bing10

Very good examples.
 
As @Mike E said, the vast vast majority of interviews go completely normally without issue. It's unusual, but not unheard of for an interview to get de-railed. I took a lawyer to mine, as it was an important interview and I can afford it.
 

It will never expire, it stays pending, until it's approved or denied.
 
Mine ended up getting approved after a year and half. Moving to a different state was what prompted them to approve it, as they did that the same day they processed my transfer to the new field office.

It will never expire, it stays pending, until it's approved or denied.
 
Mine ended up getting approved after a year and half. Moving to a different state was what prompted them to approve it, as they did that the same day they processed my transfer to the new field office.

So I just finished the process of updating the SSA. Thanks to @seetsuh for documenting it so well. I used the exact same letter template and process as outlined earlier in the thread.
Here's my full timeline:
 
09/27/21: Mailed letter, passport card & SS-5 form to Columbus Ohio SSA office
10/01/21: Received Passport card back (by UPS)
10/08/21: Online status changed to "Updating information" *
10/14/21: Received letter (from Columbus SSA) saying new SSN card has been ordered and should receive within 2 weeks
10/15/21: Online status changed to show that I'm a US citizen *
10/15/21: Received new SSN card (from Baltimore SSA)

* - A useful way to check that SSA has correctly updated your information is by logging in to the online site, and click 'Replace your Social Security Card', once they have updated the citizenship status, it will allow you to order a new card, otherwise it reports that you are not a US citizen. I checked this a couple of times a day after mailing the documents to see when it had been updated.

How it is displayed before the update:
 


How it is displayed during the update:
 

 
How it is displayed after the update:

Interview date: 02-09-2020
Status: Decision pending 
 
I've only seen one poster on here who's been waiting longer than me!
 

Now that you're a citizen, don't forget how 'helpful' your senators were when it comes around to voting time.
 
I had the exact same experience with Senator Schumer's office, and will never forget it.

Now that you're a citizen, don't forget how 'helpful' your senators were when it comes around to voting time.
 
I had the exact same experience with Senator Schumer's office, and will never forget it.

Have you had a green card or immigration benefit before with a different A number?
 
I suspect they noticed another file in their system for you with a different record number, and need to get it pulled from their archives.
 

I ended up calling passport control. They told me I'd be able to leave the country using my home country passport, but i wouldn't be able to return. I had to show them proof of my flight, then they could allow me to book an appointment and pickup my passport within a few days.

Very good examples.
 
As @Mike E said, the vast vast majority of interviews go completely normally without issue. It's unusual, but not unheard of for an interview to get de-railed. I took a lawyer to mine, as it was an important interview and I can afford it.
 

Recent examples I’ve read why one should have had an attorney:
 
* LPR was mistakenly issued a 10 year green card.  At N-400 interview IO rail roads her into withdrawing her N-400 because there was no I-751.  There is no way I would ever voluntarily withdraw a petition because USCIS messed up and I suspect neither would competent lawyer 
 
* LPR got green card through employment and was married for 3 years to someone who was a USA citizen for 3 years at the time  N-400.  At N-400 interview, IO invents a policy that says one can naturalize at 3 years only if the petitioner was the spouse.  A comely ent lawyer would have forced the IO to cite the written policy and in turn quoted policy and case and got that LPR a positive decision.  
 
Statistically most N-400 cases don’t need an attorney. Just like statistically most car trips don’t need a seat belt. But when someone rear ends you …

amazing. thank you or this, I just filed one! 

So I've been around here for a while, and my journey finally came to an end today after a 26 month wait!
 
This was my complete timeline from filing I-751 to completing the oath:
 
- Sep 2018: Filed I-751
- Jun 2019: Filed N-400
- Feb 2020: N-400 Interview (Passed tests, but unable to make a decision as I-751 had not been approved)
- Mar 2020: I-751 Approved
- May 2021: Filed AR-11 (But didn't receive a confirmation)
- Jun 2021: Filed second AR-11
- Jun 2021: N-400 Approved (on the same day that they processed the second AR-11)
- Jul 2021: Oath scheduled in the old state, then cancelled
- Aug 2021: Oath scheduled in the new state
- Aug 2021: Oath ceremony completed
 
In the nearly 1.5 year long wait between the interview and approval I did all the usual things, contacted senators, representatives, Ombudsman, sent emails, sent case enquiries, added additional evidence online. My experience of these is that nothing made any difference. Every single response was a generic note that makes me think they didn't even look at my case.
 
What finally got the approval over the line was when I moved to a new state, so my case would have been transferred to a new field office. If I hadn't moved, I could well have still been waiting now.
 
I'll never know the reason for the crazy long delay, but I have two possible theories:
 
1. I had provided a LOT of evidence for the I-751. At the interview, the Officer didn't have the file, but she could see the number of pages on her system, and said something to the effect of "Jeez, how many pages... this is going to take a while". I've since read that the Officer maybe responsible for scanning in the I-751 in a combo interview, so it's possible mine just went to the bottom of her pile because it was going to be annoying/time consuming to scan all my documents in.
 
2. My file just got lost in the Officers office. She had a lot of files stacked up around the place, and maybe my filing the AR-11 forced someone to go find my file.
 
Whatever the cause was, I hope my experience helps others in the same situation in future.
 
Advice I'd give other people in a similar situation:
 
- Try not to stress about it. You can drive yourself crazy obsessing about it. Sit back, and try to relax. I drove myself crazy in the early days, but after 10 months or so of waiting I just kind of accepted that it would be done when it was done, and my anxiety levels got a whole lot better.
 
- Make sure you have accounts setup in both the old and new system, and check them both regularly (some information is only posted in the old, and some only in the new), and set both up to alert you on text and email.
 
- Moving states seemed to be what finally sorted mine. It's extreme but if you're really at your wits end, it might be the answer!
 
That's all I can think of at the moment. Good luck to everyone still on the journey, and I'll check back on the forum occasionally to help out where I can.

 

If I was you, I'd also do the following:
 
- Contact your representative (If you're in 12th district, Carolyn Maloney's office is particularly helpful)
- File a case with the USCIS ombudsman
- Start sending an 'Out of processing time request' every month
 
Other than that, there isn't a great deal else you can do unless you want to sue them.

I think those probably are legitimate questions for them to ask, and refusing to answer them likely won't end up with a good result.
 
You did the right thing with staying calm and answering correctly I'd say.

Yes my lawyer recommends appealing the denial. He instructed me to write a statement about the whole situation, which I already did. Will be sending the appeal out soon. I will keep you guys posted.
Thanks all.

Now that you're a citizen, don't forget how 'helpful' your senators were when it comes around to voting time.
 
I had the exact same experience with Senator Schumer's office, and will never forget it.

Yes
thank you my dude
Be patient definitely 
I super patient 
green card is enough for my present situation 
Illegally immigrants still lives in happy life
why I am not 
hahaha a kidding

I also changed name in N400 , may be more longer time! 
 
Merry Christmas 
You are real nice guy!

Now that you're a citizen, don't forget how 'helpful' your senators were when it comes around to voting time.
 
I had the exact same experience with Senator Schumer's office, and will never forget it.

I dealt with multiple Senators and Representatives during my long complicated process, and always found the Republicans to be more helpful and pushed USCIS harder than the Democrats.
 
Not meant to be a political statement, just my experience!

Now that you're a citizen, don't forget how 'helpful' your senators were when it comes around to voting time.
 
I had the exact same experience with Senator Schumer's office, and will never forget it.

I dealt with multiple Senators and Representatives during my long complicated process, and always found the Republicans to be more helpful and pushed USCIS harder than the Democrats.
 
Not meant to be a political statement, just my experience!

Now that you're a citizen, don't forget how 'helpful' your senators were when it comes around to voting time.
 
I had the exact same experience with Senator Schumer's office, and will never forget it.

I dealt with multiple Senators and Representatives during my long complicated process, and always found the Republicans to be more helpful and pushed USCIS harder than the Democrats.
 
Not meant to be a political statement, just my experience!

Now that you're a citizen, don't forget how 'helpful' your senators were when it comes around to voting time.
 
I had the exact same experience with Senator Schumer's office, and will never forget it.