i failed the us citizenship interview today

[ziia 9]

As a parenthesis, when I went at the interview I thought I was in the wrong line lol. I had to ask some of the people there if this is the correct waiting room to be called in for the citizenship test. I asked that because I brought with me a suitcase lol of papers and saw no one except a lawyer there carrying the same. Some people had their hands pocketed and some were only carrying their foreign passports in their hands and some the passports and one piece of paper. I was like...what are these people doing? Do they also have the interview? I had a wondering look on my face all the time I waited there. Until my name was called, I still believed I might be waiting at the wrong door and the people around me are are waiting for completely something else. I saw many people coming out with a sad look on their faces and some said out loud that they needed to bring more evidence/papers. I went in when my name was called and actually had some small talk with my officer about that. i did tell him I found weird the fact that I was carrying a suitcase with me lol. He then added that some people showed up in front of him with just the N400, their passport and DL, no taxes no nothing and he had no other choice but to reject them. I'm not saying that's your case, I'm just providing more insight on what my experience was when I had my interview. There is no reason to "listen" to people when the interview letters you receive at home say black on white what it is needed to bring with you. Of course the officer did not ask me for everything I brought with me, but I was glad I was able to provide everything he asked for and more. There is no such thing as too much evidence, IMHO . Sure, I showed up in jeans, a funky t-shirt and leather jacket lol, like an idiot but that did not seem to matter in the end:).

Better luck next time OP!

Edited February 23, 2010 by ziia

[besaangel 18]

As a parenthesis, when I went at the interview I thought I was in the wrong line lol. I had to ask some of the people there if this is the correct waiting room to be called in for the citizenship test. I asked that because I brought with me a suitcase lol of papers and saw no one except a lawyer there carrying the same. Some people had their hands pocketed and some were only carrying their foreign passports in their hands and some the passports and one piece of paper. I was like...what are these people doing? Do they also have the interview? I had a wondering look on my face all the time I waited there. Until my name was called, I still believed I might be waiting at the wrong door and the people around me are are waiting for completely something else. I saw many people coming out with a sad look on their faces and some said out loud that they needed to bring more evidence/papers. I went in when my name was called and actually had some small talk with my officer about that. i did tell him I found weird the fact that I was carrying a suitcase with me lol. He then added that some people showed up in front of him with just the N400, their passport and DL, no taxes no nothing and he had no other choice but to reject them. I'm not saying that's your case, I'm just providing more insight on what my experience was when I had my interview. There is no reason to "listen" to people when the interview letters you receive at home say black on white what it is needed to bring with you. Of course the officer did not ask me for everything I brought with me, but I was glad I was able to provide everything he asked for and more. There is no such thing as too much evidence, IMHO . Sure, I showed up in jeans, a funky t-shirt and leather jacket lol, like an idiot but that did not seem to matter in the end:).

Better luck next time OP!

NICE INPUT...

[JAX1 1]

So sorry to hear about your experience. I maybe new to the forums here but I've been on this site for years and followed many of your journeys. This is a very frustrating process....so try to stay positive throughout as it will work out. My father had a similar experience during his interview. Everything was correct and in-order, but he just so happened to get an agent who was having a bad day. After he received his letter for more evidence we worked frantacally to submit what was requested and then some. When it finally worked out, he got a very nice agent that zipped it right along. Point is: Some agents are very difficult than others and unfortunately it depends who you get.

In my process(based on marriage), I have submitted the N-400 March 1, 2010. With the application I sent the following:

-Application, passport pic, copy of GC, check etc...

-3 years home owners insurance with both names

-3 years auto insurance with both names

-3 years utilities bills with both names

-3 years bank statements with both names

-3 years IRS transcripts with both names

-Spouses birth cert and drivers license

-Sons birth cert

Im not sure if this will do, but I think its more than enough. Start preparing all you can ahead of time. Give them everything. If you're still confused and doubting yourself, spend $600 and retain an immigration attorney. I can refer you to a reputable one if you like. I wish you the best of luck in this lengthy process.

[i12rok 0]

What bank account is used to pay household bills? Are they all on yours or all on your husband's? If you pay some and he pays others, then get copies of those bank statements and highlight where the bills come out of. As well, you should both be receiving bank statements from separate accounts but they would both come to the same address - highlight the addresses on the separate accounts.

Have you written wills? (A good idea always when a child is involved) Write your wills listing each other as spouse and indicating each other as executor of estates or heirs. School records are a great idea.

Think creatively! Do you have joint memberships in a video club, a gym or Costco or anything like that? Membership numbers would be the same. What about car insurance? Car registration? Do you have a family AAA plan? Again, things that you own and are responsible for will have your address. Things that he owns and is responsible for will have the same address. Provide examples of things like this that show you both living at the same address.

Ask your mailman or the Post Office if they would provide proof or a document that states they deliver mail for both of you to the same address. What about credit card statements? Again, if they are not the same membership, they should still have the same addresses. Look for things on the accounts that show purchases that are home related - ie paying a cell phone bill, etc. And what about a phone bill - do you have a family cell phone plan? It would have both phone numbers or names.

Are either of you listed as emergency contacts for each other's work/employment records? Your son's medical records/school records? If you don't work, have you purchased an IRA for you listing him as your beneficiary? What about either of you being listed as beneficiary on each other's work benefits - ie. insurance, health plan, retirement benefits, etc. Find copies of the documentation he submitted to enroll you and your son on these plans - or you to enroll your son. Find things like this that show the same address.

I am sure there are always things that you can find. Even though she asked for the mortgage - and the refinancing should have your name on it and therefore counts - and banks statements, there are ways you can make what you do have work for you.

Kathryn, i submitted more evidence last Friday. yeah we do have Costco membership. the mailman definitely knew i live in the same house as my husband. same mailman since the day i arrived here. as with my son, we don't sign papers or something like that. however, we do attend together during parent teacher conference. i drop him off in the morning and he picks him up in the afternoon.

the interviewer rejected the bills since she said its so easy to say that we live in the same house. she said its so easy to make up and use the same address -those are bills! with my name on it or my husbands. so i did not submit any of those.

i'll let you all know when i receive a mail from uscis

(well, it was in the afternoon when i got interviewed. a lot of rolling eyes during the interview and no patience at all so i knew that i did not pass)

[i12rok 0]

Hi, I am so sorry to hear about that, but what do u mean about ....

she made a big deal of my middle name too.

Thanks,

she told me that i am using two middle names... i don't really know what she meant by that. then she made a LOT as in a LOT of corrections. she checked each questions on form n-400. and checked each pages from top to bottom. (if its 1,000 pages, then she checked all those one by one)

[i12rok 0]

Oh yes collect evidence as much as u can, go to ur neighbors ask them to write u letters that they know u and ur husband since... and let them sign it .. and go to friends and do the same. and if they want bank account go open new account in both names u and ur husband.. Plus.. when u recieved the letter from the interviewer .. it said there u passed ur test but decision cant be made, i wander if u need to apply for Hearing or maybe enough to send the evidence to them .. i hope this because applying for hearing u have to pay the whole price again. and this is to much.. and by the way why ur interview it took so long?? u said about an hour? wow that interviwere had nothing to do expect u .. Oh

yep. she checked it from 1st page up to the las (if there are more than 500 pages or 1,000 then she examined all those -not kidding!)! i wonder if she read our x-rated emails too hahahaha

[-cK- 0]

Wow, makes me think about the application I sent 2 weeks ago...

[Darnell 8,479]

Kathryn, i submitted more evidence last Friday. yeah we do have Costco membership. the mailman definitely knew i live in the same house as my husband. same mailman since the day i arrived here. as with my son, we don't sign papers or something like that. however, we do attend together during parent teacher conference. i drop him off in the morning and he picks him up in the afternoon.

the interviewer rejected the bills since she said its so easy to say that we live in the same house. she said its so easy to make up and use the same address -those are bills! with my name on it or my husbands. so i did not submit any of those.

i'll let you all know when i receive a mail from uscis

(well, it was in the afternoon when i got interviewed. a lot of rolling eyes during the interview and no patience at all so i knew that i did not pass)

You should have brought the mailman to the interview

or

got a signed affadavit FROM the mailman.

WOW !

[Darnell 8,479]

yes, the details. i wish i let my husband do the papers. i forgot that there's visa journey and just relied on the people. when i did the AOS and ROC it had all kinds of evidences and had not a problem on those interviews. this one is all my fault for omitting the "major" evidences -mortgage and bank account. but it will not prove anything that we are living together because i don't have my name on it. but we do have our names in our car insurance. also, the health insurance. i and our son are under my health insurance and my husband has his own health insurance from his company. so that also post a red flag, probably. the bills didn't help either. she said that our son won't prove anything that we are living together. we may have a son but we might have splitted him. why don't they just visit us and interview the neighbors, the school where my son is enrolled, my co-workers who sees my husband whenever he shows up

What people did you rely on?

I'll suggest you should make a civil suit against them.

Ask yer husband, get his input?

WOW - no evidence of financial co-mingling. Who gave you this advice? EEK !

[all4good 0]

Anybody know how many months/years to reapply for citizenship?:-)

[anaqueen83 0]

i12rok, sorry to hear you had such a scrutinizing officer...

I hope the evidences you submitted will be enough for this time.

What is your local office where you had your interview?

[sunandmoon 450]

Just to note. this thread is two years old. the OP hasn't logged on to VJ in over a year and a half.