Becoming a U.S. Citizen: Improving Your Chances for Citizenship Approval

Once you’ve turned in your citizenship application packet, you must still prepare for the coming events. Once USCIS (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services) has reviewed your application, you still must beet with a USCIS representative for your interview.

Follow these tips for improving your chances for citizenship approval.

Improving Your Chances for Citizenship Approval: Take Classes

If possible, take a few English courses and continue to brush up on the English language. If classes aren’t in the offing, purchase texts, tapes and study materials that can help you better your ability to speak, read and write the English language. Practice talking with friends, or hire a tutor who can help you get a better handle on it.

Improving Your Chances for Citizenship Approval: Research

A large part of your interview will have to do with U.S. history, which you must know like the back of your hand. Researching and studying events in the past will help you to feel more comfortable with the interview questions. Know the names of the president, vice president, governor of your state, and important political figures, as well as information about wars and strife in the U.S. past.

Improving Your Chances for Citizenship Approval: Prepare

Talk with immigrants who have already completed the interview process or who are already citizens and find out as much as you can about the questions you will be asked. Talk about the setting in the interview room, the wait time before the interview, and any other questions or concerns you might have. The less nervous you are, the better you’ll do.

Improving Your Chances for Citizenship Approval: Community Service

Involve yourself in at least one venue of community service to show that you are serious about U.S. citizenship. Get involved in your community and create ties to people and places. The more caught up you are in U.S. culture, the more impressed USCIS will be.

Improving Your Chances for Citizenship Approval: Job

Pick a job and stay with it. If you are constantly changing your employment status, USCIS will wonder why. Choose a job that you enjoy and that you can do well, and stick with it. Have your employer write a letter of recommendation and bring it with you to the interview.

Improving Your Chances for Citizenship Approval: Watch Your Step

Remember all of those laws about crimes and citizenship, and how you can’t commit them? Just because you have already submitted your application does not mean those laws no longer apply. In fact, they will continue to apply until you are sworn-in as a U.S. citizen.