IMPORTANT - inconsistent case#

[Var 0]

I have just checked my status online again using my "application number" and it still says "Initial Review".

However, I read the I797C NOA again and in the bottom left there is ANOTHER application number - different!

when I entered this application number online (with * instead of $) it said they mailed my RFE on July 27th but I still haven't received anything....

I am calling to find out how it can be (two different App#) and why I haven't received the mail yet...

for those of you who still waiting for their RFE letter - please check if you have a differnt app# in the bottom left of you NOA and check it online...

please let me know what yours said...

[ELW 5]

OH my gosh! Good detective work - it is exactly as you say!! The first application number continues to say only initial review, that they received our application on July 19th. I added the second number to our cases and it says RFE sent on July 28th! What is going on, why the two numbers?! I hope you can find something out!

[aleful 1,905]

I have just checked my status online again using my "application number" and it still says "Initial Review".

However, I read the I797C NOA again and in the bottom left there is ANOTHER application number - different!

when I entered this application number online (with * instead of $) it said they mailed my RFE on July 27th but I still haven't received anything....

I am calling to find out how it can be (two different App#) and why I haven't received the mail yet...

for those of you who still waiting for their RFE letter - please check if you have a differnt app# in the bottom left of you NOA and check it online...

please let me know what yours said...

the RFE letter are the biometrics, don't worry.

[ELW 5]

Yes we know that the RFE letter is the biometrics; the point is why are the two application numbers different?

Var, someone answered on the July Filers thread saying the top and bottom numbers on their application are the SAME! I wonder how many of us out there have DIFFERENT numbers! Hope more people answer.

July Filers

[debut720 0]

I also have two different numbers on the top and the bottom of my NOA. The one on the top has a * in it, but the one on the bottom has a $. The confirmation email that I got via G-1145 corresponds to the number with the *.

When I check the online status for the number with the $ in it (after replacing $ with a *), the system says that this application was received on a date before I actually mailed my application.

Another observation: If you change the last three digits of the number on your NOA and try bunch of them, they all seem to correspond to different applications in the online system. It appears that USCIS assigns these numbers in a pretty sequential manner.

Any word from USCIS?

[jasminelily 1]

My first NOA (notice of receipt) has the different case numbers. Top one with the * and bottom one with the $. When I check the bottom number with the case status online, it said invalid so I'm not worrying about that.

My second NOA (FP letter) has the same case number, one on top and one on bottom. I guess this time they realized their mistake and corrected itself.

My interview letter only has one case number. My interview is in less than two weeks, makes a good point of asking the IO why the two numbers on the first NOA.

[debut720 0]

Thank you, jasminelily.

[Var 0]

My first NOA (notice of receipt) has the different case numbers. Top one with the * and bottom one with the $. When I check the bottom number with the case status online, it said invalid so I'm not worrying about that.

My second NOA (FP letter) has the same case number, one on top and one on bottom. I guess this time they realized their mistake and corrected itself.

My interview letter only has one case number. My interview is in less than two weeks, makes a good point of asking the IO why the two numbers on the first NOA.

Hi jasminelily,

What is the number of the mis-information line? I called the 1-800 number of USCIS but they are so useless - they haven't seen anything but what I can see online...

Please share your experience with the mis-information line, which number called? how did you present your case (didn't they say to wait longer since it hasn't been a month ?)

thanks for you help,

Var

[jasminelily 1]

It's the 1800 number listed on the NOA and yes they are clueless, the best they can do is to put in a service request for you. Unless you have a very good reason, they won't transfer you to a real IO, but if you want to ask why you have two different case numbers, you can ask for a real IO, I think that is a good reason, I kind of want to know why myself. I made sure it's exactly a month before I call. I told them the online status said the usual cases will have FP appointment within a month but I didn't get my FP letter within a month so my case isn't normal, then the lady put in a service request, I actually got a response in e-mail the same afternoon that said "your case has been transfer to local ASC waiting for schedule" and if nothing happens for another 45 days, call them back. I was going to call them back in another two weeks or so but I got the FP letter before that. Anything else you want to know?

[ELW 5]

Good info, jasminelily! Thanks for the input!

[Var 0]

I finally got a notice that my RFE was sent

On August 11, 2010, we mailed a notice requesting additional evidence or information in this case N400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION.

I don't know if it was just my time to receive it or it is because I called and opened a Service Request a few days ago..

EWL - if you don't get yours in a few days I suggest you call and open a service request too based on the "other" application case#

[ELW 5]

Thanks for the advice, Var! I will open a request on Monday, I think. Still nothing for us.

Edited August 14, 2010 by ELW

[lailaa 0]

congratulation VAR..

I found a link from 2009 on what that 2nd case number is about.. someone was told by an IO that 2nd number for tracking the payment:)

maybe thats why the dollar sign is there:)) and when we try the number with * we r probably seeing someone else's case:))

here is the link:

http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?304941-Two-application-numbers-%28NBC-%29-for-one-N400-Application

ELW, yes you should call them as soon as possible..

I called uscis today, first person picked the phone insisted that my case was in normal processing timeline.. even though I repeated few times that almost 40 days past but I still have no fingerprint so that I would like to open service request on FP , he refused to open service request and told nothing but just kept reading what my online case status says:))

than I asked him that why my NOA had 2 case number and each shows different status, he asked 2nd number then put me on hold, when he came back he said he would transfer me to the 2nd person... I guess that 2nd person I talked was an IO.. I asked her about 2 numbers and 2 different case status also where was my FP notice, she only checked the 1st case number with * sign appears on the top left corner of NOA, and she said that she would open the service request for me but what she was seeing is that I am already in queue for interview appointment and that means that they already had my biometric information..

I hope that is just what it is:))

People who picks the phone first know nothing ..I guess they'r just robots to read what we already see in our case status at uscis web page:))

if you want to talk an IO , directly ask about 2 different case number and 2 different case status, so when they have no answer they will definitely transfer you to an IO ..

[Captain Oates 911]

ah if they already have your biometrics does that mean you had them done recently in the last 18 months or so - for some process ?

I seem to remember that not everyone has to have bio if they have a recent version on file ?

[ELW 5]

More great info, thanks lailaa! I read through the link you gave and they said:

"The top number is the official receipt number used to track your case whereas the one on bottom is the one created for initial receipt (same used on cashed check)."

"I was told by IO that the one with dollar sign is for USCIS used for tracking the application payment, so don't worry about that one."

We will definitely call on Monday and ask for a service request, getting a IO by specially asking about the two different case numbers. Thanks again for the info!