Interview Documents- Applicant's Passport and USC Birth Certificate

[tq999 1]

Hi everyone and thanks for all the great advice. My wife is getting ready for her interview which is scheduled for mid December and we had two questions.

 

On the interview letter it asks her (the applicant) to bring her passport. The only problem is she applied for a visa for another country and we still haven’t gotten her passport back (and are not sure when we will). When we applied for the visa, we thought we would have much longer before the US Naturalization interview and that the visa process would be quicker than it has been. The naturalization interview takes priority and we are not willing to risk anything but wanted to see if anyone had any advice. We have been told its possible to go to the other country’s embassy and pull the application/ get the passport but that involves at least a plane ticket to another city. Can we explain the situation with proof (letter confirming they have the passport) or is it better to be safe and give them what they asked for?

 

Also, since she applied for naturalization as the spouse of a US citizen, they ask for my proof of my birth, naturalization certificate (NA) or certificate of citizenship. Is my current passport enough or does she need to bring my birth certificate?

 

Thanks for the help.

[Going through 5,668]

The reason the passport is asked for at the N400 interview is mainly so the IO can see any original visa stamp and/or passport stamps indicating travel.  She can explain to the IO at the interview why she doesn't have the passport with her---it won't be an issue, as it's a valid reason, and she won't have been the first person to show up at their interview without the foreign passport.  Actually, you're supposed to bring the current and all expired foreign passports, but many people don't bring the expired ones either (either long lost, or destroyed) and it's not an issue.

 

If you have one on hand, have her bring a photocopy of the bio page of her passport if she really feels the need to bring something passport-related.

 

 

44 minutes ago, tq999 said:

they ask for my proof of my birth, naturalization certificate (NA) or certificate of citizenship. Is my current passport enough or does she need to bring my birth certificate?

The US passport is sufficient (they are NOT asking for proof of "birth" in the US, but rather proof of US citizenship), but I would also suggest bringing the birth certificate in case it's asked for, if you already have it handy.  Better to have documents with you and it's asked for, then to NOT bring it and the IO wants to see it.

 

For example, at my interview the IO asked for a copy of my foreign birth certificate---which was never a required document when applying for the N400, nor listed as a document to bring in my interview letter.  Luckily, I had it with me,  just in case.

 

[tq999 1]

Thank you very much for the advice. In this case I think I will try and get my birth certificate from my family prior to the interview just to be safe. I will also have her bring pretty much all her key documents (what passes for her birth certificate, obviously marriage certificate, plenty of proof of residency and relationship status)  and proof/ description of travel history while she had her green card. Also, while I hope to have her passport back if not I will show documentation that her passport is with the India consulate which is why she doesnt have it with her. 

 

My wife and I have lived in 3 countries in our 6 years of marriage so we tend to be cautious when it comes to these things. 

 

Thank you again for the help.