NoVisaCanuck

NYC is the field office I've chosen as I have friends and relatives that can help me with accommodation, plus August is the right time for work leave and school leave.

The story is that I DHL my file to Pheonix in december and in march they sent me a letter asking to choose a field office and a preferred date. As a matter of fact there was no place on the form where to express these choices.

My understanding is that Phoenix is a central service center that does a preliminary check (assuming) and forwards to relevant field offices, before nov. 2011 you could file directly n600k at local field offices.

Is there something strange in this proccess, what do you think?

I'm wondering if I followed the process correctly but since I got an NBC number I believe it should be correct.

So did everything go OK? Just for closure, we took our kids back to the U.S. to take their oath ... very next day right after arriving (15-hour journey, 16-hour jet lag!). Everything went very smoothly, efficiently, low-key, at the Yakima Washington USCIS office. Very nice and helpful officer,You're right, no test for my kids aged 15 and 17. Got their Social Security numbers within 10 days too. All the Best!

okay, here goes...

the letter i got few weeks ago wasnt an RFE. It was actually a letter informing me of what I need to bring on the interview.

a week after I got that letter, I got an Interview date. for End of October... the problem is,, my daughter is in the Philippines and doesnt have a visa yet. so we have 2 weeks to get her a US TOURIST VISA to come to the US for her interview... if we wont make it, i'll have to reschedule our appointment.

and YES, SHE NEEDS TO BE AT THE INTERVIEW. even though she is only 9 months old. oh well... its all good.

hoping we'd make it on time.

thanks everyone!

So how did it go? Everything OK?

Just for closure, we took our kids back to the U.S. to take their oath ... very next day right after arriving (15-hour journey, 16-hour jet lag!). Everything went very smoothly, efficiently, low-key, at the Yakima Washington USCIS office. Very nice and helpful officer,You're right, no test for my kids aged 15 and 17. Got their Social Security numbers within 10 days too. All the Best!

Those over 14 but under 18 do not need to PASS an interview, they just need to take the oath. My children's certificate says they are USCs since the day of their arrival to the US.

God bless! Wishing all that are still undergoing this process a hassle-free journey! And congrats to those who are finally done!

Oh, that's even better not having to pass the interview!! Didn't the officer ask your children anything at all, even casually?

your RFE, how long did it take to get it to you? did you have to wait for the hardcopy of the RFE and mail it back to them? (coz u said u also got an email for RFE)

after youve sent your RFE, how long did it take for them to schedule your appointment?

sorry , asking too many questions

i had an infopass today just for an update on the case, they pulled out my file -- they reviewed, asked a few questions..then they said they will send RFE for more evidence of physical presence because the ones i submitted werent enough... they told me to gather all the stuff already...they will mail me the RFE letter...

i am pregnant, thats why im being impatient. but God's time is the perfect time, so i know soon this will be done!

Once I escalated my inquiry after 107 days from NOA1 notice, they responded to me within 3 days, sent out the RFE letter to me by e-mail 9 days later (called N-14(N-600K) Sample.doc, which I uploaded in one of my earlier posts). I sent by courier my docs back to their Field Office in response to the RFE taking 2 days, and after they received it they immediately e-mailed me to set up the interview date. All communication were by e-mail other than the original NOA1 notice letter and my RFE evidence of U.S stay which I couriered back to them. Very fast and responsive!

ok, thanks! i filed July.. at the phoenix lockbox, i got my case number. i even have an A-number. then forwRded to SF office, but i got a letter that Newark has my application. but when i had an infopass last week SF said they have it. so im really confused. i am crossing fingers that i will get an appointment letter in October.

i have another question though, is your child a minor? are they requesting him/her to come for the interview? so have you otten a B2 visa for your child already?

No, both my kids are over 14 so they will have to pass the interview and perform the oath. My kids are Canadian passport holders/citizens too, so they do not have to get formal B2 visas to enter the U.S.

hi thanks for the info when did you file yours? SanFrancisco field office has my application. i got an infopass, they said the officer who has my case is an expert in this case and he is currently processing it... i hope i get an appointment soon...

which office your stuff was sent to?

I filed the N-600K April 3, 2012 which was sent to the Phoenix Lockbox according to the instructions for my overseas residence location. It was routed to the National Benefits Center (has a case number like, NBC1234567890) in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Then it was forwarded onto my requested interview city USCIS Field Office for adjudication, interview, and oath (I rather not disclose the city). But it wasn't San Francisco. Good Luck to you!

did you get anything in your email? coz i put my philippine address, since its for n-600k (residing abroad).. still waiting for an answer. filed in july... when did you file?

I'm doing the N-600K(residing overseas) as well, and other than the first NOA which came by paperand e-mail,, everything since has been only through e-mail. After 2 phonecalls to check status that produced no information, I escalating an inquiry to my region USCIS headquarters (in Bangkok). They told me to wait the maximum 90 days, and at Day 107, I e-mailed them again and and that triggered atrace to the relevant U.S. Field Office Director. Then things went very fast. The very next day the U.S. Field Office Director disclosed that they did receive my N-600K but because they don't process N-600K's (and haven't done so for many years) in that particular field office, they just kind of "filed it" !! She promised to pull my file immediately and forward to the right Field Office that processes N-600K's. Very courteous and helpful response (see attached). After one RFE (see attached) which I responded to quickly by courier, the invitation letter to the interview and oath (see attached) came immediately afterwards, which we subsequently scheduled for next month. End to end, about 6 months even with the confusion in the middle of the process.

Good Luck to All!

N-600K Reply Sample.doc

N-14(N-600K) Sample.doc

N-600K APPOINTMENT LETTER FORMAT.doc

Anyone with any new news?

OK, after 104 days since I received the initial I-797 NOA with no following response and a number of e-mails, the Bangkok regional USCIS finally agreed to help me track down information. After they escalated to the Seattle Field Office, I received a quick and detailed response and explanation that they do not process N-600K applications so I guess they just ignored my applications! To be fair, they did apologize for the delay and promised to forward the applications to the Yakima, WA Field Office, who are responsible for processing N-600Ks. In quick succession, they e-mailed me with a RFE to prove my 5-year residency in the U.S. to be returned by August 26 and this is where it stands right now. Not a very smooth process so far, as the N-600K process has changed and it wasn't very much used anyway, but it appears to back on track hopefully.

he can't file for vawa until he determines her current status in the US for the past two years/if he is still married or divorced.

he doesn't seem too concerned about either of these deciding factors. last he knows she was a PR in 2006-2007..

for some reason he's only concerned about fitting into the requirements of a vawa case and not his eligibility to file a vawa case.

hmmmm...

Can't believe some good folks are still humoring this guy .... Hello Moderator, time to shut this one down too!

NoVisaCanuck, I trust that you're a good person - but one who's biased in favor of Canada (that's where YOUR YOUR YOUR homeland is). My children and I have NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING in Canada, except a piece of paper (my passport). Relax, take a deep breath. There is no Canadian option for these children even if your Prime Minister put a gun to my head. Hands off the US citizens, even if they are too fragile to fend for themselves. No more Canada discussion, if you truly care about this Forum's time

Edit: to answer to Ihavequestions. We don't winter in FL (like many Canadians do). I've only managed cheap FL breaks as school winter schedule allows. These breaks have been treasured

Last post. I haven't lived in Canada for 15 years, and emigrated with a 3 and 1 year old to the US where we also didn't know anybody to widen the children's experience for their future. I've naturalized as a USC and they will soon to follow. I'm BIASED for my homeland!?!?! The ONLY ONLY ONLY practical (and legal) options for you have been given to you by VJ'ers many times already and the safest and most feasible way is to go to Canada (or your homeland Eastern Europe) The net is closing in on you and your time is near, your kids don't deserve this risk you're putting them through.

Totally irrelevant. Has no effect on your immigration status or eligibility to acquire immigrant status.

Everyone, the end is near.... sadly because innocent children will be hurt one way or another in a future outcome.... happily because this thread is about to close, ending the OP abuse of all the VJ'ers' outstanding spirit and knowledge in genuine help. Goodbye and all the best to the children.

I guess..I don't think there's much we can do at this time but to wait to hear from them. One more test of patience, and so now it goes.

I applied for my son's passport as well.

Ezzie

Update: After a big run around to get information from the U.S. Hotline, to consular office in Hong Kong, to the regional USCIS office in Bangkok, they just told me today by e-mail that I should expect to hear from my chosen location for interview, the USCIS Field Office in Seattle, WA in due course. Even though the N-600K is not listed in their processing times chart, I sense that they group together the N-400, N-600, and probably the N-600K as well, all being citizenship-related filings. And their website seems to say that unless it exceeds the 5 month processing time, don't call them and just wait and assume everything is OK. Be patient!

NYC is the field office I've chosen as I have friends and relatives that can help me with accommodation, plus August is the right time for work leave and school leave.

The story is that I DHL my file to Pheonix in december and in march they sent me a letter asking to choose a field office and a preferred date. As a matter of fact there was no place on the form where to express these choices.

My understanding is that Phoenix is a central service center that does a preliminary check (assuming) and forwards to relevant field offices, before nov. 2011 you could file directly n600k at local field offices.

Is there something strange in this proccess, what do you think?

I'm wondering if I followed the process correctly but since I got an NBC number I believe it should be correct.

I believe your process is going along OK. In my case, after a big run around to get information from the U.S. Hotline, to consular office in Hong Kong, to the regional USCIS office in Bangkok, they just told me today by e-mail that I should hear from my chosen location for interview, the USCIS Field Office in Seattle, WA. And their website seems to say that unless it exceeds the 5 month processing time, don't call them and just wait and assume everything is OK. Good Luck!

I just called the USCIS hotline now about my 2 children's applications, and I was told I have to contact my local consulate to get an update (which for me is in Hong Kong where I live). Then I called the consulate in Hong Kong, and of course they know nothing about N-600K's and they told me to send an email to the Visa Enquiry section (which of course, is wrong because I'm NOT applying for a visa!). So even though I said my preferred interview and final processing location is Seattle, WA, it appears the local consulate in the country where you live currently might be involved as well. Who knows?

Just received e-mail from U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong that the USCIS Hotline reply to me was incorrect, and in fact the Consulate does not respond to any citizenship queries. They referred my queries to the Asia regional USCIS office in Bangkok, Thailand. The saga continues....

I think it changed when they started doing centralized processing somewhere around December 2011. Any news from the original poster?

I just called the USCIS hotline now about my 2 children's applications, and I was told I have to contact my local consulate to get an update (which for me is in Hong Kong where I live). Then I called the consulate in Hong Kong, and of course they know nothing about N-600K's and they told me to send an email to the Visa Enquiry section (which of course, is wrong because I'm NOT applying for a visa!). So even though I said my preferred interview and final processing location is Seattle, WA, it appears the local consulate in the country where you live currently might be involved as well. Who knows?

Hi,I filed in Nebraska service center, and my receipt starts with NBC plus an alien number assigned to my daughter. I do not see my file on line.I'm trying to get in touch with the USICS but no infopass is possible from Italy, plus the Embassy gives no support on these issues.My problem is just logistic - I need to give a 45 advise notice to my employer for the travelling. I've expressed to the Adjudication team that I can travel between 13th and 30th August.So I'm a bit anxious to understand if we have to go this year or what.I also have another doubt was I supposed to send the papers to NY as well, my understanding is that the service center does this.I also wonder if the assignment of an NBC number means that the file is accepted? I can't understand if my application is accepted or not.Thanks for help and info!

The NBC number definitely means your file was 'accepted', however that does NOT mean that all your qualifying details of you and your child had been verified and approved. You didn't have to send your papers to NY, but I'm curious why you sent your application to Nebraska (unless you are a military family?) because everyone is supposed to file to the Phoenix AZ Lockbox. Anyway, doesn't matter since you have a NBC number already, just curious!Judging by the average processing times I see for similar cases like the N-600,N-400 (around 5 months average), you should definitely be done by August, but that of course greatly depends on details of your individual case.I just called the USCIS hotline now about my 2 children, and I was told to contact my local consulate to get an update which for me is in Hong Kong where I live. So even though I said my preferred interview and final processing location is Seattle, WA, the local consulate in the country where you live currently will do the contacting (I only assume this, but not sure).

By the way, it seems that N-600K and N-600 are not entered into the USCIS online database, so you cannot check your case status online. I've heard this also from a few others on this VJ website. The reason is unknown, but I was told previously by a USCIS guy this was for the protection of minor children confidentiality ???!!

Hello everyone.

I would really appreciate the help. I live in Canada, worked in HK. So i will need a police clearance, how will i get it? how long it takes. I read that one of their requirement isa request form from the immigration(US) ? where can i print this form?

You only had to use Google! http://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/cert_no_crime.html#oversea

You can find the processing times of your field office for N-600 here (scroll down to the bottom of the page): https://egov.uscis.g...sDisplayInit.do

Our field office is Chicago, it says that processing time is 5 months for our field office to process N-600 applications. Our case took almost 4 months to be completed which was the same time that took my N400 btw. It's important keep in mind that each case is unique and different from others as well as it depends on the field office that is processing it.

Good luck everyone.

Hi mari&ryan, yes I do see the the N-600 processing times (5 months) under the Field Offices button, but I filed to the Phoeniz AZ lockbox (filing from overseas abroad) my NOA said it was processed at the National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit, Missouri. I don't see any N-600/N-660K listed when I click the National Benefits Center button. My case number starts with "NBC .......". May I ask what your case number starts with,as that might help me understand better?

I haven't gotten through recently calling the USCIS hotline yet, due to the difficult time zone I'm calling from. I will let everyone know once I get through.

By the way, you can't even find the N-600/N-600K processing times listed on their web site here;

https://egov.uscis.g...TimesDisplay.do

so I think their processing procedures/systems may still be messed up for now.

Sorry the above link didn't work. Don't know how to paste the screen shot in.

To the OP,

Did you try calling up USCIS again? Any new developments?

Last year, I filed the N600 for my then 17 year old son, and got the certificate 2 months after sending the application. I went with him during oath-taking, and he was one on one with the Immigration Officer. It was just the three of us in the big room in the local field office.

This year, I filed for my other son, sent it June 9, 2012, and noticed it had to be sent to Phoenix, AZ. Maybe why N600 processing is taking longer this time?

Yes, I filed to the Phoenix AZ LockBox late March this year and the NOA I received was dated April 3 from the National Benefits Center located in Lee's Summit, Missouri. May I ask what the case number started with on your elder son's notice, i.e., "NBC ...." or "WAC ....", etc.?

I wonder what the original poster found out and if he tried calling uscis again?

I haven't gotten through recently calling the USCIS hotline yet, due to the difficult time zone I'm calling from. I will let everyone know once I get through.

By the way, you can't even find the N-600/N-600K processing times listed on their web site here;

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processingTimesDisplay.do

so I think their processing procedures/systems may still be messed up for now.

Hello,

I've filed N600K last 13th December 2011 for my 12 year old daughter.

7th January 2012 I received a receipt for the fee that has been cashed in.

3rd March 2012 recieved a letter from Adjudication Office asking me to express preferred dates.

Ever since the communication has stopped. Does anybody know how it works? I've chosen the period 15th 30th August to travel to the USA but I need to give a 45 day advance notice to my employer, I'm wondering if the NY Central Office (that is the local office of choice) is going to send me an advance notice.

Can anybody help?? What can happen from now?

I live in Italy and it's impossible to get infopass appointment, Embassy has near to no information on this topic.

Thanks!

Tina

Did you file your N-600K directly to the NY Service Center or to the Phoenix Lockbox? Also, did your receipt number start with "NBC ...." or "NYC......"? I filed in late March and received my NOA and fees paid receipt on April 3 but have not received anything else since that time. I also do not see my case status online when I key in my receipt number. What about you?

So they actually told you they weren't allowed to give you any info on the phone? Did they offer any further information or explanation or anything at all? I guess if that's the policy we just have to wait.

Yes, they pretty well said as much. Their explanation was something to do with privacy protection for minor children.

As soon as you receive the I-797C from USCIS, your case should be viewable online. Your case number is in the form that they send to applicants.

Well, that's just it, ... these were NOT viewable online. That's what a we're saying here, but the reason is not really clear why not, other than what I posted previously.

<div><br></div><div>So can you see yours online?  The case number starts with "NBC....", right?</div>