USCIS Errors/Naturalization Interview Canceled.

[h02ejmajja 57]

My husband was scheduled for his Naturalization interview on Wednesday. It was a three hour drive and they notified us after arriving that they would not be able to do his interview because of a problem with his A-number. Prior to leaving our town, we checked the website, everything looked good - they updated it later in the day. 

 

We knew there was an A-number problem because of our attempts at ROC - however we felt it had been sorted out, as his interview had been scheduled. 

This is the problem: 

K1 filed - A number 211 assigned. (K1 ultimately put into AP/expired)

I-130 filed - A number 211 still used

When receiving letter for CR1 interview, A-number listed as 022 number. 

Visa received, entry into the US, handwritten 022 number in passport. 

Green card received, 022 number on green card. 

Filed ROC November 2022 using 022 number - at some point USCIS contacted my husband to let him know that his correct A-number was the 211 one. 

Received 18 month extension letter with the 211 number. Filed N-400 (Nov 2021) using the 211 number. 

1st Biometrics done - using the 211 number (for Naturalization). 

Received 24 month extension letter - now with an A-834 number (we honestly didn't realize it at the time)

2nd Biometrics done - using the A-834 number (for ROC). 

Received Naturalization Interview letter - 211 number listed. 

 

So it was cancelled because of the "A number mismatch" but we have no idea (other than to wait) what to do about this. 

It wasn't an error or anything we did wrong - but it's delaying the ROC and the Naturalization. Our case status when we log in now gives us an estimate of 8 months until our case is approved - but it already HAD been approved. 

 

Any idea how we can fix this? I've reached out to Senator's office for some guidance, signed the ROI and waiting for a response from them. 

 

[Timona 4,207]

This is something for USCIS to fix. So, you'll just have to wait and give them time

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

That’s annoying.  Senator is probably your best bet to move this along tbh given that uscis doesn’t seem to have been able to figure it out over the past however many years.

[Imperium 81]

11 hours ago, h02ejmajja said:

My husband was scheduled for his Naturalization interview on Wednesday. It was a three hour drive and they notified us after arriving that they would not be able to do his interview because of a problem with his A-number. Prior to leaving our town, we checked the website, everything looked good - they updated it later in the day. 

 

We knew there was an A-number problem because of our attempts at ROC - however we felt it had been sorted out, as his interview had been scheduled. 

This is the problem: 

K1 filed - A number 211 assigned. (K1 ultimately put into AP/expired)

I-130 filed - A number 211 still used

When receiving letter for CR1 interview, A-number listed as 022 number. 

Visa received, entry into the US, handwritten 022 number in passport. 

Green card received, 022 number on green card. 

Filed ROC November 2022 using 022 number - at some point USCIS contacted my husband to let him know that his correct A-number was the 211 one. 

Received 18 month extension letter with the 211 number. Filed N-400 (Nov 2021) using the 211 number. 

1st Biometrics done - using the 211 number (for Naturalization). 

Received 24 month extension letter - now with an A-834 number (we honestly didn't realize it at the time)

2nd Biometrics done - using the A-834 number (for ROC). 

Received Naturalization Interview letter - 211 number listed. 

 

So it was cancelled because of the "A number mismatch" but we have no idea (other than to wait) what to do about this. 

It wasn't an error or anything we did wrong - but it's delaying the ROC and the Naturalization. Our case status when we log in now gives us an estimate of 8 months until our case is approved - but it already HAD been approved. 

 

Any idea how we can fix this? I've reached out to Senator's office for some guidance, signed the ROI and waiting for a response from them. 

 

Senator's office cant do anything. USCIS may have already initiated the internal reqest to investigate and correct the isuue. Local Field Offices have no prior knowledge of your case or any issues in your A-file.  On the day of interview, A-files are recieved and placed in scheduled que for examination and interview. A clerk reviews the file and places a yellow page on it for "CIS File Close" post-decision log. 

 

For examination, once an application or petition is recieved, A-files are researched for completion and compliance for that particular application by the NBC. Because CLAIMS4 is automated, it generates A-file transfer request for mobilization of A-file to the Local Filed Office using Zipcode.

 

After a paper A-File is generated for a person, USCIS Records Personnel electronically creates a record in CIS capturing eight mandatory data fields from the benefits application, visa application, or law enforcement document. These mandatory data elements include the Alien Number, first name, last name, date of birth, File Control Office (FCO), country of birth, date of file opened, and class of admission. CIS may contain additional information from documents provided by the applicant when applying for benefits or visas or from information provided by law enforcement officials due to an encounter. Please note only Records personnel and/or Records contract staff are designated and trained to perform the electronic creation of an entry in CIS, not a Field Office employee.

 

Computer-Linked Application Information Management System 4 (CLAIMS 4) provides automated support for the processing of Application for Naturalization (N-400) forms, including the receiving, data entry, and other initial processing operations of the USCIS Service Centers, as well as the adjudications and oath ceremony management activities of the local USCIS offices. CLAIMS 4 sends three different application data: Central Index Close, File Transfer Request, and Verify Data. CIS sends special protected class data to CLAIMS4 on daily basis so the good news is that once correct, it will readily be reflected into your A-file.

 

In the long run, discovery of this error at this stage is beneficial for you because it will save you headches down the line of A-file mismatch. It is an internal administrative task and will be resolved by CIS staff by purging/ or merging the file to the correct A-number.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, Imperium said:

Senator's office cant do anything.

Senators office can push uscis to get it resolved when they’re not doing it themselves. Many people here, myself included, have had help from senators with uscis.

You talk about discovery “at this stage” being beneficial. If you read OP’s post the discovery already happened when they did ROC.

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by SusieQQQ

[Imperium 81]

2 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Senators office can push uscis to get it resolved when they’re not doing it themselves. Many people here, myself included, have had help from senators with uscis.

You talk about discovery “at this stage” being beneficial. If you read OP’s post the discovery already happened when they did ROC.

 

Discovery at the earlier stage did not prompt USCIS to fully eradicate the issue. N400 is the last string and CLAIMS4 will not complete "CIS File Close" request if there are outstading issues.

As for congressional support, it is simply an effort to keep them reminded of an event and data point for GAO. Congressional Rep cannot force USCIS or any agency to complete a task if the agency takes more and is not barred by law. In this particular case, USCIS has not refused to resolve it. 

Responsibility also falls on the applicant as well. Upon first discovery, they should have visited local office to have it fixed.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, Imperium said:

Discovery at the earlier stage did not prompt USCIS to fully eradicate the issue. N400 is the last string and CLAIMS4 will not complete "CIS File Close" request if there are outstading issues.

As for congressional support, it is simply an effort to keep them reminded of an event and data point for GAO. Congressional Rep cannot force USCIS or any agency to complete a task if the agency takes more and is not barred by law. In this particular case, USCIS has not refused to resolve it. 

Responsibility also falls on the applicant as well. Upon first discovery, they should have visited local office to have it fixed.

Omg ok LOL whatever. OP has already contacted senator anyway who many of us have found useful at pushing uscis along when they seem to get stuck without progressing.  Your great knowledge of systems and who should have done what when (none of which has happened in a way to resolve this in the year or more it’s been an issue) doesn’t change that simple, empirical fact. 
 

bottom line - can it hurt? No

can it help? Yes. So why not try?

Edited October 10, 2022 by SusieQQQ

[h02ejmajja 57]

1 hour ago, Imperium said:

Responsibility also falls on the applicant as well. Upon first discovery, they should have visited local office to have it fixed.

Sure - we should have double checked every number within our case when receiving any updates  - but I guess one doesn't assume that they are going to make these mistakes. I would think if you polled everyone on here did they check their A-number on every document received, most would say no. Our "local office" is also 150 miles away and during the past couple years an InfoPass appointment has been increasingly difficult to make. Besides, the people doing the InfoPass often don't have all the information on your case either. 

 

[h02ejmajja 57]

3 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Omg ok LOL whatever. OP has already contacted senator anyway who many of us have found useful at pushing uscis along when they seem to get stuck without progressing.  Your great knowledge of systems and who should have done what when (none of which has happened in a way to resolve this in the year or more it’s been an issue) doesn’t change that simple, empirical fact. 

Thanks. And that's the frustrating part - I don't know how to get it to be "fixed" other than waiting, as it's been so long. I'm appreciative of the fact that my husband is here, and we do have the extension letter, but it's the smaller frustrating things too - what if when he returns from visiting his family with the extension letter, they actually take time and look up the A-number and notice it's incorrect? His driver's  license expires everytime the extension letter does so it's getting renewed  every 6 months-ish right now. My family is in London but we can't go visit them without applying for a visitor visa for him so we've  been putting it off until he got citizenship. So while nothing MAJOR is affected, it  still feels like we are  "on hold" at  their timeline - as we've been at this essentially 6 years since we first filed for a K1, we are just 100% ready to be done at this point. 

 

[Imperium 81]

4 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Omg ok LOL whatever. OP has already contacted senator anyway who many of us have found useful at pushing uscis along when they seem to get stuck without progressing.  Your great knowledge of systems and who should have done what when (none of which has happened in a way to resolve this in the year or more it’s been an issue) doesn’t change that simple, empirical fact. 
 

bottom line - can it hurt? No

can it help? Yes. So why not try?

Are you a teenager?

Maintain a civil discourse dude. Have a good day!