N-400 Fiasco

[NDB052714 122]

Hi.

 

Thought I'd share what happened to us yesterday...

 

Filed N-400 in March, 2020; 1-751 was still pending at the time. 

• 1-751 biometrics scheduled for April 2 (canceled due to COVID)
• 1-751 interview scheduled for April 14 (canceled due to COVID)
• 1-751 approved May 22
• Permanent Green Card received May 28

 

On August 6 we received notification to appear for I-751 interview. What? Why? 1-751 had been approved on May 22 and green card received on May 28 (with expiration date of May 22, 2030). Very confusing, right? So we called the Call Center...spoke to a very nice supervisor who informed us that it would actually be a combo interview for I-751 and N-400. She explained that since the citizenship application is based on marriage they would need to collect some information that would normally be collected during an I-751 interview and then of course the N-400 interview...so she told us to be prepared for both. So exciting, right?

 

So we spent the past month making sure we had all the current documentation to supplement evidence submitted for both 751 and 400. We spent time studying citizenship questions and  of course feeling anxious but very excited!  

 

Yesterday, 9/2, we arrived at the Raleigh-Durham Field Office at 12:45 PM for the 1:00 PM appointment...went through all the security steps and then checked in for the appointment via i-pad video. Appointment was verified and then we were directed to find our way to Room #8 for the interview, to shut the door and to sit in front of the i-pad and remove our masks and wait for the agent to begin the interview. And so we did. Everything was working very smoothly and very efficiently. 

 

Long story short (and an hour later)...appointment was apparently a mistake. The officer informed us that there was good news and bad news: good news, i-751 has been approved already so no interview required; bad news, N-400 application is not ready for interview.  I explained to her that we too were confused by the interview notice so that's why we called the Call Center; I relayed what the supervisor told us. The agent went away for awhile to do some research; she came back to explain that the case shows one task outstanding and that they can't move forward until that task is complete.

 

So then I shared (as nicely as possible) how frustrating and disrespectful the situation is...time and energy spent pulling together documents, studying for the citizenship test, worrying, taking time from work and school. She commiserated but she explained her hands were tied. She shared that COVID has caused some problems with the systems and processes. And so that was it...we left. And so we continue waiting. 

 

Major disappointment for sure. 

 

A few lessons learned I guess: 

1. Call Center can't necessarily be trusted to dispense good/accurate information. 
2. USCIS processes are ridiculous...but of course, we all know that don't we? Processes lack compassion and empathy. I'm sure there was a supervisor somewhere at the Field Office who could have taken our case in hand and pushed through some sort of progress while we were there. 
3. Our case is just one of how many? So I guess mistakes are going to happen. 

 

--David & Noom

 

PS...interestingly, just after we left the Field Office we got caught in a 30 minute traffic stand-still due to VP Pence's visit to Raleigh. Felt like the government was really messing with us yesterday! 

 

 

 

 

[geowrian 22,337]

39 minutes ago, NDB052714 said:

• Call Center can't necessarily be trusted to dispense good/accurate information. 

Very true

39 minutes ago, NDB052714 said:

• USCIS processes are ridiculous...but of course, we all know that don't we? Processes lack compassion and empathy. I'm sure there was a supervisor somewhere at the Field Office who could have taken our case in hand and pushed through some sort of progress while we were there. 

Immigration is not a compassionate or empathetic process. Never really has been. They don't work for the petitioners or applicants. They rarely deviate from established flows.

39 minutes ago, NDB052714 said:

• Our case is just one of how many? So I guess mistakes are going to happen. 

Yup. It's a very human process and humans are flawed.

 

In particular, there have been a few recent cases of I-751 interview notices being sent out but then approval notices sent and cards issued instead.

[millefleur 5,047]

Ugh, that's super frustrating...so basically you went there in person to have them tell you "ROC is approved but N-400 is still pending." I wonder if this is going to happen to more and more people currently awaiting combo ROC/N-400 interviews.

[PinkCandy 134]

On 9/4/2020 at 9:35 AM, NDB052714 said:

Hi.

 

Thought I'd share what happened to us yesterday...

 

Filed N-400 in March, 2020; 1-751 was still pending at the time. 

• 1-751 biometrics scheduled for April 2 (canceled due to COVID)
• 1-751 interview scheduled for April 14 (canceled due to COVID)
• 1-751 approved May 22
• Permanent Green Card received May 28

 

On August 6 we received notification to appear for I-751 interview. What? Why? 1-751 had been approved on May 22 and green card received on May 28 (with expiration date of May 22, 2030). Very confusing, right? So we called the Call Center...spoke to a very nice supervisor who informed us that it would actually be a combo interview for I-751 and N-400. She explained that since the citizenship application is based on marriage they would need to collect some information that would normally be collected during an I-751 interview and then of course the N-400 interview...so she told us to be prepared for both. So exciting, right?

 

So we spent the past month making sure we had all the current documentation to supplement evidence submitted for both 751 and 400. We spent time studying citizenship questions and  of course feeling anxious but very excited!  

 

Yesterday, 9/2, we arrived at the Raleigh-Durham Field Office at 12:45 PM for the 1:00 PM appointment...went through all the security steps and then checked in for the appointment via i-pad video. Appointment was verified and then we were directed to find our way to Room #8 for the interview, to shut the door and to sit in front of the i-pad and remove our masks and wait for the agent to begin the interview. And so we did. Everything was working very smoothly and very efficiently. 

 

Long story short (and an hour later)...appointment was apparently a mistake. The officer informed us that there was good news and bad news: good news, i-751 has been approved already so no interview required; bad news, N-400 application is not ready for interview.  I explained to her that we too were confused by the interview notice so that's why we called the Call Center; I relayed what the supervisor told us. The agent went away for awhile to do some research; she came back to explain that the case shows one task outstanding and that they can't move forward until that task is complete.

 

So then I shared (as nicely as possible) how frustrating and disrespectful the situation is...time and energy spent pulling together documents, studying for the citizenship test, worrying, taking time from work and school. She commiserated but she explained her hands were tied. She shared that COVID has caused some problems with the systems and processes. And so that was it...we left. And so we continue waiting. 

 

Major disappointment for sure. 

 

A few lessons learned I guess: 

1. Call Center can't necessarily be trusted to dispense good/accurate information. 
2. USCIS processes are ridiculous...but of course, we all know that don't we? Processes lack compassion and empathy. I'm sure there was a supervisor somewhere at the Field Office who could have taken our case in hand and pushed through some sort of progress while we were there. 
3. Our case is just one of how many? So I guess mistakes are going to happen. 

 

--David & Noom

 

PS...interestingly, just after we left the Field Office we got caught in a 30 minute traffic stand-still due to VP Pence's visit to Raleigh. Felt like the government was really messing with us yesterday! 

 

 

 

 

Hi there,

 

This is interesting. I'm in the same field office as you - Raleigh, NC and I just filed my N-400 August 10th. Today I received the  notification that interview is already scheduled although I have not received the document of the details. 

Apparently they are reusing my biometrics from my ROC. I just received my 10-yr greencard in July.

This is weird. Now, I'm skeptical of my new update. 

[Thegirl 225]

There's so much craziness going on now. My i-751 add n400 got transferred but ended up in two different offices... And interview scheduled in the wrong office...and a slew of other things! I'm glad you at least got your green card! Hopefully your N400 interview week be soon. Fingers crossed. 

[NDB052714 122]

12 hours ago, PinkCandy said:

Hi there,

 

This is interesting. I'm in the same field office as you - Raleigh, NC and I just filed my N-400 August 10th. Today I received the  notification that interview is already scheduled although I have not received the document of the details. 

Apparently they are reusing my biometrics from my ROC. I just received my 10-yr greencard in July.

This is weird. Now, I'm skeptical of my new update. 

Very interesting but unusual for sure! But maybe everything will be prefect for you. I hope so. Good luck. Please let us now what happens. 

 

--David

[NDB052714 122]

10 hours ago, Thegirl said:

There's so much craziness going on now. My i-751 add n400 got transferred but ended up in two different offices... And interview scheduled in the wrong office...and a slew of other things! I'm glad you at least got your green card! Hopefully your N400 interview week be soon. Fingers crossed. 

HI. Craziness is right! Good luck to you, too. 

 

--David