STurcotte77

3 minutes ago, natalie417 said:

Wowwww!! Congrats 🎉    
Do you know if they have oath ceremony in the afternoon?

Thank you! 

I am not sure, but I do know that we were the 5th oath ceremony that day (11:30AM on a Saturday).  So, I really think they are trying to get out of the backlog. I think you won't know till after the interview is over when you will be scheduled.  Sorry not much help. 

That’s it! I’m a U.S. Citizen! 

Filed: May 15,2020- Atlanta, GA Based on 5yr. 
Bio Reuse: Jan 20,2021
Congresswoman Contacted : 1/27/2022
FOIA: 1/12/2022
Interview Date received: 1/31/2022
Interview Date: March 5, 2022
Oath Ceremony: March 5,2022

I had my interview this morning at 7:30.  Check in process was very quick and easy.  
Interviewer had me verify my name, address and SSN.  The asked the 6 questions, I got them all right.   He went through my application and asked about my name change (I was reverting back to my Maiden name) and mentioned that I didn’t need it because my divorce decree stated that my name was to be reverted back.  
Then he said my application was approved and would I be able to come back today for 11:30 Oath Ceremony. He mentioned in conversation that they were doing same day oaths due to the back up. All 10 people who I walked in with to wait for the interview were at the oath ceremony. 
Oath ceremony was very quick, they had 50 of us at a time and took our Green cards and we said the oath and after a few minutes we had our certificates.  
I was so excited to get a sale day oath as I really thought it wasn’t a possibility but here we are!  YAY!

8 hours ago, natalie417 said:

Hi

Could you please post any interview experience after you’ve done? I have an upcoming interview on Apr 2, which it’s Saturday afternoon. Kinda weird 😅

I appreciate it!!!

Hi!  I will absolutely do so.  I am excited and only just a tiny bit nervous, but so happy it's finally here.   

3 minutes ago, Libertate said:

It depends on how your business is incorporated. If it is a disregarded entity (single mbr LLC / sole proprietorship) just download your Record of Account or transcript from IRS secure portal. It already includes your Schedules C and SE.  If you are an s-corp and receive a W2 and/or dividends then i would just bring your 1040. Your business has a separate tax liability and i don't think USCIS is very competent in tax matters. They rely on the IRS to determine whether or not you have taxes due. What USCIS needs is to see that you don't owe anything at the time of your interview. Record of account confirms exactly that as it shows taxes paid and balances due. 

Ok!  Perfect! I am bringing my business transcripts just in case so that should do it. I have an S Corp so that will work.   I purposely am waiting to file my business taxes till after my interview just to be on the really safe side (Interview is on March 5th). 

Thank you so much.  

Hi All!

I'm putting together my documents for my interview and I was wondering something if anyone has any input?      I own a business and I will of course bring my business taxes.. my question is if anyone thinks I need to bring proof of my business?  (IE: My state business registration or EIN)? I know it couldn't hurt but wanted to see if anyone else was in this situation for the interview. 

Any input would be helpful, Thank you in advance. 

7 hours ago, Trigmo said:

Hey all

 

With all this talk about filing an FOIA to trigger USCIS to retrieve our A-files, does anyone know what are the contents of this A-file? 
 

I read before that it’s between 140-260 pages. 
 

N400 should be about 20 pages 

then what else? Green card application? Bios? 

 

Does anyone know what’s in it?

When you request the FOIA, you request your entire A-File.  That includes all documents related to your immigration journey (IE: I130,I485 etc...).  I am only in step 3 (I have received an interview at this stage) so can't say what all is in it).  There are a couple people who have gone to step 5 and have their full documents so may know better.  

From what I understand USCIS needs your entire file so the FOIA helps get the A file that has for most of us been stuck at NRC since Covid. 

Hi Everyone!

20 months after my filing,  I finally have an interview date!   March 5, 2020!  I am so excited, is there anyone that has done an interview at the Atlanta office within the last 6 months that could give me some feedback?

Was there a same day oath option if approved etc....

27 minutes ago, abfar said:

Guys, I got my interview notification but I'm confused about this part. 

 

Basically I'll be travelling from abroad to the US just a few days before the interview. And I'm fully vaccinated but does this paragraph mean I have to reschedule interview?

 

"However, if you are ill, have any symptoms of illness, have returned from domestic, international, or cruise ship travel within the past 10 days (unless
you are fully vaccinated); have been instructed to self-isolate or self-quarantine in the past 14 days, or had close contact with anyone known to have COVID-19 within the past 14 days (unless you are fully vaccinated or you are a health care worker and consistently wear an N95 respirator and proper personal protective equipment (PPE) or equivalent when in contact with COVID-19 positive individuals); or are at heightened risk due to age or an underlying health condition and would like to reschedule your appointment, call the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833) as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment. There is no penalty for requesting that your appointment be rescheduled. Being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 is defined as at least 2 weeks after the second dose of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, or 2 weeks after the single J&J vaccine."

Hmmm. It says "unless fully vaccinated" so I think you will be fine. 

"However, if you are ill, have any symptoms of illness, have returned from domestic, international, or cruise ship travel within the past 10 days (unless
you are fully vaccinated)

I wanted to add in case there are people not on the FB Spring Filers group! But just today three people in different stages of FOIA from Step 3- Step 5 (completed) got interview dates.   I really think it does help get the file out of the caves at least and then it's up to the local offices workload for the interview date.  

5 minutes ago, keyuree1 said:

I contacted the senator's office for assistance but by that time my interview was scheduled. It didn't seem to do anything for other people. I don't think the senator's office has any power over USCIS. Plus, the NARA is the culprit here. The field office can't move forward with the case until they receive the file from NARA. And they don't have power over NARA either. I firmly believe in FOIA. 

Yeah!  Neither of my senators did anything for me either. 

However, my Congresswoman's office was able to actually get some answers and were actually calling and emailing me after my request to them.  I heard from them when my FOIA was in progress  and said my  file was in queue for an interview. I got my interview two days after that email and 6 days after my FOIA was in Step 3. 

4 hours ago, magentahaze said:

Might be the next course of action to take. I'm getting close to 2 years and I have no clue if I'll be getting anywhere by that mark *sigh*

 

Is there a break down in this thread on how to file one? It looks like quite a few have. A little help would be appreciated. 😊

 

 

Hi Magen, 

Here is the link to the FB group that has the instructions; https://www.facebook.com/groups/517983782770173/

The top post has the link and instructions.  There have been a couple more people who have gotten their interviews since filing the FOIA (all have different timelines). 

I would also suggest once you get to step two of the FOIA to contact your congressman/woman for assistance.  There isn't really enough data to know for sure but three of us who did the combo of the two have gotten interview dates.  I hope that helps and I am happy to help if you get stuck. 

13 hours ago, magentahaze said:

Still no movement on mine. Debating whether I should file a FOIA request. 

I'm growing beyond frustrated. 

If you are still waiting, I would suggest you do.  It costs nothing and can't hurt, I would also suggest contacting your congressman/woman and senators as well.  

The FOIA is kind of an unknown but there is a good handful of us that have received interviews after filing one. 

8 minutes ago, roddie2k said:

I got my interview date a week after it went to Step 3 (1/12) . Interview is scheduled for  2/14. 

Fantastic.   Same. 

2 hours ago, roddie2k said:

Same here ..mine was completed today as well..no documents in the library . Note: My wife received hers in the library it was about 140 pages only.

Did you get your interview date?

16 minutes ago, AH2020 said:

My FOIA was completed today and the files are available in my account. My interview is next week. 

My timeline:

N400 submitted: 04/20/2020

Biometrics: 03/24/2021

FOIA submitted: 12/10/2021

FOIA Step 3: 01/03/2022

Interview notice received: 01/06/2022

FOIA Step 5 completed: 01/31/2022

Interview: 02/09/2022

Congratulations!!!   Woo hoo.  

3 minutes ago, Rn400 said:

Ok thanks for update . I was so frustrated that I never bothered to contact congressmen and Ombudsman anytime . My mistake . I will reach out to them.

I totally get it! I am just going to keep putting in requests with everyone even after their responses and hopefully annoy them to the point they do something.  Squeaky wheel gets the oil! 

43 minutes ago, STurcotte77 said:

I received this yesterday from my congresswoman’s office. It’s the first time I’m getting a response other than “your files are stuck”.   I am trying to be positive and take it as a good sign and hopefully not another excuse.   Being cautiously optimistic! 
On that note my FOIA went to step three on Saturday.  

I do want to add that this is the 2nd time I have contacted them, the first email in October was this:  "USCIS is reviewing this case to resolve preprocessing checks. The time range for completing this task cannot be determined. A request for evidence has not been submitted for this case. However USCIS will send notification to the address of record if a response is required. Please refer your constituent to the USCIS website www.uscis.gov/addresschange to provide the new mailing address.
USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in a timely and efficient manner while also ensuring public safety, national security and compliance with all relevant directives.
While the processing steps for most applications or petitions are completed quickly, a small percentage of cases involve unresolved issues that may result in adjudication delays"
 

I received this yesterday from my congresswoman’s office. It’s the first time I’m getting a response other than “your files are stuck”.   I am trying to be positive and take it as a good sign and hopefully not another excuse.   Being cautiously optimistic! 
On that note my FOIA went to step three on Saturday.  

48 minutes ago, Rn400 said:

As per FOIA these exempts (6 pages withheld) are due to Privacy Act and 5 U.S.C. 

So, folks in my case all my step 5 is done, and my wife is still in step 2. No interview for both yet. Just an update! 

Oh, Sorry!  Do you think on top of this there is the issue of the local field offices going at a snails pace?

I was worried about that as well due to my local office being one of the slowest offices in the country even before Covid.   They are now severely understaffed to add salt to the wound. 

8 minutes ago, lightstream19 said:

I filed FOIA on 01/13, moved to stage 3 yesterday and no interview schedule yet. I’m May 2021 filer though.

Hmm!  Yeah I am May 2020. I am just waiting.  If this doesn't work I have decided to just renew my GC and wait because short of storming the caves I have tried everything at this point. LOL   

Just now, lightstream19 said:

Did you get your interview schedule yet?

No, I only just got to stage 2 on the 20th. 

But, when I didn't hear anything after I filed on the 12th, I sent them an email inquiring if they received my request and it went to stage 2 the next day.  But it couldn't hurt for them to email or call since it's been since Nov 21'

22 hours ago, Lazybuny said:

I don't know if anyone remembers me, but as I mentioned before: I requested A-file back in Nov 2021. It got stuck in step 2 for more than 2 months. Today it finally moved to step 4. 

 

Still no information on interview scheduling yet. How long did everyone wait to get an interview notice, after A file request moved to step 3? 1-2weeks?

Have you tried to contact them?   Either via email or call?    The receipt letter states 20 days and permitted 10 extra days if needed. 

Also::  "Under the statute, federal agencies are required to respond to a FOIA request within twenty working days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. This period does not begin until the request is actually received by the component that maintains the records sought."

24 minutes ago, Vol_UTK said:

Hi there! Does your letter say anything about $25 fees? 

Yes!  But it just says it may be chargeable up to $25.00.  No charges as of yet though.