We want to get you prepared for your upcoming interviews.
Today I'm going to go over 10 tips to prepare you for your interview.
10 Tips to Pass US Citizenship Interview
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In addition to the tips that we're going to go over today,
make sure to also check out this video to help you understand
the new guidelines implemented by USCIS due to the COVID-19 virus.
And if you want to know the exact format of the citizenship interviews
check out our mock interviews here.
They are based on actual applicant experiences.
All right, here are some tips for your interview.
1. Dress professionally.
We suggest you dress in business casual.
For men, it's usually long pants, a shirt, or sweater, and closed toe shoes.
For women, long pants or a skirt, and a blouse or a dress.
Skip shorts, t-shirt, sandals, and anything too revealing.
Treat it as an interview, not a day at the beach or the club.
It shows that you are serious about the application and respect the Immigration Officer.
In addition, a few field offices can schedule the oath ceremony on the same day.
So if you dress properly, you can attend the oath ceremony on the same day
and become a US citizen right after the interview.
2. Arrive early.
Try to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the appointment time
to avoid unforeseeable situations such as traffic.
When you arrive, you will be asked to enter through a security checkpoint like in an airport.
You must show your naturalization interview notice and identification to the security officer.
Inform the officer that you have a naturalization interview.
The security officer or an immigration officer will tell you where to find the customer service waiting area.
When you arrive at the customer service waiting area,
you will need to present your naturalization interview notice to the immigration officer at the customer service desk.
The officer will then ask you to wait until your name is called.
3. Bring your appointment notice and proper IDs.
You must bring your appointment notice with you to the interview
along with your green card,
all valid and expired passports,
and a state issued identification card such as a driver's license.
If someone is accompanying you to the interview,
that person also needs to provide a state issued ID.
4. Have good posture and manners.
Relax but sit up straight.
Be confident but not arrogant.
Smile occasionally and make good eye contact with the interviewer.
5. Bring all supporting documents.
During the course of the interview, the officer will ask you to provide various supporting documents.
Make sure to bring all original supporting documents
such as your spouse's birth certificate,
marriage certificate, and divorce decree.
You may wonder if you've already submitted all the documents with your application,
why would the officer want to see the documents again.
There are various reasons for this.
For example, the officer wants to confirm the validity of the documents
or the documents you've submitted are not the latest.
We've seen one case where the officer almost cancelled the appointment
because he had a computer issue
and couldn't access the documents that the applicant had submitted online.
Fortunately, the applicant brought everything and presented all of the documents needed.
The officer was able to complete the interview and approve the application.
And remember, if you don't have a supporting document that the officer asks for during the interview,
there's a likely chance your application will not be approved.
And you will receive a N-14 form after the interview.
That will further delay your approval process.
And remember, failure to respond to the N-14 form will cause your application to be denied.
We will explain that in more details in a separate video.
And one more thing, if a document is in a foreign language,
make sure to bring the original and a certified translated copy in English.
6 Review and be familiar with all of your answers in your N-400 application.
A large part of the naturalization interview involves reviewing the N-400 form.
The officer wants to confirm your application is accurate and up to date.
Some officers will go through every question on the application
and some officers will pick and choose some of the questions to ask you.
Either way, be prepared and make sure you know what you filled out.
We have seen an applicant almost failed the interview
because he couldn't remember his second child's birthday.
It's always a good idea to review the N-400 you've submitted in advance
and bring a copy of it with you to the interview.
Also make sure to notify the officer of any changes after submission
such as additional trips outside the United States,
change of mailing address,
change of marital status
or traffic tickets.
And don't forget you have to fill the AR-11 form every time you move.
You can do that online and we will add the link in the description.
7. Study, study, study!
In addition to confirming your application is accurate up to date,
the officer will also test you for
your ability to speak and understand English
your ability to read and write English
and your knowledge of US history and government.
Failing any part of this will result in a second interview.
And if you fail the second interview, your application will be denied.
During the interview, the officer might have some casual conversations with you
such as asking you about the weather or traffic
or what you did over the weekend.
These questions may seem unrelated to the interview,
however they are actually testing your understanding of English.
your responses also show how well you speak English.
The USCIS officer might also ask you about
the definition of some of the words on the N-400 form during the interview
to ensure you fully understand what you filled out.
We have seen various applicants failed the interview for not being able to provide the definitions.
And if you need some help with your studies,
check out our videos here.
8. Pay attention to the questions.
Pay close attention to what the officer asks
and do not guess the answer.
Sometimes the officer will ask you a question on the application form but phrase it differently.
For example, instead of asking "Have you ever failed to file taxes?"
They might ask, "Do you always file your taxes on time."
If you do not understand something,
you should ask the officer to repeat the question or explain the question using different words.
Take some time to process them and answer the questions clearly and slowly.
There's no rush.
9. Be truthful.
Remember, you will be under oath during the US citizenship interview.
USCIS has done a background check on you
and has all of the information about you.
Sometimes they ask questions to see if you are going to tell the truth.
Don't try to withhold information or lie
because you think the truth might compromise your chances of getting US citizenship.
If you don't know the answer to a question,
don't make up the answer.
just plainly say that you don't know the answer.
If you lie during your interview,
you will be denied citizenship.
And USCIS can even take away your citizenship
if they find out later that you lied during the application process.
10. Be respectful to the officer.
Some officers might be stricter and less friendly than others.
Don't be intimidated.
Remember, they are doing their jobs to ensure all applications are legitimate.
Think of it as a job interview.
Don't be rude to the officer even if you disagree with his or her assessment.
Stick to the facts and treat the officer with respect.
And if you don't think you were treated fairly during the interview,
you can always request to speak to the supervisor after.
Last but not least, enjoy the process.
This is a big moment in your life.
Make sure to check out these mock interviews.
They are based on actual applicant experiences.
Good luck to you during your interview
and let us know when you pass the test.
Hopefully, I will hear from you very soon.
Take care everyone. Bye.