N400 interview questions dates

[Don0 73]

Hi everyone! I have my N400 interview this Friday 10/17 under the 5 yr rule, came here through marriage though. I think I've got the civics test down. I'm more worried about the dates on my info? Should I memorize all the dates (M/D/Y) of when I was out and back to the U.S? (Both times around 45 days) And all the start and end dates of my per diem jobs and there addresses?

 

Also, if there is anywhere on this subreddit that has the checklist of things ti bring, I would appreciate it! TYIA!

 

Edit: do they asl for the expired greencard(conditional gc) and all the extension letters they sent?

Edited 23 hours ago by Don0

[OldUser 10,718]

47 minutes ago, Don0 said:

Hi everyone! I have my N400 interview this Friday 10/17 under the 5 yr rule, came here through marriage though. 

That's OK. Even if still married, you can apply under 5 year rule.

 

47 minutes ago, Don0 said:

I'm more worried about the dates on my info? Should I memorize all the dates (M/D/Y) of when I was out and back to the U.S? (Both times around 45 days) And all the start and end dates of my per diem jobs and there addresses?

 

 

 

Sure thing. You will be asked to confirm dates of your travel and sometimes addresses and work. You don't want to give officer any reason to question you more.

 

I had about 7 trips since I became an LPR and I remembered all. My case was squeaky clean, so the only thing officer attempted is asking me to confirm wrong dates which I corrected. Theoretically, officer can accuse you of lying under oath if you get any info wrong. Or start playing games: "You said you returned to the US from Australia on April 9, but your application says April 7th."

 

Here is my story:

My understanding is, the officer tried failing me on a technicality. Even though case was straightforward, she could have made it hell if I didn't pay attention. She even had an apprentice sitting there, potentially there to learn tricks and how to probe people.

 

After approving me, she even took same elevator with me and lawyer down to the lobby. Even though I was relieved, I kept my comments etc to myself and had mouth shut when going downstairs in the elevator.

Edited 23 hours ago by OldUser

[Don0 73]

4 hours ago, OldUser said:

That's OK. Even if still married, you can apply under 5 year rule.

 

 

Sure thing. You will be asked to confirm dates of your travel and sometimes addresses and work. You don't want to give officer any reason to question you more.

 

I had about 7 trips since I became an LPR and I remembered all. My case was squeaky clean, so the only thing officer attempted is asking me to confirm wrong dates which I corrected. Theoretically, officer can accuse you of lying under oath if you get any info wrong. Or start playing games: "You said you returned to the US from Australia on April 9, but your application says April 7th."

 

Here is my story:

My understanding is, the officer tried failing me on a technicality. Even though case was straightforward, she could have made it hell if I didn't pay attention. She even had an apprentice sitting there, potentially there to learn tricks and how to probe people.

 

After approving me, she even took same elevator with me and lawyer down to the lobby. Even though I was relieved, I kept my comments etc to myself and had mouth shut when going downstairs in the elevator.

I actually waited for the 5 years so it will be "easier" that filing under 3. Lol

 

So if I understood correctly, it would most likely be them stating the dates and nust me confirming then? A lot of my per diem jobs, I work from home, so the addresses I placed were from the pay stubs so I don't normally have them memorized. 

 

I had read you interview too. Good thing you had the lawyer, so it seems that they ciuld ask me about my husband too?

[TBoneTX 48,167]

39 minutes ago, Don0 said:

so it seems that they ciuld ask me about my husband too?

Probably not much, if any.  You're filing after 5 years, so marriage status is less important.

[OldUser 10,718]

50 minutes ago, Don0 said:

 

I had read you interview too. Good thing you had the lawyer, so it seems that they ciuld ask me about my husband too?

Yes, they can ask. Unlikely going to go too deep as it's not very relevant for N-400 under 5 year rule, but they can inquire into relationship if you got GC off marriage.

 

Good luck!

[Don0 73]

11 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Probably not much, if any.  You're filing after 5 years, so marriage status is less important.

Hopefully! Thank you!

[TBoneTX 48,167]

You're welcome.  Be sure to return here to let us know everything!

[Don0 73]

9 hours ago, OldUser said:

Yes, they can ask. Unlikely going to go too deep as it's not very relevant for N-400 under 5 year rule, but they can inquire into relationship if you got GC off marriage.

 

Good luck!

Thank you! 

[steeeeve 25]

i'm guessing you are not allowed to take a cheat sheet in then like a list of travel dates and other relevant dates that might come up?

[OldUser 10,718]

43 minutes ago, steeeeve said:

i'm guessing you are not allowed to take a cheat sheet in then like a list of travel dates and other relevant dates that might come up?

I haven't tried this. Heard once on VJ somebody did this and made IO angry. From what I know, the point of interview would be lost if you just read answers from form / cheat sheet.

[igoyougoduke 1,705]

43 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I haven't tried this. Heard once on VJ somebody did this and made IO angry. From what I know, the point of interview would be lost if you just read answers from form / cheat sheet.

wait they expect you to remember the travel dates accurately and also try to bait you with incorrect dates? that is very strange expectations. 

[OldUser 10,718]

11 minutes ago, igoyougoduke said:

wait they expect you to remember the travel dates accurately and also try to bait you with incorrect dates? that is very strange expectations. 

That's my experience and my intepretation. Officer apologised twice after reading dates incorrectly. My impression is I would have gotten in trouble if I blindly said yes to incorrect dates she read. Based on the hundreds of hours of live show with YouTube lawyer I watched, this usually happens during marriage based interviews or consular processing. E.g. officer finds discrepancies in written and verbal answers and starts doubting everything you say.

 

Maybe it was honest mistake by officer. But she got assistant watching closely everything. How can an experienced officer dealing with important paperwork make multiple mistakes like this with dates in front of them? And she got visibly disappointed when my lawyer stopped her from asking irrelevant questions about marriage. I felt like she was trying to find reasons to derail / complicate interview, but failed.

 

Maybe I got it all wrong, but that's how I fell based in interaction on that day.

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by OldUser

[TBoneTX 48,167]

2 hours ago, steeeeve said:

i'm guessing you are not allowed to take a cheat sheet in then like a list of travel dates and other relevant dates that might come up?

An alternative might be to prepare a sheet with title "Travel Dates" and a list thereof.  When the IO asks, cheerfully hand him/her the sheet and say brightly, "I went back to reconfirm these, and I decided to type out this sheet for you as a courtesy!"  Hold the sheet so that the IO can see it, and (from your seat) point out or name the line on which your specific trip appears.

 

That should keep the IO from retorting or being displeased -- after all, how can you be rude in response to someone who's trying to be courteous?   

[igoyougoduke 1,705]

37 minutes ago, OldUser said:

That's my experience and my intepretation. Officer apologised twice after reading dates incorrectly. My impression is I would have gotten in trouble if I blindly said yes to incorrect dates she read. Based on the hundreds of hours of live show with YouTube lawyer I watched, this usually happens during marriage based interviews or consular processing. E.g. officer finds discrepancies in written and verbal answers and starts doubting everything you say.

 

Maybe it was honest mistake by officer. But she got assistant watching closely everything. How can an experienced officer dealing with important paperwork make multiple mistakes like this with dates in front of them? And she got visibly disappointed when my lawyer stopped her from asking irrelevant questions about marriage. I felt like she was trying to find reasons to derail / complicate interview, but failed.

 

Maybe I got it all wrong, but that's how I fell based in interaction on that day.

 

 

Man i would freak out if they baiting me with wrong dates and than use my answer against the data on the forms. That is some serious slacking behaviour but i think these uscis employees go through interview like a train conductor issuing tickets. They just are under tremendous pressure to blow through applicants.