Citizenship - One Step Closer — An Architect's View

Citizenship - One Step Closer

January 27, 2005 · 26 Comments

This afternoon was my civics exam at the INS and it was a breeze (fortunately the interviewer only wanted five of the original thirteen states names - I managed seven I think, maybe eight, off the top of my head). The next step is to provide the INS with yet more proof that my wife & I are really still in "marital union". Like we haven't bombarded them with enough proof yet. Oh well. My writing test consisted of being asked to write "The United States is the greatest nation ever." at the bottom of my application form. One of the questions was tricky for me: what is the head of your local government called (they expect people to be living in cities and answer "mayor"). I live in unincorporated land so I'm beholden to the county instead. Unlike a colleague of mine who was naturalized last year I did not have to spell Schwarzenegger (seriously!).

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26 responses so far ↓

1 Paul Kenney // Jan 27, 2005 at 3:09 PM

Congratulations!
2 Agha // Jan 27, 2005 at 3:11 PM

Well, it's good to know it was a breeze since mine is Feb 14th (yeah, nothing else would've been better). Do they expect that couples get divorced during the waiting period after they've applied for naturalization?

Congrats!!!
3 Sean Corfield // Jan 27, 2005 at 4:06 PM

Thanx!

Agha, yeah, they're pretty suspicious about marriage-based Green Card and Citizenship applications it seems...

For the civics test, they got me to read (and answer) about a dozen questions from the standard US History / US Government Structure docs that are available on the INS website. Also check out the N-400 self test here:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/exec/natz/natztest.asp
4 Peter Tilbrook // Jan 27, 2005 at 4:18 PM

Onya Sean!

Heck it sounds like a major task to become a US citizen. I wonder if it is as difficult to become an Aussie? (It was Australia Day 2 days ago and we gained many new citizens).

Hope to see you at MXDU!
5 Agha // Jan 27, 2005 at 4:23 PM

Is it multiple choices test like they have on their web site? That's not bad.
6 Sean Corfield // Jan 27, 2005 at 4:47 PM

Agha, not multiple choice. They made me read the questions and then just give answers. For example:

"What are the colors on the United States flag?"

Answer: red, white and blue.

"Can you name the 13 original states?"

Answer: not sure if I can name all 13... (Interviewer: five will do) OK... Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia... (Interviewer: good, that's fine).

"Who is the head of your local government?"

Answer: er, you mean at the state level? (Interviewer: no, more local than that) Ah, well, I live in an unincorporated area so I don't have a mayor, I'm covered by the county government (Interviewer: that's good, I was looking for mayor)

And so on...

Peter, yes, I originally filed for residency in June 2000 and I became eligible to file for citizenship in February 2004 so the entire process will have taken about five years.

And, yes, see you in Sydney next month!
7 Damien // Jan 27, 2005 at 6:54 PM

I've been a resident alien since June 1998 and don't have any inclination to obtain citizenship. Right now I'm considering it to be a way out should it be needed, who know's what'll happen in the coming four years.

Beyond that, anyone else thing it was odd that the history test url had "natz" in it? Kinda funny :)

Damien
8 Jared // Jan 27, 2005 at 8:09 PM

Way to go, Sean!

At the very least, it's just awesome to have a hurdle passed.

Congratulations to you and Jay, I hope you're out celebrating at the moment!

Laterz,
J
9 M. Schopman // Jan 28, 2005 at 10:51 AM

Congratz! Although I am getting a little bit ill when you have to answer "The United States is the greatest nation ever" ... yuk! .. patriotism at it's best.
10 jon // Jan 28, 2005 at 2:39 PM

Congrats! It's nice to know that the US still is able to import smart people :)

I had the same knee-jerk reaction the the "greatest nation ever", but along with the Schwarzenegger question, I wonder if these seemingly absurd questions are actually more intended to catch potential malcontents off guard. It seems plausible that the "greatest nation" sentence is sent off for handwriting analysis. Seeing as most Americans can't spell Schwarzenegger anyway, maybe it's meant to make the tester nervous.

Then again, maybe I've been nibbling on my tin foil hat too much recently.
11 Sean Corfield // Jan 28, 2005 at 4:39 PM

Jon, Micha - bear in mind that becoming a U.S. citizen means that you swear an oath of allegiance that states you "will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic". Becoming a citizen of any country is a big deal and it's about as patriotic an act as there is, especially since the U.S. oath requires that you "absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or soverignty, of whom or which [you] have heretofore been a subject or citizen".
12 Jared // Jan 28, 2005 at 6:28 PM

So Sean,

Your last comment brings to mind a couple questions:

1) How does Enlgand feel about her sons disowning her? Will they put out an arrest warrant for you for treason? (that'd suck, bigtime)

2) Does this mean that your English passport is void and your American passport will be stamped like the rest of us if you go to England?

3) If you're an assume American citizenship, does that mean you're not a British expat anymore?

Immigration law is... confusing.

Laterz!
13 Sean Corfield // Jan 28, 2005 at 11:38 PM

Some countries don't recognize their citizens' new oath so you remain a citizen of your original country. Other countries recognize it and require you surrender your passport (and citizenship). You'd have to go read up all the legalese about dual citizenship to see how it does and doesn't work.

My understanding (based on discussions with an immigration attorney) is that I get to keep my British passport and may still enter and exit the United Kingdom on my British passport if I want. However, I must enter and exit the United States on my American passport (once I swear the oath).

As long as England and America don't go to war against each other (again), I don't think either of them bother much about dual nationality issues... but it is a thorny issue.
14 Bjorn Zreloff // Jan 30, 2005 at 7:23 AM

Congratulations, Sean! "Becoming a citizen of any country is a big deal..." I couldn't agree more. Besides the amount of logistics time/effort, there is certainly a philosophical/emotional component that was a bit unexpected for me, especially since I hail from one of the most neutral, socially (and I mean that in the positive sense of the word - support for the masses and equal rights for all) progressive countries in the world, Sweden. The United States of America presents a different set of positives, that I hope every individual has to reconcile and respect. At the end of the day, for me, it doesn't matter where you live in the world, your actions within your community are what matter. "Think globally and act locally" is one of my favorite bumper stickers. Three other sayings that I wish everyone would at least consider "One race the human race", "Minds are like parachutes, they only work when open", "Treat others as you would have them treat you."

Apologies for the tangent - good post, comments, and good luck with the rest of the process, Sean !!
15 Polly // Oct 23, 2005 at 8:21 PM

Hi, I am to take my citizenship test in two months. Can anyone recommend good practice tests or software, even books? thanks, Polly.
16 Sean Corfield // Oct 23, 2005 at 8:51 PM

Polly, check out this self-test site:

uscis.gov/graphics/exec/natz/natztest.asp
17 Polly // Oct 24, 2005 at 1:49 PM

Hi, thanks for your help. Just wondering if the interviewer asks multiple choice questions and what's the format of the interview? Polly.
18 Sean Corfield // Oct 24, 2005 at 3:34 PM

For me, they gave me a sheet of about a dozen printed questions and asked me to read each one out aloud and then answer it. There was no multiple choice. The exact format varies. It depends on how good your English comprehension and how good your spoken English is (they test both briefly, and your written skills).

My interview was very chatty and comfortable. We joked back and forth about the fact that the British were the last country to invade America and that was nearly 200 years ago (I'm British, my interviewer was of Middle-Eastern descent and almost certainly Muslim - which made the whole thing very humorous!).
19 Eva // Nov 28, 2005 at 7:54 AM

I passed a test in October of this yera in NYC. DO you know how long I need to wait for the oath ceremony?
20 Sean Corfield // Nov 28, 2005 at 10:22 AM

Eva, normally when you pass the test, they give you an appointment straighth away for your oath ceremony (which is then a month or two away). At least that's what happens here in the Bay Area. However, there were questions after my first test (more proof of marriage stuff) and I ended up having a second interview months later - and immediately got my oath ceremony appointment for a few weeks later.
21 Nguyen // Oct 18, 2006 at 12:19 PM

I passed a test in Aug 14-2006 in Omaha NE. They told me they'll send a letter in 60days for oath ceremony, but it's past over 60days and i have'nt reciept letter from them. Do you know what i have to do?

Thank you
22 Sean Corfield // Oct 18, 2006 at 5:32 PM

@Nguyen, contact the CIS office where you took the test.
23 Rhona // Mar 4, 2009 at 4:54 PM

I am a British citizen with a green card and am now in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.I have been asked to bring my British passport with me to the interview. Does anyone know why I have to do this? Are they going to take it away from me? I only decided to become a U.S. citzen because I understood I could have dual nationality
24 Sean Corfield // Mar 4, 2009 at 5:18 PM

@Rhona, technically there's no such thing as "dual nationality" for U.S. citizens - they just don't make you give up your former nationality. Note that some countries will force you to renounce their citizenship if you take up citizenship with another country. Other countries simply don't recognize additional citizenships (so if you become a U.S. citizen, they just ignore it).

I believe I had to take my U.K. passport with me to the interview. I think they wanted to see what stamps I had / where I'd been / my entry / exit dates for the U.S.
25 jean samuel // Apr 13, 2009 at 1:08 PM

I am a haytian, and am now in the process of becoming a US Citizen, I have been asked to bring my Haytian passport with me to the interview.please anyone know what I do, only decided to become a US citizen, can you help me?
26 Sean Corfield // Apr 13, 2009 at 3:40 PM

@Jean, I think that's pretty standard. They want to see what visas you have and how often you've gone in and out of the US as part of the verification process.

When you get past the interview and have your swearing in ceremony, you won't have to give up your Haiitian passport (at least, I did not have to give up my UK passport).

You will however want to apply for a US passport immediately after the swearing in ceremony if you plan to travel in and out of the US as a citizen.

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