Interview experience June 9th

[JAX1 1]

INTERVIEW BASED ON MARRAIGE TO USC

My interview was scheduled today at 1:30 pm. I arrived at 1:00 and dropped my notice in the window and waited about 40 minutes (tons of people there). I believe I had one of nicest officers USCIS could have hired. I swore in, and she asked if I was still married, and went through the test questions:

What is the supreme law of the land

Who is the President

Name one of the longest rivers

What is the capital of your state

What state borders Canada

forgot the last one.

I was asked to read What city is the White House in, and asked to write The White House is in Washington D.C.

This is where things got messy. We went through the N-400 application, and I needed to correct section D (criminal history). You see, in 2002 my friends started an altercation that somehow I was blamed for. An arrest warrant was issued, but I had that recalled and all charges dismissed. I was never arrested. I did not disclose this on my N-400 nor green card paperwork. This was not intentional. I honestly forgot about this incident because it was so long ago. It was only recently that I rediscovered the paper work. I explained that to officer and provided her certificate disposition from the court to show the arrest warrant was recalled and the charges dismissed. I did not want to lie on my application as it was not a sign of good moral character. I volunteered all of this information.

First, she said we have a big problem, as it was not only the N-400 but the green card paper work as well (my heart literally sank to my knees). Then she said she needs her supervisor to review, but she was going to recommend approval. By the end of this I was an absolute wreck. I got a form saying a decision cannot be made while others walked out with oath certificates

I have been on this journey since 1987....it honestly sucks that I wasnt able to complete it today. I would love your feedback and ask for your prayers in getting this 23 year process wrapped up.

Edited June 9, 2010 by JAX1

[JAX1 1]

For those wondering, I brought the following with me, but nothing was asked for:

Wife and son birth cert, marraige lic, deed to home, 2 passport pics, 3 year IRS transcripts, 3 years bank statements (2months each year), 3 years homeowners ins policy, 3 years auto policy, 12 pictures of spouse baby and I, vacation hotel receipt, all old immigration paperwork, costco member cards, gym membership cards. All had joint names on them.

[engineer21 51]

I'm so sorry to hear that

I'm praying for you and hoping that they will be understanding and take into consideration that you volunteered this info and did not lie

Best of luck with everything!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The good news is that she is recommending you for approval and, as you said, you did volunteer the information when you became aware of it. An important consideration is that if you had disclosed the information in a more timely way, it is not something that would have prevented you from immigrating to the US in the first place, so there is no real 'benefit' that would have accrued to you by keeping it secret. So, what they will be looking at now is to see if you might have deliberately misrepresented the facts - was it your intention to hide this information - or was it an honest oversight.

Since the action would not have prevented immigration and you did disclose it now when it would obviously be to your apparent benefit not to disclose it, it reinforces your statement that the omission was not intentional - you did not intend to misrepresent the facts. The circumstances of disclosing it at the citizenship interview when if you had intended to keep it a secret you would be unlikely to disclose it now, also reinforces your statement that you did not remember until you stumbled across the documents recently, that you did not intentionally misrepresent the facts on your earlier paperwork.

The Interviewing officer would not be able to make a decision about this on her own, but would probably need some sort of consensus from her superior. The fact that she did say she was recommending you for approval sounds like she believes the circumstances can be overcome.

Good luck. Keep us informed about what happens. Quite honestly, though, I expect you will be hearing some good news fairly soon.

[JAX1 1]

Engineer and Kathryn, thank you very much. I appreciete it, hopefully from your mouth to God's ears. Its hard to explain this to people outside who have not experienced immigration. This is why I truly appreciate this forum and its members.

[v333k 59]

sorry to hear about that.... however, you are not denied and if the IO recommends for approval - then the IO pretty much didn't see any problems. The formal method is to pass it onto the supervisor and then an official approval will be granted. Several people did not list some citations and such on their application and then found out the USCIS is asking for something they have done a long time ago... they passed, but probably the IO wanted to authenticate the document you provided that indeed the arrest warrant was recalled and the charges dismissed. Probably, they also want to see if that detail did not slip through the cracks during the background check.....

I beleive you will be just fine and you will receive an approval letter....

Edited June 10, 2010 by v333k

[JAX1 1]

Thank you V33k. I hope your final journey in August is smooth.

[JAX1 1]

Anyone else have a similar problem, suggestion, opinion?

[sundeep 0]

I have the similar experience, not necessarily I think of it as a problem (i have a post for my experience). So what I was not approved on the spot, does not mean that it was denied. I understand if they need little more time to review my case, all the cases are not the same. To me it is more like a mental game to them to test your toughness, perhaps.

Yes, I am delayed to become a citizen but I can put that fact behind when I finally become one. By the way, I think they are suppose to let you know decision within 120 days. I am just gonna stay put and do whatever I have been doing. If they send me a RFE I will comply otherwise they have no reason to deny, at least in my opinion.

Anyone else have a similar problem, suggestion, opinion?

[blandt 2]

Did she give you the naturalization certificate to write your name down? along with your pictures ?

Edited June 11, 2010 by blandt

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Did she give you the naturalization certificate to write your name down? along with your pictures ?

The Naturalization Certificate isn't produced until after the approval and isn't seen by the applicant until the day of the Oath ceremony when just before the ceremony they will have you check it over for accuracy, then will hand it out to you during the ceremony. The question about signing the photographs is a good one, though - I suspect she would have had him sign so as to be prepared if the application was approved, but perhaps not.

So, did you also sign your photographs?

[blandt 2]

The Naturalization Certificate isn't produced until after the approval and isn't seen by the applicant until the day of the Oath ceremony when just before the ceremony they will have you check it over for accuracy, then will hand it out to you during the ceremony. The question about signing the photographs is a good one, though - I suspect she would have had him sign so as to be prepared if the application was approved, but perhaps not.

So, did you also sign your photographs?

I just had my interview couple of days ago. The result is "A decision cannot yet be made...bla bla bla" and also handed me an N14 form stating that I need to provide the Petition For Divorce within 30 days(not the divorce decree which I have submitted already)

What puzzled me is that she gave me the Naturalization Certificate along with my pictures to write down my name, and before I leave she said if approved your ceremony letter will be mailed.

Now I don't know if she is just teasing me or ....??!!!

[JAX1 1]

Did she give you the naturalization certificate to write your name down? along with your pictures ?

I signed 2 passport pics, but no certificate. Let me know when you hear back, Im checking the mail daily lol

[blandt 2]

I signed 2 passport pics, but no certificate. Let me know when you hear back, Im checking the mail daily lol

I do not think an arrest without conviction could jeopardize your green card, so do not worry about your current status.

The fact that you have mentioned this in the interview should help, so even not approved right away You will upon appeal

which I seriously doubt, you will be approved.

[Austin7 0]

I just had my interview couple of days ago. The result is "A decision cannot yet be made...bla bla bla" and also handed me an N14 form stating that I need to provide the Petition For Divorce within 30 days(not the divorce decree which I have submitted already)

What puzzled me is that she gave me the Naturalization Certificate along with my pictures to write down my name, and before I leave she said if approved your ceremony letter will be mailed.

Now I don't know if she is just teasing me or ....??!!!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Blandt,

I just went to the interview at USCIS San Antonio on 12/15/2010 and the result is exact the same with you (Decision can't made, N14: certified Petition of Divorce that I sent them immediately the next day).

If you got the oath letter by mail already, please share with my how long you wait for it?

Thank you for your reply.