Biometrics scheduled for 11/23/2018, did a walk in on 11/15/2018.
Estimated case completion time was initially a total of 9 months (Aug. 2019). In May, it jumped up to a total of 12 mo. (so case completion was updated to Nov. 2019).. as I suppose most others' did too (to either Nov. or Dec. 2019).
I kept calling USCIS and sending them emails, getting back useless robot answers (I had trouble downloading my documents from the website too). So no help from the IT, or useful info from the other staff.
Then I wrote them and requested my file to be moved to San Bernardino (yes you can do that.. at that time SB's wait time was 3.5 months. But it's too late for November filers anyway!) After that, I got a reply saying:
"After careful review of your inquiry, we determined that your issue will be best addressed by the USCIS office processing your case; therefore, we are forwarding your inquiry to the Santa Ana Field Office. The referral ID for this inquiry is WKD**********SAA. The Santa Ana Field Office will contact you concerning your case once they have reviewed your inquiry."
Well, of course Santa Ana office never reached out to me. And that reference number was useless since there is NO WAY to reach Santa Ana office directly for an inquiry; you have to follow up through USCIS itself... and turns out neither phone operators nor email repliers at USCIS have proper access to look up "WKD" references. (Isn't it genius?)
To add to the confusion, after receiving that letter, my "Estimated case completion time" went down to Sep. 2019, and "Estimated wait time" went down to just a few days, while it was still July! It did not make any sense, and no one bothered to explain how or why it happened, or whether it had anything to do with my request. The countdown soon went down to 1 day and then the infamous "We are taking longer than expected to process your case. You do not need to do anything at this time." message was shown.
However, one of the replies to my many inquiry emails that followed that fluster cork, contained the robot bit: "Your application information has been entered into the system which schedules applicants for interviews at their local Field Office. Interview appointments are scheduled as slots become available at the Field Office." I later followed up on that info over the phone and learned that my case has been sitting in that queue since 4/15/2019.
With that in mind, taking biometrics date as the reference date, and based on definitely-not-enough-data-points for a solid prediction (and also against the published processing times.. which are always lagging about 10 weeks), I made a very loose and optimistic estimate of expecting my interview letter notice on Sep. 12th, plus/minus 3 days.
Today at 5:03 am, I got the email saying "We have taken an action on your case and it needs your attention" :)
September 9, 2019 We scheduled your interview
The letter itself hasn't yet appeared online, but I'm assuming the interview will most likely be in 5 weeks.
So to the rest of you weary Santa Ana November filers: it is coming any day now! woot woot!
Now off to overthinking and stressing over my interview (as I took a series of 4~5 month trips a couple of years ago). Anyone knows of any recent similar/relevant cases? Feel free to scare the hell out of me :D
N-400 NOVEMBER 2018 FILERS
in US Citizenship Case Filing and Progress Reports
Posted
November filer from Santa Ana.
For good news, skip to the bottom!
Relevant filing history:
Filed 11/05/2018
Biometrics scheduled for 11/23/2018, did a walk in on 11/15/2018.
Estimated case completion time was initially a total of 9 months (Aug. 2019). In May, it jumped up to a total of 12 mo. (so case completion was updated to Nov. 2019).. as I suppose most others' did too (to either Nov. or Dec. 2019).
I kept calling USCIS and sending them emails, getting back useless robot answers (I had trouble downloading my documents from the website too). So no help from the IT, or useful info from the other staff.
Then I wrote them and requested my file to be moved to San Bernardino (yes you can do that.. at that time SB's wait time was 3.5 months. But it's too late for November filers anyway!) After that, I got a reply saying:
"After careful review of your inquiry, we determined that your issue will be best addressed by the USCIS office processing your case; therefore, we are forwarding your inquiry to the Santa Ana Field Office. The referral ID for this inquiry is WKD**********SAA. The Santa Ana Field Office will contact you concerning your case once they have reviewed your inquiry."
Well, of course Santa Ana office never reached out to me. And that reference number was useless since there is NO WAY to reach Santa Ana office directly for an inquiry; you have to follow up through USCIS itself... and turns out neither phone operators nor email repliers at USCIS have proper access to look up "WKD" references. (Isn't it genius?)
To add to the confusion, after receiving that letter, my "Estimated case completion time" went down to Sep. 2019, and "Estimated wait time" went down to just a few days, while it was still July! It did not make any sense, and no one bothered to explain how or why it happened, or whether it had anything to do with my request. The countdown soon went down to 1 day and then the infamous "We are taking longer than expected to process your case. You do not need to do anything at this time." message was shown.
However, one of the replies to my many inquiry emails that followed that fluster cork, contained the robot bit: "Your application information has been entered into the system which schedules applicants for interviews at their local Field Office. Interview appointments are scheduled as slots become available at the Field Office." I later followed up on that info over the phone and learned that my case has been sitting in that queue since 4/15/2019.
With that in mind, taking biometrics date as the reference date, and based on definitely-not-enough-data-points for a solid prediction (and also against the published processing times.. which are always lagging about 10 weeks), I made a very loose and optimistic estimate of expecting my interview letter notice on Sep. 12th, plus/minus 3 days.
Today at 5:03 am, I got the email saying "We have taken an action on your case and it needs your attention" :)
September 9, 2019 We scheduled your interview
The letter itself hasn't yet appeared online, but I'm assuming the interview will most likely be in 5 weeks.
So to the rest of you weary Santa Ana November filers: it is coming any day now! woot woot!
Now off to overthinking and stressing over my interview (as I took a series of 4~5 month trips a couple of years ago). Anyone knows of any recent similar/relevant cases? Feel free to scare the hell out of me :D
-M