Interview complete but no decision.....
Could be useful for others.....
Both my wife and I had our interview in Hartford DO on 5/13/10, all in all the AOs were friendly, ontime and nothing to complain. My wife went in about 10-15 mins before I was called in. Went through normal questions and chatting about general things (NPR program on IIMs). Civic questions are only couple of mins but rest of the time spent on the N-400 application. Went through the whole application and he noted down few things based on my responses. Had couple of auto violations and the AO said "no big deal" and he didn't ask for any proof or anything (I did take some old records but didn't need to show them).
Only documents he asked were DL, Passport, GC. He asked if my wife is also applying for citizenship and I said she is in the next room taking her interview.
He completed all the paperwork (changes he made in the application and printing some of my forms), explained me everything and said my background check wasn't complete yet and I do not have to come for another interview but he will have to wait until the background check completes. He said he will check all his pending files (showed me a pile) every day and the minute it clears he will send out the Oath letter (he also showed me the oath letter that he printed and completed with the nearest court details). Total interview about 30-40 mins.
Since my wife is applying through my GC he said that would have to wait also and he said he will send out both oath letters on the same day and for same day oath. I came out of the interview and my wife's interview was done by then and she said her AO congratulated her and checked the 'recommending for citizenship' and also asked for an oath date. He then got an email from my AO and apparently he changed her approval to 'can't make a decision at this time' checkbox. That was weird (may be I shouldn't have told my AO about my wife's interview?) but I wasn't worried because mine was a straight forward case and I don't suspect anything wrong with my information.
After coming home I checked this forum and found similar cases,
threads: 312062 and 20605 (page 71, 72 and 73) - doesn't let me include URLs (newbie)
My previous applications (GC, H1...etc) were never delayed and I don't think there is any reason the background check is pending because my information. I do think there could have been some goof-up in the name check process itself (as the above threads state). One thing I didn't ask the AO was why would my interview be scheduled without the background check complete?
Now I guess I will just wait and see how long it will take to get the oath letters, I am hoping within a week or two but in the worst case no one can guess .....months?. The AO did say within a month and if it doesn't come by July or so then make an InfoPass appointment to inquire.
Anyone else with similar experience in Hartford? if not, don't be alarmed if it happens to others that are still going through interviews....what else can we do by just worrying about it anyway....
My timeline,
Jan 14th - Appl mailed
Feb 16th - Finger print (didn't go early, same as FP date)
Feb 26th - YL received
Apr 12th - IL received
May 13th - Interview completed but no decision
??
- Oath letter
??
- Oath date