N400 decision "for further review" speculation or valid concern

[sharky 2]

Hey VJ community,

I had my N400 interview on October 6th with a very nice IO in the Seattle field office. After going through my application and test (which I passed) he gave me the N-652 form with the "cannot make a decision" box checked and his words written next to it: "for further review".

At the time I didn't bother to ask the officer what this referred to or what it meant as my 5 year anniversary was the week after and so I thought it was standard to write this. However the 12th has come and gone and I have heard zero updates about a potential oath ceremony.

My question is with regards to whether I am worrying about nothing or whether it's valid concern. The IO asked me about my marriage (which was unfortunately short, we were together for only 7 months) and I was honest with him and told him the explanation for this could be put down to "naivety".

Now I'm worried that my short marriage could prove to be a major hurdle in this final step. Surely anything to do with that should have been addressed at the 2 year mark? I actually was not interviewed at that point, my case was approved online and my 10 yr GC arrived in the post shortly after. So, in my humble opinion, this whole matter has already been dealt with, so am I unnecessarily worrying about nothing? or is it a a valid concern?

any advice is appreciated

[nwctzn 55]

I would call them or schedule an infopass appointment to ask about your status.

[sharky 2]

I would call them or schedule an infopass appointment to ask about your status.

have one scheduled for the 1st of November

[Sherifeg 0]

I guess it all goes back to the I751, was it approved smoothly? AND, did you get divorced (or separated not sure) before a final decision on the I751 was made?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Looks like you applied too early. Too early doesn't mean that you sent in your N-400 outside of the 90-day window, but so early that your interview was over and done with before you were actually eligible to become a U.S. citizen. Hence the advice not to mail in the N-400 on the button but 7 to 10 days later. Now you know why.

It often happens that an N-400 that would commonly be approved and put on the stack to be scheduled for the Oath Ceremony gets put on another stack labeled "need to wait." That can cause a delay of several months, and my guess is that your N-400 is on such a stack right now, waiting for an I.O. who is bored to look through it.

The Infopass appointment maybe a move in the right direction indeed.

[sharky 2]

Looks like you applied too early. Too early doesn't mean that you sent in your N-400 outside of the 90-day window, but so early that your interview was over and done with before you were actually eligible to become a U.S. citizen. Hence the advice not to mail in the N-400 on the button but 7 to 10 days later. Now you know why.

It often happens that an N-400 that would commonly be approved and put on the stack to be scheduled for the Oath Ceremony gets put on another stack labeled "need to wait." That can cause a delay of several months, and my guess is that your N-400 is on such a stack right now, waiting for an I.O. who is bored to look through it.

The Infopass appointment maybe a move in the right direction indeed.

That's an interesting point Brother, I have been looking at the stats for my month etc., and I came to the same conclusion a few weeks ago. Ironic isn't it that my N400 was processed TOO quickly lol.

Not sure if that is the main reason for the "further review" but it's a very valid point, and my I-751 (as I stated in the original post) was approved online with no problem whatsoever.... I just really hope that your conclusion about being on a big stack of papers is not what has happened but who's to say I will even find out even with the infopass appt.?