From my review of local USCIS office in Baltimore, MD:
I give 3 stars to Baltimore DO (my case still pending, since May 23 interview ).
Interview was normal. IO wasn't hostile nor friendly, rather neutral. Just asked questions and proceeded from one to another form.
When it came to Part 3, one of the Q was whether I have ever been cited, arrested, charged of any crime excluding traffic violations.
I answered NO. Then IO asked: Not even a traffic ticket? To which I said YES and recalled two traffic tickets I had. AT this moment IO changed my answer to YES and had me put initials next to it.
Up to now my case is pending. My I-130 was approved by I-485 is pending.
They issued me RFE for "arrest disposition" , my lawyer mailed back the letter from DMV stating what the tickets were for and that both are closed ( I didn't even get points). Please note: I have NOT been arrested, charged of crime, DWI/DUI or anything, these were minor traffic tickets, both tickets closed now.
My case status hasn't been updated since RFE (which was a month ago), it doesn't even show that RFE response received.
Overall, I have mixed impression of Baltimore DO.
On one hand their staff is courteous and even friendly (I made two INFOPASS appointments to inquire of my case status). If you have any questions you can go there , sit and wait to be called and then talk to a USCIS officer.
The last time I spoke to a lady and she was very courteous and professional.
Even the officer who interviewed me wasn't bad at all, just neutral and doing his job, so I had none of the horrible experiences some people share about IO interviews.
But I think , due to high number of new hires, the office has a problem with training new officers and new officers (not out of spite but just afraid to approve a petition) do not process cases timely, issue wrong and unwarranted RFE and then it has to wait supervisor's review to reach a decision.
In my case there is a possibility that I will be denied BECAUSE I HAVE NO ARREST/CRIMINAL RECORD, how ironic is that?
The printout I-72 by default asks for arrest disposition which there is no way you can produce if you were never arrested. And no RFE should have been issued for minor traffic ticket to begin with.....
If not for this erroneous RFE and delay in processing I would give this office 5/5.
Everything else made a good impression, employees there treat visitors with dignity, respect , not overly friendly nor hostile, just as you would expect from a Federal agency with the functions they have.
I wish they had monitoring supervisors participating DURING and after the interview and helped newly hired IO be more comfortable processing and deciding the cases.
CASE UPDATE: Contacted Senator Barbara Mikulski and Senator Ben Cardin. In less than a week following the Congressional inquiry the decision was made on the case (email notification).
Both Senator's staff immediately responded and sent inquiries to USCIS.
