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How To Prepare For Us Citizenship Interview

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The 100 Questions And Answers

Advice on how to prepare and pass the US Citizenship Interview

During your U.S. citizenship test interview, the USCIS will ask you up to 10 of the 100 civics questions, to test your knowledge of U.S. history, government, geography, symbols and holidays. You must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to pass the civics portion of the test. Nobody knows which questions you will be asked so it is essential to learn all 100 questions and answers.

If Your Application Is Continuing

Apart from the decision toward citizenship, you may need to continue with your application if U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services require more supporting documents from you. The USCIS will send you a Request For Evidence stating all the missing or unclear documents that you must provide to continue with your application.

Another reason the USCIS may need to continue your application is if you failed the citizenship test or a portion of it. The USCIS officer will schedule another day for the interview, mostly between 60 to 90 days after your first interview. You must pass the test on the second trial if you wish to become a citizen of the United States.

What Is The Us Citizenship Interview

The U.S. Citizenship Interview is a very important stage of obtaining your green card in the United States. In this interview, the USCIS officer will determine whether you are eligible for entering the United States on a visa or not, based on the information that you have provided so far.

Based on those documents, during the interview, you will be asked a series of questions. Some may be part of the documentation that you have provided, others are standard trivia questions that may or may not be part of the paperwork that you provided.

These questions are generally made available right away to the average person by simply visiting the USCIS website. While people are advised to not learn them robotically and remain as truthful as possible, they serve as pretty good guidelines for those that wish to get ready for that interview.

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If Your Application Is Successful

After passing the U.S citizenship interview, you will be one step away from becoming a U.S. citizen. You will now be required to take the oath of allegiance to become a citizen. In some instances, the oath of allegiance may be conducted on the same day for successful applicants. If that does not happen, the naturalization ceremony may be conducted on a different date, but within 120 days of passing.

Do You Have Relatives Or Friends Currently In The Us

How to Prepare for the US Citizenship Interview

Even if you have some far away relatives that you only meet every three four years or even less, tell the consular about them. Alternatively, even if you have a friend you have only met once or twice, you will have to tell the consular again. It is better to do so, rather than the consular officer finding it out later, since that could put at risk your chances to get a visa. The embassy is mostly scared that their visitors will try to remain in the US and hiding such information as having a relative or friend residing in the US, might make your purpose of visit look more suspicious.

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Who Must Attend The Interview

You, your spouse, and any qualified unmarried children immigrating with you, must participate in the interview.All traveling applicants required to participate will be named on the interview Appointment Letter you receive from the National Visa Center .

If your spouse and/or qualified unmarried children will immigrate at a later date and travel separately from you, they are not required to participate in your interview. They will be scheduled for a separate interview appointment. You should contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate directly to arrange separate interviews, if needed.

Your sponsor/petitioner does not attend the visa interview.

Can You Bring Someone With You To The Citizenship Interview

If you qualify for any of these three cases, you can bring someone else to your naturalization interview:

  • You want to make sure that USCIS respects your rights during the interview. You can bring an immigration lawyer or representative with you in this case. They must sign Form G-28, âNotice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative.â You will file this form to USCIS along with your naturalization application. Your attorney or representative can ensure that USCIS honors your rights during the actual interview. However, they cannot answer any questions for you. If you choose not to bring an attorney or representative, you need to sign a âwaiver of representationâ at the interview.
  • You are exempt from the English test. In this case, you can bring an interpreter or ask USCIS to choose one for you. The USCIS officer may also hold your interview in your preferred language if they can. If you bring your interpreter, they need to complete an âinterpreterâs oath and privacy release statementâ at the interview. They will also need to submit a copy of a government agency-issued ID, such as a passport or driverâs license, after arriving at the USCIS field office. The interpreter, however, cannot answer any questions for you.
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    Benefits Of A Green Card Through Marriage

  • Once you receive your green card, you are now eligible to live, work, and play in the USA permanently.
  • You are exempt from the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 which requires buyers to withhold 10% of the purchase price of real property and submit such withholding to the IRS.
  • You can own shares in a C or S-corporation.
  • You can form a limited liability company in any state.
  • You can purchase and own real estate, cars, and other property.
  • You can attend any college or university that you are eligible, and you may be able to receive in-state tuition and financial aid.
  • You are eligible for Small Business Administration Loans and other bank loans such as home mortgage loans.
  • If you work for 10 years in the US, you will be eligible for Social Security Benefits when you are eligible for retirement.
  • You can travel outside the US for up to 5 months and 30 days at one-time.
  • Any trip that you plan to be outside of the US for more than one year will require a I-131 Advance Parole/Travel Document application. If you are outside the US for more than one year without apply for a I-131 or SB-1 Returning Resident Visa, your green card will be considered abandoned under the law.
  • You may be eligible for certain county, state, and federal health benefits.
  • You can live anywhere in the US including: all 50 states and any US possession or territory.
  • You can work anywhere in the US including: all 50 states and any US possession or territory.
  • FAQ

    How Many Questions Are There In The Us Citizenship Test

    The Naturalization Interview and Test

    The citizenship test is split into English proficiency and civics sections. In the English test you will need to be able to read at least one of 3 sentences given correctly and accurately write at least one of 3 sentences provided by the USCIS officer. Youll also need to demonstrate an ability to speak basic English during the test as a whole.

    In the US citizenship civics test there are 100 possible questions. The USCIS officer will ask you 10 of them, and you must correctly answer at least 6 to pass.

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    Questions About The Us Government

    • Who is currently the President of the U.S.? Donald J. Trump
    • What are the two primary political parties in the U.S.? The democrats and the republicans
    • When do people vote for the President? In November
    • How often is a new president voted for? Every four years
    • What age do people have to be before they are allowed to vote in the U.S.? 18 years old
    • What is the White House and where is it located? The White House is home to the U.S. President, and it is located in Washington D.C.
    • What are the three entities of the U.S. government? The Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch
    • What branch of the U.S. government is responsible for making laws? The Legislative Branch
    • What is Congress? A body of the Legislative Branch that includes the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    What Should You Do If Your Citizenship Request Gets Denied

    If USCIS denies your naturalization, you will receive a notice in the mail. This notice will include instructions on how to appeal the denial. Appealing the denial means that USCIS made a mistake. If USCIS denies your application because you failed one of the exams or did not meet the eligibility requirements, the appeal process will not be possible. It is easier to reapply by submitting a new Form N-400 and restarting the process in most cases.

    It is a good idea to speak to an immigration attorney before you request an appeal or reapply.

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    Who Has To Take The Us Citizenship Interview

    Anyone can take the U.S citizenship interview as long as they are eligible for naturalization. There are various websites where you may see whether you are eligible for a green card or not and depending on your result, you may submit your paperwork. Obviously, if you wish to become a citizen of the United States and no longer just a permanent resident, there is no way around it you will have to take the interview.

    During The Us Citizenship Interview

    How to Prepare for Your Citizenship Interview

    The actual procedure of the US citizenship interview is pretty straightforward, but dont go into it too lightly. It is still crucially important. You show up at the regional USCIS office and wait with many other people for your name to be called. Once your name is called, you will be brought back to the officers desk and be asked to raise your right hand and swear to tell the truth during the extent of the interview.

    After this, you will be asked several questions based on your Form N-400 application that you filed. They arent out to trick you into ruining your chances, they just want to get a clearer picture from the information they have been provided. The second purpose of these questions is to test your proficiency with the English language. Then, you will be given the civics exams .

    Once all of this is finished , the officer will likely decide then whether to approve you for citizenship status. If they dont, it may be that they require additional documentation to verify something on your N-400 or something you said in the interview.

    If the officer does approve you for citizenship, you are still not a citizen yet. That comes at the swearing-in ceremony where a judge will officially make you a U.S. citizen and you will receive a certificate affirming that status.

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    Important Update: New Guidelines For Green Card Interviews During Covid

    1. Visitors may not enter a USCIS facility if they:

    • Have any symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever or difficulty breathing
    • Have been in close contact with anyone known or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days or
    • Have been individually directed to self-quarantine or self-isolate by a health care provider or public health official within the last 14 days.

    2. Visitors may not enter the facility more than 15 minutes prior to their appointment 3.4. Members of the publicmust wear facial coverings that cover both the mouth and nose

    5. Individuals are encouraged to bring their own black or blue ink pens.

    At The End Of The Naturalization Interview

    The USCIS officer will consider all of the documents you’ve provided as well as the interview and test results in order to make a final determination on your case.

    If the officer can’t make a final determination at that time, he or she may ask you to submit follow-up documents, such as proof of your marriage to a U.S. citizen who helped you get your green card having been bona fide, not a sham. Be sure to follow up within the deadline.

    You should also, in such circumstances, strongly consider hiring an attorney to help make sure to address USCIS’s concerns and give you the best possible shot at having your case approved.

    Once you are approved for citizenship, the officer will schedule a time for you to attend your swearing in ceremony. There, you’ll take your oath of allegiance to the U.S. and become a U.S. citizen. Note that swearing allegiance to the United States doesn’t necessarily stop you from keeping your original citizenship.

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    Questions From The Uscis Officer

    The job of the USCIS officer during the interview is to decide whether you are eligible for citizenship. The information and documents you gave when you applied could raise concerns with the officer, particularly if you have committed crimes or have done anything that might affect the officer’s opinion about your “moral character.”

    Moreover, the officer might have information about you from sources other than what you provided in your applicationassume that USCIS knows almost everything about you! If the officer has any questions about whether you should get citizenship, based on information you gave or information obtained from other sources, you will need to provide truthful answers at the interview.

    The worst thing you can do at a citizenship interview is to lie to the officer because you think the truth will hurt your chances at citizenship. Even if the question is not relevant to the officer’s decision, your citizenship can be denied on grounds that you were not truthful during the interview. If you truly do not know the answer to a question or cannot remember, tell the officer that. Do not make up an answer.

    Do You Have Any Intention On Remaining In The Us

    Prepare for your Citizenship Interview – Part 1

    We all know that even if you do have an intention to stay in the US, you will not be telling that to the consular. This question is asked so you have a chance to prove to him you have no such intention. You should be very convincing. Tell them the strongest reasons why you have to get back to your country upon your visa expiration. Show that you have very strong ties to your country, by telling them you have family, kids, pets, friends, property, etc.

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    Preparing For The Canadian Citizenship Test And Interview

    • May 17, 2021May 21, 2021

    Citizen interviews in Canada are written or oral exams. In most cases, this is a 30 minute written test. However, if you cannot easily read or write in French or English, or if there are other obstacles that could prevent you from completing the written version of the exam, the system will ask you to conduct a 30-90 minute interview with a Canadian citizen. These interviews are generally conducted face-to-face, but can also be conducted through conference calls.

    What If A Petitioner Does Not Speak English

    Understanding of the English language is a prerequisite for U.S. citizenship. However, there are some exceptions and accommodation for the English language requirement. There are exemptions from the language requirement if:

    • You are over 50 years old and have resided in the U.S. for 20 years as a permanent resident.
    • You are over 55 years old and have resided in the U.S. for 15 years as a permanent resident.

    Applicants are allowed to take the civics test in their native language. If you take the test in another language, you will have to bring an interpreter to your interview. Your interpreter must be fluent in both English and your native language.

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    What Happens During A Naturalization Interview At Uscis

    By Ilona Bray, J.D.

    The naturalization interview is an important step in completing the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. Some weeks or months after submitting your application on Form N-400, and after having attended your fingerprint appointment, you will receive a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services giving you a date, time, and place for your personal interview.

    What if you can’t make that date? Do your best to rearrange your schedule. Postponing this date and rescheduling can take months. Nevertheless, you can ask USCIS to reschedule.

    Below, we discuss how to prepare yourself for this interview.

    Preparing For The English Language Test Component

    Advice on how to prepare and pass the US Citizenship ...

    The English language component is further divided into 3 distinct parts. If you are able to sufficiently answer the USCIS officers questions about your citizenship application, you will pass the speaking portion of the exam.

    To pass the reading test, you must successfully read aloud one of 3 presented sentences. These sentences will not be especially complex, and USCIS allows you to review the vocabulary words that may appear in the test sentences. You should practice reading sample sentences using these words. Try to avoid pausing as much as possible.

    Passing the writing test involves transcribing one of 3 sentences that will be spoken aloud. Like with the reading test, USCIS publishes the list of vocabulary words that may be part of the exam. Practice writing down sample sentences that include these words, and make sure you are writing legibly. You will not typically be penalized for misspelling a handful of words or making other minor grammatical errors.

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    Tips For Your Green Card Interview

    Diamonds are made under pressure, right? But seriously, although the interview can seem daunting, as long as youre prepared and honest, then you have nothing to worry about.

    Here are some tips that will help you ace the interview:

  • Honesty is the best policy – answer questions as precisely and honestly as possible, and if you arent sure about something, be honest and tell the officer
  • Review your application – go over all the documents and evidence you submitted and be familiar with it
  • Dont be embarrassed – officers want the truth and will sometimes ask very personal questions
  • Go over your story – if youre applying through family or marriage, make sure you go over key events and facts about your relationship with the other person, just to make sure youve got your story straight
  • Bring extra evidence – if you have other, new documents that would help confirm the validity of your marriage, for example, then it doesnt hurt to bring them along
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