I speak English with no accent(or rather, with US accent), aroused IO's suspicions

D

danny1968

New Member
I know I promised someone not to say anymore until I get my new passport. :D
but I felt this is an issue that should be brought to the attention of other
members, just in case this question comes up during interview.

during my interview, I had absolutely no problems for the first 95% of the time.
Near the end(after passing the tests), the officer asked me why I spoke English
with no accent, or rather, with a perfect American accent. The IO said that my
home country isn't English-speaking(not even Latin based language). The IO sort
of demanded that I explain why. If you speak to me on the telephone, you'd
probably think I'm a native-born middle-aged white American dude from the midwest.
(at least that why my friends always tell me)

Fortunately, I came well prepared for this. The reason is that I lived in
the US as a child with my parents who were sent here by their company, to work
in the US branch office. I went to grade school here and obviously picked
up the perfect American accent. Obviously we were here legally under work
visas. I left the US and went back to my country 8 years after that... then
years later, came back again after greencard was acquired.

I think the IO was wondering if I had been in the country illegally or
overstayed for many many years. After I explained, the IO seemed
to be satisfied with my answer. Not to mention the fact that I came
prepared with all my previous passport dating back 25 years.
 
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danny1968 said:
Near the end(after passing the tests), the officer asked me why I spoke English
with no accent, or rather, with a perfect American accent. The IO said that my
home country isn't English-speaking(not even Latin based language). The IO sort
of demanded that I explain why.
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Was it your interpretation that he needed an explanation and questioned your past status or was the IO just being curious and making small talk as part of the interview? Are you part of a visible minority with a higher incidence of illegal immigration?.
 
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Hehe, I am probably of a minority that have issues of illegal immigration. My accent, too, is pretty much native, but I got it from TV when I was a kid. I mean, American TV is everywhere...
 
Bobsmyth said:
Was it your interpretation that he needed an explanation and questioned your past status or was the IO just being curious and making small talk as part of the interview? Are you part of a visible minority with a higher incidence of illegal immigration?.
Click to expand...

I was sure the IO became suspicious because of my very American accent.
There were occasionaly friendly small talk, but the IO became very serious
when asking me that question.

My "people" are not in the group you described... but most of my fellow
countrymen are not known to speak very good English. :) so I guess I
stood out just a bit....

The opposite side of this coin is that I speak my native language with a
distinct foreign accent... having gone through grade school and spending
so many years in the US.
 
Accent

danny1968,

Your accent is killing me man. Even while I am reading your posts, your accent is coming right out onto my face as if you are talking to me live one on one.
 
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I wonder if perhaps the IO thought you were taking the interview on someone's behalf? Its not unknown for applicants with poor english to try to get someone to substitute for them during the interview.
 
boatbod said:
I wonder if perhaps the IO thought you were taking the interview on someone's behalf? Its not unknown for applicants with poor english to try to get someone to substitute for them during the interview.
Click to expand...

That's also one possibility... but why would someone be stupid enough to pay someone else to go to the interview? (yes, I have also read a news article about someone doing just that) The USCIS found out and she was charged and the deported. :eek:
 
Or maybe you are a Canadian citizen as well and was "hiding" that from USCIS by using only your country of birth's citizenship. I think the officer was "digging" for information.
 
Bobsmyth said:
Was it your interpretation that he needed an explanation and questioned your past status or was the IO just being curious and making small talk as part of the interview? Are you part of a visible minority with a higher incidence of illegal immigration?.
Click to expand...



I think so too... I think it was just a conversation... and there are plenty of people who are pretty good in American accent after living here for some time... after going to school here. If they will check the accent too, there will be even more back logs. I have few friends who after working on it have managed to talk like americans. Not a big deal really!
 
a few years back, well maybe my first year here, a friend of mine, working for a news agency was 'trying' to help me land a job. at that time, i thought i wanted to be a war correspondent (have changed my mind since :)). anyways, his comment to me was your english is great, why don't you take pronunciation classes?
i took it as an insult, seriously. i am proud of my accent, proud that i speak a couple of languages, i even have an accent now when i speak my native language. my friends tease me and say 'you sound like a peasant.' but i would never take any classes. it is what it is. it's who i am
 
what a funny thread! I learned French for 7 years in school before starting English, so some longer words I pronounce with wrong stress on last syllabus, but otherwise my English is good with little accent, so people get really confused about my origin, cuz my last name is Latino and yet I look like tall mixed Asian
 
danny1968,
No offense, but based on what you described above (timeline of your childhood stay etc.), I can say with almost certainty that you don't have the perfect/authentic American accent. Yes, I admit I've never heard your voice. Never mind what people tell you. Lots of Americans can get easily taken in. It's possible that your IO himself/herself was foreign-born and got fooled by the way you speak and could not hide his/her curiosity. I am sure you speak very good English, and I am not challenging that. Most immigrants try to put on a fake accent when they speak with locals here. The only purpose it serves is to make themselves understood. Nothing more. Trust me, I have worked as an accent-spotter. And yes, I have a foreign accent too.
 
TheRealist said:
danny1968,
No offense, but based on what you described above (timeline of your childhood stay etc.), I can say with almost certainty that you don't have the perfect/authentic American accent. Yes, I admit I've never heard your voice. Never mind what people tell you. Lots of Americans can get easily taken in. It's possible that your IO himself/herself was foreign-born and got fooled by the way you speak and could not hide his/her curiosity. I am sure you speak very good English, and I am not challenging that. Most immigrants try to put on a fake accent when they speak with locals here. The only purpose it serves is to make themselves understood. Nothing more. Trust me, I have worked as an accent-spotter. And yes, I have a foreign accent too.
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This sounds very real!!! Guys ignore this thread and dont talk to IO like Tintoon!
 
TheRealCanadian said:
Why would one need to hide this?
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Some times individuals go around applying for different residencies for different reasons and at times using different names and information - etc. I've seen it happen. I don't know why people do what they do - and am not surprised by much any more.
 
The OP is hilarious. Every immig person I know who thought his/her accent was "American" usu sounds ridiculous imo and they don't know how awful they actually sound to others.

I bet the IO went back and told his mates "you can't imagine the accent on a jackass I interviewed today". So relax, op and settle down a little bit.
 
aabbcc11 said:
The OP is hilarious. Every immig person I know who thought his/her accent was "American" usu sounds ridiculous imo and they don't know how awful they actually sound to others.

I bet the IO went back and told his mates "you can't imagine the accent on a jackass I interviewed today". So relax, op and settle down a little bit.
Click to expand...

What's an OP?

And, I do know some people who pick up slight tinges to their accent, and this is probably what you're talking about. It may be funny, but come on, you're being terribly rude.
 
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