Detailed NYC office N-400 interview experience

[mwert 6]

- Dec, 2020: I submitted my N-400 application (5 year, typical). New York City field office.

- Feb, 2021: Biometric reuse notification.

- Aug, 2021: Interview date notification.

- Sep 15, 2021: Interview. Recommended for approval.

 

I arrived to the field office (26 Federal Plaza) 5 minutes before my scheduled interview. There was a short line for security; security is similar to airports; bags are allowed; they checked the interview letter and ID. I then went to the "office" which is actually a large hall with lots of chairs and lots of people waiting for their interview. There was another 3 minute line for check in. At check in they checked my interview letter, green card, passport, state ID, took photos and fingerprints. I had to wait 10 minutes in the hall; after that I was called to the interview room.

 

Interview itself was about 50 minutes. The officer's style was very matter-of-fact; he stopped me when I said "How are you doing", and then asked to only use "Yes" and "No" and not "I guess". He asked for green card, passport, state ID and took copies. He asked for an arrest disposition and took away my original (the only original he took). He copied my divorce judgement and took a copy. Overall, he didn't need copies that I prepared, or photos that I took, or tax returns, or recommendation letters clarifying what I am doing while I am unemployed (so being unemployed was not an issue at all). He asked for my social security card which I forgot to take but he said it doesn't matter. He looked at the last US entry stamp in my passport and added my last travel to the N-400.

 

He did the civics test. He asked questions and waited for my answers. Only accepted one answer even when there are many. I made one mistake.

Then he did a simple reading / writing test, one sentence each.

Then he went through the N-400 asking me a lot of yes/no questions. This was the hardest part because it was difficult to hear and understand him, especially given that he was wearing a mask, was not very loud, and the statements there are very complex. Please read your N-400 before the interview and memorize which questions you answered yes and which you answered no! It is important. I had to ask him to repeat a question once which was ok.

After that he gave me a "recommended for approval" paper and said that sometime later I'll receive an invitation to the ceremony. No date yet.

 

Hopefully this is helpful for some people!

Edited September 16, 2021 by mwert

[HNZ91 70]

2 hours ago, mwert said:

- Dec, 2020: I submitted my N-400 application (5 year, typical). New York City field office.

- Feb, 2021: Biometric reuse notification.

- Aug, 2021: Interview date notification.

- Sep 15, 2021: Interview. Recommended for approval.

 

I arrived to the field office (26 Federal Plaza) 5 minutes before my scheduled interview. There was a short line for security; security is similar to airports; bags are allowed; they checked the interview letter and ID. I then went to the "office" which is actually a large hall with lots of chairs and lots of people waiting for their interview. There was another 3 minute line for check in. At check in they checked my interview letter, green card, passport, state ID, took photos and fingerprints. I had to wait 10 minutes in the hall; after that I was called to the interview room.

 

Interview itself was about 50 minutes. The officer's style was very matter-of-fact; he stopped me when I said "How are you doing", and then asked to only use "Yes" and "No" and not "I guess". He asked for green card, passport, state ID and took copies. He asked for an arrest disposition and took away my original (the only original he took). He copied my divorce judgement and took a copy. Overall, he didn't need copies that I prepared, or photos that I took, or tax returns, or recommendation letters clarifying what I am doing while I am unemployed (so being unemployed was not an issue at all). He asked for my social security card which I forgot to take but he said it doesn't matter. He looked at the last US entry stamp in my passport and added my last travel to the N-400.

 

He did the civics test. He asked questions and waited for my answers. Only accepted one answer even when there are many. I made one mistake.

Then he did a simple reading / writing test, one sentence each.

Then he went through the N-400 asking me a lot of yes/no questions. This was the hardest part because it was difficult to hear and understand him, especially given that he was wearing a mask, was not very loud, and the statements there are very complex. Please read your N-400 before the interview and memorize which questions you answered yes and which you answered no! It is important. I had to ask him to repeat a question once which was ok.

After that he gave me a "recommended for approval" paper and said that sometime later I'll receive an invitation to the ceremony. No date yet.

 

Hopefully this is helpful for some people!

Congrats!

[Pavel1982 104]

8 hours ago, mwert said:

- Dec, 2020: I submitted my N-400 application (5 year, typical). New York City field office.

- Feb, 2021: Biometric reuse notification.

- Aug, 2021: Interview date notification.

- Sep 15, 2021: Interview. Recommended for approval.

 

I arrived to the field office (26 Federal Plaza) 5 minutes before my scheduled interview. There was a short line for security; security is similar to airports; bags are allowed; they checked the interview letter and ID. I then went to the "office" which is actually a large hall with lots of chairs and lots of people waiting for their interview. There was another 3 minute line for check in. At check in they checked my interview letter, green card, passport, state ID, took photos and fingerprints. I had to wait 10 minutes in the hall; after that I was called to the interview room.

 

Interview itself was about 50 minutes. The officer's style was very matter-of-fact; he stopped me when I said "How are you doing", and then asked to only use "Yes" and "No" and not "I guess". He asked for green card, passport, state ID and took copies. He asked for an arrest disposition and took away my original (the only original he took). He copied my divorce judgement and took a copy. Overall, he didn't need copies that I prepared, or photos that I took, or tax returns, or recommendation letters clarifying what I am doing while I am unemployed (so being unemployed was not an issue at all). He asked for my social security card which I forgot to take but he said it doesn't matter. He looked at the last US entry stamp in my passport and added my last travel to the N-400.

 

He did the civics test. He asked questions and waited for my answers. Only accepted one answer even when there are many. I made one mistake.

Then he did a simple reading / writing test, one sentence each.

Then he went through the N-400 asking me a lot of yes/no questions. This was the hardest part because it was difficult to hear and understand him, especially given that he was wearing a mask, was not very loud, and the statements there are very complex. Please read your N-400 before the interview and memorize which questions you answered yes and which you answered no! It is important. I had to ask him to repeat a question once which was ok.

After that he gave me a "recommended for approval" paper and said that sometime later I'll receive an invitation to the ceremony. No date yet.

 

Hopefully this is helpful for some people!

congrats. you have mentioned that biometric reused. did u have an-i-751 pending?

[Mill&bill 132]

9 hours ago, mwert said:

- Dec, 2020: I submitted my N-400 application (5 year, typical). New York City field office.

- Feb, 2021: Biometric reuse notification.

- Aug, 2021: Interview date notification.

- Sep 15, 2021: Interview. Recommended for approval.

 

I arrived to the field office (26 Federal Plaza) 5 minutes before my scheduled interview. There was a short line for security; security is similar to airports; bags are allowed; they checked the interview letter and ID. I then went to the "office" which is actually a large hall with lots of chairs and lots of people waiting for their interview. There was another 3 minute line for check in. At check in they checked my interview letter, green card, passport, state ID, took photos and fingerprints. I had to wait 10 minutes in the hall; after that I was called to the interview room.

 

Interview itself was about 50 minutes. The officer's style was very matter-of-fact; he stopped me when I said "How are you doing", and then asked to only use "Yes" and "No" and not "I guess". He asked for green card, passport, state ID and took copies. He asked for an arrest disposition and took away my original (the only original he took). He copied my divorce judgement and took a copy. Overall, he didn't need copies that I prepared, or photos that I took, or tax returns, or recommendation letters clarifying what I am doing while I am unemployed (so being unemployed was not an issue at all). He asked for my social security card which I forgot to take but he said it doesn't matter. He looked at the last US entry stamp in my passport and added my last travel to the N-400.

 

He did the civics test. He asked questions and waited for my answers. Only accepted one answer even when there are many. I made one mistake.

Then he did a simple reading / writing test, one sentence each.

Then he went through the N-400 asking me a lot of yes/no questions. This was the hardest part because it was difficult to hear and understand him, especially given that he was wearing a mask, was not very loud, and the statements there are very complex. Please read your N-400 before the interview and memorize which questions you answered yes and which you answered no! It is important. I had to ask him to repeat a question once which was ok.

After that he gave me a "recommended for approval" paper and said that sometime later I'll receive an invitation to the ceremony. No date yet.

 

Hopefully this is helpful for some people!

where can i find yes or no questions to read before interview?

[Barbara99 3]

6 minutes ago, Mill&bill said:

where can i find yes or no questions to read before interview?

I think in your N-400 application. There are a bunch of questions with Yes and No.

[rafi_1219 12]

1 hour ago, Mill&bill said:

where can i find yes or no questions to read before interview?

Memorize your N400 application. Officer asked me the dates of outside of the country.  

[mwert 6]

13 hours ago, Pavel1982 said:

congrats. you have mentioned that biometric reused. did u have an-i-751 pending?

No

11 hours ago, Mill&bill said:

where can i find yes or no questions to read before interview?

In your N-400 application

[the_waiting_game 5]

On 9/16/2021 at 11:46 AM, mwert said:

- Dec, 2020: I submitted my N-400 application (5 year, typical). New York City field office.

- Feb, 2021: Biometric reuse notification.

- Aug, 2021: Interview date notification.

- Sep 15, 2021: Interview. Recommended for approval.

 

I arrived to the field office (26 Federal Plaza) 5 minutes before my scheduled interview. There was a short line for security; security is similar to airports; bags are allowed; they checked the interview letter and ID. I then went to the "office" which is actually a large hall with lots of chairs and lots of people waiting for their interview. There was another 3 minute line for check in. At check in they checked my interview letter, green card, passport, state ID, took photos and fingerprints. I had to wait 10 minutes in the hall; after that I was called to the interview room.

 

Interview itself was about 50 minutes. The officer's style was very matter-of-fact; he stopped me when I said "How are you doing", and then asked to only use "Yes" and "No" and not "I guess". He asked for green card, passport, state ID and took copies. He asked for an arrest disposition and took away my original (the only original he took). He copied my divorce judgement and took a copy. Overall, he didn't need copies that I prepared, or photos that I took, or tax returns, or recommendation letters clarifying what I am doing while I am unemployed (so being unemployed was not an issue at all). He asked for my social security card which I forgot to take but he said it doesn't matter. He looked at the last US entry stamp in my passport and added my last travel to the N-400.

 

He did the civics test. He asked questions and waited for my answers. Only accepted one answer even when there are many. I made one mistake.

Then he did a simple reading / writing test, one sentence each.

Then he went through the N-400 asking me a lot of yes/no questions. This was the hardest part because it was difficult to hear and understand him, especially given that he was wearing a mask, was not very loud, and the statements there are very complex. Please read your N-400 before the interview and memorize which questions you answered yes and which you answered no! It is important. I had to ask him to repeat a question once which was ok.

After that he gave me a "recommended for approval" paper and said that sometime later I'll receive an invitation to the ceremony. No date yet.

 

Hopefully this is helpful for some people!

Congratulations! 

My interview is on Thursday and this is very helpful. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Pavel1982 104]

2 hours ago, the_waiting_game said:

Congratulations! 

My interview is on Thursday and this is very helpful. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

It seems like you will have combo since you have i751 pending. So don't forget to bring all evidences copy and original.  Also expect  more waiting. Only people go fast who has only n400 interview.  We had to wait 4 hours 

[the_waiting_game 5]

On 10/15/2021 at 7:12 PM, Pavel1982 said:

It seems like you will have combo since you have i751 pending. So don't forget to bring all evidences copy and original.  Also expect  more waiting. Only people go fast who has only n400 interview.  We had to wait 4 hours 

I only have N400 interview. I751 was approved in 2017. I have not been here in a really long time. But I see I updated my profile back in 2017.

[Kmath 3]

@mwert

 

can you provide  any details on the arrest disposition?

 

I submitted my application month ago and I had an incident 11 years ago.

 

 

 

[millefleur 5,047]

**Moved from US Citizenship General Discussion to US Citizenship Case Filing and Progress Reports**

[idyllic420 31]

On 9/17/2021 at 9:00 AM, mwert said:

No

In your N-400 application

How can I download what I have submitted? Thanks in Advance

[Kmath 3]

1 hour ago, idyllic420 said:

How can I download what I have submitted? Thanks in Advance

You can log in to your account and where it says N400 application what you submitted look for “PDF”

 

let me know if that helps

[idyllic420 31]

3 hours ago, Kmath said:

You can log in to your account and where it says N400 application what you submitted look for “PDF”

 

let me know if that helps

I found a copy saved on my computer so I will review it before my interview. I have a DUI on my record and that is the only that concerns me. Let's see how it goes down on Jan 10th!