Sent back home from USCIS Field office for N400 Interview

[RAHUL & FLOR 2]

Hello VJ's 

 

I am not sure, if any one has gone through this. I filed my n-400 application in July 2018 with i-751 pending. Everything went fine with Bio-metrics and felt like process was going smooth. In March 2019 I got the USCIS notice that my N-400 Interview was scheduled for today at San Jose field office ie. 04/09/2019. I reach to Field Office on time and go through security checks as normal. After getting my Token I wait with my wife for our Token number to be called for the Interview. After waiting few hours an officer calls my Token Number and calls me on the window. She said that as my i-751 was pending she will have to reschedule my Interview. This time it will be a combo interview. She took the N-400 interview letter from me and when I asked how much time it will take for USCIS to reschedule my interview she said they will put my case in a queue and I will be notified. She apologized for all this and  left the window. 

 

I am confused as I have Not seen any case on VJ or anywhere (At least I have not seen any case of VJ) where you are sent back from N-400 Interview for i-751 pending. What does this means. Do I file another application, as literally after officer taking away my Interview letter I do not have any proof of attending interview. I mean how hard is it for USCIS to lie and say that I never showed for Interview. Should I get an attorney's help? If USCIS does reschedule my interview what might be the timeline for the new interview (Any Guestimate would be helpful as I am planning a trip to India). Is this kind of scenario normal?

Edited April 10, 2019 by RAHUL & FLOR
Text

[millefleur 5,047]

**Moved from US Citizenship Case Filing and Progress Reports to USC General Discussion**

[Leo7777 243]

This is an example of one of the many reasons that some here (including myself) advise people to wait for ROC approval before filing N-400.

 

I cannot advise you on how to proceed now because, as you correctly outline, there are many possible scenarios that may happen.

[Going through 5,671]

On 4/9/2019 at 10:01 PM, RAHUL & FLOR said:

I am confused as I have Not seen any case on VJ or anywhere (At least I have not seen any case of VJ) where you are sent back from N-400 Interview for i-751 pending.

It's not common, but yes it has happened before to other VJ members.  They can't approve the N400 until the i-751 is adjudicated first.

 

On 4/9/2019 at 10:01 PM, RAHUL & FLOR said:

Do I file another application

No, do not file another application.  There is no need to.  If you filed another application (after withdrawing the first one) you would be paying the fee again, plus be put back into the queue from the beginning for processing.   It makes absolutely no sense to file another application in your situation.

 

On 4/9/2019 at 10:01 PM, RAHUL & FLOR said:

Do I file another application, as literally after officer taking away my Interview letter I do not have any proof of attending interview. I mean how hard is it for USCIS to lie and say that I never showed for Interview.

Even if you'd kept the interview letter, it's still not proof that you attended the interview---only proof that you were scheduled into an interview.  Don't stress about not getting the letter back---the officer likely kept the interview letter for it to be added to your file/refer back to it when re-scheduling you for a combo interview.

 

On 4/9/2019 at 10:01 PM, RAHUL & FLOR said:

Should I get an attorney's help?

Not sure what you think an attorney would be able to do for you at this point?  

 

On 4/9/2019 at 10:01 PM, RAHUL & FLOR said:

If USCIS does reschedule my interview what might be the timeline for the new interview (Any Guestimate would be helpful as I am planning a trip to India).

What you can do, is phone USCIS and ask to be transferred to a L2 immigration officer who can look into the actual details of your case and verify if you have been placed back in the queue for interview scheduling.  That should give you a bit of an idea as to the timeline you are facing.  Do not rely on the info given by the regular customer service person who answers the phone---they won't be able to tell you any real information---ask to be transferred to a L2 officer.

 

[RAHUL & FLOR 2]

8 hours ago, Going through said:

It's not common, but yes it has happened before to other VJ members.  They can't approve the N400 until the i-751 is adjudicated first.

 

No, do not file another application.  There is no need to.  If you filed another application (after withdrawing the first one) you would be paying the fee again, plus be put back into the queue from the beginning for processing.   It makes absolutely no sense to file another application in your situation.

 

Even if you'd kept the interview letter, it's still not proof that you attended the interview---only proof that you were scheduled into an interview.  Don't stress about not getting the letter back---the officer likely kept the interview letter for it to be added to your file/refer back to it when re-scheduling you for a combo interview.

 

Not sure what you think an attorney would be able to do for you at this point?  

 

What you can do, is phone USCIS and ask to be transferred to a L2 immigration officer who can look into the actual details of your case and verify if you have been placed back in the queue for interview scheduling.  That should give you a bit of an idea as to the timeline you are facing.  Do not rely on the info given by the regular customer service person who answers the phone---they won't be able to tell you any real information---ask to be transferred to a L2 officer.

 

Thanks for your advice. 

[AK_2014 113]

Yes, this does happen on occasion. I hope your rescheduled interview comes soon.

 

A similar thing happened to my wife in Chicago in November 2017. An ROC interview then came along in what we thought was a very timely fashion (December 2017); ROC was approved. But then, radio silence with respect to the N-400. We ended up moving to another district in summer 2018, and she was finally rescheduled for the N-400 interview in December 2018 (13 months after she was sent home from the non-interview the first time around), and became a citizen in February of this year. 

 

May the process go more quickly for you!

[geff44 30]

On 4/9/2019 at 7:01 PM, RAHUL & FLOR said:

Hello VJ's 

 

I am not sure, if any one has gone through this. I filed my n-400 application in July 2018 with i-751 pending. Everything went fine with Bio-metrics and felt like process was going smooth. In March 2019 I got the USCIS notice that my N-400 Interview was scheduled for today at San Jose field office ie. 04/09/2019. I reach to Field Office on time and go through security checks as normal. After getting my Token I wait with my wife for our Token number to be called for the Interview. After waiting few hours an officer calls my Token Number and calls me on the window. She said that as my i-751 was pending she will have to reschedule my Interview. This time it will be a combo interview. She took the N-400 interview letter from me and when I asked how much time it will take for USCIS to reschedule my interview she said they will put my case in a queue and I will be notified. She apologized for all this and  left the window. 

 

I am confused as I have Not seen any case on VJ or anywhere (At least I have not seen any case of VJ) where you are sent back from N-400 Interview for i-751 pending. What does this means. Do I file another application, as literally after officer taking away my Interview letter I do not have any proof of attending interview. I mean how hard is it for USCIS to lie and say that I never showed for Interview. Should I get an attorney's help? If USCIS does reschedule my interview what might be the timeline for the new interview (Any Guestimate would be helpful as I am planning a trip to India). Is this kind of scenario normal?

Hi,

 

My wife had the same situation as you.  I see you are from the same local USCIS office as us ( San Jose).  Don't worry as you are not alone with this situation..  My wife's interview for N400 was originally scheduled 2/15/19.  We went there and  assume it would be a combo I751/N400 interview. After an hour of waiting we got called by the officer and was told they could not proceed with the N400 interview since my wife's I-751 was pending.  Our phone number and email was taken before we left the office and was told wait for an I 751 interview followed by N400 within 90 days.  My wife just finished the interview today both I 751 and N400 today and passed both.  It took exactly 2 months of waiting for the reschedule interview . Expect it to be a combination I 751 followed by N400 so both of you should be present.  Good luck.

[RAHUL & FLOR 2]

3 hours ago, geff44 said:

Hi,

 

My wife had the same situation as you.  I see you are from the same local USCIS office as us ( San Jose).  Don't worry as you are not alone with this situation..  My wife's interview for N400 was originally scheduled 2/15/19.  We went there and  assume it would be a combo I751/N400 interview. After an hour of waiting we got called by the officer and was told they could not proceed with the N400 interview since my wife's I-751 was pending.  Our phone number and email was taken before we left the office and was told wait for an I 751 interview followed by N400 within 90 days.  My wife just finished the interview today both I 751 and N400 today and passed both.  It took exactly 2 months of waiting for the reschedule interview . Expect it to be a combination I 751 followed by N400 so both of you should be present.  Good luck.

Thank you Sir. Congrats on your wife's application approval. It would be great if you can reply to below question.

 

1. Once sent back from uscis sj field office what was the status online.

2. How long did it take for the status to change on online portal? What were the status which changed?

3. Did you get any rescheduling letter from uscis for interview slot.

4. Were the interview proceed ing normal?

 

Thanks

[geff44 30]

33 minutes ago, RAHUL & FLOR said:

Thank you Sir. Congrats on your wife's application approval. It would be great if you can reply to below question.

 

1. Once sent back from uscis sj field office what was the status online.

2. How long did it take for the status to change on online portal? What were the status which changed?

3. Did you get any rescheduling letter from uscis for interview slot.

4. Were the interview proceed ing normal?

 

Thanks

1. The status never change online so don't rely on it. The only time it change was after my wife received the new notice for a new interview date.

 

2. See my answer on 1.

 

3. Actually my wife first got a letter just for the I 751 interview in the middle of March but without any notice for the N400 interview. And then she got  call from the San Jose USCIS that they are conducting two interviews , one for the I 751 followed by the N400. They also sent an email notice . But the status online never changed. She was advice that the spouse should be present for the I 751 interview.   Last week we got a total of 6 letters from USCIS for the cancellation of the N400 which was originally scheduled in Feb then notice for the I 751 and N400 .

 

4. Yes the interview took a few minutes for the I 751 followed immediately followed by N400. Total was less than 20 minutes for both . But this can be on case by case basis depending on your situation and amount of proof of relationship.  I have a feeling that us having our 2 year old son did help to prove genuine relationship plus the amount of other co mingling proof I submitted originally.  Bottomline bring additional proof of a strong relationship just in case.

 

I hope this helps and good luck.

[gomez02 9]

19 hours ago, geff44 said:

Hi,

 

My wife had the same situation as you.  I see you are from the same local USCIS office as us ( San Jose).  Don't worry as you are not alone with this situation..  My wife's interview for N400 was originally scheduled 2/15/19.  We went there and  assume it would be a combo I751/N400 interview. After an hour of waiting we got called by the officer and was told they could not proceed with the N400 interview since my wife's I-751 was pending.  Our phone number and email was taken before we left the office and was told wait for an I 751 interview followed by N400 within 90 days.  My wife just finished the interview today both I 751 and N400 today and passed both.  It took exactly 2 months of waiting for the reschedule interview . Expect it to be a combination I 751 followed by N400 so both of you should be present.  Good luck.

Hi,

 

I am from the same local USCIS office. I would like to ask if your I-751 was transferred to the National Benefits Center prior to your N-400 interview date. Mine was transferred in Dec 2018 and I received a notice about the transfer this time not like the one they did in Feb/Mar that year about transferring to local USCIS office but no notice.

 

 I am scheduled for an interview at the end of this month for my N-400 and when I sent in an inquiry if it was going to be a combo interview, they said that the IO will be the one to decide on it. They said the same thing when I called. So now Im thinking that they might reshedule my interview as well because of my pending I-751.

 

Any thoughts?

[geff44 30]

2 hours ago, gomez02 said:

Hi,

 

I am from the same local USCIS office. I would like to ask if your I-751 was transferred to the National Benefits Center prior to your N-400 interview date. Mine was transferred in Dec 2018 and I received a notice about the transfer this time not like the one they did in Feb/Mar that year about transferring to local USCIS office but no notice.

 

 I am scheduled for an interview at the end of this month for my N-400 and when I sent in an inquiry if it was going to be a combo interview, they said that the IO will be the one to decide on it. They said the same thing when I called. So now Im thinking that they might reshedule my interview as well because of my pending I-751.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Yes my wife's N400 was transferred to NBC same month as yours.

 

It is hard to tell if they will do a combo interview or not but be prepared and bring your spouse with you. FYI there was another person that had the N400 cancelled  and rescheduled interview for a combo I 751 and N400 instead at the San Jose USCIS office.  We were rescheduled on the same day.  There is a chance that yours could be rescheduled too.

[Arka23 0]

We have a pending I-751 and N400 and our local office is San Jose. We received an interview notice for May 31 at the end of April but knowing what happened to several people in our situation I asked our lawyer to contact USCIS. She faxed an inquiry to local office regarding I-751 and literally the next day the interview was canceled and we were told a new interview will be scheduled for both cases. Anyways it’s been four weeks and we haven’t heard anything. I know some people in similar situation received joint interviews in April 15th but Has anyone else had a joint interview since that time?