Can I bring 13 month old to AOS interview?

[HF & HB 6]

Hoping someone who has experienced this can give some insight. My husband and I are going in 3 weeks for my AOS interview and we don't have anyone to leave my 13 month old with, is it a problem to bring him along? We're going to the Seattle office.

 

Thanks!

[Crazy Cat 41,886]

1 minute ago, HF & HB said:

Hoping someone who has experienced this can give some insight. My husband and I are going in 3 weeks for my AOS interview and we don't have anyone to leave my 13 month old with, is it a problem to bring him along? We're going to the Seattle office.

 

Thanks!

Does your appointment letter address others attending?  Some offices strictly prohibit additional people attending.

[Okboy 43]

Just now, Lucky Cat said:

Does your appointment letter address others attending?  Some offices strictly prohibit additional people attending.

Absolutely!!! I went for my AOS interview with my son who was a baby at the time and my ex spouse. That was long before this pandemic started. Good luck 

[HF & HB 6]

 

19 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Does your appointment letter address others attending?  Some offices strictly prohibit additional people attending.

Thanks for the response! Part of the reason I'm asking is actually because my letter got lost and I'm in the process of trying to get a new one (hopefully asap!) so I I'm not sure of their policies. May need to ask their office. I was just curious about other people's experiences of bringing a child. Thnx again !

Edited July 13, 2021 by HF & HB

[HF & HB 6]

17 minutes ago, Okboy said:

Absolutely!!! I went for my AOS interview with my son who was a baby at the time and my ex spouse. That was long before this pandemic started. Good luck 

Thanks for the input!!

[Okboy 43]

22 minutes ago, HF & HB said:

 

Thanks for the response! Part of the reason I'm asking is actually because my letter got lost and I'm in the process of trying to get a new one (hopefully asap!) so I I'm not sure of their policies. May need to ask their office. I was just curious about other people's experiences of bringing a child. Thnx again !

I think you should be fine. Like I earlier mentioned, I took my son, and there was no problem and it was in the Seattle office too. 

[SalishSea 17,836]

4 minutes ago, Okboy said:

I think you should be fine. Like I earlier mentioned, I took my son, and there was no problem and it was in the Seattle office too. 

But that was pre-covid, so not so relevant.  OP, you should definitely confirm whether or not you can bring him, before the appointment.

 

Post-covid, rules and protocols have changed significantly.  The Tukwila USCIS field office was even closed for awhile.

[Timona 4,207]

1 hour ago, HF & HB said:

 

Thanks for the response! Part of the reason I'm asking is actually because my letter got lost and I'm in the process of trying to get a new one (hopefully asap!) so I I'm not sure of their policies. May need to ask their office. I was just curious about other people's experiences of bringing a child. Thnx again !

 

Check your USCIS account. You may get it there.

 

Additionally, if you have a picture of it, that'll do. You don't need the actual original paper from USCIS 

Edited July 13, 2021 by Timona

[HF & HB 6]

9 minutes ago, Timona said:

 

Check your USCIS account. You may get it there.

 

Additionally, if you have a picture of it, that'll do. You don't need the actual original paper from USCIS 

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get it from my USCIS account. I've been on the phone all day and managed to speak with 2 reps who tried their best to help but all I can do now is wait for the next 3 weeks to hopefully hear back from a tier 2 rep and/or hope the letter gets remailed to the correct address. (I did change of address when I moved but did not know I had to do it for every form I have with USCIS so my I485 notices are lost). My interview is also in 3 weeks so I may need to reschedule, its a tricky situation.

[Pinkrlion 2,722]

YES, NO PROBLEMS

[Timona 4,207]

12 hours ago, HF & HB said:

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get it from my USCIS account. I've been on the phone all day and managed to speak with 2 reps who tried their best to help but all I can do now is wait for the next 3 weeks to hopefully hear back from a tier 2 rep and/or hope the letter gets remailed to the correct address. (I did change of address when I moved but did not know I had to do it for every form I have with USCIS so my I485 notices are lost). My interview is also in 3 weeks so I may need to reschedule, its a tricky situation.

 

Do you have a picture of it?

[Chocobo 196]

My husband and I brought our young son with us to our AOS interview  (can't remember his exact age but definitely in "toddler" range.)  No problem at all.  

 

Good luck at your interview!

[Crazy Cat 41,886]

2 hours ago, Chocobo said:

My husband and I brought our young son with us to our AOS interview  (can't remember his exact age but definitely in "toddler" range.)  No problem at all.  

 

Good luck at your interview!

Post Covid rules have changed for many offices.

[Chocobo 196]

2 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Post Covid rules have changed for many offices.

Granted, but I cannot fathom a rule wherein parents would be prohibited from bringing their toddler.  Barring bringing in a friend or a sibling or someone who is not your attorney, sure, but a toddler?  I would be astounded.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,459]

1 hour ago, Chocobo said:

Granted, but I cannot fathom a rule wherein parents would be prohibited from bringing their toddler.  Barring bringing in a friend or a sibling or someone who is not your attorney, sure, but a toddler?  I would be astounded.

 

Post Covid Rules for USCIS offices:

 

Quote

USCIS Visitor Policy

If you are fully vaccinated, you may enter our offices without a face covering. To be considered fully vaccinated, it must be at least two weeks after you received your second dose in a two-dose series or at least two weeks after you received a dose of a single-dose vaccine.

 

In DHS-controlled spaces, this guidance supersedes state, local, tribal, or territorial rules and regulations regarding face coverings.

 

To protect our workforce and the public from exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19), we require all applicants, petitioners, and visitors two years of age or older who are not fully vaccinated to wear face coverings that cover both the mouth and nose while in a USCIS office. The CDC provides measures for selecting and wearing face coverings.

 

Due to potential safety risks, we do not allow neck gaiters, bandanas, or masks with exhaust valves to be used as face coverings. If you appear at a USCIS office without an acceptable face covering, we may offer you a replacement mask or ask you to reschedule your appointment. We reserve the right to deny entry to anyone who does not wear an acceptable face covering.

 

We may direct you to briefly remove your face covering to confirm your identity or take your photograph. Please follow the instructions included in your appointment notice, including for your scheduled appointment at the designated date and time.

 

Face coverings are not a replacement for social distancing. Follow USCIS signs or instructions to maintain social distancing during screening and while in USCIS space.

 

To limit the number of people in the waiting room, applicants with scheduled appointments may only be accompanied by:  

• An attorney;
• An interpreter (if permitted under specific guidance regarding interpreters for affirmative asylum interviews);
• A parent, legal guardian, or a trusted adult, if the applicant being interviewed is a minor;
• Immediate family members listed as dependents on the application or interview notice; and
• An individual assisting a disabled person.

For now, we cannot allow guests at naturalization ceremonies. We are limiting attendance at ceremonies to the candidates who are scheduled to be naturalized and individuals helping disabled persons. We require the wearing of face coverings during the naturalization ceremony if you are not fully vaccinated, even if it is held outside of a USCIS building.

 

Note that toddlers or babies are not in the above list of people allowed to accompany applicants.  That is, unless the toddler is listed as a dependent on the interview notice.