May my case help others.

[abdarach 0]

Good evening,

For more than two years I read a lot here about others people experience. Those stories were very helpful to me and today and I have the privilege to share my story with you. May this help others who are in the same situation I were for two years.

Please read and thank you all for the advices you provided me within those two long years.

_________________________________________________________________________________

My application for Naturalization was received by the USCIS on August 27, 2009.

On December 8, 2009 I attended my interview and passed all the required tests.

At the end of the interview the officer told me that he could not make a decision right away and needed a case review by his supervisor.

He added that if I did not hear back from them in two weeks I’ll then receive my oath letter within a month.

On December 29, 2009, three weeks after, I scheduled my first Infopass and I’ve told that my case is pending with the immigration officer.

On December 29, 2009 I sent a letter my Senator to intercede with the USCIS on my behalf to resolve this issue. The result from his inquiry was case still pending.

In January 2010 I called twice and left voice messages on the USCIS Philadelphia naturalization office phone to inquiry about my case: I’ve never received a call back.

On January 26, 2010 my lawyer sent a letter to the USCIS offices in Philadelphia and in Vermont for an update on my case. She did not receive any updates from any of both offices.

On February 2, 2010 I wrote to another Congressman regarding my case. He contacted his liaison at the USCIS Philadelphia office and on February 17 his response was: Naturalization still pending with the officer.

Later on February I received another message from the congressman announcing me that my case is still pending for review and that USCIS hopes to complete their review by early March.

In early March I did receive a request for additional information. My lawyer responded to his request on March 29, 2010.

On April 12, 2010 I called USCIS national phone line and placed a service request. The same day I received the following response by email: “Your case is currently under review. You should receive a decision or notice of other action within 60 days of the date of this letter.

On June 02, 2010 I called USCIS national line again and placed another service request and on June 07 I received the following response by email: “Your case is currently under review. You should receive a decision or notice of other action within 60 days of the date of this letter.

On September 20, 2010 I sent a correspondence to the USCIS Philadelphia Field office asking for an update on my case. There was no reply from the immigration offices.

On October 25, 2010 my lawyer drafted a letter to ask the USCIS to adjudicate on my case, warning them on a possible mandamus petition. We wait three weeks and still no response from the USCIS.

Then my attorney then asked me for $7000.00 to file for a mandamus. The fees were so exorbitant for me and I decided to go with another lawyer who charged me $1600.00 for the whole mandamus petition process.

On December 14, 2010 my new lawyer sent me the mandamus draft to review before filing. Of course I reviewed it the same day and sent it back to him.

On December 15, 2010 my attorney sent the package to the Pennsylvania Eastern court to file for the mandamus.

On December 17, 2010 my lawyer forwarded me the Court filing receipt showing my case in the court systems.

On January 11, 2011 the government attorney contacted my lawyer to let him know the USCIS is ready to adjudicate on my case and that they are drafting a stipulation to send to the judge with a promise to take a decision (approval or denial) on my case within two weeks.

On January 18, 2011 the government lawyer sent the stipulation and filed a motion to remand.

On January 24, 2011 the Judge issue the court order asking the USCIS to adjudicate on my case within two weeks.

On January 25, USCIS emailed me asking me to go for another set of fingerprints as the ones I had earlier had expired. I went for the fingerprints the next day.

On January 31, I received by email my invitation for the oath ceremony scheduled on February 04, 2011.

On February 04, 2011 I finally became a US CITIZEN.

May my case help others who are in the same situation today.

[vett 6]

Good evening,

For more than two years I read a lot here about others people experience. Those stories were very helpful to me and today and I have the privilege to share my story with you. May this help others who are in the same situation I were for two years.

Please read and thank you all for the advices you provided me within those two long years.

_________________________________________________________________________________

My application for Naturalization was received by the USCIS on August 27, 2009.

On December 8, 2009 I attended my interview and passed all the required tests.

At the end of the interview the officer told me that he could not make a decision right away and needed a case review by his supervisor.

He added that if I did not hear back from them in two weeks I’ll then receive my oath letter within a month.

On December 29, 2009, three weeks after, I scheduled my first Infopass and I’ve told that my case is pending with the immigration officer.

On December 29, 2009 I sent a letter my Senator to intercede with the USCIS on my behalf to resolve this issue. The result from his inquiry was case still pending.

In January 2010 I called twice and left voice messages on the USCIS Philadelphia naturalization office phone to inquiry about my case: I’ve never received a call back.

On January 26, 2010 my lawyer sent a letter to the USCIS offices in Philadelphia and in Vermont for an update on my case. She did not receive any updates from any of both offices.

On February 2, 2010 I wrote to another Congressman regarding my case. He contacted his liaison at the USCIS Philadelphia office and on February 17 his response was: Naturalization still pending with the officer.

Later on February I received another message from the congressman announcing me that my case is still pending for review and that USCIS hopes to complete their review by early March.

In early March I did receive a request for additional information. My lawyer responded to his request on March 29, 2010.

On April 12, 2010 I called USCIS national phone line and placed a service request. The same day I received the following response by email: “Your case is currently under review. You should receive a decision or notice of other action within 60 days of the date of this letter.

On June 02, 2010 I called USCIS national line again and placed another service request and on June 07 I received the following response by email: “Your case is currently under review. You should receive a decision or notice of other action within 60 days of the date of this letter.

On September 20, 2010 I sent a correspondence to the USCIS Philadelphia Field office asking for an update on my case. There was no reply from the immigration offices.

On October 25, 2010 my lawyer drafted a letter to ask the USCIS to adjudicate on my case, warning them on a possible mandamus petition. We wait three weeks and still no response from the USCIS.

Then my attorney then asked me for $7000.00 to file for a mandamus. The fees were so exorbitant for me and I decided to go with another lawyer who charged me $1600.00 for the whole mandamus petition process.

On December 14, 2010 my new lawyer sent me the mandamus draft to review before filing. Of course I reviewed it the same day and sent it back to him.

On December 15, 2010 my attorney sent the package to the Pennsylvania Eastern court to file for the mandamus.

On December 17, 2010 my lawyer forwarded me the Court filing receipt showing my case in the court systems.

On January 11, 2011 the government attorney contacted my lawyer to let him know the USCIS is ready to adjudicate on my case and that they are drafting a stipulation to send to the judge with a promise to take a decision (approval or denial) on my case within two weeks.

On January 18, 2011 the government lawyer sent the stipulation and filed a motion to remand.

On January 24, 2011 the Judge issue the court order asking the USCIS to adjudicate on my case within two weeks.

On January 25, USCIS emailed me asking me to go for another set of fingerprints as the ones I had earlier had expired. I went for the fingerprints the next day.

On January 31, I received by email my invitation for the oath ceremony scheduled on February 04, 2011.

On February 04, 2011 I finally became a US CITIZEN.

May my case help others who are in the same situation today.

wow!! sounds like you been through a lot but you never gave up the fight! congratulations

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Wow! Congratulations on not giving up, and on becoming a citizen.

[TamiSuleiman 0]

WOW!! What amazing patience you showed!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Edited February 12, 2011 by Suley&Tami

[abdarach 0]

I'm glad that all the incertainty and stress finally ended. When I think I had to wait more than a year, use the services of three lawyers, two members of the Congress, send so many correspodences and spend a couple of thousands dollars to have them make a decision on my case after a court decision, I strongly believe we have to stand up and have the agency review its procedures to better serve its clients and improve its customer service department.

[nigel 7]

Congrats and a BIG Respect to you....I really mean that..

IMHO..there just retards....and customer service they have'nt a clue...

It makes you wonder if they lost and found some of your files, as from what you post, that "all" they where doing was killing time because they lost/misplaced your files

i mean...why they asking for another F.P?

Anyways...thank you for your post, this will help others of how some things no matter how simple it sounds and should be, can go ugly with this system the uscis" thinks" works...

again congrats and i wish you well..

Edited February 12, 2011 by nigel

[ledo2131 1]

Congratulations! What exactly happened? Why it took so long?

[aminah 6]

First of all Congrats!!!! Second, thanks for sharing your story. This gives hope to others that have been waiting for a long time.

[abdarach 0]

To Ledo2131: I do not have any idea what it took so long as they have never told me the reason of the delay.

[JA Tam 7]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Proud that you fought the system and forced them to do their JOB! That's how you do it. They did something similar to a friend of mine - he re-filed the application. Hopefully your story will let them think twice about doing this to someone else, because we know a number of people have gone through this!

[jkelly07 120]

congratulations thanks for sharing,

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

To Ledo2131: I do not have any idea what it took so long as they have never told me the reason of the delay.

Just curious where are you from..? Sometimes name checks / fbi info can hold out the process but you were interviewed - strange.

[Timusa 0]

I'm glad that all the incertainty and stress finally ended. When I think I had to wait more than a year, use the services of three lawyers, two members of the Congress, send so many correspodences and spend a couple of thousands dollars to have them make a decision on my case after a court decision, I strongly believe we have to stand up and have the agency review its procedures to better serve its clients and improve its customer service department.

Hello Abdarach,

Somewhere in these forums I read that you can sue USCIS for the costs of filing 1447b (Mandamus). Maybe Big Joe5 can give more info.

[newlyweds2010 208]

isn't there a way to recover damages? In the end they adjudicated your case within 2 weeks after they received a court order. it clearly shows that something wasn't working properly on their side, and the 1-year wait was totally avoidable.

[Sand 5]

Oh Oh Oh. Congratulations!