HudsonValley

- 2-3h wait for the oath letter

- had oath ceremony 2 weeks later in a different location

- NYC passport agency by appointment only, passport is usually ready for next day pickup

took my oath yesterday, there were 124 new citizens swarn in, the whole process lasted for about 2-2.5h

Congratulations!

How was your interview? Mine is in two weeks at Federal Plaza too.

I was scheduled for 8:45 am, called at 9:10 am - I was walked to a totally different office, not 7-700 room #1 or #2 like most of the applicants - so don't get scared, it's just where my interviewer had his office, was out at 9:15am.

Literally, passed civics, english test, officer didn't even go over the whole application form, looked at my passport, GC and SS card, I signed few papers and that was it. Officer was extremely polite and friendly, had a little chat while doing the paperwork.

My case was 5 years residence based, nothing extraordinary - that's why he told me everything was so quick.

Was told to go to room 7-108. Had to wait for 3 hours for my oath letter. They call your name and then read last 3 digits of your GC if there are unclaimed oath letters.

Both rooms 7-700 and 7-108 were packed with people, very very busy.

I have to note, that this was my second time applying. First time - 3 years marriage based the same federal plaza - was scrutinized, called for a second interview, more evidence and eventually was denied without prejudice.

So for a marriage based case - bring everything and anything that has both of your names on it and might prove that it's a bona fide marriage.

Good luck!

Update - see signature...

Hi,

Basically there is nothing too fancy about the letter. First you need to find out who is the Representative of your area, which you can find by going to the house of representatives website. Then just follow this format:

Dear Representative -------,

I am writing you in regards to my pending Naturalization application with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. I submitted my N-400 application on ----------, and it has been over four months and still have not been scheduled for an interview. After contacting the agency several times, I have been repeatedly told that my application is still within the processing time and that no service request can be submitted on my behalf. Although I do understand the fact that the NYC field office is dealing with a larger number of applications compared to other field offices, I can not comprehend why it is taking exceptionally longer to be scheduled for an interview despite having three field offices throughout New York City.

Accordingly, I hope you can assist me in the matter as I am desperately awaiting the day I take my oath to become a US citizen and fully participate in our nation's democracy.

Shall you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at------------.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME AND SIGNATURE

That's it, don't forget to attach a copy of the N-400 receipt. By the way I made an infopass appointment for January 4th at the new queens field office, I will see what they are gonna tell me and if I am not satisfied then I will be mailing a letter to my Representative. It is really frustrating for us New Yorkers that we have to go through this, honestly if I knew it I would have applied from new jersey, lol.

Anyway, good luck to everyone.

thanks for sharing...

They still haven't updated processing times...

I will definitely call 800# after new year.

We have the same PD hudson valley, i am thinking of doing the same actually, i also have a letter ready to go to my representative by the new year in case i dont hear nothing from them. We are on the same boat!!

do mind sending me a template to private mail? thanks

Hello everyone, and especially to delayed New York filers,

I am starting to make sense of the delay we are experiencing, USCIS has officially closed the Garden City field office this month and they are moving to 27-35 Jackson avenue, Long island city in queens NY. the facility will open its doors starting January. So I believe we've been caught in the middle of USCIS moving from one facility to another, which I hope will be resolved by next month. In one way it is a good thing for me since the new office is 5 minutes from where I live here in Astoria, I just hope they schedule my interview there!!.

Good luck to everyone

May be your theory explains delays for GC FO applicants.

My FO is Federal Plaza in Manhattan, PD Aug 9. Haven't heard anything...

I'm waiting for Dec processing times to become available, then I'll call 800# to see if some good samaritan will open IL service request for me.

No IL on my end either...

Let me chime in, since I'm in the same boat as you guys.

Haven't heard anything back and would feel extremely lucky if I got IL in November.

I don't think it's possible to open a SR for interview scheduling, unless the rules have changed.

They go by processing times. NYC DO posted on Oct 18 that as of Aug 31 they are processing cases N400 from March 28, 2011.

This all $ucks big time, on top of being slow NYC DO is known for it's bad attitude.

Call USCIS, ask for 2nd level IO to check if your FP were classifiable/readable. You can call FBI to ask the same question.

Have your NBC#, A# and SS# handy.

It might be that FP were rejected and you will need to have them re-done or it might very well be that smb didn't update the system and you are not seeing msg about being put in Q for interveiw.

For timeline, see my signature.

I am a september filer from NYC ,I know this is an august thread but just wanted to check with some August filers from NYC.. how much time did it take to get a notification from the USCIS that you have been place in line for interview after your finger prints were taken ? I did my FP on 09/28/2011 and have not received any update , I will appreciate if someone shares his / her story.. Thanks !!

Sil-dan

Do they allow to take FP's at a different location other than the one given on the FP notice, if thats the case i can take it at varick street, i went there twice before, dont know why they gave brooklyn this time

My previous experiences (last one in 2009) show that Varick street ASC people don't care and don't read what ASC you were scheduled to go to. Just don't bring it up unless asked. If asked come up with some kind of explaination.

my ASC is NYC , on varick street ,I have not received my NOA and the FP yet , they said that they mailed the FP notice on 13th so I guess will receive it sometime next week

NOA was mailed on 09/09 , have not received it yet

That's is very speedy ASC , you haven't gotten NOA yet and FP is already on it's way!

Last few times I went to Varick ASC instead my local to get my prints taken. I have very poor quality prints that fail all the time, at least in Manhattan I have a chance to get a better job done.

The service request did the trick and my FP letter is finally on it's way, so next week I will go to NYC to have FP taken.

no NOA today , adonis did you get yours ?

What's your ASC?

I'm stuck with no FP letter (ASC Port Chester)for over 37 days. Would be curious to see when you get yours.

Did not get FP letter either, opened a service request last Fri. Was told the same BS about how busy ASCs are these days.

Hi everyone,

Just placed a service request over the phone with USCIS, for my biometrics appointment. It is really ridiculous and frustrating to say the least, 35 days since they received my application and they still didn't schedule me for an appointment. The lady on the phone was telling me that biometric scheduling is under the discretion of the ASC, meaning it depends on how busy they are, a bunch of #######!! last year i went for my fingerprints when I had my removal of conditions, went on a thursday at 1pm, and I was the only one in the whole place, and all workers were just chilling as if it was a holiday. I really find it embarassing for USCIS to have applicants place service requests for biometrics, its a simple waste of time. ASC centers open 5 days a week from 8am to 4pm, and it takes less than 10 min to process an applicant, so unless the whole borough of queens is adjusting status or getting naturalized, I find it hard to believe that they're too busy to schedule people who are waiting beyond processing time. Anyway, my belief is my case as with other unlucky ones, is on some incompetent officer's desk who enjoys slacking off until customer service sends him a message telling him to wake up and do his job. God!! cant wait to forget the existence of this agency on earth.

HOLY COW , JUST CHECKED MY NOA, 2 different numbers too!!!

My numbers are different as well. The top one has "*", the bottom has "$".

A different forum had a thread a bout this where is was suggested the lower number is your fee payment number/confirmation etc.

I also have a bottom number different from the top one.

In my case, the bottom number though contains "$" sign whereas the top one has "*".

The following thread suggests the bottom number with a "$" sign is a receipt number for your payment. The top number is your case number.

Here is the link

http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?304941-Two-application-numbers-(NBC....)-for-one-N400-Application

It's really frustrating, I still havent received any fingerprint appointment. Called USCIS 2 days ago, and the lady told me to wait 5 more days before I can call back and ask for a service request, she said that fingerprints appointment are under the discretion of the ASC, depending on how busy they are. Well, another nerve wracking waiting game with this agency!!!

No FP letter here either.

My ASC is in Roosevelt avenue in woodside queens, how about yours?? I dont see you in the trend by the way

My ASC is Port Chester. I usually don't post here, just lurk. I posted only because I'm so annoyed the FP letter hasn't arrived yet and I saw we have identical dates.

Yes I did, nothing yet!! I am giving it another week, then they will be hearing from me.

The same situation over here. Extremely annoying. What's your ASC?

Hi,

what's your priority date?

I'm the same NYC DO, got yellow letter more than a month ago and haven't heard from them since.

I got the same Yellow letter day before yesterday requesting some additional documents to bring in Interview and I am hoping Interview Letter will be in the mail soon.

Tini,

thank you for a reply.

I hope I get IL soon and my file doest get dumped in a trash to collect the dust.

Hi Tini,

did your online status change when you got your IL?

I'm a NYC DO 'victim' with priority date 04/30/2009

Called 800# several times and was told I has not been put in the interview Q yet.

HudsonValley,

No, online status didn't change at all, not even a touch as some people reported. I wouldn't depend on that too much. My status has been the same: received and pending and a lot of people said that even after having taken the oath, their status is still the same, I know, it sucks:(

I'm sorry you're experiencing the usual NYC delay, it seems they're doing a little better now but I still had to wait 2 months and a half between sent date March 10 and June 1 (interview letter received). Some filers from earlier months waited more,so I'd give them another 2 weeks and call again, I'm sure they'll have scheduled you by then. It seems they're getting better and trying to stick to the 6 month overall processing time.

On the brighter side , because of the large number of applicants, there are many more oath opportunities so instead of waiting a month or 2 to get your oath date, you're likely to get it in less than 3 weeks. Don't forget that depending on which borough you live in, you may get service even faster. I live in Brooklyn, it's the slowest of all. The Bronx is doing good though.

Good luck!!!

Hi Tini,

did your online status change when you got your IL?

I'm a NYC DO 'victim' with priority date 04/30/2009

Called 800# several times and was told I has not been put in the interview Q yet.

Good luck y'all. Please post your experiences

I just called USCIS and my interview is scheduled for July 23rd at 9:45. I haven't received the IL yet,as it was mailed on May 29. I'll post as soon I have it in hand. What a relief!! Yay!!