RFE after receiving oath letter????

[Tini27 0]

I apologize in advance for the long post but wanted to include all details:

I passed the interview July 23 at Garden city. We arrived 30 minutes ahead of time, we checked in downstairs then were directed to the 2nd floor but my husband was not allowed in. The waiting area was packed and small, no way the spouses could fit in so guess it did make sense but still. I counted approximtely 80 people there before 9:30 and was sure that I was going to wait 4 hours at least for the interview, but around 10:45, I was called in by an elder guy who got my name right!! You gotta be careful and listen because the IO's can mispronounce your name or not speak loud enough and they put you at the end of the file if they don't find you right away. There was a loud ceiling fan, really annoying when you're trying to understand whose name they're calling. Cell phones were allowed in the building and while you couldn't really talk in the waiting area, you could just step back in the hallway if needed. I followed the IO in his office, there was asked to take an oath to say the truth, sign pictures, then he said let's take the test first so started asking questions. He was very calm, so it helped me get into "calm mode" too. I answered these questions

Who's in charge of the executive branch?

If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

There are 4 amendments to the Right to vote. Describe one of them.

What's one reason the colonists came to the US?

What's one right of the first amendment?

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the US?

Read: Who lives in the White House?

Write: The president lives in the White House.

Then he started going through the N400 application, checking biographic info plus the series of questions at the end. He did not ask about my trips back home (I visit my parents every year) or anything else.

He also did not ask for all the stuff I was prepared to give: marriage certificate, naturalization certificate, SS card, my husband's ID copy...but said since I was filing on the basis of marriage to a US citizen, I had to prove marital union and proceeded to request:

-Tax transcripts for 2008 (I had filed before I submitted taxes for this year)

-Utility bills for 2006 and 2007 (I gave him electricity and cell phone bills)

-Joint account statements for 2006 and 2007, I also gave him a letter from the bank stating we had joint accounts and date they were opened, etc..

-Joint health insurance (I have insurance through the university but he has no insurance so i just told him I don't have that)

-Leases for 2006 and 2007 (I also handed him a letter from our landlord)

So, yes a lot of paperwork to submit!!! He was very nice and courteous but I really thought he was just waiting for me to say: No, I don't have those!!

After that, gave me to sign a bunch of paperwork and stamped approved in big red letters on my file. I thanked him, was handed the N652 and was told to wait downstairs for the oath letter. He said wait would be 20 minutes, was more like an 1 hour 20. We went out across the street for lunch and by the time we came back , letter was ready, oath is scheduled for Aug 4 at 8:30 at Brooklyn court in Cadman Plaza. We left at 1:20 pm from there. Total time spent: nearly 4 hours.

NOW this morning july 25, I received an email from USCIS:

Application Type: N400 , APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Current Status: Request for Additional Evidence Sent

On July 23, 2009, we mailed a notice requesting additional evidence or information in this case N400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the requested information. This case will be in suspense until we receive the evidence or the opportunity to submit it expires. Once we receive the requested evidence or information and make a decision on the case, you will be notified by mail. If you move while this case is pending, call 1-800-375-5283 to update your address.

So what does this mean? I have the oath letter for aug 4. I'll wait for the RFE on Monday to see exactly what they need but this is just terrible. Like they gave you something and took it back. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

[NickD 203]

I know the IO gives the interview, but must be approved by his supervisor, think that should have been done before they issued your oath letter.

They didn't tell you what evidence they are after?

What I noted you didn't list was your marriage certificate and proof your spouse is a USC for at least the last three years.

[Tini27 0]

I know the IO gives the interview, but must be approved by his supervisor, think that should have been done before they issued your oath letter.

They didn't tell you what evidence they are after?

What I noted you didn't list was your marriage certificate and proof your spouse is a USC for at least the last three years.

A copy of his US passport and marriage certificate were sent in with the N400. Also, I volunteered more docs but he didn't seem to like it too much so I thought I'd just provide with whatever he asked.

I don't know what docs they need, that was just a copy of the email I received from USCIS, i guess I'll wait monday to know what they want. I should receive the written notice mondy or tuesday. I don't mind providing more info, I've got nothing to hide and have a bonafide marriage. Heck, I'll send them elementary school records if they asked for them. At this point, I'm not trying to be rational with USCIS, just give them whatever they ask and get it over with. My only concern is that I have the oath letter right here and it does not say anything about possible delays due to missng infos. If he couldn't approve of the file, he should've said so right there and then and I would've provided whatever evidence, I had a bag full of paperwork .

[krysia 0]

A copy of his US passport and marriage certificate were sent in with the N400. Also, I volunteered more docs but he didn't seem to like it too much so I thought I'd just provide with whatever he asked.

I don't know what docs they need, that was just a copy of the email I received from USCIS, i guess I'll wait monday to know what they want. I should receive the written notice mondy or tuesday. I don't mind providing more info, I've got nothing to hide and have a bonafide marriage. Heck, I'll send them elementary school records if they asked for them. At this point, I'm not trying to be rational with USCIS, just give them whatever they ask and get it over with. My only concern is that I have the oath letter right here and it does not say anything about possible delays due to missng infos. If he couldn't approve of the file, he should've said so right there and then and I would've provided whatever evidence, I had a bag full of paperwork .

I'm sorry. They are really something , here in New York!

I hope it is just something stupid, like a missing signature or document

[Tini27 0]

Yeah, I hope so too krysia!! It's just that I've been checking forums and talking to people and no one ever heard of a request for more info when oath date was already set. You're right though NY is defintely something;)

Edited July 26, 2009 by Tini27

[NickD 203]

Could also be clerical error, let's hope they do not request that you return your oath letter, with that, you are good to go. Let us know what happens.

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

This just makes no sense at all. Call the hotline or make an INFOPASS apointment (groan) and see what they say.

[wil 0]

Yeah, I hope so too krysia!! It's just that I've been checking forums and talking to people and no one ever heard of a request for more info when oath date was already set. You're right though NY is defintely something;)

Hi Tini27,

Did you get any letter yet? Your oath is around the corner...

[Tini27 0]

Wil, thx for asking! No news, good news:) Nothing in the mail so I'll head for my oath tuesday. It was supposed to be a lovely week of anticipation, waiting for your oath and all but turned out to be a nerve wrecking mess.(I called USCIS and posted about it in the march thread) Please people do not rely on the online status, they can mess up big time. Trust the physical paper only!! I'll be sure to post my experience tuesday.

[Wubzywub 0]

I apologize in advance for the long post but wanted to include all details:

I passed the interview July 23 at Garden city. We arrived 30 minutes ahead of time, we checked in downstairs then were directed to the 2nd floor but my husband was not allowed in. The waiting area was packed and small, no way the spouses could fit in so guess it did make sense but still. I counted approximtely 80 people there before 9:30 and was sure that I was going to wait 4 hours at least for the interview, but around 10:45, I was called in by an elder guy who got my name right!! You gotta be careful and listen because the IO's can mispronounce your name or not speak loud enough and they put you at the end of the file if they don't find you right away. There was a loud ceiling fan, really annoying when you're trying to understand whose name they're calling. Cell phones were allowed in the building and while you couldn't really talk in the waiting area, you could just step back in the hallway if needed. I followed the IO in his office, there was asked to take an oath to say the truth, sign pictures, then he said let's take the test first so started asking questions. He was very calm, so it helped me get into "calm mode" too. I answered these questions

Who's in charge of the executive branch?

If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

There are 4 amendments to the Right to vote. Describe one of them.

What's one reason the colonists came to the US?

What's one right of the first amendment?

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the US?

Read: Who lives in the White House?

Write: The president lives in the White House.

Then he started going through the N400 application, checking biographic info plus the series of questions at the end. He did not ask about my trips back home (I visit my parents every year) or anything else.

He also did not ask for all the stuff I was prepared to give: marriage certificate, naturalization certificate, SS card, my husband's ID copy...but said since I was filing on the basis of marriage to a US citizen, I had to prove marital union and proceeded to request:

-Tax transcripts for 2008 (I had filed before I submitted taxes for this year)

-Utility bills for 2006 and 2007 (I gave him electricity and cell phone bills)

-Joint account statements for 2006 and 2007, I also gave him a letter from the bank stating we had joint accounts and date they were opened, etc..

-Joint health insurance (I have insurance through the university but he has no insurance so i just told him I don't have that)

-Leases for 2006 and 2007 (I also handed him a letter from our landlord)

So, yes a lot of paperwork to submit!!! He was very nice and courteous but I really thought he was just waiting for me to say: No, I don't have those!!

After that, gave me to sign a bunch of paperwork and stamped approved in big red letters on my file. I thanked him, was handed the N652 and was told to wait downstairs for the oath letter. He said wait would be 20 minutes, was more like an 1 hour 20. We went out across the street for lunch and by the time we came back , letter was ready, oath is scheduled for Aug 4 at 8:30 at Brooklyn court in Cadman Plaza. We left at 1:20 pm from there. Total time spent: nearly 4 hours.

NOW this morning july 25, I received an email from USCIS:

Application Type: N400 , APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Current Status: Request for Additional Evidence Sent

On July 23, 2009, we mailed a notice requesting additional evidence or information in this case N400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the requested information. This case will be in suspense until we receive the evidence or the opportunity to submit it expires. Once we receive the requested evidence or information and make a decision on the case, you will be notified by mail. If you move while this case is pending, call 1-800-375-5283 to update your address.

So what does this mean? I have the oath letter for aug 4. I'll wait for the RFE on Monday to see exactly what they need but this is just terrible. Like they gave you something and took it back. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

Emails are not official.. Wait for the hard copy in the mail before inquiring. That's what i would do.

[l.j./1999 1]

Sorry to hear about all this added stress when you should be celebrating your upcoming oath I really believe it's an error. The local offices don't usually even make any updates to the online system, I haven't heard of anyone going through naturalization even getting online notice or email about RFEs. As RDan said.. a real RFE should've arrived by regular mail.

Hope everything goes well and you will be posting here as a new U.S. citizen on Tuesday!

[Milili78 0]

Good luck! Let us know how was the oath ceremony

[satyam 0]

Hope everything went well Yesterday , though You did not post about OATH, i have a feeling from her signature It worked in your favour.

08/04/09--------Oath--------US CITIZEN

08/04/09--------Applied for passport

[Tini27 0]

Satyam,. thanks for asking.I posted in the March thread, sorry about that. I'm pasting a copy below so anyone who reads this thread will know the end, a happy end:)

Yahoo!!! I'm a USC!!! After a stressing week , I'm finally American (there was no mention of the RFE email I received after the interview so I guess it was a clerical error) The oath was at 8:30 at Cadman Plaza. I was late because we headed for Cadman Plaza without checking if it was East or West and of course went a long way in the wrong direction. This part of downtown Brooklyn is huge, the blocks are really large, by the time we made it to the courthouse, it was 9am. The room was packed but 5 people arrived after me. We were told to fill in the form, have the GC ready and wait to be called to the front table row by row. Once you get there, they take your GC (has a little pang of sadness when we parted ) and check that all questions were answered on the form then have your check the naturalization certificate for any errors. Then, you basically wait for the judge to come to administer the oath, in between, small speech from someone from the NYC human rights commission, and the people from voters' registration. At 11:00, the judge comes swirling in her robe and we all rise for the oath. Really only nice moment as we were all connected somehow. at 11:10 after a very short speech, the judge goes swirling out and they start calling row by row again to hand the certificates. 11;30: the whole thing ended. I was happy, relieved and emotional:) However, no one in there was cos it just looked like a regular administrative office, only difference, the 2 US flags and elevated table. I felt like I was at social security or something, I guess it did take a little out of the solemn event, a lot of people who had been sworn in at the courthouse before said the place was beautiful and you really felt that it was a great occasion. I'm sure they were renovating or something because I've never heard of an expedient ceremony like today's, no emotion, no flags, no videos, no letter from Obama, no pictures, no videos, no cell phones, no family, just a cold administrative procedure. Please don't get me wrong, I'm very happy and proud but would've wanted a liitle more meaning for today's event. When I came out, my husband ad sister were waiting for me, they had been directed to the 3rd floor cafeteria where they waited for me, they said everybody there was sleeping because the wait was long;) Sorry for the detailed report but I know this may be useful to some people taking their oaths in Brooklyn soon. So,no cell phones or cameras are allowed in the entire building and the family is not allowed at all in the room, you just meet them outside when it's finished. We had a lunch celebration then headed to the post office for the passport. It felt a little strange to have no GC and no certificate but I'm so happy to be getting my passport soon.

[liahnsilver 0]

congratulations uscis journey over for you.