N-400 April 2020 Filers

[roddie2k 68]

15 minutes ago, MJS2020 said:

Biometrics are the toughest to pull off. People are checked at the entrance by a security guard and will have to remove their masks to be authenticated. Then they have to wait with multiple other people. Finally, the applicant will have to take their mask for a picture.

I do believe that the biometrics will be the bottleneck of this process. I am still waiting for a biometrics appointment for soon to be 4 months. It would be great if the USCIS reused the biometrics they have on file but I highly doubt it will happen for naturalization purposes. 

Biometrics is , but one aspect of the process.  The other pieces can still move in the background (application review, checks)- and hopefully align with the expected case completion timelines.

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, roddie2k said:

Biometrics is , but one aspect of the process.  The other pieces can still move in the background (application review, checks)- and hopefully align with the expected case completion timelines.

My assumption is that one's case probably just sits there until biometrics are done, because I assume they can't carry out a background check without fingerprints. Would be nice to know what actually does go on behind the scenes!

[roddie2k 68]

Just now, millefleur said:

My assumption is that one's case probably just sits there until biometrics are done, because I assume they can't carry out a background check without fingerprints. Would be nice to know what actually does go on behind the scenes!

I assumed just the same..until I was told by a USCIS agent that it doesn't hinder the checks - not sure if I would hang on to that 100 percent . I agree - there needs to be more transparency on the process particularly given the fees that we pay towards this.

[millefleur 5,047]

2 minutes ago, roddie2k said:

I assumed just the same..until I was told by a USCIS agent that it doesn't hinder the checks - not sure if I would hang on to that 100 percent . I agree - there needs to be more transparency on the process particularly given the fees that we pay towards this.

Totally agree. Since we know Application Support Centers will be doing a "phased re-open" on July 13th, let's hope for some kind of update soon!

 

 

[Thelord 42]

In one of the Q&A during the USCIS webinar the question was when do you re-use the biometrics and he responded if 1) the applicant already submitted its biometric to USCIS in the past and 2) the case is ready for the adjudication otherwise.

 

My interpretation of the first part is there should be the biometrics should be submitted to the USCIS under the same A-file in the past and on the second part it means the case is passed the 3rd year and 5th year anniversary and thus they are technically ready for adjudication. For example when I filed April 1 it was based on the 90 days rule meaning during this 90 days my application is not ready but effective July 1 given the 5 year anniversary passes my case is ready to be adjudicated IF there is an empty spot for the interview.

 

So it will be interesting to see during the next couple weeks how many biometrics are going to be re-used for March and April filers and whether anyone can get a straight interview scheduled without the biometrics.

[MJS2020 17]

29 minutes ago, Thelord said:

In one of the Q&A during the USCIS webinar the question was when do you re-use the biometrics and he responded if 1) the applicant already submitted its biometric to USCIS in the past and 2) the case is ready for the adjudication otherwise.

 

My interpretation of the first part is there should be the biometrics should be submitted to the USCIS under the same A-file in the past and on the second part it means the case is passed the 3rd year and 5th year anniversary and thus they are technically ready for adjudication. For example when I filed April 1 it was based on the 90 days rule meaning during this 90 days my application is not ready but effective July 1 given the 5 year anniversary passes my case is ready to be adjudicated IF there is an empty spot for the interview.

 

So it will be interesting to see during the next couple weeks how many biometrics are going to be re-used for March and April filers and whether anyone can get a straight interview scheduled without the biometrics.

We’ll see. I’m afraid that it’s only going to delay the process. When I was in the process of ROC I got a letter (in June) from the USCIS stating that they are reusing my biometrics and there is nothing I need to do at that time. Later in November, I’ve got a letter stating that I need to get my biometrics done. I’ve called them to ask what the f happened and they just said “oh well, we decided to not use those biometrics and request new ones.” All that time in between was wasted.

Edited June 24, 2020 by MJS2020

[Scandi 4,176]

31 minutes ago, MJS2020 said:

We’ll see. I’m afraid that it’s only going to delay the process. When I was in the process of ROC I got a letter (in June) from the USCIS stating that they are reusing my biometrics and there is nothing I need to do at that time. Later in November, I’ve got a letter stating that I need to get my biometrics done. I’ve called them to ask what the f happened and they just said “oh well, we decided to not use those biometrics and request new ones.” All that time in between was wasted.

They ask for biometrics when they need them, and ROC usually take so long that they don't need anybody's biometrics for a long while after filing. I bet the reason they started sending out letter stating they will reuse biometrics was to keep the crazies (applicants who don't know how to wait) from calling the customer support over and over asking why they hadn't got a bio appointment yet. Since ROC takes so long, your biometrics would just sit there and collect dust anyway if you had them done early on, until they were ready to do the background checks. Also, biometrics have a "best before date" to USCIS, of 15 months. Many ROC cases take much longer than 15 months, so it's better to have them done later in the process or risk having to redo them.

 

There is no time wasted.

[Applying 7]

Are USCIS Biometric stations still shut down in New York City?

[millefleur 5,047]

2 minutes ago, Applying said:

Are USCIS Biometric stations still shut down in New York City?

According to this, New York City's office is "Closed to Public: Emergency Services Only"

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings

 

If you need to find a specific Application Support Center, try here:

https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asc

[Alexabbas334 17]

Did you guys see where the processing times for almost all the USCIS centers has changed to 12-36 months! 

[lesly87 27]

On 6/24/2020 at 4:27 PM, Applying said:

Are USCIS Biometric stations still shut down in New York City?

In a different forum, a guy had called USCIS 2 days ago and they told him ASC in NYC will likely open July 13th. Hope this helps!

[millefleur 5,047]

48 minutes ago, Alexabbas334 said:

Did you guys see where the processing times for almost all the USCIS centers has changed to 12-36 months! 

Some have even gone up to 48 months. It seems like they've just given up trying to give an accurate estimate.

 

I also think they changed it to avoid people calling and complaining about their case being out of normal processing time.

Edited June 26, 2020 by millefleur

[ShpatBeqa 32]

 

On 6/26/2020 at 11:31 AM, Alexabbas334 said:

Did you guys see where the processing times for almost all the USCIS centers has changed to 12-36 months! 

 

Mine still says 10 months...lets hope it stays that way.

[ShpatBeqa 32]

It's been 2 months since i filed online, nothing yet hopefully well see something change.

[millefleur 5,047]

Application Support Center list has been published from USCIS:

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings

 

This list is appears to be a work in progress - check the site link above for the most up-to-date info. It's changing by the hour.

Edited June 29, 2020 by millefleur