Naturalization Interview Experience-all states-summary

[Tat21 1]

Hello, I could not find the topic about Naturalization Interview Experience-summary from different states, so I wish to open one. Please share your story with timelines as follows. It will help many people who is in the process of applying for citizenship.

I applied for my citizenship on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen (3 year rule). I filled out the form N-400 and prepared all supporting documents myself (All information you can find on the Immigration Forums and the Internet! You don't need a lawyer!)

My Citizenship timeline:

03/11/2016 Fail sent to PHOENIX, AZ (USPS Express Mail)
03/12/2016 Fail delivered PHOENIX, AZ
03/17/2016 Check cash out
03/23/2016 NOA received
04/15/2016 Bio. Appointment in Detroit
06/09/2016 Interview in Detroit (Approved + received Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony)
06/16/2016 Oath in Detroit

I prepared for the Interview following original documents and their copies:

Mandatory (required by USCIS): 1. Letter from USCIS. 2. Green Card + Driver's Licence. 3. All passports. 4. Mariage Certificate. 5. Spouse's Naturalization Certificate.

+ Originals of the documents which were submitted as evidence with N-400: 6. Spouse's US Passport. 7. Tax returns for 2013,2014,2015. 8. Letter from the Bank, showing Joint Checking Account. 9. Updated attachment to N-400 (showing recent travel outside the USA)

+ Additional documents (just in case): 1. Social Security Card. 2. 2 passport photos + pen + pencil. 3. Birth Certificate (translated copy). 4. Proof of Residency: College transcript, Statement from the bank. 5. Documents showing our Valid Marriage: photos, copies of our passports with stamps from our trips,
health insurance card, car insurance.

Documents which the Officer asked on the Interview: 1. Letter from USCIS. 2. Green Card + Driver's Licence. 9. Updated attachment to N-400 (showing recent travel outside the USA).

Interview:

During my interview the Officer was extremely nice. First he asked Civic test questions:
1. What is the "rule of law"?
2. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
3. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
4. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
5. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
6. What is the name of the national anthem?

Then he asked me to read easy sentence and write another one. (No more then 5-6 simple words each).

Then he asked some questions from N-400: my date of birth, my current address, etc. and all questions from Part 11 (q. 1-46-NO, q. 47-53-Yes). He was looking straight into my eyes when asking questions 1 to 53!

Looks like I prepared too many papers they did not ask! I read different stories and knew that sometimes they can miss some documents that can delay everything! Always better to have all documents in hands (just in case). Also each Interview is different. Mine was easy. :-)

Good Luck to Everyone!

[Doodles08 6]

Thanks for sharing.

For the life of me i don't know how they expect people to be able to write in pencil on the back of passport photos.

[JimmyHou 610]

Thanks for sharing.

For the life of me i don't know how they expect people to be able to write in pencil on the back of passport photos.

I used a felt pen. Much easier :-)

I did try a pencil first and got nowhere.

"Using a pencil or felt pen, lightly print your name and A-Number (if any) on the back of the photo."

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/n-400instr.pdf

[Doodles08 6]

The uscis.gov only specifies pencil.

BUT if you can't write in pencil there's no other option!

[style 0]

What's the Updated attachment to N-400 (showing recent travel outside the USA)...what attachment is that pls.i filed and wrote my days of travel in n-400 application.but cant remember what attachment is it.thanks in advance

[JimmyHou 610]

Going back to the original intent of this thread, and setting aside the hot-button issue of pens vs. pencils... :-)

Here's my N400 experience... it's the whole process, but the interview details are in there too.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/600163-example-naturalization-timeline-my-n-400-process-from-application-to-oath/?p=8196454

[Tat21 1]

What's the Updated attachment to N-400 (showing recent travel outside the USA)...what attachment is that pls.i filed and wrote my days of travel in n-400 application.but cant remember what attachment is it.thanks in advance

I had another trip outside the United States after I submitted my documents. So I prepared a new attachment with the indication of dates of my trip. During the interview, the officer took it and manually changed the total number of days outside of the US in my N-400.

[Tat21 1]

Thanks for sharing.

For the life of me i don't know how they expect people to be able to write in pencil on the back of passport photos.

The officer asked me to sign the photos with a pen.

[Justjulia 0]

What we’re the photos for? I have my interview on Monday on LA. I didn’t see anything about bring pics and a pencil.

 

thanks

[ilyak 79]

13 hours ago, Justjulia said:

What we’re the photos for? I have my interview on Monday on LA. I didn’t see anything about bring pics and a pencil.

 

thanks

Two passport-sized photos are not formally required, but there are reports in these forums of people being asked to provide them during the interview. Note that many people, myself included, did not get asked for the photos, but it's probably better be safe than sorry given how easy these are to obtain.