My wife and I had a successful interview today, and our Oath ceremony has been scheduled for 3rd June. My GC was based on employment, but I had left my sponsoring company after 1 year of getting my GC. Here is our experience:
In many ways we were over-prepared. We carried much more documents than was asked for. For me I just HAD to get through the first time, as my job will probably involve travel in the weeks ahead which would conflict with a 2nd interview date, if I did not get through the first time. I could not afford to take any chances. So I meticulously prepared two files (one for each of us) following all the posts on this forum, right up to last night. I also wore a suit and tie to create a favorable impression on first sight, just in case first impressions mattered to my IO.
Documents carried (originals and photocopies of some):
1. Interview letter, FP letter and NOA letters
2. Extra copy of N-400, to read along, if required
3. Current Indian Passport, Green Card, Drivers license and SSN card
4. Tax Transcripts for 2005, 2006, 2007 and Account Transcripts for 2003 and 2004
5. Printouts of actual tax returns, with IRS confirmation of receipt which you get on electronic filing
6. Employment letters and paystubs
7. Two utility bills
8. Photocopy of the vehicle registration of my cars
9. Title of the house that I own
10. Mortgage statement
11. Bank statement
12. Vehicle insurance invoice
13. Social Security statements for last 3 years
14. Affidavits in lieu of Birth Certificates which I got at the time of GC processing
15. Birth certificates of my two children
16. Marriage certificate
17. Two extra photographs.
My wife also carried a court certified docket of a traffic ticket which she received, but challenged in court and the case was dismissed.
We arrived at about 8.30 for a 9.25am interview. We first had to go through airport-style security. We checked in, and we were asked to sit in the waiting hall. The person who checked us in gave us a small green card with our A numbers written on it and asked us to give it to the IO so that our oath ceremonies could be scheduled together. We noticed that there were people with small children. The restrooms were spotlessly clean.
I got called at 9.15. My IO was a man in his mid-thirties. He walked me to his cubicle. First he made me raise my hand and swore me in. Then he asked me for my passport, GC and drivers licence. He checked my details on the computer. He flipped through the pages on the passport but did not attempt to verify with my N400. I had a few trips outside the US, but not too much. Then he conducted the civics test. The six questions to me were:
1. Who is the Governor of your state now?
2. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
3. Who was the first President?
4. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
5. What is the capital of the United States?
6. Name two national U.S.holidays.
After this he made me read "Who lives in the White House"? Then he made me write "The President lives in the White House". He informed me that I had passed the civics test.
He then went through the N-400 application with me very fast, confirming details here and there. After that he told me that he would be recommending me for approval. He made me "sign" the application by asking me to print my name on three places, then gave me a felt pen to sign on the photographs. He handed me a N-652 form which declared that I had passed the civics test and was recommended for approval. He walked me out into the hall. 15 minutes from start to finish.
NO DOCUMENTS WERE ASKED FOR.
My wife got called about 20 minutes after me, by a different IO. This gave me time to pass on the original papers to her and prep her. She was out in 15 minutes with a pass on her N-652. Her experience was similar to mine. No documents were asked of her, though she was armed with two files of paperwork. When asked about any court cases (while going through her N400), she declared the traffic ticket which she challenged in court and won. The IO briefly questioned her about it and moved on.
We waited for about 30 minutes and got our oath letters. Oath is scheduled for 3 June.
In many ways we were over-prepared. We carried much more documents than was asked for. For me I just HAD to get through the first time, as my job will probably involve travel in the weeks ahead which would conflict with a 2nd interview date, if I did not get through the first time. I could not afford to take any chances. So I meticulously prepared two files (one for each of us) following all the posts on this forum, right up to last night. I also wore a suit and tie to create a favorable impression on first sight, just in case first impressions mattered to my IO.
Documents carried (originals and photocopies of some):
1. Interview letter, FP letter and NOA letters
2. Extra copy of N-400, to read along, if required
3. Current Indian Passport, Green Card, Drivers license and SSN card
4. Tax Transcripts for 2005, 2006, 2007 and Account Transcripts for 2003 and 2004
5. Printouts of actual tax returns, with IRS confirmation of receipt which you get on electronic filing
6. Employment letters and paystubs
7. Two utility bills
8. Photocopy of the vehicle registration of my cars
9. Title of the house that I own
10. Mortgage statement
11. Bank statement
12. Vehicle insurance invoice
13. Social Security statements for last 3 years
14. Affidavits in lieu of Birth Certificates which I got at the time of GC processing
15. Birth certificates of my two children
16. Marriage certificate
17. Two extra photographs.
My wife also carried a court certified docket of a traffic ticket which she received, but challenged in court and the case was dismissed.
We arrived at about 8.30 for a 9.25am interview. We first had to go through airport-style security. We checked in, and we were asked to sit in the waiting hall. The person who checked us in gave us a small green card with our A numbers written on it and asked us to give it to the IO so that our oath ceremonies could be scheduled together. We noticed that there were people with small children. The restrooms were spotlessly clean.
I got called at 9.15. My IO was a man in his mid-thirties. He walked me to his cubicle. First he made me raise my hand and swore me in. Then he asked me for my passport, GC and drivers licence. He checked my details on the computer. He flipped through the pages on the passport but did not attempt to verify with my N400. I had a few trips outside the US, but not too much. Then he conducted the civics test. The six questions to me were:
1. Who is the Governor of your state now?
2. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
3. Who was the first President?
4. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
5. What is the capital of the United States?
6. Name two national U.S.holidays.
After this he made me read "Who lives in the White House"? Then he made me write "The President lives in the White House". He informed me that I had passed the civics test.
He then went through the N-400 application with me very fast, confirming details here and there. After that he told me that he would be recommending me for approval. He made me "sign" the application by asking me to print my name on three places, then gave me a felt pen to sign on the photographs. He handed me a N-652 form which declared that I had passed the civics test and was recommended for approval. He walked me out into the hall. 15 minutes from start to finish.
NO DOCUMENTS WERE ASKED FOR.
My wife got called about 20 minutes after me, by a different IO. This gave me time to pass on the original papers to her and prep her. She was out in 15 minutes with a pass on her N-652. Her experience was similar to mine. No documents were asked of her, though she was armed with two files of paperwork. When asked about any court cases (while going through her N400), she declared the traffic ticket which she challenged in court and won. The IO briefly questioned her about it and moved on.
We waited for about 30 minutes and got our oath letters. Oath is scheduled for 3 June.
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