Interview Tactics: What if the Officer Tests You?

When you submit your citizenship application or pick up your certificate, the conversation you have with the officer can actually be a "hidden test." Especially if they suspect your language level.

What Questions Might Come Up?

Officers usually start with small talk, but may probe into critical topics:

• Work Life: "What do you do? Where is your workplace?" Simple questions to gauge your German communication skills.
• Constitutional Order: They might ask, "What do you think about German democracy?"

Declaration of Loyalty (Bekenntnis)

During the application, you sign a document pledging loyalty to the "free democratic basic order" (Freiheitliche demokratische Grundordnung). The officer might ask you what this concept means.

Tactics

• Stay Calm: Don't get nervous and stop speaking German. Even if you make mistakes, keep talking.
• Be Honest: If you don't understand a question, don't hesitate to say "Please repeat that."
• Come Prepared: If you've mastered the general knowledge questions in PassPilot, you're already ready for most of these conversations.