Prep for the interview: tests, documents

[randomstairs 270]

Hi All,

 

I’m preparing for the interview in a few days. I’ve studied the civics/history test questions (v 2008, really basic stuff), but what to expect for the English test? What blind spots do applicants often have for that part of the test? I’m not particularly worried about it but I don’t wanna leave anything to chance.

 

Applying on the 5-year LPR basis, I’m bringing the listed documents, which is my basically the interview notice, the GC, the last passport, and the originals of some of the documents I submitted with the N-400 (some of which are irreplaceable). This part is pretty straightforward. But for the additional documents/materials I’m bringing:

 

* IRS tax transcripts for the last six years

* State tax summary showing zero balance and the filings

* All the I-20 and H1B visa approvals (copies)

* I-140 and I-485 approval notices (originals)

* Passports for the last 20+ years (all expired, I do not have a valid foreign passport)

* Passport photos

* Printed N-400 form and the addendum

* A recent paycheck and employment verification to show that I’m still in the same field of study (an NIW-based GC).

* Random receipts such as car insurance and registration to show that I fulfill the physical requirements (not sure what else to include here)

* AR-11 forms (last two)

* Organizations (this one is huge): emails, website pages, etc, of various professional and volunteering organizations that I have participated in. This is an open question and I’m just not sure how much material to gather… It’s hard to know what to even list without assuming that they are looking for “problematic” organizations like extremists, Nazis, terrorists, etc, and are not interested in a museum membership, for example.

 

That’s it. It amounts to 240 pages of copies and a few pounds of the originals. Anything else I should bring? Thanks a lot!

[Lil bear 3,840]

10 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

Hi All,

 

I’m preparing for the interview in a few days. I’ve studied the civics/history test questions (v 2008, really basic stuff), but what to expect for the English test? What blind spots do applicants often have for that part of the test? I’m not particularly worried about it but I don’t wanna leave anything to chance.

 

Applying on the 5-year LPR basis, I’m bringing the listed documents, which is my basically the interview notice, the GC, the last passport, and the originals of some of the documents I submitted with the N-400 (some of which are irreplaceable). This part is pretty straightforward. But for the additional documents/materials I’m bringing:

 

* IRS tax transcripts for the last six years

* State tax summary showing zero balance and the filings

* All the I-20 and H1B visa approvals (copies)

* I-140 and I-485 approval notices (originals)

* Passports for the last 20+ years (all expired, I do not have a valid foreign passport)

* Passport photos

* Printed N-400 form and the addendum

* A recent paycheck and employment verification to show that I’m still in the same field of study (an NIW-based GC).

* Random receipts such as car insurance and registration to show that I fulfill the physical requirements (not sure what else to include here)

* AR-11 forms (last two)

* Organizations (this one is huge): emails, website pages, etc, of various professional and volunteering organizations that I have participated in. This is an open question and I’m just not sure how much material to gather… It’s hard to know what to even list without assuming that they are looking for “problematic” organizations like extremists, Nazis, terrorists, etc, and are not interested in a museum membership, for example.

 

That’s it. It amounts to 240 pages of copies and a few pounds of the originals. Anything else I should bring? Thanks a lot!

English test .. read a simple 5-6 word sentence. Write a simple dictated 5-6 word sentence 

 

Likely the interviewer will want to see nothing that you have listed but youve got it if needed 

Edited April 11, 2023 by Lil bear

[Chancy 6,233]

15 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

What blind spots do applicants often have for that part of the test?

 

Do NOT paraphrase answers to the civics questions.  Say the exact answers listed in the USCIS test guide.

 

[Mike E 11,724]

21 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

but what to expect for the English test?

You will have to read aloud a sentence. Then you will be verbally given a sentence and told to write it out.

 

The vocabulary of English for these two tests is limited. 
 

The writing vocabulary is https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/writing_vocab.pdf

 

Reading is: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/reading_vocab.pdf

 

28 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

What blind spots do applicants often have for that part of the test?

I saw a case posted this year where the applicant passed the civics and english test, then was told to wait while the ISO left the room.

 

Instead the applicant got up to follow the ISO. Enraged, the ISO failed the applicant on the grounds the applicant did not understand English.

[randomstairs 270]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

I saw a case posted this year where the applicant passed the civics and english test, then was told to wait while the ISO left the room.

 

Instead the applicant got up to follow the ISO. Enraged, the ISO failed the applicant on the grounds the applicant did not understand English.

That is terrifying. I'm almost as concerned about my own nervousness than the actual case. Also my penmanship is atrocious - I've a PhD from a US institution but I'm worried about the writing test for this reason lol 

[Mike E 11,724]

1 minute ago, randomstairs said:

That is terrifying. I'm almost as concerned about my own nervousness than the actual case. Also my penmanship is atrocious - I've a PhD from a US institution but I'm worried about the writing test for this reason lol 

Afaik, the written portion is done on a tablet.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,500]

5 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

Also my penmanship is atrocious 

 

[Lil bear 3,840]

2 hours ago, randomstairs said:

That is terrifying. I'm almost as concerned about my own nervousness than the actual case. Also my penmanship is atrocious - I've a PhD from a US institution but I'm worried about the writing test for this reason lol 

Reading / Writing test on ipad. Handwriting not tested 

[randomstairs 270]

6 hours ago, Mike E said:

Afaik, the written portion is done on a tablet.

That's even harder as I don't use a tablet. The only legible text I can print on the tablet is in all capital letters. Is that sufficient? 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,500]

5 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

That's even harder as I don't use a tablet. The only legible text I can print on the tablet is in all capital letters. Is that sufficient? 

Ok, now I am truly curious: can you please share an example of your handwriting?

[Mike E 11,724]

11 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

That's even harder as I don't use a tablet. The only legible text I can print on the tablet is in all capital letters. Is that sufficient? 

What are you typing on now?

[Mike E 11,724]

looks like you will be expected to print with a stylus

[Lil bear 3,840]

33 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

That's even harder as I don't use a tablet. The only legible text I can print on the tablet is in all capital letters. Is that sufficient? 

Oh you are way way over thinking this :. You will have your self in hospital with an ulcer from worrying !!! Breathe. Its type the words on screen based read/ write ..  chill !!! 😁

Edited April 12, 2023 by Lil bear

[randomstairs 270]

19 minutes ago, Mike E said:

What are you typing on now?

Oh, typing is not the issue, ofc. I've never used a stylus before. If I write on the touch screen of my laptop it is worse than writing with a pen and paper. Although, I'm getting better with a bit of practice lol

[randomstairs 270]

2 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Oh you are way way over thinking this :. You will have your self in hospital with an ulcer from worrying !!! Breathe. Its type the words on screen based read/ write ..  chill !!! 😁

Lol. You're probably right. Thanks for the advice.