DETROIT — A diverse group of about 30 people attended the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ information session at the USCIS offices at 11411 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit to address questions and concerns regarding the naturalization process.

USCIS Immigration Service Officer Majdie Bazzi speaks to prospective citizens at an informaton session in Detroit last week. PHOTO: Nick Meyer/TAAN

New test questions for the citizenship application recently were added in October, and two other questions will also have different answers come 2011 when a new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a new governor of the state of Michigan will both be inaugurated. The new answers will be John Boehner and Rick Snyder, respectively, on the test, which includes numerous questions relating to the government and the U.S. Constitution.

After a question-and-answer session, USCIS Immigration Service Officer Majdie Bazzi and Community Affairs Officer Hiwatha Greene-Janvier gathered the prospective applicants at a table and did a mock interview session with Bazzi asking the questions.

Greene-Janvier and Bazzi emphasized the importance of keeping the interview as friendly and conversational as possible while realizing that officers are there to give them every chance to pass rather than preventing them from passing. They added that applicants should be sure to notify the officer asking questions if they are speaking too fast for them to understand, saying they appreciate it because it saves time and prevents them from having to go over the questions a second time.

Officers conduct several interviews each day and often don’t even have time to take lunch breaks because of how busy they are, but mutual understanding is key for allowing the process to run smoothly.

“This is so helpful because it helps people to not be scared when they come in to be interviewed,” said Bazzi.

Sample questions included asking Greene-Janvier whether or not she as a prospective United States citizen would swear to uphold the value of the Constitution while also asking questions like “Have you tried to overthrow a government?” to discern whether or not they could be a potential threat.

The overall tone of the interview remained friendly, however, despite the pointedness of the questions.

One attendee, a prospective citizen from Saudi Arabia named Ibrahim, said that the mock interviews were helpful.

“It was very good, I liked it, the interview was the best part,” he said.

“The mock questions they asked about the guide were good, people should read the guide before they come to be ready and to save time.”

For more information on immigration services, visit www.uscis.gov. Flash cards containing all of the questions on the current civics test can be obtained by visiting www.uscis.gov/civicsflashcards.