Interview - can we refer to the copy of the N-400 application

K

krishna43

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

Does anyone know whether we are allowed to carry and refer to the copy of the N-400 application which we filed during the time of interview? I mean while the IO is asking questions, can we cross-check what we have submitted? If not, what are the other documents we are allowed to carry to the IO at the time of interview?
 
Dont see why not.You should have made copy of it when you mailed it .To bee on safe side.Go thru application prior to interview.Makes you look confident and prepared.:rolleyes:
 
Does anyone know whether we are allowed to carry and refer to the copy of the N-400 application which we filed during the time of interview? I mean while the IO is asking questions, can we cross-check what we have submitted? If not, what are the other documents we are allowed to carry to the IO at the time of interview?
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You should review a copy of the application before your interview so that your answers at the interview match those you already gave in the application. But I think it would look suspicious if the IO asks you a question and you refer to your application before you give him/her the answer.

-KM
 
If you have a copy, I don't see why you can't refer to it. However I need to ask, what possibly did you put there that you will not be able to recall? The entire N-400 form is about you, what could you possible not be able to remember about yourself? :)


krishna43 said:
Hi,

Does anyone know whether we are allowed to carry and refer to the copy of the N-400 application which we filed during the time of interview?
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Triple Citizen said:
If you have a copy, I don't see why you can't refer to it. However I need to ask, what possibly did you put there that you will not be able to recall? The entire N-400 form is about you, what could you possible not be able to remember about yourself? :)
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The exact trip dates outside of country?
The exact dates of residence, employment changes etc.

You usually dont keep all this in the memory (maybe on hard disk err...paper :) )
 
I am guilty of assuming everyone else is a nerd like me. I remember all such details (or anything with numbers) by heart. I can still remember the starting date of my first job in 1992, the day I became a Canadian PR, the day I became a Canadian citizen, the day I got my US GC, the day I became a US citizen, etc. Nerd Alert!!! :)
 
Yes, certain dates can not be forgotten e.g date of birth, date of marriage, date of first employment etc. But I made a lot of travel within USA. I do not remember all the periods of stay in places other than the place of residence. Also I made two trips outside the country - I cannot say the exact dates offhand.
If any typo error is there in the dates, we can always correct them. Does the IO take kindly to these actions?
 
I don't think any reasonable IO will have an issue with an applicant referring to the copy of the N-400 while being questioned. Having said that, I am not an officer of USCIS :)
 
Referring to copy of N-400

During my interview the officer just asked how many trips outside the country and total number of days.....I would not recommend refering to your copy of the N-400 throughout the interview.....if you cannot remember the exact date.....just state that fact.....I do not remember the exact date.

I got so worked up about my interview prior to it.....I was making self ill.

It was a piece of cake and only lasted about ten minutes.....the officer was really nice and did his best to put me at ease.

Good luck!!!!! You will do fine!!!!!
 
I think remembering dates also has to do with ones age.

I clearly remember when I started my first job and other events which were very significant to me at the time.

Now after many years and having lived in many places, many apartments/houses, held many jobs these events are no longer as significant to me as they used to be and I don't remember most of them.

In fact the first question the io asked me during my interview was "When was your last trip out of the country ? " I had to think a bit before I could answer.
 
Triple Citizen said:
I don't think any reasonable IO will have an issue with an applicant referring to the copy of the N-400 while being questioned. Having said that, I am not an officer of USCIS :)
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I think it really depends on context. If for example, the applicant nervously refers to the N-400 every time a question is asked, I think it might legitimately raise some concerns with the IO's. Cross-checking a couple of dates or minor details however, should not be a big deal.
 
When you are under oath you are supposed to be answering truthfully and shouldn't have to refer to anything. I doubt that they would ask you exact dates for your trips, residence or employment. In case they do you can say that you don't remember. It might also be OK to have a cheat-sheet with just the dates for quick reference.

-KM
 
Yes, I would only recommend to take a look of your N-400 copy if you have one (I assume, because the question was to get your N-400 copy to the interview and it would be a moot point if you didn't have the copy) but not take it with you to the interview. Study it well, there is not much there that you need to remember, address, your own name and date of birth, employment, your children. The only thing that can require real memorization is dates of travel and dates of employment, otherwise you should know the other answers by heart ;)

I also agree with kagemusha that remembering exact dates of travel is not really important. I would say, remember your last trip, and try to go over your trips (if there are not many) and remember the purpose of those trips.
 
HI Krishna43,
I took a copy of my N-400 with me. During my interview, I had all my supporting documents in front of me - like tax transcripts. When the IO was asking questions, I happened to be looking down (not at anything in particular and certainly was not reading any paper). The IO thought I was looking at my papers and asked me to put everything away. I didn't even have my N-400 open in front of me, but instead of explaining, I just put everything back into my bag. Last thing you want to do is to irritate the IO. When asked about my last travel date, I just gave the month and year and that was it... I do not think you are expected to know every single travel date, job start date, etc. But you should know the month and year- or atleast an approximate.
 
I think it is a good response to the question I raised. I gather that it would be a good idea to remember the salient facts - like the month of travel outside USA etc in the head and refer only if specific answers are required. When you start consulting the papers in front of you all the time, you tend to break the eye contact with the IO and that will raise suspicions.
I am a bit worried about my wife whose English is not fluent (added to the accent problems) and never had to remember even her SSN.
I reckon that we have to do plenty of practice rehearsing the review of the N-400 along with the Civics questionnaire.
 
Totally agree with that. Imagine what can happen if the applicant needs to look up (in the N-400 form) the address to confirm where they live :)

boatbod said:
If for example, the applicant nervously refers to the N-400 every time a question is asked, I think it might legitimately raise some concerns with the IO's.
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