Coco&Kitten

I see you are in Colorado.  Before abandoning your application contact Senator Bennet, they were able to find out why my case was stuck. 

23 months is too long to wait!

1 hour ago, oriana77 said:

more news on this page: after a little bit over 2 years since I applied and after exactly one year and 10 days after my interview USCIS finally approved my case and I am in line for oath ceremony.  Like @Coco&Kitten. By the way did you got your Oath ceremoy date yet? I want to know how long do they take to let you know the date.

 

I will never know what exactly delayed my case  either...other than USCIS is understaff and the pandemic made things worse. I don't know if the last inquiry made in december helped me, there is no way to know really and like @Coco&Kitten said PATIENCE IS KEY!!!  I still cannot believe this process is almost over. I am going to keep updating about the oath ceremony (if that is still relevent.)

 

I really loved this community, y'all helped me TREMENDOUSLY to not feel alone in this process. 

Wow, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Very happy to hear the good news, yeah it seems that sooner or later (in your case much later) they finally get to the decision.

Yes, I got my oath ceremony notice yesterday for Feb 22nd, funny that it is going to be on 2-22-22, a date I will never forget 🙂

I have not received the mail letter yet, just the on-line notification.  So, I would suspect yours will come in the next few days.

Angelo, Congratulations, the wait is finally over!!! 

And guess what, I just received today the notice for my approval too.  Funny that we had the interviews almost the same day back in April 2021 and we were approved on the same day too.

I have been following everyone's progress on this thread too and it has helped me keep my sanity in check.  @Moradesk, you were also a great supporter!

Finally some news: after more than 9 months waiting for a decision to be made, they finally approved my case and I am in line for oath ceremony. 

I will never know exactly what caused the delay, maybe the A-file was stuck at the FRC, maybe my case was forgotten.  I had just put a second inquiry to my Senator two weeks ago, not sure either if that is what got it updated.  Maybe it was just timing, someone said here once: you just have to be patient, YES, I think I have been.  Each case is different, patience is the key.

Anyway, this thread in particular has somehow kept me from going insane at a times, so thank you all for your updates and encouragements.  I will keep checking on here and wishing everyone else waiting good luck, you will get there.

Any updates from the Denver filers, any new ones?

So, it is February again, it has been a year!

Anybody else waiting for interviews or decisions to be made yet?

1 hour ago, Kaptan said:

Good article, I had so many mixed emotions when I read it. The million dollar question though, is how come the newer applicants’ cases aren’t getting stuck at those limestone FRC caves like ours are? Are they stored in a different facility, or are theirs kept electronically? I didn’t see the answer to that question, unless I missed it.

 

Good question.  My theory on this is that it depends on the history of each case in particular.  Some newer applicants are also stuck (like mine, I filed in Feb 2021).  It seems to depend on whether you had an old A-file or not, meaning an immigration history (or even non-immigration visas) from before 2010.  Those cases are all in paper, not like the new ones that are electronic, hence the delays getting those old files.  Just my 2 cents here.

I would personally renew the GC, that's what I did and now I am glad I did it because my N400 is very delayed (more than I expected).  At least I have a new GC that doesn't expire anytime soon and I can travel without any worries.

Thanks for this information @mw2018!!  Something, we all knew, but now is on the media, more coverage is needed.

20 hours ago, thewaitingame said:

Found this on facebook n400 group

Thanks for this information, I didn't know that FRC and NRC were two different animals, now things make a little bit more sense.

14 hours ago, sfo-user said:

Congress Person was told by USCIS that it is the NATIONAL records center and that it's only operating at 25% capacity and that it had been closed for quite some time. Obviously, it's a boilerplate response just like the claim that they are processing applications in the order they are received.

My Senator got the response that my file was at the Federal Records Center, so obviously there are conflicting responses, I don´t know what to believe anymore...

1 hour ago, shugi123 said:

Mine is Denver office. The officer on my case said that I have 2 A numbers. And he needs time to combine the files in order for them to make a decision. Technically they need to give the decision with in 120 days of interview. Just crazy. No one is accountable here. 

Ha, I'm in Denver too. And exactly what they told me, that I had an earlier case (meaning a previous J1 visa) and they had to review it in order to make a decision.  In my case they did not mention the 2 A numbers, but that might be the case too, I have been wondering about this.

I am way over the 120 days, so yeah no one is accountable for that it seems.

6 hours ago, shugi123 said:

Sailing in the same boat. Had my interview 3 months ago with 'Decision cannot be made yet' status. Have been waiting. Online status is still the same. Nothing has changed. Cant get through any rep over the phone no mater what I say. It's so frustrating. 

How do you bypass the IVR and get to talk to someone? 

I had my interview 9 months ago, still nothing!  I called several times and they couldn't give me any info.  I contacted my Senator, and apparently my A-file is at the Federal Records Center and USCIS has not received it yet to continue with the decision, very weird.

What field office did you filed in?

Check this thread, a lot of us are still waiting for decisions to be made.  It can take from days to months, to years in some cases...

16 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

Im aware what FOIA is. But does USCIS have the right to request one?

What would be the reason to request it?

USCIS usually needs the A-file to adjudicate applications.  They request it before the interview, and in some cases after the interview.

I decided to start this new thread after reading several posts in which FOIA requests are helping unstuck cases that have been in limbo forever.

A FOIA request is basically asking USCIS to retrieve the A-file from the Federal Records Center at NARA (National Archives and Records Administration).  So, instead of USCIS asking for it, it is an individual requesting the file.  That is how I understand it, correct me if I am wrong.

After reading some of the posts from the April and May 2020 filers I noticed quite a few cases are finally moving after a FOIA request.  This is also related to cases that are "fairly old", meaning the individual entered the US before 2010, because at that time no digital copies or on-line system existed.

Now, individuals with A-files stuck at the FRC are not only those who filed in Spring of 2020, BUT also people who filed in 2021 (including my case and others discussed in the "N400 interview decision pending tracker").  In theses cases and for some reason, interviews were scheduled but when time came for USCIS to make a decision they needed to retrieve the A-file (who knows if it was a different one) that remains at the FRC.  Again, this could be due to the age of the A-file, no digital copies available for some cases.

My point: it does not matter when you filed, if you got your interview or not.  If your file is stuck at the FRC, your case might not be moving.  Most of us have contacted Senators, representatives... with the same answer: your file is at the FRC and needs to be retrieved, they are not working at full capacity, so it is taking forever...

The purpose of this thread is to discuss if filing a FOIA is a viable option (obviously it is for some filers from 2020) and hear success stories.  Please post with your experience and tips on how this is helping your application or not.

1 hour ago, Me112 said:

My relative submitted an inquiry about the case. This is the answer that was recieved : 

''USCIS systems indicate that you appeared for your naturalization interview on August ..., 2021. If final approval is granted, you will be notified of when and where to report for your naturalization ceremony''.

 I am not sure if requesting the A-FILE from 2001 will help, the old file has an unkown A-NUMBER diifferent from the one on the current permanent card. 

Yeah, exactly the same answer I got every time I made an inquiry.  My old file from 2000 does not have an A number either, so I wonder if FOIA would help.

On 12/31/2021 at 3:52 PM, Me112 said:

Hi everyone and Happy New Year, I have a relative who already passed N-400 test on August 18 but was told the decision cannot be made until the officer recieves an old A-file from 2001. It is passed 120 days now, still no update. Can my relative use FOIA to request that specific file only?

I am in a similar situation.  I have heard that FOIA request triggers interviews for those who didn't get them yet, but I am not sure about old A-files pending review after the interviews. 

Was your relative able to put the request through?  I would like to hear more about this.

I wonder if anybody has any news related to files stuck at the Federal Records Centers.  No news on mine yet...

On 12/19/2021 at 10:41 AM, bunkx said:

So whoever said the ombudsman's office is totally useless, that is the understatement of the year. Got this response after I told them it had been over 120 days since the interview. Which qualifies for their attention since it's a statutory limitation on the USCIS, they legally have to adjudicate. 

 

 

That's right. They didn't even bother to fill in my receipt date and USCIS office. They literally just sent me a template. Is this a joke?

Agree, it is totally nuts.  If the case is not outside of processing time they won't do anything.  I am now at 8 months after interview, nothing new... Hopefully 2022.

16 hours ago, angelostuart said:

I provide all original or certified court copy of my  disposition 

 

My friend is an immigration attorney 

he said , if u sue USCIS they will finds a tiny problem denied  your case

 

Today is 8 months after interview 

I Hope the miracle will happen in 2022 January

because 2021 is so suck

Hang in there.  I am also 8 months after interview and haven't heart anything. 

Did you contact your Senator or congressman?  I found out that my A-file is locked at the Federal Records Center and that is causing the delay, I guess... I am also looking forward to 2022, something has to happen, be patient...

On 12/8/2021 at 11:02 AM, Sanwari0610 said:

I was scheduled for his interview on October 12, 2021, when i attended the interview they had me wait over two hours, eventually canceling my interview. The USCIS worker claimed i had two A alien numbers and in order to proceed with my application they would have to merge the two files together. I am unaware that i have two alien numbers. What happens now?

Did you have a previous non-immigrant visa before? sometimes that happens and they have 2 alien numbers on file.  I think they have to close one in order to follow up with the second one.

On 12/1/2021 at 9:27 AM, iacrossnation said:

received this from senator office. 

 

-------------

The law firm Mintz Levin is interested in talking with constituents about their naturalization applications that are not moving forward because the files are sitting at the Federal Records Center. If this is of interest to you, please reach out to Susan Cohen at SJCohen@mintz.com and title the subject line "Federal Record Center" in your email. 

Please know that this outreach will be at no cost to you and they will not provide legal advice. They are exploring how large an issue this is nationally so that they can address the situation head-on. 

------------

 

Got a reply from Susan that they are trying to get the press involved.  Are any of you going to talk to the reporters?

On 12/3/2021 at 7:22 PM, judefabulous said:

I wanted to let you guys know that I got an update on my case this morning. It was a denial notice and it stated:

Based on the information in the record, and your testimony during your naturalization interview, USCIS finds that you have given false testimony under oath with the intent to obtain an immigration benefit. To be eligible for naturalization, you must demonstrate that during the statutory period, September 15, 2015 to the present, you have been a person of good moral character. You have not established that you are a person of good moral character because, during the statutory period, you gave false testimony to obtain an immigration benefit. Therefore, you are ineligible for naturalization at this time. See INA 101(f)(6) and 316(a)(3) and Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR), sections 316.10 (a) and (b)(2)(vi). If you believe that you can overcome the grounds for this denial, you may submit a request for a hearing on Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings, within 30 calendar days of service of this decision (33 days if this decision was mailed). See attached 8 CFR 336.2 (a) and 103.8(b). Without a properly filed Form N-336, this decision will become final. See INA 336.

 

My attorney was present at my interview and he said that this decision is not coherent so we will go over an appeal process.

 

Sorry to hear the outcome.  Was it because of many trips outside the US during the last 5 years?  I wonder about this, because I have seen cases where they are stricter and question trips of less than 180 days.

2 minutes ago, iacrossnation said:

Got it. But over 21 months in this pandemic, they still couldn’t figure out, that’s just excuse. 

Yes, totally agree.  The management of this situation is not acceptable at all.