N-400 April 2020 Filers

[Cloggie 17]

"...If you still have not heard from USCIS six months after the date of this email..."..that doesn't bode well for us...

[AH2020 30]

12 minutes ago, JustBelieve said:

Yes, they are all useless. People are transfering their cases to other states with short processing times and this seems to speed up their case. You can try that too.

Don't think that would help, they still wouldn't be able to get the file they need. I am way past the normal processing time anyway. 

13 minutes ago, Cloggie said:

"...If you still have not heard from USCIS six months after the date of this email..."..that doesn't bode well for us...

I agree...

[Cloggie 17]

I just received the exact same reply from the ombudsman. This does not encourage me at all!

[JustBelieve 7]

34 minutes ago, AH2020 said:

Don't think that would help, they still wouldn't be able to get the file they need. I am way past the normal processing time anyway. 

I agree...

What file is missing

[AH2020 30]

6 hours ago, Cloggie said:

I just received the exact same reply from the ombudsman. This does not encourage me at all!

Ugh, this is so frustrating!!!

 

6 hours ago, JustBelieve said:

What file is missing

Presumably its our A-file that is needed to decide our cases. At least that is what we all assume, but who knows for sure...

[sfo-user 3]

22 hours ago, AH2020 said:

I got another email  from the Ombudsman today, unfortunately there is nothing they can do at this point:

 

 

We are writing in response to your request for case assistance from the CIS Ombudsman’s Office.

Our review indicates that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must receive a related file in order to resume processing your pending application/petition. USCIS is experiencing serious delays with file transfers due in part to measures taken to ensure employee safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, there is currently no estimated time frame for the required file transfer. Therefore, our office cannot give you any additional information about when your case will be adjudicated.   

The CIS Ombudsman’s Office is independent from USCIS and does not have authority to adjudicate a case or compel USCIS to take action on a pending case. Because USCIS’ adjudication depends on receiving the necessary file, we are closing your request for case assistance at this time. Our office, however, will continue to work with USCIS to address systemic issues associated with file transfer and other processing delays.

Next Steps
We encourage you to continue to monitor your case status online and reach out to USCIS directly. You can submit a case status inquiry; chat with Emma, USCIS’ online virtual assistant who can connect you to a live chat agent if she cannot answer your questions; or call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. We have a tip sheet on how to reach out to the USCIS Contact Center most effectively.  

To obtain additional information and explore USCIS’ customer service tools and resources, visit the USCIS Tools and Resources page.

If you still have not heard from USCIS six months after the date of this email (for example, received a request for evidence or interview appointment), you may reply to this email, and we will review your inquiry again. Please include “Re: File transfer delays” in the subject line of your email, your service request number(s), the date(s) you contacted USCIS, and USCIS response(s), if any. We will review your email and inquiry within two weeks of receipt to determine whether we are able to assist.  

We appreciate that adjudication delays are frustrating but hope you find this information helpful. Thank you for your continued patience.  
 

How does one contact the ombudsman? I and congress person have contacted USCIS field office and national benefits center but not the ombudsman. SF field office didn't respond to congress person but were previously told that we need to contact national benefits center. National benefits center responded to my inquiry and says we need to contact SF field office. 

 

Assuming that you're also dealing with the BBG, have you looked into filing the mandamus lawsuit, selling your house and moving to a better field office, or going back to Germany? I'm honestly weighing those options at this point, even though the latter two would have severe personal consequences. However, I can't carry on living in limbo anymore. This has been going on for my entire adult life and most of my life and my BBG is about to expire. 

[JustBelieve 7]

4 minutes ago, sfo-user said:

How does one contact the ombudsman? I and congress person have contacted USCIS field office and national benefits center but not the ombudsman. SF field office didn't respond to congress person but were previously told that we need to contact national benefits center. National benefits center responded to my inquiry and says we need to contact SF field office. 

 

Assuming that you're also dealing with the BBG, have you looked into filing the mandamus lawsuit, selling your house and moving to a better field office, or going back to Germany? I'm honestly weighing those options at this point, even though the latter two would have severe personal consequences. However, I can't carry on living in limbo anymore. This has been going on for my entire adult life and most of my life and my BBG is about to expire. 

Filing a lawsuit $3k or more (assuming nothing is pending on the applicant), it is almost guaranteed that they will pick your case and resume to work on it. USCIS would rather process your case than spending time and cost to deal with lawsuits. Good luck.

[sfo-user 3]

1 minute ago, JustBelieve said:

Filing a lawsuit $3k or more (assuming nothing is pending on the applicant), it is almost guaranteed that they will pick your case and resume to work on it. USCIS would rather process your case than spending time and cost to deal with lawsuits. Good luck.

Oops, I missed that they said this was caused by a transfer but can't edit my comment.

 

I'm considering the lawsuit and got similar quotes. With my luck I'd be the one person they'd fight in court though. I'm going to wait a few more weeks for a response now that the NBC has sent my inquiry back to SF and am simultaneously going ask the congress person to file for 'expedited' processing, which will cost me around $200 in translations and notarizations. It sounds like my BBG was extended since they've asked me to pay the $300 fee but the extension is only valid for 12 months and I highly doubt that USCIS will review/approve my case within 12 months. Their current estimate is for a total of 34 months. 

 

Yet, they claim that my case is being processed in the order it was received. However,  my lawyer tells me that their other applicants the same my field office get approved within 12-15 months and on German online forums people report getting approved as quickly as 2-3 months in some offices and most taking around a year.

[AH2020 30]

1 hour ago, sfo-user said:

How does one contact the ombudsman? I and congress person have contacted USCIS field office and national benefits center but not the ombudsman. SF field office didn't respond to congress person but were previously told that we need to contact national benefits center. National benefits center responded to my inquiry and says we need to contact SF field office. 

 

Assuming that you're also dealing with the BBG, have you looked into filing the mandamus lawsuit, selling your house and moving to a better field office, or going back to Germany? I'm honestly weighing those options at this point, even though the latter two would have severe personal consequences. However, I can't carry on living in limbo anymore. This has been going on for my entire adult life and most of my life and my BBG is about to expire. 

Regarding the BBG, I picked up my extension in LA this morning and I am now good until November 2023. I thought it would only be extended for 1 year but they actually gave me 2. If I am not naturalized by Nov 2023 I think I will give up. 

 

I too am considering filing a mandamus but I will definitely wait until I reach 2 years, which will be end of April for me. Moving is not an option for me. The San Diego field office is actually not doing too bad, 10.5-15.5 months currently. The problem is that I am already at 20 months. Arrrgh! Mandamus will be my last resort, but I am fully prepared to file it if needed.

[sfo-user 3]

1 minute ago, AH2020 said:

Regarding the BBG, I picked up my extension in LA this morning and I am now good until November 2023. I thought it would only be extended for 1 year but they actually gave me 2. If I am not naturalized by Nov 2023 I think I will give up. 

 

I too am considering filing a mandamus but I will definitely wait until I reach 2 years, which will be end of April for me. Moving is not an option for me. The San Diego field office is actually not doing too bad, 10.5-15.5 months currently. The problem is that I am already at 20 months. Arrrgh! Mandamus will be my last resort, but I am fully prepared to file it if needed.

Yeah, I'm obviously really trying to avoid moving as it would have severe personal consequences but I'm just so sick of living in limbo my entire life. I guess, I'll find out next month if my BBG was extended by two years. I think usually it's one year but hopefully it will be two years for me as well. On the German dual citizenship self-help group a member just told me that it took 10 weeks in Ohio. Yeah, they applied in October 2021.

[AH2020 30]

1 hour ago, sfo-user said:

Yeah, I'm obviously really trying to avoid moving as it would have severe personal consequences but I'm just so sick of living in limbo my entire life. I guess, I'll find out next month if my BBG was extended by two years. I think usually it's one year but hopefully it will be two years for me as well. On the German dual citizenship self-help group a member just told me that it took 10 weeks in Ohio. Yeah, they applied in October 2021.

I know, its super frustrating. 

[Yupibotan 15]

3 weeks ago I sent USCIS specific questions about my case:

 1. Has my case been transferred to my field office yet?

 2. Are any of my files stuck in archives or federal records center?

 3. What is the projected interview date?

 

The answer is as useless as always. 

 

"After careful review of your inquiry, we determined that your issue will be best addressed by the USCIS office processing your case; therefore, we are forwarding your inquiry to the WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE. The referral ID for this inquiry is XXXXX. The WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE will contact you concerning your case once they have reviewed your inquiry."

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by Yupibotan

[Linamona 6]

16 hours ago, sfo-user said:

Oops, I missed that they said this was caused by a transfer but can't edit my comment.

 

I'm considering the lawsuit and got similar quotes. With my luck I'd be the one person they'd fight in court though. I'm going to wait a few more weeks for a response now that the NBC has sent my inquiry back to SF and am simultaneously going ask the congress person to file for 'expedited' processing, which will cost me around $200 in translations and notarizations. It sounds like my BBG was extended since they've asked me to pay the $300 fee but the extension is only valid for 12 months and I highly doubt that USCIS will review/approve my case within 12 months. Their current estimate is for a total of 34 months. 

 

Yet, they claim that my case is being processed in the order it was received. However,  my lawyer tells me that their other applicants the same my field office get approved within 12-15 months and on German online forums people report getting approved as quickly as 2-3 months in some offices and most taking around a year.

I am so sorry that your dealing with such incompetence because I know it drove me insane for a total of 472 days. You did all that you could but call them daily because in my case that worked pretty good after I realized that the Obudsman was a joke , continue writing to your Senator and be very vocal that this is complete neglect in the USCIS 's part and that is causing you health issues and in my case it was affecting my job. It's very important for you to know that in my case they called me on my phone on Friday and my interview was Monday morning so, if you see an unknown number answer. I went without my letter because they didn't have the time to email me.

Good luck !

 

[Linamona 6]

On 12/7/2021 at 9:51 AM, Cloggie said:

Hi All,

I received a message from the USCIS after I contacted them on my portal about the status of my case.

(I am waiting for an interview)

It appears my request has now been forwarded to the field office.

I was given a referral ID and I will be contacted concerning my case once they have reviewed my inquiry.

Has anybody had a similar message and how much time is involved here?

there you go, now just wait a bit longer. I hope that your case concludes fast.

[Linamona 6]

On 12/27/2021 at 4:16 PM, Cloggie said:

"...If you still have not heard from USCIS six months after the date of this email..."..that doesn't bode well for us...

ignore that . I got it just before my interview. They are useless