Hi everyone, welcome back to our channel.
If you're new, we are here to help you pass your US citizenship interview.
In case you're not aware,
because of the ongoing COVID-19 virus,
USCIS has temporarily stopped providing in-person services at all locations in the US.
This is to protect their staff and you
and help slow the spread of the virus.
I know a lot of you are at various stages of this long journey,
some of you have just started and some are almost finished
It is unfortunate that this will probably prolong your journey.
I completely understand if you are stressed about the current situation
and have a lot of questions.
Today, I will try my best to answer all of your questions.
All right, let's start.
USCIS Office Closure Status & What you should do
Question 1: Are all offices in the U.S. closed?
Yes. All offices in the US have suspended routine in-person services.
That means applicants cannot walk into any USCIS office
or attend an interview or oath ceremony.
USCIS staff will continue to perform duties that do not involve contact with the public.
In addition, USCIS will provide emergency services for limited situations.
To schedule an emergency appointment, contact the USCIS Contact Center.
We will provide the link in the video description.
Question 2: How long will the suspension last?
As of today, the suspension will be in place until at least April 1st.
USCIS will provide further updates as the situation develops and will continue to follow CDC guidance.
Since this is an ongoing and evolving situation,
please check USCIS and our channel often for the latest update.
We will try our best to update you as more information comes in.
Question 3: Is my appointment cancelled?
If your appointment was scheduled between March 18th and April 1st,
your appointment will be rescheduled.
This includes biometric appointments, N-400 interviews, and naturalization ceremonies.
If your appointment is AFTER April 1st,
it is not rescheduled as of now.
However, we have seen a few applicants who have interviews on April 3rd
and they've already been rescheduled.
So, make sure to check your mail, your online account if you have one, and the USCIS website on a regular basis.
I do want to emphasize that your appointment is not canceled, but instead it's rescheduled.
Question 4: What will happen next?
When the interview is rescheduled, applicants will receive a new interview notice in the mail
with the new time, date, and location for the interview.
If you've signed up for an online account,
it will also be updated in your account under "Case status".
However, for individuals who had "Infopass" appointments at the field office,
you must reschedule through the USCIS Contact Center.
USCIS will not automatically reschedule your "Infopass" appointments.
And you can only reschedule them when the field offices reopen to the public.
Please check the USCIS field offices page to see if your field office has reopened
before reaching out to the USCIS Contact Center.
Question 5: Should I study and prepare for the interview?
Absolutely.
Now is probably the best time for you to study and prepare for your interview.
The last thing you want is to be rescheduled
and realize that you don't have enough time to prepare for the interview.
Here are a few things you can do.
Set up a schedule and put aside a block of time every day to study.
As you know, we have all the study materials on our channel to help you.
Also, make sure to check out the mock interviews on our channel.
They are based on actual applicants who attended the interview.
And if you think there's some additional information that you need,
leave us a comment and we will try our best to accommodate you.
We're here to help you.
For those of you who want to improve your English,
I've also started a new channel to teach you American English.
You can check it out by scanning this QR code
or click on the link in our description.
It's also a good time to review your application for any errors and update any changes after your submission.
This includes change of marital status,
change of address,
change of employment,
new travel dates,
and new traffic tickets.
You will need to update the officer during your interview.
Gather all of your supporting documents for the interview.
Check out this video for a list of the documents that you need.
Make sure to bring all original documents.
If you have any foreign language documents,
you need to bring the original and a certified translated copy.
Question 6: What should I do now?
A lot of you are worried and anxious about the current situation and it's completely understandable.
However, the situation is out of our control and being worried does not make it better.
It's like you're stuck in a traffic jam because of an accident ahead.
It is out of your control and the best thing you can do is to sit tight
and wait for the emergency response team to clear the road.
And that's what we're facing right now.
So take a deep breath.
(Breathe in and out.)
And tell yourself "Today I will not stress over things I cannot control."
How does that feel?
Here are a few other suggestions that you can do while waiting.
First, be informed.
Check the USCIS website and Twitter account regularly.
Check your mail regularly.
If you have an online account, check it frequently as well.
Get the latest update of COVID-19 from the CDC.
Subscribe to our channel and check our YouTube channels community tab regularly.
We will update you whenever we have the latest information.
Secondly, help each other out.
Help each other out to get through this difficult time.
We can overcome this by working together.
We have a wonderful Facebook group.
We share interview experiences,
answer any questions you have related to the citizenship application
and support each other through this journey.
If you haven't signed up, you should go check it out.
Again, I will add the link in our description
or you can scan the QR code on the screen.
We also created a PDF with a list of free resources that you can do while you are isolated at home.
This includes meditation, exercises, virtual museums, and a bunch of other fun stuff.
Again, the download link is in the video description.
Last but not least, take care of yourself.
This includes
practicing social distancing by keeping six feet away from others while in public
and avoiding physical contact with people who do not share your home
avoid any group gatherings
stay at home and go out only for essential tasks
such as getting groceries or medication.
Wash your hands frequently.
All right. I hope this video helps you and the virus will be over soon.
We can't predict the future, but we can try our best to prepare for it
and that's the best thing you can do now.
If you have any other questions, please leave us a comment.
I wish you all the best and I will see you in the next video.
Take care.