N-400 Filers who got stuck or delayed in Background / Name Check.

[HK12 273]

4 hours ago, MnMJourney said:

For those of you waiting for so long - where there any issues with your previous apps, AOS, ROC, etc? And how did you realize that the BGC was the actual cause of the problem?

 

Thanks for any help!

Nope, no problems whatsoever with neither AOS nor ROC. In fact, I was one of the first ROC filers from my month's group back then who got the approval. From other users' experience, if your online status is "FP scheduled", it usually means that your BGC are not yet complete. Once you move to the "In line for interview" status, it normally means that your BGC are complete. I have been in the "FP scheduled" status for exactly 7 months today, so I am strongly assuming that it is my background checks that have not cleared yet. I have no red flags and did not even leave the country, so why I am stuck is a mystery. Another person here on VJ with the same local office as mine filed over a month after me and already had her interview. It's beyond frustrating. 

Edited August 9, 2017 by HK12

[MnMJourney 28]

2 hours ago, luv2teach77 said:

I don't know for sure that my delay is anything other than usual processing times.  The St. Louis field office is still reporting that it is working on applications received in September of 2016 and I didn't submit mine until December of 2016.  That being said, based on timelines posted on this site, I am aware of several people who are applying through the same field office who are already at or past the interview stage, yet they submitted their applications a number of months after me.  If applications are processed in order, how do some people get further into the process unless there is something slowing mine down ?

If your case hasn't been updated to "In-line for interview", then it hasn't left the central processing center. There, they do completeness and eligibility checks, along with the BGC. The status change marks your BGC has cleared and now will be sent off to the FO, and that's where the published processing times play a factor. And even with that, the published times are for adjudication of the application, not separate stages. It really irks me when you hear that from a rep. that you can't inquire about not moving if you're within normal processing times. So I can't inquire as to why I'm not in-line for interview, until the NYC FO publishes that an as of processing date beyond my PD. A couple things wrong with this at the least:- A) Local FO processing times are irrelevant since case hasn't been sent off to them yet, and B) there are a couple more steps after moving to in-line, interview, oath, etc. that take a few months on their own right, so why not factor that in when inquiring?

 

The FO will schedule your interview and and start the processing of your app, ask for RFEs etc. if needed. There are a lot more variables there that can slow down the process on a case-by-case basis, however the variance isn't more than + a few months - even the speed of the Officer assigned can make a difference. So its a lot harder to gauge the cause of the variances at that point. 

 

Regardless, I think USCIS should improve transparency so people would know exactly where their problems lie, and if there is anything they can do to move things along. 

[MnMJourney 28]

28 minutes ago, HK12 said:

Nope, no problems whatsoever with neither AOS nor ROC. In fact, I was one of the first ROC filers from my month's group back then who got the approval. From other users' experience, if your online status is "FP scheduled", it usually means that your BGC are not yet complete. Once you move to the "In line for interview" status, it normally means that your BGC are complete. I have been in the "FP scheduled" status for exactly 7 months today, so I am strongly assuming that it is my background checks that have not cleared yet. I have no red flags and did not even leave the country, so why I am stuck is a mystery. Another person here on VJ with the same local office as mine filed over a month after me and already had her interview. It's beyond frustrating. 

That's exactly what I was afraid of! And sorry to hear about your situation.

 

It just makes no sense why randomly, on this last leg, you'd have such an issue with a BGC. If there was a real issue - it likely would have been caught in preceding apps, unless there was some drastic change in the year or so between ROC. I'm yet to hear that N400 BGCs are more thorough than other BGCs - and if they are that's a bad thing! I think we should have a strong vetting and BGC process for all applicants, regardless of GC or citizenship.

 

Anyway - I'm sorry, I have nothing to offer to help your situation. I agree its beyond frustrating. Simply venting here with you all!

 

Cheers!

 

[luv2teach77 41]

19 hours ago, MnMJourney said:

That's exactly what I was afraid of! And sorry to hear about your situation.

 

It just makes no sense why randomly, on this last leg, you'd have such an issue with a BGC. If there was a real issue - it likely would have been caught in preceding apps, unless there was some drastic change in the year or so between ROC. I'm yet to hear that N400 BGCs are more thorough than other BGCs - and if they are that's a bad thing! I think we should have a strong vetting and BGC process for all applicants, regardless of GC or citizenship.

 

Anyway - I'm sorry, I have nothing to offer to help your situation. I agree its beyond frustrating. Simply venting here with you all!

 

Cheers!

 

My situation is much like HK12's in that I've had no issues during any of my other immigration related processes (with the exception of it taking a ridiculous amount of time to get my employment authorization as part of my initial AOS from a K-1).  I have traveled outside the country a handful of times over the last 5 years but never to anywhere or for any length of time that would raise any suspicions.  The old adage that a watched pot never boils is normally true but it's harder and harder to just wait it out when others are passing me who applied months (or in some cases multiple months) after me !! 

[MnMJourney 28]

25 minutes ago, luv2teach77 said:

My situation is much like HK12's in that I've had no issues during any of my other immigration related processes (with the exception of it taking a ridiculous amount of time to get my employment authorization as part of my initial AOS from a K-1).  I have traveled outside the country a handful of times over the last 5 years but never to anywhere or for any length of time that would raise any suspicions.  The old adage that a watched pot never boils is normally true but it's harder and harder to just wait it out when others are passing me who applied months (or in some cases multiple months) after me !! 

Yea, just mind boggling to me how random all this can be!!! USCIS should really strive for more transparency and consistency.

 

Here's hoping for a quick processing for all.

 

Cheers!

 

[Citizen-Q50 0]

Filed in May,2017. FP was done in early June,  Status is FP scheduled. My  wife did FP with me and got cleared in two weeks. Her status is in line for interview. 

I have a Global security clearance, meaning I can travel easily.  To get approved for it, I had to go through all sorts of bio and background checks.  Assuming they have all the information already in the system, why it is taking long for them to clear my case?

Another point which some members mentioned here is travelling internationally. It shouldn't be an issue as long as the travel is short. 

After filing I have travelled to Canada ( less than a week) for business meetings and will be going there again.

 

File: NBC*   (5/2017)

Bio done: Elizabeth, NJ  (6/2017)

FO: Newark,NJ

Edited August 10, 2017 by Citizen-Q50

[Happytobe 164]

My husband's ROC was delayed due to background checks, and even though there were only 4 months between ROC approval and the N-400 application, he's stuck in them again. There are people at our local office here on VJ that filed a couple months after and have had interviews already. We only had one trip overseas since he arrived and that was last year during ROC. We really can't wait to be finished. Hurry up and wait 😭😢

[ruby_7 45]

On 8/9/2017 at 1:41 PM, luv2teach77 said:

I don't know for sure that my delay is anything other than usual processing times.  The St. Louis field office is still reporting that it is working on applications received in September of 2016 and I didn't submit mine until December of 2016.  That being said, based on timelines posted on this site, I am aware of several people who are applying through the same field office who are already at or past the interview stage, yet they submitted their applications a number of months after me.  If applications are processed in order, how do some people get further into the process unless there is something slowing mine down ?

The same in my situation.  I know how this feels like, it's just a bunch of bullshit.  I complained about this issue & L2 cs rep just told me "every case is different" and I said "this is some kind of a joke, seriously the person that I knew who filed Feb. with the same local office assigned is already done 3 months after filing, while I'm still stuck for more than several months, not fair."  Further told me in phone & email "Per information they search on my file, it still in BGC processing & we are waiting that report from the FBI, not much we can do about it but wait for their report which is causing the delay. This is why your case is still pending in the office "  

Edited August 10, 2017 by ruby_7

[ruby_7 45]

Seriously, the basic issue here is the FBI BGC system processing. The advancement of technology should supposed to speed up the process but what happens is the reverse, holy cow !  Good Grief 

[5unny` 0]

Hi,
First of all I would like to congratulate to all those who acquired their us citizenship & wish good luck for those who are waiting like me.
I am a August 2016 filer from Georgia, more details below
PD: 08-15-16
FP: 09-01-16
No movement till now.
called IO, had SR & Infopass, even contacted local congressional rep, was informed that my app is still stuck in background check...
Any suggestions ??

BTW i'm from India, no involvement in any illegal issues

Thanks for viewing my post and any suggestion would be appreciated

[maninflorida 13]

21 hours ago, 5unny` said:

 

 

Hi,
First of all I would like to congratulate to all those who acquired their us citizenship & wish good luck for those who are waiting like me.
I am a August 2016 filer from Georgia, more details below
PD: 08-15-16
FP: 09-01-16
No movement till now.
called IO, had SR & Infopass, even contacted local congressional rep, was informed that my app is still stuck in background check...
Any suggestions ??

BTW i'm from India, no involvement in any illegal issues

Thanks for viewing my post and any suggestion would be appreciated

Two suggestions, one is costly, the other perhaps isn't but you'd be getting some unwanted attention on you:

1. Lawyer up - and have the lawyer threaten to sue.

2. Get your local newspaper or local news station involved and have them bring some bad publicity to your local office.

 

Other than that, just wait. 

[5unny` 0]

14 hours ago, maninflorida said:

Two suggestions, one is costly, the other perhaps isn't but you'd be getting some unwanted attention on you:

1. Lawyer up - and have the lawyer threaten to sue.

2. Get your local newspaper or local news station involved and have them bring some bad publicity to your local office.

 

Other than that, just wait. 

Thanks for your time, I think waiting is good

 

[Going through 5,671]

Joining this thread as there is lots of good information in it.

 

I'm a July 2017 filer (filed electronically)...you can see my timeline below in green if you're interested.

 

Just completed my fingerprinting so keeping on eye on things after that since my criminal background isn't 100% clean (USCIS is already aware of this since I filed my i-485 eons ago and provided documentation, and there seemed  no issues with it then---the original charge was in another country back in 1993.)

 

On my N400 application they are aware of this (once more) and have been provided with documentation regarding it (again).

 

Very curious to see how long my BG check will take with this in mind...It was my only transgression, not even a traffic violation in either country after that.

 

I assume that once someone has a charge (no matter how old it is, or in what country) this will greatly delay BG clearance automatically?

[Morningmist 76]

I haven't had any issue with any of my visas, F1, H1B or AOS or ROC and people who applied with me around the same time for N-400 have already had their interviews. I don't know whats going on. I call and ask and they say that it is within my processing time.

[Morningmist 76]

Should I just withdraw and apply again next year? Not sure if that will help?