After 11 months, case transferred to Newark Field Office - what to do about no timetable?

[Dpeter736 4]

So you were able to do both at the same time, no complications?

For those who are still waiting close to (even pass) 1-year mark, if you are qualified and wanted to become an US Citizen, go ahead and file N-400. But first make an Info Pass appointment first to extend your NOA-1 for another year so you are not out of status.

I have to do this route last year. Even after getting my local congressman involved I was able to get the N-400 approved with the ROC still pending.

And just for poop and giggles I checked my ROC status on USCIS' website, it still says "INITIAL REVIEW".

What a joke.

[Steve D. 22]

So you were able to do both at the same time, no complications?

Nope. None what-so-ever.

I did asked for a Service Request at the 9 months mark after I sent in my ROC. I did get a RFE which I responded to, and resulted in a relocation to local office notice.

Problem is after the SR responding letter & the 45 days waiting period from the local office, I still heard nothing. So I decided to do the one-two-three punch (I551, Congressman & N-400).

I got the N-400 NOA 1, fingerprint, interview & oath done in less than 60 days.

I have a feeling they lost my ROC files ...

Edited August 12, 2013 by Steve D.

[Dpeter736 4]

hmmm... I have an info pass appointment on thursday to get an extension. Is that the I-551 stamp. I already contacted a congressman, and I have the N-400 already to go.

[Steve D. 22]

hmmm... I have an info pass appointment on thursday to get an extension. Is that the I-551 stamp. I already contacted a congressman, and I have the N-400 already to go.

The i551 is to ensure you don't go out-of-status.

And for the rest? You are fine. File away and let USCIS sort it out internally.

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Update: we got the I-551 stamp on Karen's passport and a little information from the Newark office today. We found out that the case was transferred from the Vermont Service Center to the Newark Field Office on May 29, which was after we responded to the RFE (May 4) but before we did a service request by phone (July 15). The USCIS agent told us that we are already in the queue for an interview, and he estimated we will hear back from the USCIS in 30-60 days about when our interview will be scheduled. He also said that the USCIS is not delayed because of the sequester since they are a fee-based organization and said the Newark office has added more people so hopefully we will be interviewed quicker. So sadly after all that, we still probably have another 2-3 months.

I believe that after (or near, please check) the 1-year anniversary of your filing the ROC, you are eligible to file for citizenship - and they have to review your I-751 during the citizenship interview.

Thanks for the tip. I had read that elsewhere, and we've thought about it, but I'm not sure Karen is ready to apply for citizenship yet.

That's right. I've been waiting for an answer on a RFE replied more than 60 days ago and nothing yet. My extension expires on 11/12/13 and I'm sending my n-400 package this monday, hoping It'll help expedite the ROC process

Has your case been transferred to Newark too? Karen's extension was set to expire on Nov. 2 2013, but now it's extended until August 2014.

I had a similar issue with the Newark Field Office. When they make you wait all this time it is because they are gathering a case regarding if the marriage was entered in good faith. Be prepared to be drilled in interview but stand your ground if the marriage is entered in good faith.

Could you share how your interview experience was? Did you have a Stokes interview (where they interrogate each spouse separately)? Now you've got me a little nervous! Everything I've read was how easy the interview was and how we have nothing to worry about.

Thanks for posting this, I am in the exact same situation except I filed a month earlier. I just made info pass appointment to get an extension and hopefully find out some more information about my case. I also know my case is at the local field office. Just cant believe its taking this long. I know exactly how you feel. I also contacted my congressman who said they will try to help. Thats all I can recommend. My lawyer advised me not to file N-400 until I get the approval, but after reading of so many people filing while still waiting on approval makes me think I should just send it and maybe that would speed things up, but I dont know. Well I wish you the best.

Are you also at the Newark Field Office?

For those who are still waiting close to (even pass) 1-year mark, if you are qualified and wanted to become an US Citizen, go ahead and file N-400. But first make an Info Pass appointment first to extend your NOA-1 for another year so you are not out of status.

I have to do this route last year. Even after getting my local congressman involved I was able to get the N-400 approved with the ROC still pending.

And just for poop and giggles I checked my ROC status on USCIS' website, it still says "INITIAL REVIEW".

What a joke.

Thanks for the info!

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Also forgot to say that when we told an agent that our reason for visiting the Newark Field Office was because it's taken 1 year to remove conditions on permanent residence, he said that removal of conditions takes an average of 2 years. Since I'm familiar with everyone else's experiences here, I told him that most others are approved in only 3-6 months. I don't know if he meant that cases that get transferred to Newark normally take 2 years total or if he thought that the average in general was that long, but it really took me by surprise. Just the way he said it sort of shot me down. Now that I checked the AILA estimate from the VisaJourney link, I see that the I-751 at the Vermont Service Center takes about 6 months. What the hell was that Newark USCIS agent talking about?

Does anyone know a place where we can see processing times from the Newark Field Office? The link from VisaJourney (http://www.visajourney.com/content/times) only showed estimated times for I-485, N-400, and N-600. It also looks like VisaJourney doesn't have a graph for processing times for Removal of Conditions? The charts seem to stop after Adjustment of Status and Advanced Parole.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Karen_and_Jay

[Steve D. 22]

Also forgot to say that when we told an agent that our reason for visiting the Newark Field Office was because it's taken 1 year to remove conditions on permanent residence, he said that removal of conditions takes an average of 2 years. Since I'm familiar with everyone else's experiences here, I told him that most others are approved in only 3-6 months. I don't know if he meant that cases that get transferred to Newark normally take 2 years total or if he thought that the average in general was that long, but it really took me by surprise. Just the way he said it sort of shot me down. Now that I checked the AILA estimate from the VisaJourney link, I see that the I-751 at the Vermont Service Center takes about 6 months. What the hell was that Newark USCIS agent talking about?

Does anyone know a place where we can see processing times from the Newark Field Office? The link from VisaJourney (http://www.visajourney.com/content/times) only showed estimated times for I-485, N-400, and N-600. It also looks like VisaJourney doesn't have a graph for processing times for Removal of Conditions? The charts seem to stop after Adjustment of Status and Advanced Parole.

Timeline I think you are better off relying on the members report here in the forum.

Just FYI those quick approvals don't get transferred into a local office... they have their reasons to transfer a ROC to a local office, thus the average "2 years" period mentioned.

[Dpeter736 4]

Are you also at the Newark Field Office?

No mine was sent to my local field office which is Oakland Park, FL

[pinkytoes 0]

Has your case been transferred to Newark too? Karen's extension was set to expire on Nov. 2 2013, but now it's extended until August 2014.

!

They just told me they haven't received my RFE response, my lawyer says that sometimes they misplace packages in a mail room and it takes forever... I just sent my n-400 so whichever comes first is fine

[Navyk 78]

For those who are still waiting close to (even pass) 1-year mark, if you are qualified and wanted to become an US Citizen, go ahead and file N-400. But first make an Info Pass appointment first to extend your NOA-1 for another year so you are not out of status.

I have to do this route last year. Even after getting my local congressman involved I was able to get the N-400 approved with the ROC still pending.

And just for poop and giggles I checked my ROC status on USCIS' website, it still says "INITIAL REVIEW".

What a joke.

Guys, don't forget to try e-request at USCIS.GOV after normal official processing period - currently 6 months.

Link - https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do;jsessionid=abcX66giOtDVW-fRCKccu

[Dpeter736 4]

Just got back from my info pass appointment. I Got the I-551 stamp, but no other information about my case except its being schuduled for an interview. She advised me not to file for naturalization. lol

[Dark2013 26]

Hi everyone,

I am completely lost and confused. I filed joint I-751 on April 15th, 2012 (Vermont Center). On december 19th, 2012, I received a RFE and submitted the addotional document on March 1st, 2013. By May 2013, I realized that I did not get any feedback and contacted them (05/06/13), they replied to me 2 days letter to inform that my case was transfer to the local Office ( Dallas, TX) and that I have been RANDOMLY selected for an interview which just confused me as I received a RFE. Then on May 27th, I went to USCIS to stamp my passport and asked if they have any udate and all he could told me was that my file was there, awaiting for an interview date. I contacted them in July and all they could say was that my case was in suspence until a date for interview is available. I don't know what to do anymore, I wnat to apply for citizenship, but my attorney told me not too. How lond would it take them to schedule me? Is it a random selection? Am really confused....

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Hi everyone,

I am completely lost and confused. I filed joint I-751 on April 15th, 2012 (Vermont Center). On december 19th, 2012, I received a RFE and submitted the addotional document on March 1st, 2013. By May 2013, I realized that I did not get any feedback and contacted them (05/06/13), they replied to me 2 days letter to inform that my case was transfer to the local Office ( Dallas, TX) and that I have been RANDOMLY selected for an interview which just confused me as I received a RFE. Then on May 27th, I went to USCIS to stamp my passport and asked if they have any udate and all he could told me was that my file was there, awaiting for an interview date. I contacted them in July and all they could say was that my case was in suspence until a date for interview is available. I don't know what to do anymore, I wnat to apply for citizenship, but my attorney told me not too. How lond would it take them to schedule me? Is it a random selection? Am really confused....

Sorry to hear your story. I can't offer specific advice about your particular problem, as I'm sort of going through the same thing at the moment (although not as delayed as you), but I did find a minor resource to show statistics from individual field offices. It was sort of hidden on the USCIS web site, so here it is:

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/

It looks like the number of pending cases at the Dallas Field Office has been steadily increasing from 343 in Nov. 2012 to 590 in Jun. 2013, with only ~20 cases being completed every month. It looks like there is a major slowdown there for some unknown reason. At that rate, if your case was transferred to Dallas in early March, you'd be number 500 in line and they wouldn't get to your case until ~20 months from March or ~15 months from now (the rate increased slightly to ~25 cases/month from Mar. to Jun. 2013)! If you're tired of waiting, maybe you should try something else.

In contrast, although my wife and I are about number 600 in line at the Newark Field Office, the average rate of completions has sped up greatly (~125/month) over the last two months listed on the chart (May-June), up from ~100/month over the previous 5 months of 2013. At that rate, it'd take ~5 months from May 29, so we probably still have to wait another 2 months or so.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Karen_and_Jay

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Guys, don't forget to try e-request at USCIS.GOV after normal official processing period - currently 6 months.

Link - https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do;jsessionid=abcX66giOtDVW-fRCKccu

Thanks for the info! Since we'd last filed a service request more than 30 days ago (July 15, 2013), I tried an e-request just today. However, there is some sort of error with the system. I copied and pasted the I-751 Receipt Number directly from our USCIS "track case status" account, but we got this error message:

The following error(s) need to be corrected:

• You must select the Form Number associated to your Receipt Number. The Form Number you selected does not match our records for that Receipt Number.

The form is pretty simple -- just receipt number, form type, date filed, and mailing zip code -- so what gives? Any suggestions for what to do next? When we got USCIS to put an I-551 stamp on my wife's foreign passport, they took her I-797 NOA1 form and unfortunately we hadn't made a copy of it, but shouldn't the receipt number on the USCIS case status page (and the matching receipt number also on the RFE I-797 form) be correct?

Just got back from my info pass appointment. I Got the I-551 stamp, but no other information about my case except its being schuduled for an interview. She advised me not to file for naturalization. lol

In the same boat. Look at my post above (link here: http://dashboard.uscis.gov) to check the stats for your Field Office.

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Update: we received a letter from USCIS telling us that we are scheduled for an interview in Newark, NJ on Tuesday, October 8. Looks like my estimate based on the Newark Field Office's stats on http://dashboard.uscis.gov/ was correct!

October can't come quick enough! We just want this whole process to be over!