I think my interview notice letter was lost. Now what?

AdrianSeattle

New Member
I submitted my N400 in late December 2006. I have a Green Card, been a LPR since 1994, goody two-shoes with not as much as a parking ticket, no reason they'd reject my application.

I got the fingerprint notice in early January 2007, had my fingerprins taken in mid to late January. Since then... nothing.

I wasn't really concerned seeing that their processing times are 7 months for N400.

But I see here that others in the Seattle office have received the interview letter right after the fingerprint appointment:

http://boards.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=202387&page=3

I've not received anything in three months. I keep a close eye on my mail, and to my knowledge no mail of mine has ever disappeared. It figures that the most important leter I'm ever going to receive in my life was lost in the mail. Yeah...

So, what do I do? Do I wait patiently, or is there something I can do? If the letter was mailed three months ago, the date of my interview would have come and gone!

I've checked the status of my case online, and it simply shows the receipt date and that it's "pending".
 
You might be stuck in a security check (most likely name check). One option is to schedule an infopass and ask them about your application. Sometimes they will let you know if your name check is pending or they may be unwilling to help because it's not past their posted processing time.

However, they'll probably let you know if they mailed you an interview notice. An infopass costs nothing, so it's worth a shot.
 
I submitted my N400 in late December 2006. I have a Green Card, been a LPR since 1994, goody two-shoes with not as much as a parking ticket, no reason they'd reject my application.

I got the fingerprint notice in early January 2007, had my fingerprins taken in mid to late January. Since then... nothing.

I wasn't really concerned seeing that their processing times are 7 months for N400.

But I see here that others in the Seattle office have received the interview letter right after the fingerprint appointment:

http://boards.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=202387&page=3

I've not received anything in three months. I keep a close eye on my mail, and to my knowledge no mail of mine has ever disappeared. It figures that the most important leter I'm ever going to receive in my life was lost in the mail. Yeah...

So, what do I do? Do I wait patiently, or is there something I can do? If the letter was mailed three months ago, the date of my interview would have come and gone!

I've checked the status of my case online, and it simply shows the receipt date and that it's "pending".
First call the USCIS customer service number and find out what is happening. Then schedule an InfoPass and find out what is happening.

If you find out that you are stuck in the Name Check process there is not much you can do except wait. Otherwise contact your Congressman/Senator.
 
But, realize that 6 months haven't gone by yet, and the processing times site says 7 is nominal.

You won't get anyone's sympathy until much more time has passed. My advice... Sit tight and wait a few more months to see what happens. The USCIS likes to test patience as much as they like to test English and civics skills.
 
Security check? I think I know what's going on. I have a weapons carry permit issued to me by the local cops. That would make my fingerprints exist in the NICS. USCIS had checked my prints, found a "hit", and now my case is being shuffled to a different person or different department to make sure I'm not a bad boy.

Does that sound plausible?

I will call them just to make sure the interview letter has not been mailed already.
 
I have listed below my "action plan" that I was about to embark on at the end of April (eight months after filing N-400) but then my interview letter arrived last week !!!!!!! Anyway, there might be something useful for you ....

Name Check Delay Action Plan

USCIC (INS) A-number: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Application Number xxxxxxxxxxx

1. Verify with the on-line case status that your file has not disappeared (indicative that interview letter is forthcoming though very unreliable). See https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/login.jsp;jsessionid=aRMuiRLokrx7
2. Check your Service Center Processing Times online to make sure your concerns are not unreasonable, relative to their estimated processing time (though also unreliable). See https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp
3. Call FBI @ some (?) of these numbers
• 202-324-3625
• 304-625-2000 (FBI Fingerprint Status)
• 304-625-2406
• 304-625-3878 FBI Name Check Status (Main Line)
• 304-625-5590
• 800-375-5283. Options numbers # 1,2,4, 0
4. Have A# and N-400 case number handy.
5. Establish that the finger-printing process was completed and filed appropriately.
6. Also see if they have any info. on the name-check status.
7. Set up an Infopass appointment to at least find out what the official USCIS position is. Phoning USCIS appears to be futile.
8. url for Infopass is http://infopass.uscis.gov/
9. Ask:
• Has my file arrived at the DO from Service Center?
• Has the Finger-Printing been completed successfully?
• What is the status of Name/Background Check?
• Has any letter sent by the DO to my address?
• Are there any other impediments to my application's processing?
• What are the next steps and when?
10. Write to the relevant federal (not State) Senators and House Representatives with a request for assistance. Call their office first and ask for the immigration liaison person to establish most effective action (letter, email etc.)
11. Write to the Vice President’s office for assistance. Honorable Vice President Dick Cheney, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20500. Send priority mail, return receipt requested.
 
Always available for free to all forum-posters !!!!! Seriously, most of the ideas came from this forum which has been so helpful and is so professionally run.
 
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