N400 Interview based on Marriage

[Dags 134]

Hey everyone,

 

ive been reading and hearing shared opinions and experiences. Do you guys take your husband/wife to the interview? If so, did the letter say it for you to bring them along? Also, did they go to the interview room/window with you or just was waiting in waiting area just in case?

 

Thank you! I’ve got my interview this month in Denver so any feedback would be great! 

[OldUser 6,979]

If you have pending I-751 - it's a must.

If you have 10 year GC but applying under 3 year rule - highly recommended.

 

If you're applying under 5 year rule and have 10 year GC - not needed.

[cardia 146]

I'll be having my interview in a week. My interview is not a combo interview as I've already had my I-751/ROC approved more than a year ago, so my husband will not be coming in with me. The letter I received doesn't indicate that he needs to come, though it does say that I need to bring proof of his citizenship.

 

I've seen a few recent experiences at my local office that suggest he will not be able to wait for me in the waiting room. Going to see if he can on the day of, but if not, he'll be hanging around nearby the office. He would have done so anyway for support, but also just in case they somehow need to see him.

Edited March 7 by cardia
Sentence was cut off

[Dags 134]

3 minutes ago, OldUser said:

If you have pending I-751 - it's a must.

If you have 10 year GC but applying under 3 year rule - highly recommended.

 

If you're applying under 5 year rule and have 10 year GC - not needed.

Yea still pending I-751. My interview letter says only to bring proof of his citizenship. Where would he be waiting since I don’t think anyone else but you is allow inside?

 

4 minutes ago, cardia said:

I'll be having my interview in a week. My interview is not a combo interview as I've already had my I-751/ROC approved more than a year ago, so my husband will not be coming in with me. The letter I received doesn't indicate that he needs to come, though it does say that I need to bring proof of his citizenship.

 

I've seen a few recent experiences at my local office that suggest he will not be able to wait for me in the waiting room. Going to see if he can on the day of, but if not, he'll be hanging around nearby the office. He would have done so anyway for support, but also just in case they somehow need to see him.

got it, thanks! ☺️ unfortunately hasn’t seen many of reviews for my local office here. 

[cardia 146]

2 minutes ago, Dags said:

Yea still pending I-751. My interview letter says only to bring proof of his citizenship. Where would he be waiting since I don’t think anyone else but you is allow inside?

Not an expert on it but for those with pending ROC, I’ve seen reports saying that their spouse waited in the waiting room or outside the office. IO can have them come in.

 

With the pending ROC, yup, I would definitely bring your spouse and just have him as close by as possible. Hopefully your office allows him to wait in the waiting room.

[OldUser 6,979]

1 minute ago, cardia said:

My interview is not a combo interview as I've already had my I-751/ROC approved more than a year ago, so my husband will not be coming in with me.

Good luck and please keep us updated!

[OldUser 6,979]

11 minutes ago, Dags said:

Yea still pending I-751. My interview letter says only to bring proof of his citizenship. Where would he be waiting since I don’t think anyone else but you is allow inside?

 

got it, thanks! ☺️ unfortunately hasn’t seen many of reviews for my local office here. 

I've heard reports of people saying "I have pending I-751" and that opened the doors for US citizen spouse. For I-751 your spouse may get invited in the room with you to get few questions about marriage answered. For N-400, they're either going to be with you (I heard of such instances) or would wait in the same room where you'd wait for your I-751/N-400.

 

 

[OldUser 6,979]

18 minutes ago, cardia said:

I've seen a few recent experiences at my local office that suggest he will not be able to wait for me in the waiting room. Going to see if he can on the day of, but if not, he'll be hanging around nearby the office.

One can argue you're applying based on marriage to US citizen and the spouse should be allowed in because of that. In rare cases they get asked a few questions, even informally.

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

1 hour ago, Dags said:

Yea still pending I-751. My interview letter says only to bring proof of his citizenship. Where would he be waiting since I don’t think anyone else but you is allow inside?

My wife's letter didn't mention our I-751.....but only 2 days before her interview, our local office sent an email which said I had to be there, it it stated it would be a combo interview.  I would absolutely prepare for a combo.  Wife didn't file based on marriage. 

Received this email on Dec 12, 2022:

"USCIS Applicant,

 

This email is in reference to your upcoming interview at the Dallas Field Office, it is for an I751(Petition to Remove Conditions) and N400 (Application for Naturalization) combination. It is imperative that your spouse accompany you to this interview, also that you bring proof of a marital union. Please refer to https://www.uscis.gov/i-751 for examples.

 

We look forward to meeting each you both at your interview in the near future."  

Edited March 7 by Crazy Cat

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

I think the smartest and safest option it’s go together to the interview. 

[Cathi 5,771]

I went to my husband's interview with him and the IO came out to the waiting room and introduced himself to me.

Edited March 8 by Cathi

[JTCBH2019 19]

I just had my combo interview a week ago. And, you will need to take your spouse to the interview with you. 
I can’t tell how will be in your interview, but I had both interviews with my husband in the room.

First, the office said that he was conducting a combo interview and my husband was allowed to answer only during the I-751 interview. He made couple questions to my husband. Asked for his birth certificate, and if we have any property with deed or mortgage showing both of us name. 
After a few questions to me, he started the second interview, very friendly officer. After the reading/writing test and the civics tests, he reviewed my N-400 and said I was approved, then scheduled my ceremony in 2 days.

Good Luck.

[jztelemark 19]

My wife received a similar email as Crazy Cat, stating I should attend the interview with my wife.  

[TGregorio 60]

My wife's ROC was also pending, but the instructions on her N-400 interview did not say to bring me (husband).

The Washington, D.C. Field Office in Fairfax, Virginia has a history of turning away spouses that accompany their spouse to the N-400 interview, when not instructed to do so. I waited in the car, just in case the IO wanted to speak with me.

 

Although ROC was pending, we did not have a combo interview and the ROC interview was waived.

After notifying my wife that she passed the exams, the IO initiated a transfer of the ROC from the Potomac Office in Virginia, so that she could approve both the ROC and N-400.

 

It really depends on your Field Office, IO, pending ROC, and strength of your evidence for marriage based - 3 year rule, whether or not your case will be a combo interview. However, as stated by others, the spouse of the N-400 applicant should be available to attend the interview. 

 

Congratulations!!!

 

[Dashinka 24,635]

I went with my wife to her interview primarily to support her, but also because we had an I751 pending as well.  We never received any notice of a combo interview, but when the IO came out for my she asked if I was there.  I was invited back for a very brief I751 interview (basically just reviewed the I751 form, and we added a copy of our most recent tax filing), then I was escorted back to the waiting area and the IO proceeded with the N400 interview.

 

I echo the recommendation that you should both attend.

 

Good Luck!