"Extended Review" after Husband's Naturalization Interview?

[GoBeau 0]

Hello everyone. My husband is Hungarian and had his naturalization interview January 5. (We applied through marriage five years ago.) He passed the civics/writing part but the interviewer seemed to have an issue with him, questioning why we redacted financial/account data in our financial documents (our attorney said this was ok) and also expressed shock over the value of our life insurance policy.

My husband had all required documentation, but the interviewer told my husband he wasn't satisfied it was a real marriage and he needed a utility bill. Apparently the birth certificates of our twin girls were not enough...it seemed all to come down to a utility bill. He gave my husband another appointment for March 2. My husband, who is desperately awaiting his citizenship so he can apply for a government agency position before he gets too old, explained this to the officer. The officer said that he appointment was solely so he could drop off additional documentation and that my husband could provide this documentation prior to that date to speed things up.

We contacted our attorney, changed all of our utilities into both of our names, pulled every single imaginable document from every creditor/banking institution and had the attorney hand-deliver a large package of documents on Jan. 19. The officer appeared very satisfied with the new material and the attorney thought we would be getting oath ceremony info within a month. Still nothing March 1, so just to ensure nothing could go wrong, my husband and the attorney showed up for the March 2 appointment, saw the officer who said they actually hadn't needed to show up for the appointment, said he approved the application but it was with the supervisor for "extended review" and would not elaborate -- all of this strangely without making any eye contact at all.

Our lawyer has since written the supervisor and we have contacted our congresswoman (awaiting feedback) to get some idea as to what is going on. We know it's only been two months, but it definitely seems like there is an unusual holdup. Has anyone had a similar issue? I should add that my husband was with a government law enforcement agency in Hungary, currently works in the security industry (private sector), has worked as security consultant for some very high level individuals and has a weapons permit in most states. Could this have anything to do with the delay? I would think these would be 'good' things. Thanks so much for any thoughts you might have!

Edited March 14, 2012 by GoBeau

[ConcordUser 18]

Looks bit unusual to ask for the utility bill after producing all the other documents.I guess it is ok they can ask if they want to ask. I think you made the right steps hiring an atty and contacting your congressman. I am sure things will work out fine. Relax and give it some time to get things sorted out.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

I think you need to get a hold of yourself. You bugged the I.O. for not approving him on the spot. You retained an attorney. You had an attorney hand-deliver documents requested. You then showed up to the second appointment. You contacted a congressman. What's next? Calling President Obama?

Everything so far is totally normal procedure. Becoming a U.S. citizen is a big deal, so the I.O. needs to make sure that everything is in order, especially since his assessment is evaluated again by his superior. Tell you what, if I was the I.O., I'd be so p*ssed that I would let your husband wait a lot longer than necessary, just because he lacks what is a virtue: patience.

[GoBeau 0]

I think you need to get a hold of yourself. You bugged the I.O. for not approving him on the spot. You retained an attorney. You had an attorney hand-deliver documents requested. You then showed up to the second appointment. You contacted a congressman. What's next? Calling President Obama?

Everything so far is totally normal procedure. Becoming a U.S. citizen is a big deal, so the I.O. needs to make sure that everything is in order, especially since his assessment is evaluated again by his superior. Tell you what, if I was the I.O., I'd be so p*ssed that I would let your husband wait a lot longer than necessary, just because he lacks what is a virtue: patience.

I appreciate your response but don't see why you had to be so sarcastic.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,370]

IMHO you are going to be fine. I really don't think that making no eye contact is bad. It is just bad communication, that's all. As for your husband working in the past for the Hungarian government, I don't think it really matters one way or the other. They did not question him about that, so I think they know everything about that they want to know.

Good luck!

[Alaskan 10]

I appreciate your response but don't see why you had to be so sarcastic.

Totally agree with u! He loves to give those kind of unnecessary answers. First we pay that I.O salary, so we are entitle to a decent service. after all we are paying every possible fee there is out there it's not like the government it's giving citizenship away for free. And if she feels the process has take longer than it should she should be able to do whatever she can in her power. My mom taught me that IF U DONT HAVE anything NICE to say, DON'T SAY nothing at all.

[EspoMan 4]

Totally agree with u! He loves to give those kind of unnecessary answers. First we pay that I.O salary, so we are entitle to a decent service. after all we are paying every possible fee there is out there it's not like the government it's giving citizenship away for free. And if she feels the process has take longer than it should she should be able to do whatever she can in her power. My mom taught me that IF U DONT HAVE anything NICE to say, DON'T SAY nothing at all.

Yeah I agree. Some people here think ther ####### don't stink. If I'm paying $680 I'd expect decent service. And I think we should be allowed and should get answers to our questions from I.O. Without having to worry. This is not Nazi Germany...

[ConcordUser 18]

To be honest Brother H is very direct. IO has a job to do. If they need to ask for additional information they can. Just paying $680 does not give US Citizentship. If they decline the application or does not provide answer in 120 days then the case will be transferred to a court where applicant will have a chance to present their case. I would say hold your horses and let the process work. You can always make an infopass appointment and find out additional information. I think OP did every thing by hiring an atty and contacting the congressman. Now there is no reason to throw rocks at IO when he/she doing the job. Give it time.

[Alaskan 10]

To be honest Brother H is very direct. IO has a job to do. If they need to ask for additional information they can. Just paying $680 does not give US Citizentship. If they decline the application or does not provide answer in 120 days then the case will be transferred to a court where applicant will have a chance to present their case. I would say hold your horses and let the process work. You can always make an infopass appointment and find out additional information. I think OP did every thing by hiring an atty and contacting the congressman. Now there is no reason to throw rocks at IO when he/she doing the job. Give it time.

One thing is to be direct and another sarcastic and offensive. Just answer what the person asked without ur stupid nonsense.. And it is not just $680 there is also taxes we pay as lpr that is part of the requirements to become a citizen, and other legal fees that some ppl have.. I think the ppl that comes legally to this country pay their fair share to be a citizen. We come to this site for support! And help.

[ConcordUser 18]

One thing is to be direct and another sarcastic and offensive. Just answer what the person asked without ur stupid nonsense.. And it is not just $680 there is also taxes we pay as lpr that is part of the requirements to become a citizen, and other legal fees that some ppl have.. I think the ppl that comes legally to this country pay their fair share to be a citizen. We come to this site for support! And help.

Quite honestly, I do not see any sarcastic or offensive here. What are you expeting on this forum? OP already hired an atty and contacted the congressman. IO is doing the job and there might be some issues IO want to address before making a recommendation. What else do you thing needs to be done. I still do not understand what is the issue here. Even as LPR paying the taxes does not entitle you for the citizenship if there is criminal history or if IO wants to verify some other affiliations or contacts. I do not think any one is being disrespectful at this time to any. If OP wants can make an infopass appointment and ask for additional information. We all went through the process and every one on this fourm has been extremly helpful and supportive.

[Jupiter07 12]

While I was reading OP's story, I was thinking exactly like Brother Heisekel - though I wouldn't have said it myself. You need to be patient. Perhaps the no eye contact meant "get your face out of here and let me do my job". Just saying. Try to be patient... it is hard but you've done all you could - except being patient. So be patient.

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, the lawyer involvement 'seems' nice,

but, IMO, that lawyer is not following up in a timely fashion.

Just my 2 cents.

[NickD 202]

Posted this several times, wife's friend that was six months ahead of us had all the required documentation, joint home ownership, too old to have kids, but for whatever reason was asked for a completely worthless joint utility bill. This cause her a 15 month delay in her citizenship process.

I just called a couple of utility companies, no proof, no marriage certificate, nothing, and asked them to add my wife's name to our bill. While we didn't submit those with our application, wife had those with her and was asked for them. Surprised, she was approved, but her application was misplaced afterwards.

Really don't like to bring up the issue of racial prejudice, but pretty well known and a problem around here with racial prejudice from African Americans and Asians against Hispanics. Wife's IO was African American, and stepdaughters' was Asian, both had problems with the English language. Only hint about my gals being Hispanic, is on the application, but are from European descent, and Hispanic is not a race, but a culture. And both had problems with their IO's.

Also good friends of Feingold, Kohl, and Obey, I didn't give a darn, gave them a call, they settled these problems instantly. Funny Obama is mentioned, was my wife's senator living in Illinois. Tried to help her with her dilemma, Obama was running for presidency at the time and he and his staff was no where around even for a contact. She had to wait, and wait she did, like 15 months.

Was a bit apprehension in attending my wife's and stepdaughters' oath ceremony, using political pressure, but they were super super nice. Asked my wife about racial prejudice in her home country, like here, very mixed. Said some, but not nearly as bad as it is here. Why is it this way in this giant melting pot? And is that the reason why you are having problems? Seems like having a couple of kids is positive proof of a valid marriage, and that is the issue you are facing. Got to be kidding with a joint utility bill. They don't give a good damn whose name is on the bill, if you don't pay it, will put a lean on the property. We own rental property with a tenant that didn't pay their utility bill, they went against us, we had to pay that! It was our names on that deed!

How many times have you called the USCIS to speak to a person that doesn't know anything about nothing? In my opinion, very screwed up agency loaded with incompetent personnel. Can't even read their own web site and no their own homemade rules congress doesn't even know anything about. And this is for a country I was expected to die for fighting for the freedom of other countries I have never even heard about. What about our own freedom? And like I said before, the USCIS is the only government agency we had to deal with, was dealing with one IO for your life or death situation and keeping your family together. Certified by several other governmental agencies and always dealt with a board, not just one egotistical prejudiced individual.

Worse part of this journey was always having to be nice, non-emotional, and only dealing with the facts. This country thought me how to kill with my bare hands, sure would have loved to resort to that training, but wouldn't dare.

So tell me about your IO.

[GoBeau 0]

Thank you to everyone for responding. (Especially those who understood how I felt.)

My husband and I -- like many people posting here -- have been living in a state of high stress because his status has had a significant negative impact on our lives and his career, especially because of the industry he's in. The GC took nearly two years and our lives were on hold that entire time. Because of long-time status problems, he couldn't even go home for his parents' funerals and because he was raised in a Communist country, he feels pretty hopeless since his future is still controlled by a government.

I know that our situation is not nearly as bad as some so we're very lucky in that sense. But still, even though I want straight answers, a wise or mocking remark is certainly not what I need.

Nick D -- Yes, I could probably get the mailman put on our utility bill so the urgency of this for proof seemed strange. My husband and I are both Caucasian, although the interviewer was not, but I hadn't really felt there was racial discrimination involved. Also, had he really doubted the marriage, then wouldn't he have called us in for a fraud interview? Thank God he didn't because my husband doesn't even notice when I cut my hair let alone what color my toothbrush is.

Edited March 15, 2012 by GoBeau

[Kajikit 65]

The lack of eye contact doesn't mean a thing. I had a perfectly normal interview and the interviewer acted like a robot for the whole time. I think that must be USCIS policy... or else they're staffed entirely by androids.