Interview tricks

[kellyp 0]

Here is my experience to share.

Interview letter asked me to room 200, which made me nervous and wondered what the hell room 200 is. Why I get a room number before interview. Finally it turned out to be the huge waiting room on the second floor.

Anyway, got to the place. At the security screening, take off belt. You can take your smartphone with you to kill waiting time.

My wait was long. I did not get my phone with me. 1 hr later. Came into the interview room. All things went smooth and tests were extremely easy. None will fail it. However, I was issued "decision cannot be made" sheet. I asked why? Was told some more checks. Name checks? IBIS checks? The officier said no and explained just some more checks.

Then my long battle began. First month, sent letter to senator. Senator replied soon and said he would step in. CIS replied to Senator office to ask 120 days to wait for decision.

After 60 days, called National Service Center, got formatted answer.

After 90 days, sent mail to Ombudsman office. Got reply in email. Asked to wait 30 days. 30 days passed, and then pushed the office again. They said my case was under "extended review". Freaked out. Seems I am a terrorist.

In the fourth month, Ombudman replied that extended review is clear and I shall expect a decision soon.

A couple of days later, got second interview notice which says the interview may be video recorded. Am I doomed? Cannot believe it. CIS's decision for my case- a long-waited 2 interview. OMG. Contacted Ombudman and threatened that I would seek other resources to solve my case. They suggested that I shall solve the problem in their system and come to the interview. And they offered to monitor my case until my oath ceremony. This comforted me a little.

Still need a lawyer. Spent one thousand to contract a lawyer to come with me on the 2nd interview.

This time is the supervisor there. She was astonished I got a lawyer because the guy was newly hired and his info was not in CIS's system. (If you hired a lawyer at earlier stage, u have to notify CIS and they will get all the info) She was nervous I can tell that. Me too. Then went over my 400 again. I am ready to get unfavorable result and then to sue them. However she said she was going to approve my case. thrilled. Can u believe it? My long journey finally ended and my tens of thousands bucks can be saved. Thank you, USCIS.

Suggestion to those unlucky guys like me.

1) contacted Ombudman, those guys are really helpful. I know many people would not agree. But I guess they do help in my case.

2) Hire a lawyer until last minute. You can save a lot money. And CIS would not have the lawyer's info until you bring him to the interview.

[X Factor 1,112]

Wow thanks for the interview tricks especially about bringing the lawyer at the last minute to save money and to surprise the interviewer. Congrats on your approval.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Here is my experience to share.

Interview letter asked me to room 200, which made me nervous and wondered what the hell room 200 is. Why I get a room number before interview. Finally it turned out to be the huge waiting room on the second floor.

Anyway, got to the place. At the security screening, take off belt. You can take your smartphone with you to kill waiting time.

My wait was long. I did not get my phone with me. 1 hr later. Came into the interview room. All things went smooth and tests were extremely easy. None will fail it. However, I was issued "decision cannot be made" sheet. I asked why? Was told some more checks. Name checks? IBIS checks? The officier said no and explained just some more checks.

Then my long battle began. First month, sent letter to senator. Senator replied soon and said he would step in. CIS replied to Senator office to ask 120 days to wait for decision.

After 60 days, called National Service Center, got formatted answer.

After 90 days, sent mail to Ombudsman office. Got reply in email. Asked to wait 30 days. 30 days passed, and then pushed the office again. They said my case was under "extended review". Freaked out. Seems I am a terrorist.

In the fourth month, Ombudman replied that extended review is clear and I shall expect a decision soon.

A couple of days later, got second interview notice which says the interview may be video recorded. Am I doomed? Cannot believe it. CIS's decision for my case- a long-waited 2 interview. OMG. Contacted Ombudman and threatened that I would seek other resources to solve my case. They suggested that I shall solve the problem in their system and come to the interview. And they offered to monitor my case until my oath ceremony. This comforted me a little.

Still need a lawyer. Spent one thousand to contract a lawyer to come with me on the 2nd interview.

This time is the supervisor there. She was astonished I got a lawyer because the guy was newly hired and his info was not in CIS's system. (If you hired a lawyer at earlier stage, u have to notify CIS and they will get all the info) She was nervous I can tell that. Me too. Then went over my 400 again. I am ready to get unfavorable result and then to sue them. However she said she was going to approve my case. thrilled. Can u believe it? My long journey finally ended and my tens of thousands bucks can be saved. Thank you, USCIS.

Suggestion to those unlucky guys like me.

1) contacted Ombudman, those guys are really helpful. I know many people would not agree. But I guess they do help in my case.

2) Hire a lawyer until last minute. You can save a lot money. And CIS would not have the lawyer's info until you bring him to the interview.

Sounds like it certainly was an ordeal!!! Thank you for sharing with us. To help many of us VJers put your experience in proper perspective, please

Cheers.

[NotBonJovi 6]

kellyp - Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope you get your Approval & Oath letter and oath date soon. Please post your timeline so it helps others in similar situation.

[Ree 9]

Did they tell you why they could not make a decision for so long time?

[NickD 203]

Did hire a renown large immigration law firm to help me through the AOS process, no attorney was present for our interview, but they could see all of our forms were filled out by this law form and G-28N's on all three of us.

Was the nicest most pleasant interview at the St. Paul office we ever had, did bring all of our originals with us, IO said, that is okay, she didn't need to see them. Actually spent more time chatting with my wife and stepdaughter as to how they liked living in the USA.

Wish I could say the same thing through our ROC, and wife's and stepdaughter's naturalization process, but wasn't the case, just given really a very hard time. In our cases, either Senators Feingold or Kolh's office was of great help in getting practically instant service.

I feel the difference for that later stages was not being represented by an immigration law office. They don't pull any ####### when they are involved, and ####### it was.

[kellyp 0]

thank you guys for all your encouragement.

NotBonJovi, I attended the ceremony on the same day I was approved. A newly minted citizen already!

Ree, I had the same question as you have. The interviewer just said that they do ask people to come back sometime. But during her review of my N400. She asked whether I claimed us citizenship. I said no. She added, in any circumstance such as job application? I replied never and explained that I would only state I am greencard holder. Actually, I did put LPR on my every single job application. Finally she said she would approve me and she needed front desk to make arrangements. I then submitted FOIA request and got all my files back. But there are several pages that CIS was trying to hide from me. You guys cannot believe the pages that the interviewer made her notes on were not in the binder. CIS used a clean version to replace that page. So funny. Still have to figure out what happened.