Asylee N-400 Interview Experiences and 2009 Tracker

Today I would like to post my citizenship interview experience which it was today, but before I get to the interview itself let me say I got my green card based on asylum on February of 2004 and before I applied for the citizenship I went back to my COP one time for 59 days three years after I got my permanent resident so I had mix feelings interning the interview , I had my appointment at 9:00 AM at Newark immigration office I arrived there very early around 8:00 AM and I was so nervous thinking about the interview and my trip back to the COP any how I parked in nearby parking lot and I walked to the building the security grad told me I can’t go in it was early for my interview time and she told me I can’t go in the building having my cell phone on me either, so having all them mix feelings and being too early made me feel worse than what it was so I went to a coffee shop nearby and I thought having some caffeine will make me feel better ,at 8:47 AM I walked back to the building after I put my cell phone in the car and this time they let me in I went up stairs as I was told and handed my interview notice to the lady in the front disk , I was more nervous than ever watching TV at the waiting area helped me a bit but each time they call someone it made me wonder when they will call me? They called like 15 to 20 people before me I was thinking about my visit to the COP it was killing me the more I waited the worse it got, at 11:43 my name was called by the IO he asked me how I was doing I said not too good very nervous he then said everyone be nervous in such a day so we walked into his office he asked me to remain standing and my right hand raced up he ask me to swear that I will tell the truth and nothing but the truth so he asked about my green card and passport I didn’t have but a Re-entry Permit(it has the visa for my COP on it) beside the green card so he took both of them and made copies and then he came back to the room I was thinking about all the stories I did read online about other people experience such as mine visiting the COP and was trying to get my thoughts together expecting the first question to be about it but he asked if I ever traveled outside the US since I became a green card holder and I said yes I traveled one time for 59 days and I didn’t said to where I went and he then asked me about the pledge of allegiance if I know it and asked me to explain it, then he went through my entire N 400 application and asked me if I would like to change anything I said NO he asked me about my job and what kind of work I do then he pulled a paper and asked me those questions:
1/ name the president of the US?
2/ If the President and the vise president can no longer serve, who becomes President?
3/ who signs the bills to become laws?
4/ what are two Cabinet-level positions?
5/ what ocean in the east cost of the US?
6/what one promise you make when you become an American citizen?
I answered all question right I guess he then asked me to read this sentence: New Jersey state is green and beautiful and asked me to write: I love living in green and beautiful state of New Jersey , he smiled and said congratulations there was no reason to be worried and nervous then he asked me to wait outside, after like half an hour he called me again and asked me to review my citizenship certificate everything was alright so he said I have to wait for the oath, later on they call a lot of people and we did the oath.
He never motioned anything about my visit to the COP and never even looked at my re-entry permit and didn’t ask about my taxes or anything else the entire interview lasted not more that 17 mints.
When I came back to my car at the parking lot I grabbed a pen and piece of paper and wrote down: because my love to live in the green and beautiful state of New Jersey……. today I became an America citizen.

Nice.Do you mind to say where cop is or has condition of that county changed after your asylum?
It is strange some folks get into problems and some do not.
 
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Hi

thaxs all...my COP in Africa and I wonder as much as you some people go through hard time and some not I was lucky thank God but since it's not against the law to go back to COP as on Lawyer told me he said they can’t deny you citizenship based on going back to COP he told me they might give you a hard time in the interview or delay the diction but they wont be able to deny it that what the lawyer said but I wasn’t so sure about that but like a lot of people said in the web and other places it really depends on the IO so it’s a matter of luck I think so good luck every one and I hope our brother Paramvir1 will get something soon plz paramvir update us as soon as you get something
 
Congrats

Congratulations Moore on your successful end of USCIS journey.

Glad to hear you did Interview and Oath on the same day. Cheers.

Today I would like to post my citizenship interview experience which it was today, but before I get to the interview itself let me say I got my green card based on asylum on February of 2004 and before I applied for the citizenship I went back to my COP one time for 59 days three years after I got my permanent resident so I had mix feelings interning the interview , I had my appointment at 9:00 AM at Newark immigration office I arrived there very early around 8:00 AM and I was so nervous thinking about the interview and my trip back to the COP any how I parked in nearby parking lot and I walked to the building the security grad told me I can’t go in it was early for my interview time and she told me I can’t go in the building having my cell phone on me either, so having all them mix feelings and being too early made me feel worse than what it was so I went to a coffee shop nearby and I thought having some caffeine will make me feel better ,at 8:47 AM I walked back to the building after I put my cell phone in the car and this time they let me in I went up stairs as I was told and handed my interview notice to the lady in the front disk , I was more nervous than ever watching TV at the waiting area helped me a bit but each time they call someone it made me wonder when they will call me? They called like 15 to 20 people before me I was thinking about my visit to the COP it was killing me the more I waited the worse it got, at 11:43 my name was called by the IO he asked me how I was doing I said not too good very nervous he then said everyone be nervous in such a day so we walked into his office he asked me to remain standing and my right hand raced up he ask me to swear that I will tell the truth and nothing but the truth so he asked about my green card and passport I didn’t have but a Re-entry Permit(it has the visa for my COP on it) beside the green card so he took both of them and made copies and then he came back to the room I was thinking about all the stories I did read online about other people experience such as mine visiting the COP and was trying to get my thoughts together expecting the first question to be about it but he asked if I ever traveled outside the US since I became a green card holder and I said yes I traveled one time for 59 days and I didn’t said to where I went and he then asked me about the pledge of allegiance if I know it and asked me to explain it, then he went through my entire N 400 application and asked me if I would like to change anything I said NO he asked me about my job and what kind of work I do then he pulled a paper and asked me those questions:
1/ name the president of the US?
2/ If the President and the vise president can no longer serve, who becomes President?
3/ who signs the bills to become laws?
4/ what are two Cabinet-level positions?
5/ what ocean in the east cost of the US?
6/what one promise you make when you become an American citizen?
I answered all question right I guess he then asked me to read this sentence: New Jersey state is green and beautiful and asked me to write: I love living in green and beautiful state of New Jersey , he smiled and said congratulations there was no reason to be worried and nervous then he asked me to wait outside, after like half an hour he called me again and asked me to review my citizenship certificate everything was alright so he said I have to wait for the oath, later on they call a lot of people and we did the oath.
He never motioned anything about my visit to the COP and never even looked at my re-entry permit and didn’t ask about my taxes or anything else the entire interview lasted not more that 17 mints.
When I came back to my car at the parking lot I grabbed a pen and piece of paper and wrote down: because my love to live in the green and beautiful state of New Jersey……. today I became an America citizen.
 
thaxs all...my COP in Africa and I wonder as much as you some people go through hard time and some not I was lucky thank God but since it's not against the law to go back to COP as on Lawyer told me he said they can’t deny you citizenship based on going back to COP he told me they might give you a hard time in the interview or delay the diction but they wont be able to deny it that what the lawyer said but I wasn’t so sure about that but like a lot of people said in the web and other places it really depends on the IO so it’s a matter of luck I think so good luck every one and I hope our brother Paramvir1 will get something soon plz paramvir update us as soon as you get something
friend i have already made it.:)i posted in different thread.!
 
Thanks all people here to share your experience. I still concern about this topic. I am a approved asylum and waiting to receive my GC. When I asked my lawyer about possibility of going to COP he told me I should not go there even after getting my GC or even after being a US citizen. Do you have any comment? I know from this topic going back to COP after GC may make you some problem but do you have any idea what happen if you go to your COP after citizenship?
 
Thanks all people here to share your experience. I still concern about this topic. I am a approved asylum and waiting to receive my GC. When I asked my lawyer about possibility of going to COP he told me I should not go there even after getting my GC or even after being a US citizen. Do you have any comment? I know from this topic going back to COP after GC may make you some problem but do you have any idea what happen if you go to your COP after citizenship?


Well attorneys always try to give you "technically" sound advise and even if he thinks that its ok to go back to COP after citizenship, he would still rather say, do not go back. Not necessarily for problems from US government but the govt. of your COP itself.
 
hey

Thanks all people here to share your experience. I still concern about this topic. I am a approved asylum and waiting to receive my GC. When I asked my lawyer about possibility of going to COP he told me I should not go there even after getting my GC or even after being a US citizen. Do you have any comment? I know from this topic going back to COP after GC may make you some problem but do you have any idea what happen if you go to your COP after citizenship?

The lawyer I spoke to showed me this:
"(2) Alien Has A Travel Document From His/her Country. Similarly, if the applicant is in possession of a valid travel document from the country of nationality, the Form I-131 may also be deniable. There is no absolute prohibition against issuing a travel document to permit a refugee to travel to the country of last residence or nationality; however, travel to that country may preclude the alien from establishing eligibility for permanent residence under section 209 of the Act.

(3) Alien Intends to Visit Home Country. There is no prohibition against issuing a travel document to permit a refugee to travel to the country of last residence or nationality; however, travel to that country may raise doubts about whether the alien has re-availed (or intends to re-avail) him or herself of the protection of the country of persecution. It may also preclude the alien from establishing eligibility for permanent residence under section 209. Each case must be judged on its own merits. For example, visiting an old or sick parent should be considered a more worthy reason for visiting one's home country than regular visits on holidays or business trips. The applicant should therefore be referred to the local USCIS office for interview and the possible taking of a sworn statement.

So it’s not really prohibition but in the mean time you need to show a legit reason why you went there I know this guy went back to COP with GC based on asylum and when he when to his citizenship interview he had a statement written about why he went there and he was granted citizenship so those are the things but the final diction will be yours
Good luck
 
i will have citizenship interview very soon,

i know that i need to take with me GC, SELECTIVE SERVICE LETTER, PASSPORT, AND DRIVER LICENCE

DO I NEED TO TAKE TAX FILING DOCUMENTS, MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

AND DO I NEED TO MAKE COPIES

THANKS GUYS
 
i will have citizenship interview very soon,

i know that i need to take with me GC, SELECTIVE SERVICE LETTER, PASSPORT, AND DRIVER LICENCE

DO I NEED TO TAKE TAX FILING DOCUMENTS, MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

AND DO I NEED TO MAKE COPIES

THANKS GUYS

Take all that and everything else you can think of. Make copies as well. You never know what they may ask. Don't forget your social security card as well.
 
Interview Experience

My interview was scheduled in Detroit at 3pm. I showed up around 2:15 and went right in. Handed my interview letter at window # 7. There were about 15-20 people in the lobby. A few people came in after me and were called in before me. I pretty much sat there and saw people go in and out. Now its 4pm and my name is still not called. By then I was the only person left in the lobby. I started wondering if they lost my appointment letter of or if there were any issues. By 4:15 someone came out and asked me if I was waiting for an interview, upon which I replied Yes he asked for my GC to find out what's going on. With in a few minutes another officer came out and finally called my name. Apparently I was his last appointment and the guy he was escorting out was an orderly gentlemen probably 80 plus. As I was being walked in he introduced himself and apologized for the long wait, as his last appointment ran over an hour.
Finally I made it to his office and he took me under oath and asked me to sit down. He was still in the process of clearing his desk. Finally he brought over my file and started flipping through pages and told me he was looking for something. While he was doing that he asked me to present my passport, green card and license. Then he started to go over my application question by question and verified everything. He asked me if I wanted to change me name and I said No. I had recently switched employers so I updated that information on the application. He briefly looked at the update and did not bother to ask any other questions about the new employer. He also flipped through my passport.

Afterwards he asked me to read and write the following sentence:

Question I read “What was the first capital of United States?”

Answer I wrote “New York was the first capital of United States”

He then read what I wrote and replied that I have passed reading and writing part.

Then he told me that he will take the civic test. I don't recall all the questions but I went through them very quickly. I answered all 6 right and he stopped there and replied that I have passed civics exam. After that he finally gave my 2 papers and congratulated me and shook my hand. My oath letter should arrive with in 2 months.

The whole interview process lasted 20 minutes the most. Even though I had taken tons of paperwork with me I was never asked to show anything other than what I described above. Officer knew I received my GC though asylum but never asked any questions.
 
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Congrats

My interview was scheduled in Detroit at 3pm. I showed up around 2:15 and went right in. Handed my interview letter at window # 7. There were about 15-20 people in the lobby. A few people came in after me and were called in before me. I pretty much sat there and saw people go in and out. Now its 4pm and my name is still not called. By then I was the only person left in the lobby. I started wondering if the lost my appointment letter of or if there were any issues. By 4:15 someone came out and asked me if I was waiting for an interview, upon which I replied Yes he asked for my GC to find out what's going on. With in a few minutes another officer came out and finally called my name. Apparently I was his last appointment and the guy he was escorting out was an orderly gentlemen probably 80 plus. As I was being walked in he introduced himself and apologized for the long wait, as his last appointment ran over an hour.
Finally I made it to his office and he took me under oath and asked me to sit down. He was still in the process of clearing his desk. Finally he brought over my file and started flipping through pages and told me he was looking for something. While he was doing that he asked me to present my passport, green card and license. Then he started to go over my application question by question and verified everything. He asked me if I wanted to change me name and I said No. I had recently switched employers so I updated that information on the application. He briefly looked at the update and did not bother to ask any other questions about the new employer. He also flipped through my passport.

Afterwards he asked me to read and write the following sentence:

Question I read “What was the first capital of United States?”

Answer I wrote “New York was the first capital of United States”

He then read what I wrote and replied that I have passed reading and writing part.

Then he told me that he will take the civic test. I don't recall all the questions but I went through them very quickly. I answered all 6 right and he stopped there and replied that I have passed civics exam. After that he finally gave my 2 papers and congratulated me and shook my hand. My oath letter should arrive with in 2 months.

The whole interview process lasted 20 minutes the most. Even though I had taken tons of paperwork with me I was never asked to show anything other than what I described above. Officer knew I received my GC though asylum but never asked any questions.

Thats great to hear Copper1 ..Congratulations. Hope you get your oath letter soon.
 
Congratulations Copper1!

You didn't have any travel outside U.S? Or he didn't bother to ask?

I had a total of 17 visits to countries like Canada, UK, Dominican Republic UAE and Saudi. Did not say anyting about it. Just asked me that I had made 17 trips and thats all. Although he kept my travel doc since it was expired. He handed back my NP. I was gonna tell him to keep that also.. :)
 
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