Hi everyone. Welcome back.
I'm Jackie and I'm here to help you pass your U.S. naturalization interview.
You have waited for so long and the big day has finally come.
I want to make sure every one of you is fully prepared to pass the naturalization interview with flying colors.
Today, I'm going to go over 10 things you should do for your naturalization interview.
We also provide live mock interviews via zoom.
So if you need additional help, check out the link in the description.
Are you ready? let's get started.
01. Dress professionally
I suggest you to dress business casual.
For men, it's usually long pants, a buttoned shirt or sweater,
and closed-toed shoes.
For women, long pants or skirt
and a blouse or a dress.
Skip shorts, t-shirts, sandals and anything too revealing.
Treat it like a job 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, some field offices can schedule the oath ceremony on the same day.
So if you dress professionally, you can attend the oath ceremony on the same day
and become a U.S. citizen right after the interview.
And you'll definitely want to look nice for that and take a picture.
2. Arrive early
Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before the appointment time
to avoid any unforeseeable situations
such as traffic
or getting lost
During the pandemic, the immigration officer usually won't allow you into the building until 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
They might also require you to wear a mask
When you arrive. you will be asked to enter through a security checkpoint,
kind of like in an airport.
Inform the immigration officer that you have a naturalization interview.
The security officer or the immigration official 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 immigration officer will then ask you to wait until your name is called.
03. Bring your appointment notice and your proper IDs
You must bring your appointment notice with you to the interview
along with your green cards, both expired and non-expired ones.
If your appointment notice didn't arrive on time,
you can always print a copy from your online account,
under the "documents" tab.
Some immigration officers will ask you for your passports or a state issued ID, such as a driver's license.
They're not required but if you have them, bring them with you.
And if someone is accompanying you to the interview,
that person also needs to provide a state issued ID.
Keep in mind that most offices only allow applicants to enter the building during the pandemic.
4. Have good posture and manners during the interview
Relax but sit up straight.
Be confident but not arrogant.
Smile occasionally
and make good eye contact with the interviewer.
Bring all supporting documents
The appointment notice will have a list of documents that you need to bring
This is a very generic list
and I suggest you to bring more documents than the notice asks for.
Take a look at this video for additional documents that I recommend you bringing.
Make sure to bring all original supporting documents
since they already have copies of the documents.
Why would the immigration officer want to see the documents you've already submitted?
There are various reasons.
For example
the immigration officer wants to confirm the validity of the documents
or maybe the documents you've submitted are no longer up to date
And remember, if you don't have a supporting document that the immigration officer asks for during the interview,
there's a likely chance your application will not be approved
And you'll receive a N-14 form after the interview.
That will further delay your approval process.
And if you fail to respond to the N-14 form in a timely manner,
your application will be denied.
so it's better to be over prepared and bring everything.
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.
06. Review and be familiar with all of your answers on your N-400 application form
A large part of the naturalization interview involves reviewing the N-400 form.
The immigration officer wants to confirm your application is accurate and up to date.
Since it takes a while to schedule your interview,
sometimes up to a year,
you probably don't remember what you filled out.
Therefore, it's important to print out a copy of your application form
and spend some time to be familiar with the questions and review all of your answers.
Some of you might have had an organization, relative, or lawyer help you fill out the application
This does not excuse you from not knowing the answers because you are the applicant.
Take note of any mistakes you have on the application form or any changes you want to make.
In addition, make a list of the things that have changed after you submitted your application form,
such as change of marital status
new international trips
change of address
a newborn
or traffic tickets
Let the immigration officer know that you need to update some of the answers
and make sure to bring any supporting documents.
And don't forget,
as a green card holder, you will have to fill out the AR-11 form every time you move
you can do that online and I'll add the link in the description.
07. Study! Study! Study!
In addition to confirming your application is accurate and up to date,
the immigration officer will also test you for
your ability to speak and understand English
your ability to read and write English
and your knowledge of U.S. 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
And you have to resubmit your application and pay for it again.
You definitely don't want to do that.
During the interview, the immigration 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 them how well you speak English.
A small percentage of immigration officers 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 on the application form.
I've seen over and over again applicants failed the interview for not being able to provide the definitions.
So be prepared and have a basic understanding of the words on the N-400 application form.
If you need help, I've made a few videos to help you and you can check them out here.
09. Be truthful
Remember you will be under oath during the U.S. 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're going to tell the truth.
Don't try to withhold information or lie because you think the truth might compromise your chances of getting U.S. 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 immigration officer.
Some immigration officers might be stricter and less friendly than others.
Don't be intimidated.
The immigration officers are not there to prevent you from becoming a U.S. citizen.
They are doing their jobs to ensure all applications are legitimate.
Think of it as a job interview.
Don't be rude to the immigration officer even if you disagree with his or her assessment.
Stick to the facts and treat the immigration officer with respect.
And if you don't think you are treated fairly during the interview,
you can always request to speak to the supervisor afterward.
Last but not least, enjoy the process.
This is a big moment in your life.
Don't let the stress ruin it.
Good luck to you during your interview
and let me know when you pass the interview.
Hopefully, I'll hear from you soon.
Bye!