Magi Stark

Aren't tax returns only needed if you're applying on 3-year basis or if you owe taxes?

Agreed. The old Progress tab was useless and confusing because of the current step vs checkmark progress bar. I bet they had a ton of confused people calling/chatting asking why they hadn't received their interview notice, lol. I like the new format better. It actually shows you more detailed information about each possible step, and you can still see your current stage from the regular Case History tab. It also clearly displays where your case sits compared to the field office's average processing times. Probably a lot of people calling within 1-2 months of submitting their case asking what's going on.

I also got an API update on my 5 year anniversary, and then the interview was scheduled like 2.5 weeks later. I wonder if it's an automatic thing that pushes cases on the anniversary date so an officer takes a look at them.

That's because not every update, either from you or USCIS, has an event code associated with it. So when an update with no event code happens, it gets logged under the current/last event code. My JSON currently has 3 FTA0's, one for each API update that happened between my IAF (initial acceptance) and FJ (interview scheduled) event codes. There is a document with all the event codes for all the different types of applications that USCIS processes. FTA0 is "Database checks received". Based on what applicants have seen, it seems to coincide with when their cases get sent to the next stage, which doesn't usually happen until the background check has been completed and sent back to USCIS. No one knows for sure, but it seems to match that event code description.

Oh, I know. I mostly put it all there for future reference so people see how unreliable these estimates are and don't pay too much attention to them. I hadn't kept track of the "Progress" tab before the 4/11 update, but it went like 7, 4, 6 months, I think. Then it changed to 3, 4, 3, 4 after the 4/11 update. I wish they would just get rid of it, lol.

Got the interview update and notice today! Full timeline with details: 2/10/25 - Online application submitted. NOA + Biometrics Reuse (e-docs). 2/14/25 - API update indicating background check was completed. (FTA0) 4/11/25 - API update, no new code. Progress tab 3 months. Milestone/Overall Days reset to 74/104. Time until case decision/next milestone 3/2 months. 5/10/25 - API update, no new code. Progress tab 4 months. Milestone/Overall Days reset to 67/104. Time until case decision/next milestone 4/3 months. 5/11/25 - Progress tab 3 months. Milestone/Overall Days reset to 43/80. Time until case decision/next milestone 3/2 months. 5/28/25 - Interview Scheduled for 7/7/25. API code FJ. Progress tab 4 months. Milestone/Overall Days reset to 99/99. Time until case decision/next milestone 4/4 months.

To be honest, this is lawyer territory because all this sounds and feels "off."

Just seeing this now. All great info! Saving this thread to use hopefully in the very near future...🤞🇺🇸

Nice! Where's your field office?

https://my.uscis.gov/secure-messaging/api/case-service/receipt_info/yourcase#here That link will give you a 3 letter code of where your case is at.

If you were already recommended for approval it's a matter of how often your particular office schedules oath ceremonies, how backed up they are, and if you're changing your name. It could be anywhere from a couple weeks to a few months.

Depends on a few things - how soon you get approved after the interview, how often your office schedules oath ceremonies (they may have same day on-site), and if you're changing your name. Could be anywhere from a couple weeks to a few months. Legally speaking, they have 4 months after the interview to make a decision.

The "estimated time until decision" from the "progress" tab is HIGHLY unreliable. It seems to be based on a lightly calculated timeline based on the field office where your case is assigned average processing times and the date when you applied. It means NOTHING, and it changes drastically from time to time - 7 months to 3 to 5 to 4 to 2. So don't pay much attention or read too much into it. You'll get your hopes up when it goes down and get severe anxiety when it goes up, LOL. I have to remind myself of this every time I check my case - just ignore it.

You got an interview notice 2 days after filing? O_O Does the #3 have a checkmark on it like numbers 1 and 2 in the "Progress" tab?

Congratulations on the fast timeline! So far all of the reports of people being detained at naturalization (or other immigration related interviews) is for very specific reasons - past criminal record, past deportation orders, active pro-Palestinian support. It's a valid fear, but unless you have one of those you're probably OK. It has little to do with a particular USCIS office and more so with how the current administration is targeting people.

Unfortunately Minneapolis doesn't have same-day ceremony, I don't think. 😭

I guess that's what I was "hoping" for. I know, always the optimist, hahaha. 🥲

End of January is still very early in the process. There are people as far back as September 2024 who are still waiting for an interview notice. It all depends on several different factors, including your personal case and how busy your field office is.

Right, but I thought you could still have the interview within the 90 day window, and then wait for oath once the 5 full years had elapsed. Or am I wrong there?

You shouldn't even have applied without an immigration attorney. You ABSOLUTELY need one now.

I'm curious to know how many have applied 90 days early vs those were already at or past 5 years when they applied. Seems like people who had already reached the 5 year mark get scheduled for interview a bit faster. Or is that jus me?

Nice! Yeah, some cases move ridiculously fast. Did you apply 90 days early or you were at full 5 years when you applied?

Congratulations! I don't even have an interview date yet. 🥲

Don't quote me on this, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but the way I understand it is if you applied online, your case goes straight to your field office. If your entire file is there, they'll schedule an interview, otherwise they have to get your file first. If you sent a paper application to one of the Lockboxes, your case gets moved to the local office sometime after the biometrics appointment is sent. When and how they do that, I'm not sure.

You should have really consulted with an attorney BEFORE applying. It's not too late to withdraw the application if he doesn't believe you'll be approved.