foreignfantasy

I had my interview in February, and I still have no oath letter!!! In 6 days it's gonna be 120 days since my interview, and I'm planning on calling them again a few days after that, if I still don't hear anything. I don't know what to do, this is very frustrating. A while after the interview my case status changed to Placed in line for oath scheduling, then they realized that my fingerprints expired in the meantime ( how do fingerprints "expire" anyway?! ), of course they "expired", they took their sweet time in processing my case... so they sent me a fingerprints appointment for May 29, I had that done but my case had changed to Initial Review, and it's still there now. What happened to Placed in Line for Oath Scheduling? Lol...

I called USCIS a few days ago and of course they told me to wait, because my case hasn't been reached yet. If it hasn't been reached, why did they place me in line for oath scheduling before they realized my fingerprints expired? Don't they have to reach it in order to realize my fingerprints weren't valid anymore? Ugh...

What about my case being moved from Oath Scheduling to Initial Review? If that means I have to go through everything all over again I'm gonna freak out lol

Guys, I need your opinion on the following situation:

I filed for citizenship on Nov.3, 2011. I never got a fingerprints notice, and after about 2 and a half months of waiting for that, I decided to give them a call and find out what was going on. The person I spoke to said they were going to find out what that was all about and I was gonna receive an email letting me know if or when I was supposed to have my biometrics done. Sure enough, 2 weeks later I received the following email:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

USCIS National Benefits Center

P.O. Box 648005

Lee's Summit,MO 64002

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Emailed to XXXXXXX

Dear XXXXXXX:

On 01/03/2012 you, or the designated representative shown below, contacted us about your case. Some of the key information given to us at that time was the following:

Caller indicated they are:

-- Applicant or Petitioner

Attorney Name:

-- Information not available

Case type:

-- N400

Filing date:

-- 11/03/2011

Receipt #:

-- YYYYYYYYY

Referral ID:

ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Beneficiary (if you filed for someone else):

-- Information not available

Your USCIS Account Number (A-number):

-- XXXXXXXXXX

Type of service requested:

-- Non-Delivery of Other Notice

The status of this service request is:

Recently, you called to inform USCIS that you have not received a biometrics appointment letter. After checking our systems, the biometrics taken previously are still valid and you will not be scheduled at this time. We are sorry for any misunderstanding and thank you for informing USCIS of this matter.

Additionally, our records indicate that we recently sent you an appointment notice. Your case is currently in suspense until the interview date. Please follow any instructions on that notice.

If you have any further questions, please call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

Please remember: By law, every person who is not a U.S. citizen and who is over the age of 14 must submit Form AR-11 AND notify this office of their change of address, within 10 days from when they move (persons in "A" or "G" nonimmigrant status are exempt from this requirement). To notify this office of a move, visit our website at: www.uscis.gov or call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. The Form AR-11 can be downloaded from our website or you can call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 and we can order one for you. Instructions for filing the Form AR-11, including mailing instructions, are included on the Form.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

So obviously I didn't need to have my fingerprints done. All I had to do was go to the scheduled interview.

My interview was on February 22, I passed the test, the interview went really good overall and the IO told me I was going to get an oath letter in 2 weeks, since I decided to have my name changed. It's actually just one letter in my name that I needed changed, to make it sound more "American", since I'm gonna spend the rest of my life here and all... But a change is a change nonetheless, and I knew that was going to cause some delay in the process.

On March 12 they placed me in line to be scheduled for the oath ceremony.

Since then it's been 2 months, and I hadn't heard anything from USCIS up until yesterday. I gave them a call probably about 2 weeks ago to ask why my case is in slow motion or stuck altogether, and the only answer I got was that they have 90 days to process it, so call back in 90 days. I tried to do an E-request, but it only tells me that my case is within the regular processing times.

And yesterday my case has finally been updated, but not to schedule an interview and get this ordeal over with like I was hoping... Now they decided they needed my fingerprints after all, and they're letting me know that they sent me a biometrics notice. And also, my case has been moved from Oath Scheduling to Initial Review on their website. Of course, I started steaming with frustration and I called them, but the guy I talked to on the phone said he doesn't know what happened and he suggested that I keep my fingerprints appointment... duh... and also, he kindly let me know they have 120 (!!!) days to process the case... so it's not 45 like the website says... it's not 90 like they said before... now it's 120. He also apologized for the confusion they created, but that didn't really help, since he had absolutely nothing else to tell me, to enlighten me as to what the heck is going on.

Now I'm asking:

Has anything like that happened to anybody else, or am I the only "lucky" one? It seems like no matter how much I want to get rid of USCIS and go on with my life, preferably stress free within the reasonable limits, they stick to me like glue;

And is there a way to speed up the biometrics, in the hope that it would speed up the whole process altogether? I heard of walk-in biometrics, but I'm not sure how or if I should do it. Do I just walk in their office and tell them I want my biometrics done before the scheduled date? Would that be a good idea? I feel like I'm walking on eggshells and they're not gonna like my attempt to speed up the process.

It's already past 45 days, and according to the USCIS website, you're supposed to get an appointment letter within 45 days after the interview. Did you give them a call and ask?

I called after 45 days and they told me they have 90 days to process and if nothing happens in 90 days, give them a call back... When I do, they'll probably just tell me to wait some more, cause that's what they're really good at, telling you to wait

I had my interview on February 22, and I still don't have an oath letter! I think they forgot about me altogether lol...

Same situation here, I had my interview on February 22, placed in line for oath on March 12, and still no interview letter. I called USCIS yesterday, and they told me they have 90 days to process it, so if I don't hear anything by the end of May, I can call again. That doesn't mean things will be done by the end of May, it just means that starting then I can start inquiring about things not being done lol... The waiting game is driving me crazy, especially since I was planning on going to my home country for a while to see my parents

By the way, my local office is Chicago, so if anybody knows anything about processing and oath dates in Chicago, any informayion would be appreciated...

Yeah, I did that and it tells me that I can't even make an inquiry about my case because it's still within the regular processing time... although it's been more than 45 days. Ugh...

I called USCIS today and I got the same response, they have 90 days, and if I don't hear anything by then, call again. It's getting really frustrating here... I'm gonna do an E-request now, and see what that tells me

My interview was on February 22, but I chose to have a name change so I was told to wait and I was supposed to get an oath letter in the mail in 2 weeks. Of course nothing happened, I received an email on March 12 stating that I was placed in line for oath scheduling, and since then, NOTHING! I was supposed to be scheduled within 45 days from the interview, but it's been more than that now. I'm thinking about calling USCIS.

I had my interview at Washington DC field office.

so we left our house yesterday at 7 am.we got to USCIS office around 8.30.went thue the security,then to 2nd floor.droped off the letter and was told to sit down and wait until IO will call my name.the waiting room was pretty full and i have to say..it was really hard to hear them calling your name.i wish they would use micrafon or somthing.so my hubby had his ears wide open and was listening .i on the other hand the whole time was freeking out and trying to study some more.hubby ended up taking the book away and said.relax you are readdy.

my name was called 9am on a dot.the IO was older,really really sweet,calm lady.she made a coment about how cold my hands are.i was like sorry.they always cold(hubby calls me ice queen),and when i'm nervous they get even colder.

but she said,dont be nervoues,you will do great and when this all is over youy will say..wow this was easy,why did i even worrie.and she was soooooooo right on that one

fist she swore me in.then she told me to sit down.looked over my aplication.he asked me the quastion about if i was willing to serve the military if needed and then she said..i guess you allready are in the military. (i'm military wife).

then she asked me if i bring any paperwork with me.and ye i ahd EVERYZTHING with me.she was...wow you are ready to show me anything.so she ended up taking and keeping everything from 2009 i bring with me

then she asked me to read out loud:

WHEN IS COLUMBUS DAY?

and write:

COLUMBUS DAY IS IN OKTOBER

then she asked me

NAME ONE BRANCH OR PART OF GOVERNMENT

WE ELECT A U.C.SENATOR FOR HOW MANY YEARS

IF BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT CAN NO LONGER SERVE,WHO BECOMES PRESIDENT

WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET DO

HOW MANY JUSTICES ARE ON THE SUPREME CORT

WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT

then she told me CONGRATULATIONS.i passes and gave me letter.then she made a call to find out what time the oath ceremony is.and was told that it's at 2 pm and told me to be back at 1 pm

so we had tons of time to kill until then.we went out for branch(it was nice,just hubby adn i).i dont even remember what is like to eat slow.

we were back at the office by 1 like we were told to.handed over my letter and waited.difretn IO called my name around 1.30.she took both of my GC(i was trying to be funny and ask if i can keep the 2year one as suvenire).she told me..you funny,i like you..but NO..hand it over. then she asked me to look over the certificate and make shore everything is correct.it was

then i was told to go back and she will call my name in few min once everything is ready

my name was called i think few min before 2 pm.hubby and i fallowed the lady in to the room were the ceremony was held.i was told to sit down and hubby was told to sit behind me.there were only 2 of us taking the oath ,both military).1st the IO talked to as about the passports,how and were to store the certificate(she said sice we both move around a lot. ) then SS,register to vote and all that other stuff.she gave us white envelope with little flag inside,letter from our president,papport aplication and couple other things

then suprviser came in to swear us in.she told us that we have to *comunicate*.she had to restart all over again since we were not sahying it together.my hubby got such a kick out of the whole process.

finally we were done.the supervicer congratulated both of us.and it was over.

it was really neet,but i felt like somthing was missing.i guess the whole official ceremony,lots of people,hand clapping all taht.but oh well.

i came in there that morning as LAtvia citizen and left around 2.30 as US citizen.

we made it home on time to pick our DD from school.my 2 year old was also good for the sitter(which i was really worried about the whole time.he has never really bin gone from me for this long).but he did great.

we were complitly exasted when we got home and could not wait for bedtime.

but it was beastifful day.i still look at the certificate and cant believe it has my picture on it and i am US citizen.

wanted to say THANK YOU for all your help and advice when i was going crazy and wondering what was going on.we plan on celebration this weekend when we go out on a date.

That is soooooo funny!!! I had to write the same exact sentence, and I had the same questions as you did, but in Chicago!

Congratulations!

I had my test and interview yesterday. The I.O. looked bored to tears and he made me swear to tell the truth, then asked me the 6 questions which I answered correctly. Then he made me write a sentence, which I also wrote correctly, and started asking me the standard questions on the application, such as "have you ever been a terrorist? Have you ever been arrested?". He didn't even look at my papers or my passport. No additional questions.

I decided to change my name after becoming a citizen, so I had to sign some forms concerning the name change, and he told me I was going to receive a letter in about 2 weeks, notifying me about the time and date of the oath. Then he put a big APPPROVED stamp on my papers and congratulated me for the resuls of the civics and English tests . That was all.

I hope I don't have to wait for months for that letter now, like I've read it happened to some people here.

Congratulations to everybody who passed their test and interview! It's been quite a journey, guys!

By the way, my online case status hasn't changed yet either, it's still in the interview stage.

i think thats ok if u cant have 3 tax refund but it depends of what reason u cant have them.

my wife filled our tax refund as a head of household

i dont know if thats ok with OI or i m getting a trouble for that?

That's totally fine, as long as she filed as married, I think. My husband hasn't filed in a few years, married or not, so I could be in trouble. You on the other hand, not so much .

thx u make verything clear to me SO i m going to wait untill i can filling my 2011 tax refund

I don't know if that helps, really, I'm just hoping for the best here, I'm not sure what to do but that's the only thing I can think of to make things better or at least as close to normal as I can... Someone said earlier that you're probably not even able to get tax transcripts this early in the year, but I'm gonna get some sort of proof that I filed. I don't know what to do about the previous 2 years though, because this year is not really a requirement but the other 2 were, and the USCIS people aren't very understanding in general... It says clearly on the N-400 form, I think, that you have to have tax returns for the past 3 years, but I don't know if they can make an exception for this particular situation. Seriously, what happens if you didn't work all these years? I hope they're not gonna reject me because of that. And I know you don't have to file if you don't have an income.

I only have tax returns from 2010, because that's when I started working, and I was hoping to have them for 2011 if I file early... I also filed N-400 based on marriage, so they asked me for 3 years of tax returns, which I don't have. When I sent the package I only sent my tax transcripts for 2010, because that was all I had, and they sent me a notice to bring my tax transcripts for the past 3 years at the interview. My interview is on February 22, so I'll have my tax information for 2 years if I file early this year, but I can't provide 3 years worth of taxes no matter how I slice it. I'm really concerned about this issue, I'm worried I'm going to fail the interview because of it, but how can I provide something I don't have?!

Status update in my case too: interview date set for February 22 in Chicago

We have other ways to prove we live at the same address. We have the lease in both names, bills in both names, joint bank account, both out IDs have the same address, and probably several other things that we have included in the package, that I can't remember at the moment ... My husband's tax situation is complicated and it goes way back years ago when we weren't even together, so he suggested that I file my taxes married, filing separately so I wouldn't get affected by his problems. When I filed for the removal of conditions I didn't even send any tax information whatsoever, because I wasn't working yet and he... doesn't have any. I can explain the situation at the interview, and I don't really see why they would give me a hard time over something that's technically out of my control. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking...

Thank you! I hope I won't have problems, at least not major ones anyway.

Wow, that's a very determined YES there... Why do you think that would be such a big problem? I didn't file as single, but as married... separately. I'm sure we're not the only people in this situation. It doesn't mean we're separated, or anything like that, we just decided it would be for the best, considering his tax situation.

What happens if I filed separately? Would that cause any trouble for me at the interview? I had to do that, since my husband hasn't filed in a few years, his situation is more complicated, and we decided it was best for me to file as married, but filing separately. And of course I don't have any kind of copies of tax returns from him. Could that be a problem?

Why do you have to have to file taxes if you don't have a job? i thought that wasn't a requirement.

Did you get the same kind of yellow letter THIS IS NOT AN INTERVIEW NOTICE? Or was it an interview notice?

Yesterday I got a yellow letter that starts with "This is not an interview notice". And they ask me to bring a copy of my tax returns for the last 3 years at the interview. I first got a job in 2010, so I only paid taxes since then, and I already sent them copy of that in the package I mailed in November. I don't know what else to bring with me at the interview... and I haven't even been given a date for the interview. Before this letter, the last thing I got was on Dec. 22, a notice that I had been placed in line to be scheduled for the interview. When I saw the yellow letter, I thought for sure it was the interview appointment, so you can imagine my disappointment when the first thing I read, as a big title in capital letters, was THIS IS NOT AN INTERVIEW NOTICE... The USCIS never cease to surprise me Has this happened to anyone before?

I got a notice on Dec.22 that my case has been scheduled in line for an interview. With no fingerprints done. Well, it doesn't say anything about the FP, so I don't know what to think, I hope I'm not gonna have problems at the interview or somewhere along the line because of the lack of FP. It wouldn't be my fault, but the USCIS is known to not be particularly concerned with whose fault it really is in one situation or another.

We'll see what happens...

they gave me the book to get readdy for the test when i got my FP done.the book also has CD in.so i guess i need to start listening to that in the car insted of R&B.

What happens if I don't get to have my FP done? It's been a while since i filed my papers at the beginning of November, and I haven't even been scheduled for FP yet, and I don't really see it happen. I found the questions and answers on the USCIS website, but is this enough?

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Office%20of%20Citizenship/Citizenship%20Resource%20Center%20Site/Publications/100q.pdf

I still haven't received my FP appointment, or any updates on my case ... I hope I'm one of those people who skip that step, and the delay is not due to some glitch in the system regarding my case, in which case the processing would take forever... Like someone said before me, I don't like being "special", I want my case to be processed like everybody else's.

A question for you guys: where do I get some information about the civics test, the questions and whatever else is necessary? I heard they have a list of 100 questions or something like that, where do you get those from and the book or whatever it is that we have to study for the test?