Dear Forum members,
My journey for US Citizenship is over. Even in my wildest dreams, when I landed in the land of free many years ago, I did not imagine that I will have a privilege to join USA family. My case was based on 5 year rule. The GC was via employer.
As many of you, I came to this country with NO RESOURCES to pursue a new opportunity. It has been a long journey…. … This milestone would not been possible without support and help many good friends that I met in this country.
Let me take a moment to share my interview and oath experiences in Chicago.
Interview. The best strategies are be prepared with all documents and be truthful (never lie and/or to try conceal fact). This is a list of documents that I have with me:
Requested during interview:
• Valid state DL
• Current Passport
• Interview letter
Travel:
• Copy of all travel reservations for international travel which clearly show entry and exit dates.
• A letter from my Company in support of international travel needs.
Old Passports: prior (expired) national passports
Employment: • Paystabs for last 5 years, W2.
• Employment letters.
Taxes:
• Federal: IRS Tax Transcripts for last 5 years. Copy of W2s and 1040 Returns.
• STATE: A copy of Tax returns for last 5 years
• Local: Property tax statements for last 5 years
Residency:
• Utility Bills
• House Title
• Car Title
• Mortgage documents
• Few sample of bank statements
Professional membership documents and membership IDs ( if you are a member of professional body: lawyer, attorney, doctor, real-estate broker, accountants, engineer association…etc)
Ticket: Certified copy of court record for speeding ticket including the proof of payment.
Other documents:
• SSN -card
• Marriage License
• Children Birth Certificates
• Extra 2 passport pictures
• N-400 application receipt
• Fingerprint notice
• I-485 approval notice
Interview is straight fwd: Civic/English test (if you pass the tests) and then going thru application, confirming your answers. DO NOT PANIC if you made a mistake in your N-400: just ask/explain the officer…Example: I transposed Last and 1st Names in the question in N-400. I did not hide this and told IO, she noted the issue and corrected at my request (supported by my initials). So be cool, if you are not sure, ask IO to clarify the question which concerns you.
I find IOs very professional and objective..And punctual and attentive (may be, I was lucky…but my wife had a very similar experience).
IO knew very specific details about my immigration history from A file up to reading and noting the spelling difference between Birth Certificate in A file and in GC. One should not assume that the prior history (Pre or Post GC) is not relevant in N-40. Definitely USCIS knows and have all info about you and assigned IO review your entire file before the interview. Just be honest, disclose and report relevant facts required for N-400, you will be OK (assuming you meet eligibility requirements). The last thing you wanted to hide the fact that is already known from your immigration history and can be easily available via federal/local courts and/or government agencies.
Oath ceremony is just a joy. If all possible do not do anything unusual (Getting a ticket, arrested, married /divorced, illegal acts, international travel, fail to pay taxes, committing polygamy, etc) between the interview and oath dates.
REQUIRED MINIMUM DOCS for oath: 1) STATE ID/DL 2) PRC -Green Card 3) Interview letter (if you received two, just complete questionaire and give one) If you have refeguee doc or re-entry permit or other USCIS issued IDs, you may need to return them as well. The oath letter will tell you that...in detail. Also, if you answered YES to anything in Oath letter questionaire, you will be required to provide additional documentation for review and determination of IO officer.
If you have family and friends who are available to join DO invite them..it is great way to celebrate and remember this event.
USCIS officers also gave very useful directions and instructions on next steps: update SS information, registering for VOTE and getting passports and THINGS not to do. USCIS officers stayed extra time after the ceremony to help with questions and concerns about Citizenship certificate and other concerns. For example, Sr IO spent a few minutes with me explaining concrete steps on how to sponsor and bring my directly family member from home country.
I want to thank and appreciate all forum members for valuable input, help and advice and Mr Rajiv Khanna for hosting this forum. Thank YOU! Thank YOU! Thank YOU!
Next step is passport. I will keep everyone posted.
I wish good luck to everyone…in their immigration journey. I will stay active to continue contributing my 2 cents
My journey for US Citizenship is over. Even in my wildest dreams, when I landed in the land of free many years ago, I did not imagine that I will have a privilege to join USA family. My case was based on 5 year rule. The GC was via employer.
As many of you, I came to this country with NO RESOURCES to pursue a new opportunity. It has been a long journey…. … This milestone would not been possible without support and help many good friends that I met in this country.
Let me take a moment to share my interview and oath experiences in Chicago.
Interview. The best strategies are be prepared with all documents and be truthful (never lie and/or to try conceal fact). This is a list of documents that I have with me:
Requested during interview:
• Valid state DL
• Current Passport
• Interview letter
Travel:
• Copy of all travel reservations for international travel which clearly show entry and exit dates.
• A letter from my Company in support of international travel needs.
Old Passports: prior (expired) national passports
Employment: • Paystabs for last 5 years, W2.
• Employment letters.
Taxes:
• Federal: IRS Tax Transcripts for last 5 years. Copy of W2s and 1040 Returns.
• STATE: A copy of Tax returns for last 5 years
• Local: Property tax statements for last 5 years
Residency:
• Utility Bills
• House Title
• Car Title
• Mortgage documents
• Few sample of bank statements
Professional membership documents and membership IDs ( if you are a member of professional body: lawyer, attorney, doctor, real-estate broker, accountants, engineer association…etc)
Ticket: Certified copy of court record for speeding ticket including the proof of payment.
Other documents:
• SSN -card
• Marriage License
• Children Birth Certificates
• Extra 2 passport pictures
• N-400 application receipt
• Fingerprint notice
• I-485 approval notice
Interview is straight fwd: Civic/English test (if you pass the tests) and then going thru application, confirming your answers. DO NOT PANIC if you made a mistake in your N-400: just ask/explain the officer…Example: I transposed Last and 1st Names in the question in N-400. I did not hide this and told IO, she noted the issue and corrected at my request (supported by my initials). So be cool, if you are not sure, ask IO to clarify the question which concerns you.
I find IOs very professional and objective..And punctual and attentive (may be, I was lucky…but my wife had a very similar experience).
IO knew very specific details about my immigration history from A file up to reading and noting the spelling difference between Birth Certificate in A file and in GC. One should not assume that the prior history (Pre or Post GC) is not relevant in N-40. Definitely USCIS knows and have all info about you and assigned IO review your entire file before the interview. Just be honest, disclose and report relevant facts required for N-400, you will be OK (assuming you meet eligibility requirements). The last thing you wanted to hide the fact that is already known from your immigration history and can be easily available via federal/local courts and/or government agencies.
Oath ceremony is just a joy. If all possible do not do anything unusual (Getting a ticket, arrested, married /divorced, illegal acts, international travel, fail to pay taxes, committing polygamy, etc) between the interview and oath dates.
REQUIRED MINIMUM DOCS for oath: 1) STATE ID/DL 2) PRC -Green Card 3) Interview letter (if you received two, just complete questionaire and give one) If you have refeguee doc or re-entry permit or other USCIS issued IDs, you may need to return them as well. The oath letter will tell you that...in detail. Also, if you answered YES to anything in Oath letter questionaire, you will be required to provide additional documentation for review and determination of IO officer.
If you have family and friends who are available to join DO invite them..it is great way to celebrate and remember this event.
USCIS officers also gave very useful directions and instructions on next steps: update SS information, registering for VOTE and getting passports and THINGS not to do. USCIS officers stayed extra time after the ceremony to help with questions and concerns about Citizenship certificate and other concerns. For example, Sr IO spent a few minutes with me explaining concrete steps on how to sponsor and bring my directly family member from home country.
I want to thank and appreciate all forum members for valuable input, help and advice and Mr Rajiv Khanna for hosting this forum. Thank YOU! Thank YOU! Thank YOU!
Next step is passport. I will keep everyone posted.
I wish good luck to everyone…in their immigration journey. I will stay active to continue contributing my 2 cents
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