Interview

[Clueless123]

My interview is next week. Questions about the interview:

1) Form N-652: This contains the outcome of the interview. In case I am not given the form at the end of the interview, shall I ask for it?

2) Signing the photographs: I submitted two photos along with my application. I already wrote my name on the back side of each photo with a pencil. I see in this forum that people talk about immigration officer asking them to sign the photos during the interview. What does that mean? Will I be asked to sign the front side of my photos (which would ruin the photos)?

3) Shall I bring extra photos? Again, I submitted two photos with my application. Will that be enough?

4) A friend told me that they asked him questions for over two hours about his N400 application, while the history/government test only took several minutes. Is that a typical scenario? Does that mean I should go over my N400application before the interview just to be prepared?

5) Last but not least: I am required to bring all of my passports to the interview. But I lost my old passport and I obtained my new passport in year 2004 (about 4 years ago). Will that present a problem (because they may want to look at the travel records during the last 5 years)?

Thanks!
Clueless123

 

[Washburn27]

1) YES YES YES

2) i was asked for extra photos, and asked to sign the FRONT along the edge, with a pen; it doesn't ruin it. BRING EXTRA PHOTOS.

3) YES. (see 2)

4) I don't think it's typical; 2 hrs on the N400 is very long, and either the IO had doubts OR he is very thorough; in my case (marriage based), the WHOLE interview took about 10 minutes. that's also not typical. it depends on the IO and how convinced he is though. so the best answer i can give is:
BE PREPARED, and go over your N-400 to make sure you're familiar with it. and Take an extra copy of it to the interview...you can look at it when he asks you something.

5) They didn't even look at my passport(s), but I don't think that's normal, so I am not sure how important your old pp is; someone else will answer this question better.

 

[Clueless123]

Washburn27,

Why did they ask you to sign the front side of your photo? Did they finally use that photo in your passport? Then the face portion of the photo will have your signature on it. Did I miss anything?

 

[Washburn27]

USCIS doesn't issue passports !!!
the photo is for the naturalization certificate.
you sign along the edge,(background) not on the face.

 

[Clueless123]

What is naturalization certificate used for? Do they issue naturalization certificate at the interview?

I thought we only wanted to get a U.S. passport.

 

[Bobsmyth]

Naturalization certificate is your evidence of US citizenship used for when you apply for passport for the first time, or anytime you need to prove US citizenship to a US government agency.

 

[LolaLi]

I thought I saw a memo/notice floating around somewhere that did away with the requirement of signing the side of the photograph. Although I wouldn't be surprised if some DOs still ask applicants to sign.

 

[alanz3]

I had my interview just over a week ago, almost a year to the day since I first submitted my paperwork. My interview took just 5 minutes. The officer was the most pleasant USCIS person that I have ever dealt with. My interview letter told me to bring along my passport, green card, marriage certificate, birth certificate of my wife and my selective service registration. Of these the officer only asked to see the green card. He also had me change my application to be based on my years of residency rather than marriage (I qualify for both having been resident > 5 years) because it is easier.

Specific to the OP's questions, here is my experience:

1. I received the N-652 at the end of the interview. The officer told me that it contained his recommendation that I be granted citizenship but that it is not the final result. That will come in the mail in 4-6 weeks when I get my ceremony notice. The officer told me that I could do what I want with the N-652, throw darts at it, frame it etc.

2. As previously stated by another poster, I signed (using my full name, not my normal signature) along the side of the picture on the background.

3. My interview letter did not request additional photos so I did not bring any. As mentioned above, I only brought along what the interview letter requested, IMHO if they want something else they should state it in the letter.

4. My interview may have been one of the shortest on record! My application is extremely vanilla, I have never even had a parking ticket and I have been married to a US citizen for > 10 years (and have kids). I have also been in the same job for that time frame.

5. I only brought my current passport to the interview. I suspect they want it to see if you have traveled too much since the application was submitted and broken residency requirements.

Hope this helps.

 

[Clueless123]

Alanz,

Congralutations! The time of your interview was short only because you were very qualified. The officer could see that.

Since they asked you to sign the photos to be used for naturalization certificate, do you need additional photos for your new U.S. passport? When do you need to get the additional photos ready for passport? Then the photos for your passport may not look the same as those in your naturalization certificate. Is that the case?

 

[alanz3]

Alanz,

Congralutations! The time of your interview was short only because you were very qualified. The officer could see that.

Since they asked you to sign the photos to be used for naturalization certificate, do you need additional photos for your new U.S. passport? When do you need to get the additional photos ready for passport? Then the photos for your passport may not look the same as those in your naturalization certificate. Is that the case?

The passport application is totally separate from the naturalization process. Yes, I will need to get additional pictures for my passport and they will look somewhat different to my naturalization certificate but that won't be a problem.

 

[Clueless123]

Pals,

I'm glad to tell you that I passed the interview today!

At first, an immigration officer called me and quizzed me six U.S. history and government questions in the current version of the exam (there is new version). He also asked me to read a sentence, and then write another simple sentence.

Then I waited for my name to be called. In about 10-15 minutes, an officer called my name and led me into his office. He was courteous, professional, and kind. He asked me to raise my right hand to swear that I'd be completely truthful. Then he took a look at my green card and passport. he noticed that my passport had my old name while my green card had my new name. I showed him the court paper for my official name change. He wanted to make a copy of it. I gave him a copy I had made before. He appreciated that.

Then he went over every single question in my N-400 application and asked me to verify. He asked me if I owed any taxes, I replied no and offered my tax transcripts. He said he didn't need to see, but he appreciated my effort in thoroughly preparing all of these documents.

Finally he asked me to sign at several places on the last page, and told me about his decision to recommend me to become a U.S. citizen pending further approval. He asked me to wait in the waiting area for an oath appointment. I was very happy and I told him that I was very happy. He walked me out of the hallway.

As fate would have it, the oath date turned out to conflict with my trip. It seemed that we had to wait for two and half months to take oath after the interview.

I spoke to the lady at the front desk about the conflict, and told her that I didn't want to reschedule my trip again, because I had already re-scheduled my trip once due to its conflict with my interview (today). She was so kind as to ask her supervisor to help, who re-scheduled my oath date to Dec 18. Instead of yellow, my oath letter was in green.

I was very happy that everything worked out. I had great experience at the interview. It's been a long journey to finally become a U.S. citizen! You've been most helpful to me every step of the way.