A. Final Preparation

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

A. Final Preparation

The key to a successful interview is preparation. Hopefully, you've been studying English and U.S. history during the months leading up to the interview. Now, you'll need to:

• review your application
• assemble the documents you'll bring with you
• decide what else to bring and what to wear, and
• make sure you know where you're going.

1. Review Your Application and Note Any Changes

A surprising amount of your naturalization interview will be spent going over your written application, particularly Form N-400. The USCIS officer uses the simple inquiries on your form such as "Your current legal name" and "What is your current marital status?" to test your English and to confirm that the information you have given is correct.

Before the interview, go over your copy of Form N-400 carefully. Then, simulate the interview at home. Have a friend ask you each one of the questions.

Be on the lookout for any mistakes you accidentally made or changes to your life after you entered the information on the form. The officer at your interview might ask near the beginning, "Are there any changes to your application?" Be prepared to provide corrections—most are not a problem.

If, for example, you have had another child, be prepared with the child's exact name and a copy of the birth certificate. If you've taken a trip outside the United States, write down the exact dates and other information that the N-400 asks for regarding trips (and, of course, make sure that none of those trips broke the continuity of your U.S. stay; see...