100 days after the exam and counting.

[gt1 1]

Thanks, afrocraft. Citing a specific document will make my position a lot stronger. Back to the phone...

In case someone needs that info: 800-375-5283, every time you hear the voice prompt press 1,1,2,2,# - it gets you right into the agent queue.

[panssey 7]

27 minutes ago, gt1 said:

I called USCIS again. Spoke to a different agent, but the stance was the same- look at the processing times- Baltimore shows 12 to 23.5 months from the application acceptance date- you are at 16 months- call us back if don't hear from us after 23.5 months or whatever the maximum processing time will on the website.

Also told me that the N562 is optional and the officer may not give it after the interview and schooled me that I shouldn't say that the application was approved because it was "recommended for approval".

I'm not quite sure what our options are. I doubt that writing to a congressman will do anything- their office will send inquiry to USCIS, they will reply that our case is within the usual processing time. Can a lawyer help?

i was told the same thing about 23.5 months since the receipt of my documents over the phone. 

and based on the fact that the person on the phone could not explain to me what case completion time is (he said that the "case completion time is when the case is completed") duh, thank you, mr obvious. I couldn't figure that out myself. I decided that it was useless to call them again. 

I am not sure what a lawyer can do in this case besides charging you a lot of money. Inquire as well and get a response and advice for me to wait? 

[afrocraft 314]

2 minutes ago, gt1 said:

Thanks, afrocraft. Citing a specific document will make my position a lot stronger. Back to the phone...

In case someone needs that info: 800-375-5283, every time you hear the voice prompt press 1,1,2,2,# - it gets you right into the agent queue.

If I were you, I wouldn't waste any time on the phone. It's unlikely to make much of a difference. You need the Field Office to take action under the (subtle) threat of legal action, not the contact center. Start by writing the Office a letter, sent via certified mail, to your Field Office's official mailing address (check the website). And contacting your congressman with a version of the same letter asking for case assistance. Here's a sample you can amend as needed:

 

Quote

 

Dear Officer HurryUp (Or just: Dear Immigration Services Officer):
 

Requesting Update on N-400 Application (Your Name, Receipt # XXXX, A-#YYYY, USCIS # ZZZ)

 

I write to request an update on my naturalization application, as it has now been XX days since my initial naturalization examination. As you know, by law and by policy, USCIS has 120 days after the initial examination to issue a decision.

 
You may recall that, at your invitation, I attended the examination at the USCIS XXX Field Office on XXX, 2019. Before that, on XXX, 2019, I filed the N-400 online, uploaded evidence of eligibility, and paid the required fees. On XXXX, 2019, I appeared at the Application Support Center in XXX, for biometric capture. On XXX 2019, I received an invitation for the initial naturalization examination, which I attended as described. 

At the end of the interview, you (or: the adjudicating officer) informed me verbally that I passed the naturalization tests and that I would be recommended for approval, but you (or: s/he) did not provide the Form N-652 Naturalization Interview Results. No request for additional evidence was made then, or in the time since my interview, and I have still not received an invitation to attend the oath of naturalization ceremony.

It has now gone past XX days since the interview, and I would be grateful if you could provide an update on my application, or let me know if you need any additional evidence of eligibility to assist you render a timely decision as required by law.

For your review, please see attached: 

• Invitation to appear for N-400 interview, dated XXX 

 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

 

Respectfully,

xxx

 

 

[afrocraft 314]

18 minutes ago, panssey said:

I am not sure what a lawyer can do in this case besides charging you a lot of money. Inquire as well and get a response and advice for me to wait? 

And on lawyer, beside the cost: Even if you end up suing, you must show the court that you've exhausted all your administrative options. You've contacted USCIS by phone; you've gone for InfoPass or it's not an option available in your field office; you've written to USCIS; you've tried going through your Congress rep/Ombudsman. Only then would you have good standing to sue.

[Stevo1979 71]

 Nobody should have to go through all these USCIS shenanigans

 Its becoming flat out ridiculous. After all the hassles to become naturalized  you are still labelled a second class citizen.

 

 Its all a hogwash.

[gt1 1]

On 10/10/2019 at 11:14 PM, afrocraft said:

If I were you, I wouldn't waste any time on the phone. It's unlikely to make much of a difference. You need the Field Office to take action under the (subtle) threat of legal action, not the contact center. Start by writing the Office a letter, sent via certified mail, to your Field Office's official mailing address (check the website). And contacting your congressman with a version of the same letter asking for case assistance. Here's a sample you can amend as needed:

 

 

Man, thanks, this letter is perfect!

I forgot to mention that I also wrote a message through the USCIS website- they have this option for the cases "outside of normal processing times".

Yesterday I called armed with the Policy Manual from @afrocrat. They initially attempted to give me the same "up to 23.5 months" spin, but eventually put me through to a "higher level agent" who called me back in an hour.

She told me that my website message was forwarded to the field office, and they should respond in the next 2 weeks.

I'm still thinking about mailing a certified letter because it is worded a lot better than what I wrote in the website message.

14 hours ago, Stevo1979 said:

 Nobody should have to go through all these USCIS shenanigans

 Its becoming flat out ridiculous. After all the hassles to become naturalized  you are still labelled a second class citizen.

 

 Its all a hogwash.

Not naturalized just yet, so not yet a citizen. The advantage of the citizenship is not in a better treatment by the feds, but that you'll have to deal with them only occasionally and for routine matters.

[Stevo1979 71]

2 minutes ago, gt1 said:

Man, thanks, this letter is perfect!

I forgot to mention that I also wrote a message through the USCIS website- they have this option for the cases "outside of normal processing times".

Yesterday I called armed with the Policy Manual from @afrocrat. They initially attempted to give me the same "up to 23.5 months" spin, but eventually put me through to a "higher level agent" who called me back in an hour.

She told me that my website message was forwarded to the field office, and they should respond in the next 2 weeks.

I'm still thinking about mailing a certified letter because it is worded a lot better than what I wrote in the website message.

Not naturalized just yet, so not yet a citizen. The advantage of the citizenship is not in a better treatment by the feds, but that you'll have to deal with them only occasionally and for routine matters.

Just speaking generally. Did not say you were naturalized

[gt1 1]

1 minute ago, Stevo1979 said:

Just speaking generally. Did not say you were naturalized

I'm, now helping a family member. Every time USCIS is mentioned, I think how great is to have them out of my life.

[afrocraft 314]

1 hour ago, gt1 said:

I'm still thinking about mailing a certified letter because it is worded a lot better than what I wrote in the website message.

Send the letter. Make sure it's certified mail. It only costs a few bucks, but it sends a signal. 

 

Every advise I've given is what I did personally. In fact, I was even more aggressive. First, I sent them a message every 2 weeks after my initial interview via the USCIS website (same message, copy & paste, with just the timelines changed). They responded by saying the Field Office would be notified. On Day 90 I sent them the letter. Certified mail. I also contacted my Congress rep, and began to prepare to file a lawsuit on Day 121. 2 weeks later I got a call from the USCIS officer. Case resolved.

 

The common error people make is to treat USCIS like a person. They're a bureaucracy, and they're swamped. If your case slips by for one reason or another, you could experience severe delays. It's not personal. You need to know the law/policy, and then force them to act when the law is on your side.

[Wasa22 5]

11 hours ago, afrocraft said:

Send the letter. Make sure it's certified mail. It only costs a few bucks, but it sends a signal. 

 

Every advise I've given is what I did personally. In fact, I was even more aggressive. First, I sent them a message every 2 weeks after my initial interview via the USCIS website (same message, copy & paste, with just the timelines changed). They responded by saying the Field Office would be notified. On Day 90 I sent them the letter. Certified mail. I also contacted my Congress rep, and began to prepare to file a lawsuit on Day 121. 2 weeks later I got a call from the USCIS officer. Case resolved.

 

The common error people make is to treat USCIS like a person. They're a bureaucracy, and they're swamped. If your case slips by for one reason or another, you could experience severe delays. It's not personal. You need to know the law/policy, and then force them to act when the law is on your side.

Can u please give me a example of letter I should send? 

[afrocraft 314]

1 hour ago, Wasa22 said:

Can u please give me a example of letter I should send? 

Scroll up.

[Wasa22 5]

20 hours ago, afrocraft said:

Scroll up.

Thanks .Do u know if I can take legal action after 120 days on my n400 with pending i751?

[gt1 1]

On 10/12/2019 at 11:44 AM, afrocraft said:

Send the letter. Make sure it's certified mail. It only costs a few bucks, but it sends a signal. 

I'm sending it. I was a bit hesitant because on the phone they were unhappy about me both calling and submitting a website request. Obviously it is not the question of money   You're right, it has to be pursued from all directions, it is not my job to make them happy. Thanks again for your advice.

[gt1 1]

A response from UCSIS came in. It references my original web form inquiry, which didn't point that they were in violation of their policy, so it is nothing more than a buzz off letter. I don't know if they are going to respond to the letter I mailed. I'll call them again tomorrow.

 

[Maleman 5]

Hopefully, I am not confusing the process and/or questions here, but in our case, and please know that my wife filed her N400 online, she received the following update status showing she had been approved the day after her interview.  However, it states that the estimated wait times for “Ceremony Oath” is 3 months.  The verbiage was, “We approved your application! We will mail your letter when we schedule your naturalization ceremony.”   So, in summary, check your states online and check to see if you show approved or not.  If it shows you have been approved you might just be waiting for them to schedule your ceremony.  If you are not near a major city it could take up to 3 months to find a ceremony near you.