Ilona

Hey, King Sylva!

Congratulations!))) I am sooo happy for you! Just reading your letter made me frustrated and brought back bad memories of the time I felt helpless too! But all is well when it ends well! So,enjoy your freedom and independence!

Thanks, King Sylva and everyone else! King Sylva, I see that you'll finally go to an oath ceremony at the end of this month. This hasn't been a breeze for you either, so good luck to you too, the end is near!

About the questions they asked on the English test, I'm not sure I can recall them all, but I remember:

" Why the colonists came to America?"

"What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution?"

"What is on right or freedom from the first amendment?"

"If the president can no longer serve, who becomes the president?"

And the I believe she asked which state borders Canada or Mexico... I am not sure and I cant remember anything else. Sorry!

Hello, everybody!

I was posting in the topic for people who applied last august to the Nebraska Service Center, but I cant find it anymore, so I taught I should just describe my experience here and hopefully help somebody, because my journey is over and this forum has helped me immensely during the anxious times of waiting and not knowing what is going on...

So my interview in Chicago was in the middle of march. The time was 11 am, I got there at 10:30AM and was sitting in a huge room with over 100 other people. Before lunch everything was moving with a good speed and immigration officers were calling people in every 15-20 min. or so, but as soon as lunch time hit, everything stopped! I understand that everyone has to eat, but nobody comes out to tell you that is going to be a while, so you just sit there like an idiot! Anyway around 1 pm, after I waited 2 and half hours one guy came out and asked how many more people were waiting to be interviewed and me and 7 more raised our hands. He said he'll go in the back and check what the hell is going on. Shortly afterwords, one woman came out and called me. At this point I wasn't even nervous anymore, I just wanted this to be done and over with. So the IO looked tired and kind of in a big hurry. I taught :" great, now she is mad cause she probably just got yelled at by her supervisor to move her a**!!!" I was holding a huge and very heavy back pack containing 5 years worth of immigration paperwork and evidence and in my other hand I had another folder. She took me to a room and I wasn't even fully in the room yet with my hands full and she was already asking me to raise my hand to swear to tell the truth. I quickly dropped everything and did as I was told but I started not to have a good feeling about this. She proceeded to ask me 6 questions which I answered correctly, then made me write the sentence: "California has the most people." Then I had to read a sentence: "Which state has the most people?" and then she said that I passed the English test. Then she took a look at my file she had which was over 3 inches tick, so to anyone who is wondering what kind of info they keep on you, my answer is: Everything you have ever sent them! Even the pictures!

She said she cant make a decision right now, because she needs her supervisor to sign it off. I need to mention that I had another small problem that was resolved long time ago, which I dint want to discuss here, but that was the reason she wanted to double check everything. Otherwise I would have been approved on the spot. I don't know if she didn't have enough experience to make a decision by her self, cause she was quite yang, or this is just a standard procedure they go trough when they aren't 100% sure, but any way she said I will get an answer in the mail very soon. I felt like a deflated balloon afterwords. I was physically and mentally exhausted of dealing with this!

Needless to say the next week was full with anxious waiting and stress , but I knew there is no reason for them to deny this to me. So about 10 days later I got a letter in the mail instructing me to go to an oath ceremony couple of weeks later and I was the happiest person ever!!!))

I felt like huge weight has been lifted of my shoulders, but I still couldn't fully relax until I had the naturalization certificate in my hands!

The oath was at 8 AM and we were 144 people from 49 different countries. They checked is one by one,meaning you give them your oath letter invitation and your green card and we were seated in a huge court room. Then the judge came and gave a speech, we took the oath and one by one as we were heading out the door they handed to us our certificates. Then and only then I fully relaxed and felt as light as a feather...

Looking back at this whole journey has left me with bitter taste from the whole american system and bureaucracy, from the fact that for almost 5 years me and my husband had to relentlessly collect huge stacks of worthless paperwork and force ourselves to take pictures even if we don't felt like it, just because we had to non stop prove to somebody that "yeah, this is for real", because in this case you are presumed guilty from the beginning and you have to constantly try to show the opposite. It was exhausting and meaningless at times, especially when I had to wait 13 mos for my second green card, but hey it is finally over and I don't have to EVER EVER deal with this s*** again!!!

I am sorry for making this so long, but I really hope it will help somebody to shed some light on their own miserable immigration journey! Thanks to all members of VJ and good luck to all!

Hey!

How did your interview go? Did they tell you they can't make a decision right now? I hope it went well for you and post your results when you can!

I had the same situation last year!

I applied in august and didn't hear anything for 2 months and more. I kept calling USCIS cust. service line, but they couldn't tell me anything and just said to keep waiting! Finally I got sick and tired of it and contacted my local senator for help. A week later,thanks to the senator's office I got and answer! It turned out that I had typed my name instead of signing it and they had return my application for that! I never received it back and assumed that the post office services had lost it. What was really stupid was that I called USCIS so many times to ask what is going on and no one was even able to tell me that they have returned my application! So I waisted 3 months with that and finally had to apply all over again!

I strongly suggest that if your lawyer can't help you, to contact your husband's local senator for help as soon as possible, specially having in mind that even the check hasn't been cashed!!! Good luck!

Hey, Everybody!

I just found out yesterday that I am going for an interview on the 18Th of March. I was sooo relieved when I got that letter... Now I am plain excited and a little nervous, but definitely looking forward to be done with this and hopefully all will be ok!

Oh, btw nothing changed on my on line status and I have signed up for email updates from uscis, but never received any, I just got the letter in the mail. Back when I was waiting for removing of conditions of my green card I was receiving regular email updates and I even got the email that my card was approved and sent, before I got the actual card, but this time-nothing! Anyway, important thing is that its here!

I probably shouldn't be posting on this tread,since my second application date is November,but I started here, so I felt like I should finish here!

I'll post how the interview went and congrats to everyone who passed!

I thought you guys might like to know I got an email from the Senators office, this just goes to show how bloody clueless the NBC is, and how ineffective the customer service line is. They spend millions of dollars to tell us exactly what they don't know. This came yesterday , I had a good laugh.

"I hope you are having a good holiday. I just wanted to provide you with a quick update letting you know that I heard from the Nebraska Service Center and they informed me the case is pending at the National Benefits Center. I have inquired with them and will let you know as soon as I hear something."

Then was followed by this letter later in the day

"Good morning Jacob,

Case LIN*00000000, A00000000 Form N-400 for Kyng Silva. No interview date has been set as of today’s date. Please try back in three weeks.

Thank you,

Congressional Liaison Specialist

National Benefits Center "

These clowns are wasting taxpayer money with a communication system that is very very ineffective. I wrote back to the Senators office and I will keep writing to them about this crappy experience.

"Hello Jacob,

I just got back from out of country. I had my interview on Dec 8th, 2008 and passed it. The NBC is a little behind on their information. I am currently just waiting for the USCIS to send me my oath letter. It doesnt really surprise me that they do not really know what's going on. This was the problem when I was dealing with them. One department doesn't know what the other is doing because they dont keep effect notes on the files. This is also why there are so many frustrated people, who call the Customer Service line and told the same information that is on the website. Even though my file has been approved, my case status online shows as pending and a date of 08/08/2008 as last being touched. Thank you for the follow up. "

Wow,King Sylva! I completely understand what you are going trough and your frustration. I've been feeling like that since I started dealing with NCS 4 years ago. Whatever you consider normal logic or normal communications and a no brainer that should be done quickly DOES NOT apply to immigration. They seem to exist outside of the normal reality and I pity us and everyone else that has been sucked into the vortex. Those that have come out,have no idea,or may be they do, how lucky they are to have the immigration out of their lives!!!

I hope everything moves faster for you! Good luck!

Hi Ilona,

So what happened to your files? Were they able to locate it for you or did you apply again?

Thanks.

Hey guys,

I posted on the July thread

It was a a quick visit. I was approved and then told to relax now and wait for the letter.

Congratulations, KyngSilva!

Congrats to everybody else who got approved since the last time I posted,which was long time ago!

Anyway,just wanted to check in how is everybody doing!

I am finaly going for fingerprints next week on the 17-th, I cant quite believe it yet-that my things are finaly moving along, but hey I still got the FBI check to go trough and I hope with all my heart that I dont get stuck in there!

So this is it so far, I guess I'll just wait some more and see!

Hi, Sakura888!

No, my file is lost somewhere! USCIS said they mailed it back the day they got it,cause instead of signing my name, I typed it! I never received it, so it might have gotten lost in the mail. They were not even able to tell me that my file was sent back to me and just kept telling to wait and wait and finaly the senator's office helped to to find out what was going on! I had to reapply allover again! But at least things are moving now! Thanks for asking!

Hey guys,

I posted on the July thread

It was a a quick visit. I was approved and then told to relax now and wait for the letter.

Congratulations, KyngSilva!

Congrats to everybody else who got approved since the last time I posted,which was long time ago!

Anyway,just wanted to check in how is everybody doing!

I am finaly going for fingerprints next week on the 17-th, I cant quite believe it yet-that my things are finaly moving along, but hey I still got the FBI check to go trough and I hope with all my heart that I dont get stuck in there!

So this is it so far, I guess I'll just wait some more and see!

Ok, I finaly got to the bottom of the problem!!! The local rep. wasnt able to do anything for me, the only one who was able to figure out what was going on was senator Durbin's office! Within a week of my request for assistance I got a letter in the mail from the senator. In there was as well a copy of an immigration letter that suposedly was sent to me about 3 months ago. In that letter the immigration were telling me that on the last page instead of typing my name I am suposed to sign my name. For that reason they have returned my whole package on the same day that they've gotten it. I NEVER RECEIVED IT!!!! What pisses me off is that I made so many calls to the immigration and no one was able to tell me that my package was returned!!! They just wanted me to wait for this and wait for that and just keep on waiting till the end of time!!!! So it took me 3 months and a help from a senator to finaly realize what the problem is!!!!!!!!!!

The service request I made with the immigration is still with no answer and I am not going to even wait for it!!!

As you realize I have to reapply all over again! What makes me even angrier is the fact that my package with all of mine and my husband's personal info is who knows where!!!! I am going to go the post office and let out all of my frustration on them, cause they deserve it!!! I am sick to death of people who dont their jobs and to me most of the post office people fall under that category!!!

Anyway, I want to wish luck to everybody on this tread and I want to ask you to please take me of the time line list, since when I reapply I will have another date!!! That's it!

Finally!!! Congratulations and hopefully this will get the wheels turning.

Thanks!

Does anyone know what the difference is between Adjustment of Status biometrics and Naturalization biometrics? My wife had her AOS biometrics done last December. Seems a little redundant to do it again; not that we have a choice of course. Why do fingerprints twice?

Yeah Feyser!!!! CONGRATS!!! It's about time. They are the same there's no difference. As per USCIS the fingerprints that you did to adjust status were good for 6 months. They also do not keep the fingerprints on file so that's why you have to take it again.

Now if we can get Ilona to contact her Senators office we can get the last person moving.

Hey, your comment made me smile! It's a good thing!

I did contact them, but not the Senator. About 11 days ago I faxed a letter explaning my situation to my local rep's office. No one even called me to tell me if they even took a look at my paperwork. I started thinking that the more people I envolve the harder it gets, cause nobody cares and nobody does their jobs, so it's just more work for me to try to push all this people and try to follow up with everybody. Anyway, I called the local rep's office yesterday to see what the heck is going on and the girl there told me that she'll follow up with the National Benefit Center an will try to call me back on the same day, but guess what...... she didnt!!!! So, I must call again on monday to make sure she remembers me!

By November 4th I should get and answer from USCIS about my Service Request as well! At this point I dont know if my application is still at NSC or at this National Benefit Center!

So you see why I am hesitant about contacting the Senator as well, I just dont think it will make any diffrence and it will be just one more place to follow up with! Arghhh....any way, if I have positive news I'll post it!

In the mean time I am very happy about Feyser's application finally moving along! Good luck everyone!

Here is what my U.S. Senator's office heard back on our issue: "This case has been in our 'Case Resolution Unit.' The applicant had marked conflicting information on the application that needed an officer's review before being receipted into our system. That review has now been completed and the application will be receipted and the check deposited. A receipt notice will be mailed soon. Regards, Susan, Congresional Liaision Specialist, NSC"

I'm looking all over our N-400 application and can't find any conflicting information. We have a lawyer and she obviously didn't see anything conflicting so maybe that's an excuse. In any case, it sounds like we might be processed normally now. No receipt or check cashed yet, but today is a holiday.

Congrats Feyser!!! That sounds like some positive news. You know it wouldn;t hurt them to just bloody tell you that when you called them up. I still don;t understand why they make it so darn difficult just to hear an update on a file.

Ilona I think you need to give your rep a call too.

Yeah, you are right! I just did and left a voicemail for the person who deals with my country,so I am waiting for a call back! But I am really glad for Feyser and hope he'll get a NOA soon!

I got a call from my U.S. Rep's office this morning. The NSC is passing off a bunch of N-400 applications to the National Benefits Center for processing so they can focus on other work. Those are her words, not mine. I have no idea what that means but she is going to get more info. I'll keep updating as I get any useful info.

Yeah, that is what I think might be going on too. From the beguining of this month USCIS is changing the filing location for N-400, so NSC might be trying to forward many applications to the new processing place. Something similar was happening when I was waiting to remove conditions from my green card. Me and many other people waited fro over an year from NCS to process our applications and finaly they transfered them to California CS where the applications were processed really fast!

To get back to the present situation-even if they are transfering some applications around,that still doesnt explain why many other people who applied around my date and much after, got their applications processed and mine is just collecting dust on a shelf somewhere!

I called today again,cause I wanted to get final statement from somebody about my application. After the contradicting info they gave me last week on friday I didnt know what to think anymore. And of course, it turned out the second officer I spoke to has been wrong-I am not in the system,so they filed a service request for me and I have to wait 30 days for a result. I asked the officer about the info Feyser was given-if its possible that NCS is transfering applications-he said it might be possible,but he doesnt know and that is why he is doing the service request for me. So that's it,so far.Feyser, please let me know if your rep. gives you any usefull info about your case,so I can decide if its worth to bother with them! Thanks !

Ok, here is what happend! I called USCIS today,because it was 60 days since they got my papers and still even my check has not been cashed! I was transfered to an IO,who was very unhelpfull and with an attitude on top of that!!! She said they still dont have me in the system and that I could wait 30 more days (!!!) or refile again!!! Just when I was about to let her have it,cause I was royally pissed, she told me to hold for a moment and then we either got disconected or she hung up on me!!!!

So I call again right after that and I got transfered to another IO who, listen to this, tells me that "Yes, I see that NCS got your application and they are working on your case, you should get something from them by december" I was speachless for a moment and when I regained my verbal abilities I told him that I actualy just spoke to another IO right before him,who couldnt even find me in the system,so where the hell is he getting his info from?! He said that he sees me in the system and that they are working on my case, so I go-how come my check hasnt been cashed then and he said that maybe is been cashed as we speak!!!! So, needless to say I have no idea whom to beleive. I just called my bank and the check is still not cashed!!! So, I'll wait untill monday and check with the bank again and if nothing I am calling USCIS again,because they need to stop giving me contradicting statements!

So this is it so far,sorry if I have typos-its from the frustration!!!

Out of curiosity Ilona, how did you mail in your application? I always send mine with a signature and/or delivery receipt confirmation request so I can say that it has been signed for in case it gets lost.

Dave

Hey, Feyser!

And now we are 2! Its been over 7 weeks since Nebraska got my N-400 and my check still hasnt been cashed and of course I dont have NOA! I called them for a 3rd time last week and this time the IO seemed to be a little more inclined to help-meaning she took a little longer to research, but still told me that Nebraska havent entered me in the sistem yet and when I told her my check still hasnt been cashed, just by the tone of her voice I could tell that this is not normal and that something is wrong. Anyway she told me to give at at least 2-3 more weeks and if nothing by then-to call them back! I am now about 90% sure they have lost my papers and what bothers me the most is that they wont do or let ME do anything about it until they meet their time lines!!! So, now I have decided to call back on the 1st of october if the situation is still the same by then. I am really curious what they will tell me or what they do in a situation where they have lost somebody's paperwork! What sucks is that I was required to send a original of a document which was hard to get and if they want me to resend everything where the hell am I going to get that document again from?! But I am going to try to keep my cool and not get ahead of myself, cause I still have a tiny bit of hope left,so we'll see!!!

Yes, this is exactly how I sent mine too-with a signature upon delivery and I printed out the page stating when it was delivered and the name of the person who signed for it! I just checked with my bank again-nothing new-check still hasnt been cashed. So I am calling for a last time on the first of october and depending on what they say I'll try doing what Feyser said-to contact the local representative! I'll let everyone here know what's going on when I have new developments and I really dont wish this on anybody here!

Wife had her bio app. yesterday at the Seattle office.It was scheduled for 12 noon but we got there two hours early (we have a long drive) so we checked in at 10 and were out at 11.One step closer now to being done,

Good deal zolo.

Has anybody heard anything lately?

This Friday is 4 weeks since our application was received in Nebraska and our check still hasn't been cashed. :-/

Hey, Feyser!

And now we are 2! Its been over 7 weeks since Nebraska got my N-400 and my check still hasnt been cashed and of course I dont have NOA! I called them for a 3rd time last week and this time the IO seemed to be a little more inclined to help-meaning she took a little longer to research, but still told me that Nebraska havent entered me in the sistem yet and when I told her my check still hasnt been cashed, just by the tone of her voice I could tell that this is not normal and that something is wrong. Anyway she told me to give at at least 2-3 more weeks and if nothing by then-to call them back! I am now about 90% sure they have lost my papers and what bothers me the most is that they wont do or let ME do anything about it until they meet their time lines!!! So, now I have decided to call back on the 1st of october if the situation is still the same by then. I am really curious what they will tell me or what they do in a situation where they have lost somebody's paperwork! What sucks is that I was required to send a original of a document which was hard to get and if they want me to resend everything where the hell am I going to get that document again from?! But I am going to try to keep my cool and not get ahead of myself, cause I still have a tiny bit of hope left,so we'll see!!!

Well, it looks like I am the only one in the board that applied in the beginning of august and they still haven't even cashed my check!!!

I called them few times and they always kept telling me to call back when it has been 30 days since they got the papers,so I patiently waited and on the 32nd day called and got transfered to IO, who basically told me to.....keep waiting!!!!! They don't have me in the system yet and he said just to regularly check with my bank when my check will be cashed and that will mean that soon after that I will get the NOA! I asked how much more time should I wait until I know that something is wrong and he didn't really answer my question, just to keep waiting!

The only thing that gives me a little hope is that a friend of mine applied few months ago and it took them 2 months to send her the first NOA. So I am setting this as my time limit too and I could only hope for some action on their part sooner then that!!!Gosh, I am so sick of this s***!!!

Hello!

Can you please add me too. I sent my N-400 to NSC on 08/02/08 and it was received on 08/05/08!

However I just checked with my bank again and my check still hasn't been cashed. I am getting kind of worried,cause I see that everybody's checks have been cashed shortly after their papers have been received and its been 10 days since they got my papers and my check still hasn't been cashed yet!!!

Should I be really worried?

I wouldn't worry. As long as you know they have received it.

I'll add you to the list.

Thank you, KyngSilva! I'll wait untill next week and if it still hasnt been cashed yet,may be I'll call USCIS, but how would I explaine to them since they probably dont even have me in the system yet, I dont know....?!

There should be some way to find out. I would call and ask and see what might be going on.

I called them today-08/18/08 to tell them that it has been 14 days since they've got my papers and my check still hasnt been cashed and I dont have NOA. The rep. told me that I must allow 30 days since they got the papers and if after 30 days I still dont have NOA I should call them back!!!

Oh, how I wished that at least this time everything will go smoothly after the hell I went trough with the removing of conditions(waited for it 13 mos), but obviously it wasnt meant to be!!! It will be stress and worrying all the way...!

Hello!

Can you please add me too. I sent my N-400 to NSC on 08/02/08 and it was received on 08/05/08!

However I just checked with my bank again and my check still hasn't been cashed. I am getting kind of worried,cause I see that everybody's checks have been cashed shortly after their papers have been received and its been 10 days since they got my papers and my check still hasn't been cashed yet!!!

Should I be really worried?

I wouldn't worry. As long as you know they have received it.

I'll add you to the list.

Thank you, KyngSilva! I'll wait untill next week and if it still hasnt been cashed yet,may be I'll call USCIS, but how would I explaine to them since they probably dont even have me in the system yet, I dont know....?!

Hello!

Can you please add me too. I sent my N-400 to NSC on 08/02/08 and it was received on 08/05/08!

However I just checked with my bank again and my check still hasn't been cashed. I am getting kind of worried,cause I see that everybody's checks have been cashed shortly after their papers have been received and its been 10 days since they got my papers and my check still hasn't been cashed yet!!!

Should I be really worried?

Does anybody know, when you send them your Tax Returns are they supposed to be for the past 3 years, the bank accounts- for the past 3 years or only for that period that you were waiting for the conditions to be removed,since they have all that paperwork already? Same thing for the lease-do I send just the current one or again for the past 3 years?

Thanks to all that will answer and I am looking forward to share this journey with the people in this forum!

Just send bank statements for the period in question e.g. one form 2 years ago, one form one year ago and one recent (something like that); I made sure and sent three years tax return (even though they have them from before) I just wanted this packet to be complete. You can send lease statements for the period or just the last one - depending on how much other proof you have. Good Luck

Thanks, Motu!

What do you mean by "other proof"? I am not planing to send anything more or less then the 4 things they require-which is- Tax Returns, Bank Account, lease or mortgage and divorce papers if applicable(not in my case) and thats it!

I am not sending any phone or utility bills or any photos. I am going to have those with me on the interview and show them only if requested! It is just that I have found in my dealings with the USCIS that the more you deviate from their specific requests, the more unwanted questions and confusion arise later, dint you think so?

Ha, just send everything you sent for your I-130/I-485, your I-751, and any updates since then. If you are young and got married when you started, probably have five kids already, and maybe even some in college. Baby birth certificates are real winners with the USCIS. So are joint tax returns. Yeah, they want a copy of your marriage certificate again, too, and if previously divorced, all those divorce papers.

M-476 can be downloaded, a 65 page manual, and tells you exactly what to send.

Hello, Everyone!

I just moved from the "Removing of conditions "forum to this one, cause I recently got my 10 year card based on my marriage and I am considering applying for citizenship, cause its been more then 3 years since we got married!

I read the instructions carefully and I also tried to look for that info here ,but I couldn't find the exact answer!

Does anybody know, when you send them your Tax Returns are they supposed to be for the past 3 years, the bank accounts- for the past 3 years or only for that period that you were waiting for the conditions to be removed,since they have all that paperwork already? Same thing for the lease-do I send just the current one or again for the past 3 years?

Thanks to all that will answer and I am looking forward to share this journey with the people in this forum!

Thank you for that, it makes me feel a lot more relaxed and happy to see you guys getting approved , that means the are working on the cases and will soon get to mine, it looks like now they are working on mid-end of April 2007 that is great.

Sandy can you please update the list, everytime i try to do that , I delete some people and they get mad at me,

Oh yeah California you are almost there keep it going

Yes, Yes ,Yes! I decided to check my email today,cause I didnt do it yesterday... and I couldnt believe my eyes-CARD PRODUCTION ORDERED!!!!It has a date of May 3rd. I am so relieved and overjoyed that I feel like flying!!!)) My NOA was March 27/07 and on April 2nd/08 was transefered to CSC like many others. I did a service request few days ago, but I dont think that the approval was a result of that or may be it was,who knows?! I havent contacted any senators,congressman or sent any evidence on my own,so it was just a matter of waiting it out!!!

Thanks to everybody who has kept me going in my over 13 months of wait and I wish everyone a spedy approval!!!))

Now hopefully the card will arrive ok!

Just got my email approval today after verbal approval a few weeks back, that they have ordered my card. I have updated my signature and my official VJ Timeline.

Wow,Congratulations!Finally some activity! My NOA is just a few days after yours, so I am really hoping my approval is coming soon!

I just did a service request today for the first time, they gave me a ticket number and said an IO will look at my case on 06/08/08, the weird thing is isn't that saturday, Do you guys think that an IO will actually be looking at my case on Saturday

I just filed a service request as well! I did not get to speak to an IO, but the rep. gave me a ref. number and a target date: 05/31/80-meaning that by then they will have to contact me by email or mail to let me know of the status of my case. So here goes the waiting again.... I just hope that by that time they would approve my case already-just starting my 14 month of wait!

Good luck. We are at 15 months right now. We file a service request 4/11 and still haven't heard anything. The target date was 5/11 though. The additional evidence package arrived on 4/29. So waiting ... again.

Did you receive an RFI or you mailed additional evidence on your own, like some other people here?