Citizenship

Naturalization interview experience

Many thanks to all the folks in this forum and other such forums for all the informative postings and for
also answering any questions specifically asked !. I have spent many a sleepless hour poring over
others responses from others and feeling grateful that others had put out a response outlining situations
and circumstances I was interested in.

My interview process went quite smoothly by the grace of the Almighty.

Hope my narrative is detailed enough to help those looking for details and not so boring for the rest !

Went into the USCIS building at SJ (30-45 minutes prior as recommended). Had to go thru the security steps....remove
shoes, put other personal stuff via the xray maching etc.
Then off to a waiting room where I found quite of few other interview candidates seated.
Dropped off the interview letter at a window in the room(was asked to do that by the security staff ).

Still had another 15 minutes to my slot. SO I started skimming thru the notes I had prepared for the civics exam.
Shortly after my name was called by a USCIS interviewing officer . Very pleasant person. Greeted me by name.
We exchanged pleasantries and was made to feel at ease.

Short walk to the interview room ( the officer's office I am guessing). Once in the room, I was asked to set
my bag aside, stand and raise my right hand and swear to speak the truth. Then I was asked provide GC and
driver's Id for verification. I was walked thru questions related to the N400 application, like DOB, residential
address etc. amongst others.

Was then asked to write down a simple sentence (spoken aloud by the officer) on the N400 form . Then I had to sign a
couple of times (cursive) on the last page of the N400 and on my photographs (the ones I had submitted
with the N400 initially) and print my name once.

Then got to sign another form after I had verified that my DOB, name etc were spelt correct on it.
I think this form is used to printup the naturalization certificate.

Was then handed a sheet with 10 US history & civics questions((eg. What do the stripes on our flag stand for ?)
listed in it. I was asked to read each question aloud and then answer it aloud. Didn't have to write on the sheet.
To the best of my recollection, all the questions on the sheet were from the 100 or so official USCIS sample questions.

Having passed the civics test, I was handed a N-652 form that indicated that I had passed the test and also
'your application has been recommended for approval'. The name of the interviewing officer was also on
the N-652 form. The officer said I should wait for a letter in the mail.
We then wished each other a good day before I left the roon. It all took less than 45 minutes.

Good luck and god bless !
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________
mar/1stWk/08 sent in N400 application.
mar/2ndWk/08 received notice of receipt of N400 application.
mar/2ndWk/08 received notice to appear for fingerprinting
mar/4thWk/08 FP done
jun/1stWk/08 received notice to appear for naturalization initial interview
jul/4thWk/08 naturalization initial interview