Reasons to reschedule interview

[galephys 12]

So.. I applied for my I751 waiver more than a year ago, got an RFE, responded in July and nothing, nada. Called USCIS in September, filed a service request and never heard back. Called in October, never heard back. Called at the end of October and then finally got the first letter regarding my call on October 7, but dated October 21 - the date of my lats call... Which makes me wonder if they ever did anything about my case in the first place.

I was also told they mailed me a letter in September saying that I should call them on November 12, today. I never got that letter, but I called. Again, I have to wait another 30 days and I should ideally hear something back. That falls on December 22. The officer told me they give at least 3 weeks notice for interviews.

Now here is the problem: I will be out of the country December 19 - January 6, almost 3 weeks. I can arrange for someone to check my mail and let me know if I got an interview notice in the mail, but that's about it. I'm only going for vacation, not military related and not family emergency. But I have everything booked, paid and non-refundable. I planned it 6 months ago when I had no idea this will happen. I really don't want to change all my plans because some ####### took more than a year to deal with my case and lost my paperwork to begin with!

I know I can reschedule by calling the number on my interview notice... but what are the good reasons? Can they say "screw your vacation, it's not a valid reason"?

I'm ok waiting another month for an interview, my status is good till September, and my local office is not that busy anyway.

[victorian221b 12]

Sorry to hear you had to go through this! It's very difficult to understand how things go on behind the scenes in USCIS.

Have you considered getting an Infopass appointment? Better to talk to a real person than get the run-around on the phone.

Good luck!

[victorian221b 12]

I just looked up my local field office about setting up Infopass appts and it appears you must be instructed to do so to actually do it? I don't know, but maybe it's worth a shot without the instructions.

Good luck!

[galephys 12]

InfoPass is nothing special. You make that appointment whenever you feel like it, I did a couple of times. For example, I got them to stamp my passport with another extension when my old letter was about to expire. I found a USCIS document which said that interviews can be rescheduled for a good cause, including previously arranged travel. However, it also said "for reasons beyond applicant's control". Still not clear an all that, but at least it mentioned travel.

Thank you.

[dog8005 0]

We just went through this. We filed our i751 in Dec 2012 and got an RFE in June. We have a nonrefundable trip to the Philippines planned this month and just got a notice that we will be required to come for an interview right in the middle of our trip. We tried to get an infopass but it said that none were available for our local office. We went to the office with the letter and copies of our trip itinerary but were refused entry. The guard said nothing can be done but to write a request for rescheduling with copies of the tickets.

I sent it last week certified mail. Hopefully we wont have a problem as my wife left a few days ago and I will join her in a few weeks. If they refuse to reschedule we wont find out until after we return and it is too late.

[victorian221b 12]

Ah...I see. Well hopefully you get it sorted! Sorry couldn't be much help here!

InfoPass is nothing special. You make that appointment whenever you feel like it, I did a couple of times. For example, I got them to stamp my passport with another extension when my old letter was about to expire. I found a USCIS document which said that interviews can be rescheduled for a good cause, including previously arranged travel. However, it also said "for reasons beyond applicant's control". Still not clear an all that, but at least it mentioned travel.

Thank you.

It's amazing how they handle these things...it's impossible they expect us to live our lives around them. I wish you the best of luck!

We just went through this. We filed our i751 in Dec 2012 and got an RFE in June. We have a nonrefundable trip to the Philippines planned this month and just got a notice that we will be required to come for an interview right in the middle of our trip. We tried to get an infopass but it said that none were available for our local office. We went to the office with the letter and copies of our trip itinerary but were refused entry. The guard said nothing can be done but to write a request for rescheduling with copies of the tickets.

I sent it last week certified mail. Hopefully we wont have a problem as my wife left a few days ago and I will join her in a few weeks. If they refuse to reschedule we wont find out until after we return and it is too late.

[galephys 12]

Got the interview notice today. Exactly a week from my flight.

Now I gotta ask (in a new topic, too) what happens during these interviews and will I be ok to fly...

[chanbreceda 0]

dog8005 what happened? We are now in the same boat, as galephys 

 

my husband is from mexico, awaiting interview appt. for I-751 and i just peeked tickets to spain and morocco leaving april 9 2018, i called uscis today to check on the status of his application and they told me that it could be about another 8 months. We leave 8 months from today! so of course if the letter comes before we leave and his appointment is during our trip, i will want to re-schedule, but is long awaited vacation a good enough reason to re-schedule? we filed I-751 7 months ago, thinking that it would take no more than a year. lawyer says times are currening very unpredictable. if i knew we could re-schedule i would be able to relax...