RPRam123 Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Hi, I finished my biometric appointment 7 months back and upon enquiry learnt my citizenship application is stuck in security check. I don't have any clear direction on when things will get processed. I have a couple of questions: 1. Is it OK to take an opportunity outside the US (India) now for an extended period and fly in and out for interview/oath ceremony assuming things go fine? 2. Given OCI cards processing time is indefinite, what are the options for someone to work in India with a US passport? Can I apply for an Indian work visa and then apply for an OCI while I live in India? Really appreciate your help here. Thanks! RPR Link to comment
JoeF Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 If you relocate to outside the US, you immediately lose the GC. And of course, without GC no naturalization. Link to comment
pontevecchio Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 EXPEDITE your application by asking for help from your federal Senator's Office. Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted March 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 I will maintain a valid US address. Would this make a difference? Can I apply for I-131 and maintain my GC if that is not an option? Given I have already met my residency requirements, I was under the assumption that my citizenship application will stay valid. If you relocate to outside the US, you immediately lose the GC. And of course, without GC no naturalization. Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted March 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Is there a process in place for this? Or should I just look up the local senator and send him a written email or call him? Thanks! EXPEDITE your application by asking for help from your federal Senator's Office. Link to comment
pontevecchio Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 GOOGLE your US FEDERAL SENATOR and look at the relevant site. Link to comment
JoeF Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 I will maintain a valid US address. Would this make a difference? Can I apply for I-131 and maintain my GC if that is not an option? Given I have already met my residency requirements, I was under the assumption that my citizenship application will stay valid. Just maintaining a US address is not enough. A reentry permit also may not be enough. See http://www.murthy.com/2016/03/16/extended-travel-by-a-permanent-resident-part-1-of-2/ And http://www.murthy.com/2012/05/18/extended-travel-by-a-permanent-resident-2-of-2/ "However, both the green card and the reentry permit do not automatically guarantee one will be processed into the U.S. as a permanent resident at the POE. This decision depends upon the facts of the situation, including prior travel patterns and the reasons for the extended travel." Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted April 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 Just wanted to follow up on this. Wrote to the congressmen and he came back with the same thing saying file is stuck in background check and they cannot do anything about it. Wrote to the Ombudsman 2 weeks back and haven't heard back from them. Only other option is to sue USCIS/FBI etc. but that is going to cost $5k from what I read. Looks like there is no other option other than just sit and wait. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions. Link to comment
JoeF Posted April 13, 2016 Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 A writ of mandamus doesn't cost that much. A lawyer may charge that much, but it is possible to do it yourself. And in the past, USCIS has moved very quickly once they have been served with a wom. Link to comment
pontevecchio Posted April 13, 2016 Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 Congressman does not cut it. Talk to a FEDERAL SENATORS OFFICE and ask them to intervene. Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted April 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 Congressman does not cut it. Talk to a FEDERAL SENATORS OFFICE and ask them to intervene. I reached out to the senator and and he pointed me to the congressman. I will reach out to the senators office again. Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted April 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 A writ of mandamus doesn't cost that much. A lawyer may charge that much, but it is possible to do it yourself. And in the past, USCIS has moved very quickly once they have been served with a wom. Thanks JoeF. I will look it up and do it myself then. Link to comment
JoeF Posted April 15, 2016 Report Share Posted April 15, 2016 I reached out to the senator and and he pointed me to the congressman. I will reach out to the senators office again.They really should be interested, in particular if it means getting a new voter.But some of these guys are anti-immigrant. Link to comment
pontevecchio Posted April 15, 2016 Report Share Posted April 15, 2016 You can approach ANY Federal Senator. Are you sure you did not talk to the state Senator? Link to comment
pontevecchio Posted April 15, 2016 Report Share Posted April 15, 2016 Please tell us the State involved. Link to comment
pontevecchio Posted April 15, 2016 Report Share Posted April 15, 2016 I mean please tell us which federal senator you approached the last time? Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Thanks! It is State Senator Jim Simitian. Not sure if this is the same as the Federal Senator. (California) Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Btw, I have also written to the following folks: Barbara Boxer Dianne Feinstein Looks like these are the federal senators. The people I reached out are state senators. Link to comment
pontevecchio Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Forget state senators. They have no locus standi. Call the Office of either Feinstein or Boxer and ask to speak to the person dealing with Immigration matters. Link to comment
JoeF Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I second Pontececchio. Immigration law is federal, so talking with state senators won't help. Boxer or Feinstein are the federal senators from CA. Depending on where in CA you live, the congressperson may also be helpful. Zoe Lofgren (in the San Jose area) is a well-known immigration advocate in the House of Representatives. In other areas of CA, there are unfortunately a bunch of anti-immigration representatives (e.g., San Diego, most of OC.) Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted April 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 Thank you very much guys. I got a response back from Boxer's office asking me to send them the consent forms. I will send them and call them as well. Unfortunately Zoe is not the congressperson in my city. The congress person I contacted made an enquiry and said its in security check and that they will not be able to do much. I made another call to INS today and they were generally clueless - said its with the security agency and they have no idea how long it will take. I have an infopass appointment scheduled - not sure if they will contact FBI/Security agency or if it is similar to an enquiry call. Its ~9 months now since I sent the application. Thanks again! Will keep you posted. Link to comment
pontevecchio Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 Deal with Senator BOXERS office. Keep away from USCIS. Wait for developments. An enquiry by a FEDERAL Senator is given extreme priority and urgency and unless national security matters are involved, the result will be speedy approval in most cases. Link to comment
RPRam123 Posted May 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 Just wanted to give an update - both my wife and my status have been updated. It says we have been scheduled for interviews. Not sure if it is because of the senators writing in or because of the letters to the ombudsman. In any case thank you very much Pontevecchio and JoeF. Really appreciate your help here. Now lets see when the interviews get scheduled and what the formalities are after that. RPR Link to comment
shanmanz Posted May 10, 2016 Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 We have similar situation where my husbands citizenship application has been stuck in security clearance since sept2015 . We did ask federal senator from MA to expedite but got response saying "stuck in security". any thoughts ? what's the address for ombudsman ? Thanks Link to comment
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