Q for those who went through "the interview"

N

ny11023

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

I read somewhere here on this forum that when you have your interview, the IO have ALL your past files including the first visa (F1 for example) to your latest application (N400). Is this true? I just wonder if it is even possible to for them to have all those documents in front of them in time of citizenship interview (some of us would have huge ones with all those extensions and changes of visas). And if they go through them before your interview to check discrepancies.

If this is the case, then shouldn't all of of us be super careful in checking our OWN past records before going in to make sure that there is no slightest "ghost from the past" that could come up to haunt us?

Am I being a bit paranoid with this interview business? Sorry then.

Happy New Year everyone! This is truly a great forum for information and encouragement.
 
Yes, your entire A-file will be available for the adjudicating officer. During my naturalisation interview in Oct 2006, I recognised a document from my 2002 K-1 visa application right at the top of my A-file.

ny11023 said:
I read somewhere here on this forum that when you have your interview, the IO have ALL your past files including the first visa (F1 for example) to your latest application (N400). Is this true?
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I feel you are definitely paranoid. When I went for my interview she asked me GC, passport. No extra documents were asked and she did had a file, I have no ides if its my entire one or many people's one.

Dont worry about what you do not know. Prepare all the answers from N400 and do carry extra documents in case they ask (whatever you have). I carried
-birth certificate, marriage cert, 5 yr tax return, ticket citation proof of payment, GC, passport. If they ask anything remain composed and think and answer. Thinking is allowed.
 
The IO usually has all your immigration history right there inside that file right there in front of them. Usually they will have already looked through the main points, so unless something particular caught their attention, you will get a fairly simple interview.

Sometimes it is possible for an applicant to have more than one file (e.g. if they have multiple A numbers, or at some point had a T-file created). Usually these will already have found their way to the DO prior to interview, but if not, it is usual for the IO to give you a "pending... no decision can be taken" interview result. At that point you have to wait for the missing file to catch up with the other paperwork...

good luck.
 
IO is required to exame your ENTIRE A-File before the interview. in fact, this is how IO constructs the questions for the interview if (s)he feels that certain area of interests may impact your application. It is not necessary (s)he will have the entire A-files in front of IO during the interview. But you can be certain, some of the files will be attached to your N-400 file folder, which alone is a seperate folder. In that, it will contain your application, all supporting documents, additional documents if requested by IO, and/collected during the interview, and most importnat part, IO's written recommandation on your application. Plus all the documents associated with apporval or denial decision.
 
boatbod said:
The IO usually has all your immigration history right there inside that file right there in front of them. Usually they will have already looked through the main points, so unless something particular caught their attention, you will get a fairly simple interview.

Sometimes it is possible for an applicant to have more than one file (e.g. if they have multiple A numbers, or at some point had a T-file created). Usually these will already have found their way to the DO prior to interview, but if not, it is usual for the IO to give you a "pending... no decision can be taken" interview result. At that point you have to wait for the missing file to catch up with the other paperwork...

good luck.
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Would they also have your employment and tax related information in front of them? When I filled out my application, I came up with ball park dates for changing residences or jobs.

I received my GC not through my employer but my parents. I worked in multiple jobs, while I was in college, some were are short as 6-8 weeks. Do you think they will be concerned about my employment history?

Thanks!
 
I can imagine the interview officer would have the entire immigration documents of mine from practical training, H1, through green card. Would the officer have the SAME copy of documents for the derivatives (i.e., spouse and kids)?
 
Unknown111 said:
I can imagine the interview officer would have the entire immigration documents of mine from practical training, H1, through green card. Would the officer have the SAME copy of documents for the derivatives (i.e., spouse and kids)?
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Probably not, because the derivatives all have their own A file.
 
You don't need previous visas at all. You just need information and stuff from when you became a lawful permanent resident (most usually when you got your green card), so you will have to bring that. Anything preivious to your green card you will not need...
 
Thanks everybody!

Just back from travelling and read all your posts.

Let me see if I understand you all correctly-

You said that the "entire 'A-file'" will be examed or even questioned for the interview.

I'm not so sure about what exactly the so-called "A-file" should include. Is it-

1. Everything from your very first visa application to USA (before you even landed), to your gc applications;

2. Everything from you landed on USA, which may include visa change/extentsion appplications, to your gc applications;

3. Everything from your H1 applications, to your gc applications;

No. 1 & 2 in my opinion may be difficult to track, depending on what information they used to track (passport #, name, dob, etc.) So I'm guessing No. 3 is more likely?

Please enlighten me. I will need to see if I should go back tracking all my steps to gc, and if so, how far back.

Thanks a lot!
 
I'd be willing to bet that USCIS don't have easy access to Dept of State documents. i.e. anything that was conducted solely in an overseas US consulate.
 
My wife's family applied for a GC when they immigrated from the middle east in the early 70s. My wife was a small child at the time.

Instead of settling in the US, they got Canadian landed immigrant status and moved to Montreal.

That 30 something year old GC application came up during my wife's interview in 2005.

Assume that the Imm Officer knows *everything* about you and since you will be telling the truth, you shouldn't have a problem.
 
Since 9/11, all DS-156s and DS-157s are scanned and added to a database that is accessed by USCIS/ICE/CBP.

boatbod said:
I'd be willing to bet that USCIS don't have easy access to Dept of State documents. i.e. anything that was conducted solely in an overseas US consulate.
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