I am an independent contractor and I often have to travel to earn a living (and it ain't easy!) As I posted a few days ago, I found my IL in my mailbox last week upon return from a trip overseas. The assigned date of 3/20 unfortunately falls on the second day of another scheduled business trip. I was faced with a dilemma: do I request postponement of the interview or do I run through hoops to try to rearrange my business trip?
I know that postponing an interview is highly discouraged here on this board and there are countless examples of mishaps resulting from attempting to reschedule to support such a vew. Nonetheless, there were still some questions I needed answered before I could make that decision so I scheduled an Infopass on Monday to find out more about the process of rescheduling. I thought I'd share my findings:
1. Can you negotiate an alternate date?
-No. An automated scheduling system--a computer generates a new date and your availability information is not entered into the equation.
2. What is the process by which a new date is assigned?
-The interview letter states: "If for any reason you cannot keep this appointment, return this letter immediately to the USCIS office address listed below with your explanation and a request for a new appointment; otherwise no further action will be taken on your application."
What in fact happens is that your request is included in your file but nothing will be done about rescheduling until after the date of the original interview.
When you do not show up at the interview, they will look at your file to see if an explanation/request to reschedule has been received. It is only after then that your case will be entered into a queue after all the applicants who are awaiting an interview date according to their priority dates. The computer then generates a new date for the interview.
In some cases, you may still be sent a letter stating that you failed to appear and must respond within 30 days. If your request has not been filed properly or lost, you may get such a letter. If you do not respond within 30 days, your case will be closed.
3. What should you do to help deal with possible misfiling or lost requests?
-As soon as possible, you should take your request and the interview letter, along with a photocopy for your own records, in person to the D.O. and have the officer date-stamp both. At least you will have proof that you did make a request to reschedule. In order to do this, you need to make an Infopass appointment.
4. What happens if you cannot make the new date that is assigned?
-You can make another request to reschedule, going through the same process as described above.
5. How many times can you request a postponement?
-Two. After that your case will be closed and you will have to start anew.
FYI, I have decided to try to keep the original appointment. Since I travel intermittently, the alternate date they assign can fall on yet another trip so a postponement may not necessarily benefit me.
Another note: I have heard that the oath ceremony is easier to re-schedule, it is more ad hoc, so you can most likely negotiate a new date (as my friend did last October) with an officer directly if you do this in person.
I hope this helps others faced with a similar decision. I assume that this issue may arise as more and more folks start receiving their IL.
My timeline is as follows:
DO: New York (Manhattan)
SC: Vermont
applied: 7/27/07
app arrived @ VSC: 7/30/07
PD:7/27/07
check cashed: 9/21/07
NOA received: 11/26/07
FP notice received: 12/5/07
FP date: 12/17/07
IL letter dated 1/17/08
IL notice postmarked 1/19/08
IL date: 3/20/08
I know that postponing an interview is highly discouraged here on this board and there are countless examples of mishaps resulting from attempting to reschedule to support such a vew. Nonetheless, there were still some questions I needed answered before I could make that decision so I scheduled an Infopass on Monday to find out more about the process of rescheduling. I thought I'd share my findings:
1. Can you negotiate an alternate date?
-No. An automated scheduling system--a computer generates a new date and your availability information is not entered into the equation.
2. What is the process by which a new date is assigned?
-The interview letter states: "If for any reason you cannot keep this appointment, return this letter immediately to the USCIS office address listed below with your explanation and a request for a new appointment; otherwise no further action will be taken on your application."
What in fact happens is that your request is included in your file but nothing will be done about rescheduling until after the date of the original interview.
When you do not show up at the interview, they will look at your file to see if an explanation/request to reschedule has been received. It is only after then that your case will be entered into a queue after all the applicants who are awaiting an interview date according to their priority dates. The computer then generates a new date for the interview.
In some cases, you may still be sent a letter stating that you failed to appear and must respond within 30 days. If your request has not been filed properly or lost, you may get such a letter. If you do not respond within 30 days, your case will be closed.
3. What should you do to help deal with possible misfiling or lost requests?
-As soon as possible, you should take your request and the interview letter, along with a photocopy for your own records, in person to the D.O. and have the officer date-stamp both. At least you will have proof that you did make a request to reschedule. In order to do this, you need to make an Infopass appointment.
4. What happens if you cannot make the new date that is assigned?
-You can make another request to reschedule, going through the same process as described above.
5. How many times can you request a postponement?
-Two. After that your case will be closed and you will have to start anew.
FYI, I have decided to try to keep the original appointment. Since I travel intermittently, the alternate date they assign can fall on yet another trip so a postponement may not necessarily benefit me.
Another note: I have heard that the oath ceremony is easier to re-schedule, it is more ad hoc, so you can most likely negotiate a new date (as my friend did last October) with an officer directly if you do this in person.
I hope this helps others faced with a similar decision. I assume that this issue may arise as more and more folks start receiving their IL.
My timeline is as follows:
DO: New York (Manhattan)
SC: Vermont
applied: 7/27/07
app arrived @ VSC: 7/30/07
PD:7/27/07
check cashed: 9/21/07
NOA received: 11/26/07
FP notice received: 12/5/07
FP date: 12/17/07
IL letter dated 1/17/08
IL notice postmarked 1/19/08
IL date: 3/20/08