B. The Naturalization Interview

• Library: Becoming a U.S. Citizen (Nolo) (2021 Ed.)

B. The Naturalization Interview

When you get to the USCIS office, the usual procedure is for you (after getting through security) to place your interview notice in a box and wait for your name to be called. You may have to wait a long time, since USCIS often schedules many people for the same block of time.

Be alert for any special health-related instructions that USCIS has instituted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2021, for example, its policies included:

• prohibiting entry to anyone who had symptoms of COVID-19, was under quarantine, or had been in close contact with anyone known or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• prohibiting entry more than 15 minutes before one's interview appointment time
• asking people to use hand sanitizer upon entering the federal building (provided by USCIS)
• requiring people to wear a mask covering both mouth and nose
• requiring people to follow markings and physical barriers to ensure social distancing
• asking health screening questions before allowing people to enter the building, and
• encouraging interviewees to bring their own black or blue ink pens for signing documents.

When it's your turn, a USCIS officer will call you in to the inner office. In this section, we discuss what the officer will say and do (Section B1) and the best ways for you to respond (Section B2).

TIP

If you're disabled and have asked for an immediate interview, don't put your notice in the box. Find a USCIS officer and hand over your appointment notice personally, and explain that you have a disability and are requesting an immediate interview.

1. A Sample Interview

A single USCIS officer will most likely bring you to his or her desk to interview you. (The exception, however, would be if your local USCIS office is among those that split the interview up, by having one officer test you on civics as well as English, and then another one do the actual interview. In such cases, if your English is too poor to make it through the first half, they'll probably send you home without doing an interview on that day, but will reschedule you to come back on another day.)

Don't sit down when you get to the desk—the officer will probably want you to remain standing until he or she tells you it's time to sit down. (As we explained in Chapter 5, your ability to follow instructions is important in proving that you speak English.)

If the officer does not tell you his or her name, ask for it, and write it down or do your best to...