Callum

still waiting for action on my case. filed in june (Chicago) and went for fingerprinting in july. till date no movement. did speak to tier 2 officer a couple of times and the difference was that this time he said its in local office? not sure if that is tru. did open up an enquiry through him and this is what it states on the website: As of January 13, 2016, your inquiry about why your case is taking longer than our processing time, referral number WKD0131600827CHI, is currently not assigned for processing. what does this mean?? any inputs. anything else I can do

I am in the same situation, so are a number of other people on this board. There is nothing you can do. They probably lost your application. They are useless and incompetent. Their "inquiries" are only meant to fob you off and make you go away. Give up hope or get a lawyer. Or give up hope and get a lawyer.

^{still stuck at received your application on June 8th. FP done on July 2nd. Chicagoland area. Spoke with tier 1 officer and then tier 2 officer, opened a request to look into the case and got a standard reply that delay due to increase case load work not related to your case . My wife applied at the same time and has an oath on Nov 4th. Not sure how to proceed or what the delay is about.no legal problems in past.}

It does seem interesting how everything is concentrated around those dates. Mine was received on June 10th and FP on July 2nd. Lots of others round here are totally stalled who have similar dates too.

I was away for a couple of weeks and came back to a USCIS letter, telling me I had a new "biometrics capture" appointment on October 26. And if I missed it, my application would be considered abandoned.

They had earlier sent me an earlier appointment for October 14. Which was completely bizarre and unnecessary because I already did my biometrics months ago and they have my data.

So in early October, I went to the local biometrics office to ask, I did an Infopass at the local USCIS office, I called USCIS central on the phone. They all said - no no don't worry, we have your data from July, you don't need to do it, it is all fine.

I honestly right now don't have the energy to call USCIS to see if they have abandoned my application. They have already wasted so much of my money, time and energy that I dont' know if I could even be polite on the phone.

I think the only way would be to sue them, but I don't know if there is any point. At this stage I think I will just give up.

The anger I have toward USCIS is coming close to ruining our lives. I have never felt so helpless! I cannot believe there is NOTHING one can do to get any info out of these people. I wish 60 Minutes would expose their inhuman treatment of applicants.

Dear Hugh & Suzy,

sorry to hear that your case is still stuck. I completely empathize with your anger, I had to consciously try to cool off and ignore the whole saga for a while because I felt so mad and powerless in the face of this vast incompetent arrogant bureaucracy.

And amazed at how this country, usually so bright and efficient and solution-crazy, should have this strange institution like something out of the Soviet Union.

Still not a peep on my case either. I know that "We received your case on..." screen so well...

all the best, hang in there!

Callum.

Wow Sriusman,

that's great! It moved! Good luck with the interview.

Callum

I actually did not receive any In-Line notification.. My case has been scheduled straight for interview.. I am waiting for my interview letter now..

Hi n400app,

sorry to hear that.

My take is this (but this is just my limited experience...):

The USCIS helpline will DEFINITELY try to brush you off with standard answers: "everything is fine, the local office in your area takes ten months, just wait and see." The Tier 1 person you speak to will not even look at your specific case unless you have somehow already put in a query, normally they will simply tell you vague information about your local office.

But if you are persistent and polite and speak to a Tier 2 you may find out some things. But you can learn more from an Infopass, I think, because they are nicer in person. They are less inclined just to read the script at you.

The main thing is to be humble and polite. *Be very careful* about mention of information from places like VJ or elsewhere on the internet. (For example, the actual average times to interview, not the official ones.) You could carefully ask questions informed by knowledge you might have, but you definitely don't want to seem to them like you are questioning their authority in any way, or implying they are wrong. There is the official line and they stick to it 100%.

There's probably absolutely nothing you can do, to find out what is happening or to make things go faster. But sometimes it is good to know you checked anyway.

Good luck with it!

Hi Callum,

Thank you for the update and sorry to hear about this.

i don't know what is happening my case also. I am done with my biometric on July 21st. No news after that. I think person who took biometric might have screwed stuff.

They don't understand our frustation. Do you think, i should call the customer care or take infopass?

If i take infopass what option should i select?

Hey congratulations MadisonJax! You did it! Well done.

Hi everyone!
Just wanna share my interview experience last Oct. 02, 2015 @ Oklahoma City.
Appointment was 1:00, arrived at 12:15 pm. Had to wait in the car coz we could only get in 30 minutes before our appointment.
At 12:30 pm went to security check. They check my appointment letter and asked me to drop it on Window 3 and wait till my name to be called. I was called in around 1:30. She asked for my GC, drivers license and passport. We did the civic test right away.
Reading Test:
Where is the White House?
Written:
The White House is in Washington, D.C.
Questions:
1. What is an ammendment?
2. What is the supreme law of the land?
3. Who vetoes bills?
4. Who did we fight during WWII?
5. What is the capital of your state?
6. What did we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

After that, she asked me to swear to tell the truth. Then she goes to my N400 application form. She just mainly verifies my answers on the form. Then she told me she would recommend me for approval. She let me sign the last part of the form. She was typing something on her computer. Then she showed it to me and said if all information is correct coz it's what going to appear on my naturalization certificate. She hand me a document showing I passed the test and told me to wait for my Oath letter within 60-90 days.
Thank God the interview went smoothly and thank you VJers for all the help.
Good luck to everyone!

Hey congratulations MadisonJax! You did it! Well done.

Hi everyone!
Just wanna share my interview experience last Oct. 02, 2015 @ Oklahoma City.
Appointment was 1:00, arrived at 12:15 pm. Had to wait in the car coz we could only get in 30 minutes before our appointment.
At 12:30 pm went to security check. They check my appointment letter and asked me to drop it on Window 3 and wait till my name to be called. I was called in around 1:30. She asked for my GC, drivers license and passport. We did the civic test right away.
Reading Test:
Where is the White House?
Written:
The White House is in Washington, D.C.
Questions:
1. What is an ammendment?
2. What is the supreme law of the land?
3. Who vetoes bills?
4. Who did we fight during WWII?
5. What is the capital of your state?
6. What did we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

After that, she asked me to swear to tell the truth. Then she goes to my N400 application form. She just mainly verifies my answers on the form. Then she told me she would recommend me for approval. She let me sign the last part of the form. She was typing something on her computer. Then she showed it to me and said if all information is correct coz it's what going to appear on my naturalization certificate. She hand me a document showing I passed the test and told me to wait for my Oath letter within 60-90 days.
Thank God the interview went smoothly and thank you VJers for all the help.
Good luck to everyone!

Hi everyone,

for all those who are still waiting, after many months, to be scheduled an interview, I will give you the latest on my case.

So the USCIS had, out of the blue, sent me a letter saying that I had requested that I reschedule my biometrics. I never did this: why would I? My biometrics were done on July 2. The letter they had sent me told me that my "N400 application was on hold until I completed the biometrics." And that my ENTIRE N400 appilcation would be forfeit if I didn't show up for the biometrics appointment (in mid October). So I was kind of concerned.

The USCIS helpline couldn't help, they said they didn't know. The local biometrics office - I went there in person - checked and said my biometrics were fine, all done on July 2. They said I should send a letter to Virginia to cancel the useless biometrics appointment. So I did that.

A few days later I called to find out what was going on. Again, the USCIS line was not much help at all. They didn't know why the letter was sent.

BUT... the Tier 2 let slip one thing. "Oh," he said, "you are coded here as having not attended your biometrics on July 2. Don't worry about it, it's a glitch, I've seen it a few times before, the system says this and the applicant on the phone swears that they did the biometrics on that date. Oh yeah, I've seen that"

"Hnnnnnnn?????" I said. "But maybe this is why they sent the letter. And maybe this is why the application is delayed? Could that be the case? Is that the problem?"

Long pause, then: "No...I don't think that would be a problem. And there is no delay. You are still within the six month waiting period. Goodbye."

I'll do another Infopass, maybe they can tell me something, but at this point, I have no more hope at all. I think they regularly screw up people's applications, fight off any attempt to query - let alone fix - their incompetence, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. They are a law unto themselves, we are just s***kickers, and that's that.

Hi Suzy,
I was placed in line in September- but I think possibly because I'm coming from Scotland! in response to your other statements about moving here- nooo don't do it! Hehe. I hope he gets scheduled really soon! x

So I opened up official service request with USCIS since there is no progress in my case since I did Finger prints since 07/06/2015 almost three months. Here is the official reply.

" Due to excessive work load that is not related to your case we are anticipating delay in processing your case. USCIS is committed to adjudicate cases in order they are received. We apologize for any inconvenience "

What the fish ! I thought they will say case is pending security background check or within normal processing time. This is strange reply, any thoughts !

Oh man what a PIA. Sorry to hear that. Notice they say "USCIS is committed to adjudicate cases in order they are received" not that they do actually do cases in order, just that they are "committed to" it...

My attorney opened the Service request with USCIS. He told me if you are within the processing time frame its USCIS discretion if they are willing to open service request.

I think you can be lucky or unlucky with Service Requests. First time I inquired they just quoted their bogus statistics ("you are still within normal processing time") at me. Then someone put in a Service Request asking for a status update.

But unfortunately these highly competent and extremely polite public servants [little bit of irony there...] managed to completely garble the request so now I have been sent a new biometrics appointment for two weeks time. I called and spoke with them but they couldn't tell me anything, said I would have to write a special letter to them to have the appointment cancelled. Other than that they had no idea. (I am leaving out the part where the first Tier 1 hung up on me after 10 seconds for no reason at all.)

This is the most incompetent and unpleasant bureaucracy I have ever had to deal with. They seem to be completely unaccountable, sitting on their absolute power over people's fates and determined not to be helpful or polite.

Congratulations to everyone getting close to the finish line.

For everyone else, I will share the latest on my N400 saga... I called last week and had a service request to find out why everything was on hold when according to the local IO I passed the background checks months ago and the application is just sitting in Missouri for some reason no one can figure out...

I was told to wait 30 days.

Now today I get a letter saying I called and "requested a rescheduled biometrics appointment" and that the process is on hold until I do new biometrics. And another letter giving me a new biometrics appointment in 2 weeks time.

But I never requested a new biometrics appointment!! I did the biometrics nearly 3 months ago! And like I said, from what the local IOs said, I already passed all the background checks.

Ach!

So either a) they are just piling one mistake on another or b) something was messed up and lost or something and then they do this "biometrics" thing as an excuse.

This is all making me want to move to Canada... (Joke.)

Hi n400app,

sorry for answering this late... I would definitely go for an Infopass, you'll find out much more there than on the phone. And no it isn't normal. There probably is nothing you can do about it, and it doesn't mean you'll be rejected or anything, just that there's a hiccup somewhere. So go check it out with the local office.

Callum

It is already 2 months 1 day after my biometrics (More then 3 months after N400 submission). No email / mail about the inline for interview...it is very frustrating.

Do you guys think, i should go for info pass?

If i check my online status..still it shows "Case Was Recieved"...not even updated the biometrics...is this normal.

Good luck!!

Interview in 3 days guys

Do an Infopass if you have the time and the office isn't too far away. You will definitely find out more from speaking to a real human being, asking questions than you will from calling the USCIS number.

The absurdly long "waiting time" before you are supposed to inquire is a way of telling you to get lost and not make them accountable for their performance.

Imagine your luggage was lost and the airline was allowed to tell you to wait three weeks before you could even ask what the hell was going on.

You probably won't get much further with an Infopass, but you might find something out, or get someone to make an inquiry. There's no harm in trying.

Hi,

It has been 90 days after the N-400 Interview and I couldn't hear nothing yet. It says on the paper 120 days. Should I make infopass to find out ? or I should wait for 120 days.

Thanks

Well, the next episode... I called back to get the service request number. Spoke to a Tier 1 person who was actually helpful and not just reading his script no matter what you said.

He gave me a confirmation number for the service request... BUT he also said "that will actually take 30 days, not 10" - 15 for them do something (I don't know what, just sort of "check" in general) and 15 for them to deliver the news.

And if I don't hear anything within 30 days, I should call them and then ... They will put in another service request so I can wait another 30 days. (I am not making this bit up.)

I am angry now. I am not just an applicant, I am also a customer of these people, and paid a huge fee for this.

I hope you will hear some good news soon. I am exactly in same boat with you and I will appreciate if you let us know how that service inquiry will come up. Good luck!

Official inquiry by USCIS is called service request and after initiating service request officer suppose to give you very long alphanumeric reference number. Did you get that ? If not then someone is just working on personal basis or create a service request and did not give you reference number.

No I didn't get any number. Thanks for letting me know, that's really useful. I will telephone them again and see if there is a number.

Oh man, that is some scary looking data...

Because nothing happened since biometrics 2.5 months ago, I called up USCIS national line today and got through to Tier 2. I told him the Infopass at the local office told me the background checks were passed months ago but the file is stuck in the national office.

He put me on hold and came back and said they would do an inquiry and get back to me in 10 days, and to call them if I hadn't heard anything in 14 days. (They took my email to contact me faster.)

Anyone know if that means they'll actually do an inquiry or is just another way of them to say "go away and don't ask questions"?

Negative! That's not the scenario here buddy. There are many VJ filers from the past months who are still waiting for their "IN LINE"

It only scares me looking at these timelines. These are only few of them i picked randomly, there are many more out there

April Month
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
MiaPA............|01/07/10|04/10|--/--|04/14|05/15/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA (Early FP 05/06)
neoes............|09/01/95|04/13|MnOrd|04/18|05/12/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago,IL


Feb2015
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
omaralsanea......|05/22/12|02/23|03/02|03/06|03/23/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Pittsburgh, PA


January 2015
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
mohdirfan08787...|04/20/10|01/22|02/04|02/07|02/25/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Louisville, KY

Add me to the list too lol!!

I made an info pass appointment for Sept 21st. Hopefully will know something.

You did your biometrics on the same day as me. Maybe they lost a box of files that day or something.

Hi everyone,

it's great to see so many people getting through every stage, even as far as the oath!

But I am one of the cases which is stuck stuck stuck... and I wondered if anyone had any ideas.

I went for an Infopass to the local office a month ago and was told "it's getting ready to ship from the national center, should be here in a month." Today I went for the second Infopass and was told I had passed all the background checks but my file was still at the NBC in Missouri and hadn't been sent to the local office. They didn't know why it hadn't been sent, couldn't say when it would be sent and that was that. The IO looked as puzzled as me and just shook his head.

I don't know what to do now. There's a helpline for the NBC, has anyone ever tried calling there?

Thanks and a big shout out to the others - Sriusman, Hugh and Suzy etc. - who seem to be in this situation too.

Callum.

Thanks Yavuz for your luck wish, I really need that. I actually called USCIS 10 days ago. The agent said that it must be background check taking longer for my case. Also she said that the average processing time for Raleigh, NC is 5 months, and my case is still under 5 months. Basically she just recommended me keep checking my mails for interview letter.

I dont have any background history other than a few traffic tickets (speeding only), and some business trips (each less than 6 months). I have been working at a leading large US corporation for 8 years. I dont understand why my background check is taking so long. Seriously it is really annoying to wait for interview letter while even July filers started already completing their interviews.

Anyway.. I wish good luck to everybody here waiting for whatever stage during their own journey.

Hi Sriusman, I am in the same situation as you waiting and waiting and waiting. I called USCIS they could tell me nothing, if they are the people who first answer the phone they can't tell you anything, all they see is the same information you see on the internet plus the bogus "average" times, the phone service is basically a polite way for the USCIS to tell you nothing and get you to go away.

If you ask to speak with a "tier 2" you can eventually speak to one but it is no guarantee you'll find out more. You might, but they are also liable to be grumpy and tell you to be patient. But they are not very patient themselves.

Eventually I did an infopass at my local office, got an appointment the next day, and they were nicer and more helpful. They checked and saw that my case was preparing to ship to the local office and they knew a date when it went on that status. He said I should have an appointment letter within 30 days. Not much more information, no guarantee, no change in status, but at least I know my application didn't fall down the back of someone's desk.

I disagree with everyone here who says "just be patient and wait wait wait." This is a huge bureaucracy and huge bureaucracies lose things and make mistakes All The Time. It pays to check that isn't you. The squeaky wheel is the one that gets seen to.

I suspect this might be about the 3-month-before-5-years thing. That seems to be holding some people up, as if they are just ignoring it and waiting 3 months to process the application. But I don't know anything. I just wait...

Hello guys I get my interview Letler for September 22 ?????????

Congratulations Huckerman! Must be a big relief.

I am still waiting for mine...

Their hours of operation in the link below plus more info!

http://fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/is/ncic.htm

I called the FBI number but they say they "no longer give out any information on immigration-related background checks." I guess they must have gotten sick of worried applicants calling in.

No even in line for interview I call uscis and they say they still waiting in FBI background check I don't had no criminal Record I don't know why they talking so long

hey huckerman sorry to hear that. I called USCIS on my case but the woman just said "can take a number of months blah blah blah. I can give you general information on your local office, which appears to have no delays." She didn't even say anything about background checks or FBI.

I don't know what to do, I know you have to be patient but I don't want to be one of those cases that disappears into the blue for months and months just because someone lost the form or something.

Hi everyone,

Can I ask advice? It is five weeks since I did my biometrics but my status online has not changed. Stupidly I didn't send the form for email notifications, so I just have to wait for the letter, if it ever comes.

But is the myUSCIS status message online supposed to change when you do the biometrics? Mine still says "we received your application on June 10," there is no mention of fingerprinting and no mention of being in line yet... Maybe these are dumb questions, but this process makes you nervous.

Callum

updated with Callum's info