Naturalization/Citizenship Interview - Indianapolis

[lsha672 0]

Hey guys… I’m glad to find this forum. I am on track to naturalization. Will have an interview on March 21 at Indianapolis.

Short version of my story…. Came to US and got married to my ex-husband. I got my green card on May 2006. We went back to the Philippines for a vacation sometime in September that year. Then I learned on November that year that he was cheating on me with another Filipina for months by that time, communicating by phone, emails and Skype. They even met when we went back to the Philippines. He told me at that time that he was just meeting some friends. I believed him, of course. We enlisted the help of a pastor and his parents but he never stopped communicating with the other woman. Our divorce became finalized on Dec. 2007 and he got married on July 2008. Yes, I know. I was like “That was fast!”

My question would be, will the immigration officer ask about it? I don’t really want to relive that nightmare of my life anymore. It’s still painful after all these years. What do they usually ask? If I tell the officer that he cheated on me, will that be bad?

I am not married as of the moment but I do have an American boyfriend since 2009.

Thanks for all your input in advance.

[JimmyHou 610]

Hey guys… I’m glad to find this forum. I am on track to naturalization. Will have an interview on March 21 at Indianapolis.

Short version of my story…. Came to US and got married to my ex-husband. I got my green card on May 2006. We went back to the Philippines for a vacation sometime in September that year. Then I learned on November that year that he was cheating on me with another Filipina for months by that time, communicating by phone, emails and Skype. They even met when we went back to the Philippines. He told me at that time that he was just meeting some friends. I believed him, of course. We enlisted the help of a pastor and his parents but he never stopped communicating with the other woman. Our divorce became finalized on Dec. 2007 and he got married on July 2008. Yes, I know. I was like “That was fast!”

My question would be, will the immigration officer ask about it? I don’t really want to relive that nightmare of my life anymore. It’s still painful after all these years. What do they usually ask? If I tell the officer that he cheated on me, will that be bad?

I am not married as of the moment but I do have an American boyfriend since 2009.

Thanks for all your input in advance.

Yes, there's a good chance that the interviewer will ask about your divorce.

You are applying under the 5 year rule, which means that you are not required to be married to a US Citizen. However, interviewers do sometimes want to make sure that you were legitimately married when you got your green card. This is because while your current relationship doesn't matter, USCIS does sometimes like to confirm that you got your green card legitimately before approving naturalization.

If they ask anything about it, it will be to confirm that you lived together and that the marriage was in good faith before the divorce; so anything you have to show this would be good. This will not be as thorough a questioning as for removal of conditions or adjustment or status.

[lsha672 0]

Yes, there's a good chance that the interviewer will ask about your divorce.

You are applying under the 5 year rule, which means that you are not required to be married to a US Citizen. However, interviewers do sometimes want to make sure that you were legitimately married when you got your green card. This is because while your current relationship doesn't matter, USCIS does sometimes like to confirm that you got your green card legitimately before approving naturalization.

If they ask anything about it, it will be to confirm that you lived together and that the marriage was in good faith before the divorce; so anything you have to show this would be good. This will not be as thorough a questioning as for removal of conditions or adjustment or status.

Thanks for the response, JimmyHou. I'm glad the interview is not as thorough as the Adjustment of Status, although, it's been a long time, I don't even remember how thorough that was. Should I bring pictures, our mortgage papers and check books at that time when we were married as both our names appear on them?

[JimmyHou 610]

Thanks for the response, JimmyHou. I'm glad the interview is not as thorough as the Adjustment of Status, although, it's been a long time, I don't even remember how thorough that was. Should I bring pictures, our mortgage papers and check books at that time when we were married as both our names appear on them?

I think most divorced marriage applicants aren't asked for any of that... maybe some of them can speak from first hand experience...

But if you have those things available, toss them in a file just in case... my guess is that you won't need any of it at all, but if you have it with you, you won't be nervous going into the interview.

[christtheking 0]

lsha672 ,How far are you with the process now? Did you get attend the interview? What documents did they ask you to provide at the Indianapolis office? Tax return? Bills, Bank statement for the last 5 years?. Filling under five year Rule but still tegother with my USC spouse. I'm just realizing now that I could have filed under the three years rule. I got my PR back in 2009. Filled for naturalization under five year rule. Waiting for interview notice to be scheduled in Indianapolis.

[lsha672 0]

1 hour ago, christtheking said:

lsha672 ,How far are you with the process now? Did you get attend the interview? What documents did they ask you to provide at the Indianapolis office? Tax return? Bills, Bank statement for the last 5 years?. Filling under five year Rule but still tegother with my USC spouse. I'm just realizing now that I could have filed under the three years rule. I got my PR back in 2009. Filled for naturalization under five year rule. Waiting for interview notice to be scheduled in Indianapolis.

I've been a US citizen for over a year now. I am so thankful! I had my naturalization ceremony last May 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Got my passport sometime in July, 2016. The whole interview was virtually painless. The lady had about 4 inches of immigration records about me and she went through them just to confirm everything else is correct and to confirm that I am giving the correct answers. Basically, it seems like she wanted to make sure the person in the document and the one she is interviewing are the same person. She also asked me about civics and such tests.

 

I brought all my tax documents from the most recent 5 years. She asked for I believe 3 years of them. I'm glad I brought them. I think it's better to bring more documents and over-prepare than be caught off-guard and have more delays. It's better if you can provide everything they are asking on the spot so you look more confident, prepared, honest and that you are serious about being a US citizen. As I was divorced, I also brought proof of my previous marriage and any documents/pictures/bills that would prove our marriage was valid just in case I'd be asked.

 

For those who are curious, yes, she did ask me about my divorce but nothing probing. I told her the truth that he cheated on me that's why we divorced and that's that. She never asked anymore questions. She told me I would be getting a naturalization ceremony letter through the mail and I believe I got it in 3-4 weeks.

Edited June 24, 2017 by lsha672

[TBoneTX 43,058]

Thanks for returning with the happy end to the story.  Best wishes to you.

Edited June 25, 2017 by TBoneTX