Hello everyone,
I want to share with you my interview experience. I arrived to the Memphis district office 10 minutes early than the appointment said. I went to the second floor and dropped the interview letter on the drop box as posted.
30 minutes later, a male officer calls my name. We shake hands and he invited me to his office. Stacks of paper everywhere. He had my entire file there. It was very thick. About half the size of the yellow pages book. I could see my FedEx Envelopes (that is how I sent the applicatrrion) there folded. Everything you ever send to the US CIS (ex INS) is there, I assume.
He went through the N-400 application, checking my oral answers versus what it was on the file. My wife and I had a baby in March and he updated the file there. He asked me for additional evidence of marriage (because I am filing based on 3 year marriage). Even though the interview letter said very clearly just bring passport, drivers license, and green card, I brought a significant amount of papers.
The first thing he wanted to know was proof of taxes filed for this year (the rest were with the application), then joint bank accounts, and other documents. I showed mortgage statement with both names, a cart title with both names on it and joint car and home insurance.
I also had to show the birth certificate for our daugher, showing both names as parents. Then he asked me for my wife's certificate of naturalization. Got it. He said that we was happy because being prepared makes his life so much easier. He smiled. I smiled. He was happy, I am happy.
Then he went to the questions on the N-400.... have you ever been ... etc.
I showed my four speeding tickets and all the court copies with the final dispositions. He make notes everywhere and changed my answer on the question have you been detained from no to yes. He asked me if I planned to keep speeding and I answered no.
Then the civics questions. Who is the current president? Who was the first president? Who becomes the president if both the pres and vp dies? All from the 100 list. All correct. But then he asked "who was the 35th president?" I said I don't know. He answered J.F.Kennedy. Then he asked "Who is the current speaker of the house?" I didn't know. And he said "Dennis Hastert".
Then he continued, what is the United Nations for? to solve world problems and help the poor. He asked me 5 or 6 more questions all from the 100 list. No problem.
Then the English questions. I had to read a couple of sentences. And write I want to be a United States Citizen. Very easy.
Then he told me that I passed the interview and that I was going to be recommended for approval. He gave me a piece of paper and marked Congratulations you have passed the interview... etc.
I asked him when the next oath ceremony might be. He didn't know. I asked him about name check and FP and he told me that all is done and clear. That's it. About 25 minutes mostly because of the recording of speeding tickets and adding the additional paperwork showing marriage life. He did not look at the picture of my daughter. I am not surprised.
Overall, my impression of the Memphis US CIS is that they are very professional but they still have too many applications to handle. They are really making their best to comply with all procedures while providing good customer service.
I believe the next oath ceremony in Memphis is on August 18th, 2005. The last one was on May 4th. So, with a little bit of luck, I might be a citizen soon.
LEARNING #1: Don't bring just passport, GC and drivers license, even if letter says so. Bring anything even remotely possible that you might need. In particular tax filings and bank accounts.
LEARNING #2: Disclose, disclose, disclose. Traffic violations are to be recoded on the N400.
LEARNING #3: If you are married (and this is your only marriage) then the question how many times have you been married is 1 not 0. Same applies for the wife/husband question.
