After 11 months, case transferred to Newark Field Office - what to do about no timetable?

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

In only 2 days we will have reached the 1-year anniversary of filing an I-751 petition to remove conditions on Karen's permanent residence, and we still don't have a timetable for the next step and we have no hope for approval anytime soon. It's been 3 months since we responded to a Request For Evidence, but still no official USCIS response on what will happen next. What's worse is that we are finally going back to the Philippines in November for the 1st time in more than 3 years, but we're afraid Karen won't have a 10-year permanent green card by then. Her 2-year temporary green card expired in November 2012, but we have a letter that extends it one more year. Still, we were almost certain that we'd have a 10-year green card by now after applying more than 14 months in advance, but now we're just getting more and more frustrated by the day.

After filing the I-751 on Aug. 10, 2012, we received an RFE on March 25, 2013 and responded on May 4, but did not hear anything from the USCIS until we filed a service request on July 15. It took the USCIS a week to respond on July 22 with a vague letter from the Newark, NJ Field Office that said "Your petition/application is still pending consideration and has been relocated from the Vermont Service Center to the Newark Field Office for interviewing and processing. We regret that we are not able to give you a timeframe for when we will complete the review of your petition/application."

So our big question is what do we do next? It sounds like we will most likely have an interview, but what bothers me is that there is no timetable for the next step. I was hoping we could call the Newark Field Office to get more information, but it seems that they purposely do not list a contact phone number or e-mail address. Does anyone know how to contact the Newark Field Office?

Our Case Status still says we are in "Initial Review", so that is not much help. Our only other options, as I see them, are:

1. to file an e-request (which just seems like an online service request)
2. to use InfoPass to schedule an appointment at the Newark Field Office.

It turns out we cannot file an e-request until 30 days after a previous service request. In 6 days, we will be at that 30-day limit and will probably file an e-request immediately. For cases that have already been filed, InfoPass says there are only the following 4 kinds of appointment:

• Order from Immigration Court - If you were directed to us for processing based on an order from the Immigration Judge. You must bring all documents required in the post order instructions given to you by the court.
• Case Processing Appointment - If you received a notice to go to your local office for further case processing.
• EAD inquiry appointment - If your I-765 employment authorization application has been pending for more than 90 days.
• Case Services follow-up appointment - If it has been over 45 days since you contacted NCSC and have not received a response to your inquiry. You must bring the Service Request ID Number related to your inquiry to the appointment.

We could pick the Case Services follow-up appointment, except the NCSC (National Customer Service Center) did respond to us, albeit in a rather vague way.

So what do we do next? Our feeling is that we should be able to contact the Newark Field Office directly, but we have no idea how. Any suggestions?

[bigdog 376]

Use cases services area. Try the USCIS Ombudsman's office also. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b9ab9ddf801b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b9ab9ddf801b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You just need to wait. You'll most likely get an interview within the next month. Your wife can get an I551 stamp in her passport when her letter expires. The case was transferred only recently.

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Use cases services area. Try the USCIS Ombudsman's office also. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b9ab9ddf801b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b9ab9ddf801b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

Shouldn't we wait 45 days from July 15 to make a Case Services follow-up appointment? Thanks for the link to the Ombudsman Liaison's office, but I'm not sure what to do there. They do ask for customer service feedback to help identify issues that affect us, but for case-specific issues, they just say to contact the 800 number at the USCIS National Customer Service Center ("For case-specific inquiries, please refer to Case Status Online or contact the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.")

You just need to wait. You'll most likely get an interview within the next month.

I hope so!

Your wife can get an I551 stamp in her passport when her letter expires.

I was thinking of doing that. Do we need to schedule an InfoPass appointment for that?

The case was transferred only recently.

What makes you say that? I could have happened as early as May or any time until July 15. That means our case has been at Newark for ~1 to 3 months! How long do we need to wait?

Edited August 9, 2013 by Karen_and_Jay

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

The case was transferred only recently.

I should have said in my previous post that we don't know when our case was transferred from the VSC to the Newark Field Office. We only received a message from the USCIS on July 22 because we put in a service request the week before. The USCIS showed no desire at any point to update our case status or to inform us of any transfer, so the transfer could have happened as early as May after we sent in our RFE response or any time until July 15.

That means our case has been at Newark for anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months! As I said before, how long do we need to wait?

[FtWorth1982 1]

Get an infopass appointment - they will stamp your wife's passport. Done that recently. Traveled abroad with no issues.

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Get an infopass appointment - they will stamp your wife's passport. Done that recently. Traveled abroad with no issues.

Do you remember what choice you picked for the InfoPass? Was it "information or other services"? I chose "need service on a case that has already been filed", but I'm hoping if they can't give use information on that, maybe at least they can stamp her passport.

[Christi85 86]

I should have said in my previous post that we don't know when our case was transferred from the VSC to the Newark Field Office. We only received a message from the USCIS on July 22 because we put in a service request the week before. The USCIS showed no desire at any point to update our case status or to inform us of any transfer, so the transfer could have happened as early as May after we sent in our RFE response or any time until July 15.

That means our case has been at Newark for anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months! As I said before, how long do we need to wait?

There's no way to know for sure, but it's more likely that VSC took forever to look at your RFE package until they finally did and decided to refer the case for an interview, than the case stalling at your local USCIS office. I'm saying that purely because most VJ members who get notified that their case has been transferred to their local USCIS Office usually get their interview appointment within a couple of weeks, as some other poster also said. So based on that alone, it makes sense that it only got to the Newark Office recently.

My guess is that VSC hadn't looked at your RFE package (or they had, but had put off adjudicating the case) until you put in the Service Request, and then they finally looked at it and decided to forward to Newark. In any event, you should be getting an interview date soon. Good luck!

[Steve D. 22]

Get an InfoPass and make an I551 stamp on your passport so you get the NOA-1 extended for another year.

Next, file for N-400 (citizenship) if becoming a citizen is your goal. While you are at it, get hold of your congressman and ask for help as well.

Transfer to local office is a typical delay tactic, be proactive and push them instead of having them drag you around forever.

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice! We scheduled an appointment through InfoPass at the Newark Field Office for this Monday. I chose the Case Services follow-up appointment so hopefully we can bug them about the long delay, but I'm a little worried they'll give us a hard time because we didn't wait 45 days after our service request. At the very least, we should be able to get my wife's passport an I-551 stamp.

[YoungHamlet 0]

Karen and Jay:

I believe that after (or near, please check) the 1-year anniversary of your filing the ROC, you are eligible to file for citizenship - and they have to review your I-751 during the citizenship interview.

I believe you guys are already eligible to file. LIke others have said, you can get the I-551 stamped on your passport for travel.

Obviously not an expert, but thought that'd help.

[pinkytoes 0]

Karen and Jay:

I believe that after (or near, please check) the 1-year anniversary of your filing the ROC, you are eligible to file for citizenship - and they have to review your I-751 during the citizenship interview.

I believe you guys are already eligible to file. LIke others have said, you can get the I-551 stamped on your passport for travel.

Obviously not an expert, but thought that'd help.

That's right. I've been waiting for an answer on a RFE replied more than 60 days ago and nothing yet. My extension expires on 11/12/13 and I'm sending my n-400 package this monday, hoping It'll help expedite the ROC process

[Jaxson 0]

I had a similar issue with the Newark Field Office. When they make you wait all this time it is because they are gathering a case regarding if the marriage was entered in good faith. You can get your passport stamped in the mean while but they will make you wait until they are ready. Be prepared to be drilled in interview but stand your ground if the marriage is entered in good faith. Good luck!!

[Dpeter736 4]

Thanks for posting this, I am in the exact same situation except I filed a month earlier. I just made info pass appointment to get an extension and hopefully find out some more information about my case. I also know my case is at the local field office. Just cant believe its taking this long. I know exactly how you feel. I also contacted my congressman who said they will try to help. Thats all I can recommend. My lawyer advised me not to file N-400 until I get the approval, but after reading of so many people filing while still waiting on approval makes me think I should just send it and maybe that would speed things up, but I dont know. Well I wish you the best.

[Steve D. 22]

For those who are still waiting close to (even pass) 1-year mark, if you are qualified and wanted to become an US Citizen, go ahead and file N-400. But first make an Info Pass appointment first to extend your NOA-1 for another year so you are not out of status.

I have to do this route last year. Even after getting my local congressman involved I was able to get the N-400 approved with the ROC still pending.

And just for poop and giggles I checked my ROC status on USCIS' website, it still says "INITIAL REVIEW".

What a joke.