N-400 February 2016 Filers

[Nolaist 2]

Passport arrived today we're feeling official

[akihon 129]

Passport arrived today we're feeling official

ooh I hope mine comes fast!

[Iwo_Jima 119]

MonkeyGirl,

There is handful of us stuck post-biometrics for the past 60-90 days (I'm 83 since biometrics with no updates and 100+ Days since last update, I.e. Case received). I too would just like to know if this is some background check rabbit hole or just a failure to update in the system that the case moved to "in-line". In the latter case, yeah, they would still be within "normal" timeframe for most CA offices.

Speaking of which, most of us in this situation DO seem to be Californians, but I have to wonder what THAT has to do with the background check, as I understand the case only moves to the local office AFTER being updated as "in-line".

AB

Last comment I said I had been waiting for any updates for almost 2 months since my biometric appointment. And today it's been 62 days since my biometrics. So I just gave USCIS a call.

I told him my case status "HAS NEVER BEEN UPDATED" since they first got my application. It's been stuck at "Case was received.".

And he didn't give me any answers on why my case has never been updated. He kept saying it's because there was nothing to update!!!

I even explained the exact same thing happened to me last year when I filed my i-751, no updates at all since "Case was Received" and I called that time and the person who was helping me got me a tier 2 officer without me asking at all.

He still kept saying it's normal for me to not hear anything back and I should wait longer.

So after hearing that I knew he was not going to help me and I asked him for a tier 2 officer. He told me he couldn't and also told me to try and call back later.

So frustrated right now.

I would like to ask you guys if your case has been updated online, after "Case was received" what the status should be next? Is there any update for your fingerprint appointment and after that?

Is it normal for the case status to be stuck at Case was received on the date they received my case for 3 months?

I filed my application on Feb 29 and my online status has been stuck at "Case was received" on Mar 4. I turned on email and sms notification but never got anything but they cashed my check out!

My field office is San Bernardino!

I live in CA (local office is San Jose).

I guess you guys stuck at background check.

My last FBI run background check was in 2014 (when I applied for CA State License) may be that's why my N400 background check went smoothly (just 3 days).

[KASH2011 382]

Passport arrived today we're feeling official

Congrats!

[ryna 132]

Interview day!!

I'll have her report back later.

Edited June 2, 2016 by ryna

[Nolaist 2]

Interview day!!

I'll have her report back later.

Good luck

And thanks everyone for all the congratulations

[danoll4 0]

Thanks so much!

Good luck on the interview!

Dano, progress table will be updated when you receive your letter

[Tim & Cai 15]

Parents are immediate. So no wait other than the normal CR1.

I corrected him

Went for interview today.

t i passed the test and gave me a letter saying

"congratulation we recommended your Naturalization application to be approved. you will get a letter in few weeks for where to go for oath ceremony"

Good luck to all of you still waiting for interview!!

Congrats!!!!

[Tim & Cai 15]

It is almost a 25 year wait for a Filipino sibling. Current date for an F4 (sibling visa) from the Philippines is 01DEC92. That's over 24 years!

My wife was the only Filipino there. He was speaking to a group of people from all over. I think he was trying to discourage the whole group from filing.

[ryna 132]

My wife passed but I think she got hosed on the Oath Ceremony.

They told her she needs to have a judicial ceremony because she wants to use the same name as she has on her Green Card, SS Card and her driver's license? They told her that her legal name is still the name shown on her Colombian Birth Certificate. I thought the name change was official at the time of AOS solely based on our marriage without having to have it changed by the Court? All of her legal documents - GC, SS Card, DL are in her married name!!!

Can she say forget about the name change now and she'll do it later, after the Oath? I don't understand why the Court is necessary if the name change is based on marriage. I've asked everyone I know who took their husband's last name after marriage if they had to go to the Court but none have had to, they only had to update their IDs, SS Card, etc. -- but all of my friends are US Citizens.

I have a bad feeling this is going to take a while.

Anyhow, more detailed update later

[ryna 132]

My wife passed but I think she got hosed on the Oath Ceremony.

They told her she needs to have a judicial ceremony because she wants to use the same name as she has on her Green Card, SS Card and her driver's license? They told her that her legal name is still the name shown on her Colombian Birth Certificate. I thought the name change was official at the time of AOS solely based on our marriage without having to have it changed by the Court? All of her legal documents - GC, SS Card, DL are in her married name!!!

Can she say forget about the name change now and she'll do it later, after the Oath? I don't understand why the Court is necessary if the name change is based on marriage. I've asked everyone I know who took their husband's last name after marriage if they had to go to the Court but none have had to, they only had to update their IDs, SS Card, etc. -- but all of my friends are US Citizens.

I have a bad feeling this is going to take a while.

Anyhow, more detailed update later

We were told it would be 2-3 weeks after the interview (administrative ceremony) but I just read that Orlando only does judicial ceremonies every 2 months! Do you think she can change her mind and go ahead and have the Naturalization Certificate issued in her maiden name and then use it with our marriage certificate for other purposes (as anyone else would use a birth certificate)? All of her IDs are already in her married name so there'd really be nothing to do. USCIS should make clear that when they say name change that they are NOT talking about changing the name from the GC!!

[akihon 129]

I'm really not sure why they say she needs a name change. At my interview, the IO asked if I wanted to change my name and I said no, I will maintain my married name as it is on all my legal and other documents that I submitted. The only thing he did was correct my middle name because he noticed how I wrote it when I signed my N400 and that is the name printed on my naturalization certificate. I think your wife needs to make a call.

An issue you may run into is when she applies for her passport. I'm sure you are aware that the original naturalization certificate must be sent with the application. If she wants her married name on the passport, I'm not sure they would allow it if the certificate has her maiden name on it.

Edited June 2, 2016 by akihon

[Caryh 5,206]

My wife passed but I think she got hosed on the Oath Ceremony.

They told her she needs to have a judicial ceremony because she wants to use the same name as she has on her Green Card, SS Card and her driver's license? They told her that her legal name is still the name shown on her Colombian Birth Certificate. I thought the name change was official at the time of AOS solely based on our marriage without having to have it changed by the Court? All of her legal documents - GC, SS Card, DL are in her married name!!!

Can she say forget about the name change now and she'll do it later, after the Oath? I don't understand why the Court is necessary if the name change is based on marriage. I've asked everyone I know who took their husband's last name after marriage if they had to go to the Court but none have had to, they only had to update their IDs, SS Card, etc. -- but all of my friends are US Citizens.

I have a bad feeling this is going to take a while.

Anyhow, more detailed update later

Her name change after marriage should be controlled by what ever the laws are in Florida, where I'm assuming you got married. I think someone doesn't know what they're doing down there.

[ryna 132]

It may be worse! Since she changed her name at AOS, everything has been First Name - Maiden Last Name (as Middle Name) - Married Last Name. She just told me that he had her sign a request to change her name to First Name - Birth Certificate Middle Name - Married Last Name which is NOT what she wants! She wants to keep it as it is on her GC, DL and SS Card. I think she was confused by the whole 'name change' issue since she thought it was already a done deal. Based on her telling me that, a judge is going to issue a Naturalization Certificate in a name she doesn't want to use and all of her current IDs will no longer be correct!

Who should she call to put a top to this? Will the USCIS Field Office do anything at this point?

[akihon 129]

It may be worse! Since she changed her name at AOS, everything has been First Name - Maiden Last Name (as Middle Name) - Married Last Name. She just told me that he had her sign a request to change her name to First Name - Birth Certificate Middle Name - Married Last Name which is NOT what she wants! She wants to keep it as it is on her GC, DL and SS Card. I think she was confused by the whole 'name change' issue since she thought it was already a done deal. Based on her telling me that, a judge is going to issue a Naturalization Certificate in a name she doesn't want to use and all of her current IDs will no longer be correct!

Who should she call to put a top to this? Will the USCIS Field Office do anything at this point?

I don't know if it's the same at all Field Offices, but before my oath ceremony even began, the Supervisor IO made a few announcements to everyone taking the oath that day. One of them was "Please make sure that all information on your naturalization certificate is correct, because if we have made a mistake, you can ask for us to correct the mistake at no charge for today only. If you come back tomorrow, the change will cost $600".

Do you think FL would be able to do something like that for your wife?

Either way, I highly recommend you call the Field Office asap. It's a good place to start anyway.

EDIT: MAKE A COPY OF THAT PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD NOW.

Edited June 2, 2016 by akihon