Requested change of venue after being awarded interview

[RFQ 110]

So my husband and I lived in a remote part of the US and lived there for 3+ years. We applied for citizenship on his behalf while there but I transferred with my job and we are in an entirely different region of the US now. We notified the USCIS of address change. I guess we thought they'd change the venue as well. We got a letter at the end of January with our local USCIS address but an interview back at the interview station that was nearest to our old home (which was 4 hours from our old home consequently).  Its been about a year since we applied and 9 months since we last heard from USCIS until now.

 

He stopped by our local office which told him to send request and a copy of the letter to the USCIS which he did. We were told its possible they will deny the change of venue.  We'd be looking at a loss in employment and/or 1000$ ticket to fly half way across country to the tiny airport near the old venue for my husband to make that interview. Its just not feasible really with 4 kids and 2 working parents. He is of course in a newer employment position given our relocation. 

 

What can we expect going forward? Should we prepare for the worse or just a longer delay? 

Edited February 18, 2018 by RFQ

[Enigma11561 336]

https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/can-i-request-a-change-of-uscis-field-office-locat-2451698.html.

 

Check this out. May help.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Each USCIS field office has jurisdiction over a set area; they cannot approve you at an interview if you live outside of that area.

 

One of the first questions they ask at every interview is whether you still live at the address you listed on the application... and if you say no, the interview ends if you now live outside their area, and they have transfer the case to the field office with jurisdiction over your new address. That process can take weeks or months, depending on the caseload at that new office.

Edited February 18, 2018 by Hypnos

[RFQ 110]

Thanks for the 411.  Is it weird that they didn't figure that out on their own? I mean we filed the change of address. I can't understand why they scheduled it out their in the first place.

 

My husband said when he called in to USCIS they said "they can refuse to transfer the file."  I thought that was odd and that totally contradicts what the link above says and what you all have told me.  Time...we've got nothing but time. After years in the wait to join each other after marriage...waiting together is a piece of cake :).  

[Hypnos 6,576]

USCIS is notoriously terrible when it comes to processing changes in address.