Photograph requested after N400 interview?

O

oli_losangeles

New Member
I successfully passed my N-400 interview on 8/4/2009. On the same day, I contacted USCIS to change my address (since I moved right before the interview) and was instructed to file form AR-11, which I did. Two days later (8/6/2009), I received a letter from the Los Angeles Field Office saying "In order to complete the processing of your N-400 Application for Naturalization, we must receive two new photographs of you within 30 days from the date of this letter. You may hand deliver the photographs in person to this office or send them in by mail."

Questions --
1. I remember the seeing my photographs in the officer's binder during the interview -- why did they make me send in photos again?

2. I sent in my photos with USPS delivery confirmation, and verified that they were delivered on 8/26/09. It is now 9/9/09 and I have not received an oath letter -- is this normal? Is something wrong going on here? What can I do? I'm worrying my heart out... :(

USCIS case status online has been unhelpful. It was last updated in June 09... I'm going to call the Customer Service tomorrow. :confused:

Thanks for any help that anyone can offer!

Oli
 
They might have misplaced your pictures. I hope you hear from them soon. If you don't hear anything in the next three weeks you should schedule an Infopass, but for now I would recommend just to wait a bit longer.
 
Thanks for the reply, Huracan. I noticed that the letter asked me to send my photos to "USCIS, Office of Naturalization and Production Management, ATTN: OATH CEREMONY UNIT" (this is at the Los Angeles Field Office, Rm 6001) -- does this mean my application has been approved because I'm being asked to send my photos to the Oath Ceremony Unit (implying that I'm in line for the oath ceremony), or I am just extrapolating too much?

I'm just a bit worried reading about N400 delays for as long as 1-2 years due to FBI name check, etc... I'm hoping to apply for a position at a VA hospital and need to be a citizen for that purpose (or at least receive an oath letter by Nov this year)!
 
Yes, I think it means the IO sent a request for a certificate preparation and my guess is that your photos were lost and didn't get to the place where they put together the certificate and glue your picture. I think you're past any name check delay. Hang in there. I'm pretty sure you'll get the oath letter soon. As I mentioned earlier, if about three weeks go by and you haven't heard anything yet it would be good to schedule an Infopass to make sure they got the photos.
 
Name Change and Photographs

oli_losangeles said:
I successfully passed my N-400 interview on 8/4/2009. On the same day, I contacted USCIS to change my address (since I moved right before the interview) and was instructed to file form AR-11, which I did. Two days later (8/6/2009), I received a letter from the Los Angeles Field Office saying "In order to complete the processing of your N-400 Application for Naturalization, we must receive two new photographs of you within 30 days from the date of this letter. You may hand deliver the photographs in person to this office or send them in by mail."

Questions --
1. I remember the seeing my photographs in the officer's binder during the interview -- why did they make me send in photos again?

2. I sent in my photos with USPS delivery confirmation, and verified that they were delivered on 8/26/09. It is now 9/9/09 and I have not received an oath letter -- is this normal? Is something wrong going on here? What can I do? I'm worrying my heart out... :(

USCIS case status online has been unhelpful. It was last updated in June 09... I'm going to call the Customer Service tomorrow. :confused:

Thanks for any help that anyone can offer!

Oli
Click to expand...

Oli,

Do you or anybody know I need to send the another pair of photographs after changing name. I put my current signature on my photos at the time of interview. Do I need to send photos again with new signature on it, though I was not advised by IO. I was told to send the court document for name change. I appreciate your input.
 
sudha1999 said:
Oli,

Do you or anybody know I need to send the another pair of photographs after changing name. I put my current signature on my photos at the time of interview. Do I need to send photos again with new signature on it, though I was not advised by IO. I was told to send the court document for name change. I appreciate your input.
Click to expand...

Never thought about that, but it makes sense. Send a couple of pictures, not signed and make a note saying that you signed the other picture with your old name. Otherwise you can send three pictures with one of them signed and let them decide if they want to affix the signed picture or an unsigned one and make you sign at the oath ceremony.
 
I also received a letter today asking for 2 photographs. I took some extra photos with me at the interview in case and i also saw the my photos attached to my file. Why didn't the officer ask for photos during the interview. :mad:

Anyway, IO didn't ask me to sign my photos during the interview. Now this letter also is only asking to write my A# and name on back of photos. So, don't know if i should sign them or not ?
 
Did your original photographs have a date on them? Either they were too old or not of acceptable quality (ie. must be white background, full face picture, 2x2..etc).
 
received a letter today asking for 2 photographs

My Wife also received a letter today asking for 2 photographs. we assume it may be because of photo with glaze. we are planing to go in person for deliver the photographs. will see....
 
I had to leave town for a 10-day trip so I was getting panicky about not receiving the oath letter. My pictures arrived at the LA DO on 8/26 and by 9/10 I had not heard a word. I called the Customer Service number listed on all the NOAs -- the rep immediately realized that she did not have any information beyond what Case Status Online showed (which reflected my interview letter being sent in June). She politely asked if she could transfer me to an IO.

In talking to the IO, she reassured me that she saw my new address on file, and I was in the queue for an oath ceremony. She wasn't able to confirm that the LA DO received my pictures, but said she thought I would be sworn in by the end of this year.

I got back from my trip this weekend and saw my oath letter (dated 9/11, the day I left!) waiting for me at home. I'm now in line for the 9/25 oath ceremony!

So to address some of the questions other posters had:
- I did change my name, but I sent in 2 new pictures with my original (pre-name-change) name written on the back.
- Perhaps glaze was an issue. My husband and I no longer remember if we sent in glossy pictures with the N-400 application, but the new pictures were printed on matt paper (as requested by the notice we got). I just took a look at the original N400 instructions and it says, ".. be printed on thin paper with a glossy finish"!!!! Very contradictory :confused:

I must say I was very impressed with the pleasant and reassuring attitude of the customer service rep and the IO when I called. I must have asked the same question 5 times out of anxiety!

Good luck with the process, everyone!
 
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