It feels like I'm one of the last from my cohort (arrivals in 1993) to get citizenship. My naturalization interview was today and went very smoothly.
My greencard took forever until I got it in June 2001. Anyways, I wanted to record my sincere appreciation for all the hard work put in by volunteers in this wonderful gift economy called internet in the form of these forums. Rajiv must be an enlightened soul to have embraced the online world and providing 'free' advice so willingly over the years.
For those still in line for various assorted approvals, notices of actions and general bureaucratic nods, I've some hindsight-based wisdom:
1. I have found that in dealing with US Government, it pays to be a bit more 'anal' about your preparations compared to the Indian 'chalta hai' attitude. Doesn't mean you run to Staples and get separators and files/folders and go to the n'th degree to get organized. But don't expect the US govt. to cut you slack if you misplace documents etc.
2. If you keep reading this forums too much you WILL develop a bit of paranoia. It helps to keep your sanity if you just follow common sense and not go overboard worrying about that interview or fingerprinting.
3. I read up on the list of documents to take to the interview but deliberately disregarded a lot of bull. I simply went with the list required by the appointment letter (and the photocopy generic list provided alongwith the letter). This was more than sufficient.
4. The problem was with the photographs...I had taken one with a slightly angled face as was the norm earlier. But apparently the rules have changed...they require the full frontal one and the officer told me not to bother removing my glasses. We went downstairs and got it done in 10 minutes and returned to resume the proceedings.
5. The officer simply asked almost all the questions from the N-400 verbally and of course, my case being simple, had all the "right" answers.
6. In NY, the procedures of making people wait for over 3 hours for essentially a 20 minute interview seems excessive. However, I'm sure they have played around with several options and have concluded this is the most optimal.
Humor:
There were a couple of oriental-looking girls in their 20's. One of them was repeatedly asking the other one, "Who wrote the star-spangled banner?" in a thick accent, which was funny when you heard it the fifth time
. Then the lawyer advising them arrived and took over the prep. So, he goes..."Do you believe in the Constitution?" And the girl responds, "No". He arches his eyebrows and says..."No. You answer NO when the question is 'Have you ever engaged in prostitution?' For consitution, you answer, YES". And on and on it goes, providing much needed humor. He gives a little cheatsheet - Always answer NO when the question begins 'Have you ever'. Always answer YES, if the question begins 'Are you willing'.
My greencard took forever until I got it in June 2001. Anyways, I wanted to record my sincere appreciation for all the hard work put in by volunteers in this wonderful gift economy called internet in the form of these forums. Rajiv must be an enlightened soul to have embraced the online world and providing 'free' advice so willingly over the years.
For those still in line for various assorted approvals, notices of actions and general bureaucratic nods, I've some hindsight-based wisdom:
1. I have found that in dealing with US Government, it pays to be a bit more 'anal' about your preparations compared to the Indian 'chalta hai' attitude. Doesn't mean you run to Staples and get separators and files/folders and go to the n'th degree to get organized. But don't expect the US govt. to cut you slack if you misplace documents etc.
2. If you keep reading this forums too much you WILL develop a bit of paranoia. It helps to keep your sanity if you just follow common sense and not go overboard worrying about that interview or fingerprinting.
3. I read up on the list of documents to take to the interview but deliberately disregarded a lot of bull. I simply went with the list required by the appointment letter (and the photocopy generic list provided alongwith the letter). This was more than sufficient.
4. The problem was with the photographs...I had taken one with a slightly angled face as was the norm earlier. But apparently the rules have changed...they require the full frontal one and the officer told me not to bother removing my glasses. We went downstairs and got it done in 10 minutes and returned to resume the proceedings.
5. The officer simply asked almost all the questions from the N-400 verbally and of course, my case being simple, had all the "right" answers.
6. In NY, the procedures of making people wait for over 3 hours for essentially a 20 minute interview seems excessive. However, I'm sure they have played around with several options and have concluded this is the most optimal.
Humor:
There were a couple of oriental-looking girls in their 20's. One of them was repeatedly asking the other one, "Who wrote the star-spangled banner?" in a thick accent, which was funny when you heard it the fifth time
. Then the lawyer advising them arrived and took over the prep. So, he goes..."Do you believe in the Constitution?" And the girl responds, "No". He arches his eyebrows and says..."No. You answer NO when the question is 'Have you ever engaged in prostitution?' For consitution, you answer, YES". And on and on it goes, providing much needed humor. He gives a little cheatsheet - Always answer NO when the question begins 'Have you ever'. Always answer YES, if the question begins 'Are you willing'.