As an eligible permanent resident, asylee, or spouse of a United States citizen, you may want to solidify your life in this country and apply to become a naturalized citizen. Of note, there are many hoops you may have to jump through, so to speak, to obtain this status once and for all. The final obstacle may be completing the naturalization interview. Without further ado, please continue reading to learn how to best prepare for your upcoming naturalization interview and how an experienced N-400 application lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can coach you through this.
When and where can I expect my naturalization interview to take place?
First of all, your naturalization interview will be a meeting with a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer who will ultimately determine whether or not you are eligible to obtain citizenship status. You may receive the date, time, and location of your interview a few months after submitting your Form N-400, Application for Citizenship, with the USCIS.
On this appointment notice, you may learn the local USCIS field office you are expected to arrive at on your scheduled interview date. We recommend you give yourself enough time to commute to the office, especially if this will be your first time traveling here. Overall, you should arrive at least 30 minutes before your interview to sign in, pass security checks, and more.
How can I best prepare for my upcoming naturalization interview?
At your naturalization interview, the USCIS officer may first ask you questions about your application and background. While you may assume you know this information like the back of your hand, it is natural to have mental blocks or second guess yourself when you are nervous or under pressure. So, we advise you simply look over your paperwork ahead of your interview.
Then, the officer may test your English-speaking ability. Specifically, they may observe how you speak and understand English in conversation. Also, they may ask you to read one of three sentences out loud correctly, and write one of three sentences down correctly. Notably, the USCIS offers resources for studying for the reading and writing English tests. As far as speaking goes, you may best prepare by conversing exclusively using English with a native English speaker in the days, weeks, or months leading up to your interview date.
Lastly, the officer may have you take a civics exam that tests your knowledge of U.S. government history and geography. The officer may choose randomly from a list of 128 standard questions, and you must answer 12 out of 20 posed questions correctly. Again, these standard questions are provided as a resource on the USCIS website. You should closely study these questions and have a loved one frequently quiz you.
We cannot end this blog without mentioning that one of our lawyers can step in to prepare your application paperwork, work on your English fluency skills, and study your civics exam questions. And so, if you are ready to get started on your interview preparation, now is a better time than ever to contact a skilled US naturalization lawyer in Milwaukee, WI. Sesini Law Group, S.C. is here to help.