moonhunt

If you are o.k. with old format, you can check this posting for youtube video recording for sample interview.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=150798

Unless you have extreme situation that USCIS adjudicator concerned such as marriage fraud, good moral character issue including drunken driving, or criminal history things like that,

you will be asked for N400 questions for confirmation.

If your case have something strange attached to your A# file,

they may check that, too.

I only signed the certificate on the area where it was marked to sign my name. Why would I have signed next to the photo? I do remember that the photo on the certificate is already signed on the back, from when I submitted it with my N-400 application - are you getting something confused with that requirement? I can't remember whether I had to sign the back of the photo's I submitted with my passport application.I too scanned my certificate and printed out a copy before I applied for my passport. I'll be happy to receive my certificate back, and passport - I don't like being without a passport

On the back of photo, you may write your A# and your name with light tip pencil when you did submit the N400 form.

Adjudicator during the interview ask interviewee to sign full signature on the corner of photo, usually left side of empty space next to your face.

In my case, I changed my legal name during the process, so it was delayed to oath ceremony moment.

So you will have two signatures on the certificate of naturalization.

One on the photo itself, and another on the certificate.

does anyone know whats that interview all about during the N-400 process...? i am just curious that if it s just like the one they did during the conditional greencard process...like asking questions to your spouse and you ...or else...?

any idea...?

It is two parts.

First part is checking N400 application form for any update or change.

Adjudicator may ask further information regarding N400 application data if they feel boredom.

Second part is English/Civic/History questions, which has two format - old and new -.

So for first part, you may feel like same thing from AOS or Conditional greencard process.

Moon & Auscal, did you guys sign the right side of your photo on your Nat Certificate?? Or just the area where you sign your full name? They just handed the Certificate to me and they said sign it when you get home..I'm gonna make a copy of it before applying for my passport this week.

From the certificate of naturalization, you have to sign two places.

One on the photo (probably corner of photo)

Another on right upper side on the certificate itself

On the Naturalization Guide it says it is reccomended that you bring to the Interview 2 additional passport pictures but in the interview letter the pictures are not mentioned. Do I really need these pictures?

It is for just in case.

If your photos submitted doesn't meet the requirement per USCIS adjudicator's judgement,

USCIS adjudicator may ask another photos.

If this happens, and you don't have another set of photos to meet his/her expectation,

his/her decision may be delayed until you bring another set of photos to meet his/her expectation.

So it's up to you whether you can wait for delay by this "just in case" or not.

Adjudicator can ask "any" documents or proofs during the interview.

So as other people said, better overprepared than hearing "Sorry".

Good list for checklist is following.

http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=288288

The reason why you have to bring original/copy for interview is for just in case.

Just in case they lost the something in the middle.

Just in case they didn't receive it in the mail.

Just in case they don't like the photo you sent.

Just in case they ask for more info.

I brought full duffel bag of immigration documentation just in case, but they didn't even bother to look at it.

But if they asked for it, I was ready.

Immigration things doesn't have logic. It was so twisted, so you have to see from adjudicator's viewpoint, not from normal common sense.

Last November mine took 6 days with regular service. No expedite rush service.

It's processing time will be varied from time to time.

But since we have this news available today, I think they are trying to enforce new verficiation system.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/14/passport....=rss_topstories

I wish Warm Spring weather will bring good luck to KatLovM, KyngSilva, sakura888, and davidanhhong.

I guess on St. Patrick day we can try shamrock cookie for bringing best luck for them.

Or green beer ? Cheers!

I know I am getting ahead of the game here but I was wondering if my wife comes to the US on a IR-1 visa (10 yr GC) is there any steps besides the SS card applying she needs to do before we reach the citizenship part? AOS ETC.? Not sure if this is the place to post this question.

If it is IR-1, you don't have to worry about lifting the condition.

Usually your wife will receive the Social Security Card and plastic I-551 permanent resident card - Also known as Green Card - via mail within 4 weeks.

If your wife doesn't receive those within 4 weeks, she needs to check with USCIS and/or SSA.

Sorry, I didn't find an edit button .

I was wondering If I could go to Canada or if that is considered abroad as well, since the US and Canada have a pretty good relationship

Visiting Canada is considered as visiting foreign country.

They have NAFTA to treat each other's citizen and permanent resident specially, but you are NOT US citizen NOR permanent resident, yet.

Is it permitted for the petitioner to accompany the benificiary to the interview? I have so many angles I can argue that she doesn't have a clue about. Any advise would be greatly appreciated...thank you all in advance....RexT

Better be there.

It is up to consular officer whether he/she want to see the US citizen to verify the relationship.

But if he/she decide to see the spouse, and you are not there, it may delay the approval and/or deny the case.

Given the high risk, you better be there for just in case.

In my case, I did copy the certificate of naturalization first, then visit SSA/DMV to update my new name and immigration status.

After I did all of this, I did stop by USPS office to send US passport application form.

Updating the record from SSA/DMV will take a minute because they only need to see that in person.

Only the dept of State Passport application center requires to mail the certificate of naturalization.

So I put US passport as last thing.

In total, it takes less than 10 days to complete all of above.

Geez! What a typical beaurocratic it is!

Normally I don't want to be violent, but when I think of USCIS, I'm more violent than normal.

Thanks Moon....I doubt it....But thanks mate. =) I officially hate the St Paul office.

I think NickD has same kind of feeling for St. Paul District Office.

I guess they want to be laziest district office because of weather ?

Usually your spouse will receive I-551 Permanent resident card, also known as Green Card, in 30 days.

US CBP employee should confirm the mail address for the card delivery when they interview you guys from POE.

That's the address USCIS will use for I-551 card delivery.

*P.S. I-551 card is actually pink-kind of backgound color. It used be green color background color one time.

I hope both of KatLovM, and KyngSilva have some good news for them soon.

Usually they will check during the interview.

What's your NOA1 saying ?

Usually they keep it for a couple of days, and enter your case info to system if USCIS mailroom people find out.

So if you pass the interview, it shouldn't be a problem.

I don't know whether we can trust NVC's recorded message, or not.

But according to their recorded message, it may take 4 to 6 weeks to review the info.

I note on this form that you have to give all your visits over to the USA, I am a US citizen and sponsering my mother who is 76 she has been over to the states more times in the 76 years than I care to think, how would I find out information about dates for this for of ds230?

A bunch of different resources.

I can think of...

- if she uses same airline and have frequent flyer's membership, you can check airline's website for past record for flight check-in.

- her passport with stamp

- immigration department who manage the record of country in/out

Best way to do this is to have all travel records somewhere just in case from the start.

Well put. It is also crucial to know the difference between "allowing" dual citizenship and "recognizing" dual citizenship. Very few countries recognize dual citizenship. Almost all countries "allow" it.

I would also try to find the exact South Korean law that prohibits a South Korean national from taking citizenship from another country. I have talked to so many Vietnamese-Americans who do not realize that they have a right to enter Vietnam with a Vietnamese passport. They are scared off by people saying that Vietnam doesn't "allow" dual citizenship. The truth is, it doesn't "recognize" dual citizenship meaning you have to use your Vietnamese passport when leaving and entering Vietnam or else you are breaking the law. Same in the United States. If you use a foreign passport to leave or enter the United States and you are a US citizen, you are breaking the law. That's what not recognizing dual citizenship means. And it doesn't mean you can't "hold" multiple citizenship. It just means you can't present yourself as a dual citizen. That would be bad. And illegal in most places.

There is an excellent wikipedia page on multiple citizenship, and it can help people know their rights. World travel is hard enough as it is, since 9/11 and growing number of walls between countries. Might as well know your rights to make things a bit easier for us law-abiding people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_citizenship

Good resource to understand dual citizenship is following.

http://www.richw.org/dualcit/

If you want South Korean law for this topic, I can point it out, but it is Korean.

There are some exceptions, but it is for more of children born in U.S. and they can keep dual citizenship until 18 years old.

Then they have to decide which one they will choose.

If you have dual citizenship, you may have tax situation unless your home country and US have tax treaty for double taxation because U.S. citizen and permanent resident have tax duty to report their income no matter where it is generating from.

Except that, pretty much you have to use own passport for each country, and for other countries, you have the choice for whcih one you would like to use for your own convenience.

I wish best luck for tomorrow.

Probably it's good time to make the copy of your soon-to-be-surrendered Green Card.

Maybe taking some photos ?

I wish USCIS just punched the green card with "Void, keep it as souvenir!" statement, then return to us as souvenir for all difficult time dealing with INS/USCIS.

That makes sense... I suppose... Thanks for your feedback. As of 2001, Sweden allows dual-citizenship... (used to be a country not recognizing dual citizenship.)

I hope South Korea change it someday.

When I visit Thailand, South Korean can get 90 days with visa-on-arrival program, but US citizen can get 30 days.

But any way, I don't have vacations more than 4 weeks.

So it doesn't matter to me.

i meant at the oath ceremony, i KNOW that i DONT get a passport on that same day, i was wanting to APPLY for one while at the oath ceremony, but i guess i'll have to do it during the week...

Even though US post office postmaster come out for accepting US Passport application, you don't want to do that.

At least, you want to make the copy of the certificate of naturalization before sending US passport application form with "original" certificate of naturalization.

US post office will use priority mail, but it may be lost in the mail.

At least, you want to have backup copy just in case.

You can have personal backup copy without a problem.

Same question from two different persons...

It's the law.

I can still try to use my original country's passport, but it is unlawful.

There are technical issue that old country may not know until I report it.

But if it is the law, it's better to follow it.

If somebody is curious, yes, South Korea doesn't allow dual citizenship because of tax issue and military service conflict issue.

You don't happen to know the Code section for reference? I've looked around, but I haven't really been able to find an actual U.S. law that says that you have to give up your citizenship of the "old" country.

Not every countries allows dual citizenship.

Some country may have specifically the law prohibiting dual citizenship.

South Korea has the law spelled that you will loose the citizenship whenever you have citizenship from other country no matter the government recognize it or not.

You can sneak around it, but that's illegal.

US has implicit dual citizenship policy from US dept. of State viewpoint.

Nobody mention it, we didn't see your other country's passport.

Just show US passport when you deal with US, kind of thing.

Practially you can sneak around the loophole of the system, but it is your responsibility to follow the law.

If you can take consequences of your behaviors, it's fine.

But I don't think we recommend to sneak around the law for illegal from this forum, right ? B)

So it is not from US law. It is mandated from South Korea law.

From US law viewpoint, as I mentioned from above, don't mention it, and we don't even see your other country's passport, kind of thing.

I just want to point out that not every country allows dual citizenship even though US allow it with "no comment" policy.

Some country doesn't have a choice.

According to the law, my original citizenship will be lost automatically when I become other country's citizen.

Yes. But how will your original country know? Also you can go back and use your birth certificate to apply for a passport???

Same question from two different persons...

It's the law.

I can still try to use my original country's passport, but it is unlawful.

There are technical issue that old country may not know until I report it.

But if it is the law, it's better to follow it.

If somebody is curious, yes, South Korea doesn't allow dual citizenship because of tax issue and military service conflict issue.