N-400 Biometrics Question

[Darren&Laura 3]

Hi everyone. I haven't posted on here in many years, but here I am again.

 

I came to the USA back in 2008 on a K1 visa and have had a green card ever since around 2011 when I finished that part of the process and became a full permanent resident.

In late December, I sent off my N-400 package to become a citizen. I received an I-797 a few days later stating that they'd received my package and to set up an online USCIS account, (which I did.)

I didn't expect anything to happen fast, but checked me email often to see if there was any further actions, although I had no further contact. Last night I logged into my online USCIS account and saw the following though:

"On December 30, 2017, we scheduled you for a biometrics appointment and mailed you an appointment notice for Receipt Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your appointment notice by January 29, 2018, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address."

Of course, I immediately freaked out. While I did receive a form with the same receipt number, it didn't not have any details of a biometric appointment contained on it. It was just a letter confirming my address, (which hasn't changed since 2008). I never received any letter containing any appointment.

I spent time on the phone today with USCIS and they gave me a reference code (no idea what that is for), and said they have contacted the office to resend an appointment letter to me with a new date for biometrics at my "local" field office, (a 300 mile round trip.)

Is everything now back on track or do I have anything to worry about? I was freaking out last night in case my application was going to be abandoned.

Thanks.
Darren.

[bsp 32]

No, you won't be deemed to have abandoned your application just yet and the only real "penalty" is the time delay you've encountered due to the missed bio.  Once you have the biometrics letter in hand, follow the instructions and you'll be fine. Some USCIS sites allow walk-ins - particularly ASC's which only process biometrics and don't have the same security measures as full sites - so that's something you may want to consider to speed the process up as much as you can but with a 300 mile round trip it may not be worth the risk of them turning you away. 

[HOUNOV2017 7]

Darren, That last question should have been asked to the USCIS person who you spoke to. Call them again and ask them that specific question. If they say everything is back on track so it is all good.

[Darren&Laura 3]

Thanks for replying. I did ask the question to the lady I was talking to and she said everything should be fine and to contact them again if I hear nothing within 30 days. I guess I just needed further reassurance from this forum. (I've missed this place!) I've read lots of horror stories online since yesterday about applications being considered abandoned and people having to pay to reapply again. Hopefully, all will progress along fine now. Thanks again.

[Abhay 15]

You are still good, hopefully you will get a new notice soon!

[bsp 32]

3 minutes ago, Darren&Laura said:

Thanks for replying. I did ask the question to the lady I was talking to and she said everything should be fine and to contact them again if I hear nothing within 30 days. I guess I just needed further reassurance from this forum. (I've missed this place!) I've read lots of horror stories online since yesterday about applications being considered abandoned and people having to pay to reapply again. Hopefully, all will progress along fine now. Thanks again.

If you miss your interview THEN you have an issue.  Once you get through the bio you should keep a close eye on your online account for when they notify you that they've scheduled the interview.  If you don't receive the letter in a timely manner it's best to call to make sure you don't miss it.

[Darren&Laura 3]

Yes, lesson learned there! I will check it pretty much daily in future, I'm sure!

[HOUNOV2017 7]

4 minutes ago, Darren&Laura said:

Thanks for replying. I did ask the question to the lady I was talking to and she said everything should be fine and to contact them again if I hear nothing within 30 days. I guess I just needed further reassurance from this forum. (I've missed this place!) I've read lots of horror stories online since yesterday about applications being considered abandoned and people having to pay to reapply again. Hopefully, all will progress along fine now. Thanks again.

 

You should be fine then.

You should try to get the copy of the first letter from https://my.uscis.gov/account/applicant and check the address for where it was sent. It might have been sent to your lawyer if you have any. 

[Darren&Laura 3]

8 minutes ago, HOUNOV2017 said:

 

You should be fine then.

You should try to get the copy of the first letter from https://my.uscis.gov/account/applicant and check the address for where it was sent. It might have been sent to your lawyer if you have any. 

Thanks, I didn't know I could see any documents online, but just checked and sure enough there it was. The address was correct, and my original appointment was 17th January. Gah. I'm annoyed at myself now for just waiting for standard mail contact. I honestly didn't expect things to move so fast.

[HOUNOV2017 7]

3 hours ago, Darren&Laura said:

Thanks, I didn't know I could see any documents online, but just checked and sure enough there it was. The address was correct, and my original appointment was 17th January. Gah. I'm annoyed at myself now for just waiting for standard mail contact. I honestly didn't expect things to move so fast.

 

You can also register in Informed Delivery by USPS. Google it. You will love it