one_guy

Was interviewed on May 7. Passed interview. Have been waiting for an oath letter for about 6 weeks now. The local oath ceremony (of which there are only 3 in my area/year) came and went last Friday. I was not invited. I guess I'm SOL until the next oath ceremony in November.

When they say they'll process your application in 5 months.... that's obviously only the average. Mine will be 11 months now unless they hold a special ceremony just for me (read: not likely).

I'm from Springfield, IL. Wanted to share my story not only because I'm deeply disappointed but also to help others understand that if they're waiting... they're not the only ones.

Good luck!

I haven't been on this site in several years. Back in '05 I came to the U.S. (from Canada) on a K1 fiance visa. At that time, I was able to get some useful information from this website.

I went on and become a Permanent Resident in '06. Years have passed and back in January of this year I finally decided to apply to become a U.S. citizen. Things seemed to be going fairly smoothly after I filed that application. In less than 8 weeks I had my biometrics scheduled - that was in early March. I had my naturalization interview exactly 2 months after the biometrics - that was a month ago on May 7.

They did not give me an oath ceremony date when they approved me at my interview last month - and they approved me within 10 minutes at that interview. They said I would receive an oath ceremony letter in the mail.

I'm aware of the specific oath ceremony dates for my city for 2013. Anyone with Internet access can Google the information in 10 seconds. I know that the next oath ceremony date for my city is June 14. The last one was in February. The next one is in November.

It has been over a month now (and just a few days away from June 14) and I still haven't received an oath ceremony letter. My current online status on USCIS' website says I'm in the oath scheduling queue. It has been that way since May 20. I gave USCIS a call a few days ago and politely asked them if they knew whether a letter to me would be forthcoming, like before June 14. They were less than polite and curtly said they had 120 days to send me a letter. Furthermore, they acted surprised that I was aware that June 14 was the date (which it is... the courthouse confirmed that the released 2013 schedule is correct).

My personal feeling is I'm not going to meet this deadline. I contacted my senator's office (one of the most powerful in the nation late last week) and just asked if they could make an inquiry on my behalf. Still no word from them. Obviously, USCIS doesn't want to hear from me. I don't have a lawyer to call. I did this all on my own and things seemed to be going fine until now.

What would you do if you were me? I'm just very sad. The thought of being in limbo for another 5 months 'til November is not a good thought for me. I'm so close and yet I feel like I'm about to fall through the cracks. If they do send me an oath ceremony letter next month it's not like they're going to hold a special ceremony for me. If I miss the boat on June 14.... it'll be close to Thanksgiving before I get another shot. I don't see things going any other way and I'm pretty much resigned to my fate.

Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Joe