N400 interview concern/dilemma

[wajid shafi]

Greetings Everyone,

Again reaching out to some folks on this forum with another issue on N400 Form. My mom is getting ready for her citizenship interview. Her N400 form will filled out by her sister-in-law who for some reason forgot to put her name under "INTERPRETER" Section 12 on the form. Considering my mom is not familiar with English its obviously understood that she cant fill out the N400 form and in that case an interpreter is needed otherwise ur lying during the interview that u have filled out the form yourself(something she clearly didnt).

Whts the way to handle this situation? should we call USCIS and inform them about an error on the form where we forgot to put the interpreter info? should we directly wait for the interview and bring it up there during the citizenship interview test?

looking for help/ideas. Kindly provide any suggestions.


Thank You

[aagarwal0919]

If your mother’s sister-in-law helped her complete the N-400 form but wasn’t listed in the Interpreter Certification (Part 12), this is an issue that can be resolved during the citizenship interview. Here's what you need to do (I used skiplegal.ai to get the information. I usually use this website for all my immigration queries, please not I am not a legal advisor)

1. Address it at the Interview:
   • When the officer reviews the N-400, have your mother explain
   • The officer will likely have the sister-in-law complete the missing Interpreter Certification on the spot.
2. Bring a Corrected Copy (Optional):
   • Download a fresh N-400 form and have the sister-in-law fill out Part 12 (Interpreter) and Part 13 (Preparer, if applicable).
   • Bring this corrected form to the interview to show your willingness to correct the mistake. Do not submit it in advance.
3. Ensure Interpreter Presence:
   • Ideally, the sister-in-law should attend the interview to complete Part 12 and confirm her role in assisting your mother. If she cannot attend, she should provide a signed statement explaining her role in interpreting and completing the form.
4. Key Considerations:
   • Honesty is Key: Proactively addressing the omission builds trust with the officer.
   • Interpreter Competency: The interpreter must be fluent in English and your mother’s language. The officer may verify this.
   • English Test: The interpreter helps with the application but not with the English and civics tests, unless your mother qualifies for an exemption (e.g., based on age, residency, or a medical disability).

What Not to Do:

• Don’t call USCIS to amend the form—this is best handled at the interview.
• Don’t submit a new N-400—this creates unnecessary delays.
• Don’t ignore the issue—proactively correcting it at the interview avoids complications.

[wajid shafi]

Thank you very much for your response.