Applying for CZ from NJ - some Last minute QQ

[jenim]

Received the interview letter for both my parents on 5/19 - Interview at Mount Laurel, NJ on 6/22/16 at the same time

[jenim]

On Interview day... Dad's first

My parents interview was done yesterday afternoon and I wanted to give a summary of what happened in each of their interview for anyone following their process. I like to read the details in anyone's post, so for anyone like me, I'm sharing every detail as I remember from yesterday. Also to help any aged applicants who are now going through the CZ process, so they can see how my parents (dad in his 70s, mom in her 60s) prepped for their interview. Others may skip a few paragraphs.

Both their interviews was scheduled for at the same time in the Mount Laurel, NJ office. We got there 15 minutes before the scheduled interview time and a few parking spots were still available at that time. It's a small one story office building and the entrance is around the side of the parking lot, somewhat obscure from the front. The security will let you in through the main door after checking your interview letter and Id - my parents had taken their non-drivers State Id, and I showed my driver's license. On the right, another security officer makes you put your purse, belt, coins, shoes etc through the security check just like the TSA does at the airport. They made me take my water bottle back to the car, as no liquid was allowed inside (but I saw a baby being fed some juice by its parents before their interview, so they probably make an exception for baby food, juices etc). Anyway, I was just accompanying my parents and wanted to wait inside and there was no hassle at all as they let anyone inside the waiting area after checking their Id. Once through the double doors after security check, my parents submitted their interview letters at the only counter open. There was a really sweet lady who took their interview letters (1st page only) and asked them to wait.

My parents were quite nervous about the interview due to these reasons:
1. Lack of fluency in English
2. Not following the US accent very well
2. Not filing taxes, due to no income
3. They had one trip outside the US for 9 months after becoming PR, about 9 years ago (but all trips in the last 5 years were less than 4 months)

But they prepared for the interview in the last 1 month as if their life depended on it. They watched almost all the mock CZ interviews on you.tube, quizzed each other the 100 questions every day and practiced writing the words on the English writing vocabulary till they made no spelling mistakes. They were still reviewing the questions on the drive to the office, as if a child was preparing for the exams, and I could tell they were tensed. I had to keep telling them to relax, take it easy and be confident.

First, my dad was called exactly 5 minutes past his scheduled interview time. It was a lady officer who came out through a door and was smiling and acknowledged my dad's hello. My dad's interview took exactly 18 minutes. He was asked to attest speaking the truth and was asked what was the oath he took. He said he took the oath to state the truth. He was asked to verify his name, address etc. He was asked almost all of the "No" questions on the N-400 first and then the "Yes" questions. He was asked to confirm the date of his last trip outside the US. He was asked whether he filed taxes and he said "No, I didn't file any taxes because I did not make any income". The officer wrote that on his form in red.
Next was 6 civics questions, which he got all right. After that, he was asked to read "Abraham Lincoln was the President during the civil war". He was asked to write "Lincoln was the President during the civil war". The lady wrote some things on his form and asked if his wife was a US Citizen, for which he replied "No". Then she asked, was that your wife sitting with you. She did some small talk with him afterwards asking about his one specific vacation abroad and who took him on that trip, he said it was his daughter. She then asked him, "Alright, can you take your oath at 3:00 PM today?". He said he was so relieved at that point, he immediately said "Yes!!". She then asked him about his diet, as she thought he looked younger than his age. My dad got really excited that he shared his everyday diet with her ..LOL (he is vegetarian) .. and she seemed to have told him that he was first candidate that day speaking so much English. Needless to say, my dad came out with a big grin on his face and 2 thumbs up, with 2 sheets of paper on his hand, one was the oath notice and the other notice indicating he passed the test and a check in that checkbox that he was approved!

In the meanwhile my mom was getting somewhat stressed out that she was not called yet and was also praying that she does not get the same officer that DrSingh's dad got (read one of the earlier posts by him)

[jenim]

Mom was next

Mom was called 30 minutes after her scheduled interview time and she was praying that she gets the same lady officer that interviewed my dad, as she seemed to be friendly. But it was a male officer who came out and called my mom's name and she was nervous at that, even though I kept telling her that not every male officer is going to be like the one that DrSingh's dad got (read that post from a few days ago). My mom's friend in another state/location also was not approved right away, she was asked to come back after 2 months for lack of English understanding, even though my mom's friend passed the civics, reading and writing tests. All of this was making my mom freak out a bit.

The officer asked her "How are you doing..." as he closed the door behind, leaving us hoping that everything will work out for her.
You will not believe it, but my mom was out in exactly 8 MINUTES... yes, JUST 8 minutes. She was asked to raise her hand, attest that she is speaking the truth, the officer was such a gentleman, he even pulled out the chair for her. She was not even asked to verify any of her information, he was just reading aloud her name and then he went right to the civics questions, she got all 6 correct, was given the same sentences to read and write as my dad (see post below in this thread.. I'm wondering if that day in that office, everyone got the same sentences to read/write). She was asked to verify the date of the last trip outside the US, was asked 4 or 5 of the "No" questions on the N-400 and a couple of the 'Yes' questions. He then asked her if she was ready for the 3:00 PM oath, asked her to sign on a couple different forms and gave her the Oath notice and asked her to check all the "No" s there and bring it back at 3 PM. It was like she was just IN and OUT. I guess her prayers were answered. She said, he was kind but also seemed to be in a hurry, which worked out perfectly for her.

They both got asked the same civics questions by different officers:
Q # 5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
Answer: the Bill of Rights
Q # 26. We elect a President for how many years?
Answer: 4
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Answer: Paul Ryan
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Answer: Native Americans
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
Answer: July 4, 1776
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Answer: Missouri (River)
Mississippi (River)

We went out to the parking lot to call and tell close family that they made it. Then went back in (again security check) waited for a long while in the waiting area (there's only one waiting area), but they were promptly called into another room with glass door at 3:00 PM for taking oath. I was not allowed in at first, but after 10-15 minutes, folks who accompanied were allowed in to take pictures, videos and watch the oath ceremony. I could see a huge sense of relief in my parents as they took their oath and received their Naturalization certificate. My dad was holding the American flag proudly with a huge grin on his face. Even though at their age citizenship is not a big deal for them, as they do not work or even go out of the house much, I guess it is still emotional to become a citizen of the country they have been living in for close to 15 years (10 years as PR, 5 years before that as visitors). As I watched the President's address, the song, the oath ceremony and the Oath officer giving them that talk about the country, I was a bit emotional too, thinking about how the country has survived the few terror attacks, even as recently as last week. God bless this country which the immigrants built over time and hope it stays intact forever!

Next step is the US Passport application process (can someone confirm that there is no fee waiver of sorts?) and applying for their native country's U visa as they plan to travel sometime next year. Good luck to all who are reading this, in your CZ process, especially to seniors like my parents who are confidently taking the step to naturalize in spite of the language barrier.