Interview postponed - tale of woe

Inlineagain

Registered Users (C)
I'd hoped to be reporting back with useful information about my interview, instead it's a tale of woe.:(

We arrived at the USCIS office, all geared up for my citizenship interview scheduled 1.05pm, 11 April. We waited in a room, where the temperature was fit only for chilling meat, for half an hour before, and half an hour after the scheduled time, only to be told that two interviewing officers, of the three available, had had to go home sick that morning and the remaining officer's list was full, she could take no more interviews.

They had telephoned our home earlier with no response. We'd have left early even had we not decided to stay over the previous night, so a morning call after 9am would have made no difference. The journey is around 80 miles, and the weather had been very iffy for a couple of days with floods, tornado watches and violent storms. We did not want to risk missing this appointment for which I'd been waiting since last July.

We saw another applicant, the only other one present, sent away earlier, and because we were not approached at that time, around ten minutes before my appointment, felt that I must be listed with the remaining interviewing officer. It was not until half an hour after my scheduled time that we were given the bad news .

We watched two people who arrived long after we did, accompanied by an attorney, ushered in for their interview. Worse, when I asked the bearer of bad tidings, who was very apologetic, when I could expect re-scheduling he said the rest of April and all of May has been scheduled already it will be June or July for me. I had to bite my tongue - very hard. :mad:

I'd already been put to the inconvenience of a second visit and overnight stay for a re-take of fingerprints - probably due to the operative's incompetence the first time around - then there was the 17 week wait I had to even get a receipt for my $400 cheque and acknowledgement of my application. I applied on 26 July 2007.

I'm considering making a complaint, because although staff sickness cannot be foreseen, it seems to me unfair that I must go back to the end of the line again and have to wait so long for a new slot.
 
So sorry to hear your mishap inlineagain....
I feel really sad how could this happened twice during your N400 journey: first fingerprint had to be taken twice and now again interview date twice..... :(
Let past stay in the past and hope all of us can be a supportive group for you.
Hope that the IO give you the exact date for your 'postponed' interview already so that you can look forward to it in June-July...

Cheers my friend....
 
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I'd hoped to be reporting back with useful information about my interview, instead it's a tale of woe.:(

We arrived at the USCIS office, all geared up for my citizenship interview scheduled 1.05pm, 11 April. We waited in a room, where the temperature was fit only for chilling meat, for half an hour before, and half an hour after the scheduled time, only to be told that two interviewing officers, of the three available, had had to go home sick that morning and the remaining officer's list was full, she could take no more interviews.

They had telephoned our home earlier with no response. We'd have left early even had we not decided to stay over the previous night, so a morning call after 9am would have made no difference. The journey is around 80 miles, and the weather had been very iffy for a couple of days with floods, tornado watches and violent storms. We did not want to risk missing this appointment for which I'd been waiting since last July.

We saw another applicant, the only other one present, sent away earlier, and because we were not approached at that time, around ten minutes before my appointment, felt that I must be listed with the remaining interviewing officer. It was not until half an hour after my scheduled time that we were given the bad news .

We watched two people who arrived long after we did, accompanied by an attorney, ushered in for their interview. Worse, when I asked the bearer of bad tidings, who was very apologetic, when I could expect re-scheduling he said the rest of April and all of May has been scheduled already it will be June or July for me. I had to bite my tongue - very hard. :mad:

I'd already been put to the inconvenience of a second visit and overnight stay for a re-take of fingerprints - probably due to the operative's incompetence the first time around - then there was the 17 week wait I had to even get a receipt for my $400 cheque and acknowledgement of my application. I applied on 26 July 2007.

I'm considering making a complaint, because although staff sickness cannot be foreseen, it seems to me unfair that I must go back to the end of the line again and have to wait so long for a new slot.

They have no sense of how they inconvenience applicants when canceling on such a short notice. Definitely file a complaint..the least they could have done is notify much earlier of cancellation instead of making you wait for nothing. Remember, your fees pay their salaries ..you deserve better service!!.
 
These people are worse than corrupted govt in my country... worse than govt employee in my country.. what a disgrace.. they hate immigrants.
 
Check this out !

Inlineagain,

I am sorry for what you had to go thru the other day. I can understand your frustration coz I was called not once, not twice but three thrice for the interview at Atlanta DO. I had applied for N-400 back in April 2006. Was called for interviews in Jan 2007 and then in Oct 2007. Both times they just called to see my face (seemed that way). My file was not there and I was sent home without any interview. Was fingerprinted twice. Once in May 2006 and again in Sept 2007. In the end I had to pay this attorney $2500, file a law suit against these bastards and get my citizenship in Jan of this year. Both time i had to travel approx 200 miles with my 2 yr old daughter and a new born baby to appear for the interview.

Now, when I finally became citizen I went and applied for my wife's Green card. She got a notice to appear for her interview in May and then 2 weeks later got another notice saying thet her interview has been cancelled and sorry for the inconvenience. I am in Boston at the moment with my family. Bought 3 round trip tkts to Atlanta. Cost me about $800 and now we have no idea about the new interview date.
 
Chitown08, BobSmyth, GhantaBro, and Atlanta Brother -

Thank you for your messages - I feel much better after reading them. It's amazing how a little support and kind words can help.

Atlanta Brother - that is a really dreadful history of your immigration struggles! I have a lot less to complain about! You must be feeling worn out!

I'm still thinking about how to complain and to whom. I'll update with any further news.

And - thanks again y'all.
 
Update:

I wrote to the District Office pointing out that I've already been subject to delay and re-visit at fingerprint stage, as well as being in the frontlog/backlog situation and waited 16 weeks for receipt and acknowledgement of my N400. I politely asked them to consider offering a date earlier than the June/July indicated to me when I was sent away on 11 April, bearing in mind the delays already suffered and the extra expenses incurred due to overnight stays and journeys. I post the letter on 14 April.

Today (19th April) I got the new appointment - 19 June @ 5.30 pm. Dated 15 April postmark 17th.
I don't know if they had considered my letter or not, but am disappointed to say the least.

This new date is 10 weeks after my original appointment. :-( I suppose they might reply to my letter yet - but doubt it. Can't decide whether to swallow it, move on or to send a complaint to someone higher up, maybe Senator Schumer or Conyers on the Judiciary Committee. I've lost any confidence that it would make a difference though.
 
Update:

I wrote to the District Office pointing out that I've already been subject to delay and re-visit at fingerprint stage, as well as being in the frontlog/backlog situation and waited 16 weeks for receipt and acknowledgement of my N400. I politely asked them to consider offering a date earlier than the June/July indicated to me when I was sent away on 11 April, bearing in mind the delays already suffered and the extra expenses incurred due to overnight stays and journeys. I post the letter on 14 April.

Today (19th April) I got the new appointment - 19 June @ 5.30 pm. Dated 15 April postmark 17th.
I don't know if they had considered my letter or not, but am disappointed to say the least.

This new date is 10 weeks after my original appointment. :-( I suppose they might reply to my letter yet - but doubt it. Can't decide whether to swallow it, move on or to send a complaint to someone higher up, maybe Senator Schumer or Conyers on the Judiciary Committee. I've lost any confidence that it would make a difference though.

If you have nothing important comming up that is dependent on your citizenship status then these 10 weeks will go by in a flash.... you are done... don't get frustrated. Try to find out if they can do your oath on the same day like many DO does... if you can do that just think that you gained your 10 weeks back. They have no sense of urgency or cosideration of what people go through... they don't understand the fact that many of our important decision is impacted by this... I called customer service and talked to a IO.. I complained that my wife is not able to join me due this delay... they give me a suggestion that Oh yeah you can apply for her GC even with your GC... I got so furious I told them don't you think I know that... I told him will you guarantee me that my if I apply my wife's GC while I am still not a citizen then her GC will be done under a years time... he goess umhhhh.... I said then please don't give me this suggestion... you guys should have told everyone applying or will be applying for citizenship that your citizenship process might take forever, so go ahead and apply for your spouse while you are in GC and also tell them that we don't know when that will be done either....
 
Update:

I wrote to the District Office pointing out that I've already been subject to delay and re-visit at fingerprint stage, as well as being in the frontlog/backlog situation and waited 16 weeks for receipt and acknowledgement of my N400. I politely asked them to consider offering a date earlier than the June/July indicated to me when I was sent away on 11 April, bearing in mind the delays already suffered and the extra expenses incurred due to overnight stays and journeys. I post the letter on 14 April.

Today (19th April) I got the new appointment - 19 June @ 5.30 pm. Dated 15 April postmark 17th.
I don't know if they had considered my letter or not, but am disappointed to say the least.

This new date is 10 weeks after my original appointment. :-( I suppose they might reply to my letter yet - but doubt it. Can't decide whether to swallow it, move on or to send a complaint to someone higher up, maybe Senator Schumer or Conyers on the Judiciary Committee. I've lost any confidence that it would make a difference though.

Who did you address the letter to? I would make sure you address it directly to the district office director and cc the USCIS Ombudsman as your case has fallen through the cracks.
 
Ghanta Bro

Yes. Overnight I've come to the conclusion that if I can get an Oath Ceremony which will still be in time for me to register to vote in November, then I'll swallow this. however, if they mess me about re the Oath Ceremony I will NOT let it pass again. I asked about the OCs when I attended last week. I was told they are held every month for some areas of the state and every 3 months for others. I'm not sure which I come under, but even if it's the monthly section, it'll depend whether the next one or two are already full or not, I guess.

Thanks for your thoughts - and I hope you can get some closure on your own problems soon.
 
Hi Bobsmyth

I addressed the letter to the address they gave on my appointment letter - the one to use if the date was inconvenient. I think all letters get opnened at a central point anyway, BobS. then allocated to the person thought to be appropriate. I used to work in a government office in the UK myself and that's what happened there, I'd be surprised if they take much notice of what the envelope says. :-(

I think it's futile for me to press matters further now. But I'll complain higher if any delay in Oath Ceremony causes me to lose the opportunity to register to vote in the November elections. I think that would be more than unfair.

Thanks for your reply. :)
 
Hi Bobsmyth

I addressed the letter to the address they gave on my appointment letter - the one to use if the date was inconvenient. I think all letters get opnened at a central point anyway, BobS. then allocated to the person thought to be appropriate. I used to work in a government office in the UK myself and that's what happened there, I'd be surprised if they take much notice of what the envelope says. :-(

I think it's futile for me to press matters further now. But I'll complain higher if any you delay in Oath Ceremony causes me to lose the opportunity to register to vote in the November elections. I think that would be more than unfair.

Thanks for your reply. :)

If you want, you can always send a letter addressed directly to the DO director with the words "To be opened only by Director (director's name). That way you are assured the complaint gets read directly by the director.Also, you can forward a copy to Ombudsman to register your complaint..good luck !!!
 
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