Hello everyone,
I just want to share with you all my N400 interview based on my 3-year role experience (I-751 was approved two months ago). My appointment was scheduled for this morning at 8:30 A.M. at Indianapolis. I arrived with my wife at 8:15 am. The security was nice and told us to have a seat, so we did. I was called in at 9:37am for the interview. There was a guy who was making a fuss, saying he had been waiting since 7:30 AM, though his appointment was scheduled for 9:00 AM. He kept talking to every officer when they called someone, and they kept telling him that his case was with another officer and they were behind, advising him to wait for his turn.
When I was called, it turned out that he was after me in line, and the officer told him he would be called after I'm done. The officer walked me to her office, which was at the end of the hall, allowing me to see that all offices had ongoing interviews. The officer was really nice to me at first and was cracking jokes. She asked me to switch my phone off, put it on the table, and hand her my Green Card before she swore me in. After swearing me in, she started talking about the guy who was making a fuss, going on about him for at least five minutes. She said, "He better speaks perfect English when he gets here," hinting that he was in trouble with her. I was extremely uncomfortable with her talking about this gentleman, as I just wanted to complete the interview and go home.
When she tried to engage me in the conversation, I tried my best to stay professional, saying, "I'm sorry officer that you have to deal with this," to which she responded aggressively, asserting that she can take care of herself and I shouldn't be worried. Then, she suddenly became very aggressive and confrontational, saying, "Ok, we will start with the test," and flipped 180 degrees. At this point, I hadn't done anything wrong or answered incorrectly. I was just waiting patiently in the waiting area with my wife, and we didn't complain.
After I passed the civics test, she moved on to English. I almost failed the English test because she was getting in my face. She asked me to read an English sentence, then asked me to write "The people elect Congress." I forgot how to write it due to my nerves from her nonstop confrontation. As soon as I touched the pen to write on the screen, she screamed, "NOT LIKE THIS! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!" and got up from her seat to show me how to do it. I was so confused and tried my best to keep my composure, she micromanaging every move I make and every word I say.
Then she became sweet and nice again, talking about the gentleman in the queue after me, saying, "He better be fluent when he gets here, he thinks because he is here at 7:30 AM he should be first." She moved to the Yes/No questions, and it felt like eternity at that point; it was pure hell. She asked if I had ever been arrested, cited, detained, etc. I mentioned my 3 speeding tickets, and she became confrontational and aggressive again. When I told her the last one was in March 2018, she demanded details about the other tickets, but then said she only cared about the 2018 one only talk ask about the 2015 ticket again. I explained it was a minor speed ticket for which I took a safety course then she said she doesn't care about it, she only cares about the ticket from 2018.
Next, she asked about false citizenship claims. When I said I never claimed to be a U.S. citizen, she aggressively asked, "How would someone claim to be a U.S. citizen?" I answered, "Verbally or in writing," but she pushed for more, leading me to mention registering to vote or voting in a federal election. She asked if I was tricked into registering to vote in college she can see it in her screen I better tell the truth, to which I replied loudly, "NO!" She stared at me silently for a few seconds, then smiled, said "Good!", and moved on to the next question.
She asked if I was willing to take the oath and understand it. I explained it as giving up any loyalty to other countries and obeying U.S. laws. She confronted me for missing a point, aggressively insisting I mention defending the United States and bearing arms if required by law and I was suppose to list it as the first point. She said, " You are willing to take the oath and you don't even know what it means, you don't EVEN KNOW WHAT THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE MEANS !!!' She also violently questioned my response about the Selective Service and confronted me about it though I became a permanent resident after 26 years but I registered anyway but I answered no to being younger than 26 when I was admitted as a lawful permanent resident; after showing my registration, she said she would correct it and moved on. She asked if I wanted to provide more evidence I said, " I have bank.." she interrupted me saying, " DID I ASK WHAT YOU HAVE?" and snatched our joint account bank statements, I don't believe she even looked at them as she didn't ask about our relationship during the interview at all.
Finally, she asked for my travel document, which I didn't have with me, and instructed me to mail it back. She said, "If you don't have it now, mail it to us, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? WE NEED IT BACK!!!!! THE TRAVEL DOCUMENT TO APPLIED TO WHEN YOU WERE WAITING ON YOUR GREEN CARD, WE NEED IT BACK!!!' She had a thick file with all my immigration forms including my I-485 and my I-751. She was complaining the officer who approved my I-485 didn't sign something, but it wasn't a big deal. She then typed on her computer, still complaining about the man waiting outside. It was 10:10 AM at this point. She informed me that my ceremony was at 11 AM and that I needed to be back by then. She said, "Wherever you go, I NEED YOU BACK BY 11 FOR YOUR OATH!!" handing me a paper with "Congratulations, you are recommended for approval."
On the way out, she asked how I felt now that my immigration journey had ended, becoming sweet again. She mentioned that I was lucky because they only have same-day oaths on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When we reached the waiting area door, she called the man's name and he went in. I left with my wife and returned at 11. The security read the officer's name on my paper and shook his head in disappointment. We entered the room, they took my green cards (2yr and 10yr), and 40 minutes later, an immigration supervisor walked in, apologized for being late saying the supervisor who was supposed to conduct the ceremony got busy, and conducted a brief and informal swearing-in ceremony. It was so causal, the officer wasn't sure if we were supposed to stand up for the oath or remain seated lol. After reciting the Oath of Allegiance by himself, we replied " I do!" when he finished, and congratulated us for becoming citizens and passed on our naturalization certificates.
Overall, I'm happy that I'm finally a U.S. citizen and won't have to deal with USCIS anymore. I just wish my interview experience had been better because it was totally unprofessional. Everyone else in that office seemed nice, including the supervisors. I just wanted to share my experience with you all. For all of you who are waiting, your time will come soon; be patient, the journey is totally worth it.