Social engineering and USCIS customer support

Bobsmyth

Volunteer Moderator
I've decided to start a thread on experiences in calling USCIS customer support and how each call is handled differently or given different information.

Today 3/28 I called several times between 9:50am -10:30am EST by selecting options 1 (English)-2-6 and my call was answered by a (CSR) customer service representative who more or less asked me the following standard questions every time:

Is this for an application or a case ?
Is the application pending?
Is it for a naturalization case for military ?
Is this to schedule an appointment?
Is this for a request for evidence?
Is this for a I-90?
Where did you file your application?
What's your zip code (asked on 2 occasions to verify what local DO I am serviced by)


On the 1st attempt, the CSR told me that my case (PD 7/27) is within processing time since local DO processing time shows 5/12. When I asked CSR to transfer my call , he said he can't do that. When I told him they have done it many times in past, he said he doesn't know why they would have and still refused to transfer me. I thanked him and ended the call.

On the next attempt, I offered an earlier PD of 4/16 to see if that would trigger the CSR to transfer my call. Instead, the CSR told me that processing for DO is showing 5/12 and that I must wait 30 days between my PD date and posted processing time to make further inquiry. This agent also refused to transfer my call. I once again thanked the agent and ended the call.

On the next 2 attempts , the CSR offered to open a "outside normal service time " request to the local DO so that they may contact me with an update. Once again they refused to transfer my call. I did have them open one such request, thanked the CSR and ended the call.

On the next attempt, the CSR told me that I will be receiving an interview letter outside of normal business hours. I knew where the CSR was getting this information (straight off USCIS website) and asked them to confirm that I will or I may receive a interview letter outside of business hours. They CSR had to correct herself and said "may". This is the first time I've been told by a CSR that I will be receiving an interview letter with such certainty. I once again thanked the agent and ended the call.

On the 6th attempt, I finally was transfered by a CSR after she could not pull my reference number online. She never offered to open an "outside normal service time" request like the previous CSRs and without any hesitation transfered my call to an IO. I finally spoke with an IO who could tell me my application is in line for an interview.


This goes to show you that the USCIS CSRs don't follow the same procedure and that every call is handled differently. So for those of you who have had no luck speaking with an IO, keep trying again and again. Using social engineering with the CSR really does work for them to transfer your call to an IO. :)
 
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I called this morning as well, but the person I talked to refused to transfer me as well. Guess I should call a few more times.

What is the difference between the first line of people you talk to and the transferred one? Is the first group just customer service agent and the second group the actual immigration officer?
 
I called this morning as well, but the person I talked to refused to transfer me as well. Guess I should call a few more times.

What is the difference between the first line of people you talk to and the transferred one? Is the first group just customer service agent and the second group the actual immigration officer?

That's correct. The first line are customer service reps who basically have the same information as on the website. The second line are Immigration Officers who can look up specifics of your actual case.
 
Why you guys just relax and wait for your ILs or whaterer.

If everyone had your attitude, the USCIS flaws would not be shared in forums like this through people's own experience. The reason for posting this information is so that others may find it useful in their circumstance. If you have nothing of value to offer, then it's best for you to keep quiet and move on.
 
If everyone had your attitude, the USCIS flaws would not be shared in forums like this through people's own experience. The reason for posting this information is so that others may find it useful in their circumstance. If you have nothing of value to offer, then it's best for you to keep quiet and move on.

Agreed. USCIS CSR's arent the best out there but there are a few good ones :) I used to have the liason at my senators office ping USCIS on my behalf to get status updates :)
 
If everyone had your attitude, the USCIS flaws would not be shared in forums like this through people's own experience. The reason for posting this information is so that others may find it useful in their circumstance. If you have nothing of value to offer, then it's best for you to keep quiet and move on.

Much of USCIS functionality is a 'black hole', so to speak. The only things we commoners get to know are from posts such as Bobsmyth's post. I'll say posts such as these are very valuable. The more real-experience data points we have, the better.

Regards.
Sammy
 
I think the best to get to IO is giving them receipt number that is not correct... I have tried that and several others... Bobysmith did that too and it worked!
 
I think the best to get to IO is giving them receipt number that is not correct... I have tried that and several others... Bobysmith did that too and it worked!

That's correct, but on several occasions the CSR still refused to transfer my case eventhough my reference number doesn't show up online. In these circumstances the CSR either refuses to transfer your call and tries to tell you that your case is within processing times, offers to open a "outside normal processing time" request to the local DO, or transfers your call to an IO without hesitation.
 
They have some capability in their system to block further service requests per specific receipt/case. At least they were able to block me from submitting any more service requests thru customer support... I would advise you against trying any social engineering with USCIS, if you don't want to jeopardise your case. You probably don't want to give them any chance for denying your case based on bad moral character grounds...

Besides, how "social engineering" is gonna help your case? That;s the broken system they have there...
 
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If everyone had your attitude, the USCIS flaws would not be shared in forums like this through people's own experience. The reason for posting this information is so that others may find it useful in their circumstance. If you have nothing of value to offer, then it's best for you to keep quiet and move on.


I don't think you're offering a valuable information, in fact, you're annoying. Anyway, how many threads do you post per day Mr. Social Engineering? "just kidding":eek:
 
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Mine and my wife's receipt numbers don't show up online yet. I have called USCIS 6 or 7 times in the past 2 months or so. Every time the first level representative asks the basic questions, then gets the receipt number, can't find them in their system and automatically offers to transfer me to a "second level support" which I guess is the IO.

This has worked every single time until this morning. When I called this morning, the first level rep took my receipt number, asked when I submitted it but then refused to transfer me to an IO and kept saying that this is within the processing timeframe (my PD is 1/10/08 and the DO processing date shows as 6/30/07).

I did not push too hard but asked a couple times to be transferred. Finally the rep said that if I need to talk to an IO, I will need to schedule an InfoPass appt.
 
They have some capability in their system to block further service requests per specific receipt/case. At least they were able to block me from submitting any more service requests thru customer support... I would advise you against trying any social engineering with USCIS, if you don't want to jeopardise your case. You probably don't want to give them any chance for denying your case based on bad moral character grounds...

Besides, how "social engineering" is gonna help your case? That;s the broken system they have there...

That's exactly what I am also worried about. I think they log every call based on Receipt number. Also, if you give them a wrong number and they transfer you to IO then IO could put this fact in the log as well that you first lied to the customer support person to get to IO. I'm not sure how this can impact the case but in the crazy world of USCIS anything is possible.
 
The applicants has many ways to reach the USCIS but i am very sure the USCIS getting alot of calls everyday and the applicants asked the same questions over and over and over again. I am very sure the Customer Service Reps noticed this and have decided NOT to transfer the applicatns anymore because they,ve pissed of. I called once and i got all the information i needed and i will NOT call again. Relax and everything will be fine "YOU WILL GET THIS PEACE OF PAPER AT THE END"
 
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The applicants has many ways to reach the USCIS but i am very sure the USCIS getting alot of calls everyday and the applicants asked the same questions over and over and over again. I am very sure the Customer Service Reps noticed this and have decided NOT to transfer the applicatns anymore because they,ve pissed of. I called once and i got all the information i needed and i will NOT call again. Relax and everything will be fine "YOU WILL GET THIS PEACE OF PAPER AT THE END"


True. I have previously said that excessive calling might even lead to additional namechecks. It is best to limit the frequency of calling USCIS and be patient as much as possible. I assume, at the very least they treat frequent calls as frivolous, and in the extreme, they may request additional name checks for such callers. Just a theory, not sure if anyone wants to volunteer to test it out. First hand experiences are welcome.
 
True. I have previously said that excessive calling might even lead to additional namechecks. It is best to limit the frequency of calling USCIS and be patient as much as possible. I assume, at the very least they treat frequent calls as frivolous, and in the extreme, they may request additional name checks for such callers. Just a theory, not sure if anyone wants to volunteer to test it out. First hand experiences are welcome.

I really can't see what a FBI namecheck has to do with frequent calling to the USCIS. I think that's a very far fetched theory and instills unnecessary fear into people.
 
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They have some capability in their system to block further service requests per specific receipt/case. At least they were able to block me from submitting any more service requests thru customer support... I would advise you against trying any social engineering with USCIS, if you don't want to jeopardise your case. You probably don't want to give them any chance for denying your case based on bad moral character grounds...

Besides, how "social engineering" is gonna help your case? That;s the broken system they have there...

I can see them not opening numerous service requests for the same issue if not enough time has passed between requests. To say they are putting a block on you is going too far. I would say they are preventing repetition by not opening multiple service requests for he same issue.

By social engineering I meant that you are able to predict the questions they will ask you and provide a response around them so that they transfer you to an Immigration officer. I'm not talking about hacking into the USCIS system or something illegal. Do you really think they will deny your application based on how many times you called them? Some of you are starting to sound paranoid.
 
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We all here are very frustraited and sometimes angry on USCIS... They clearly have an inefficient system that we all are so depend on. So sometimes we got carried away, and that is quite understandable. But...I just want to point out that care needs to be taken when talking over a recorded line. Anything you say can be used against you, and if they will be able to prove that you have lied to them, they might use it as legal grounds to deny your case... Just weight the risks before trying to sneak your way around their borders. It might not be worth it, afterall.
 
I really can't see what a FBI namecheck has to do with frequent calling to the USCIS. I think that's a very far fetched theory and instills unnecessary fear into people.

Agreed 100%. If my name check has already cleared a couple of months ago, why waste more resources to do the same exact thing that will return the same exact results? It sounds like a conspiracy theory, and a very unlikely one, at that.
 
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