N-400 based on 5 year rule. Married to US citizen, now divorced. What should I expect at the interview?

[David & Diana R 1,005]

17 hours ago, a_hocc said:

Thank you for your answer!

 

of course, I expect them to question my marriage as it wasn’t an easy case. 

 

I am not worried about them questioning or “digging” into my previous marriage. 

I am just worried about the “proofs” I am able to gather before the interview. 

Divorce happened 5 years ago and I don’t have much joined documents left from that period. 

What happens if they ask for proofs and I won’t be able to fully satisfy their request?

Then you will more than likely be refused and instructed to pack your bags and head back from whence came you.

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

42 minutes ago, David & Zoila said:

Then you will more than likely be refused and instructed to pack your bags and head back from whence came you.

How do you figure? It's an interview for citizenship not a deportation proceeding.

[dandk 72]

1 hour ago, Russ&Caro said:

How do you figure? It's an interview for citizenship not a deportation proceeding.

Yup, being denied for naturalization does not mean the OP green card is revoked. A lot of people have experienced denial for naturalization but they keep their PR status. They just need to renew their green card every 10 years.

[SleepyPanda 10]

16 hours ago, David & Zoila said:

Then you will more than likely be refused and instructed to pack your bags and head back from whence came you.

fear mongering

[NikLR 13,232]

On 7/30/2018 at 7:02 PM, Teemo said:

I know we're not supposed to be judgmental on this site...but yeesh. Either it was a sham marriage (of course you're gonna tell us it isn't) or USCIS somehow knew your marriage was flimsy and unstable before you did. Did you not see the signs of a shaky marriage when you couldn't pass a Stokes (separate) interview?

 

Anyway to your question: yes, expect to be scrutinized, and no, that is not enough evidence. A 2 year marriage where you live together should produce reams of bona fides coming out your wazoo. I am entering my 3rd year in my relationship and can easily produce 1,500 pictures of us with family, friends, and on vacation if asked. So a handful of old bills is not gonna cut it. You're at two strikes and you should take the potential of a 3rd strike very seriously. At the very least dozens of pictures and also, in this case, notarized affidavits from your ex and members of her family that your marriage was bona fide could be credible. But that's just a start. 

I've been married for 6 years and can produce maybe 10 photos of us together.  I've only met my MIL once, and my FIL 3 times.  He hasn't seen any of my family besides my kid since we were married.  Does that make your relationship more genuine because you take 1500 photos with friends and family?  No it doesnt. 

We have wills, own a home and cars together, have a joint bank account but no joint credit cards.  

 

The OP will likely have to show they were in a genuine relationship but that relationship ending after 3 stressful years of immigration isnt the end all to their naturalization based on 5 years.  The USCIS eventually decided the relationship was genuine to begin with!

[drosha 23]

I don’t know why people here think that you have to somehow prove your marriage was Bona fide when you apply after being a permanent resident for 5 years. I’m sure behind the scenes they will scrutinize and be suspicious but they can’t deny you citizenship based on just a suspicion of a sham marriage when you’re not applying under 3 year rule. They might ask you a couple of questions in the interview, just answer them honestly and you’ll be ok. If they deny your citizenship application based on sham marriage suspicion they also have to file to revoke your green card but then they have to go to court to prove that it was a sham marriage. You should collect any helpful documents just in case of a court case but I don’t think USCIS would be willing to jump those hoops unless there is strong evidence of marriage fraud (like money exchanging hands for marriage, witnesses, fake documents etc.)

[Teemo 252]

On 8/1/2018 at 6:38 AM, NikLR said:

I've been married for 6 years and can produce maybe 10 photos of us together.  I've only met my MIL once, and my FIL 3 times.  He hasn't seen any of my family besides my kid since we were married.  Does that make your relationship more genuine because you take 1500 photos with friends and family?  No it doesnt. 

We have wills, own a home and cars together, have a joint bank account but no joint credit cards.  

Well, I can't relate to the complete lack of photos and little time with respective families, but I made no comment on the scale of genuineness - relationship genuineness is binary and is either "yes it is" or "no it isn't." We both qualify for having a genuine relationship. My original point was "you should have bona fides coming out the wazoo," and with the "wills, own a home and cars together, have a joint bank account" then you do have that, so my point stands. OP didn't indicate he did have that. 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Teemo

[NikLR 13,232]

The 5 year doesnt even ask for genuine relationship evidence.  It's part of why I didn't apply at 3 years.  Screw that... I'm not sending them anymore relationship evidence! Now that Trump is president, I won't apply now either.  But regardless, the OP already had their relationship scrutinized and approved by the USCIS.  

[Teemo 252]

On 8/3/2018 at 9:49 AM, NikLR said:

Now that Trump is president, I won't apply now either.  

Why won't you apply for citizenship because Trump is president?

[NikLR 13,232]

2 hours ago, Teemo said:

Why won't you apply for citizenship because Trump is president?

That's a can of worms that would hijack this person's thread.