Hello,
this is my first post here. After browsing for a very long time, I hope my post will help others. I also would like to say to JoeF, Sony, Johnny Cash, LA Dude, Rahul, and the countless others that have posted a big thank you. Your kindness shown here to faceless names, will not go unnoticed, you will receive in the years to come. THANK YOU
Los Angeles DO
Filed N400 August 2005
PD Notice: September 2005
FP Notice : September 2005 for October 2005
FP: (01/04/06) Re-Scheduled @El Monte
Interview Letter: (01/20/2006)
Interview Date: (03/02/2006) @El Monte for 10:30am
Oath: Soon
FingerPrint (After re-scheduling)
Arrived at the El-Monte ASC. Plenty of parking in the underground lot, don't worry. Handed my FP letter to the security officer, showed him my Green Card and was told to take a seat. A lot of people waiting to be fingerprinted, was waiting for an hour. Was painless, new computerized scanning, so more stains on the fingers
Interview @ EL MONTE (03/02/2006)
I BROUGHT:
Green Card
Tax Transcrips (4 years)
Driver License
Passport and Expired Passports
Speeding Tickets/Proof of Payment
Arrival Before Interview:
Arrived at El Monte at 9:45am, plenty of parking on the side-streets. No one should worry about that. Starbucks was a block away, so got a tea to relax myself. Went thru the security check at 10am. No camera cell phones are allowed, so you have been warned. Security officer wanted to see my Interview notice letter, handed it to him and he stamped it. Was told to wait in one of the chairs next to the lifts........waited for 5 minutes, handed the letter to another security officer. Then shortly a group of us were escorted up to the first floor and were told to take a seat. At this stage I was nervous, but I kept thinking of this great forum, and all the information that I had received from it. And also thinking of my late Grandmother who died last year, who went through the same type procedure a very long time ago..........Anyway, I counted about 50 or so people, from every nationality waiting anxiously, some were reading up on the history of the US, some more were talking with there spouses. Everyone waiting, now if all nations on this planet could sit side by side and live together and all get along........That is why I wanted to become an American. Every nationality, every religion, every color, all living under the same sky, and getting along (sometimes we fight, but we get along). This is why we all want to be American. And so that our kids can have the opportunities that we might have had. Anyway enough of my rambling.....The INS officers were coming out and calling names, this was going quick. About every 2 minutes a person was called. From observing the INS officers, they were very polite to the interviewee's, it seemed as if each interview lasted about 10 minutes.
Interview @10:35am:
While deep in a prayer, my name was called twice!! The INS officer asked me to follow. In her office she asked me to raise my right hand, and to swear to tell the truth. I did. Next she asked for my Green Card and Driver License. Then asked me my Social Security Number to verify. Then my current address. She then asked me to write a very simple sentence, TODAY IS A SUNNY DAY, or something like that. She knew that I spoke english very well, so I guess that is why she did not ask me to read. Next up was the questions on the US Government/History. I got every question correct, I think she asked me 6. Can't remember know. She printed them out from her computer, they were randomly generated I believe. Who is the President? and so on. My advice to anyone going for the interview is JUST READ THE 100 QUESTIONS FROM THE USCIS BOOK. Next she went over my N400 form line by line. I had traveled a lot after I had got my green card, but I had my expired passports just in case. She went over the dates, and checked them off on the N400, while looking thru my passports. She smiled and said that you must have family back there, and I said yes. Nothing more was asked about my trips abroad. She asked me had I paid my taxes, said yes, was on the verge of interrupting her to provide her with my transcripts, but she was already onto the next question, so I did not produce them. But it made me feel better having them just in case. Then she asked was I ever arrested or citied? I told her about making a mistake on the N400, and that I had two speeding tickets. Showed her them and also the payments. Had my current DMV record to prove that I owed nothing and that my record was clear. (Costs $5 to get your driving history from the DMV). She wrote all the details down. Never asked me about my Selective Service Number, I had registered when I got the Green Card. Finally she asked me to sign the N400 and the photos that I had submitted and said with a smile that I had passed, I asked her about any name check or other check and she said no. I would receive my Oath letter in the next 90 days. Walked out of the building and was extremely happy. Now just waiting for the Oath Letter.
Interview lasted 10minutes. The most polite and professional INS people that I have ever come across, why they can't be all like this?
WHAT I LEARNT FROM THIS GREAT FORUM AND THE CITIZENSHIP PROCESS
Always have documents, even if they are not requested for the interview. If you were caught speeding/dui/accident/failure to stop at a red-light, write that in the N400 form. Then make sure you have proof that you paid the fine, by getting your DMV history, or cashed check from the court. Get and have your past TAX filings, transcripts are easy to get from the IRS, they take 1-2 weeks to get to you. Any bank statements/utility bills from prior years to show that you resided in the states for the past 5 years. Expired Passports.
THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO THE GREAT PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM.