JoannaV

Thank you Dr_Z. I would like to share my citizenship interview experience at Santa Ana office in this thread.

After parking the car at civic plaza parking lot around 8AM, I walked into the federal building (34 Civic Plaza). As soon as I entered the building, I had to go through the security screening. The process is similar to the airport security screening. I went to the 2nd floor and showed my interview letter to the person at the entrance. He asked me to go to the front counter and place my interview letter on black tray. I placed my interview letter and seated. While I was waiting, I saw a lady who was doing front office stuff picked up interview letters from black tray, time-stamped, documented and placed in two racks. The racks have different levels. I believe that each level is assigned to a different interviewing officer. The officers came and picked up interview letters from the rack and called names. I entered the room around 8.13AM and waited till my name was called.  I thought I would be called around my appointment time (8.45AM). But not. Some people who came after me were called in. I realized that the calling time depends on applicant’s assigned officer and previous applicants’ interview time.

I decided not to take my cell phone or laptop. So, I had a time to look around and see what’s happening. Some people used their cell phones for texting and browsing. I didn't see anyone with a laptop. There was a sign that says “No cell phone calls are allowed in the waiting area”. However, I saw one person was secretly making a phone call.  The front office lady seems to be super nice. I saw some people who asked questions were treated nicely and promptly. I saw a couple with two interview letters talked to the front lady. I believe that they wanted to be interviewed at the same time. I am not sure..  A sign says "maximum capacity is 98". During my stay I saw about 15-20 people sitting in the waiting area. I believe some people came for other interviews (adjustment of status ???). Two restrooms are conveniently  located next to the waiting room.

Interview officer called my name around 9.40AM and taken me to her office. She was very friendly and nice. First, she asked me to place my index finger on a fingerprint scanner. Then she took a photograph. After completing the verification process, she swore me in and asked my green card, passport and driver’s license. After that she started the interview.

I was asked to read, “Which state has the most people?”
Then, I was asked me to write, "California state has the most people”

As soon as I finished my sentence, she moved to US history and government questions.

Here is the summary. I added item numbers in the booklet to find the exact question. She looked at the computer and asked questions. 
Who can vote? (See Item 48)
Who is in-charge of the exec. Branch? (Item 15)
What was the main concern during the cold war? (Item 83)
Why colonist came to America? (Item 58)
What is one right or freedom ..? (Item 6)
If the President can no longer serve. … (Item 30)



Then she said "You passed the tests of English language and US History and government, Now, I am going to go over your N-400 application". She verified everything in the application. She asked my recent tax return. (I have included 2 photographs with my application.) After checking everything, I was asked to sign on two places. Then She congratulated and gave a letter that says I passed the interview.  She said that her recommendation would be reviewed by another officer before forwarding it. However, she said “You will be scheduled for the oath ceremony on Aug 22nd”. Finally, she made photocopies of my passport, green card and driver’s license and gave originals back to me. That’s it. The whole interview process took about 20-25minutes. It was a great satisfaction and relief.


On my way back, I chatted with another person. He said that he was asked the same exact read/write and US history questions. However, he had been interviewed by a different officer. This may be a coincident. I got out of the civic plaza after paying hefty $11 (~ 2.5hrs) for the parking.  The parking cashier accepts both cash and credit card.



Naturalization Interview is easy. My advice is to prepare well on 100 US history and government questions and go through your N-400 application on the day before the interview day. Don't stressed out. I used this link to practice 100 questions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lPPdJ8es9E This forum and Trackitt.com forum helped me a lot during this process. Thanks everyone including 2016 December filers. While wishing best of luck, I would like to ask Los Angeles / Santa Ana / San Diego filers to step in and update this thread whenever possible. I wish you all the best for your citizenship interview and ceremony.

 

Thank you everyone, I am convinced that I am immature, and the fact that both sides got advises from their trusted circle and the situation snowballed from the biases. 
 
For the part about "unprotected" sex, what happened was that at first she agree to have sex but with condoms, then when I clarified that I wanted unprotected sex, she did not bring up the fear of childbearing, because she had told me and others that she wanted a child, but I didn't. What she said in refusal was that her stomach hurt. At that point I didn't push any further. 
 
I am ashamed that I believed that the two of us could work things out by ourselves.  Our issues had been going on for too long. And the part of me that believed she was not sincere was larger than the part of me that believed that we just needed more and better help. 
 
A lawyer told me that if I wanted to stop the process, I need to send a notarized letter to cancel I-130. The lawyer also told me that even if we don't go to the interview, she could still get a green card by a petition method, that method didn't need me at all. The lawyer also advised that if I get a divorce, due to the length of marriage, I wouldn't even be splitting half of my earning during the marriage, but I will be paying alimony for a month or two. He also said stay away from trying to go to the interview to expose fraud or trying to sue based on fraud. 
 
I am too ashamed to fill out my profile. I hope to those replying or viewing is getting something out of this thread. I am sorry if it wasted your time.
 
If we ever become happily together I might consider filling my profile. If it breaks apart, I think that it is better for us now to disclose any further. I think I do need her consent to provide any details. 

In addition to the enrollment letter, take a transcript. I'm assuming you are a good student so giving them a letter that you are enrolled and showing you are doing well, is much better. 

You could visit Nigeria but would need to still be domiciled in the US. There is also the I-864 to consider: if you took a long vacation to Nigeria would you still be able to meet the financial requirements for the sponsorship?

No it is not enough proof to change custody. It's enough to put a flag in the system so they cannot get a passport. 

As far as the 5 weeks goes, I would not consider that alone to be a big red flag. To me it seems the amount of time someone would travel for if they wanted to get their money's worth, you know? Even people with full-time year-round jobs might sometimes take a 5 week trip.
 
Ultimately, it is what it is. Try not to worry over it more than necessary. It seems like your past experiences have been overall positive (despite the trip to secondary) so that is a small indicator that your general personality does not cause most immigration officers to dislike you without cause.
 
I made multiple trips to the US in one year. The time I entered for three months the IO warned me that I might experience greater scrutiny on future trips. However, when I next returned (having been exceedingly cautious and stayed in the UK for an entire five weeks lol) I was let in with no trouble. (It's likely that I would have experienced more trouble on that last trip if we had not already been in the visa process, because it was a rather large proportion of time that I was spending in the US.)

Is not such a hard process to be quite honest, compare to what we had to do in the past...this is a walk in park
 
I became US citizen may 2016 and by june I was ready with vote registration, SSN and with passport in hand. My country allows dual citizenship so nothing to do there.
I'm not a frequent traveler so the TSA thing is not something I feel like doing it.
 
My only advice is not only try to register to vote somewhere else because the people waiting outside the oath ceremony are not the most reliable one. I thought I was registered to vote only to found out I couldn't vote on November because I was actually not registered.
 

The bar still exists once you hit the 180 or 365 days, it just isn't enforced for permanent residents. 
 
If at any point a person with the bar ceases to be an LPR (and didn't become a US citizen either - let's say they abandoned their green card and returned to their home country) then the bar is now active again. 
 
I've found that explaining this here on VJ is like spitting in the wind. The popular myth is that "overstay is forgiven" and few people can see beyond that. 

At 8am this morning, while sound asleep, incessant loud banging on the door as if the house was on fire woke me up.
Sleepily I stumbled to the door in my night gown and in front of me were a man and a lady announcing they were from immigration.
Knowing all about home visits I responded as calm as a cucumber : "Sure come on in have a seat, I need to put some clothes on."
Nothing rattles me anymore on this journey.
I said to my husband honey get up, immigration is here.
He quickly threw some clothes on and came into the living room where the man started asking questions.
Meanwhile our 4 dogs were barking like they were out of their minds drowning out the questions we no longer could hear
and I said excuse me and like the true alpha told them to shuuuut uuuup. Silence at last. Proceed.
It was truly like a scene out of Chevy Chase National Lampoon movie,
Endless Bummer, Animal House, Barely Legal, Threshhold of Hell, pick any title.
(They should make one about immigration it would be a hoot).

Questions asked were about travel together, our work schedules, how long I owned my business, etc.
He took pictures of several things in the house, my African culture decor, photos in frames of us together,
of my husband's mom, of him as a baby, a photo I had sitting in my
bedroom of my naturalization ceremony from almost 20 years ago tucked into a forgotten corner of the dresser,
(I immigrated here over 40 years ago). He recognized that it was from a naturalization ceremony with eagle eyes, must have
been doing this job for a while. I was impressed.
Yes, we were all in the bedroom by now, they wanted a
tour of the house...meaning checking closets, seeing if we really lived together, slept in the same unmade bed and so on.

Now I always pictured the perfect home visit with a clean sparkling house, having coffee with the investigators
and exchanging niceties. No, it was just like they prefer it, a total surprise. The house was a mess and so was I with
a big shiner on my forehead because I ran into a sharp fence post bracket the day before.
I did point to the beautiful bouquet of flowers he bought me a few days ago though.
In the kitchen they took pics I had on the fridge with magnets of my family and they took pics of joint bills, joint bank account
 and CC's we had laying around on the table. I asked if they would like to see our AOS "evidence box". They said no.
They seemed to be only interested in what their eyes randomly caught and peeked their interest.

Fun aside, they were very nice and the whole experience lasted 20 minutes.
I was glad they came so now we can move forward from being stuck in the abyss.
We filed AOS in May 2015, had each a one hour stokes interview Sept. 2016 and now  8 months later after
 numerous service requests, EAD/AP renewal twice, senator contacts, Ombudsman contact it came to this visit.

He said you will have no problems, everything checked out fine and you are obviously legit as a couple as we see you here like this.
He said they came all the way from Texas because my filed office is so backlogged.
He said he didn't know why all the scrutiny when I asked what's up with the checks.
 Again I want to mention the whole thing was like a friendly chit chat,
relaxed, respectful. Don't let that fool you though, they get exactly what they want to know by friendly chit chat.
The worst was the loud banging on the door which freaked me out but I wouldn't have
 heard just a normal  knock because we were sleeping and they would have probably left, leaving us marinade
even longer in the AOS background check sauce of despair.

So why the constant hurdles for us you may wonder. I don't know.
It took us 5 years to come together, first K1 refused after 16 months in AP, second one approved.
I had petitioned someone else in 2005 which was also refused after long AP and he did not make it here because
I stopped it due to his fraudulent motive I discovered in my own investigations. The louse was a liar.
Interestingly, lots of questions were asked during the AOS interview about that.
Other flags may be that we had several trips to Turkey, a somewhat flagish country to visit these days and Cyprus being close to
Syria, him having a Muslim name (he has been an active Christian all his life) and being originally from a high fraud
West African country.

I will update when he receives the green card. We have been a couple since 2009.
Almost 3 years married.
Long story short, no sweat if you have a real relationship and abide by the requirements then eventually
you will be approved. If at first you don't succeed, try again, is my motto.
Never give up, keep your cool and be patient. Be yourself, try not to open the door in a night gown though
and throw the robe on before you open the door.
If we can't mention the funny parts of this and laugh at ourselves then we are taking ourselves way too serious.
So relax and chill and I wish you all  speedy approvals for visas and AOS, ROC and naturalization.
There is always a silver lining for a long drawn out AOS, we qualify for a 10 year green card now because we are married
over 2 years and don't have to ROC. Yay !
 

"Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-laws and sisters-in-law, fiancees or other extended family members are not considered to be close relationships."
 
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/06/28/trump-travel-ban-us-issues-new-visa-criteria-for-6-muslim-nations.html

As to the topic, it is vital that we vet immigrants and visitors, I don't think anyone disagrees with that.
Thing is, we already had excellent vetting, it's nothing new. Now Trump wants extreme vetting. Ok, but he does not understand the intrinsic
immigration backlog he will cause and to which Tillerson said he is aware that backlogs will happen.
The stupidest thing in the memorandum is this : Tillerson states CO's are to stick to 4-5 min interviewing applicants but must ask them
the 5-7 new additional questions in the memo.......how does that work in 4-5 min to vet someone ? A CO is not to interview more
than 120 applicants a day ? Really ? 120 ? It shouldn't be more than 50. As usual this administration makes no sense.
Oh yeah, let's vet to the extreme but get out in 4 minutes and let them marinade in the AP abyss on Donkey and Mantis check
for eternity while our tourism industry goes down hill. Eye roll !
There is Trumps way and then there is a better way. Hope they figure this out. A backlog such as this will 100% backlog every single
immigrant in the long run, no matter what country they come from. The FBI agency is badly backlogged already.
AOS and ROC are already taking forever and a day.
Will they hire more personnel ? Oh no, they will not. I just love it when big shots make rules and  do not understand the consequences
it brings. Details matter. Trump has none on anything.


 
 

He messed up by calling out for an "all Muslims ban" with his campaign slogan.
He can not articulate himself and talks nonsense like a 12 year old bully.
 

You can get started now because the petition from the American (I-129f) does not require financial information. It merely determines if you are eligible to apply for the visa as the legitimate fiancé. The petition will basically determine if 1) he is a US citizen, 2) you have met in person during the last two years, 3) you are both free to marry and plan to marry.
 
Once the petition is approved, the case file goes to your consulate in London.  Then you apply for the K1 visa (DS-160), pass a medical exam in London, gather documents including the affidavit of support (I-134) to present at your interview, and finally interview in London at the US Embassy.
 
London is an easy consulate and they are not terribly strict on the I-134 financials. If you look up the form I-134, you can see that there is a place to show employment income and assets, so yes both are considered. London will also consider your UK savings if you will take  some proof like bank or financial statements. Your part does not go on a form, but others have found it helpful to make a spread sheet to summarize it all for officer at the interview-- his job, his asset balances, your asset balances.
 
London will also:
Let another US person sponsor you instead of your fiance Approve with only 100% of the poverty guidelines Let the U.K. person with considerable savings or a house to sell, sponsor themselves with no I-134 form. Accept a variety of evidence like employer letter (with no tax return or pay slips). They don't require a long list of proofs you will read on these forums. Each consulate has their own vibe about what they consider adequate.   
Note: since your fiancé is self employed, his tax return (Line 22) will be the only way to show that income, but if he gets another job, then an employer letter for that additional income will do.

Sorry, this is a difficult position. Unfortunately, the time to get any compensation for playing casually with your life was during the divorce and even then I don't think you could have gotten anything  (blood from a stone etc). You took a big risk (fiance visa is risky for this exact reason-- the immigrant arrives completely dependent on the petitioner with the green card on the line) and it didn't work out. The only way to adjust status from a K1 is with the original petitioner, and that avenue sounds like it's closed (and honestly, it should be. You don't need to stay with someone who treats you like that). You're young and haven't been here that long in the grand scheme of things.
 
If I were in your shoes, I'd cut my losses and go home and work on building a great life there. You're so young that you'll still be young in 10 years AND on top of it, the bans are waivable. Staying without status and no way to GET status is just going to push this problem further down the road and multiply it. The longer you stay and build a life here, the more you have to lose.

Hey, 
 
I'm also from the UK. I went for a visit 2 weeks ago, we have our interview booked and I had no problems - despite having like 3 bags as I was moving al lot of my stuff over. I wrote a blog post about the experience if you want to read it, https://yaztalksalot.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/visiting-the-us-whilst-your-k1-visa-is-processing/ 
 
If you've got any questions feel free to message me
 
Yaz x

That is a little ignorant for you to say.
The fact that things in different cultures don't fit western narrative doesn't mean it is a lie.
let me educate on an aspect of Ghanaian culture.
I think i can see OP's issue.
In most Ghanaian culture, returning the "drink" the man's family is finalized divorce. This happens with no involvement of government documentation. If the woman wants a divorce, she returns the "drinks" collected as part of her bride price. But if the man wants a divorce, he must take the woman back and pay some money  (kinda like alimony).
So if OP (been the man) did take the woman back to her family and pay the alimony, she is still considered married likewise OP.
If you divorce someone administratively through the court, the cultural aspect has to be fulfilled for it to be accepted culturally as divorce.
 
So in essence, OP could be culturally very married but not married "enough" for the immigration process. Because the US govt recognizes the administrative type of marriage and the cultural marriage when it suits them.
OP was filing for his ex and had not provided administrative documentation for his marriage, they would have told him he wasn't married.
 
The conflict  or the dilemma for those of us from completely different cultures, is trying to fit our customs into western microscopes.

Use https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action to get your credit reports for free. It might show the account on one of those, and show you as an authorised user. The one account I've been an authorised user on shows up, although it doesn't show the name of the account holder.

Okay, so this was far more complicated than I had expected! All in all from my first appointment at the DMV 5 days after arriving in the US, it took a full 5 months to get my California Driver License (and that is with passing both the written and behind the wheel tests first time).  
 
I got lots of mixed information along the way but for what it's worth here is a quick summary of my experience -
 
First off, here is a basic timeline:
11/16/16 - Arrive in San Francisco
11/21/16 - First Appointment at DMV. Went in with temporary Green Card, British Passport, British Driver License, proof of address - told I also need Social Security Number to complete the application. The Social Security office was was next door to the DMV so I immediately applied for and received SS number.
12/07/16 - Pass written test, eyesight test and have photograph taken at DMV. Entered into the 'Secondary Review Process' to confirm my identity as a Permanent Resident.
02/17/17 - Appointment with DMV Investigating Agent at DMV Satellite Office to verify my identity as a Permanent Resident.
04/12/17 - Telephone call with DMV Investigations Division clearing me to continue with my application. I immediately book the behind the wheel test with my local DMV for the next day.
04/13/17 - Receive learners permit. Pass behind the wheel test. Receive temporary driver license.
04/21/17 - Received Photocard Driver License in the mail.
 
So, here is the only relevant information available from the DMV online: 
- If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid. 
- If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner's property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.
 
This really doesn't seem to make any sense as it was impossible to get a California driver license within 10 days. Were these 10 days a grace period to drive on my British license? I immediately made an appointment with my local DMV on arriving in California in case this meant 'apply for' within 10 days.
 
My appointment was 5 days later and I presented my temporary Green Card, British Passport, British Driver License and proof of address but was told I also needed a Social Security Number to complete the application.  The Social Security Office was just next door so that was nice and easy. Now I asked the staff at the local DMV what this whole '10 day' business was but no one really knew what it meant. They eventually told me that since I had applied for a California license I could drive on my British license until I had passed my California tests. I called the DMV head office when I got home to confirm this and they also said I was fine to drive on my British license until I received my California license.
 
So my next appointment with the local office comes around a couple of weeks later...plenty of time to study the California Driver Handbook and get some practise driving on the other side of the road! I did the eyesight test reading from an eye chart behind the counter, had my photograph taken and passed the written test (touchscreen multiple choice taken in a little booth). It was then I was given a slip of paper stating I was now in the 'Secondary Review Process' and as I was an immigrant the Investigation Divisions would now have to confirm my identity. This was where the waiting began. 
 
I called Sacramento and they told me there was a backlog and they would get to me as soon as possible. They wouldn't be specific but after a bit of a chat with the very friendly lady on the other end of the phone, she opened up and told me they aim for 30 days but it would more likely be several months. My jaw hit the floor and I just double checked with her that I was still good on my British license in the meantime. She said no. My jaw fell open again. After I explained that the DMV had told me both on the phone and in person I was good on my British license she admitted she didn't really know and that I should probably go with what they told me as she just worked in the Investigations Division. Now with me wanting to be the model Permanent Resident with the full intention of applying for citizenship as soon as I'm eligible I immediately called the regular DMV line again to re-check. They again told me that I was fine on my British license. I asked for confirmation in writing and they gave me an email address to contact. So, I emailed the DMV asking for written confirmation and they indeed confirmed...
 
'If you are in secondary review, you would not have been issued any kind of license from us and you will need to continue to use your UK license.' 
 
I wouldn't count on my 2016 / 2017 experiences though - if you find yourself in the same situation I'd advise calling up and checking for yourself at the time as I've no idea how often they change this stuff. 
 
After waiting the initial 30 day period I called the DMV every week to check on my secondary review status. After two and a half months I got an appointment to meet with an investigating agent at a satellite office about an hour and a half drive away. We met up for about 15 minutes whilst he looked at my documents with a loupe and took photocopies. With that he said I was good to go and he'd call through to verify I was ready to continue my application in a couple of weeks. Just over three weeks later I got the all clear and booked myself in with the local DMV the very next day. At that appointment they issued me with a learner permit and I took the behind the wheel test ten minutes later. The test lasted about 20 minutes and after passing they issued me with a temporary paper license at the window straight after. My photocard license arrived in the mail 8 days later.
 
All in all a bit of an unexpected saga! Yes the secondary review process was painfully slow and it wasn't ideal taking a three hour round trip to meet with an investigator just to show the same documents I'd already shown the local office, but the DMV staff were always great with me and other than the waiting times and unclear information online the whole thing was a relatively painless process.
 
Hopefully someone finds this useful!
 
 
 

That was my first thought on reading those comments too.
 
I prefer not to spend a lot of time being political on forums.  However, this discussion is so related to some things I have been thinking about lately that I feel compelled to speak up.  What is happening lately in public discourse with the idea of  "illegal immigrants" (in quotes because the phrase tends to be thrown around without a lot clarification about what it means) makes me really uncomfortable, and the more I think about it, the more I come to think that it bothers me because it's targeting a vulnerable group and blaming (scapegoating) them for problems that often have little to do with them.  I'm also really concerned that if you look deeper at the actions of different people in power, target "illegals" is just a beginning.  A lot of their actions seem to me to indicate that there is also a willingness to target people of certain ethnicities and religions.  It's a pattern seen before at different times in history, and the results aren't usually something citizens are proud of 50 years later.  It may be hyperbole to compare the Trump administration's treatment of Muslims and Mexicans to Nazi Germany and the run up to the holocaust, but comparing it to the US's internment of citizens and LPRs of Japanese ancestry is much less a reach.  And while the invocation of US internment camps for Japanese doesn't conjure up nearly the stark horror in the collective consciousness that the word "Holocaust" does, it was unarguably a great failing of the US's ideals of equality, and one that we have an obligation to try to avoid repeating.
 
In other words, they sometimes say they are not against immigrants, but it's not at all clear to me that their actions are bearing that out.

Maybe not yet. I probably should have said something like "this administration is seen by some as being anti immigrant." I do disagree with you insofar as they are on record as wanting to stop legal immigration from 6 or 7 countries, and ending legal immigration for certain family members and job classes. Not just illegal immigration.
It's at least partially about optics. If your administration is being accused (rightly or wrongly) of being anti immigrant, is it a good idea to place a member of another accused anti immigrant group in the position of helping immigrants who are having problems with the USCIS?
 
This.

I'm sure that was of great comfort to those LPRs and immigrant visa holders stranded outside the US when the first executive order on immigration came into being a couple of months ago.

That's why I made a photocopy of my conditional GC, and carry the actual card with me... so in case it gets lost or stolen, I'll still have the proof of immigration status when I collect evidence for the I-751. 

Paying taxes is the duty of a law-abiding citizen. If someone is evading paying taxes then that is a red flag that perhaps they might evade their responsibility to support the intending immigrant (especially after a marriage breakdown) despite financial ability to do so. So yes, they want to see that you are filing taxes as required.

My husband was the only one on our mortgage/deed when we bought a house right after I moved here, so I can't comment on that specifically. Other than that I am sure that what you are trying to do is possible. Therefore, my advice would be to go in person to your loan officer and insist they get everything sorted out. That was what we had to do when something interfered with our closing. Even if your loan officer and underwriter are incompetent in some way there is going to be a bank employee somewhere in the nation who can sort it out, and if you are in the LO's office he will be motivated to find that person.

No. But she only needs a copy of the amended return plus W-2s. The transcript is just nice to have as it's proof you really did file - if it's not available in time, don't worry about it.

He passed today! He had the first interview of the day. Unfortunately I couldn't go with him (to sit in the waiting room). I couldn't get off work. His interview was at 8:15, and it finished at 9. He had the SAME INTERVIEWER from the first time!!
 
The interviewer asked him every single question from the N-400 paperwork, all 50-some questions. Luckily, we'd printed them out and went over them. There was one question that he didn't understand the interviewer's accent, but he recognized the question, so he said "Are you asking me if I'd blah blah" to confirm that was the question.
 
As a previous poster said, he did not have to re-do the civics questions or read/write a sentence in English. 
 
The interviewer told him, "oh you've worked hard on your English since the last time". Ummm...ok...whatever. The first interview was late Nov. Highly unlikely someone can master a new language in a couple months, but we'll take it!