Frustrated in southern VA

[smalltownVA]

I was getting tired of waiting and from same responses I received from Vermont processing center to my inquiries via phone, USCIS site, and letter. I'm hoping perhaps I could get some answers here.

N400 receipt date: 11/05/2003
Fingerprint done on: 1/12/2004
It's now 9/2005 and still no answer.

I had my name legally changed in highschool when I moved down to Lynchburg VA from a major city and I'm wondering if that is why it's taking so long.

Is there anyone who had experienced such long processing time for N-400 application?

If I had known better, I should've just gone up to the Arlington center.

 

[bashar82]

First, you should make a INFOPASS appointment to meet with an immigration officer at your local USCIS office. See what they have to say about your case.

If that doesn't work, get your Senator or Representative involved.

 

[smalltownVA]

I have just met up with an immigrant officer in Fairfax last week with no clear answer except that Roanoke, VA is where I will have to take my oath and that city hasn't been "filled up" with enough number of applicants yet.

And since fingerprints only last 15 months, I'll have to take another fingerprints and wait for interview - which will probably take me another year. 3 years in total for a naturalization... i find that disturbingly odd.

any suggestions? i am thinking about writing a letter to the state representative and senators regarding my case... but if there are other methods, please do let me know. thanx.

 

[sg_orl]

Contact your Congressman and Senator's office for their help. Once the local DO starts getting the queries from them, things do move.

 

[Publicus]

I was getting tired of waiting and from same responses I received from Vermont processing center to my inquiries via phone, USCIS site, and letter. I'm hoping perhaps I could get some answers here.

N400 receipt date: 11/05/2003
Fingerprint done on: 1/12/2004
It's now 9/2005 and still no answer.

I had my name legally changed in highschool when I moved down to Lynchburg VA from a major city and I'm wondering if that is why it's taking so long.

Is there anyone who had experienced such long processing time for N-400 application?

If I had known better, I should've just gone up to the Arlington center.

Hello smalltownVA:

I understand your frustration. I've been there. All the previous answers were good but I'd add to them something I just discovered about a week ago. You can use a mandamus lawsuit in cases where USCIS fail to schedule an initial examination. However in this case, the sole relief available would be for the court to order USCIS to act on the application, which is what you really want. But before you pursue this venue, make sure you exhaust all your administrative remedies. This is important for the court to hear the case. Thus you should use the Infopass venue, inquire via phone (keep date, time, and name of people you spoke to and their badge numbers), and talk with your congressman. Finally if that doesn't work, reasearch the mandamus action route.

Note: I assume you have no criminal background. Many convicted aliens decided in the past to use the courts to gain immigration benefits. Needless to say the courts stroke down most of their efforts. In this case, I totally agree with USCIS. Criminals should not be allowed to have immigration benefits.