N-400: Questions about interview from letters..Help!..

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Ok...my N-400 interview is in 2 weeks (gasp!)...and I was reading over what I need to bring for the interview, and have the following questions:

On the I-797C

1) On my interview letter it says "the proceeding will take about two hours". Yikes!

-Does it really take that long for an interview? Or is that the waiting time and the interview too? Or are they just exaggerating here? How long does an interview really take? Lol..I definitely need to know the answer to the following...as I need to plan accordingly...especially with the baby tagging along....

2) On my interview letter, it also says, "You must bring the following with you to the interview"

This letter

-Will they take my interview letter away? Or do I get to keep a copy of it after they see such?

Your Alien Registration Card (green card)

-I don't have my 2yr expired green card (I threw that out...). Is bringing my 10yr green card (which is still valid) ok? Will they take my green card away at the interview.

Your passport and/or other documents you used in connection with any entries into the United States.

-I originally came to the USA with a Canadian passport, with a B-2 Visitor's Visa stamp, and an I-94 arrival/departure card. I still have the B-2 stamp in my former passport (lol...though the stamp is faded), but they took my expired I-94 card away during my Adjustment of Status interview. Should I explain such about the I-94, or they don't care about that, really?

-With other entries into the USA, I have no exit/entry stamps, as Canadian passports aren't usually stamped with such when going/coming to the USA to/from Canada. Do I have to explain such again (as I also explained such in the evidence that I submitted for the N-400)?

On the N-659 (White Letter)

3) On the letter it says, "bring the original and a photocopy"

-Can I just bring the originals, only? Lol..100+ pages of stuff is too much to photocopy all over again. Besides, I don't know exactly what they want to photocopy...So let them worry about the photocoping for themselves instead?

4) On this letter it says, "All passports and travel documents (including expired and current) issued to you by any government."

-I have my past Canadian passport and my current Canadian passport, which I will bring with me. I also have a copy of my mother's foreign passport, from my other birth country, with my name listed in the particulars section, to be included as a minor. Even though that foreign is not mine, but my name and other information is listed in it, do I have to bring the photocpied pages of such too?

-Do I also need to bring my birth certificate (even though it doesn't mention such), and is not at all my former country of citizenship?

5) On this letter it says, "proof of marital union as well as proof of residence".

-Does this mean the copies of bank statements, mortgage/lease, utility bills, etc. (the "joint evidence" that I already submitted with my N-400 application)? Or is this something else?

Other

6) How long after the interview will I receive the oath letter? Is there a certain amount of time that should lapse and if I don't get such, inquire further about such?

7) How long after the interiew is the oath date? A few weeks later? A few days later? (and no, I don't think I'll get same day oath).

8) Will they ask to see my husband and/or my baby during the interview (they will be in the waiting room/area, just in case though).

9) Can I bring paperwork (100+ pages) into the actual interview room with me while I take the civics/history test, especially the paperwork that they require for the additional evidence (lol...didn't want them to think I was cheating for the civics/history test or anything like that...which I don't cheat anyways). Or do I just bring that in before or after the test portion of the interview?

10) I might have to ask for special accomidations for my oath ceremony. When should I ask for such? During the interview? At what point of the interview should I ask for such? Or should I just bring that issue up on another/separate day before the oath? Will they even accomidate for such, if I ask?

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

In the meantime...back to studying...

Ant (Interview 2 weeks away...yikes...)

Edited November 4, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[Lansbury 19]

3) On the letter it says, "bring the original and a photocopy"

-Can I just bring the originals, only? Lol..100+ pages of stuff is too much to photocopy all over again. Besides, I don't know exactly what they want to photocopy...So let them worry about the photocoping for themselves instead?

I am taking originals and photocopies. It has been known if you only take originals for them to keep those. They don't have to do photocopies.

If there are documents there you must have, birth, wedding certificates for example I certainly would copy those.

10) I might have to ask for special accomidations for my oath ceremony. When should I ask for such? During the interview? At what point of the interview should I ask for such? Or should I just bring that issue up on another/separate day before the oath? Will they even accomidate for such, if I ask?

It might be prudent to at least wait until you are told you have successfully completed the interview etc. They might think you are a bit presumptive otherwise.

Edited November 4, 2009 by Lansbury

[jsnearline 2]

My wife and I were there for almost three hours. We checked in with the guard and for some reason, the IO never was told we were out in the lobby waiting. After being there for two hours, I approached the guard again to ask what the delay was. Ten minutes later, my wife was called.

They take your interview notice. My wife didn't bring any expired immigration documents with her.

Bring photocopies of any original document you don't want them to keep. That way, they can ask for the original and keep the copy.

Proof of marital union would be birth certificates of children, a copy of your lease or deed, proof of joint assets etc...

How soon your Oath is and how soon you get the notice is entirely dependent on your local office's oath schedule.

I came with my wife to the appointment and we brought our son. The only person the IO wanted to see was my wife.

Bring your paperwork into the interview. The test is administered at the same time as your interview. Don't worry... The IO will be sitting right across from you so they'd know if you were trying to cheat.

If the IO gives you a notice saying they are recommending you for approval, that's when you should ask about accommodations.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your quick and helpful replies so far...

Lansbury-Interesting to know that they take the originals away. Not sure though, if they don't have photocopiers...as really, with that much that we pay them in immigration fees, you would think that they would be able to afford a photocopier too! Now that I think about it, for my AOS interview, they did photocopy some documents (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.), but kept some originals of others (my I-94). So on that note, maybe it is a good idea that I photocopy some key documents (birth certificates, wedding certificates, etc.), but let them photocopy the rest, as a fair compromise. Lol...Let them do the work and have the extra office expenses...I can't be bothered photocopying stuff over and over again that they already have and can do such themselves instead. As for waiting until after the interview approval to discuss oath accomidations...good point there...lol..after all, I need to pass the interview before I get details about the oath....So will wait until after I pass until I discuss such...I guess I think too much ahead for my own good...

I am taking originals and photocopies. It has been known if you only take originals for them to keep those. They don't have to do photocopies.

If there are documents there you must have, birth, wedding certificates for example I certainly would copy those.

It might be prudent to at least wait until you are told you have successfully completed the interview etc. They might think you are a bit presumptive otherwise.

Jsnearline-Wow, three hours, are you serious?.. Seems like a awfully long time to wait! Good thing that you checked in with them, as they would have forgotten about you and your wife if you didn't mention such otherwise. Lol..Not sure if I have the patience to be waiting that long with my husband and son, but yeah, I'll bring something up to someone if our wait gets too long. Were there a lot of other people waiting too, when you went for your interview? Good to note too, that they take the interview notice, so I'll make sure to make a copy of that for my own records before they take that away. Odd, they gave me back my AOS interview letter, so I thought they would do the same here for the N-400. I guess not then. Since your wife didn't bring any expired documents with her, did they question her about that too? Or then again, she might not have any such expired documents, so I guess this might not apply to her either. As for original documents, lol..I don't want them to keep any of it! They can take all the photocopies that they want, but the originals are mine...sorry...lol..However, it is a good idea that I photocopy some key documents (birth certificates, wedding certificates, etc.), but let them photocopy the rest, as a fair compromise. Lol...Let them do the work and have the extra office expenses...I can't be bothered photocopying 100+ pages of stuff over and over again that they already have and can do such themselves instead. Hmm..I'm not sure how busy my local office is, but be it that it is Buffalo, NY, I don't think it will be too busy there at all, as barely anyone lives around here. But yeah, I understand that despite sparse population density, they can still be busy. So either way, I hope to get my oath letter soon after I pass the interview. That's nice of you and your son to go to your wife's interview. I'm sure it helped a lot that you both were there for moral support, even though the IO didn't want to see the both of you, and that if you were asked to be seen, you were there too, just in case they asked. I will deinitely bring the paperwork to me for the interview, since they ask of such anyways. And no, I will not cheat for the test....and if they don't believe me, they can hold on to the paperwork while I'm being tested or something..lol..Hmm..on that note, I wonder if anyone else, has ever cheated on their citizenship test and if such, what would happen to them? Seems like somewhat easy to do (but don't dare do it..lol..), since one can bring paperwork in the room with them..lol..As for waiting until after the interview approval to discuss oath accomidations...good point there...lol..after all, I need to pass the interview before I get details about the oath....So will wait until after I pass until I discuss such...I guess I think too much ahead for my own good...

My wife and I were there for almost three hours. We checked in with the guard and for some reason, the IO never was told we were out in the lobby waiting. After being there for two hours, I approached the guard again to ask what the delay was. Ten minutes later, my wife was called.

They take your interview notice. My wife didn't bring any expired immigration documents with her.

Bring photocopies of any original document you don't want them to keep. That way, they can ask for the original and keep the copy.

Proof of marital union would be birth certificates of children, a copy of your lease or deed, proof of joint assets etc...

How soon your Oath is and how soon you get the notice is entirely dependent on your local office's oath schedule.

I came with my wife to the appointment and we brought our son. The only person the IO wanted to see was my wife.

Bring your paperwork into the interview. The test is administered at the same time as your interview. Don't worry... The IO will be sitting right across from you so they'd know if you were trying to cheat.

If the IO gives you a notice saying they are recommending you for approval, that's when you should ask about accommodations.

Ant

[MsAnn 0]

Hi Everyone,

Ok...my N-400 interview is in 2 weeks (gasp!)...and I was reading over what I need to bring for the interview, and have the following questions:

On the I-797C

1) On my interview letter it says "the proceeding will take about two hours". Yikes!

-Does it really take that long for an interview? Or is that the waiting time and the interview too? Or are they just exaggerating here? How long does an interview really take? Lol..I definitely need to know the answer to the following...as I need to plan accordingly...especially with the baby tagging along....

I would plan for 2 hours or more. Better to be over prepared. Plan for even longer if you have a long commute to the office. It totally depends on the individual offices and how many cases they have that day and if they are ahead or behind on the load. For the record, mine didn't take near this long, I was called very quickly. The interview itself is not 2 hours long, they are figuring in the waiting time as well. The interview is 10-25 min from what I've read. Mine was around 20 min.

2) On my interview letter, it also says, "You must bring the following with you to the interview"

This letter

-Will they take my interview letter away? Or do I get to keep a copy of it after they see such?

They take away your interview letter and file it away. So, make a copy of it if you want a copy for your records.

Your Alien Registration Card (green card)

-I don't have my 2yr expired green card (I threw that out...). Is bringing my 10yr green card (which is still valid) ok? Will they take my green card away at the interview.

Take your 10 card. They most definitely will not take your card away at the interview because you aren't a US citizen until you take the oath. Your green card is taken away directly before the oath and not a moment before.

Your passport and/or other documents you used in connection with any entries into the United States.

-I originally came to the USA with a Canadian passport, with a B-2 Visitor's Visa stamp, and an I-94 arrival/departure card. I still have the B-2 stamp in my former passport (lol...though the stamp is faded), but they took my expired I-94 card away during my Adjustment of Status interview. Should I explain such about the I-94, or they don't care about that, really?

-With other entries into the USA, I have no exit/entry stamps, as Canadian passports aren't usually stamped with such when going/coming to the USA to/from Canada. Do I have to explain such again (as I also explained such in the evidence that I submitted for the N-400)?

Sorry, I don't have the experience to answer this.

On the N-659 (White Letter)

3) On the letter it says, "bring the original and a photocopy"

-Can I just bring the originals, only? Lol..100+ pages of stuff is too much to photocopy all over again. Besides, I don't know exactly what they want to photocopy...So let them worry about the photocoping for themselves instead?

Photocopying everything isn't necessary but use your best judgment. My immigration officer had no problem with making copies of some things she wanted.

4) On this letter it says, "All passports and travel documents (including expired and current) issued to you by any government."

-I have my past Canadian passport and my current Canadian passport, which I will bring with me. I also have a copy of my mother's foreign passport, from my other birth country, with my name listed in the particulars section, to be included as a minor. Even though that foreign is not mine, but my name and other information is listed in it, do I have to bring the photocpied pages of such too?

-Do I also need to bring my birth certificate (even though it doesn't mention such), and is not at all my former country of citizenship?

Take all the passports and the birth certificate. You probably won't be asked for your birth certificate but some people have been asked for it.

5) On this letter it says, "proof of marital union as well as proof of residence".

-Does this mean the copies of bank statements, mortgage/lease, utility bills, etc. (the "joint evidence" that I already submitted with my N-400 application)? Or is this something else?

You are correct. Even at this point, they are still checking to see if the marriage is legit. Don't forget to take your child(ren)'s birth certificates. Also, take your tax returns/transcripts for at least the last five (or three) years.

Other

6) How long after the interview will I receive the oath letter? Is there a certain amount of time that should lapse and if I don't get such, inquire further about such? 7) How long after the interiew is the oath date? A few weeks later? A few days later? (and no, I don't think I'll get same day oath).

I had "same day" so not positive. I would research your particular DO for both these questions.

8) Will they ask to see my husband and/or my baby during the interview (they will be in the waiting room/area, just in case though).

Most likely not. However, there have been cases where they asked to see the spouse.

9) Can I bring paperwork (100+ pages) into the actual interview room with me while I take the civics/history test, especially the paperwork that they require for the additional evidence (lol...didn't want them to think I was cheating for the civics/history test or anything like that...which I don't cheat anyways). Or do I just bring that in before or after the test portion of the interview?

Yes, you can bring everything into the room with you. Just keep it in its file/bag until you are specifically asked for something. Don't have papers out.

10) I might have to ask for special accomidations for my oath ceremony. When should I ask for such? During the interview? At what point of the interview should I ask for such? Or should I just bring that issue up on another/separate day before the oath? Will they even accomidate for such, if I ask?

Ask before your interview is over.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

My advice is to be happy when it's all over

In the meantime...back to studying...

Ant (Interview 2 weeks away...yikes...)

[Lansbury 19]

Hi Everyone,

Lansbury-Interesting to know that they take the originals away. Not sure though, if they don't have photocopiers...as really, with that much that we pay them in immigration fees, you would think that they would be able to afford a photocopier too

I'm sure they have plenty of photocopies. But why should I have to sit in the waiting room waiting while the interviewer has to photocopy your documents before they can interview me.

It is almost certainly down to them not wanting to spend time to copy stuff. That mounts up over a day and would reduce I guess the number of interviews they would conduct in a given time.

[antda 13]

MsAnn-I agree, better to be over-prepared than to be under-prepared! It takes 1-2 hours for me to get to my 'local' office, and I'll be travelling with the baby, so I definitely need more time to prepare to get there. My guess is that I'll get the office by 2pm or so (my appointment is at 2:30, but it says not to arrive more than 30 mins before), and I'll see what happens then and expect a long wait, just in case. Not sure how many cases they have in Buffalo, NY for citizenship, but overall, there aren't too many people there, so it shouldn't be too long of a wait. Lol..last time I was there...it was nearly empty, except for a few other people waiting. So on that note, it shouldn't be too long of a wait, and if I arrive early, I figure I can be called in earlier, and can leave earlier too, before the rush-hour traffic happens. You're probably right in saying that they accounted for waiting time too, as it doesn't seem to make too much sense that one would be interrogated for 2 hours for a citizenship interview (lol..though interrogated for 2 hours at the border..that's another story..) Good to hear too, that in your case you were called in quickly, and that the interview only took 10-25 mins, and you were approved shortly after that. Congrats for your approval there too. As suggested by you and other vjers, that my interview letter would be taken away, this week, I took a photocopy of that letter too for my own records. Thanks for confirming that fact about the letter again. I'll definitely be taking my 10yr green card to the interview, since they require such to be seen then (though I won't let them take such yet). Yes, it makes sense that they don't take away the card before the oath, as otherwise one would have no way of proving their legal status here without it. As for them taking it away at all..doesn't seem fair at all..as one pays so much for the green card and waits so long for it. Sure it's not valid anymore, but at least they should let us keep it for a souvenier or something like that. Oh well, I'll just make a copy of that too, for my own records, before I have to get rid of it. But until I get my citizenship certificate..no green card for them yet! That's good to hear too, that your immigraiton officer had no problem making their own phococopies of the things that they wanted. Hopefully, I'll get an immigration officer that is like that too. Meanwhile, I'll just photocopy some main documents, but leave the rest up to them. Besides, they are the ones that know exactly what photocopies of what they want..so let them do the copying instead, which is probably the right thing to do, as they want to verify such for themselves anyways. Yes, I'll take the birth certificates, passports, and whatever else, as I don't know what exactly they want. Better safe than sorry there. Thanks for clarifying too, that the proof of marital union means all that joint evidence stuff, as I wasn't sure exactly they meant there. No problem about bringing my marriage certificate, son's birth certificate, joint bills, mortgage statements, etc. and whatever else they want that proves the marital union there. Though I don't think I'll be bringing any tax statements, as I don't have any (and have explained about such in my N-400 application already). Sigh, even at this final stage they have to prove the validity of the marriage. Oh well, I've got nothing to hide and have more than enough proof there. Heck, I'm even bringing my husband and my son along to the interview too, so they can see and/or question them if need be (lol..though I don't think a 3 month old baby can say much, really). And if that in-person proof isn't enough, I don't know what else is...lol....From what I know of my local office, I don't think they do same day oaths there. And besides, I have my oath in the afternoon, so definitely no same day oath regardless. Not sure I know much else about my local office, since not too many people are from here, but I hope that it will be a good experience for the interview and that I will get my oath soon after that. And yes, I'll be taking the paperwork with me, as I am required to show such. I like your idea about keeping the papers in the file/folder, and not taking anything out unless asked to to such. So that's what I'll do. Keep it in the folder, and present the papers when asked, so they don't think I'm cheating for the test or something like that (which I won't do anyways). As for waiting until after the interview approval to discuss oath accomidations...good point there...lol..after all, I need to pass the interview before I get details about the oath....So will wait until after I pass until I discuss such...I guess I think too much ahead for my own good...Excellent advice too, about being happy about it when it is all over. And hopefully it will all be over for me soon too, to become a USC, just like you, and like others who have done the same as well!

Ant

I would plan for 2 hours or more. Better to be over prepared. Plan for even longer if you have a long commute to the office. It totally depends on the individual offices and how many cases they have that day and if they are ahead or behind on the load. For the record, mine didn't take near this long, I was called very quickly. The interview itself is not 2 hours long, they are figuring in the waiting time as well. The interview is 10-25 min from what I've read. Mine was around 20 min.

They take away your interview letter and file it away. So, make a copy of it if you want a copy for your records.

Take your 10 card. They most definitely will not take your card away at the interview because you aren't a US citizen until you take the oath. Your green card is taken away directly before the oath and not a moment before.

Sorry, I don't have the experience to answer this.

Photocopying everything isn't necessary but use your best judgment. My immigration officer had no problem with making copies of some things she wanted.

Take all the passports and the birth certificate. You probably won't be asked for your birth certificate but some people have been asked for it.

You are correct. Even at this point, they are still checking to see if the marriage is legit. Don't forget to take your child(ren)'s birth certificates. Also, take your tax returns/transcripts for at least the last five (or three) years.

I had "same day" so not positive. I would research your particular DO for both these questions.

Most likely not. However, there have been cases where they asked to see the spouse.

Yes, you can bring everything into the room with you. Just keep it in its file/bag until you are specifically asked for something. Don't have papers out.

Ask before your interview is over.

My advice is to be happy when it's all over

[antda 13]

Lansbury-Lol..True, they have photocopiers there (actually, there was one there when I went for my AOS interview a few years ago, and I saw another one in a hallway when I went for my fingerprints recently). So I don't see why they can't make photocopies there for themselves instead of me having to make photocopies ahead of time. The last time I was there for the AOS interview, we (my husband and the lawyer that went with us) all just waited in the interview room while the IO made photocopies. Needless to say, that we had quite an interesting discussion while the IO went photocopying...lol..Though this time around, I'll be by myself in the interview room, so if the IO went photocopying...I'll just be alone in there and talk to the walls, or that portrait of Barack Obama in there, while my son screams in the waiting room and wonders where I am..lol..(just kidding).

Seriously though, I don't mind waiting for them to do photocopies. I paid for them to do their job, so the least they can do is throw in a couple of photocopies for what they need (which I don't have a clue what they want exactly). "$675..photocopies and photocopying time included", is what I think...lol....Heck, you can even buy a photocopier for that much, so in a way, I bought them a photocopier for them to make their own copies on! And besides, I think, "you waste my time, I waste yours"..it al works out well...

And there aren't too many people at my local office anyways..don't think I'll be holding up too many people in line just because of some photocopies...

I do though have photocopies of my marriage certificate son's birth certificate in my wallet, so they can have those if they want, as wrinkled up and folded up as that may be...(but they probably want to make their own photocopies from the originals anyways...so they probably won't want those).

But yes, I do know what you mean in your post there about saving time with not waiting and being nice about it..lol..Just not my thing to do, that's all..lol...

Good luck with your upcoming interview and with the rest of your journey too.

Ant

I'm sure they have plenty of photocopies. But why should I have to sit in the waiting room waiting while the interviewer has to photocopy your documents before they can interview me.

It is almost certainly down to them not wanting to spend time to copy stuff. That mounts up over a day and would reduce I guess the number of interviews they would conduct in a given time.

Edited November 8, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[MsAnn 0]

This is completely , but just wanted to say that while my IO was away making copies, I noticed an armed mousetrap around the corner of the desk. True story.

Ok, .

It's a very good idea to have your papers in some kind of file folder but remember to have it organized so you're not digging frantically when they ask for something.

[antda 13]

This is completely , but just wanted to say that while my IO was away making copies, I noticed an armed mousetrap around the corner of the desk. True story.

Ok, .

It's a very good idea to have your papers in some kind of file folder but remember to have it organized so you're not digging frantically when they ask for something.

a mousetrap, are you serious, MsAnn? Lol....now that's what I call funny.... Definitely not a way to make a good impression on soon-to-be citizens and/or other immigrants. Lol..maybe the mice were looking for some old immigration case files to chew on...yum...yum...No wonder so many applicants have their files delayed..the mice ate them...lol...! Good though that you didn't see any mice there during your interview. Guess the mouse traps did work! Ewww.....dead mice....

Thanks too, for advising the papers be organized and not to be digging frantically for such. Will definitely have to do that. I'll probably end up putting the papers (100+ pages worth) in a plastic folder which I used before, tied down together with rubber bands and giant paperclips, and organized in the same way/order that I submitted the same evidence in, so I can follow along as to where to find things easily. Hopefully too I'll be able to find the paperwork if need be for them in time...

Lol..let's hope too, that my file folder makes it through the metal detectors, along with the baby bag, baby wipes, and extra diapers...lol...oh my...

I'll leave my stapler at home though, as they'll take those away if I bring such (lol...they always ask such at the door..makes no sense...)

Will let you know if I see any mice there for my interview, and won't let them get at my paperwork either...More likely than not they'll be frozen mice here if there are any..lol...! Brrr...it's snowing already!...frozen mice....yuck....

Ant