18 month processing time?!

[lucyrich 20]

I'm not sure how many of you caught this news item on the front of the USCIS page.

Naturalization Delays: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

It contains the testimony of USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez before Congress. It talks about the surge in naturalization applications that happened just before the fee increase. An excerpt:

This surge will have a serious impact on application processing times for the next couple of years. As a result, based on our response plan, most customers will wait much longer to have their applications completed. As we have reported, the average processing time for naturalization applications has increased from the current average of seven months or less to approximately 18 months.

Let the complaining begin...

[satura 0]

yes I saw it coz I'm about to start my N400 process. I am so very upset to see that. We're supposed to pay the higher naturalization fee (around $600) for improved service but at the end we're getting a 18 months processing time.

[wizardfitz 13]

Hey thanks for that post. i am now sitting here in y truck sick to me stomach. they hire more people, raise the fees, and what do we get out of it. we wait long to be with our loved ones. i don't have the heart to tell her about the increased wait time

[annatenna 0]

Tere was a piece on NPR (radio) about this recently

Link here

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...toryId=18195349

I don't think the 18 month estimate will apply to everyone, I suspect it's a blanket estimate to cover their backs , worst case scenario. But perhaps I'm being optimistic.

Many who filed in July to Oct now have fingerprinting appointments, or have had FP done already, so from here on it'll depend on how busy or otherwise the relevant District Office is. I bet quite a few who filed last summer will get through in time to register and vote in November, but I'm not confident that I will. TSC seemed to be the busiest center of the four, or the slowest, and most DOs are probably going to be busy (or slow) too, I guess.

N400 26 July 2007 TSC

Cheque cashed 19 Nov 2007

NOA 26 Nov 2007

Fingerprints done first time 17 Dec 2007 (Oklahoma City)

Fingerprint re-do: 22 Jan 2008

[Feliz 0]

that scares me.... i planned to apply for i-130 for my mom in 2008, but USCIS gives me a date whole year (and 4 days) ahead from now till i even receive my interview notice.. . that would be 14 months total since NOA1, still better then 18 i guess...