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Naturalization paperwork jam hits Texas hard

By peejay in US Citizenship General Discussion

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peejay Mentor

peejay   327

Posted
Filed: Country: Belarus
 Timeline
Posted

Naturalization paperwork jam hits Texas hard

Backlog may keep some from casting votes for president

By SUZANNE GAMBOA

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Millions of people who applied for naturalization and other immigration benefits to beat a midsummer fee increase are caught in a paperwork pileup that threatens the chance for some to become U.S. citizens in time to vote in next November's presidential election.

The application backlog is so large that Citizenship and Immigration Services, a division of the Homeland Security Department, is months behind schedule in returning receipts for checks written to cover fees — an early step in the process.

The onslaught of applications has led to some files being sent back with errors or mistakenly rejected, while others appear to be lost in the system, applicants and attorneys say. Service centers in Texas and Nebraska have the longest delays. The Texas Service Center is working on applications dating from July 26, according to the agency's latest Web posting.

"Were we caught off guard by the volume? Let's just say it was anticipated it would increase. It was not anticipated it would increase by that much," said Emilio Gonzalez, director of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The immigration agency would not say how many applications it has received. The American Immigration Lawyers Association, a private legal advocacy group, said it was told by agency officials that 3.5 million applications had come in over a two-month period. The agency projected a workload of 3.2 million applications for fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

Gonzalez ordered his staff to give priority to naturalizations, but some applicants will miss voting in primaries, which begin in January.

"I really want to target the elections," Gonzalez said. "I really want to get as many people out there to vote as possible."

The application crush was worsened by another flood of about 300,000 applications from skilled workers wanting to become legal residents. The agency initially said it wouldn't accept the visa applications but changed its mind amid public outrage.

The agency also set up hot lines and is posting progress updates on its Web site. Files are being sent to Vermont and California for processing there. The agency has asked staff members to volunteer to help clear the delayed paperwork, just as the State Department did when confronted with a passport application backlog because of a change in law requiring Americans to show a passport when flying to and from Mexico, Canada and the Bahamas.

At least 110 immigration workers are being sent to Texas and Nebraska to help process applications, the agency said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metrop...an/5318762.html

"Credibility in immigration policy can be summed up in one sentence: Those who should get in, get in; those who should be kept out, are kept out; and those who should not be here will be required to leave."

"...for the system to be credible, people actually have to be deported at the end of the process."

US Congresswoman Barbara Jordan (D-TX)

Testimony to the House Immigration Subcommittee, February 24, 1995

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Jasman0717 Grand Master

Jasman0717   9

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Philippines
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Posted (edited)

When I first joined VJ there were pictures here of protesters marching on the Texas service center because of it's slowness. Guess things haven't changed much in 3 1/2 years :blink:

Edited by jasman0717

usa_fl_sm_nwm.gifphilippines_fl_md_clr.gif

United States & Republic of the Philippines

"Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid." John Wayne

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annatenna Explorer

annatenna   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Timeline
Posted

"Gonzalez ordered his staff to give priority to naturalizations,'

But they didn't, did they? They dealt with all the I485s first.

I'm glad the situation is getting a bit of publicity. The LA Times and Boston Globe both carried the story too, maybe others will follow.

Maybe some helpful Senator or Representative, or presidential candidate will notice and DO something about it.

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japau Explorer

japau   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Venezuela
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21922493/

Maybe they would be in more of a hurry if more immigrants were Republicans? LOL...

Edited by japau

August 27, 2004 - - Married

09/07/04. Apply I-130 - (receipt date) (Day 1/NA/NA)

10/12/04. I-130 Approved - (Day 35/NA/NA)

10/16/04. NVC Receives Case (Day 39/Day 1/NA)

11/08/04. NVC Assigns Case Number (Day 62/Day 23/Day 1)

12/06/04. I-864 and IV fees sent out express (Day 88/Day 49/Day 26)

12/20/04. I-864 and DS-230 "generated" (Day 102/Day 63/Day 40)

01/07/05. I-864 and DS-230 sent express (Day 120/Day 81/Day 58)

01/10/05. I-864 and DS-230 Rec'd at NVC (Day 123/Day 84/Day 61)

01/12/05. NVC reports receipt of papers and begins entering information (Day 125/Day 86/Day 63)

01/14/05. System updated with "biographic forms received" message. (Day 127/Day 88/Day 65)

02/03/05. Case APPROVED and forwarded to EMBASSY! (Day 147/Day 108/Day 85)

02/10/05. Embassy receives case, interview appointment arranged via email for 03/03/05!

SUCCESS! VISA 'INTERVIEW' WITH NO QUESTIONS TO MY WIFE AT ALL COMPLETED ON 03-03-05. VISA IN HAND ON 03-04!!! DAY 175 (AFTER SENDING I-130) - DAY 136 (AFTER RECEIPT OF CASE AT NVC) - DAY 113 (AFTER ASSIGNMENT OF CASE NUMBER)

REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS

01/08/07. I-751 Mailed to TSC

01/11/07. Checks Cashed

01/22/07. I-797C Received. Green Card Extended 12 Months

02/08/07. Bimoetrics appointment (for 3/01) received

03/01/07. Biometrics Taken in Tampa

03/02/07. Online - Record - Updated (probably for biometrics)

06/04/07. Card Production Ordered (Allow 30 days for delivery)

06/11/07. 10 year card received.

NATURALIZATION

04/08/08. Filed application

08/01/01. Received Interview Date (September 25)

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Cassie Mentor

Cassie   8

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
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Posted

This fails to surprise me.

*Cheryl -- Nova Scotia ....... Jerry -- Oklahoma*

Jan 17, 2014 N-400 submitted

Jan 27, 2014 NOA received and cheque cashed

Feb 13, 2014 Biometrics scheduled

Nov 7, 2014 NOA received and interview scheduled


MAY IS NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH
Educate Yourself on the Warning Signs of Stroke -- talk to me, I am a survivor!

"Life is as the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset" ---Crowfoot

The true measure of a society is how those who have treat those who don't.

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annatenna Explorer

annatenna   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Timeline
Posted
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21922493/

Maybe they would be in more of a hurry if more immigrants were Republicans? LOL...

Yep! Many a true word spoken in jest!!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/22/182533/10

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tweety Rising Star

tweety   1

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Germany
 Timeline
Posted

can't wait to get to this part.... :angry:TSC sux.

animal-smiley-085.gif

Mar 06, 2007: mailed I751!

Mar 09, 2007: I751 arrived at TSC

Mar 13, 2007: checks cleared bank

Mar 24, 2007: biometrics receipt dated Mar 09

Mar 28, 2007: NOA1 dated Mar 09

Mar 28, 2007: biometrics letter dated Mar 22

Apr 06, 2007: biometrics appointment

(Oct 09, 2007: called USCIS: service request sent to TSC)

Jan 31, 2008: case transferred to VSC (last touch date changed from 04/07/07 to 02/01/08)

Feb 01, 2008: touch

Feb 04, 2008: touch

(Feb 05, 2008: infopass appointment)

Feb 07, 2008: transfer notice dated Feb 01, 08

Feb 13, 2008: touch (Current Status: This case is now pending at the office to which it was transferred.)

Feb 25, 2008: touch

Apr 11, 2008: approval email! (only took 1 year, 34 days!)

Apr 13, 2008: 2 more approval emails

Apr 16, 2008: email notice: "Approval notice sent"

Apr 18, 2008: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!! card received!

tumbleweed-1.gif

04/22/2010 N400 mailed

05/05/2010 check cashed

05/07/2010 NOA1 dated 05/04/2010

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annatenna Explorer

annatenna   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Timeline
Posted

My NOA arrived today- quicker than expected! :-)

They say to expect notification of interview within 365 days of this notice.

TSC N400 26 July

Cheque cashed 19 Nov

NOA 26 Nov

PD 27 July

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