Waithing for Oath Ceremony

[CB&RB 14]

Well firstly I'd like to thank everyone for their contributions to this site it certainly makes the waiting seem easier and the information we have gleaned from this site has proved very helpful.

I would like to lay out our problems along the way to where we are now since submitting our N400 form in June.

Submitted N400 through Phoenix Lockbox: 06/13/2012

Biometrics appointment in St Louis: 07/20/2012

Placed in Queue for Testing and Interview: 07/23/2102

Interview scheduled in Chicago (arrgghh): 10/11/2012

This is where the first issue arises - this issue revolved around actually getting to the appointment. As the office is a fair distance from where my wife lives she was going to go on the train - cheapest and fastest route by a long way. But the train would have arrived just 25 minutes before her appointment so we contacted the USCIS to ask what would happen if she were maybe 5 minutes late - they just stated words to the effect that "it's your responsibility to be there at the appointed time" end of!! So we decided that if they wouldn't budge then we would spend nearly $400 and a 5 hour return car journey from home and then fly her up to Chicago from St Louis so she would be there on time - which she was!! Plenty of time. Her interview time was 11:05 am - she was finally seen at 12:00 and approved by 12:20 and the ISO couldn't believe that she was told that she had to be there or else and that they could of accommodated her getting there a bit late. As can be seen she sat there for an hour after her appointed time before being called and could have easily got the train!!!

Still she was approved which was fantastic!! Then the ISO asked if she could go back on the following Tuesday 16th for her Oath ceremony, which she couldn't sadly and unfortunately, in hindsight, was a bad move. So the ISO told her the next ceremony in the area that covers Quincy, Illinois was in Springfield on the 9th November - my wife told her that would be fantastic as it is a two hour drive and that would be fine - and that her mother would be visiting over that period so she would go with her.

Well as that date was over 4 weeks away and the fact that the officer implied she would be on this ceremony was great. Well nothing was heard for two weeks so a call was placed to USCIS NCS - well they just told us exactly what we could see on the web site status - namely Testing and Interview - which we could see and they couldn't tell us anything more (didn't know about Tier 2 then). Another call was placed with a week to go but alas the same answer was received - useless! So a friend suggested calling the local Senators office to chase it - which she did and the immigration member of staff was fantastic and had an answer within 20 minutes of us sending the requested information. Unfortunately it was that she wasn't on the list for 9th November although they (USCIS) confirmed that the date was mentioned after the interview. But no reason was given as to why they could have got her on the ceremony four working days later but couldn't get her scheduled in 4 weeks!! Arrrghhhh!!!

So we went back to the Senators office and asked if it were possible to schedule a ceremony back in Chicago before Christmas (2 ceremonies a week held there) so her mother could attend and also because we had found out that there were no more Ceremonies scheduled in the Central Illinois area until 02/15/2013. The Senator's office duly submitted an enquiry to that effect. This enquiry was finally answered via E-mail to the Senator by the Field Office Director in Chicago (we have the text from the e-mail) an extract from what the Director wrote is below:

"The Citizenship Unit has responded that applicants must naturalize in the court having jurisdiction over their place of residence. Your constituent has been approved and is currently in queue to be scheduled for an oath ceremony."

Well two things come out of this:

1. If the statement is true then how come she was offered a place outside of the court having jurisdiction over her place of residence – e.g. she was asked if she wanted to go back to Chicago!!

2. This reply was received on 11/27/2012 – 12 days after the status was updated to the famous: On November 15, 2012, we placed your application in the oath scheduling que. Was that a result of the Senators Enquiry or just luck?? Who knows!!

So where are we now I hear you ask? – well over two months later we are still waiting for a date - arrrggghhhhh!! Now cynics amongst us, me included, will probably say they are know the next ceremony is 02/15/2013 so they don't need to do anything until a couple of weeks before!! Maybe that is true, but we all have lives that are dictated to by work and family life and the USCIS in some cases – so a bit more notice, given the time she has been in the queue, to organise the time off etc. would be helpful in the least. Not that we wouldn't drop everything to get her there on the day for the ceremony even if the letter comes through the day before.

We have contacted the "help" line again this week and the lady couldn't believe that nothing had happened in the two months since being placed in the que!! and promised to get it looked at – again no Tier Two contact was asked for as the operator seemed genuinely amazed at the time line. Still a working week on and still nothing heard so we intend to ring back on Monday and definitely ask for Tier Two assistance and at the same time write to the Senator again to see if they will place another enquiry into what is happening - AAARRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!

I apologise if this post is long winded but it is partly to ask what more can we do?? And partly to help others prepare for what should be a reasonably easy completion of the N400 process can be as frustrating as the early parts and the interview – which in hindsight was a breeze for my wife!!!! This, coupled with the fact that it appears that our next stage in the process, that of filing our I130 for me to join her, looks like being processed by the Chicago Office also – AAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I can't wait!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a nice weekend.

Chris & Silvia

[Darnell 8,478]

I claim you get different answers because different humans address your questions, each and every time.

Wouldn't it be great to start a fax-blast, instead?

[CB&RB 14]

Hi - just a quick update:

My wife called USCIS on Tuesday evening and asked to speak to tier two - which the operator did withiout to much stalling, she was on hold for over 90 mins with no answer at all. She had to then go to the vets to pick up our dog so had to hang up - ARRGGHHH!! So no further forward.

She will call back tomorrow morning, Thursday, as she is off all day and will call as soon as the lines open and hopefully, at last, get some kind of information regarding her Oath Ceremony.

CC

[mozplay 29]

You are doing everything you can. Keep at it and let us know how it turns out. Good luck.

[CB&RB 14]

You are doing everything you can. Keep at it and let us know how it turns out. Good luck.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Well we have some great news. After re-calling the USCIS line first thing (literally 7:59am) on Thursday morning my wife was put straight through to a Tier Two ISO (just 12 minutes on hold this time) and was asked "What was the nature of her enquiry?" She explained that we were worried that we hadn't heard anything for over two months and the ISO said straight away that her oath scheduling letter was sent out today!! WOW 12 minutes at work and they had processed her letter after 2 months of anxious waiting - chance, luck or the fact that they realised we had been waiting forever and "pressed the button" while she was on hold!! LOL!!!! Whatever the reason we are thrilled that it is sorted.

The ISO also confirmed that her certificate will be completed using her married name as we had advised them of our marriage recently - but she still needs to answer the questions on the form re name change and take our Marriage Certificate along with her to prove her name change.

To top it off she received the letter yesterday morning in the mail as we skyped which was the icing on the cake. Her ceremony will be in Springfield, Illinois on 15th February 2013. If any one else from the forum is scheduled on the same day please let us know.

So all is good in the Cowell household!! And thanks for all the helpful advice on this forum.

Best Wishes,

Chris & Silvia

Edited January 27, 2013 by CB&RB

[NickD 203]

Wife's friend had the same problem living only about 40 miles away from the St. Louis office but assigned to the Chicago office. Also had to take the train with limited schedules, spend the night in those way overpriced Chicago hotels. She couldn't get any help from Obama, he and his entire staff was out campaigning someplace.

I also tend to question these oath ceremonies, at your interview, said your oath aloud and signed it. You don't even sign your certificate at the oath ceremony and the oath and Pledge of Allegiance is strictly a lip sync service. Watching those patriotic videos seem contradictory to all the misery the USCIS put you through to get there. Then waving a free made in China 4" flag on a popsicle stick is not much reward.

They have the kids stand up that automatically became US citizens and have everyone applaud, but don't tell the parent, their in for another 600 bucks, a bunch more of forms and evidence to supply, and a six to twelve month wait to get proof of that citizenship.

For everyone else there, except your loved one, really don't give a good darn if you gained your citizenship or not. As far as they are concerned, you are just another person making that line longer. Your loved one is overjoyed, because is finally free of that I-864 enforced burden and for the beginning of all this finally feels secure he/she can keep their loved one. But he, me in my case is wondering about that 225 mile drive back home with winter storms foretasted.

All to get a piece of low grade paper with the directors name stamped on it. Instead of that, why can't they just give you a US passport? Maybe because that is a different government agency, have to send that certificate off and wonder if you will ever see it again, plus more forms to fill out, more evidence, and more money to spend. You also realize you can't travel anymore until you get it. If you do pass your interview, why can't they give you your certificate, only takes seconds to print it out. Already went through that third degree for the AOS, ROC, and citizenship procedures. And all with the same evidence, no wonder why your file is over 3" thick! Then that file is also misplaced causing more delays.

But this is the way they do it.

[CB&RB 14]

Hi everyone - well today is the day.

My Wife is sitting in her chair awaiting the start of the ceremony - it has been a long wait but after today it will all be forgotten. Apart from the fact that although we were assured that her certificate will be in her new name - she got there and it was in her old name. So after initial shock and panic they told her she needs to return the certificate after the ceremony and they will replace it and forward it to her in the post!!

So all is well so far - I'll post again when she has done the deed!!! Whoo Hoo!!

Best Wishes,

Chris & Silvia

[CB&RB 14]

Whoo hoo - it's all done! My Wife is a Citizen!!! Well worth the wait and hassle.

The staff at the ceremony have said she will get her replacement certificate in her married name via Fed-Ex by Thursday so all is good.

We can know move onto the main event which is to submit our I-130 package so we can finally be together.

Best wishes to all going through this journey and hang in there through the tough times and celebrate the good times.

Best Wishes,

Chris & Silvia.