Rescheduling Citizenship Interview

[jenni17 36]

Hi Everyone, 

 

After a very long wait my husband finally received notice that his interview for citizenship has been scheduled at the Baltimore Office. The only catch is that we're expecting our first baby and they've scheduled him for a date that's less than a week out from our due date. I'm obviously concerned that I could go into labor and he will have to miss the interview. We reached out via the phone number on the interview notice that was provided to reschedule in case of covid symptoms and they gave us a confirmation number for our request and said that we should hear back within 30 days. I have two questions regarding this:

1. The original interview is scheduled for less than 30 days out... if we don't hear back before then does he just not show up? What would happen in that case?

2. I'm seeing in other forums on here that people say you have to write a letter to have the interview rescheduled. Should we do that too or do we think that calling will suffice? 

 

Thanks for any help anyone can provide! Of all the weeks we could have gotten for the interview of course it turns out to be the week our baby is due! As if I needed one more thing to stress over in the lead up to the big day 🙃

[Timona 4,207]

With how COVID is, I wouldn't have rescheduled. I mean, the original date was on the same week as birth but not on the same day. Infact, if it's in the same city, I see no reason to reschedule.  N400 interviews, as per testimonials of those who've done it during this COVID times, is less than 20 mins atm. 

 

Problem with rescheduling is that you're not sure if it was received. Additionally, it is a blessing to even get one during this COVID times. Some people filed last year and are yet to even get a biometrics. We had a lady from Australia who had to book last minute flight to the next city to do biometrics (she weighed concensus and decided going was the best decision, even though she had initially called to reschedule. She went, took care of matters yesterday and is now on a 14 day quarantine, if I remember the story correctly). 

 

Those are my reasons as to why you shouldn't have rescheduled it. 

 

I would still just go on the original date, especially if the date comes by and you're not in labor. 

 

Congrats on the baby. 👶 🚼 🍼 🤱 

[jenni17 36]

11 minutes ago, Timona said:

With how COVID is, I wouldn't have rescheduled. I mean, the original date was on the same week as birth but not on the same day. Infact, if it's in the same city, I see no reason to reschedule.  N400 interviews, as per testimonials of those who've done it during this COVID times, is less than 20 mins atm. 

 

Problem with rescheduling is that you're not sure if it was received. Additionally, it is a blessing to even get one during this COVID times. Some people filed last year and are yet to even get a biometrics. We had a lady from Australia who had to book last minute flight to the next city to do biometrics (she weighed concensus and decided going was the best decision, even though she had initially called to reschedule. She went, took care of matters yesterday and is now on a 14 day quarantine, if I remember the story correctly). 

 

Those are my reasons as to why you shouldn't have rescheduled it. 

 

I would still just go on the original date, especially if the date comes by and you're not in labor. 

 

Congrats on the baby. 👶 🚼 🍼 🤱 

Thank you! And thank you for weighing in! Unfortunately the interview is not in the same city where we live, it’s about an hour and a half away. Given that and the fact that a due date is really just an estimate, we decided that rescheduling is the best option. We’re fortunate enough that we aren’t in a rush with the process and don’t mind the delay that rescheduling would cause.

 

I hadn’t thought about still showing up on the scheduled date if the baby ends up coming before and if we’re out of the hospital by then. That could be an option if we’ve not heard back yet by then! 

 

[SalishSea 17,836]

1 hour ago, jenni17 said:

Thank you! And thank you for weighing in! Unfortunately the interview is not in the same city where we live, it’s about an hour and a half away. Given that and the fact that a due date is really just an estimate, we decided that rescheduling is the best option. We’re fortunate enough that we aren’t in a rush with the process and don’t mind the delay that rescheduling would cause.

 

I hadn’t thought about still showing up on the scheduled date if the baby ends up coming before and if we’re out of the hospital by then. That could be an option if we’ve not heard back yet by then! 

 

If you do decide you cannot make it to the appointment, I'd try very hard to make sure they know that, so they don't just assume you're a no-show.  

[NotMoreForms 68]

Murphy's law will mean that if your husband does go to the interview the baby will decide to come then (possibly triggered by your stress about it), and if you reschedule the baby will come at a time which would have meant he could have gone.

 

One thing to think about is that the US is one of the few (maybe only) countries which has 2 levels of citizenship.  If your husband was to pass the interview and get a same day oath before the child was born your child would be at the higher level of citizenship.  If your husband is not a citizen at the time of birth your child will be on the lower level of citizenship (at least that is my understanding).  

[milimelo 4,481]

I think Murphy's law in this case will be baby is late (as a lot of first babies are) and you could've made the interview. 
Let us know how it goes. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

I personally probably would  not have rescheduled unless I was actually the one giving birth, unless you don’t mind potentially another few months’ wait . Having done both, the interview is way shorter than labor even in the event they happen to coincide, and it is unlikely they will. Maybe that sounds more flippant than intended, but ... 

 

Anyway the real point - I seem to recall from my interview notice you were supposed to return it by mail with a request to reschedule if that was the case. Did your husband’s notice not say this?

 

1 hour ago, milimelo said:

I think Murphy's law in this case will be baby is late (as a lot of first babies are) and you could've made the interview. 
Let us know how it goes. 

Mine was two weeks early! I’d be more interested in the actual probability of overlap

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, NotMoreForms said:

 

One thing to think about is that the US is one of the few (maybe only) countries which has 2 levels of citizenship.  If your husband was to pass the interview and get a same day oath before the child was born your child would be at the higher level of citizenship.  If your husband is not a citizen at the time of birth your child will be on the lower level of citizenship (at least that is my understanding).  

Um, no. Baby born in US is a citizen. There are no “levels” of citizenship unless you want to run for president, which being born here allows you to do regardless parent’s status.

[Orangesapples 1,954]

14 hours ago, Timona said:

With how COVID is, I wouldn't have rescheduled. I mean, the original date was on the same week as birth but not on the same day. 

Due dates are not exact. A birth is considered normal if it occurs at any time during the 9th month and most women don't give birth on their due date. 

Edited December 23, 2020 by Orangesapples

[Orangesapples 1,954]

2 hours ago, NotMoreForms said:

Murphy's law will mean that if your husband does go to the interview the baby will decide to come then (possibly triggered by your stress about it), and if you reschedule the baby will come at a time which would have meant he could have gone.

 

One thing to think about is that the US is one of the few (maybe only) countries which has 2 levels of citizenship.  If your husband was to pass the interview and get a same day oath before the child was born your child would be at the higher level of citizenship.  If your husband is not a citizen at the time of birth your child will be on the lower level of citizenship (at least that is my understanding).  

This is complete nonsense. 

[Orangesapples 1,954]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

I personally probably would  not have rescheduled unless I was actually the one giving birth, unless you don’t mind potentially another few months’ wait . Having done both, the interview is way shorter than labor even in the event they happen to coincide, and it is unlikely they will. Maybe that sounds more flippant than intended, but ... 

 

 

It's just citizenship, it's not that crucial, the husband already has a green card. Missing his first child's birth sounds way more serious than delaying citizenship by a few months 

Edited December 23, 2020 by Orangesapples

[jenni17 36]

2 hours ago, milimelo said:

I think Murphy's law in this case will be baby is late (as a lot of first babies are) and you could've made the interview. 
Let us know how it goes. 

Unfortunately the baby arriving late is what would cause us to miss the interview. Our due date is January 13th and the interview is the 19th. I’m expecting to go late as it’s our first baby. The hospital stay after delivery also has the potential to overlap with the interview as well. Due to Covid regulations in the hospital the father cannot come and go once we are admitted. If he were to leave to go to the interview he would not be allowed back in.

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

5 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

It's just citizenship, it's not that crucial, the husband already has a green card. Missing his first child's birth sounds way more serious than delaying citizenship by a few months 

Interview 30 minutes, labor 8+ hours, probably entirely different day, whatever, that’s why people have different opinions , I did say it was kind of flippant and my post was more to do with whether they rescheduled properly 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[jenni17 36]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

I personally probably would  not have rescheduled unless I was actually the one giving birth, unless you don’t mind potentially another few months’ wait . Having done both, the interview is way shorter than labor even in the event they happen to coincide, and it is unlikely they will. Maybe that sounds more flippant than intended, but ... 

 

Anyway the real point - I seem to recall from my interview notice you were supposed to return it by mail with a request to reschedule if that was the case. Did your husband’s notice not say this?

 

Mine was two weeks early! I’d be more interested in the actual probability of overlap

If it were normal circumstances at the hospital I’d be more inclined to agree but due to covid if he doesn’t come in with me when I’m admitted he won’t be let in later, and once he’s in he can’t leave otherwise he won’t be allowed back in. We don’t mind the wait to reschedule, I just want to make sure they receive the request.

 

The interview notice gave a phone number to call, which went to the main USCIS line. We were able to get through to someone and she gave us a confirmation number for the request to reschedule and said we should hear back in 30 days. I’d seen the instructions to write in directly to the field office where the interview is scheduled as well though so I’m wondering if we should do that too to be on the safe side..

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 minute ago, jenni17 said:

If it were normal circumstances at the hospital I’d be more inclined to agree but due to covid if he doesn’t come in with me when I’m admitted he won’t be let in later, and once he’s in he can’t leave otherwise he won’t be allowed back in. We don’t mind the wait to reschedule, I just want to make sure they receive the request.

 

The interview notice gave a phone number to call, which went to the main USCIS line. We were able to get through to someone and she gave us a confirmation number for the request to reschedule and said we should hear back in 30 days. I’d seen the instructions to write in directly to the field office where the interview is scheduled as well though so I’m wondering if we should do that too to be on the safe side..

If you have a confirmation number that’s probably good enough, maybe a written follow up referencing that number if just for peace of mind would be a good idea.

2 minutes ago, jenni17 said:

If it were normal circumstances at the hospital I’d be more inclined to agree but due to covid if he doesn’t come in with me when I’m admitted he won’t be let in later, and once he’s in he can’t leave otherwise he won’t be allowed back in. We don’t mind the wait to reschedule, I just want to make sure they receive the request.

 

The interview notice gave a phone number to call, which went to the main USCIS line. We were able to get through to someone and she gave us a confirmation number for the request to reschedule and said we should hear back in 30 days. I’d seen the instructions to write in directly to the field office where the interview is scheduled as well though so I’m wondering if we should do that too to be on the safe side..

And congratulations on the imminent new arrival