py6

Update: mine has recovered. I'm now able to connect via WIFI 

"should you really be here? your information has been logged."

I have used this site for years. I can still use my cellphone to access this site when WIFI is turned off, but not with my computer. Why would this site ban my IP?

It all started when I was looking at a thread today. I was quickly scrolling the pages to find a link in that thread. Did if think I was a bit scamming? Suddenly this messaged popped up and I lost access to this site.

Just got an email saying my passport was approved. How long does it usually take from approval to receiving it?

On 9/11/2020 at 9:12 AM, BRgirlUS said:

Can anyone help me understand why it is taking so long for them to process my passport and help me calculate when can I expect it just by using the numbers?

I sent the application on July 20, My status changed to "In Process" on July 24. It is being processed in Chicago.

A person from another forum sent their application to the Chicago Passport Center on July 15 and on August 27 they received their passport (6 weeks).

My status is still "In Process". 

On the week of July 23-29 there were 1,150,000 passports awaiting issuance.

From Jul 23 to Sep 10 1,002,000 new applications were received. 

Adding these two numbers = 2,152,000

A total of 1,316,000 passports were issued between July 23 and September 10. 

The Department of State says that applications will be processed in the order they were received.

I am calculating that there are 2,152,000 - 1,316,000 = 836,000 applications in front of mine. 

From September 4 to 10 there were 110,000 applications received and 129,000 passports issued, which gives us a difference of only 19,000 passports.

if it goes on this rate, it will take 44 more weeks (836/19) for them to process my passport 😨 !!!????

Is there a more optimistic way to do this math? 

 

Also, I have a tracking number now, what is it useful for?

It's not first come first serve. Some have travel dates coming up. Also, applications sent to different agencies have different rates.

39 minutes ago, NEW CITIZEN said:

I don't think they would send the same load to a Phase one, as to a Phase two center.

 

Does that make it longer or shorter for me to receive my passport? I haven't seen anyone here whose case is at NPC.

I just called and got to know that my passport application is at National Passport Center in New Hampshire, which is in phase one reopening. May I ask you guys if you know about this center and how long it's taking for people to receive their passports? 

Thanks!

On 7/25/2020 at 3:44 PM, yippy_j said:

Quick question folks:

 

does anyone know how long will it take to get a judicial oath ceremony? I am actually thinking a name change. I am just curious how long it is going to take.

Go to district court to do a name change. There's no judicial oath in Seattle right now. Normally it's only held once a year. So don't do a judicial one. If you need to change your name, go through the court and bring an original certificate to your N400 interview to update your new name.

Oath ceremonies are currently held immediately after your N400 interview in your officers office. Only the applicant is allowed in there. 

1 hour ago, Lilmama said:

Are there people waiting to get their N400 biometric appointment reschedule? Mine was scheduled on April 1st and canceled due to the covid-19. I'm still waiting. I sent inquiry requests but nothing. 

Can I get it schedule via phone or are walk ins still possible? 

They don't take walk-ins right now. I would call USCIS and and ask to speak to a Tier 2. 

On 7/21/2020 at 10:08 AM, seahawk24 said:

Is there a way to track the current processing times for Seattle? for Combo and N400 fliers only? It will be about word of mouth where people just report back. Do we know if there is a site or someone who is tracking? We can just do it via Google doc and if your date of submission is higher than the one in the doc and your interview has concluded, just update the date of submission. Would there be interest and we can spin up a simple sheet?

Check out VisaJourney's citizenship timeline and select Seattle office. 

35 minutes ago, Louis61404 said:

In the Trump administration, going to merit based does mean the end to parents sponsorship.  Trump and the exact same people who wrote the 2019 attempt played their cards when they tried this a different way that failed back then.

 

I certainly don't know enough about what the Supreme Court said in the DACA ruling a couple of weeks ago - but according to Trump, him and his team have interpreted that he can do this merit based immigration order via EO.  Whether he can or can't is certainly up for debate and will obviously be challenged, but it's on record that's why they're moving forward with this now, via EO.

 

Australia allowing parent sponsorship is quite misleading - at an insane cost, should be mentioned.

I would be very concerned if the Supreme Court decision is truly going to give the President broad powers to change immigration law and enact new laws. I certainly don't believe the executive branch can do this. However, if Trump does implement this, the next Democratic President similarly will have the power to scratch whatever Trump comes up with and install his/her version. I see a lot of instability in this approach.

Canada has merit-based system. It allows both citizens AND permanent residents to sponsor parents for PR. 

Australia also allows parents sponsorship.

Going merit-based doesn't make it a necessity to end parents sponsorship. In fact, many high-skilled, filthy rich immigrants care a LOT about this. Countries with such policies continue to get those people.

But again, this is an EO. It's not going to be able to change the law and end categories created by law.

1 hour ago, lesly87 said:

Starting to send them notices which means they are likely to be furloughed beginning of August. 

I know. But there is a distinction between receiving notices vs furloughed. If they haven't actually been furloughed yet, the furlough hasn't begun. They are still working until the date shown on their notice.

8 hours ago, lesly87 said:

No longer a potential but a reality. USCIS started furloughing people earlier this week. Also confirmed by some employees themselves on another site. See my post in the November-19 thread for more deets. 

 

 

Did you mean starting furloughing people or sending them furlough notices? So far I have only heard about the notices but not actual furlough.

This only helps slow down the processing speed. 

Still waiting for N400 interview rescheduling. Called USCIS# last week due to inaction while other never-been-scheduled people are getting their first interview dates (I thought USCIS was trying to reschedule the cancelled ones first?!), and I was told that the agency sent my case for another round of background checks 20 days after my original interview was cancelled. I was very irritated by that. Called USCIS today and they told me that my case is not having anything holding it back or pending background check, and shown as "eligible for interview." So I don't know why I got two different answers on my case. It's always a fun ride talking to different people on the phone. 

My local field office (Seattle) also seems to have the same phenomenon. People who have never been scheduled have been receiving interview notices after USCIS reopening. People who were scheduled interviews prior to the closure are still waiting for rescheduling. 

I called their phone number and was told that they initiated another background check on me, which is what's holding my case back. I'm not sure if this is also happening to other people, but it could be the reason we haven't been rescheduled yet.

1 hour ago, JFH said:

This is ridiculous! 6 months for a background check? How do other USCIS offices manage to get people through the whole citizenship process (from filing N-400 to oath) in 3 or 4 months, as was the case in Buffalo, NY, for example, pre-COVID?

They will say that they have no control over how long this takes. But so far I have no answer on why other offices can get it done so fast. Let's be honest. The FBI is not gonna take 6 months to do a name check. So there you have the "answer." It has to do with the Seattle office. Probably because of the backlog. The delay is on them. And I also have no idea why they sent my file for yet another round of checks. It's ridiculous indeed, considering they sent it for background checks 1 month after they got the results of the previous one which took 6 months to complete. 

Guys/Girls:

If you are waiting for interview rescheduling, call USCIS customer number and ask if they are doing a background check on you. Background checks must be done before interview scheduling. I was scheduled an interview in March and it was cancelled by them. Now I was informed that they are doing another background check on me and they are waiting for the result. They sent it in April. It's been 2.5 months. I don't know if other people's cases are also sent for a new background check. But this could delay your case significantly. I asked them to look at the timeline of my first background check and how long it took. It took 6 months to complete. It was completed on the same day they scheduled for me first interview. So it's possible that this new background check that started in April could go on till October. It seems very arbitrary and staged of their decision to initiate a new round of background check less than one month after my interviews were cancelled due to COVID-19. I'm concerned if this whole thing is ever gonna end.  

My personal story is yes. I applied for I-751 in Oct, 2017 and N400 in Oct 2018. I'm still waiting. I was scheduled for a combo interview this March but it was cancelled. My local office is Seattle. Many combo filers from Seattle are having the same issue. Recently they have been getting I-751 approved without a combo interview, after 2.5-3+ years since initial filing. People from Seattle who only applied for I-751 in 2017 were approved in 2018 and early 2019.

If you feel that your I-751 is going to be approved soon, wait for the approval and then apply for N400. There really is no need to risk it. But again other offices might be different.

4 hours ago, GermanG said:

Thank you! I contacted her office on May 12.

The RFE letter was sent on May 15 and I received on May 18. It came from USCIS Boise, ID.

I sent the reply to RFE (the mail containing supporting evidence) on Wednesday May 20. It arrived on Tuesday 26th.

Somebody from her office called me on Friday May 22. They said they will inquiry this week with USCIS (to follow up).

My GC got approved today.

😄😄😄😄

That's great news. Congratulations! 

Bring you green card and the extension letter. When you come back from a foreign country, make sure you arrive EARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLY. Give yourself at least 2.5-3 hours before flight departure. Because they likely will have to call the US side to verify your green card status before checking you in. It could take up half an hour or more for them to verify.

About 1,000 Kansas City workers learn of potential layoffs ahead of holiday weekend

NBC is cutting 1000 workers at their office in Kansas City.

"After the layoffs, which would become effective May 29, 181 employees would remain at NBC offices in the Kansas City area. "

I think this is a good idea. Give people the choice to attend oath remotely. What YOU think is a good/bad idea doesn't necessarily mean others think the same. I absolute HATE the ones trying to use their opinions to dictate others. Let's make it optional so people can choose to attend remotely or on site.

Nobody knows when things will become normal again regarding passport processing. 

They didn't give you a date because they don't have a date. Unless you are a great prophet, you won't know what they don't even know. 

So if you are planning a trip with US passport, please don't.

19 minutes ago, Hamido said:

Most likely either they will raise the applications fees or reduce the staff but not closing the door 

High chance the already super backlogged lines will become even longer.