N-400 timeline problems.

N

NoInterviewDate

Registered Users (C)
Hello.
Please tell me what you would do if you were having this problem. I filed an N-400 application for citizenship in September 2008. The check was cashed and I received the I-797C saying the application was being processed and I have a priority date of September 10 2008!

My DO is Fairfax, Virginia. They are currently processing applications from October 8 2008 so I am definitely out of processing timelines.
I have had infopass appointments, called the service request number and had them follow up and in a nutshell I have been told the following at different times by different people.
March. Your application is within current timelines, come back in month.
(A month later). Your file is in Nebraska. I don't know why as your fingerprinting and background check cleared. I will put in a request to have it sent to our office in Fairfax. You should expect a letter within 30 days.
May. "Your application is still being processed, come back in a month".
Another month later still no interview letter.
I contacted a congressman, but they had no better luck and I was told I should just wait.
Now, June, they said they would put in a service request. The IO I spoke to said that it did appear I was out of current processing times. Then I received this email " Based on your request we researched the status of this case. We are actively processing this case. However, we have to perform additional review on this case and this has caused a longer processing time. If you do not receive a decision or other notice of action from us within 6 months of this letter, please call customer service at the number provided below".

I DID have further questions, so I called again yesterday, and of course was put through to someone else. I explained the situation and she checked the computer and informed me they are doing an additional review but could not tell me what that was. Then she said my file was in Vermont!!
How can it be in Vermont?
I had a yellow letter in February telling me "after a complete review of your file we request you to bring drivers license and passport to your interview", Since then I have been told my file is in Nebraska, then it's at the NSC, then it's back in Vermont!!!
I think they have lost my file. I really do.
Everyone else's timeline is about 4 months.
I have been in the US for 20 years. I have had a green card with no issues or problems, since 1995. I am a middle aged woman, always paid my taxes ontime, have done everything legally and I have good credit. What on earth can they still be reviewing? I mean, any ideas? I am completely fed up. Now I have to wait another SIX MONTHS?
What would you do?
PLEASE anyone with a similar situation or anyone with any words of advice, encouragement! I would greatly appreciate it. I am so fed up right now. I really cannot even begin to imagine what they could be checking. :confused:
 
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File Writ of Mandamus lawsuit to make them move. Check the sticky at the top of the forums on how to do that.
 
absrao: Thank you for your reply. :) I can't afford a lawyer, that's the problem! :eek:

eltoro: Thank you too for your reply. I was quoted $250 an hour minimum for an immigration lawyer, and they wanted $500 up front. I mentioned above, I just cannot afford that.:)

I would definitely be interested to hear if anyone else had this problem, or is having this problem with their timelines! I thought the whole thing would go smoothly. I applied on the basis that I have had the green card for ages. I am married to an American and have been for 9 years. I didn't apply based on marriage because I thought it would be easier not having to supply millions of documents, if it were just green card basis it would be straightforward.
Boy was I wrong. :(
 
I was definitely thinking about DIY lawsuit, no lawyers involved. That'll cost you about $300 total, maybe much less if you send the warning mail (and they act on it) as described in the lawsuit thread.
 
NoInterviewDate: I am in same kind of situation, my interview date was on 4/7/09 at Fairfax office at 10:40AM, and I was called around 12pm and informed by IO that they have not received my file yet; they will reschedule my interview again. It’s been two months now but no interview letter yet. I called customer service twice and went to Fairfax DO twice; they all gave me different answers. Last time I went Fairfax DO on 6/3/09 IO asked to fill out inquiry form and told me to wait. I strongly think they misplaced my file and giving me just excuses. We have no problem waiting but at least deserve some honest answer.
 
Missing files!

NashWithLove said:
NoInterviewDate: I am in same kind of situation, my interview date was on 4/7/09 at Fairfax office at 10:40AM, and I was called around 12pm and informed by IO that they have not received my file yet; they will reschedule my interview again. It’s been two months now but no interview letter yet. I called customer service twice and went to Fairfax DO twice; they all gave me different answers. Last time I went Fairfax DO on 6/3/09 IO asked to fill out inquiry form and told me to wait. I strongly think they misplaced my file and giving me just excuses. We have no problem waiting but at least deserve some honest answer.
Click to expand...

NashWithLove, I totally agree with you. I can accept if they have lost my file. That happens. I can deal with it. But the fact I am being told completely different things and receiving no information whatsoever is what's getting to me.
I actually (certified) mailed off all the info, and the required form to the Ombudsmans office this morning.
I don't believe they need to do 'additional review' for my case. There can't be anything to review once the fingerprint and background check has cleared, surely!
Sounds to me like they misplaced your file too, I agree. Fairfax DO is a complete waste of time as far as I am concerned.
I am not happy at all at being told to "wait another 6 months to see if we make a decision" ..about an interview!!!?
 
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Sorry this is happening to you,,

They told you that name check and fingerprints have cleared ( sometimes those are the ones that take a long time to clear ). In that case then it's like you say they may have misplaced your file.

I know you are tired of trying but what if you make one last effort via infopass and try to get an honest answer from the IO something like " Look I have been waiting for a long time and I just need to know what is wrong, was my file misplaced or what is taking so long?" also let them know you are thinking of filing a lawsuit because you are tired of waiting. You may finally strike luck and get your ID.

Good Luck :-)
 
NoInterviewDate and Absrao:
At least in my case they are not saying that they are performing 'additional review'. First time when I called 2nd level customer support told me my local DO (Fairfax) had issue search request, if file not found in 30 days then there will be another 30 days search. After 30 I made Info pass appointment and talk to IO at Fairfax DO, she told me I am in queue for interview and need to wait. I waited another 30 days patiently and then called customer service 2nd level, as per him they had received my file on same day when I had interview (4/7/9) and advice me to wait or talk directly to my DO. I made another Info pass and talked to IO at Fairfax DO and he make fill out inquiry form. If they are performing additional review, then how come they had scheduled me for interview? If I am in a queue for interview (2nd time) then why another IO of the same office would makes me fill out inquiry form, make no sense, will appricate your feedback.
 
Contact Ombudsman

You should contact cisombudsman.publicaffairs@dhs.gov. I had the same problem and sent a letter to the Ombudsman because my case was out of the timeframe, received a letter from him two weeks later saying USCIS will contact me in less than a month. Three weeks later received the letter from USCIS with an Interview Date. Now I'm waiting for my OL.
 
danilito: I am hoping now then that my letter to the Ombudsman will elicit the same result. I sent everything off to him yesterday certified mail. But for some reason I am still not hopeful. I just wish I knew what it was that was making them do an 'additional review'. That is NOT what I was told at one of the Infopass appointments I had. I was informed then that everything had cleared but the file was in Nebraska and she put in a service request to have it returned to Fairfax for interview scheduling. But nothing happened and it's 2.5 months later. :(
 
NoInterviewDate said:
danilito: I am hoping now then that my letter to the Ombudsman will elicit the same result. I sent everything off to him yesterday certified mail. But for some reason I am still not hopeful. I just wish I knew what it was that was making them do an 'additional review'. That is NOT what I was told at one of the Infopass appointments I had. I was informed then that everything had cleared but the file was in Nebraska and she put in a service request to have it returned to Fairfax for interview scheduling. But nothing happened and it's 2.5 months later. :(
Click to expand...

I wrote to the USCIS Ombudsman after 6 Infopass interviews, more than 10 calls to the 800 CS # and a visit to my Congressman. In some of them they told me my case was under additional review, on others said my case was on Q list. After more than 5 months saying my case was on Q, it passed over the timeline of my DO and that was the moment I wrote to the Ombudsman.
 
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