Imperium

6 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

or a misprint by a clerk

i would go to the 10 AM 

Actually all oath ceremonies for this office are schuduled at 10am.  It is strange that notice has a preprinted address and time of 1pm.

22 minutes ago, Mike E said:

I would arrive  at 10am. 

I was planing on going at 10am. Another issue is that according to the Court schudule, ceremony will be held at the US Court House. But the notice she handed me has a preprinted time and address for USCIS office where I had my interview.

5 minutes ago, pittfiler said:

Would it be an incorrect time zone?

I do not think it is an incorrect time zone. 

Hi,

On Aug 23, an IO gave me notice to appear for Oath Ceremoney. The notice states the time 1:00 pm. But when I checked the US Court House schudule, the only Oath Ceremony schuduled is at 10:00 am, there is no ceremony at 1:00 pm. Is this happened to anyone and what should I do?

USCIS, in addition to other evidence, considers children an indicatitor of stronger marriage. However, USCIS PM has no such language. I think it depends upon how a particular officer weighs child-birth and concept of marriage (or creation of family) in their personal views and that gets translated into how they perceive a marriage. 

9 hours ago, Burnpro23 said:

Why do you say that you had a complex history? Did they ask you about it?

I have prior arrest related to post 9/11 JTTF sweep leading into lengthy and complex removal proceedings. IO's line of questions attempted to reach as far back as 2001-02. My A-file was hauled in on a trolly, you can now imagine how complex it has been. Apart from that, some civic questions were of a different nature such as "What is vote" and "Why one vote" etc. 

Recognizing the complexity of my case, I believe the officer was an incredibly professional and nice. They did not make me feel uncomfortable while also performed a quality review.

Greetings,

I had my N400 interview today, thankfully my application has been granted and an oath is schudule next week.

Interview lasted about 30 min because I have a complex immigration history.

A IO prompted the civic questions as follow,

Who is your US Congressman?

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

Who is the father of the country?

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

IO then prompted to ask a follow up question, "Why do citizen vote?"

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

What is one reason colonists came to America?

There were 13 original states. Name three.

Then the IO asked me to read, Franklin Roosevlt was President during the WW II.

Officer then congratulated me and gave me a schudule for oath cermony.

Thank you everyone for all the incredible guidence. I wish success to everyone who is still waiting in the line.

8 hours ago, Bella2345678 said:

I have been seeing a lot of people getting their interviews scheduled in the past 2 months and I was getting worried for mine. I applied on December 18th.

 

I have the app on my phone and have been checking it consistently daily.

I just checked tonight after not checking earlier and my heart jumped. I JUST GOT MY INTERVIEW SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 27th!!!

 

To all who are still waiting, I genuinely wish you all will get your schedules very soon! Best of luck to us all! 🥹

Great, good luck to you:)

18 hours ago, yarr said:

Hello everyone,

 

i also got " the decision cannot be made". i had issue with my selective service before but i contacted the Selective Service and explained to them that i was not aware of it and that the failure to register was not knowing or willful.

Then i got a letter from Selective service that confirmed my intention was not purposely however the final decision and authority is with the agency ( USCIS in this case ). So the IO said this has to go to USCIS for approval.

i was wondering if anyone knows or had the same issue. does anyone think this would be a big deal? i'd appreciate if your share your thoughts as i cannot stop thinking about it  

 

cheers 

How old are you?

USCIS revised their OPM and applicant 31 and older (at the time of filing N-400) are exempt from this requirement.

7 hours ago, UprootedTree said:

I received my interview letter on my online account, as a PDF, on 7/22/22 but when I open it, I just get a blank screen with an error. I have tried different browsers to no avail. All other documents and previous letters open correctly, except the interview letter. Worst thing is the physical letter hasn't arrived yet and it's August 1st already. Even worse, there's no way of getting in touch with USCIS. It's ridiculous.

Clear the cookies, and log in again. You may also use a different browser to access it.

If you can't open it, use left click and then "open with" option in the menu.

On 7/29/2022 at 3:36 PM, sunshinelove said:

My wife just got her appointment letter in the mail yesterday and we're both super excited! We haven't received anything talking about biometrics though, which is what I was waiting for. The appointment is for about a month away and tells us what to bring to the interview but doesn't say much else. Is this the appointment where she'll be interviewed and the civics test done? I'm asking so she can know what to expect. If you've done it, how was your experience with this interview and what recommendations do you have on any additional evidence to provide? Also, is this interview followed by the oath ceremony or is that done on another day? Thanks so much!

She will have an oppotunity to correct any discrepancies and add travel history.

She will then be asked civic questions followed by reading and writing.

If all goes well, she will be approved. 

14 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Except that OP also said that ROC was denied. We really need Sarah to join and to give us the facts. 

Timing matters alot here. Two senarios;

1-  If an ROC was denied and Sarah then moved to submit I-90, that is going to trigger a NTA (an intentional bypass), and taking Sarah out of USCIS system and moving over to ICE's GEMS.

Procedurally, once a case is denied, SORN generates a denial  and that remains as a Last Record of Action on an A-file in CLAIMS. This prompts an adjudicator to first look and resolve this before they can move forward. This is where ELIS System failed to update and automate. 

2- If Sarah filled I-90 while an ROC was pending, that may require Sarah to present evidence as to why she felt the need to submit an I-90, because when an ROC is recieved, CLAIMS generates NOA that extends validity of an LPR until the ROC is processed.

I strongly believe that Sarah may have a better account of events that could be helpful.

59 minutes ago, Villanelle said:

@Imperium I agree that the OP needs to post additional information. I suspect as a new user they may have reached their posting limit, so we should be patient in waiting their response. 

 

I think the OP did explain sufficiently why the n400 was denied. She needed to show proof she was married on 1/14 the date her ROC was approved. As I attempted to explain the USCIS system uses a computer based logic, where it assumes everything is correct.  So if the system shows a ROC approval on 1/14 as joint petition- all further paperwork needs to support/confirm such.

 

The paperwork doesn’t obviously because the approval was done in error. From USCIS POV instead of acknowledging the error lies in their approval,  they automatically and illogically point to the problem as your supporting paperwork not lining up, and that YOU should somehow be able to fix it by providing the paperwork that aligns with their error.  Does that make sense? 

 

I don’t see anything in the posts suggesting Sarah bypassed ROC.  I understand the bit about using the online system or i90 is confusing.  I suspect based on the wording used by the OP like undisclosed reasons for marriage ending and technically approved for ROC- that the marriage ended poorly.  That a joint ROC was submitted in 8/13. The divorce was 11/13 meaning a very quick divorce process occurred. Most likely something happened swiftly ending the relationship leaving Sarah completely unheaved. When all the dust settled she probably caught her breath and looked into what was going on with her immigration.

 

She probably found out her ROC was 'technically' approved 2 months after the divorce in jan 14 but 10yr card was sent to previous joint address so she used online system to file i90 and obtain a new card. I could be wrong but this is the most logical and likely scenario based the info provided. 

I do not suggest Sarah intended to bypass the ROC by filing I-90. It may very well be an innocent mistake. However, USCIS presumes submissions intentional. I am afriad Sarah is looking at a lengthy and exhausnting process. 

CLAIMS (Computer Linked Application Information Management System- that stores benefit forms, indexces and generates NOA), unlike CLAIMS2, was less automated and required intensive human interface. It all points to a clerical error but to fix such an error, it requires an exhausting amount of effort.

I just hope she knows what is the right course of action and where to start. IMHO, knowing my own experience of dealing with DHS, starting with an infopass is the right step to visit FO.

9 hours ago, Villanelle said:

Its hard to understand what exactly happened as it's being narrated by a 3rd party who doesn't seem familiar with the process hence poor wording choices. 

 

I am going to outline the situation in very simple language, not for the users here but rather for Sarah and the OPs benefit. They need to understand what exactly happened and how to be able to explain it- in order to try to get the proper legal assistance.

 

It seems Sarah got married on her tourist visa. She and her husband filed the proper paperwork and she got a 2yr card. It had an expiration date of 8/13. She filed a joint ROC within the 90 day period. She was divorced 11/13. She never updated USCIS about the divorce so USCIS approved her ROC in error. It was approved in 1/14. Now Sarah has applied for citizenship. A review of her file shows she was approved for a joint ROC on 1/14. In order to be approved as a joint ROC you need to be married. She was not. Hence her n400 denial saying 'show us you were married on this date'.

 

So rather then USCIS saying oh gee wow we approved the ROC in error- they refuse to acknowledge it was done in error and shift the burden back to you and say you need to show proof that lines up with their incorrect decision. Its absurd but standard practice. 

 

A simple follow up filing of ROC won't fix this.  What needs to happen is the ROC decision made in 1/14 needs to be undone, then a new ROC filing can be accepted and processed. It may be able to occur concurrently.

 

Typically its an uphill battle to get USCIS to undo these types of errors but with persistence it can be done. Usually involves an attorney sending repeated demands to various specific higher ups compelling them to please undo the incorrect approval so the immigrant in limbo, Sarah in this case, can file it correctly. 

 

 Sarah should attempt to gather up what she can for a divorce waiver ROC.  It may be hard as its been a long time but she should still be able to get bank statements and such with some effort. Perhaps Sarah is one of those people who never throws anything away? She would have lots of evidence in that case. 

 

Sarah should reach out to her local bar association for assistance in finding an attorney who can help her with this.  As I said this is not going to be a simple fill this out or send a single letter. Corrections like this are the lowest priority for USCIS so a persistent attorney is needed.

 

Many attorneys might be hesitant to help as well as its very likely they will take your money, write an excellent letter, basically do everything they should and no action from USCIS. Now you're an angry client and who wants that. Id also be wary of those too eager to collect your money and send the same copy paste letter as many times as you are willing to pay them to.  So getting a referral from the bar can be helpful. You are looking for an attorney who ideally has experience in writing these 'we compel you to undo this' so it can be done the right way. 

With the current backlog, it will be a long time before someone at USCIS gets to take a look at her file and put genuin effort to solve it. Best course of action would be Sarah visiting the local office to clear up discrepencies. OP has not shared what was the basis of denial cited by the USCIS on N-652. 

In Nov of 2016, an audit of OIG founds that between July 2013 and May 2016, USCIS wrongfully issued more than 5000 Green Cards. The issue was rooted in the implementation of ELIS system and eventually resolved, the agency and its adjudicators refused to take responsibility of this mess and denied subsequent benefits. This led up to several cases going to AAO, BIA and Cir Courts. While that topic is beyond the scope of this post, Sarah may very well be among that pool.

https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2017/OIG-17-11-Nov16.pdf

As for Sarah holding a ten year I-551 Card, at the inception of ELIS and prior to that, I-90 has been used to bypass administartively closed removal proceedings or ROC. There was a lag in the system and it was exploited intentiionally or unintentionally, however, it remains wrong and unethical. AS for Sarah, I am of the openion that USCIS will also be looking into Sarah's case to determine first, if I-90 was used to intentionally bypass the system. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/us/green-card-errors-visa.html

OP may now proceed to give us a factual account of events! 

I think the same day oath cutoff is 1pm. If an interview falls after ipm, the applicant is asked to comeback for an oath. 

5 hours ago, Imani said:

Best of wishes to you.... Oh yes get to the civics!!

 

Did you file online? 

 

Also what office is your interview..

Yes I did. It is NY office.

One think I noticed in the portal is that it was showing case completion 5 months. It now says 13 months. It is strange that it jumped that long.

Finally after seven long months, I have an update. I am scheduled for an interview next month. I should get busy reading 2008 version of test. Anyone else still waiting from Dec batch?

How long was the time outside and if it was a one trip or multiple trips?

I am asking because I have similar circumstances. I did submit all the evidence along with the app. 

20 hours ago, Family said:

Here’s arguments  made in the class action filed 5/22/2022

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/litigation_documents/challenging_uscis_naturalization_application_delays_complaint.pdf
 

Hopefully the applicants will see some movement. USCIS is a mess.

1 hour ago, Kevlynn said:

Thank you @African Zealot. I will keep everyone updated if I hear anything from my side . Thank you again 🙏🏿🙏🏿

Generally a TCN employed in Afghanistan had to be in either military/contigency or support. All must sign a TCN contract and TOR because US law mandated these two stipulations. You claimed you were a logistical clerk. You must have been at a military installation because there were no other places besides installations. In order to be at installation, you must have had some kind of military traning to be eligilbe for work in a POSTCONSTAB. In my understanding, officer had doubts about your credibility. Just like you, there were people from Nepal, India etc but they were of military background. I am not accusing you of lying etc but I also know the kind of HUMINT officer had because he had spent time in Afghanistan. You best bet is to present you TCN contract with TOR  and POC at Dyncorp. 

As for why a background check would not reveal something like that is becase background checks are not meant to determine a foreign military history. Unless you reported on DS160 (As it was required), system would not have such info. Try collecting evidence of your time in Afg. 

4 hours ago, Kevlynn said:

@Imperium Kenyan national and worked for Dyncorp international back in 2009 before I ever moved to the states. 

Can you provide your TCN contract and TOR that you signed with Dyno to USCIS?

You can ask USCIS to verify with Dyno, they are in VA.

I am sure USCIS can use that to quick run a check saving you long wait and money. Also Dyno was a contractor for "Security Sector" and these activities precisely fall under contigency Ops. 

Which country were you a national of when you were deployed as a TCN?

Who was your employer?

16 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

I wonder if they need the A-file to approve the ROC application? Since a lot of people applying for naturalization went through the ROC process a year earlier, I thought that their A-file was already available to the USCIS field offices? 

Most people I have spoken to said they saw their A-file physically present at the desk during the interview. Some also claimed that USCIS Officer had gone through the file and asked certain specfic questions from the file.

6 hours ago, Yayo209 said:

FO: Sacramento CA

n400 filed date: 12/21/21

Biometric Reuse: 12/22/21

Interview Scheduled: 06/07/22

Interview Date: 07/13/22

Good luck on your big day, my friend:)

6 hours ago, P S said:

FO: Atlanta
N400 filed date: 12/27/2021
BioMetric Reuse: 12/28/2021
Interview scheduled: 04/30/2022
Interview Schedule: 06/14/2022 and Approved

My Interview appointment is at 11:30 AM.
I reached USCIS office at 10:30 AM and the security officials said they can allow me only 15 mins before my appointment time. So I waited outside till 11:15 AM.
Security officer checked my appointment letter,  ID and let me in. 
Once Security screening is done then I went to Check-in. The lady took my photo and both hand index finger biometrics and guided me to go to 2nd floor and wait.

I went to the second floor and waited for 2 mins and Officer showed up, asked my name, and said I will be interviewing you and follow me. 
Once we step into his room asked me to put all my stuff in the chair and took the Swear.
Asked me to sit in the chair and introduced himself and requested my appointment letter and Green Card. Checked my Green card and returned it back.

Officer said let's start with civics questions
1. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? Freed the slaves
2. During the Cold war, what was the main concern of the united states? Communism 
3. the House of Representatives has how many voting members? 435
4. Name one state that borders Mexico? Arizona
5. What is the capital of the united states? Washington, D.C.
6. there were 13 original States, Names three? Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina.

Read Sentence: What has Abraham Lincoln did?
Write Sentence: Thanksgiving is in November.

Quickly asked me if my cell phone number, and home address changed after the application filed.

He discussed my name change request.- If I want to keep the name change request or not
   Yes, I want to keep it.
Asked me to verify the Name change request and sign it.
Let's check your eligibility, and 
 1. Were you arrested anytime?
 2. Do you support the US constitution?
 3. How many marriages do you had?
 4. How many kids do you have?
 5. Do you have any outstanding taxes?

He asked me to check all the info in the tab and asked me to sign it.

He then printed a paper and handed it to me and said - I approved your case and you receive an update about your oath ceremony soon and it will be held in court due to your name change request.

Eagerly waiting for Oath ceremony date!!
 

Congrats on your success!