SO FRUSTRATED!!!!

[Roosterwife 0]

Please bear with me; I just need to vent.

I submitted my app last December to Vermont, and have a January receipt date. I had my biometrics done, but after that heard nothing for several months. I made an Infopass appt over the summer and was told to keep waiting; a week later I called customer service and initiated a service request. Finally, on Sep 15, I got a letter saying that my case had been transferred to California. I've been checking status online and was shocked to see that it is still in the "under initial review" stage.

What on earth has the USCIS been doing with my case since January that they are STILL giving it the initial review?? What happened to it between January and now??? I just called the customer service line and was told that I should wait and get back in touch with them if I haven't heard anything by November 15th. I plan to apply for citizenship in December, for God's sake! If they're going to take so long to process cases, why even bother to have the removal of conditions process?? I should have just saved my money and spent it on the citizenship application! Six months processing time? Yeah, right!

I realize that others are waiting, too, but I am BEYOND annoyed at this. To have spent so much money, waited so long, and to have received absolutely no service is unacceptable to me.

[TracyTN 237]

Honestly at this stage, it wouldn't bother me so bad. Apply for natz once you are eligible and it essentially 'forces' them to clear out the I 751.

[mozplay 28]

I don't blame you at all for being frustrated. Sometimes, the inequality of the system is just mind boggling. But yes, go ahead and file for citizenship and get it all over and done with.

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

I totally understand your frustrations, but you could not skip the removing conditions stage. Had you never filed the I751, that would mean you are abondoning the GC, and would not be eligible for citizenship.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Honestly at this stage, it wouldn't bother me so bad. Apply for natz once you are eligible and it essentially 'forces' them to clear out the I 751.

[HappyNathy 0]

It's good to vent and get out the frustration.

Although my case has not yet been 9 months (rather going on 7), I too have not moved past initial review on the USCIS site. I have also had to have biometrics 3 times.

It does make me despondent sometimes when I see all the approvals coming out of VSC but I try think that if it were me getting approved how happy I would be, so I try to feel some happiness for those people instead of envy.

Good luck. Hang in there and may December come soon so that you may file the N-400. The system is flawed but you are nearly at the end of your journey ~ congratulations for sticking it out & not going insane!

[Roosterwife 0]

Yes, I am certainly thankful that I can apply for citizenship in December whether or not I ever get a decision on my application for removal of conditions. But what really irritates me is the amount of time and money I have effectively wasted on the removal of conditions process. And in three months I'll have to shell out yet MORE money for a citizenship application – having received absolutely NOTHING for the last money sent to the USCIS! Believe me, I can't wait to have all this behind me.

[venusfire503 54]

Please bear with me; I just need to vent.

I submitted my app last December to Vermont, and have a January receipt date. I had my biometrics done, but after that heard nothing for several months. I made an Infopass appt over the summer and was told to keep waiting; a week later I called customer service and initiated a service request. Finally, on Sep 15, I got a letter saying that my case had been transferred to California. I've been checking status online and was shocked to see that it is still in the "under initial review" stage.

What on earth has the USCIS been doing with my case since January that they are STILL giving it the initial review?? What happened to it between January and now??? I just called the customer service line and was told that I should wait and get back in touch with them if I haven't heard anything by November 15th. I plan to apply for citizenship in December, for God's sake! If they're going to take so long to process cases, why even bother to have the removal of conditions process?? I should have just saved my money and spent it on the citizenship application! Six months processing time? Yeah, right!

I realize that others are waiting, too, but I am BEYOND annoyed at this. To have spent so much money, waited so long, and to have received absolutely no service is unacceptable to me.

Roosterwife,

I understand your frustration. I just read something about filing for naturalization that might possibly make it a little more bearable. Well, maybe it will at least make it a little less annoying that you paid for I-751 when you can apply for citizenship soon (it DOES kind of seem like a waste of money) and have yet to be approved. It states in the Guides that "the I-751 must be approved in order for you to apply for Naturalization 3 years after AOS based on marriage to a US Citizen". I imagine that in some cases, the I-751 is NOT approved, which means that person would not be allowed to get citizenship. Maybe if you think of it as step three (step 1 being the visa, step 2 is the 'green card') of the N-400 instead of a separate, unnecessary step, it would be a little easier to deal with?

Also, some people have to wait until they've had LPR for five years for citizenship, so they 'use' their ten year card longer. Some decide to wait for N-400 for whatever reason, and some decide not to apply for it at all. So for them, the I-751 isn't such a 'waste'. I can see your point, though - why can't they just make the first card a three year card, or allow for a less expensive option to bridge between the 2 year card and citizenship? I guess it would be impractical, and they want to make sure that the conditions are met before approving citizenship.

Either way, I hope this makes it a little more bearable for you. I also hope we see you adding your approval to the list soon!

venusfire

[Roosterwife 0]

Please bear with me; I just need to vent.

I submitted my app last December to Vermont, and have a January receipt date. I had my biometrics done, but after that heard nothing for several months. I made an Infopass appt over the summer and was told to keep waiting; a week later I called customer service and initiated a service request. Finally, on Sep 15, I got a letter saying that my case had been transferred to California. I've been checking status online and was shocked to see that it is still in the "under initial review" stage.

What on earth has the USCIS been doing with my case since January that they are STILL giving it the initial review?? What happened to it between January and now??? I just called the customer service line and was told that I should wait and get back in touch with them if I haven't heard anything by November 15th. I plan to apply for citizenship in December, for God's sake! If they're going to take so long to process cases, why even bother to have the removal of conditions process?? I should have just saved my money and spent it on the citizenship application! Six months processing time? Yeah, right!

I realize that others are waiting, too, but I am BEYOND annoyed at this. To have spent so much money, waited so long, and to have received absolutely no service is unacceptable to me.

Roosterwife,

I understand your frustration. I just read something about filing for naturalization that might possibly make it a little more bearable. Well, maybe it will at least make it a little less annoying that you paid for I-751 when you can apply for citizenship soon (it DOES kind of seem like a waste of money) and have yet to be approved. It states in the Guides that "the I-751 must be approved in order for you to apply for Naturalization 3 years after AOS based on marriage to a US Citizen". I imagine that in some cases, the I-751 is NOT approved, which means that person would not be allowed to get citizenship. Maybe if you think of it as step three (step 1 being the visa, step 2 is the 'green card') of the N-400 instead of a separate, unnecessary step, it would be a little easier to deal with?

Also, some people have to wait until they've had LPR for five years for citizenship, so they 'use' their ten year card longer. Some decide to wait for N-400 for whatever reason, and some decide not to apply for it at all. So for them, the I-751 isn't such a 'waste'. I can see your point, though - why can't they just make the first card a three year card, or allow for a less expensive option to bridge between the 2 year card and citizenship? I guess it would be impractical, and they want to make sure that the conditions are met before approving citizenship.

Either way, I hope this makes it a little more bearable for you. I also hope we see you adding your approval to the list soon!

venusfire

Thanks so much for your words, Venusfire. They've really helped calm me down!