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

[Shumai 6]

The OP is right about the one-year wait!

Just the day before the 1 year anniversary of the USCIS receipt of N-400 application, my case has finally changed to "Testing and Interview". It was stuck in "fingerprint appointment was scheduled" for 12 months!!!

For those who are still waiting, just hang in there and you'll be cleared as it approaches to the 1 year mark.

Thanks to everyone and good luck to you all!

[gcseeker2002 0]

On 4/1/2018 at 9:26 PM, Shumai said:

The OP is right about the one-year wait!

Just the day before the 1 year anniversary of the USCIS receipt of N-400 application, my case has finally changed to "Testing and Interview". It was stuck in "fingerprint appointment was scheduled" for 12 months!!!

For those who are still waiting, just hang in there and you'll be cleared as it approaches to the 1 year mark.

Thanks to everyone and good luck to you all!

Is this for sure that the one year mark triggers next stage ? I am about 9 months waiting now, and tried out congressman, senator, 3 infopasses, several phone calls, all getting the response that it is within processing time of my local office, but congressman and senator and infopass told that it is in background check. Totally fed up of this , my spouse applied with me and got her citizenship long back

[campbell85 0]

16 minutes ago, gcseeker2002 said:

Is this for sure that the one year mark triggers next stage ? I am about 9 months waiting now, and tried out congressman, senator, 3 infopasses, several phone calls, all getting the response that it is within processing time of my local office, but congressman and senator and infopass told that it is in background check. Totally fed up of this , my spouse applied with me and got her citizenship long back

In my case it didn't trigger it unfortunately, however around 2-3 cases that were close to mine (in terms of NBC number) were indeed changed to "In Line for an Interview" on their 1 year anniversary date.

[gcseeker2002 0]

53 minutes ago, campbell85 said:

In my case it didn't trigger it unfortunately, however around 2-3 cases that were close to mine (in terms of NBC number) were indeed changed to "In Line for an Interview" on their 1 year anniversary date.

Is there any other option I can try ? Can I contact ombudsman before the 1 year mark ,if I am within my local office processing time but I have exhausted all other options (call 1-800, infopass, senator, congressman, service request )? 

[casualuser 38]

31 minutes ago, gcseeker2002 said:

Is there any other option I can try ? Can I contact ombudsman before the 1 year mark ,if I am within my local office processing time but I have exhausted all other options (call 1-800, infopass, senator, congressman, service request )? 

It all depends on your country of origin.

 

The options are to either wait or this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandamus

 

EDIT: Ombudsman should be tried before Writ Of Mandamus.

Edited April 9, 2018 by casualuser

[campbell85 0]

29 minutes ago, gcseeker2002 said:

Is there any other option I can try ? Can I contact ombudsman before the 1 year mark ,if I am within my local office processing time but I have exhausted all other options (call 1-800, infopass, senator, congressman, service request )? 

Based on my understanding before you're out of processing times it's hard to justify your request, it makes sense to wait either until the 1 year anniversary (and hope for the online status change) or until you can file an inquiry about being out of processing times for your local office.

[Mohtaq 0]

Hey I have the same exact case. 17 months now after the interview. N400 pending Background Checks. I just have a question; what did the ombudsman officer replied to you ? Did they help ! Cus I’m just waiting on them before Filing for mandamus! 

Please let me know 

moh

[helloearth 7]

New posters to this group, please update your profiles so we know your county, when you applied and how long you have been waiting as opposed to trying to find individual posts.

Thanks!

[cybermax 39]

For all of you guys, if you didn't read what I wrote on the previous page, I quoted it here for you guys, please read:

 

"Let me share with you this. I'm the original poster of this thread. Meaning I had been stuck in background/ name check for a long time just like you. I did research and tried a lot of things to push my case forward too. Unfortunately, nothing worked. It's hard to accept this but if you are stuck, that means you are STUCK, you can't do anything until the FBI finish their job. I guarantee with you that no matter what you try, it's not gonna work, so don't waste your time.

 

Here is the truth, there are only 2 scenarios here:

1. If you are stuck, and have not been stuck for a year (count from the date you submitted your application). So you are fine, nothing you can do but wait. Your case is gonna be automatically cleared when it approaches 1 year. This happened to most of cases ( > 90% )

2. If you have been stuck for more than a year. Meaning you are so unlucky and having 2 options:

----- Continue waiting until the case cleared. Nothing guarantees when it occurs, normally 1.5 years to 8 years, or more, this is what a USCIS officer told me when I had my infopass.

----- Take your action: file a lawsuit against USCIS . This works most of the time and really push your case forward by forcing USCIS to pay attention to you. But this does cost money. According to people who recently filed the lawsuit, they spent around 3k upto 7k for a lawyer to do this."

 

Also, if you are one the people in case #1 above:

DO NOT TRY TOO HARD FORCING USCIS DO SOMETHING FOR YOU.  THEY WILL NOT AND CAN NOT DO ANYTHING BUT GIVE YOU A FLAG IN THEIR BACKEND. THAT MAKES IT WORSE AND DELAY THE REVIEW PROCESS.

[gcseeker2002 0]

58 minutes ago, cybermax said:

For all of you guys, if you didn't read what I wrote on the previous page, I quoted it here for you guys, please read:

 

"Let me share with you this. I'm the original poster of this thread. Meaning I had been stuck in background/ name check for a long time just like you. I did research and tried a lot of things to push my case forward too. Unfortunately, nothing worked. It's hard to accept this but if you are stuck, that means you are STUCK, you can't do anything until the FBI finish their job. I guarantee with you that no matter what you try, it's not gonna work, so don't waste your time.

 

Here is the truth, there are only 2 scenarios here:

1. If you are stuck, and have not been stuck for a year (count from the date you submitted your application). So you are fine, nothing you can do but wait. Your case is gonna be automatically cleared when it approaches 1 year. This happened to most of cases ( > 90% )

2. If you have been stuck for more than a year. Meaning you are so unlucky and having 2 options:

----- Continue waiting until the case cleared. Nothing guarantees when it occurs, normally 1.5 years to 8 years, or more, this is what a USCIS officer told me when I had my infopass.

----- Take your action: file a lawsuit against USCIS . This works most of the time and really push your case forward by forcing USCIS to pay attention to you. But this does cost money. According to people who recently filed the lawsuit, they spent around 3k upto 7k for a lawyer to do this."

 

Also, if you are one the people in case #1 above:

DO NOT TRY TOO HARD FORCING USCIS DO SOMETHING FOR YOU.  THEY WILL NOT AND CAN NOT DO ANYTHING BUT GIVE YOU A FLAG IN THEIR BACKEND. THAT MAKES IT WORSE AND DELAY THE REVIEW PROCESS.

What possibly can force uscis do something ? They dont care a damn about senator or congressman or infopass or any number of phone calls .  But , Some people on other forums/threads have said they got their case moving after senator inquiry.

Edited April 11, 2018 by gcseeker2002

[helloearth 7]

9 hours ago, cybermax said:

For all of you guys, if you didn't read what I wrote on the previous page, I quoted it here for you guys, please read:

 

"Let me share with you this. I'm the original poster of this thread. Meaning I had been stuck in background/ name check for a long time just like you. I did research and tried a lot of things to push my case forward too. Unfortunately, nothing worked. It's hard to accept this but if you are stuck, that means you are STUCK, you can't do anything until the FBI finish their job. I guarantee with you that no matter what you try, it's not gonna work, so don't waste your time.

 

Here is the truth, there are only 2 scenarios here:

1. If you are stuck, and have not been stuck for a year (count from the date you submitted your application). So you are fine, nothing you can do but wait. Your case is gonna be automatically cleared when it approaches 1 year. This happened to most of cases ( > 90% )

2. If you have been stuck for more than a year. Meaning you are so unlucky and having 2 options:

----- Continue waiting until the case cleared. Nothing guarantees when it occurs, normally 1.5 years to 8 years, or more, this is what a USCIS officer told me when I had my infopass.

----- Take your action: file a lawsuit against USCIS . This works most of the time and really push your case forward by forcing USCIS to pay attention to you. But this does cost money. According to people who recently filed the lawsuit, they spent around 3k upto 7k for a lawyer to do this."

 

Also, if you are one the people in case #1 above:

DO NOT TRY TOO HARD FORCING USCIS DO SOMETHING FOR YOU.  THEY WILL NOT AND CAN NOT DO ANYTHING BUT GIVE YOU A FLAG IN THEIR BACKEND. THAT MAKES IT WORSE AND DELAY THE REVIEW PROCESS.

Good point!

Already waited for 5 year. Better to be patient but have to go through hassle of applying for visa if you need to travel for work which i have to

[gcseeker2002 0]

My senator inquiry came back with same response as my congressman inquiry 2 months back. Just wondering if anybody had success getting out of this delay by senators.

[kpkp 0]

Hell all,

 

I just confirm today that I will be joining you all in this unfortunate group today.  I applied for N400 online back in September 2017, was finger printed on October 20th, 2017 and nothing since then. Called a couple of time to the USCIS, spoke to tier 2 officers, but no clear answer. I initially though this may have to do something with the inconsistency I noticed in the new online application software (which I reported to USCIS).  The software automatically erased and change some my spouse’s info.  I was advised to bring a copy of manually filled form with correct information whenever my interview is scheduled. Finally today setup an info pass to go to the Newark office (my field office in NJ) in person. The office there confirmed my name check is not cleared with the FBI yet. So I am looking for another 4-5 months at the minimum I guess.

Edited April 17, 2018 by kpkp

[Shumai 6]

On 4/9/2018 at 1:38 PM, gcseeker2002 said:

Is this for sure that the one year mark triggers next stage ? I am about 9 months waiting now, and tried out congressman, senator, 3 infopasses, several phone calls, all getting the response that it is within processing time of my local office, but congressman and senator and infopass told that it is in background check. Totally fed up of this , my spouse applied with me and got her citizenship long back

Well, like what OP says, around 90% cases would have been cleared at the one-year mark (me included). However, there is no "for sure" thing when it comes to USCIS. Since you're only at 9 months waiting now, I would keep waiting and see it gets cleared before one year mark if I were you. I don't think the inquires/senators/ombudsman will help with those that are only stuck for less than a year.  

[praizee 10]

What if you have already had an interview and still haven't heard back from USCIS. My application was in June 2017 and interview was in October 2017. I am not from a muslim country. How long do i have to wait? I am considering contacting the Ombudsman after 2 months. FBI name checks take 6-8 weeks according to the FBI website so i think the whole background check issue is a silly excuse to delay peoples time.