A naturalization interview is a key component to earning your U.S. citizenship. During this interview, a USCIS officer will ask you a series of questions about your background and the information on your application. Although you can go to this interview independently, there are several reasons why having your immigration attorney present is a necessity.
- Familiarity with the Officers—Your immigration attorney will be familiar with the officers at the local USCIS office. This can make the overall experience go smoothly because your attorney can provide you with a better overview of what the officers will expect, allowing you to effectively prepare for the interview. Part of our services at Waldron Law Firm, PLLC include conducting “mock” interviews with you before the formal interview. This can reduce your nervousness and help us identify potential issues before the appointment.
- Protection from the Unexpected—Although the USCIS officers are government employees who seem friendly, they are not on your side. Their job is to keep the U.S. safe from immigration fraud and to follow the directions from the current presidential administration. These officers frequently receive new memos about how to conduct interviews. For instance, a policy memorandum might require the officers to ask for a document not previously required. Or they may have received guidance to ask questions in a different manner than presented on an application form. As your immigration attorney, we can determine exactly what the problem is and most importantly, how to fix it.
- Complete Explanations—If you go into an interview alone and then find out you were denied, the officer may or may not tell you what you can do to save your case. Having an immigration attorney on your side from the start can help you understand exactly what went wrong instead of bringing someone in halfway through who has to review your case, identify the issue, and then find a way to solve it.
- Moral Support from a Familiar Face—Having a familiar face in the room during your USCIS interview is always comforting. During this interview, only your attorney, authorized representative, and interpreter can be present in the room with you.
