Failed 1st interview. Question about 2nd interview.

[peachtree 7]

I posted this in the July 2016 filers also since my girlfriend N400 was submitted in part of July.

My girlfriend had her interview yesterday at the Dallas FO. Unfortunately she did not passed. She passed the civic questions, reading / writing part, but failed the English part which is speaking and understanding. I am not sure why the IO failed her. She speaks more than just the basic English. She says they asked mostly about personal stuff, such as was her parents married yet when she was born, what is her resident address, what part of Dallas is that, near what major highway, who own the house she's living in, what is her work address, what does her work do, what area is it at, do you pay taxes, is your car still being finance, etc etc etc. The IO just kept hammering her. She answer them the best she can. Some of the questions she told the IO she's not sure because she just moved to Dallas a year ago. And then there was a question she did not understand because of a term the IO used, she ask the IO to repeat the question, IO flat out say I cannot repeat it. So the IO marked her as failed. Handed a paper showing failed speaking and understanding, will get a 2nd chance.

 

This is so frustrating, we was very positive she will passed. Then she walked out with tears (I was in the waiting area), my heart just sunked. We had plans to go to Canada visit her uncle, go back to her country so I can meet her parents and family to introduced myself. 

 

How long normally until she get letter for 2nd interview? Hopefully does not have to redo the civics / reading / writing again, even though that was easy.

Edited March 24, 2017 by peachtree

[CareBear 18]

Oh no I'm so so sorry to read this  I know how excited you were about finally getting the interview date. I don't know the answer to your question but good luck to her the second time around.

[charmander 692]

There was a recent case that went through same issue. Failed 1st interview due to English speaking, passed the 2nd interview. Check their experience if you'd like.

Looking at their timeline; 1st interview was on the last week of November 2016; 2nd interview was on the first week of February 2017. 2.5 months later I guess.

 

[Boiler 43,436]

She is a PR she can travel.

[peachtree 7]

40 minutes ago, CareBear said:

Oh no I'm so so sorry to read this  I know how excited you were about finally getting the interview date. I don't know the answer to your question but good luck to her the second time around.

 

Yes we was so excited since it took soo long for an interview. Now will take even longer. We are hoping the 2nd one will have a better outcome.

[peachtree 7]

19 minutes ago, charmander said:

There was a recent case that went through same issue. Failed 1st interview due to English speaking, passed the 2nd interview. Check their experience if you'd like.

Looking at their timeline; 1st interview was on the last week of November 2016; 2nd interview was on the first week of February 2017. 2.5 months later I guess.

 

 

Thanks. I just read through it. My guess was 3 months too. Since it took the 1.5 months from the letter until interview date, we will probably get a letter mid April or sooner hopefully. Glad that she does not have to repeat all the tests again. And definitely hope she don't meet the same IO, as like this person did. It's all about luck I guess.

[peachtree 7]

16 minutes ago, Boiler said:

She is a PR she can travel.

 

Yeah. We need to apply for a travel document which is costly and you only get 2 years I think, compare to US Passport. Plus her country's passport expired, she probably can't even enter her own country.

[neilsqueen 433]

Awww so sorry!  Wishing you a speedy 2nd interview date and best wishes on passing the next interview.  Keep the faith.

[Boiler 43,436]

Most countries require citizens to use their own Passports to enter and a good idea to make sure it is up to date.

[charmander 692]

apparently according to the USCIS policy manual, 2nd interview "must" be done within 60 to 90 days after the 1st interview.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartB-Chapter4.html

 

Check item B.2.

[Ortolan 381]

Maybe it was a case of nerves? At least for the second interview, she has an idea of what kinds of questions are asked, so maybe she won't be so nervous next time. It's really hard to answer quickly if you're having to process and translate, and if the language switch isn't second nature to her just yet.

 

Maybe practice answering all sorts of questions about your life together, where you live, etc.  Might help her feel less anxiety and perhaps she'll do better the 2nd time around.

[Harmonia 211]

This happened to my husband. For the 2nd interview, he had the same adjudicator as the first. He asked my husband all 50 yes/no questions on the N-400 application. My suggestion is to go over those questions with your wife.  Then he passed him. My husband didn't have to take the written/oral test again, and he wasn't asked for any proof of our marriage in either interview. 

 

I think its pretty important for her to be confident with those questions. A lot of them are weird, even to me as an American. Have I been a Communist? Have I ever forced someone into slavery or being a child soldier? Just practice them so she can confidently say "no". 

Edited March 24, 2017 by Harmonia

[peachtree 7]

3 minutes ago, Harmonia said:

This happened to my husband. For the 2nd interview, he had the same adjudicator as the first. He asked my husband all 50 yes/no questions on the N-400 application. My suggestion is to go over those questions with your wife.  Then he passed him. My husband didn't have to take the written/oral test again, and he wasn't asked for any proof of our marriage in either interview. 

 

Thank you. I read your post. It put a little comfort in us for the 2nd interview. We will definitely go over everything on the application. How long did it take until you got the letter for another appt? 

[EM_Vandaveer 2,369]

I don't see how her own country could not let her in.... Once there she could get a new passport. No need for a travel document. She can re-enter the US with her GC.

[Kim&Jos 19]

1 hour ago, Ortolan said:

Maybe it was a case of nerves? At least for the second interview, she has an idea of what kinds of questions are asked, so maybe she won't be so nervous next time. It's really hard to answer quickly if you're having to process and translate, and if the language switch isn't second nature to her just yet.

 

Maybe practice answering all sorts of questions about your life together, where you live, etc.  Might help her feel less anxiety and perhaps she'll do better the 2nd time around.

I think it was a case of nerves. I was, or I thought I was, as cool as a cucumber when I was doing the Interview. Everything went well, suddenly the IO asked me the date that I got married and the date that my daughter was born, my mind went totally blank for seconds and it felt like eternity. Given that we just celebrated our Wedding Anniversary last month and I just gave birth to my daughter last year... 

Edited March 24, 2017 by Kim&Jos
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