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Immigration
Citizenship
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If everything is in order, process is much smoother than most people fear.
We (wife and me) had a minor issue that came up when we reviewed the copy of our application once again upon receiving the interview notice. Found errors in entering one of the travel dates. NOTE: The error when corrected actually reduced the days spent outside the U.S. - so did not think it was a big issue - but were worried nonetheless having had heard many horror stories of experiences with USCIS/INS in the past (H1, GC).
Also, one of the questions in the application was about filing non-resident return. I work in NY and live in NJ, so have to file tax returns in NY as a non-resident and then claim credit on the NJ resident tax return. I had marked "No" for the question about having ever filed taxes as non-resident. "Yes" with "...but" was not an option! Had this answer in mind if interviewer ever specifically asked that question - "Never claimed to be a non-resident on Federal and NJ tax return, but since I work in NY, I also have to file in NY as a non-resident." .... I am sure this would not have been a big issue, but if my above quoted prepared response is useful to some in similar situation, it would be great. In any case, officer asked the question as "Have you failed to file tax-returns" and "Do you owe any taxes".
Sorry for this disjoint narration, but immihelp's "Comments" box is not a user friendly editor (at least when using Firefox Mozzila) (and this is about the only negative thing I would say related to immihelp!) - and being unfriendly, the editor does not allow one to go back and make additions (unless you erase the whole text ...).
In any case, coming to the point, the travel date discrepancy turned out not to be a big deal - the officers focus (as also of the questions 7A,B and C) is to make sure that a): you have shown that you indeed want to be a permanant resident (and a citizen) b): you have maintained your status as a permanent resident and have demonstrated it by maintaining a place of residence (mortgaged house or continuous apartment lease) and by filing regular returns with NO "non-resident" tax returns filed in the preceding 5 years (relates to FEDERAL tax returns only). NOT A LEGAL OPINION - OBSERVATION, ANALYSIS, & LOGICAL INFERENCE FROM STORIES HEARD, EXPERIENCES READ.
One more note - my wife and I gave the invitation letters at the reception at the same time, but were interviewed 2 hours apart by different officers.
Still another note: Newark office does the oaths on the same day as the test (if passed) - and has 3-4 times for the oath taking ceremonies. Me and my wife were going to be in different groups because our interviews were 2 hours apart. I went up to the window and requested that they put my wife in the later group along with me - they agreed without any problems. (Of course, at this point we had both passed the test and it was just a matter of taking the oath - and so saw no reason to fear the USCIS because both of us were citizens (practically - not technically!).
Bottom line: Keep your cool. Corrections, if not eggregious, are allowed to be made at the time of the interview without much problem.
No comments on the exam portion - if one expects to be granted U.S. citizenship, the least one can do is learn to read and write 'some' english and study a mere 100 questions (and in the process learn more about the U.S.)
All the best
We (wife and me) had a minor issue that came up when we reviewed the copy of our application once again upon receiving the interview notice. Found errors in entering one of the travel dates. NOTE: The error when corrected actually reduced the days spent outside the U.S. - so did not think it was a big issue - but were worried nonetheless having had heard many horror stories of experiences with USCIS/INS in the past (H1, GC).
Also, one of the questions in the application was about filing non-resident return. I work in NY and live in NJ, so have to file tax returns in NY as a non-resident and then claim credit on the NJ resident tax return. I had marked "No" for the question about having ever filed taxes as non-resident. "Yes" with "...but" was not an option! Had this answer in mind if interviewer ever specifically asked that question - "Never claimed to be a non-resident on Federal and NJ tax return, but since I work in NY, I also have to file in NY as a non-resident." .... I am sure this would not have been a big issue, but if my above quoted prepared response is useful to some in similar situation, it would be great. In any case, officer asked the question as "Have you failed to file tax-returns" and "Do you owe any taxes".
Sorry for this disjoint narration, but immihelp's "Comments" box is not a user friendly editor (at least when using Firefox Mozzila) (and this is about the only negative thing I would say related to immihelp!) - and being unfriendly, the editor does not allow one to go back and make additions (unless you erase the whole text ...).
In any case, coming to the point, the travel date discrepancy turned out not to be a big deal - the officers focus (as also of the questions 7A,B and C) is to make sure that a): you have shown that you indeed want to be a permanant resident (and a citizen) b): you have maintained your status as a permanent resident and have demonstrated it by maintaining a place of residence (mortgaged house or continuous apartment lease) and by filing regular returns with NO "non-resident" tax returns filed in the preceding 5 years (relates to FEDERAL tax returns only). NOT A LEGAL OPINION - OBSERVATION, ANALYSIS, & LOGICAL INFERENCE FROM STORIES HEARD, EXPERIENCES READ.
One more note - my wife and I gave the invitation letters at the reception at the same time, but were interviewed 2 hours apart by different officers.
Still another note: Newark office does the oaths on the same day as the test (if passed) - and has 3-4 times for the oath taking ceremonies. Me and my wife were going to be in different groups because our interviews were 2 hours apart. I went up to the window and requested that they put my wife in the later group along with me - they agreed without any problems. (Of course, at this point we had both passed the test and it was just a matter of taking the oath - and so saw no reason to fear the USCIS because both of us were citizens (practically - not technically!).
Bottom line: Keep your cool. Corrections, if not eggregious, are allowed to be made at the time of the interview without much problem.
No comments on the exam portion - if one expects to be granted U.S. citizenship, the least one can do is learn to read and write 'some' english and study a mere 100 questions (and in the process learn more about the U.S.)
All the best
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