How long can it possibly take to get the freaking Oath letter ?!?!?!

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

Here is my frustration. I quickly and successfully passed the interview 2 weeks ago (on October 15th). The problem is that my interview was 9 days too early to take the Oath even though my local office generally performs same day Oaths. I was trying to ask the IO to give me an Oath letter on the spot but she was reluctant and said that it will come in mail. However, she indicated that I should get the letter on or right after my eligibility date (October 24th) and the Oath should be in couple of weeks.

So it's been 2 weeks and my mailbox is still empty. I lost patience and scheduled an infopass appointment today. Unfortunately, before you can get to an actual IO at the infopass, you first have to fight your way through the receptioninst who knows as much (if not less) than the disinformation line and whoes main job is to turn as many people away as possible without letting them talk to the actual IO.

This receptionist just kept parroting the same phrase over and over again "sir, you have to allow 120 days from your interview until the Oath ceremony. If 120 days pass and you still don't recieve anything you can schedule another Infopass". No calls for reason and asking to talk to a higher level IO who can actually look into my case and figure out what the hold up is and probably give it a push didn't seem to work at all. The other guy at the reception was trying to be more helpful and actually looked up my alien number in their system and said that my Oath hasn't been scheduled yet and there is nothing he can do.

Anyhow, I left with nothing. My whole application from the day I sent it to the interview date took 2.5 months and now I'm stuck at the Oath stage when I see most of the people on this board take the Oath within 2-3 weeks after the interview max.

Any idea what the hold up may be and how long can it possibly take? Also, at the interview she didn't stamp APPROVED on my application, just gave me a N-652 (or whatever it is) saying that I was recommended for approval. Does it mean that it can still be pending supervisors final approval? What else can it be?

I'm really frustrated because I'd prefer not to travel between the interview and the Oath and I cannot make my holiday plans until I know I can get the passport before the end of the year. Any advices, opinions, theories will be highly appreciated!

[satyam 0]

Here is my frustration. I quickly and successfully passed the interview 2 weeks ago (on October 15th). The problem is that my interview was 9 days too early to take the Oath even though my local office generally performs same day Oaths. I was trying to ask the IO to give me an Oath letter on the spot but she was reluctant and said that it will come in mail. However, she indicated that I should get the letter on or right after my eligibility date (October 24th) and the Oath should be in couple of weeks.

So it's been 2 weeks and my mailbox is still empty. I lost patience and scheduled an infopass appointment today. Unfortunately, before you can get to an actual IO at the infopass, you first have to fight your way through the receptioninst who knows as much (if not less) than the disinformation line and whoes main job is to turn as many people away as possible without letting them talk to the actual IO.

This receptionist just kept parroting the same phrase over and over again "sir, you have to allow 120 days from your interview until the Oath ceremony. If 120 days pass and you still don't recieve anything you can schedule another Infopass". No calls for reason and asking to talk to a higher level IO who can actually look into my case and figure out what the hold up is and probably give it a push didn't seem to work at all. The other guy at the reception was trying to be more helpful and actually looked up my alien number in their system and said that my Oath hasn't been scheduled yet and there is nothing he can do.

Anyhow, I left with nothing. My whole application from the day I sent it to the interview date took 2.5 months and now I'm stuck at the Oath stage when I see most of the people on this board take the Oath within 2-3 weeks after the interview max.

Any idea what the hold up may be and how long can it possibly take? Also, at the interview she didn't stamp APPROVED on my application, just gave me a N-652 (or whatever it is) saying that I was recommended for approval. Does it mean that it can still be pending supervisors final approval? What else can it be?

I'm really frustrated because I'd prefer not to travel between the interview and the Oath and I cannot make my holiday plans until I know I can get the passport before the end of the year. Any advices, opinions, theories will be highly appreciated!

Hey Rebelheart,

I am sorry to hear your plight. My Interview was held 3 days earlier to my 3rd year as LPR and I got the Oath Letter on the spot for 2 days later Oath a day earlier then 3 rd year as LPR, but i have to go thru pendamonium on the Oath Day as they did not make the certificates ready as i am still 1 day shy of 3 rd Year complition as LPR. There is a lack of coordination between the people who schedule the interviews and IOs, I still dont undrstand why they call people 1-2 weeks early for Interview exactly before 3 rd Anniversary as LPR whn they damn well know they can't make for Oath. I have learnt a lesson in a hard way, dont hurry and rush your application right on 90 day Prior, Take your time relax send ony before 75 days Prior ..they dont have to go thru all this S**t

Thanks

~Satya

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

Another week passed, still no Oath letter in sight. 3 weeks since the interview and counting. I'm really losing patience now - already wrote my Senator, but no feedback so far. Any other ideas?

[NickD 202]

IO told my wife she would receive her oath letter in two weeks, let four go by, then called my senators office, it was e-mailed to us within two hours, with a letter of apology. Her oath was held three days later.

Share your views on dealing with some people on not giving a damn about you. By law, is 120 days, but in the same respect, a promise is a promise.

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

IO told my wife she would receive her oath letter in two weeks, let four go by, then called my senators office, it was e-mailed to us within two hours, with a letter of apology. Her oath was held three days later.

Share your views on dealing with some people on not giving a damn about you. By law, is 120 days, but in the same respect, a promise is a promise.

Thanks for advice Nick - looks like your Senator doesn't screw around, that's really a qucik response. We'll try calling our guy too.

VA used to have a senior GOP Senator who was a chief of Senate Commitee on Immigration or something. He really had some weight when he stepped in. Now we have 2 younger dem Senators who don't seem to have much influence on US CIS, unfortunately. We'll try calling them though - it's probably better that writing them anyway.

Thanks again!

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

I think you have to be way more patient.

Don't even count the days before your 3rd year anniversary, as you were not eligible to naturalize.

Not even 2 weeks passed after you became eligible.

Oath letter could take 4-6 weeks...

[antda 13]

Hi Redneck-NOVA,

Sorry to hear about your situation about not getting the oath date, despite passing the interview awhile ago. Not your fault there, that they scheduled the interview before your 3yr residency date, and that it takes up to 120 days from the interview for them to make a decision about the oath. Could it also be that your paricular local office is busy, and are overall scheduling oaths later than usual, despite anyone's circumstances?

I think you did the right thing there too, by scheduling and going to an infopass appointment to inquire further about your case and by writing to your senator. Unfortunately, there isn't much else to do now, other than to wait it out. But who knows, maybe that "nudge" from the senator can help in your case as well. You can also try going to another infopass appointment, but this time try another 'local' office, which could be more of help to you there. As well, if it takes too much longer, then you can also try contacting other politicians (congressman, ombudsman, etc.) and perhaps the media about your case as well.

Hope the wait isn't too much longer for you. You're almost there at the end of you journey. Good luck for you getting your oath soon too.

Ant

Here is my frustration. I quickly and successfully passed the interview 2 weeks ago (on October 15th). The problem is that my interview was 9 days too early to take the Oath even though my local office generally performs same day Oaths. I was trying to ask the IO to give me an Oath letter on the spot but she was reluctant and said that it will come in mail. However, she indicated that I should get the letter on or right after my eligibility date (October 24th) and the Oath should be in couple of weeks.

So it's been 2 weeks and my mailbox is still empty. I lost patience and scheduled an infopass appointment today. Unfortunately, before you can get to an actual IO at the infopass, you first have to fight your way through the receptioninst who knows as much (if not less) than the disinformation line and whoes main job is to turn as many people away as possible without letting them talk to the actual IO.

This receptionist just kept parroting the same phrase over and over again "sir, you have to allow 120 days from your interview until the Oath ceremony. If 120 days pass and you still don't recieve anything you can schedule another Infopass". No calls for reason and asking to talk to a higher level IO who can actually look into my case and figure out what the hold up is and probably give it a push didn't seem to work at all. The other guy at the reception was trying to be more helpful and actually looked up my alien number in their system and said that my Oath hasn't been scheduled yet and there is nothing he can do.

Anyhow, I left with nothing. My whole application from the day I sent it to the interview date took 2.5 months and now I'm stuck at the Oath stage when I see most of the people on this board take the Oath within 2-3 weeks after the interview max.

Any idea what the hold up may be and how long can it possibly take? Also, at the interview she didn't stamp APPROVED on my application, just gave me a N-652 (or whatever it is) saying that I was recommended for approval. Does it mean that it can still be pending supervisors final approval? What else can it be?

I'm really frustrated because I'd prefer not to travel between the interview and the Oath and I cannot make my holiday plans until I know I can get the passport before the end of the year. Any advices, opinions, theories will be highly appreciated!

Another week passed, still no Oath letter in sight. 3 weeks since the interview and counting. I'm really losing patience now - already wrote my Senator, but no feedback so far. Any other ideas?

[walls1010 3]

same here....patiently waiting for the freaking oath letter!

[lissa04 3]

I understand your frustrated, and if I were in your shoes I would be wondering where my letter is. Personally though I wouldn't have sent out my application right at the 90 day mark or close to within that time period. USCIS should have looked to see when you would become eligible and scheduled accordingly, however they didn't. Just be thankful that you didn't apply a little over a year ago when it was taking almost a year or more for citizenship. Hopefully you will get your letter soon.

Good Luck

Edited November 6, 2009 by lissa04

[NickD 202]

In theory at least, according to your interview results, you are suppose to contact the person that did your interview. I only had two problems with that, first was could not make out the scribbling to even begin to pronounce her name, second, was no number given to call her. It was my wife's IO that "misplaced" her application.

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

So my wife called the Senator's immigration guy today and he told her that the good news is that Oath has in fact been scheduled but the bad news is that it will be only on 10th of December. While I'm glad to find out that my case is not flushed down the toilet which I was suspecting for a week now, I'm thoroughly pissed off at yet ANOTHER delay. I mean my office conducts same day ceremonies for ####'s sake and now after dicking me around for a month after the interview (I'm sure they just misplaced my file and if Senator's office never inquired about it, we'd probably keep waiting), they schedule me for the ceremony which is a whole month away!

I'm afraid my Senator's guy wasn't as firm as what NickD described, and they just scheduled me for a late ceremony. I guess, being nice and polite with any government agency doesn't work at all. Unless you have power (such as Senator's office does) and scare them shitless, they will just continue treating you like scum.

This whole thing really screws up my holiday plans and I'm really really pissed. I doubt I can do much at this point though. Asked the Senator's immigration guy to try to make them reschedule the ceremony for a sooner date, but he said he is 99% sure it won't work. Any other ideas?

[antda 13]

Hi Redneck-NOVA,

Congrats about getting your oath ceremony date for Dec.10, after inquiring about such with your senator. Lol...I agree, "unless you have some (political) power and scare them...they will just continue treating you like scum (or only a case number/file..)". On the bright side, at least you have an oath ceremony scheduled, so that's good right? And you don't have too long to wait, as before you know it, it will be December already. Others have had to wait longer, so to wait an extra month, and to get your whole citizenship process done in 4-5 months is not that bad at all (lol..especially in comparison to the long delays with the I-751). As for your plans, if there is a conflict, you can either reschedule your holidays/vacation, or reschedule your oath date. Personally, if I were you, I would just go for the oath date earlier then go for the holidays, as it is harder to reschedule the oath than it is to reschedule your holidays. And if you get your oath done before your holidays, then you can travel with a US passport too, which is easier to travel with back to the USA. And why not celebrate your oath with a vacation afterwards? You're almost done with the process...just go for the oath, and it will all be over with...Think: I'll be a citizen before the end of the year/by 2009! (and surely, that's a good thing, right?).

Good luck with your oath coming up and with your travels and journey too.

Ant

So my wife called the Senator's immigration guy today and he told her that the good news is that Oath has in fact been scheduled but the bad news is that it will be only on 10th of December. While I'm glad to find out that my case is not flushed down the toilet which I was suspecting for a week now, I'm thoroughly pissed off at yet ANOTHER delay. I mean my office conducts same day ceremonies for ####'s sake and now after dicking me around for a month after the interview (I'm sure they just misplaced my file and if Senator's office never inquired about it, we'd probably keep waiting), they schedule me for the ceremony which is a whole month away!

I'm afraid my Senator's guy wasn't as firm as what NickD described, and they just scheduled me for a late ceremony. I guess, being nice and polite with any government agency doesn't work at all. Unless you have power (such as Senator's office does) and scare them shitless, they will just continue treating you like scum.

This whole thing really screws up my holiday plans and I'm really really pissed. I doubt I can do much at this point though. Asked the Senator's immigration guy to try to make them reschedule the ceremony for a sooner date, but he said he is 99% sure it won't work. Any other ideas?

Edited November 10, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[warlord 73]

Not getting your oath letter for a month or two is not uncommon. Usually they try and send it out a few week ahead, but in many cases it's not. This is normal. If you don't get it in say 3 months then start to wonder and make an Infopass appointment.

Rememeber it's not up to the IO that interviewed you, it's put in the system and another body is the one that sends it out and processes it etc. Just be patient, you're in the same boat with millions of others...

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

Finally got my freaking Oath letter yesterday. Oath date is December 10th - almost 2 months after the interview (!!!) and that's in the office that offers same day Oaths!!! Freaking ridiculous. Lets see if anyone can beat my record here on July and August filers thread. Don't think so though...