My Journey Through the US Citizenship Interview: Room 8024 and the Angelic Examiner

In this blog post, I will share my experience of taking the US citizenship interview for the second time at room 8024 on August 29, 2025. After my first encounter, which had its challenges, I was prepared and ready to face the process again.

My Interview Experience

First Impressions

The interview started early in the morning at 7:15 AM, and this time I was assigned to room 8054, where I met a friendly white female examiner who instantly turned out to be an angel! Unlike my previous experience with a much tougher examiner, this interaction was entirely different and more pleasant.

Small Talk Section

We began with some casual conversation:

• Examiner: How are you today?
• Examiner: Do you have any plans for the upcoming long weekend?

I mentioned that since I had bought a new house, I was planning to take my kids to see it. I needed to change the flooring and paint the walls, and my daughter wanted a purple room! She congratulated me, sharing that she bought a house eight years ago, and her room was painted orange. It was a nice way to warm up the conversation!

Swearing-In Segment

After the small talk, we moved on to the swearing-in section, confirming my commitment to the values of the United States.

Civics Test

The next step was the civics test, where I was asked:

• What powers belong to the states?
• What is the capital of your state?
• What ocean is on the West Coast?
• At what age do citizens gain the right to vote?
• Why did the colonists fight the British?

These questions were straightforward and familiar to me since I had studied hard.

Reading and Writing Test

Fortunately, I was waived from the reading and writing test since I had taken it in my last interview. The examiner even mentioned she’d reviewed my previous file and noted that her colleague was quite tough on candidates.

N-400 Review

Next was the review of the N-400 application form. We reviewed the “Do you own taxes?” and “Have you ever…?” questions, where I simply answered ‘No’ to most. The final question was whether I understood what it means to “bear arms,” to which I confirmed I did and explained that it means carrying a weapon.

Final Steps and Ceremony

The last portion included signing documents and receiving the ceremony paper. The examiner mentioned that it was the last day of the month for oath-taking, which meant I would be able to take the oath that very day—what a relief!

Documents I Brought

I made sure to bring all the necessary documentation, including:

• Interview notification letter
• Green Card
• Passport

Although I also brought my children’s birth certificates, tax forms, and marriage certificate, the examiner didn’t request to see them as I had previously submitted them online. It was a great feeling to have everything in order!

Personal Reflections and Study Tips

I found incredible resources on YouTube, specifically from Jackie’s channel. Here’s what I recommend for anyone preparing for their citizenship interview:

• Watch videos at 1.5x speed to maximize your learning.
• Review the 100 civics questions by group and randomly.
• Check out the N-400 interview practice videos.
• Focus on N-400 Part 9 content (there’s an informative hour-long video!).

Conclusion

My second experience in room 8054 was a world apart from the first. With much preparation and a positive attitude, I managed to navigate the process successfully. I am thrilled to be one step closer to achieving my American dream!

Feel free to share your own experiences or questions in the comments below! Good luck to everyone on this life-changing journey! 🌟