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It took three months to get interviewed after being fingerprinted (see previous post for details of how that went), leaving plenty of time for preparation.
By interview day, I had a 4" stack of paper supporting my application. I had originals and copies of my birth certificate, marriage certificate, social security card, green card, old green card, four passports, and my wife's passport. I had copies of all documents related to my traffic ticket and a new letter from Traffic Court certifying that there were no charges against me. I had 27 years of W2's, copies of all tax returns for the same years, and tax transcripts for the past five years. I had all the paper work related to three J-1 applications, 5 years of H-1 applications, an H-1 extension, all the documents related to my getting a green card, including copies of the job offer, and copies of green card renewal documents. I had copies of all yearly job contract renewal letters, current contracts, and a current CV. I wrote a personal statement detailing my time in the US and the reasons for all those visas. I had mortgage statements for the past 6 months and a copy of my driver's license. I had studied my civics and reviewed my N400.
I was PREPARED.
My interview was scheduled for 9:15 am. The Atlanta USCIS office is located at about 3 o'clock on the Atlanta perimeter (I-285 - a beltway that encircles the city). It is notorious for turning into a parking lot at a moment's notice, so I left in good time.
The office is a non-descript, three-storey box. Security at the front entrance is very thorough - very much like airport security screening, except I was allowed to stay in my shoes. The shoes tripped the metal detector and I had to be scanned with a wand, but after replacing belt, watch, wallet etc I reported to the second floor check-in window (right out of the elevator and then right again when you enter the large reception room) to let them know I was there. The room was large and drab (think bus station) and occupied by about 400 chairs, 100 of so which were filled. I was told to go upstairs to the third floor and check in there - an identical room with a check-in window labeled "Visa Adjustments". I handed over my appointment letter and took a seat. CNN was playing on the TVs and overhead speakers - details of the BP oil spill. There were about 100 others waiting here also.
I didn't get called to interview until after 9:30 am. Everyone who had arrived before me got called before me, so I assume first-come, first served. It was amusing to see three people jump up when "Patel" was called - that will give you a good idea of the mix. Lots of family members and children were there and plenty of room for more. Attire ranged from full suit and tie to shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops. I noticed endless carts of documents coming and going to the elevator - dossiers as fat as a tree-trunk piled high on the cart. I was reminded of a scene from the Harry Potter movie series - it gave me a good sense of how much work gets done in the building even though it looks insignificant.
My IO was young, extremely efficient and very pleasant. I lugged my heavy bag of paper into her office and sat down while she fussed on the computer, then she swore me in.
What followed is mostly a blur. She started flipping through my file and stapling documents while simultaneously asking me questions related to my application. I tried to show her some of the material I had brought along, but she declined - "you're under oath, I don't need to see it".
"Are you a terrorist" she asked. An image of John Cleese interviewing someone with a thick Russian accent for a position in MI-5 spring to mind - obviously I wasn't but how would a genuine terrorist answer that one??!!
We were into the civics test without my even realising it (passed!) and then even though English is my native tongue, I had to read a sentence and write one to show that I had command of the language.
Bottom line is that I was cleared for the Oath ceremony and out of the office in about 20 min. I didn't have to show anything other than a driver's license and my green card and passports. I don't know if my case was just a simple one or the speed reflected the pressure that the USCIS personnel are under to process a huge volume of applicants. I had no complaints - the IO was very much on the ball and I felt her scrutiny in my response to every question. She asked me if I wished to take the oath the same day (YES!) and told me to go back outside and take a seat until my name was called.
The oath ceremony was scheduled for 2 pm. I waited 15 min or so until my name was called and I was given a (I had signed it without realising it WAS an oath appointment letter) to take with me if I wished to leave. I was allowed to run errands etc but i MUST be back at 2 - no excuses.
During my wait to receive the oath letter, I suddenly realized that I no longer had my green card. I thought maybe it had been returned to me and it had been lost inside a passport or folder of copies or was in loose in my bag. I couldn't find it - even after extensive searching (twice), and so there was a very strange 3 or 4 hour period where I was loose in Atlanta with no green card and no certificate of naturalization to show that I was a US citizen!
The oath ceremony was bizarre - no other word for it.. but that's another post...
By interview day, I had a 4" stack of paper supporting my application. I had originals and copies of my birth certificate, marriage certificate, social security card, green card, old green card, four passports, and my wife's passport. I had copies of all documents related to my traffic ticket and a new letter from Traffic Court certifying that there were no charges against me. I had 27 years of W2's, copies of all tax returns for the same years, and tax transcripts for the past five years. I had all the paper work related to three J-1 applications, 5 years of H-1 applications, an H-1 extension, all the documents related to my getting a green card, including copies of the job offer, and copies of green card renewal documents. I had copies of all yearly job contract renewal letters, current contracts, and a current CV. I wrote a personal statement detailing my time in the US and the reasons for all those visas. I had mortgage statements for the past 6 months and a copy of my driver's license. I had studied my civics and reviewed my N400.
I was PREPARED.
My interview was scheduled for 9:15 am. The Atlanta USCIS office is located at about 3 o'clock on the Atlanta perimeter (I-285 - a beltway that encircles the city). It is notorious for turning into a parking lot at a moment's notice, so I left in good time.
The office is a non-descript, three-storey box. Security at the front entrance is very thorough - very much like airport security screening, except I was allowed to stay in my shoes. The shoes tripped the metal detector and I had to be scanned with a wand, but after replacing belt, watch, wallet etc I reported to the second floor check-in window (right out of the elevator and then right again when you enter the large reception room) to let them know I was there. The room was large and drab (think bus station) and occupied by about 400 chairs, 100 of so which were filled. I was told to go upstairs to the third floor and check in there - an identical room with a check-in window labeled "Visa Adjustments". I handed over my appointment letter and took a seat. CNN was playing on the TVs and overhead speakers - details of the BP oil spill. There were about 100 others waiting here also.
I didn't get called to interview until after 9:30 am. Everyone who had arrived before me got called before me, so I assume first-come, first served. It was amusing to see three people jump up when "Patel" was called - that will give you a good idea of the mix. Lots of family members and children were there and plenty of room for more. Attire ranged from full suit and tie to shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops. I noticed endless carts of documents coming and going to the elevator - dossiers as fat as a tree-trunk piled high on the cart. I was reminded of a scene from the Harry Potter movie series - it gave me a good sense of how much work gets done in the building even though it looks insignificant.
My IO was young, extremely efficient and very pleasant. I lugged my heavy bag of paper into her office and sat down while she fussed on the computer, then she swore me in.
What followed is mostly a blur. She started flipping through my file and stapling documents while simultaneously asking me questions related to my application. I tried to show her some of the material I had brought along, but she declined - "you're under oath, I don't need to see it".
"Are you a terrorist" she asked. An image of John Cleese interviewing someone with a thick Russian accent for a position in MI-5 spring to mind - obviously I wasn't but how would a genuine terrorist answer that one??!!
We were into the civics test without my even realising it (passed!) and then even though English is my native tongue, I had to read a sentence and write one to show that I had command of the language.
Bottom line is that I was cleared for the Oath ceremony and out of the office in about 20 min. I didn't have to show anything other than a driver's license and my green card and passports. I don't know if my case was just a simple one or the speed reflected the pressure that the USCIS personnel are under to process a huge volume of applicants. I had no complaints - the IO was very much on the ball and I felt her scrutiny in my response to every question. She asked me if I wished to take the oath the same day (YES!) and told me to go back outside and take a seat until my name was called.
The oath ceremony was scheduled for 2 pm. I waited 15 min or so until my name was called and I was given a (I had signed it without realising it WAS an oath appointment letter) to take with me if I wished to leave. I was allowed to run errands etc but i MUST be back at 2 - no excuses.
During my wait to receive the oath letter, I suddenly realized that I no longer had my green card. I thought maybe it had been returned to me and it had been lost inside a passport or folder of copies or was in loose in my bag. I couldn't find it - even after extensive searching (twice), and so there was a very strange 3 or 4 hour period where I was loose in Atlanta with no green card and no certificate of naturalization to show that I was a US citizen!
The oath ceremony was bizarre - no other word for it.. but that's another post...
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