RFE for photos while in line for oath

[jj23521 1]

2 minutes ago, CookieCat said:

If RFE says to print name and alien number, that is all you should do. No signing. Don't make it more complicated for yourself. 

 

If you're going to hand the photos over in person, hand them only to the interviewing officer. If you hand them over to anybody else, chances are they can get lost and the whole application could eventually get denied. Again, I believe it's best you mail them EXACTLY how the RFE instructs you to do. Good luck!

Agree about mailing per instructions vs handing in person.  I'm sure there's really not a way to request to see the interviewing officer any way.

 

I also think that the case has already been handed off from that officer to the folks who actually print the certificates.  That's likely when they discovered the need for new photos.  That also would explain why the online status is "in line for oath".

 

The RFE didn't threaten a denial, but did mention delay of certificate if photos not received in 30 days.  Have people been denied after approval due to photos?

[Going through 5,671]

9 minutes ago, jj23521 said:

Agree about mailing per instructions vs handing in person.  I'm sure there's really not a way to request to see the interviewing officer any way.

 

I also think that the case has already been handed off from that officer to the folks who actually print the certificates.  That's likely when they discovered the need for new photos.  That also would explain why the online status is "in line for oath".

 

The RFE didn't threaten a denial, but did mention delay of certificate if photos not received in 30 days.  Have people been denied after approval due to photos?

If you don't respond to the RFE at all, it would be an issue, yes.

However you are planning on responding to it, so don't worry about that.  Just send in the photos---you said you already have them, just get tracking on the envelope.

Edited September 3, 2017 by Going through

[cdneh 3,112]

I went back and forth with this. Although it says not to send them if you are in the USA, I read here on VJ about several people who didn't and were asked for them, including one who was sent to the local Walgreen's after the interview to have them taken, and instructed to bring them back asap. So I sent photos with my N-400, and the interviewer had me sign them on the day of the interview. They were not bad photos, actually. On the certificate, they used the biometric one, which was terrible. Good thing no one needs to see it. The last round of passport photos came out fine. So here's to the hope that my actual passport photo won't look so much like a mug shot. 

 

Just send them exactly what they asked you for.

[Holt 73]

On 9/2/2017 at 4:24 PM, jj23521 said:

We did not submit photos because the N400 form said not to.

I'm afraid that this would cause a big delay.  So frustrating.

This is wrong information. N400 form does not tell you to not submit any photos. It does not mention about the photos does not mean it advises you not to. 

Changing name might cause delay for the office which conducts both Administrative and Judicial Ceremony. 

Submit as soon as possible or you could bring it to the Field Office maybe?! 2 hours or few hours driving worths the price.

 

 

Edited September 4, 2017 by rlam57

[jj23521 1]

I talked with two friends last night who had oaths last week in Milwaukee.  They both did not send in photos and were not asked for them.  Same with CookieCat in this thread, also Milwaukee.  Very strange.  All three of them had the biometrics picture printed on the certificate.  

 

My only guess is that the person who did my wife's biometrics, being obviously very new, somehow messed it up.  If they also messed up the digital signature, would they ask us to go back and sign again?  One of my friends said she signed on the actual certificate at the ceremony.  CookieCat, does that sound right?

 

If they're supposed to print the biometrics photo directly, how would they use physical photos we send in?  I can't imagine that they have someone there to scan and adjust photos, since this is apparently not a common practice.  

 

Sorry, I know this is most likely a very simple thing, but my mind is just running through all sorts of scenarios.

 

 

[jj23521 1]

Another thing I've noticed is that the color instructions sheet that came along the RFE, is from 2006!  It is telling me to take a frontal photo instead of a 3/4 view.  This change took place about 13 years ago.  And long since then, USCIS has started using digital photos done during biometrics.

 

None of this makes any sense.  I get a feeling that random people are just sending out random things to us for random reasons.  Who knew there's still so much silliness AFTER you've been approved and put in line for oath.

[Going through 5,671]

The frontal photo is what they use for the naturalization certificate.  Not a 3/4 shot.

Your friends' situations are different because they were able to use the photo from their biometrics so it wasn't an issue for them after their interviews...for whatever reason, your wife is not able to.  It could be because they were unsuitable, damaged later on after the interview, lost, whatever the case may be.

 

The RFE is asking you for the photos---the process of how they will scan them onto the certificate isn't something you need to  concern yourself with---that's their issue and they will do what they normally do in terms of the certificate when they RFE people for new photos.

 

Just send in the photos following the instructions on the RFE exactly.  Or drive down there and deliver it personally to the officer who interviewed your wife. You are starting to stress yourself out about this way too much now I fear  

Edited September 4, 2017 by Going through

[jj23521 1]

13 minutes ago, Going through said:

The frontal photo is what they use for the naturalization certificate.  Not a 3/4 shot.

Your friends' situations are different because they were able to use the photo from their biometrics so it wasn't an issue for them after their interviews...for whatever reason, your wife is not able to.  It could be because they were unsuitable, damaged later on after the interview, lost, whatever the case may be.

 

The RFE is asking you for the photos---the process of how they will scan them onto the certificate isn't something you need to  concern yourself with---that's their issue and they will do what they normally do in terms of the certificate when they RFE people for new photos.

 

Just send in the photos following the instructions on the RFE exactly.  Or drive down there and deliver it personally to the officer who interviewed your wife. You are starting to stress yourself out about this way too much now I fear  

 

Thank you again for the encouragement.  I will follow instructions and send first thing tomorrow.  And try to stop worrying.

 

Today's actually my birthday and I shouldn't be sitting here stressing about this.  :-)

 

 

[mrbravod 4]

Good morning!  My case was this:  It's completely true that N400 instructions says to send your passport photos only if you live outside USA.  So, following these instructions I didn't send any photos with my N400.  But my personal instinct and after reading some comments about sending/taking photos with N400, I took 2 passport pictures before my interview, just in case  ... My case is in New Mexico and guess what?  The officer asked me if, by any chance, I brought two passport photos!  She made me sign each one with my new name (I am changing names).  What did she ask me for photos since I have passed my biometrics? I really don't know.  But for the next people going for a citizenship interview, just take with you two recent passport photos, either if they ask for it or not.

 

[jj23521 1]

2 minutes ago, mrbravod said:

Good morning!  My case was this:  It's completely true that N400 instructions says to send your passport photos only if you live outside USA.  So, following these instructions I didn't send any photos with my N400.  But my personal instinct and after reading some comments about sending/taking photos with N400, I took 2 passport pictures before my interview, just in case  ... My case is in New Mexico and guess what?  The officer asked me if, by any chance, I brought two passport photos!  She made me sign each one with my new name (I am changing names).  What did she ask me for photos since I have passed my biometrics? I really don't know.  But for the next people going for a citizenship interview, just take with you two recent passport photos, either if they ask for it or not.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

When she asked you "sign" the photos, did you sign on the back, or just write you new name with A#?

 

Now I'm wondering again if I should send in two sets, one with new name on the back and one with old name?  But signature or print?

 

Also, what does the signature on the BACKSIDE of a photo mean anyway?  Who's going to look at that?  I thought printing your name and signature on the back is only for identification purposes while preparing your certificate.

[mrbravod 4]

You're welcome.  I signed the photos in front of the USCIS Officer.  She made me write the new signature on the front, not on the back (I have requested my name changed), no A #.  That was my experience during my interview.  If I were you, I would just follow the instructions on the letter, that's my personal opinion.

 

[anniesdream 5]

On 9/2/2017 at 7:03 PM, jj23521 said:

My wife received a recommended approval after her interview on 8/7.  The online status has been in line for oath since 8/9.

 

Yet today, we received a letter asking for two passport photos, saying if not received by 9/30, it would delay the certificate.  (This is frustrating because the N400 form itself said no photos are needed and they were not asked for at the interview.  We even brought them.)

 

Has anyone seen this before?  Does this mean the case is still approved?  How much delay would this cause, if any?  The next ceremonies are on 9/7 and then 10/5.

 

Also, does she need to sign with a pencil on the back of the photos?  

 

Any help is appreciated, as I'm freaking out a little right now.  Thanks.

No need to freak out. It happened to me. Actually I received a call from local immigration office the day before my oath ceremony, telling me to bring 2 passport photos with me. It did sound weird but fortunately I had photos in hand (for my passport application).  The next day on the ceremony, they put my physical photo on my naturalization certificate and had me sign on the photo. So my certificate is slightly different from others since it has the actual stamped photo.  I also noticed that there was another lady at the ceremony who was told to get two photos on the spot because she found an error on her nationality and they had to re-issue the certificate for her.

 

I'm thinking maybe something happened to my photo in their biometric system as might be the case to your wife. Just send them the photos ASAP and it won't hurt to sign her name on the back with pencil. They will have her sign at the ceremony if needed.

 

Good luck!

 

Edited September 5, 2017 by anniesdream