zanzala

1 hour ago, Robbernosky said:

Finally naturalized today. Wanted to share my experience at the Moakley Courthouse if this helps others.

 

The time written on the letter was 12:30 and we showed up around 12:00. It took about 20 minutes to clear through both security (they take your cellphones and water bottles) and to check in with USCIS staff. Then the families and immigrants are separated into two attached but separate rooms (separated only by glass). We sat around waiting for the judge for about an hour until they entered the room at 1:30. After fairly routine and quick proceedings (~20 minutes) the immigrants were released to pick up their certificates. 

Congratulations! That must be such a relief!

56 minutes ago, digitalplumbing said:

Everyone at the office was confused with the split scheduling of I-751 and N-400. I showed up at 7am when the I-751 interview was scheduled as per the notice (but the notice did not have my A-Number or my case number), and everyone was super kind in trying to accommodate me. In the end the officer hurriedly prep’d for a combo interview at 7:30. He waived my I-751 (his words were “I see your kid is napping on you, don’t need more proof, just get their birth certificate with you”). By 9:15 we were out of the building with my certificate of naturalization.

Congratulations! You've made it!  I think the split interview scheduling just shows how disorganized they are in boston.

3 hours ago, TastyCake said:

 

I think you may be referring to the civics test. If so, that is not what I was asking about. I was asking about the part of the test where you have to read one sentence correctly in English and write one sentence correctly in English.

 

Lol, you are right!

11 hours ago, TastyCake said:

I have a question for those who have recently had their citizenship interview at the downtown Boston USCIS office (JFK Federal Building across from City Hall).

 

How might you recommend preparing for the English test (Speaking, Writing, Reading)? IS there a way to prepare? Is it simple and straightforward?

 

Any information and guidance you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

My hubby took the free classes at our local library for a while. And  then just kept reading and rereading the study material. Closer to the interview- I was quizzing him, asking the questions and he responded. And it worked!

11 hours ago, TastyCake said:

Question to those who have recently taken the civics test (as part of the N-400 interview) at the downtown Boston USCIS office (JFK Federal Building across from City Hall).

 

How is the civics test administered? Do they hand you an iPad to take the test interactively? Does the officer read the questions off verbally and you reply with your answer(s)? Other?

 

Any information and guidance you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

 

Yes, no IPad. You have to answer verbally.  Our officer was nice, when my hubby answered one question wrong, but then asked a clarifying question, and then answered correctly- the officer accepted the right answer. 

Talking about dysfunction at USCIS...  If you guys recall, my hubby gave his oath last week. Guess what! Yesterday he received his 10-year green card!  What are we supposed to do with it now???

3 hours ago, TastyCake said:

 

A few questions if you don't mind:

 

1) Acronym check... what is DH?

 

2) Did you have your ceremony at Moakley because you needed a judicial oath ceremony (i.e. name change, etc.)?

 

3) Roughly how many people in total were there today?

 

LOL DH- dear hubby. 

Yes, the courthouse just happens to be one of the places where they schedule oaths in Boston. Nothing to do with a name change.

There were 99 people, one person did not show up. So they must be scheduling in 100 people batches? Who knows!

Just wanted to share the update from the oath ceremony yesterday. DH was scheduled to give the oath at the Moakley Courthouse. The ceremony was scheduled for 12:30 pm, but in actually started just at 1:30 pm! We were there at 12pm, so the wait was very long. I wish they had communicated it beforehand because many people had family and friends with them, and everybody was just sitting there for more than an hour. Very hard on little kids! Since it was at the courthouse, the phones and any electronic items like Bluetooth earphones had to be left at the security check-in. That meant that we didn't have a single picture from the ceremony! Very disappointing! However, glad that it all is done! 

Boston is finally moving!!

Congratulations!!!!! 

1 hour ago, rebnoe said:

On Jan 18 2024 my case status changed. It still says  "Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS" but with a date of Jan 18 2024.  Previously since June 2022 it said the same, just with the June date.

The estimated time also changed too. It now says "Estimated time* until case decision: approx. 7 months" Previously said that it was taking longer than expected. 

Did this happen to anyone else?

Hi! It was exactly what happened to us on January 3rd. Check your documents section online and see if there is any new notice from USCIS. That's where the interview scheduling notice was posted.

On 1/3/2024 at 4:54 PM, TastyCake said:

 

Be on the lookout for another communication from the USCIS. A fellow Boston filer 2 months ahead of you received a separate notice indicating it would be a combo interview. Maybe the same happens for you. If so, please let us know.

 

As we are two months behind you, we have our fingers crossed we hear something soon. VERY cautiously optimistic, though.

You were right! We got the invite for the I-751 interview as well, so it will be a combo interview! Yay! 

4 hours ago, rebnoe said:

Wow good news! We filed June 2022 and nothing yet

Have you tried submit congressional inquiry? Service request and ombudsman? I can't prove it that it helped, but it didn't hurt either. Forces them to look up the case.

40 minutes ago, TastyCake said:

 

Be on the lookout for another communication from the USCIS. A fellow Boston filer 2 months ahead of you received a separate notice indicating it would be a combo interview. Maybe the same happens for you. If so, please let us know.

 

As we are two months behind you, we have our fingers crossed we hear something soon. VERY cautiously optimistic, though.

Thanks! I will definitely share updates if any! I really hope it is a combo interview! In this forum, I have seen that it can go either way.

30 minutes ago, digitalplumbing said:

 

Great news and very happy for you. Did your I-751 also move to interview being scheduled? Good luck with the interview

The I-751 case did not have any updates. I hope they do a combo interview, but we have not requested it at this time.

Wanted to share good news! After waiting for a year and 4 months, our N-400 interview is finally scheduled for February! We tried everything- congressional inquiry, USCIS service request, and finally ombudsman. Not sure if it all helped, but nevertheless, we are so relieved! The I-751 is still pending from August, 2021. I hope it all gets processed at the same interview. I will post updates next month. If anybody from August 2022 is still waiting- stay strong, your day will come!!!

23 hours ago, CuriousImmigrant_ said:

Have you tried to file an FOIA?

not sure what would that help! But as of today we actually have an update! interview scheduled for February!

On 12/31/2023 at 9:57 AM, Robbernosky said:

Anyone else still waiting?

Yep... no updates. We submitted an ombudsman inquiry in December, since we have tried everything else, and there has been no change.

On 11/24/2023 at 8:54 PM, Cata&Ben said:

After two years, I was finally approved for I751. However, the USCIS office in Boston declined to give me the N400 combo interview. Instead, they approved my I751 and informed me that they are still reviewing my case one year after submitting my application for N400. Grateful that I got my permanent residency, but still, there is this bittersweet feeling about how the officials in Boston and Vermont are treating us.

Congratulations! Boston office is so frustrating! I am glad that you are halfway there!

3 hours ago, Robbernosky said:

Another note is that processing times just greatly decreased for I751 forms and I was able to file a case inquiry. I'm hoping that means USCIS itself will be able to finally adjudicate the forms instead of requiring litigation.

Ditto! We also just submitted case inquiry for I-751. Hopefully some update soon!

On 9/2/2023 at 1:56 PM, Robbernosky said:

Got the following response:

 

 

cc @rebnoe @zanzala

Fingers crossed! I hope you have a date with them soon! I posted in another thread about our experience with Sen. Markey's office. I hope once our case makes it to Boston, it will start moving for us as well.

We reached out to Senator Markey's office at the end of June, and they inquired on our behalf to USCIS. A month later, since we did not hear back from them, I reached out and got a response that USCIS is flooded with these update requests, and they are really behind. We should just keep waiting. Another month- reached out to the senator's office again, asking if any updates. Same response. Then I emailed back asking then what is the point of asking for help from the senator's office?? What can they actually do? This time I got a much better response:  turns out within the first month they did find out that out case was still at NBC, and then 30 days later it was in transit to the Boston office. They will follow up in another 30 days with the Boston office. 

I am not sure why they couldn't share these details immediately. It gives at least some information! So we keep waiting, but at least we know where the case is.

7 hours ago, Robbernosky said:

Got the following response:

 

 

cc @rebnoe @zanzala

Nice! At least some timeframe! Let us know if any other update!