From shelf to shelf to shelf: The story of a file

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CrossHairs

Registered Users (C)
So, this is what happened to my wife at an Infopass she took.

Story thus far:
She has completed the citizenship interview. Passed the test etc. Her FP was 'not readable' so she was asked to submit police clearances. They were all collected and mailed and 'received by USCIS DO office' on June 25th. I know it was received based on postal return receipt information.

If not for that, she'd have had her oath letter and become a citizen by now.

Infopass story - Very interesting (or PAINFUL :eek:) to hear the actual process, and I must say IO patiently explained it to us and took time to answer the questions :rolleyes::

  1. IO said that 'her N-400 file is sitting on some shelf' - lets call this shelf 1. It is no longer with the IO on his/her desk.
  2. Now, the "police clearances" we mailed - he said will most probably not be opened for "oh, a month or so". So, the police clearances are sitting on another shelf (pile of unopened mail rather), lets call this shelf 2 (or pile).
  3. He said "whenever we get to opening the mail", then it will be put on another shelf. Lets call this shelf 3.
  4. Then someone eventually looks at shelf 3 and finds the matching file on shelf-1, and puts all the contents together on a DIFFERENT shelf - say, Shelf 4
  5. It is this shelf-4 that is MOST important :), and once it gets here it accumulates dust for a while, until the IO who is busy doing other interviews, finds time to take the file to his/her office.
  6. Now is when you can get "Oath letter" etc.

Apparently, it can take 3-6 months :eek::eek::eek:
I gently reminded that "120 days" limit, and he smiled and said "Yes, I know. If it is more than 120days then IO is at fault, but..." hopefully it will be sooner.

Interesting hearing directly from IO, the "From shelf to shelf to shelf: The story of a file"
 
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Why does that not surprise me?

I'm amazed that some IOs actually tell the truth. Chalk this one up to the one who told me a couple of months ago that it could take a month or a year for me to get my IL.
 
Vorpal,

I did have a vision of "shelves" and all that before :) But yes, this IO did explain in great detail to us, and for the first time I heard about all these shelves, and how they have to "sit on each shelf" for a few weeks/month(s) before it goes to another shelf etc!

Whoa! Wow! Ouch!

Atleast, as you said, the IO was honest!
 
CrossHairs said:
Vorpal,

I did have a vision of "shelves" and all that before :) But yes, this IO did explain in great detail to us, and for the first time I heard about all these shelves, and how they have to "sit on each shelf" for a few weeks/month(s) before it goes to another shelf etc!

Whoa! Wow! Ouch!

Atleast, as you said, the IO was honest!
Click to expand...

Perhaps this is a sign that the USCIS is a sadomasochistic agency that enjoys being hit with 1447(b) lawsuits?;)
 
OMG Really :rolleyes: My file was on a shelf too. I mean rather they said a room. I kinda started picturing my poor N-400 in some plain white room with no windows or doors. I wondered how were they going to get to it..... When!!!!...... But it was not as painful for me as it was and still is for others. Her journey will soon be finished... You just have to channel some energy to the N-400 to appear on someones desk.
 
I wonder where my file is , I mean in which shelf...or drawer. I called 2 days ago and even though I have been waiting 2 years for my oath letter, and just got a letter from the FBI saying the already send the results of the name check to the USCIS in March 2008, the lady on the phone told me I have to wait 90 days.. and then call again if I don't get my oath letter. Lets hope for the best...
 
scratching my left over hairs! :confused: this is the high-tech changes they did after all that promises when they increased the fees by at leat 100%...
 
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crazy... well, it's a warning to not forget documents for interview - now we know how long it takes to add it after
 
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