have the oath after I come back?

[Ramii 1]

we had our interview done on Monday . it was quick and easy . i was recommended for approval in Dallas . how long it takes for you online status to change after you pass the test and interview ?

[sunshinestate2013 136]

3 hours ago, Ramii said:

we had our interview done on Monday . it was quick and easy . i was recommended for approval in Dallas . how long it takes for you online status to change after you pass the test and interview ?

Congratulations! 

[Lewisville121 1]

My wife and me had interview at Dallas today. Scheduled time was 10:45, how ever we were called separately one at 11:50 and 12:00. The officer interviewed me was very friendly. As we were down the aisle, he said he has full faith in me that my application would be approved. The interview was very simple and quick. I had some travel after I filed the N-400 application, so I took the travel addendum, he appreciated that. Finally he said, he will make sure my application would be approved today.

 

One major thing is off my head.

[sunshinestate2013 136]

1 hour ago, Lewisville121 said:

My wife and me had interview at Dallas today. Scheduled time was 10:45, how ever we were called separately one at 11:50 and 12:00. The officer interviewed me was very friendly. As we were down the aisle, he said he has full faith in me that my application would be approved. The interview was very simple and quick. I had some travel after I filed the N-400 application, so I took the travel addendum, he appreciated that. Finally he said, he will make sure my application would be approved today.

 

One major thing is off my head.

Congratulations! Can you tell us more about your interview experience? 

[Lewisville121 1]

Here are the details step by step

 

1.       Walked in with the interview notice and bunch of print outs(Tax returns, Flight Tickets, Leasing Agreement, Travel Addendum, N-400 etc).

2.       At the entrance security check resembles like in airport security check, take off the belt, watch, shoes, valets etc and put them in the bin to scan and walk through the security post.

3.       Went up the stairs and handed over the interview notice to the lady sitting behind the desk.

4.       The assignment of the candidates to the officer is pre-determined so you are literally waiting for the officer to be done with their prior candidates before you.

5.       Some applicants may have more complicated process to be reviewed so for my wife and me we had to wait for more than an hour past our appointment time to get our turn to go in.

6.       My wife’s officer said to her that that’s her first case which had all NO’s on the bunch of YES/NO questions, and so happy to see such case after so complicated case until then.

7.       My wife’s interview was done in about 10 minutes.

8.       My turn came after couple of minutes with a different officer.

9.       He greeted and I offered a hand shake, he received it very well.

10.   On the hall way, I asked if it is a busy day for him, he said yes, it’s been. He also commented that he has faith in me that he would be approving my application today.

11.   In his room, he asked me to raise my hand and tell the truth only.

12.   Verified my GC, DL and all the passports.

13.   Took my picture with the web cam and index finger prints of both the hands.

14.   Asked 6 history questions, asked a sentence to read and one sentence to write.

15.   Opened my application, went through every section and asked a bunch of “NO” answerable questions in the PART12, from 1-44 and asked all the “YES” answerable questions from 45-50 in form N-400.

16.   I had additional travel after filing application, I made an addendum and gave it to him, he calculated the number of days I was away, he said they are all with the allowable limits, no issue with them.

17.   He said, “as I told earlier, I am recommending to approve your application, congratulations. I will make sure your application is approved today. The ceremony letter will come in mail”

18.   I asked if this facility has anyone who can take the passport application, he said “NO”, not in this location, I should go to post office to file one after the ceremony.

19.   He shook hand and walked me out.

[sunshinestate2013 136]

32 minutes ago, Lewisville121 said:

Here are the details step by step

 

1.       Walked in with the interview notice and bunch of print outs(Tax returns, Flight Tickets, Leasing Agreement, Travel Addendum, N-400 etc).

2.       At the entrance security check resembles like in airport security check, take off the belt, watch, shoes, valets etc and put them in the bin to scan and walk through the security post.

3.       Went up the stairs and handed over the interview notice to the lady sitting behind the desk.

4.       The assignment of the candidates to the officer is pre-determined so you are literally waiting for the officer to be done with their prior candidates before you.

5.       Some applicants may have more complicated process to be reviewed so for my wife and me we had to wait for more than an hour past our appointment time to get our turn to go in.

6.       My wife’s officer said to her that that’s her first case which had all NO’s on the bunch of YES/NO questions, and so happy to see such case after so complicated case until then.

7.       My wife’s interview was done in about 10 minutes.

8.       My turn came after couple of minutes with a different officer.

9.       He greeted and I offered a hand shake, he received it very well.

10.   On the hall way, I asked if it is a busy day for him, he said yes, it’s been. He also commented that he has faith in me that he would be approving my application today.

11.   In his room, he asked me to raise my hand and tell the truth only.

12.   Verified my GC, DL and all the passports.

13.   Took my picture with the web cam and index finger prints of both the hands.

14.   Asked 6 history questions, asked a sentence to read and one sentence to write.

15.   Opened my application, went through every section and asked a bunch of “NO” answerable questions in the PART12, from 1-44 and asked all the “YES” answerable questions from 45-50 in form N-400.

16.   I had additional travel after filing application, I made an addendum and gave it to him, he calculated the number of days I was away, he said they are all with the allowable limits, no issue with them.

17.   He said, “as I told earlier, I am recommending to approve your application, congratulations. I will make sure your application is approved today. The ceremony letter will come in mail”

18.   I asked if this facility has anyone who can take the passport application, he said “NO”, not in this location, I should go to post office to file one after the ceremony.

19.   He shook hand and walked me out.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, @Lewisville121! Congratulations to you and your wife! Best wishes to you both!