N-400 May 2020 filers

[AH2020 30]

On 10/22/2021 at 7:05 AM, rams_usa said:

Just got an update on my SR.

 

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 National Benefits Center.

 

Not sure what this means. Any one has experience on this ? 

I got the same thing today when a Tier 2 Officer called me back about my case. Worthless.  

[roddie2k 68]

Received a lengthy response back from Newark Field office (critical parts bolded) :

 

 

We have reviewed the available information related to your constituent’s concerns and determined that your constituent has a file, which is currently at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Typically, archived files which are not in the custody of the USCIS National Record Center (NRC), must be requested through NARA. Yet, at the present time and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NARA has suspended or closed their research facilities to the public and other Federal agencies.

USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in a timely and efficient manner while also ensuring public safety, national security, and compliance with all relevant directives. Like other Federal agencies, USCIS has taken necessary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Such mitigation efforts include increased social distancing and frequent cleaning in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control guidance and limited access to facilities when necessary. Yet, throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, our agency has worked to balance the safety and health of our workforce with the needs and desires of our applicants and petitioners. USCIS cannot compel other Federal agencies to circumvent their own COVID-19 protocols to assist us in our adjudication efforts.

While the processing steps for most applications or petitions are completed quickly, a small percentage of cases involve researching unresolved issues that may result in adjudication delays because of COVID-19 restrictions throughout the Federal government. Additionally, increased filings and other external factors may result in some applicants and petitioners experiencing increased delays in adjudication if essential file information is located at NARA.

We understand your office’s concerns regarding the processing of your constituent’s applications and petitions. USCIS is striving to resolve these issues as soon as possible. However, USCIS is unable to render a decision on your constituent’s application until we are able to access and review information that is currently unavailable to us due to its storage at the NARA. We are unable to determine when the review process for the application will be completed and ask your patience and understanding while this situation persists.

 

----------------------------------

Spouse & I  received the above response. Senator's office has asked to reach out once case hits outside of processing time.

 

Note: NARA is currently operating at 25% capacity as part of its Phase 1 reopening effort. 

 

Edited October 27, 2021 by roddie2k
word edit

[Chrisfer77 46]

I have been reading all the posts since i got my citizenship approved and I can not find a reasonable explanation of all the delays and issues related to case completions. It,s sad I know but you all hang in there, it is going to take a little bit longer but everything is going tobe all right. Praying for you all.

[thomasdiak 0]

1 hour ago, roddie2k said:

Received a lengthy response back from Newark Field office (critical parts bolded) :

 

 

We have reviewed the available information related to your constituent’s concerns and determined that your constituent has a file, which is currently at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Typically, archived files which are not in the custody of the USCIS National Record Center (NRC), must be requested through NARA. Yet, at the present time and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NARA has suspended or closed their research facilities to the public and other Federal agencies.

USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in a timely and efficient manner while also ensuring public safety, national security, and compliance with all relevant directives. Like other Federal agencies, USCIS has taken necessary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Such mitigation efforts include increased social distancing and frequent cleaning in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control guidance and limited access to facilities when necessary. Yet, throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, our agency has worked to balance the safety and health of our workforce with the needs and desires of our applicants and petitioners. USCIS cannot compel other Federal agencies to circumvent their own COVID-19 protocols to assist us in our adjudication efforts.

While the processing steps for most applications or petitions are completed quickly, a small percentage of cases involve researching unresolved issues that may result in adjudication delays because of COVID-19 restrictions throughout the Federal government. Additionally, increased filings and other external factors may result in some applicants and petitioners experiencing increased delays in adjudication if essential file information is located at NARA.

We understand your office’s concerns regarding the processing of your constituent’s applications and petitions. USCIS is striving to resolve these issues as soon as possible. However, USCIS is unable to render a decision on your constituent’s application until we are able to access and review information that is currently unavailable to us due to its storage at the NARA. We are unable to determine when the review process for the application will be completed and ask your patience and understanding while this situation persists.

 

----------------------------------

Spouse & I  received the above response. Senator's office has asked to reach out once case hits outside of processing time.

 

Note: NARA is currently operating at 25% capacity as part of its Phase 1 reopening effort. 

 

Very insightful - thank you for sharing. Who did you contact to illicit this response? Sounds like you are still within "normal" processing times (as I am for another few months)?

 

Incredible to me that even though - I assume - the vast majority of applicants here submitted everything digitally, things have managed to become congested due to hard copy documents sitting in a dusty in-box somewhere. Why couldn't all the processing have remained digital, and have been undertaken remotely like almost every other office workplace in the world?!

[roddie2k 68]

4 minutes ago, thomasdiak said:

Very insightful - thank you for sharing. Who did you contact to illicit this response? Sounds like you are still within "normal" processing times (as I am for another few months)?

 

Incredible to me that even though - I assume - the vast majority of applicants here submitted everything digitally, things have managed to become congested due to hard copy documents sitting in a dusty in-box somewhere. Why couldn't all the processing have remained digital, and have been undertaken remotely like almost every other office workplace in the world?!

This came from the Senator's office.

 

Yes - its amazing how we are stuck in stone age and what's worse- suing USCIS isn't going to get anything done because frankly its not their fault (for once).

[whatsawotsit 8]

1 hour ago, roddie2k said:

Received a lengthy response back from Newark Field office (critical parts bolded) :

...

Hi roddie2k

Sorry to hear confirmation that your petition is now in "records-request limbo". How long did it take for your enquiry via your Senator to come back with this response? I have an enquiry via my congressman, so I'm trying to gauge how long I can expect to wait for something, anything from USCIS (though basing my estimate on a single enquiry to a different official in a different state is not very scientific). Cheers

[roddie2k 68]

2 minutes ago, whatsawotsit said:

Sorry to hear confirmation that your petition is now in "records-request limbo". How long did it take for your enquiry via your Senator to come back with this response?

3 working days.

[whatsawotsit 8]

1 minute ago, roddie2k said:

3 working days.

Thanks - I've not heard back in two weeks, so that's useful to know. Cheers

[roddie2k 68]

For what it's worth, found an updated 'Return to Work' document on NARA site

 

https://www.archives.gov/files/news/nara-reentry-and-post-reentry-plan-v10012021.pdf

 

From October 18, NARA began recalling more staff into the facilities. Hopefully things move positively here on.

[AH2020 30]

I just received the below email from the Office of the Ombudsman. Sadly, this is just as generic as any response I have received from USCIS up until now. I really expected more from the Ombudsman. I have lost hope that this will ever be resolved and I am so over it. 

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for your request for case assistance.  In response to our inquiry, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated that your case is under active review.  However, USCIS  was unable to provide a specific timeframe for resolution of the case.  Our office will continue to monitor USCIS’ progress on a regular basis until there is a specific action or resolution.  We will notify you  when we receive an update from USCIS.

Please be advised that USCIS is the responsible party for moving cases forward, and the CIS Ombudsman’s Office has no role in the adjudication process.

***CHANGE OF ADDRESS***
Please note that if a petitioner or applicant changes mailing address, the individual needs to notify USCIS within ten (10) days.  If you filed your form online, a change of address may be completed through an existing USCIS online account; or by filing a Form AR-11 online.  The individual will need to both complete USCIS' Form AR-11 and contact the National Contact Center to update the mailing address for each pending application or petition.  For more information regarding changes of address, please see USCIS' webpage on Online Change of Address  which allows the individual to complete both steps electronically: https://egov.uscis.gov/coa/displayCOAForm.do.  You will need the receipt numbers for all pending applications or petitions.

If you wish to obtain additional information and explore USCIS’ Customer Service Tools and Resources, please visit USCIS Tools and Resources | USCIS.

If you receive new information or experience changed circumstances, please notify us by replying to this email.  Please reference your case number, note "Urgent Request" in the subject line, and describe your situation in detail.

Thank you for your patience as we work with USCIS to resolve your request for case assistance.

Sincerely,
 

[roddie2k 68]

1 hour ago, AH2020 said:

I just received the below email from the Office of the Ombudsman. Sadly, this is just as generic as any response I have received from USCIS up until now. I really expected more from the Ombudsman. I have lost hope that this will ever be resolved and I am so over it. 

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for your request for case assistance.  In response to our inquiry, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated that your case is under active review.  However, USCIS  was unable to provide a specific timeframe for resolution of the case.  Our office will continue to monitor USCIS’ progress on a regular basis until there is a specific action or resolution.  We will notify you  when we receive an update from USCIS.

Please be advised that USCIS is the responsible party for moving cases forward, and the CIS Ombudsman’s Office has no role in the adjudication process.
 

Sorry to hear about the useless response - Please try writing to your senator. They maybe able to get concrete answers as to why your case is delayed.

 

[AH2020 30]

20 minutes ago, roddie2k said:

Sorry to hear about the useless response - Please try writing to your senator. They maybe able to get concrete answers as to why your case is delayed.

 

Already done that, they got this response from USCIS: 

 

Thank you for your inquiries about the case status of your constituent Citizenship Application. Currently the application is delayed due to a delay at the National Records Center (NRC). The file we need in order to proceed with your constituents Citizenship Application is archived at the NRC and the USCIS National Benefits Center ordered the file April 2020. Due to the COVID pandemic the NRC has experience staff shortages that limit requests to law enforcement related requests only. We have made a local inquiry about obtaining the archived file and will update your office when a response is received. We apologize for the delay.

 

Same BS. No matter who we contact, its not going anywhere. 

[roddie2k 68]

33 minutes ago, AH2020 said:

Already done that, they got this response from USCIS: 

 

Thank you for your inquiries about the case status of your constituent Citizenship Application. Currently the application is delayed due to a delay at the National Records Center (NRC). The file we need in order to proceed with your constituents Citizenship Application is archived at the NRC and the USCIS National Benefits Center ordered the file April 2020. Due to the COVID pandemic the NRC has experience staff shortages that limit requests to law enforcement related requests only. We have made a local inquiry about obtaining the archived file and will update your office when a response is received. We apologize for the delay.

 

Same BS. No matter who we contact, its not going anywhere. 

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, due to the Federal vaccine mandate that goes into effect Nov 2, institutions such as NARA should see more workers coming back in to work .Let's hope this works in your favour.

 

Since you have exhausted all other options,  please consider sending a request to the White house which has a section for assistance with Federal Agencies https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/   - something is bound to work.

 

 

[iacrossnation 4]

I just wanted to know if we filed online, why USCIS can't access the application and it has to be stored at NARA? 

[roddie2k 68]

25 minutes ago, iacrossnation said:

I just wanted to know if we filed online, why USCIS can't access the application and it has to be stored at NARA? 

It's not the application-  , your n400 along with the submitted evidences are with the national benefit center. Your A-records from the time you became an immigrant are supposedly stored at the NARA facility. 

 

To adjudicate your case, they need both sets of records.