jkstark

February 14, 2018

7 hours ago, Zhekaviolin said:

Hello everyone! I am probably the only one left here with no movement at all. I moved to Salt Lake from Houston in August and now I don't know what is happening to my case. I was in line for interview from March 20, then after i submitted change of address it changed to in line for interview from November 22. I called few times to USCIS, talked to Tier 2 officer, went to local office twice and submitted online inquiry after I saw that they already processing February cases in Salt Lake. Their response was:

"What We Have Done
USCIS has reviewed your Service Request and determined that your application is still within normal processing times. Please note that posted processing times are goals based on Field Office averages. These goals are subject to change and can vary from office to office."

How is it normal if they already processing February? The lady in local office said that my documents are still in the center so she can't say when they will get it. I asked her about congress man and she said it's only for complicated and extraordinary cases and mine is normal. The Tier 2 guy assured me that my documents are ok and are in line but I have to contact local office to check how far in line they are which I did and they don't know too. What else can I do?

It's been more than a year now...

Thank you, any thoughts will be highly appreciated!

Well - I lost my initial response thanks to a browser error...

Basically, it looks like the Houston office is still working on (realistically) early December 2016, while SLC is in February - I wonder if they are not just playing the "game" and defining yours as being on time based on the slower of the two.

That said, it does look like you have done everything that would be needed prior to contacting the Ombudsman, so that is an option that is available to you. Contacting your senator obviously is also an option though neither of those processes guarantees anything, though it would allow you to feel like you have done something other than just sitting back and waiting.

In my case, I never did receive an answer to my initial query, nor to my "re-submission" of that query, but very shortly after the "ping" was sent on the initial query by the rep at the service number I did receive my notice of an interview, and was scheduled for an oath less than two weeks after my interview. So there probably is something to the idea of being at least a little bit of a squeaky wheel...

Good luck!

K

Deribas_Alma-Ata · February 2, 2018

17 minutes ago, Deribas_Alma-Ata said:

LOL right after I replied to Kris went to check USCIS page and voila. Thanks much to everyone for your advises and support!

I never got any SMS or email notifications even though they are checked... So... your mileage may vary....

At least you are seeing that it will be scheduled, which should indicate that you have been approved... At least that is what "maalaisjärki" would say...

Deribas_Alma-Ata · February 2, 2018

2 hours ago, Deribas_Alma-Ata said:

Thank you all guys for your support!

For what it is worth, my status on the case status page still states that an interview has been scheduled....

Deribas_Alma-Ata · February 1, 2018

On 1/31/2018 at 4:00 PM, Deribas_Alma-Ata said:

Hi All,

Today I had an interview... Conclusion is decision can not be made or so... I've no clue why...

Arrived 30 min prior to interview, was called by IO in about 40 min.

So I have sworn to tell the truth etc. IO started with my application yes/no questions first, all went well.

Then he asked me to write Columbus Day is in October and read Washington is the Capital of the United States.

After that he said he'll ask me 10 civic questions and once I get him 6 correct answers test will be completed.

Questions were so easy but I remember only 5:

Who is the father of the USA?

How many justices in Supreme court?

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

When both POTUS and VP can't serve, who becomes the POTUS?

One part of the Government?

...........

I was pretty sure I did well. But then IO said even though you passed the test I can not approve your application because I had no chance to study your file yet, but I think I will approve your case this afternoon...

Should I explain what I felt?

At the end he said... Congratulation!

With what though? Not being approved?

He was not super friendly, but he was not sarcastic either I guess...

Called to attorney right after and he assured me that it will not take more than 120+ (60 to 90) days... So, another long wait for me...

That stinks! However, as mentioned by others, it probably just indicates that the IO did not have enough time to fully come up to speed on your file... Assuming that you have gotten this far, there should be nothing really that is going to cause a problem. I've heard of only one case where the situation was that the background check was not complete even though they had an interview, but in that case the IO was clear that the background check for the individual was still pending, so this does not sound like that was the situation.

Hopefully won't be that long though!

Congrats!

January 30, 2018

23 hours ago, ruby_7 said:

Thank you!

Well, the reason I said it because there are some IOs who faced the applicants during interview and are less familiar with the documents that have been submitted and have not studied the case in advance. There are some applicants who posted their experiences about it here that their IOs told them that they havn't studied their files yet (Oh my) and just told them they can't make any decision yet and recommend for approval even if they passed the test. I was surprised to know when I read their experiences that some of these IOs face the applicants unprepared.

The thing in my local office, they don't have outright ceremony nor give a schedule ceremony letter right after the interview and they have been like these for years. They're extremely procedural in their process, no shortcuts. And I couldn't blame their local system because they have I think 4-5 ceremony locations (per Cleveland office jurisdiction) depending on the distance of the applicant's residence. I asked the IO if I'll be doing the oath in Cleveland (once it will be finalized) and she told me "no, because your residential address is very far away and we go by nearest city distance from your address where it would be held. That's because you're interviewed in Cleveland, it doesn't mean you'll be doing it in here". Well, I may not like it having another waiting period for the oath letter, but not much I can do. I'm just glad, the interview-waiting period is over and passed it...A big relief.

I had my interview in Buffalo, and the ceremony in Rochester - not as close to home as possible, but the soonest that they could get me in... I think in my case since I was so far past their "processing cases as of" date, they wanted to get it out as soon as possible from their standpoint as well. (As of Nov 30, they are working on Jun 13, 2017). I do see that Cleveland is running at about the same time frame, so who knows...

January 30, 2018

22 hours ago, ruby_7 said:

Do you have to pay for a certified true copy of the nat. cert. ?

Not to my understanding - as Hypnos also mentioned. Essentially, you take a photocopy there with your original, and they will authenticate it (assuming that they can verify your status) and place their raised seal on it...

Would love to have seen them be able to do that right at the naturalization ceremony, or at least provide one original and one copy right off the bat. I need one to send back to my original country to record that change, and I don't expect to get it back. Further, since it needs an apostille, doing that to the original is probably not a good idea.

Beyond that, being paranoid of losing the one piece of documentation that I now have to prove my legal status in the country, I didn't want to send it out for a passport before I had something else in hand. Nicely, New York has their enhanced driver's licenses available (which prove citizenship), and the DMV only takes a look at the documents and scans them - I received my enhanced DL last Saturday, so just over 2 weeks beyond the ceremony - I think I applied on the 16th and received the 27th.

K

Deribas_Alma-Ata · January 29, 2018

On 1/26/2018 at 3:23 PM, ruby_7 said:

After the civics test, IO handed me the printed information that will appear in the Naturalization Certificate (according to her), to make sure the information is all correct. She then gave me the recommendation approval letter & told me to wait for a few weeks for the Oath letter schedule. I thanked the IO and she congratulated me.

Thanked God, this is almost over.

To those who are still waiting for the interview letter, I hope you guys will receive it soon. I understand the wait is very agonizing and depressing but sooner or later you will get there.

As for Deribas_Alma-Ata , I wish you "Good luck" in your upcoming interview. All the best for you.

Congrats!

Yes, I would imagine that the IO would be conversant with your application - a lot of what they will be asking you would be dependent on what you already have in your application in addition to the other data that has come in from the background check... In fact, if they didn't have any idea, I would be worried...

I will say that one of the nice things about my interview was that I was given the oath date and letter on the spot - not quite a full ceremony at the same time, but about as close as it gets. Now, I just have to make one more trip to their offices at some point and get a certified true copy of my nat. cert.

Fun times!

January 22, 2018

4 hours ago, OTCER said:

These are the results from my search. So, who should I contact? Mr. Cornyn or Mr. Cruz?

Do some research on each and see who is the most "immigrant friendly" and contact them. Though they each should help you accordingly, each has their own agenda which may affect their interest in helping out....

Unfortunately, you do need to stick with your own state senator as oppose to some of the friendlier types - I could have gone with either Schumer or Gillibrand had I needed that avenue. I would recommend looking at their pages regardless (schumer.senate.gov / gillibrand.senate.goc) to get an idea of what they need - it should be essentially the same as what Cornyn or Cruz need, though their pages are not as informative on the subject.

Also unfortunate is that at this moment you can't reach out to any of them until the government is re-opened.

Good luck!

January 20, 2018

On 1/19/2018 at 3:44 PM, OTCER said:

Congrats Deribas_Alma-Ata !!!!!!

Is it safe to assume the congressman letter helped in any way to expedite the interview process?

Can you point me in the right direction on how to do the same thing myself? Where can I look up who my local congressman is and how to contact them? Do you have a template of the letter you send to your local congressman? Did you send them a hard copy letter via regular mail or just an email?

Thanks for your time and response

OT

If you go to your senator's web page (search for them by name on Google, for instance) they will usually have pages there that are used for requesting assistance. In the ones that I have seen, they all have a section specifically for immigration related ones, where you fill in a form with details of what you are seeking help with. You'll then have to print out something that they provide giving them partial power of attorney to ask for information on your behalf, and send them that and other supporting documentation.

Who are your senators?

Kris

Deribas_Alma-Ata · January 12, 2018

N-400: January 2017 Applicants

======================================

USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================

UserName........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office
901_Rock........|--/--/--|01/26|01/30|02/01|02/22/17|02/24/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Memphis, TN

MedicalAssistent|06/21/11|01/20|01/23|01/30|02/21/17|02/24/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Memphis, TN

WinterPark2015..|08/17/15|12/27|01/03|01/13|02/07/17|04/14/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Orlando,FL

BlackEros.......|04/07/12|01/05|01/11|01/09|02/07/17|03/07/17|09/01/17|10/03/17|10/20/17|Orlando,FL

Cybermax........|03/27/12|12/27|12/29|01/14|01/30/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Annandale,VA

vik376..........|02/27/14|12/28|01/11|01/12|01/31/17|04/19/17|05/??/17|06/12|17|07/24/17|Washington,DC

digitalvx.......|03/26/14|12/29|01/05|01/11|01/31/17|02/27/17|05/22/17|06/26/17|07/19/17|NYC

ozcitizen.......|06/--/07|12/29|01/11|01/12|01/30/17|02/03/17|08/18/17|09/28/17|10/02/17|Philadelphia,PA

Luis & Carol....|10/17/13|12/31|01/18|01/03|02/08/17|--/--/--|07/03/17|08/03/17|09/01/17|Atlanta,GA

NJ_NJ...........|01/12/12|01/03|01/10|01/12|02/01/17|02/03/17|06/27/17|08/03/17|08/03/17|Newark, NJ

Joe&LuMa........|09/03/13|01/03|01/12|01/13|02/07/17|02/09/17|07/08/17|08/14/17|09/01/17|Tampa, FL

Olibecca1.......|01/06/09|01/04|01/13|01/13|01/27/17|02/16/17|03/10/17|04/13/17|05/31/17|Louisville,KY

l3thalbloo......|10/25/11|01/05|01/11|01/13|02/16/17|02/21/17|04/08/17|05/09/17|06/02/17|Raleigh, NC

Azhrid..........|04/21/11|01/06|01/11|01/12|01/30/17|02/07/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA

weakheart.......|03/29/12|01/09|01/17|01/14|02/06/17|02/28/17|06/19/17|07/25/17|08/23/17|Oklahoma City,OK

Blue101.........|--/--/--|01/09|01/11|01/11|01/26/17|02/14/17|05/08/17|06/05/17|--/--/--|Fairfax, VA

Americ@.........|04/--/14|01/10|01/17|01/17|01/27/17|03/03/17|03/06/17|04/17/17|06/23/17|Louisville, KY

Kundan..........|10/--/12|01/10|01/17|01/19|02/17/17|02/22/17|07/13/17|08/15/17|08/15/17|Newark, NJ

nana098.........|12/13/01|01/12|02/02|01/17|02/22/17|03/06/17|07/14/17|08/15/17|--/--/--|Newark, NJ

maxcool.........|04/12/12|01/14|01/18|01/17|02/07/17|03/13/17|05/06/17|06/06/17|07/26/17|Lawrence, MA

Pramod..........|15/08/11|01/16|01/23|01/20|02/13/17|02/23/17|04/30/17|05/26/17|07/04/17|Boston, MA

Pluto17.........|06/01/07|01/17|01/24|01/23|02/13/17|02/15/17|06/10/17|07/14/17|07/21/17|Baltimore,MD

LJVA............|01/--/13|01/17|01/25|01/30|02/14/17|03/06/17|05/15/17|06/19/17|07/24/17|Fairfax, VA

astronugget.....|01/15/14|01/18|02/24|03/05|03/13/17|03/15/17|06/16/17|07/18/17|--/--/--|New York, NY

Zhekaviolin.....|04/19/12|01/19|01/25|01/24|02/09/17|03/20/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Houston, TX

jkstark.........|05/30/00|01/20|--/--|01/25|02/17/17|11/21/17|11/27/17|12/27/17|01/11/18|Buffalo, NY

Ivancarranza....|08/16/95|01/24|--/--|01/27|02/24/17|02/28/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

Sakura13........|04/24/14|01/24|01/30|01/30|02/21/17|03/24/17|07/20/17|08/29/17|09/27/17|Tampa, FL

BubbleMe........|03/03/14|01/26|01/31|02/01|02/10/17|03/06/17|08/25/17|09/28/17|--/--/--|Memphis, TN

flagg...........|05/11/06|01/27|--/--|02/24|03/14/17|03/16/17|05/01/17|06/01/17|06/23/17|Greer, SC

feroze895.......|04/03/12|01/24|01/30|02/04|02/21/17|03/13/17|05/22/17|06/20/17|07/24/17|Washington, DC

Deribas_Alma-Ata|03/26/12|01/10|01/17|01/17|02/06/17|12/21/17|01/03/18|01/31/18|--/--/--|Norfolk, VA

ILoveUSCIS......|04/24/12|01/27|01/31|02/01|02/22/17|03/24/17|07/20/17|08/29/17|09/11/17|Tampa, FL (Oath date changed to 9/29/17)

B_B_B...........|09/10/13|01/07|01/12|01/14|02/02/17|02/06/17|08/16/17|09/14/17|--/--/--|Boston, MA

topazfae........|06/07/07|01/26|01/26|02/03|02/23/17|02/27/17|05/23/17|06/20/17|07/24/17|Washington, DC (Oath date changed to 8/12 on request)

IndigoSkies.....|--/--/--|12/23|12/27|01/09|01/30/17|02/01/17|07/29/17|09/01/17|10/26/17|Memphis, TN

bonjour2017.....|06/26/81|01/30|02/01|02/04|02/22/17|06/30/17|07/03/17|08/09/17|08/31/17|Baltimore, MD

================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================

UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office
Andy2891......|04/01/14|12/30|01/12|01/19|02/08/17|03/01/17|06/06/17|07/06/17|07/18/17|Los Angeles,CA

Cocann........|04/11/13|01/03|01/10|01/10|01/24/17|02/09/17|08/15/17|09/19/17|09/19/17|Seattle, WA

Cryshiabelen..|02/07/11|01/03|01/11|01/11|01/31/17|02/06/17|07/05/17|08/15/17|10/06/17|Las Vegas,NV

Haggischomper.|05/10/08|01/05|01/12|01/12|02/06/17|02/16/17|05/31/17|06/28/17|08/07/17|Chicago,IL

Juanita&David.|10/19/12|01/06|01/17|01/17|02/08/17|--/--/--|03/22/17|04/27/17|06/08/17|Boise, ID

Umadam........|04/19/11|01/07|--/--|01/18|02/10/17|02/14/17|05/30/17|06/30/17|--/--/--|Michigan City,IN

daigo.........|04/01/14|01/07|01/12|01/09|02/08/17|03/01/17|05/27/17|06/28/17|07/20/17|Chicago,IL

Natasha&Luka..|03/22/14|01/10|--/--|01/18|02/10/17|02/22/17|07/10/17|08/07/17|--/--/--|Bismarck, ND

MyJourney.....|04/01/10|01/11|01/13|01/18|02/16/17|02/21/17|09/16/17|10/24/17|10/24/17|Denver,CO

ac8238........|09/01/07|01/12|01/18|01/20|02/16/17|02/23/17|06/05/17|07/11/17|08/22/17|Los Angeles,CA

jenafid.......|04/17/14|01/16|01/24|01/19|02/15/17|03/17/17|09/25/17|10/30/17|--/--/--|Denver,CO

purplepretzel.|04/15/14|01/17|01/25|01/26|02/15/17|03/15/17|07/18/18|08/16/17|09/07/17|San Francisco,CA

Bugs..........|04/15/14|01/17|01/24|01/23|02/15/17|03/15/17|05/24/17|06/27/17|07/19/17|San Diego, CA

Steve&Roi.....|04/16/14|01/17|01/25|01/29|02/22/17|03/16/17|--/--/--|06/20/17|--/--/--|Detroit, MI

edrossi.......|10/08/09|01/20|01/27|01/30|02/13/17|11/07/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|St Paul, MN

KleoLove......|03/--/13|01/23|02/02|02/04|02/24/17|02/28/17|--/--/--|09/15/17|10/18/17|Los Angeles,CA

tufeb.........|06/01/09|01/27|01/31|02/02|02/13/17|02/24/17|06/09/17|07/07/17|08/24/17|San Jose,CA

pknick........|03/21/09|01/28|01/31|02/06|02/24/17|02/28/17|07/19/17|08/23/17|09/26/17|San Francisco,CA

DisneyLovers..|02/11/09|01/31|02/09|02/09|03/03/17|03/07/17|08/21/17|09/22/17|10/18/17|Los Angeles,CA

stuckinmn.....|01/05/12|01/24|02/02|01/31|03/02/17|03/07/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|10/13/17|Columbus, OH

waitforit.....|04/12/12|01/14|01/17|01/27|02/14/17|03/13/17|06/10/17|07/10/17|08/02/17|Chicago,IL

SamF..........|04/18/14|01/18|01/20|01/22|02/15/17|03/20/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Las Vegas,NV

jerr1.........|04/24/12|01/24|01/30|01/30|02/13/17|07/10/17|07/14/17|08/14/17|09/20/17|San Diego,CA

itsmeleila....|09/21/12|01/07|01/24|01/26|02/08/17|02/10/17|03/13/17|04/20/17|--/--/--|Kansas City, MO

James_And_JoAnne|01//12|01/13|01/20|01/??|02/17/17|02/22/17|05/30/17|06/27/17|08/24/17|San Jose,CA

Naplez1985....|04/30/12|01/30|02/06|02/10|03/02/17|03/31/17|11/13/17|12/18/17--|--/--/--|St.Paul, MN

jane78........|02/07/13|01/18|01/24|01/19|02/13/17|--/--/17|06/09/17|07/11/17|07/18/17|Los Angeles,CA

dfont.........|04/20/12|01/20|02/10|02/22|03/07/17|03/20/17|10/02/17|11/06/17|--/--/--|Denver,CO

Odin8.........|10/24/11|01/25|01/31|02/21|03/16/17|03/21/17|04/25/17|05/22/17|06/09/17|Raleigh, NC

Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Please use your VJ name to avoid confusion.
3. Copy the most recent list and paste into the reply box.
4. Always use [Courier New] Font and font size.[12]
5. Make changes and Add Reply.
6. Red Font = "I'm A United States Citizen"!

Legend:
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed / credit card was charged by USCIS
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification
Fprints: Date assigned for fingerprinting (Bio-metrics. If you do your biometrics via walk-in prior to your scheduled appointment, please enter the date in bold blue.
In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Interview: Date of your interview
Oath: Date Oath taken -- *Interview date in purple: Original interview date that the applicant asked to be rescheduled

Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview

And that's that - 38 new citizens today from 27 different countries at the Rochester NY Federal Courthouse, myself included.

Good luck, and I'll keep an eye on what's happening... Only a few of this group that appear to be still waiting, at least it appears like there are fewer waiting than the list would indicate. I suspect a number who forgot to update anything - though we do know that there are still some who wait - patiently or not.. Hope everybody's journey through this gets a happy ending and sooner rather than later.

Kris

Deribas_Alma-Ata · January 9, 2018