Messed up Certificate

H

hotscot

Registered Users (C)
It should have been one of the happiest days of my life yesterday but an error by the USCIS has forever tainted the memory of my naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles.

How?

They printed the wrong gender on my certificate...
And they wouldn't fix it on the day. I have to make an appointment and spend more money on a hotel since I don't live there.

This also meant that after waiting for three hours in 90 degree sun this morning to submit my application for a US passport, the application was denied because of the wrong gender and I have to make a new appointment. (Even though the passport office rep at the ceremony said it would be a minor issue and I should still keep my appointment.)

And now I may not make it on my vacation back to Scotland as I can't get things done in time because of useless bureaucracy, because of one persons mistake, because there's no accountability, no compensation, no ability to take care of matters on the spot.
No, sorry, sorry, no, can't do that..all I've heard in my brief citizenship, not that I have anything to prove I am a US citizen now...

I am so frustrated and so furious I could cry.
 
I know you are upset, but there are some things out of our control, and let's talk about what can be done.
When did they say they will give you the revised certificate?
When do you need to fly out to Scotland?
I am very sure you do not need a visa, but want to confirm this, do you?
 
Messed up Certiifcate

When did they say they will give you the revised certificate?
When do you need to fly out to Scotland?
I am very sure you do not need a visa, but want to confirm this, do you?[/QUOTE]

Thanks for responding.
They gave me an appointment at the Los Angeles Center for Tuesday 5th July. I think they will replace the Certificate that day but I guess I'm stressed because I worry they'll say that they'll mail it in 30 days or something. In any case I have another passport appointment on Tuesday afternoon on the assumption that I'll have my corrected Certificate.
If I do obtain the corrected Certificate on Tuesday, and my passport application goes ok on Tuesday afternoon then I should obtain the new passport on Thursday and everything will be fine. It's just after the past few days I lack confidence about the process going smoothly. An emotional response I know but it's hard doing all this running about between agencies with no-one who steps up to say they can help.
I fly out on 14th July but I don't need a visa.
 
If they gave you an appointment on the spot (during the ceremony), that means you bypassed the INFOPASS and signs are good. However, I do not recall whether such issues in the past happened and / or how fast were they fixed. Just hope for the best that they replace NC on Tuesday.
 
Yes, there were about 150 people with errors on their certificates, out of about 4000 at the ceremony. They were all given appointments for next week.

I'll hope for the best but I wish I had a Plan B. It's horrible to be put in this position by a clerical error.
 
150 erroneous certificates? It's sad and alarming that they would trust something so important to a bunch of idiots. They need to fire some people and give those jobs to currently unemployed people who will value their responsibilities more.
 
Things are looking up.
Went to get my Certificate corrected this morning. Took three and a half hours, twice the length of the ceremony itself, but finally given new Certificate.
The staff member was grumpy and wanted to blame all the individuals for making mistakes. Except my case was "clerical error" Thanked us for patience and understanding, told him I wasn't and didn't.

Went straight to passport services at noon. Two hour wait. They say passport will be ready for pickup at 11.00 am Thursday this week.

Mentally fatigued with all the stress but looks like I'm set....
 
hotscot said:
Yes, there were about 150 people with errors on their certificates, out of about 4000 at the ceremony. They were all given appointments for next week.

I'll hope for the best but I wish I had a Plan B. It's horrible to be put in this position by a clerical error.
Click to expand...

150 faulty certificates!! That is really bad. When people are sweating it out to get their legal status and citizenship quickly,these errors by the government serve to frustrate them. Manual errors are not totally avoidable but this huge number can be minimized. Your experience is worth sharing in this forum and I am really happy that you got your corrected certificate finally. Keep us posted regarding your passport. Good Luck with it!!
 
recap

1. Sat my interview and exam for US citizenship. Approved. May 23rd.
2. Was given a date for the Oath of Allegiance ceremony which was last week, so I'm now a US citizen. 30th June
3. There was an error on my naturalization certificate which caused my US passport application to be declined.
4. The error was fixed on Tuesday this week. I applied for a new US passport on Tuesday afternoon. 5th July
5. I picked up my new US passport this morning, Yes, two days from application to delivering, spent the rest of the day on the beach. 7th July.

I don't live in Los Angeles but had to attend the Federal Offices there to get the correction done and to obtain my passport. The clerical error cost several hundred dollars in costs, and of course the time and stress.
Govt official made no attempt of apology. He was severely lacking in customer service skills.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top