Stationed abroad, had fingerprints done at Embassy, USCIS suspends N400 application for $85 biometrics fee

[wang 0]

Just received our second issue related to N400 for my wife. We live overseas in a country where there is no military base and are filing for naturalization 319(b) expedited citizenship. USCIS rejected the package last month because they did not read the coverletter and thought we were filing FOR naturalization overseas (instead of filing for naturalization FROM overseas to be naturalized back in the States). We redid the package and resent. On 2 Aug, we received a letter stating that we had to send $85 for the biometrics fee and that the application would be suspended until they received the fee. However, according to their website (and everyone else on every other immigration website), the biometric fee is not needed if stationed overseas and if the fingerprinting is done on a base or Embassy/consulate. We did the fingerprints at the Embassy here and sent them, the rest of the package, and a coversheet that explained that we did not include the biometrics fee because the fingerprinting was done overseas and were included. I will call the military help line tomorrow when it opens but a few questions:

1) Could this notification simply be another one of USCIS's glitches and everything will be fine? Has this happened to anyone else?

2) The fingerprinting is dated Jan 2013 and USCIS sent me the letter 2 August. Are the fingerprints still valid?

3) I just looked at a picture I took of the fingerprint cards and I don't see any Embassy emblems or seals on the cards. Could this be an issue?

4) Will USCIS allow us to resubmit the fingerprint cards so that my spouse doesn't have to pay the $85 fee, wait for the appointment notification, and fly all the way back to the States for simply a fingerprinting appointment?

5) We will be traveling to the States in September for a week. Is it possible to try and do a walk in at the USCIS fingerprinting office?

I am active duty military.

I know that no one can answer for USCIS or what they will/won't accept but any help that can be provided would be appreciated.

Wang

[marko_wk 0]

Hi Wang,

pretty much in the same situation now, contacted the USCIS and the lockbox, they elevated the issue, apparently the reply should come within 30 days, so no update so far.

Was wondering if the issue got resolved in your case and if yes - how did they choose to deal with it?

Did you have to pay the fee? did it automatically placed your wife for biometrics in the States then (which obviously makes no sense in this scenario)?

How long did it take or is it still (since August?) pending?

Thanks!

[jesarmie 2]

Hello wang & marko_wk, any updates to either of your situations? Our N400 application under 319b just got accepted & pulling up the case status on USCIS website says the same thing: "suspended processing because finger print fee submitted was incorrect." What did you guys do to have USCIS continue processing your application? We did our fingerprints at a military base overseas.

Thanks!

[JamalNTam 1]

Same thing happened to me. I just sent in the $85 fee and they have un-suspended my application now.

[AJtexas 0]

Same thing happened to me. I just sent in the $85 fee and they have un-suspended my application now.

Let us know of any updates you received since you paid the $85 fee (un-suspended), because the same thing happened to me. I live overseas and they are asking for a $85 fee, so I sent it. Or is there any updates from others on this page?

[snaildo 0]

Hi guys,

I am in the same situation now. I applied under 318b from overseas and included the finger print cards in the package but my application was suspended for sending the wrong fee. I called the customer service number and then they said they would email the processing officer or someone to let them know that i dont need to pay the finger print fee. But they also they wouldnt know that would be accepted or not.

This is so frustrating! So how did you guys proceed on this? I am thinking about just sending the $85 for finger print fee but i am afraid that then they will send me a notice to get my finger printed in the US!

AJtexas, did you hear from them and your application goes ahead?

Thank you!

[JamalNTam 1]

I received an interview date - for next week! They sent my letter through APO so it took nearly 2 weeks to get to me. It states on the letter that I have 7 days from when it was sent to confirm my interview. Obviously I couldn't do that. So I sent an email - says it will take over 5 working days to respond. Great. On top of it all, I won't be in Germany on the day they have scheduled the interview. I tried calling but no one ever picks up the phone! Not sure what to do at this point.

[snaildo 0]

I received an interview date - for next week! They sent my letter through APO so it took nearly 2 weeks to get to me. It states on the letter that I have 7 days from when it was sent to confirm my interview. Obviously I couldn't do that. So I sent an email - says it will take over 5 working days to respond. Great. On top of it all, I won't be in Germany on the day they have scheduled the interview. I tried calling but no one ever picks up the phone! Not sure what to do at this point.

So they dont ask you to do the fingerprint again? That is what i am worried about. I sent the $85 fee and my case is unsuspended but i am afraid that they would ask me to do fingerprinted in the US while i am living overseas right now. By the way, the interview is so close! I really hope that i can do it around December! It is hard to arrange all the travel at such a short notice. Thank you for the update!

[JamalNTam 1]

So they dont ask you to do the fingerprint again? That is what i am worried about. I sent the $85 fee and my case is unsuspended but i am afraid that they would ask me to do fingerprinted in the US while i am living overseas right now. By the way, the interview is so close! I really hope that i can do it around December! It is hard to arrange all the travel at such a short notice. Thank you for the update!

No they didn't ask me to do the fingerprints again. They are using the ones that I provided

They tend to schedule interviews pretty quickly here in Germany. The did send the letter to me on the 6th October but because of the military postal system, it took 2 weeks to arrive.

[A&M-Forever 0]

So, I am about to file the N-400 application for my wife. I am Active Duty Military, stationed in Korea (Seoul) and will be requesting overseas naturalization for my wife.

Fingerprint cards and the check...that is all I have left to complete before sending in the package. My current plan is to:

1. Get fingerprint cards

2. Write out check for $680 (which includes the Biometrics fee)

3. Mail everything to Nebraska

Is this my best move?

[snaildo 0]

No they didn't ask me to do the fingerprints again. They are using the ones that I provided

They tend to schedule interviews pretty quickly here in Germany. The did send the letter to me on the 6th October but because of the military postal system, it took 2 weeks to arrive.

Thanks for your reply and good luck with the interview!

I just received a notice from USCIS today saying that they will send me a notice about the appointment for finger prints. Sigh. The 2 finger print cards were already included in my application package. I am going to call them today to ask about this, hopefully I will get an answer.

@Wang, can you please update about your case because my case is similar to your. I chose to be interviewed in Fairfax offfice. Thank you!

[wirkstoph 0]

Thanks for your reply and good luck with the interview!

I just received a notice from USCIS today saying that they will send me a notice about the appointment for finger prints. Sigh. The 2 finger print cards were already included in my application package. I am going to call them today to ask about this, hopefully I will get an answer.

@Wang, can you please update about your case because my case is similar to your. I chose to be interviewed in Fairfax offfice. Thank you!

Hello snaildo,

I know it's been a while wince your last post but I was wondering what happened to your fingerprint appointment. I filed N-400 under 319b section. Today I received a letter saying that my application was suspended due to the wrong fee and I need to mail $85 for biometric fee. I did, however, mail 2 FD-258 along with my application. I called USCIS and one of their immigration officers advised me to send a copy of the letter I received and another letter explaining that I have already mailed everything they need. But I feel like it is not going to be enough and will only delay my application.

Thank you!

[snaildo 0]

Hello snaildo,

I know it's been a while wince your last post but I was wondering what happened to your fingerprint appointment. I filed N-400 under 319b section. Today I received a letter saying that my application was suspended due to the wrong fee and I need to mail $85 for biometric fee. I did, however, mail 2 FD-258 along with my application. I called USCIS and one of their immigration officers advised me to send a copy of the letter I received and another letter explaining that I have already mailed everything they need. But I feel like it is not going to be enough and will only delay my application.

Thank you!

Hi there!

That was exactly what happened to me. I made some phone calls but the answer was so vague. So I just went ahead and sent the biometric fee and my application got through! Soon after that it was forwarded to the field office and i got interview date. I passed the test, took the oath the same day and got the passport the next day in DC.

Good luck with your application!

[wirkstoph 0]

Hi there!

That was exactly what happened to me. I made some phone calls but the answer was so vague. So I just went ahead and sent the biometric fee and my application got through! Soon after that it was forwarded to the field office and i got interview date. I passed the test, took the oath the same day and got the passport the next day in DC.

Good luck with your application!

Hi,

Thank you so much for replying! After sending them the check they did not try to make fingerprinting appointment for you at one of their state side offices?

I mailed my application to Phoenix office and in my cover letter I specifically requested DC field office. At this point I can only hope that someone does read the cover letter and honor my request. Do you remember how long it took to get an interview appointment after you sent the check?

Thank you again!

[snaildo 0]

Hi,

Thank you so much for replying! After sending them the check they did not try to make fingerprinting appointment for you at one of their state side offices?

I mailed my application to Phoenix office and in my cover letter I specifically requested DC field office. At this point I can only hope that someone does read the cover letter and honor my request. Do you remember how long it took to get an interview appointment after you sent the check?

Thank you again!

Hi!

They didnt make you take the fingerprint but you wont get the $85 back either. It took me about 3 weeks to hear that the fingerprint fee check was crashed and then about 4 weeks to get the interview appointment. But they are flexible with the appointment date though. You can select from the date they give you or even ask for later date, which was in my case, for your travel plan.