Transcription
Hi everyone, I'm Jackie and I'm here to help you with your US citizenship interview. Today I'm going to do a mock interview based on an actual applicant that I worked with. Now, this applicant has a few changes to their application and also I'm going to be speaking a little faster. So, see if you can keep up and understand me. All right, let's get started.
Hi, I'm Officer Smith and I'll be conducting your naturalization interview. How are you doing today?
>> Uh, I'm doing well, thank you.
>> Great. And did you have any trouble finding our office?
>> Not at all. I stay in a hotel nearby and I actually called an Uber.
>> Great. And I know it's early, but did you have a chance to have breakfast?
>> I haven't, but I'm planning to have a big breakfast after this interview.
>> Sounds good. All right. Uh, before we get started, I do need to swear you under oath. So, if you could please stand up and raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
>> Yes, I do.
>> Thank you very much. You can put your hand down. You may have a seat. And if you could please make sure your cell phone is turned off. Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> All right.
>> Uh, sorry officer. Before we start, I would like to inform you I have some changes on my application.
>> Okay. And what are those changes?
>> First, I put the wrong day on my current address. I also have a new international trip after I submitted my application. I also found out I have an additional traffic ticket and I forgot to answer the question 17c.
>> All right, no problem at all. I'll take some notes and then when we get to that section, I'll go ahead and update your answers.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Okay. Can I have your permanent resident card and your appointment notice?
>> Sure. Here they are.
>> All right. Thank you. All right. And did you also bring a state-issued ID such as a driver's license, your passport, and your social security card?
>> Okay. Um, I have my driver's license and both my expired and non-expired passport, but I didn't bring my social security card. Is that a problem?
>> No, not a problem at all. Can I have your driver's license and your passport?
>> Sure.
>> Okay. Here you go.
>> Okay, thank you very much.
>> All right, we're going to start with the English reading and writing test. Do you ever watch movies or read books in English?
>> Um, I like watching movies. Help me to learn new words.
>> Great. And what type of movies do you like?
>> I like action movies.
>> Very nice. All right. So, I'm going to go ahead and start. There will be a sentence displayed on the tablet in front of you, and I want you to read it out loud for me. Okay.
>> Sure. How many senators does Congress have?
>> Great. Now, I'm going to read a sentence and I want you to write it down using the tablet and the stylus pen. Take your time. There's no rush. Okay. Alaska is the largest state.
>> Okay.
>> Sorry. Could you repeat it one more time for me?
>> Of course. Alaska is the largest state.
>> Okay. Excellent. All right. Next is the civics test. How did you prepare for the civics test?
>> Uh, I studied with flashcards and uh practiced the questions online.
>> Great. All right. Let's see how well you've studied. First question, what is the supreme law of the land?
>> The Constitution.
>> Who makes federal laws?
>> Congress.
>> How many US senators are there?
>> 100.
>> Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
>> Franklin Roosevelt.
>> Very good. What is one right only for United States citizens?
>> To vote.
>> Who was the first president?
>> George Washington.
>> Very good. You passed both the English and the civics test. Great job. All right, let's go over your application now and verify a few things. Please state your full legal name.
>> Uh, my name is John Michael Chan.
>> Okay, thank you. And your date of birth?
>> April 12, 1985.
>> Thank you. What is your current address?
>> 1234 Maple Avenue, Los Angeles, California 91210.
>> Thank you. And who do you live with at this address?
>> I live by myself.
>> Okay. And when did you move in?
>> Um about 3 years ago. I do need to correct the move-in day. It's not March 10th. It's actually October the 3rd.
>> Okay, let me update that here.
>> Thank you.
>> All right. Do you own or rent?
>> I'm currently renting.
>> Okay. And you got your green card through marriage, correct?
>> Yes, I did.
>> Okay. And how many times have you been married?
>> Just once.
>> Okay. What is your current marital status?
>> Divorced. Can I please see your divorce decree?
>> Sure. Let me Sorry, officer. I think this is the one. Here you go.
>> Okay. Thank you. And when did you get divorced?
>> In 2024.
>> Okay. And when did you get married?
>> Uh, on October 1st, 2019.
>> Okay. How did you meet your ex-wife?
>> I I met her at a Christmas party.
>> Okay. And where is she from?
>> She's from Boston, but right now lives in LA.
>> Okay. Why did you get a divorce?
>> We really tried to make it work, but we just couldn't agree on a lot of things in life.
>> Okay. Like what?
>> Uh like finances and how to raise our kids.
>> Okay. Do you have any children?
>> Yes, I have one child. He's 12 years old.
>> Okay. And what is the child's relationship to you?
>> He's my biological son.
>> Can you confirm your child's birthday?
>> Sure. June 2nd, 2014.
>> Okay. And does your child live with you?
>> No, he lives with his mom.
>> And how often do you see your child?
>> I see him every weekend.
>> Okay. Do you provide financial support?
>> Yes, I pay monthly child support and uh here are the bank statements. Here you go.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. And where are you currently employed?
>> I work as a warehouse supervisor at a Valley distribution company.
>> Okay. Do you like your job?
>> Yes, I enjoy it. It keeps me busy and I work with a very good team.
>> Oh, that's good to hear. And do you do any volunteer work?
>> Yes, I coach at a junior baseball team and I also volunteer in the food bank during the weekends.
>> That's great. And what does volunteer mean?
>> Uh to work without pay, usually to help other people.
>> Very good. And have you traveled abroad after submitting your N400 application?
>> Yes, I traveled to Germany in March, March 10 to March 17.
>> Okay. And did you go anywhere else?
>> No, that's the only place I went.
>> Okay, thank you. I will update your application here. Okay, I see you did not register for the selective service. Why not?
>> Sorry, at the time I didn't realize I had to register for the selective service. By the time I realized I was too old to register.
>> Okay, let's continue with the rest of the application. Have you ever claimed to be a US citizen?
>> No.
>> Good. Have you ever voted in a in a US election?
>> No.
>> Have you ever failed to file your taxes?
>> Never.
>> Do you owe any overdue taxes?
>> No. Never.
>> Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
>> No, officer.
>> What is the Communist Party?
>> A political group where the government controls everything.
>> Good. Have you ever been a terrorist?
>> No. Officer.
>> What does terrorist mean?
>> Uh, someone who uses violence to scare or harm people?
>> Mhm. Have you ever worked in a labor camp?
>> No, never.
>> What is a labor camp?
>> A place where people are forced to work.
>> Good. Have you ever committed a crime for which you were not arrested?
>> No.
>> Have you ever been arrested or cited by the police?
>> Yes, I have two speeding traffic tickets and a DUI from about 10 years ago. I also forgot to mention on the application that I have another ticket from the traffic camera.
>> Okay. Were any of the tickets over $500?
>> Um, all the traffic tickets are around $250, so no.
>> Okay. And how did you resolve the tickets?
>> I paid the fine and completed all of the requirements.
>> Okay. Tell me more about your DUI.
>> Uh, in 2015, I was stopped after a party. My alcohol level was about the legal limit, so I was arrested. Um, I paid a fine. uh completed the probation and my license was suspended for 5 years and everything has been taken care of and I don't have any DUI since then.
>> Okay. Did you complete all of the court requirements?
>> Yes. Um here's the certified court record.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> All right. And have you had any problems since then?
>> No, I've been clean since then. Um, I also brought a letter from my neighbor and another letter from my manager of the company.
>> Oh, very good. Can I have the letters?
>> Sure.
>> Okay. Why do you believe you have good moral character despite getting a DUI?
>> I learned from my mistake. Since then, I stayed out of trouble. I take care of my child. I have a full-time job. I pay my taxes every year and I also volunteer for my um community. So, I work hard and I pay back to my community.
>> That's great. Thank you. Have you ever been married to more than one person at the same time?
>> No, sorry. I just forgot to answer that question.
>> Okay, no problem. I'm updating that here. Do you support the Constitution and form of government of the United States? All right, I need you to answer yes or no.
>> Uh, sorry, officer. Yes, I do.
>> Thank you. What does the Constitution mean?
>> It's the supreme law of the land.
>> Very good. Do you understand the full oath of allegiance to the United States?
>> Yes, I understand.
>> And what does the oath of allegiance to the United States mean?
>> I promise to be loyal to the United States.
>> Very good. And how are you going to be loyal to the United States?
>> To obey the laws and be a good citizen.
>> Very good. Are you unable to take the oath of allegiance because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment?
>> No, I'm able to take the oath.
>> Good. And are you willing to take the full oath of allegiance to the United States?
>> Yes, I'm willing to.
>> Great. And if the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States?
>> Yes, I'm willing to.
>> Good. And what does bear arms mean?
>> to carry weapons to defend the United States?
>> And if the law requires it, are you willing to perform non-combatant services in the US armed forces?
>> Yes, I'm willing to.
>> Good. All right. Well, that completes the review of your N400 application. Do you have any changes you need to make since you filed?
>> No, everything is up to date.
>> Okay. U please take a moment to review your personal information and all of the updates I made to your application on the tablet in front of you.
>> Okay.
>> If everything looks correct, you're going to print, sign, and date.
>> Everything is correct.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. So now on the next page, you're going to see the oath of allegiance. Please read it carefully. If you understand and agree to the statements, go ahead and print, sign, and date.
>> Okay, I understand. Thank you.
>> And now I will print your interview results. All right, congratulations. Here are your interview results and you will be receiving a notice from USCIS when your oath ceremony is scheduled. Do you have any questions before we finish?
>> No, I don't have any question. Thank you very much.
>> Oh, you're very welcome. I'll escort you out. Congratulations again.
>> Thank you so much, officer. You made my day.