Do you need to offer to shake hands with the IO at the interview?

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WBH

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Do you need to offer to shake hands with the IO both at the beginning and at the end of the interview?
 
I would say no, not unless the IO offers it first (like the Queen of England) :D. The IO will greet you and usher you to his/her cubicle, but will probably not offer to shake hands. But it is not a sign of disrespect. You can still thank him/her sincerely after you are done, and a successful interview will end in him congratulating you after which you can reciprocate in like manner.

At my Oath, the woman judge made it a point to shake hands with each new citizen and congratulate them personally, and allowed each one with a camera to have her picture taken with the new citizen with her arm around them.
 
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His questions are irritating and annoying and a waste of everyone's time......If someone finds his posts entertaining, good for them visiting an immigration portal seeking entertainment.
 
WBH said:
cubicle? You mean it is not an office? and you can see watch and overhear all other peoples' interviews?
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At the Chicago DO there were actually office rooms that were completely quiet once the IO closed the door. My bad.
 
olop said:
His questions are irritating and annoying and a waste of everyone's time......If someone finds his posts entertaining, good for them visiting an immigration portal seeking entertainment.
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I came to this portal seeking knowledge about immigration and naturalization matters. Entertainment was just the added bonus. :)
 
prithis said:
I came to this portal seeking knowledge about immigration and naturalization matters. Entertainment was just the added bonus. :)
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I don't understand why my questions, or at least this one, is not
legitmate. The interview etiquette is of course important. As long a
question is relevant to small percenatges of the people then it is
relevent, otherwiose all those questions about divorce, arrest, lonbg oversea trip are anooying as long as you don't have that kind of problem
 
WBH said:
I don't understand why my questions, or at least this one, is not
legitmate. The interview etiquette is of course important. As long a
question is relevant to small percenatges of the people then it is
relevent, otherwiose all those questions about divorce, arrest, lonbg oversea trip are anooying as long as you don't have that kind of problem
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I am sorry if I have offended you, WBH, but some of your questions are amusing to me (or irritating to others) to say the least. But I did try to answer your question sincerely.
 
USCIS officers don't allow to shake hands with applicants, though sometime some officers do shake hands...probably not having enough training. But it's not a good idea to offer to shake hands with the officer because it could cause a conflict of interest in officer's decision on the application because shaking hands can be taken a postive sign without the merit in the case. And no any officer would want anyone to think that which could jeopardize his/her job.
 
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good question

WBH said:
Do you need to offer to shake hands with the IO both at the beginning and at the end of the interview?
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WBH,
This is absolutely a legit question to ask. After all, this is going to be the most important interview of your LIFE. You should prepare for it as much as possible. And if someone has issues with your questions, they can go take a HIKE!! Don’t let them fools bother you.
I would recommend you deal with the Immigration officer like you would deal with a local Police officer. Be respectful, to the point, keep your distance, and act professional. Don’t shake hands unless he/she wants to. I hope this clears things for you my friend.
 
This is a good question for cultures that might need more info on this practice, thank you for posting. I would shake his/her hand only if offered.
 
Noman74 said:
I would recommend you deal with the Immigration officer like you would deal with a local Police officer. Be respectful, to the point, keep your distance, and act professional.
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Now I am worried that it will happen that I can not help laughing during
the interview when some serious questions are asked and that laugh will
give an impression of cynicism, sarcastism etc
 
Well having just successfully completed my interview today, the IO offered his hand at the end of our interview and I took it and he said congrats.

Yes in our D/O it was cubicles and at times I could hear our neighbour's answers. But otherwise everything went smooth. I did have a minor issue with my birth certificate. My dad's name was spelt a little differently -one letter different. He put that as a name change and so my regular name that would would be the name I use on all other forms of ID would be my "new" name and the one on my naturalization certificate and for the records here. Which would be fine by me. But I got the letter with Passed thing checked and I/O said I would get the oath letter in two weeks.

Very nice and professional throughout..
 
Congratulations for your successful interview :)

Apologies to WBH and the forum for have started this little flame war. I should have seen it coming, it's just that I had seen a pattern of starting new threads with seemingly inconsequential questions. When I see something like that I tend to end up posting something and sticking my foot in my mouth ;) All in all I think it has lead to an outpour of suggestions about inconsequential things to worry about for the interview ;)
 
WBH said:
Do you need to offer to shake hands with the IO both at the beginning and at the end of the interview?
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Just to keep it simple.. I shook the IO hand after the approval.. (to add a touch of wit) it was just a one hand business shake :)
 
WBH said:
Do you need to offer to shake hands with the IO both at the beginning and at the end of the interview?
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I think "Should you offer to shake hands.." is what you're really trying to say. "Do you need to.." implies some kind of requirement rather than a question of personnel choice.
That being said, I don't see anything wrong with offering to shake hands with your IO as a greeting gesture, but don't let it bother you if the IO does not reciprocate.
 
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