Naturalization Interview-Aug 16, 2021 (Applied May 6, 2021)
After a 3-hour drive, I arrived at the USCIS field office, Albuquerque, NM with the letter of appointment at 10 am, 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
Next at the checkpoint, I had an extended scan and search, (extra beeps because of metal made in heels). After that was completed, I went through the checkpoint to a waiting area. This waiting area had a podium, several seats, and military flags, that indicated its use for events such as the Oath Ceremony (it was).
After 20-minute wait, I was called to enter through a separate door, other than the one the officer who called me stood at; I found it odd but figured it was harmless. My door led to a set of cubicles with a plexiglass, chair, an Ipad with a stylus pen, and a mini video conferencing device on my side of the division. A printer was on the other side.
The officer appeared swiftly at the other side of this cubicle and told me to place my green card and all other documents in a bin/ box on the floor, against a wall behind my chair. Just as quickly as she appeared she disappeared from the area to another room. She then promptly turned on the video conferencing device and at the speed of lightning told me that I would be first starting the interview with the civic questions. I noticed that she had removed her mask and asked her if I could remove mine too since I was in an entirely different room with no other individuals around and had been vaccinated. oh well, she said, “unfortunately, I’m afraid you’ll have to keep your mask on”. She was polite, calm, and friendly, but talked fast.
THE CIVIC TEST
Administered by the officer through a video conference device as she sat in a separate room.
.
Questions asked (in order)
Reading Test
Who was Abraham Lincoln?
Writing Test
Lincoln was the President during the Civil War.
Other Questions
The officer asked the yes and no questions from Part 12 of the N400 application form.
The outcome of the Interview
Verbally Approved immediately and verbally Recommended for Oath Ceremony (OC) immediately!
Then the printer whizzed, out popped the Naturalization Interview Results-form N-652! This confirmed the officer’s verbal approval within the itemized section that:
1. I PASSED the English test (Reading and Writing), and the U. S. History and government test.
2. I was recommended for approval and had established my eligibility for naturalization.
Next, the officer shared that if there were sufficient staff, then I would have had the Oath Ceremony on the same day (COVID is limiting).
The officer also said that information on the Oath Ceremony will be mailed. She gave tips on what to do at the Oath Ceremony: take my green card, write the name of the city, and state where the Oath Ceremony is taken when I get there.
The officer and I chatted a bit after about my husband, baby, work, etc. I also adjusted my name requesting the inclusion of a hyphen for my surname; she looked at my birth certificate to verify the spelling of my name. She did not request to see any other document though I took all the originals of the documents I submitted online at the time I first applied.
Tips:
Writing List: writing_vocab.pdf (uscis.gov)
Reading List: reading_vocab.pdf (uscis.gov)
After a 3-hour drive, I arrived at the USCIS field office, Albuquerque, NM with the letter of appointment at 10 am, 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
Next at the checkpoint, I had an extended scan and search, (extra beeps because of metal made in heels). After that was completed, I went through the checkpoint to a waiting area. This waiting area had a podium, several seats, and military flags, that indicated its use for events such as the Oath Ceremony (it was).
After 20-minute wait, I was called to enter through a separate door, other than the one the officer who called me stood at; I found it odd but figured it was harmless. My door led to a set of cubicles with a plexiglass, chair, an Ipad with a stylus pen, and a mini video conferencing device on my side of the division. A printer was on the other side.
The officer appeared swiftly at the other side of this cubicle and told me to place my green card and all other documents in a bin/ box on the floor, against a wall behind my chair. Just as quickly as she appeared she disappeared from the area to another room. She then promptly turned on the video conferencing device and at the speed of lightning told me that I would be first starting the interview with the civic questions. I noticed that she had removed her mask and asked her if I could remove mine too since I was in an entirely different room with no other individuals around and had been vaccinated. oh well, she said, “unfortunately, I’m afraid you’ll have to keep your mask on”. She was polite, calm, and friendly, but talked fast.
THE CIVIC TEST
Administered by the officer through a video conference device as she sat in a separate room.
.
Questions asked (in order)
- When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? July 4, 1776
- Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? the President
- What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? the Bill of Rights
- What did Susan B Anthony do? She fought for women’s rights.
- What is the capital of your state? Santa Fe
- How many U.S. Senators are there? One hundred (100)
Reading Test
Who was Abraham Lincoln?
Writing Test
Lincoln was the President during the Civil War.
Other Questions
The officer asked the yes and no questions from Part 12 of the N400 application form.
The outcome of the Interview
Verbally Approved immediately and verbally Recommended for Oath Ceremony (OC) immediately!
Then the printer whizzed, out popped the Naturalization Interview Results-form N-652! This confirmed the officer’s verbal approval within the itemized section that:
1. I PASSED the English test (Reading and Writing), and the U. S. History and government test.
2. I was recommended for approval and had established my eligibility for naturalization.
Next, the officer shared that if there were sufficient staff, then I would have had the Oath Ceremony on the same day (COVID is limiting).
The officer also said that information on the Oath Ceremony will be mailed. She gave tips on what to do at the Oath Ceremony: take my green card, write the name of the city, and state where the Oath Ceremony is taken when I get there.
The officer and I chatted a bit after about my husband, baby, work, etc. I also adjusted my name requesting the inclusion of a hyphen for my surname; she looked at my birth certificate to verify the spelling of my name. She did not request to see any other document though I took all the originals of the documents I submitted online at the time I first applied.
Tips:
- Study the civic questions, the writing, and reading lists from the USCIS website.
Writing List: writing_vocab.pdf (uscis.gov)
Reading List: reading_vocab.pdf (uscis.gov)
- Pay attention to the words that should be capitalized for the writing. Know when and why these should be capitalized.
- After studying the civic questions and answers from the USCIS website, I used the ESSA GROUP on YouTube to keep me on my toes (41) 2021 - 100 Civics Questions (2008 VERSION) for the U.S. Citizenship Test
- Believe in yourself and study well.
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