Today I did my interview and passed. The Officer was a very beautiful young lady and she was nice and friendly. After taking an oath to tell the truth, she started going through my N-400 application (not line by line). Eventhough I said no to "citation and arrest", I had HOV violation and driving under suspended privilage tickets. Showed her documents that I paid my due and I am clear. She seemed satisified with that. Also I have said no to "have you been to jail or prison? " in my application,I told her I was detained in my home country and she said that is fine.
Just wanted to share my interview experience.
We are in Nashville, TN and, by luck of draw, USCIS somehow scheduled us to appear in Nashville FO for US citizenship interview. That was nice, since we have two kids and no one could take care of them that day. So, my wife and I were scheduled at 900AM and 920AM. She was to go first and I was next. There was only one IO conducting interviews that day while there was another one, her supervisor, doing something else.
I just finished my interview today and here is my 6 questions. just remember to bring all the paper with you and it is very helpful if they cannot find paper in their file!
- What did the Declaration of Independence do (said that United State is free from Great Britain)
- What is the economic system in the United States (market economy)
- Name one branch or part of the government (President)
- We elect a US Senator for how many years? (6)
- What does the President's Cabinet do? (advises the President)
and my reading is:
where is the White House
USCIS is issuing updated and comprehensive citizenship and naturalization policy guidance in the new USCIS Policy Manual. This guidance, contained in Volume 12 of the Policy Manual, replaces the naturalization and citizenship policy guidance found in Chapters 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 of the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), the AFM’s related appendices, and policy memoranda.
Just want to share my experience.
Application sent: June 12 2012
Applied on my own, no lawyers.
Submitted the following documents
- N400
- G-1145
- 2 color photo
- GC photocopy
- Birth cerficate photocopy
- check for $680
- Cover letter
FP done: July 25 2012
- location: 170, Portland st, Boston
- went there 1 hour earlier than interview time, no issues. was allowed in the line right away.
- took around 1 hour total including waiting time and FP
Interview : Sep 14 2012 2pm.
- location: JFK building, Boston
I had my naturalization interview on the April 5.
I posted my detailed history in the forum but now it is not coming up in searches, so here is a quick recap.
In 1997, I tried to cross over from Canada with a fake ID + Birth certificate, claiming I was a US citizen. I was arrested, and later received asylum. My wife, who was driving the car, was not arrested, but also faced removal/deportation, but that was dropped once I got my asylum and in 1 year she got derivative asylum.
FAQs: Naturalization eligibility for recent extended absences over six months and less than one year from the U.S. || H-1B Grace Period Related Issues
My father is a green card holder (five years, three months now). He has spent 33 months in the US in the last five years and for 6 months every calendar year. The issue is that on two of his most recent trips, he was out of the US for nine months, six weeks, and 11 days.
He has always been retired and has not held a job in the US or abroad. His daughter and family continued to stay in the US during these trips. He does not own a house in the US but stays with his daughter and her family and continues to have access to that residence during these trips. He does own property in India and has continued to hold that same property over the last five years. His trips abroad were to visit his other children.
What are the rough chances of "rebutting the presumption of break of continuous presence", if he applies for naturalization, despite these two trips of 9 months and 6 months two weeks ? Would you recommend going through a lawyer ?
Regarding the 9-month absence that is being questioned, if he doesn't own a house but still has access to the residence, it should be acceptable as long as there's a valid explanation for his absence of more than six months. This situation has occurred before. For example, if he couldn't return due to reasons like COVID-19, health issues, or similar circumstances, as long as these reasons are clearly explained, it should be acceptable.
Regarding the 9-month absence being questioned, if he doesn't own a house but still has access to the residence, it should be acceptable if there's a valid explanation for his absence of more than six months. This situation has occurred before. For example, if he couldn't return due to reasons like COVID-19, health issues, or similar circumstances, it should be acceptable if these reasons are clearly explained.