I had to sue USCIS

[aleac 75]

Just now, millefleur said:

Ah thanks, must have missed it. So it worked then. Kind of disheartening to see that USCIS is turning into a "pay to win" institution (via hiring lawyers.)

Agree 100%.

 

 

[Letspaintcookies 2,235]

What response did you got from USCIS other that suddenly everything went it's way? Like an actual statement to the lawsuit.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,500]

33 minutes ago, aleac said:

In my case it was $4000, but I believe every case might be different

It's a LOT of money, that's why I tried every possible avenue before I did it.

Wow! That is indeed A LOT. Especially considering that it was for them to do something they were supposed to do in the first place. 

Truly sorry you had to resort to this but glad it worked out.

[igoyougoduke 1,614]

3 hours ago, aleac said:

Hi all,

This is just a summary of the events that led me to file a lawsuit with al lawyer called "Writ of Mandamus" to move my case forward.

Removal of conditions filed in July 2019.

October 2019 Fingerprints taken

No movement for 2 years. In the meantime all my fellow July 2019 filers had been approved.

In March 2021 my case was very much outside processing times, so I started contacting the DHS Ombudsman, my local representative and my 2 US Senators. Not one of them ever replied, nor contacted me in any way. With USCS I filed about 8 or 9 Service Requests. Not a single one was ever adressed. They were closed without any explaination.

 

After 30 months waiting, I decided to file a lawsuit in October of this year, within 3 weeks my Removal of Conditions was approved and my N400 interview was scheduled and last week I became a Citizen.

 

This should not be normal. Blaming COVID for these ridiculous delays is an easy excuse.

I have a strong case, both me and my wife have good jobs, I am not from a "conflictive" country (whatever that means) of course no criminal records and I pay a lot in taxes to Uncle Sam.

 

This process has been a complete nightmare to me and my family and I hope I never have to step inside a USCIS office ever again. 

 

I wish you all the best of luck,

did you file a mandamus ? you should have done it past 90 days of filing application 

Edited December 15, 2021 by igoyougoduke

[igoyougoduke 1,614]

32 minutes ago, Letspaintcookies said:

What response did you got from USCIS other that suddenly everything went it's way? Like an actual statement to the lawsuit.

USCIS just approves petition to get rid of the case. This is pretty normal as they have a special desk within office when a lawsuit is filed. They know its less $$$ to give a decision than to fight it 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,328]

OP, 

 

Congrats.  It's a sad state with USCIS that you had to WoM to get your application processed while others got theirs within the normal processing time.

 

But, I have to admit, this topic caught my eye because of the numerous @Crazy Cat references.  I bet his notification is lighting up.  Hello, @Crazy Cat, hopefully this doesn't cause you to be crazier crazy cat.

[aleac 75]

1 hour ago, Letspaintcookies said:

What response did you got from USCIS other that suddenly everything went it's way? Like an actual statement to the lawsuit.

Yes. About 2-3 weeks after USCIS was served the ROC was approved and the N400 interview scheduled

49 minutes ago, igoyougoduke said:

USCIS just approves petition to get rid of the case. This is pretty normal as they have a special desk within office when a lawsuit is filed. They know its less $$$ to give a decision than to fight it 

That's exactly what happened

[ovi666 7]

9 hours ago, aleac said:

Hi all,

This is just a summary of the events that led me to file a lawsuit with al lawyer called "Writ of Mandamus" to move my case forward.

Removal of conditions filed in July 2019.

October 2019 Fingerprints taken

No movement for 2 years. In the meantime all my fellow July 2019 filers had been approved.

In March 2021 my case was very much outside processing times, so I started contacting the DHS Ombudsman, my local representative and my 2 US Senators. Not one of them ever replied, nor contacted me in any way. With USCS I filed about 8 or 9 Service Requests. Not a single one was ever adressed. They were closed without any explaination.

 

After 30 months waiting, I decided to file a lawsuit in October of this year, within 3 weeks my Removal of Conditions was approved and my N400 interview was scheduled and last week I became a Citizen.

 

This should not be normal. Blaming COVID for these ridiculous delays is an easy excuse.

I have a strong case, both me and my wife have good jobs, I am not from a "conflictive" country (whatever that means) of course no criminal records and I pay a lot in taxes to Uncle Sam.

 

This process has been a complete nightmare to me and my family and I hope I never have to step inside a USCIS office ever again. 

 

I wish you all the best of luck,

May be we all should follow suit 

[Don Godwin 225]

9 hours ago, aleac said:

In my case it was $4000, but I believe every case might be different

It's a LOT of money, that's why I tried every possible avenue before I did it.

You did the right thing I hope you sue em to cover attorneys fees 

[aleac 75]

11 hours ago, Letspaintcookies said:

What response did you got from USCIS other that suddenly everything went it's way? Like an actual statement to the lawsuit.

As @igoyougoduke explains below, USCIS basically does not have time to "fight" the case so they just move the case forward, and once it's approved the lawsuit is automatically withdrawn

[Ben & Katy 168]

16 hours ago, aleac said:

I received automatic responses from the DHS and my representative. But it was "your request was received". Nothing else.

Never an email or call addressing my case in particular.

For both Senators I filled their forms and sent them via both email and actual physical mail. I never heard anything from them.

I think I am going to do the same thing as you if my ROC is not approved or at least hear communication until fall of 2022 about the ROC or Citizenship application.  We applied for ROC in July 2020, fingerprints December 2020 and ever since nothing, ziltch not a word.  We will apply for citizenship once the tax refund comes this spring.  

[aleac 75]

13 minutes ago, Ben & Katy said:

I think I am going to do the same thing as you if my ROC is not approved or at least hear communication until fall of 2022 about the ROC or Citizenship application.  We applied for ROC in July 2020, fingerprints December 2020 and ever since nothing, ziltch not a word.  We will apply for citizenship once the tax refund comes this spring.  

That seems OK, sometimes I think I waited 6 months too long.

But I'm all done now thankfully

[millefleur 5,039]

53 minutes ago, Ben & Katy said:

I think I am going to do the same thing as you if my ROC is not approved or at least hear communication until fall of 2022 about the ROC or Citizenship application.  We applied for ROC in July 2020, fingerprints December 2020 and ever since nothing, ziltch not a word.  We will apply for citizenship once the tax refund comes this spring.  

Be sure to exhaust all other resources such as congressmen and ombudsman first. Perhaps filing for citizenship will have an effect, it has worked for some.

Edited December 15, 2021 by millefleur

[Ben & Katy 168]

18 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Be sure to exhaust all other resources such as congressmen and ombudsman first. Perhaps filing for citizenship will have an effect, it has worked for some.

That is what I intend to do.  I would like to avoid forking out $4,000 if I don't have to.  

[.yana 586]

So crazy that nobody ever replied to you!

 

Our timelines are (were) very similar, and I also had to wait for a very long time to get approved. But each time I reached out to my local senator (VT, NJ, and CO) - I received a very prompt response, and they were actually able to help me move my case along each time.

 

I also had to schedule an infopass appointment for I-551 stamp, and was put on a call list, and the officer called me back within promised period. 

And had at least 3 calls with USCIS Tier 1 only, and all were extremely pleasant and actually had some answers for me... 

 

Sad you had to pay $4k to get your case approved that should have been approved for free anyway...