A shorter version of this article was published on August 2, 2006 in the Pasadena Star-News.
LOS ANGELES -- Two local civil rights and community groups turned in frustration to the courts Tuesday on behalf of 10 area residents, all Muslims, whose citizenship applications have been delayed years beyond the legal limit.
“The lawsuit was the last resort. We’ve tried everything,” said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. CAIR worked with the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants’ Rights Project to file a class action lawsuit against the government.
With this legal action, the ACLU and CAIR join other grassroots organizations and individuals nationwide to bring attention to the over 40,000 applications for naturalization that have been before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service for over two years. Most often, the hold-up is because of pending FBI name checks.
“Their applications are gathering dust in government offices,” said ACLU attorney Ranjana Natarajan at a press conference Tuesday. “Citizenship is just too important to be postponed for years on end,” she added.
The plaintiffs in the ACLU/CAIR lawsuit include a U.S. military veteran, a medical doctor and a small business owner, among others. They have all passed their English and civics exams and completed the required interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service officer.
The legal path to citizenship
From the date of the interview, USCIS has 120 days to decide on the disposition of the application. Most naturalization applications are usually processed within the requisite time frame, and the applicant is invited to be sworn in as a U.S. citizen.
But for these area plaintiffs, 120 days came and went long ago, and they are still waiting to become citizens.
When the plaintiffs followed up with USCIS or with local elected representatives, they found out that they had also been delayed because of incomplete FBI name checks.
“Our clients are the tip of an iceberg,” said Cecillia Wang, senior attorney for the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. She explained that the purpose of the lawsuit is to prevent others who have fulfilled all naturalization requirements from having to live in limbo for years.
“The time is now to solve this problem and to get these agencies to comply with the law,” Wang said.
Ayloush explained that CAIR has worked with government community outreach workers to investigate the cause for the delays. But Ayloush said that even the government workers hit a brick wall when they found out that the hold-up was because of the background checks.
“I hope the government will mend its broken system,” said 25-year-old Irvine resident and Air Force veteran Mustafa Aziz. Aziz successfully passed his naturalization examinations and had his interview in April 2004.
Aziz and his family came to the U.S. as refugees fleeing Afghanistan when Aziz was one-year-old. Aziz, a lawful resident of the U.S. for over 20 years, served in the U.S. Air Force for four years and attained the rank of Senior Airman. Aziz is the only member of his family who is not a U.S. citizen.
The background of background checks
Soon after 9/11, USCIS made the security checks for immigration benefits more stringent, according to USCIS spokesperson Sharon Rummery. In December 2002, USCIS sent over 2.7 million names of people who were in the process of applying for permanent resident status and naturalization to the FBI for an in-depth background check known as a name check. This check is different than the routine FBI criminal fingerprint check that is required, for example, of teachers and day care workers as a routine part of their job applications.
According to FBI spokesperson Stephen Fischer, criminal checks are done to determine whether an individual has been arrested on suspicion of a felony. These checks are a part of the application to become a citizen, but they are usually turned around in about two hours, Fischer said.
“If there is a delay in the process, it’s not here,” Fischer added.
But the name check is a “very complicated process,” said FBI spokesperson Bill Carter. While criminal checks usually clear quickly, the name check is a detailed look into whether a person is the subject of an FBI record.
About five percent of the name checks come back with potential problems; ultimately, only about one percent of the files contain information that is of concern to the FBI. A name check can sometimes involve dozens of other agencies and even other governments, not all of which have friendly relations with the U.S., Carter explained.
Additionally, late in 2002 the FBI ratcheted up the sensitivity of the check to show a “hit” if a person’s name is cross-referenced not just with the subject of another FBI file, but also with any name within that file, Carter said. Then, it takes old-fashioned – and time consuming -- detective work to resolve questions about a person’s background.
Even with the increased sensitivity of its name check, the FBI is still processing more name checks in a year than it receives. The backlog, Carter said, is because the FBI is playing catch-up with the 2.7 million new names submitted by USCIS late in 2002.
“We’re not going to clear somebody until we have obtained an unequivocably correct result,” Carter said.
The FBI will take the time it needs to do the job right, Carter said, so that there are “accurate and thorough results. … We can’t afford to not review every possibility in today’s threat environment.”
Waiting to become a citizen
“I believe a background check is important,” Aziz said. “This is my home and the home of my family, and I want to make sure everyone is safe.” But the checks shouldn’t take years, he said. Aziz wishes to become a commercial pilot, and his lack of citizenship has created obstacles with both furthering his education and with aeronautical job opportunities.
“It’s bittersweet,” Aziz said of his struggle to become a citizen. “There’s a process. I don’t expect them to hand out [citizenship] left and right,” but he said it’s difficult to understand why the government allowed him to serve in the military and then delayed his citizenship application.
“The ultimate goal of every immigrant who comes to the U.S. is to be able to participate fully in society,” said Todd Gallanger, an attorney for CAIR.
All of the plaintiffs in the ACLU/CAIR case have moving stories, Gallanger explained. “They feel American. … They want to vote, participate, care for aging parents.”
In some cases “they are forced to pick between their family obligations and their life in the United States,” Gallanger said.
This is true for 35-year-old Corona resident Yousuf Bhaghani. Bhaghani owns two small businesses and resides in Corona with his wife and three children. Because he is not a citizen, he cannot bring his aging parents to the U.S. to care for them.
“My life is in limbo,” Bhaghani said. “I want to be a full-fledged citizen, and in my heart I already am. … I cannot understand why it is taking so long.”
Bhaghani passed his naturalization exams and had his interview in August 2002. He needed to submit additional documents in February 2003 and has now been waiting over three years for an answer from the government.
“And these [plantiffs] are the easy cases,” Natarajan said. Their records are “clean, impeccable,” but they have still waited years to become citizens.
CAIR’s Chicago chapter and the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee have also launched legal actions against the government on behalf of clients experiencing lengthy delays in their citizenship applications.
CAIR Chicago’s suit alleges that the government is deliberately discriminating against Muslim males from Middle Eastern countries by delaying their applications for naturalization.
Ayloush maintained that “whether [the delays are] due to discrimination or incompetence” it is time for them to end so that law-abiding residents who have fulfilled all naturalization requirements can finally become citizens.
While USCIS cannot comment about pending litigation, spokesperson Sharon Rummery did confirm that the agency has made a recent policy change to postpone an individual’s testing and interview date until after the name check has cleared.
USCIS does not have any kind of time frame within which it must receive results of the name check, Rummery said.
“The FBI does the name checks, so we have no control over how much time they take,” she explained.
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Comments
Glenda Guo, 2006-09-06 10:16:13 -- Flag for review
While I understand and sympathize with the FBI's need to cover it behind. I do not understand why this country would create such a one sided burden. That burden being upon those people who come to this country legally, work, build their businesses, raise their families and abide by what the U.S. Government tells them they must do in order to obtain their citizenship. They apply, pay their hefty fees, take medical exams, pass tests (which most U.S. Citizens could not pass) and then interview for their citizenship. Some of these people however, are selected for a background check, which is by the rules of the immigration department supposed to take only 120 days. However, if you are an ILLEGAL alien, who has evaded the law enforcement of this country you are rewarded with a green card and your shot at citizenship. Also, if you had children here then your children are automatically citizens and you get to stay in this country.
I have yet to understand where in our nation's history did it become the norm to be rewarded for being a criminal and punished for being law abiding. However, after reviewing the legislative voting habits maybe it isn't that hard to understand.
I believe that the U.S. government should focus its resources for tracking down and deporting those persons who have entered and stayed in this country illegally and not harass those persons who have felt enough of a bond with this country to enter and stay legally.
Tamim Amini, 2006-11-18 21:48:37 -- Flag for review
Hi my name is Tamim Amini i am from Afghansitan Kabul i pass my citizenship test on 5/5/2005 anytime i call uscis they told me fbi name chech so it is 2 years now i want to file a civil lawsuit in san diego it is too long for a name check ??
saqiba aqeel, 2006-12-01 01:17:08 -- Flag for review
saqiba aqeel, 2006-12-01 01:28:28 -- Flag for review
i am a pakistani married to a person living in us for the last 6 years he has cleared interview for citizenship for the last 1 year and 8 months but still he hasnt got his citizenship as fbi is delaying his case. due to all this i am suffering our relationship is suffering we have to live apart and this situation is getting worse with each passing day and we dont know what to do and how to cope up with and what is the solution. if with this site i can get any solution or answer i will be more than thankful i have heard a lot about us departments and their disciplined actions pls do something
Tina Wang, 2006-12-15 15:54:08 -- Flag for review
My interview took place 1 year and half ago, in June 15, 2005, and I'm still waiting for name check to be cleared. Very sad...
FZ, 2006-12-28 14:28:17 -- Flag for review
My wife has been waiting for her name check for over 4+ years. She had her successful citizenship interview in Sept. 2002!!! Is it possible for her to join the class action lawsuit?
jonny5, 2007-01-18 20:38:22 -- Flag for review
jonny4
Peter, 2007-01-21 21:49:23 -- Flag for review
See what actions others have taken at:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FBI_name_check
How to file lawsuit to move forward:
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=194681&page=1
NM, 2007-01-22 21:58:34 -- Flag for review
I've been waiting since Jan 10, 2005 (742 days today!) for my namecheck clearance so I could become a US citizen. When will this madness end?
Juan from NM, 2007-01-29 17:05:09 -- Flag for review
I passed my exam on Jan 24th, 2006 and I am waiting only for the background check. the frustrating part is that, based on information from the USCIS agent, there is no way to escalate or resubmit the background check request. I am contemplating suing the agency but would like some support. any leads?
Thank you,
Haider Al-Ghazaali, 2007-02-01 18:08:18 -- Flag for review
I've passed my exam and interview Sep.2002 with many of Iraqies in Lincoln, Nebraska. Most of us are still waiting for thier ceramony to take the oath and become citizens. When we talk to the INC office the only answer we get is that the FBI name check has not been cleared yet. None of us have a problem with the law enforcement. My wife is American and so is my son. I don't know what the problem with the FBI. Sometimes we wonder if our problem is because we are Iraqies or because we are Muslims? We know that name check is important to protect the nation, and we have nothing to hide. But we don't understand why it takes many years to check a name?
he, 2007-02-02 19:48:54 -- Flag for review
I've passed my exam and interview Sep.2005 , and I'm still waiting for name check to be cleared. Very sad...
Jamshed, 2007-02-04 23:23:10 -- Flag for review
I had my interview back in Jan 2004. It is now three years and no Citizenship. Everytime I call they say wait for 120 days for an answer. I have notified the agent on the phone that I have already been waiting for three years and have called many times and each time I am given the same 120 routine. Of course he/she always says the same thing, there is nothing we can do. You just need to wait.
Ivan, 2007-02-14 19:43:04 -- Flag for review
I am hunging up since October 2002 (FBI name check)
My story looks exactly like others stories.
I am not muslim, not from Middle East. I belive, this case has nothing to do with the country of origin or religy.
I want all of us team togeather and combine our mental and other forces.
How to do this? How to join the team?
Regards
Ivan
Anonymous, 2007-02-16 11:19:05 -- Flag for review
Im wating too. It has been over a year since i've applied.
Jason, 2007-02-16 14:44:43 -- Flag for review
i'm in the same situation with all of you. Nothing i can do except waiting. I'm trying get the ombudsman department to help me now. So, here is the link to them :
http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0482.shtm
or if anyone know any better ideas plz help me
Anna, 2007-02-25 19:52:38 -- Flag for review
Wow, I'm impressed how many people are in the same situation as me. I passed my interview in June 2005, and have been waiting ever since. Called, checked online, even went to see immigration officer, - and didn't get any particular answer besides "we cannot promise anything, just wait". I didn't know that it is illigal, and I am willing to join the lawsuit.
amine benhamou, 2007-02-25 21:15:26 -- Flag for review
Hello all, i have been waiting since 11/05, and went for fingerprints twice so far. someone from the USCIS asked me why my application is taking so long??!!! i was like, if you don't know, how am i supposed to be.
anyways, nothing i can take personally, it certainly is unfair for law abiding residents (since we're not citizens yet).
I'm very interested in joining in with any action to help me with my application, as well as prevent future delays for other applicants.
Alana, 2007-03-03 13:46:29 -- Flag for review
The same here, I have been waiting on this process since March 2005, when I passed Citizenship test. I have been fingerprinted twice. I have contacted local congressman, state senator and nothing. There is no sense of customer service as I have called and e-mailed and no one responds. No semi-annual updates are sent to notify on the status of the case. The website is never updated.
amir bagherabadi, 2007-03-15 20:59:23 -- Flag for review
hello,
my name is amir, i applied for us citizenship on jan.11,2005,passed my interview in june of 2005, did my second set of fingerprints in may 2006, because their only valid 15 months and i am still waiting to sware in, i don't know how much longer i have to wait it's been over 2 years and i want to file a law suit. please if anyone can help e-mail me.
thanx
Viktor Chesnokov, 2007-03-27 11:39:54 -- Flag for review
I am one of that people suffering from the same situation: I am legally in US for 14 years, applied for naturalization 6+ years ago, went for fingerprints three times, passed citizenship interview in April of 2006, and waiting for FBI name check. I am ready to file a law suit if it will help me and others. Today the Congress is going to discuss new immigration policy and to grant ~12 millions ILLEGAL aliens for citizenship. May be they have to fix the system first for the legal taxpayers.
Ferick F., 2007-03-30 16:01:49 -- Flag for review
Woaaaaa...I thought I was alone. I passed my interview in Aug. 2004 and still waiting for this stupid name check. I have tried a Senator and nothing. I talked to a lawyer and he said you cannot sue......Apparently he didn't know what he was taking about. In any case, I am a Muslim from Europe. I am concerned this delay is being done on religious grounds, but I hope I am wrong. I like to know how to join a class action lawsuit. Does anybody have any specific information? Thanks to Peter above for providing those two links.
Kamil, 2007-04-27 08:59:00 -- Flag for review
I was told that a group of 45 Iraqis in Virginia or some other state (they all were from one state) hired a big laywer and the laywered was able to help with the naturalization. The lawyer was able to get all the media attention and was able able accelerate the process. One person cannot hire or pay all the expensens of a smart laywer. Let's unite. I live in LA, California. For those of who live in California and have this problem of long long delays, please contact me. We could do something together. My email is : kalzayady@coh.org or enlill2000@yahoo.com
Mia, 2007-04-29 02:45:53 -- Flag for review
Does anybody know a good lawyer in arizona, who handles lawsuits against the ins?
Jack, 2007-05-01 14:18:35 -- Flag for review
You see what is bugs me is just a very basic common sense. Example, we are the most powerful country in the world with most resources and fastest information system that anyone has.
That BS about name check is purposely breaking law buy some individuals who will build carrier on checking of our names. My question is; does anyone know any RESULTS of anyone who went trough law suit or someone who send request for help to the congressman/woman. Does anyone know did something happen positively, because I do not believe that those gang of bureaucrats will give easy golden mine. Yes we are in need for security… but not this way.
Diana Day, 2007-05-01 16:44:35 -- Flag for review
Hi. I am the reporter who wrote this article. I just wanted to say that the publicized lawsuits you read about (including the one I wrote about in this article, as far as I know) do often have good results. Contact a grassroots organization in your area like MPAC or CAIR and ask about what is being done to help folks who are in the naturalization limbo, like so many who have left comments here.
Anonymous, 2007-05-09 15:24:54 -- Flag for review
This is one of my frustrations with the US, it is often those who choose to shout from rooftops and hold million man/woman marches that get heard. Law abiding legal immigrant are often treated as pyriahs in the immigration debate. I was approved for Citizenship in July 2005 in NY, its now close to 2 yrs of waiting and the INS is still waiting on the FBI name check. I work in a corporate setting and have moved a couple of times since 2005 (for job reasons), but can't take foreign assignments bcos of this hold-up. Regarding taking legal recourse, I know of a gentleman who sued in GA and the INS asked for a settlement rather than go to trial (he has gotten his citizenship). I am seriously considering the same route. Anyone in Houston TX. interested in pooling resources to hire a lawyer please email me at yomio@ureach.com
Ivan, 2007-05-19 19:57:58 -- Flag for review
I am looking for team to join to file CLASS ACTION against FBI, because I think that CLASS ACTION draws more attention.
Here is my story:
4 years Outside processing time Case- N400, citizenship, State CA
-Priority date October 15 2002
-Interview Jun 30 2003
...About 10 inquiries, including 4 senators
Oath/N445= pending for almost 4 years at FBI NAME CHECK
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Abdullah Hameed, 2007-06-08 12:11:00 -- Flag for review
My name is Abdullah Hameed, Bangladeshi Citizen. Currently I am awaiting for the I485. Had a successful interview in Aug 05, and my Name Check is still pending. I would like to join in this class action law suite.Please let me know what I can do from my end.
Hameed
Diana Day, 2007-06-18 15:15:38 -- Flag for review
Just wanted to say that even though it's been a year since I wrote this article, the matter is still in the news. Check out this article in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061601360.html
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like much has changed.
Anonymous, 2007-06-22 09:46:25 -- Flag for review
Please check out this article in the NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11271832
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Narinder Pal Singh, 2007-08-25 10:39:58 -- Flag for review
I have passed my English and Civics test in march 22,2005. After that i check for my oath,but i always gets the same replay that my FBI background check has not come yet. I never did any crime in my whole life, but i dont know what should i do.Can i join this Law suite.
Dr. Mia Carter, 2007-09-14 11:47:24 -- Flag for review
I am trying to get int touch with Attorney Ranjana Natarajan. Could you please send me her contact information; or, please forward her mine. Thank you very much. Mia Carter, Universitry of Texas @ Austin
sjr, 2007-09-15 23:00:11 -- Flag for review
HOW LONG WE SHOULD WAIT FOR "OATH",???AFTER ALL LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND HAVE TO LEAVE THE WORLD WITHOUT ANYTHING WHEN WE DIE SO WHY ?WHY? SOO LATE??
Greg Smith, 2007-09-18 21:56:01 -- Flag for review
The ACLU says, "Absolutely No Profiling!"
Pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following multiple choice test.
These events are actual events from history. They really happened! Do you remember?
1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by
a. Superman
b. Jay Leno
c. Harry Potter
d. A Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40
2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by
a. Olga Corbett
b. Sitting Bull
c. Arnold Schwarzenegger
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
3. In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians
b. Elvis
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
4. During the 1980s a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
a. John Dillinger
b. The King of Sweden
c. The Boy Scouts
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
5. In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
a. A pizza delivery boy
b. Pee Wee Herman
c. Geraldo Rivera
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
6. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70-year-old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs
b. Davey Jones
c. The Little Mermaid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
7. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kidd
b. Charles Lindberg
c. Mother Teresa
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
8. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Doo
b. The Tooth Fairy and The Sundance Kid
c. Mr Rogers
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
9. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
a. Richard Simmons
b. Grandma Moses
c. Michael Jordan
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
10. In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers
b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems
c. The World Wrestling Federation
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the U.S. Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr. Bean
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
12. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
a. Enron
b. The Lutheran Church
c. The NFL
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
a. Bonnie and Clyde
b. Captain Kangaroo
c. Billy Graham
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
No, I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you? So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people. They must conduct random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, secret agents who are members of the president's security detail, 85-year old congressmen with metal hips, and Medal of Honor-winning and former Governor Joe Foss, but leave Muslim males between the ages 17 and 40 alone lest they be guilty of profiling. Let's send this to as many people as we can so the Gloria Aldreds and other dunder-headed attorneys along with federal justices that want to thwart common sense, feel ashamed of themselves -- if they have any such sense.
As the writer of the award winning story "Forrest Gump" so aptly put it, "Stupid is as stupid does."
Perhaps rather than complaining and sueing and generally alienating yourselves from American society, perhaps you should concentrate on your OWN community. There must be a way for you to discover who those extreamists are in your own community and you should be able to root them out MUCH better than the CIA or the FBI. Perhaps if you stepped up and did something to make America safer rather than constantly trying to drive a wedge between it's citizens, All Americans would get wise and except the Muslim faith with open arms rather than distrust and hate.
Anonymous, 2007-09-28 14:18:31 -- Flag for review
T
Anonymous, 2007-09-28 14:28:46 -- Flag for review
The problem has nothing to do with whether one is muslim or not. There are planty of immigrants from China, India, Russia, Latin America, Western Europe etc. who applied for US citizenship and are waiting for thir cases to be resulved for years and years.
Note that while FBI is "checking" on them all those people continue to be in US as permanent residents (and they were in US in the same status for at least 5 years before they even would be eligible to aply for citizenship!) - so if they would mean any harm they would have no problem doing it. In fact, long name checks are only good for such people.
The main reason for backlog seems simply the luck of manpower. FBI does name check as a contractor (!!) for USCIS, which only pays $2 per file (though it chagges prospective citizens $400). Now USCIS rized fees about 3 times - and, gess what, it is planning to pay FBI $9 per file. Fro this moeney, I assume FBI does not have too many people working on name checks for USCIS. That is why any case when there is a need to do anything beyond simpel computer check lasts for 2-3 years if not 5-10.. There are currently more then 300 000 cases pending name check for naturalization perposes at FBI!
And some people still call it "being serious about security"..
Anon, 2007-10-23 23:20:20 -- Flag for review
Tamim Amini is a subversive terrorist and should be deported. He proports himself to be a christian while proselytizing with guilt in an attempt to get Americans to submit to his Afghanistanian will. Thank God our government has seen fit to continue to scrutinize this covert operative's background as he seeks jealous citizenship in order to bring down our citizens.
Anon, 2007-10-23 23:22:12 -- Flag for review
Tamim Amini is a subversive terrorist and should be deported. He proports himself to be a christian while proselytizing with guilt in an attempt to get Americans to submit to his Afghanistanian will. Thank God our government has seen fit to continue to scrutinize this covert operative's background as he seeks jealous citizenship in order to bring down our natural citizens.
Terri H, 2007-10-31 23:11:34 -- Flag for review
I passed my interview and exam on May, 2004 and I am still waiting too. Every time I went back to the local INS to check the status, the only thing came back was "there is nothing you can do, please be patient and wait..." I am very sick and tired of waiting....
Today I received another fingerprint notice. It doesn't look like moving forward to me at all.
I feel very sorry for all of us here!
abdellah, 2007-12-07 19:41:39 -- Flag for review
I file N400 application for naturalization on Aug 18th and had my fingerprints done on Sept 19th; since then i did not receive anything from USCIS beside a letter stating that my case is pending.
Please could you advise me what step i should take next in order to get the interview appointment.
Thanks in advance.
aminah, 2007-12-18 11:15:54 -- Flag for review
i got married with a person 2 yrs ago.he filed for nayuralization but couldnt get oath date.my parents think he is a lier and dont want to take his wife along.i got pregnant they abort my child and filed for divorce in the court jus because his oath is not coming up.he is a big lier.my parents are forcing me to get divorce from him.i already have lost my baby but dont wanna lose my husband.plz help me it seems like im gonna live all my life without my husband.if the system in america is like this i don wanna go in such country.now i wish i could marry sumone else not an american resident.
aminah, 2007-12-18 11:19:56 -- Flag for review
i never seen america in my life.but now american rules took away my baby and now my husband.american laws are responsible for killing my baby.and not my marriage is ending up.GETTING MARRIED WITH SOMEONE IN AMERICA WAS MY BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE.THOUGH I LOVE MY HUSBAND ALOT:(
California, 2008-01-29 01:04:03 -- Flag for review
Are we just gonna talk here or get together and take some legal action against these peoples so we can solve this issue.
Ara Harmandarian, 2008-02-04 15:56:46 -- Flag for review
I am experiencing the same problem with my U.S. citizenship application since May 2005. After I passed my interview exam without any problem, the INS officer, decided that I need a further background check; Although, I am not Muslim or Arab but most probably because of my birthplace, Lebanon.
I would not agree less about these background checks; however, the FBI should allocate more resources to process them faster and not let us wait indefinitely.
darel davis, 2008-02-05 10:32:02 -- Flag for review
wats up darel davis
tabitha, 2008-02-28 19:57:32 -- Flag for review
Hi, everybody I have a different problem and don't know what to do I am an american who married in Pakistan, it's been almost 5 yrs. and still he has not recieved a visa to the U.S.A. Our children are now almost 4 yrs. old I've tried writing to senators and everybody else but still no luck for the past 2 yrs. he has been waiting for a background check. Please if anybody can help E-Mail me Thank You. P.S. even if you have any ideas please e-mail
Sean Johnson, 2008-03-15 05:50:24 -- Flag for review
1.
1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by A Muslim male
extremest between the ages of 17 and 40
2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
4. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
5. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
6. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70-year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
7. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
8. In 1988 , Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
9. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
10. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by: Muslim male extremists mostly between the of 17 and 40
12.. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against: Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
luana savera, 2008-03-15 20:58:47 -- Flag for review
Hi
I would like to know if is something that I can do, as a recourse or motion to file in order to have my case resolved ( do I need a lawyer ???). My citizenship is pending for more than one year for FBI background check. Plase let me know if I can do something about. Thankssssssss
Andre, 2008-03-19 19:23:57 -- Flag for review
Hello All,
Have filed N400 back in July'2006, got fingerprinted twice already, wrote tonnes of letters to everybody (nobody gives a flying f...), since 1999 paid over $300K in taxes, not a penny from public funds ever since.
It never stops to amaze me!!!!
ilsun, 2008-09-26 19:01:01 -- Flag for review
. DEAR SIR/MADAM
I SUPPORT THE WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TORTURE AND ABUSE USING DIRECTED ENERGY AND NEUROLOGICAL WEAPONS
I would like to draw your attention to some extreme and horrendous criminality being conducted with the involvement of United States Government-related Agencies and the complicity, if not participation, of many other governments and security agencies.
I am a victim of torture and abuse using DIRECTED ENERGY and NEUROLOGICAL WEAPONS technology.
The criminal use of these on me are causing the following effects -
1. Sleep deprivation
2. Reading thoughts remotely
3. Causing pain in any nerve of the body
4. Computer- brain interference, control and communication.
There is massive ignorance and secrecy regarding this, and victims such as I are being subjected to uncontrolled and unacknowledged torture and mental and physical destruction. This has remained completely unreported and undiscussed publicly. There are many others, all over the world, who are being subjected to similar torture and abuse.
Your attention is urgently needed to halt these atrocities, protect me, and bring these extremist elements to justice.
I DEMAN AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THESE CRIMES AND HUGE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTD
ilsun, 2008-09-26 19:01:32 -- Flag for review
. DEAR SIR/MADAM
I SUPPORT THE WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TORTURE AND ABUSE USING DIRECTED ENERGY AND NEUROLOGICAL WEAPONS
I would like to draw your attention to some extreme and horrendous criminality being conducted with the involvement of United States Government-related Agencies and the complicity, if not participation, of many other governments and security agencies.
I am a victim of torture and abuse using DIRECTED ENERGY and NEUROLOGICAL WEAPONS technology.
The criminal use of these on me are causing the following effects -
1. Sleep deprivation
2. Reading thoughts remotely
3. Causing pain in any nerve of the body
4. Computer- brain interference, control and communication.
There is massive ignorance and secrecy regarding this, and victims such as I are being subjected to uncontrolled and unacknowledged torture and mental and physical destruction. This has remained completely unreported and undiscussed publicly. There are many others, all over the world, who are being subjected to similar torture and abuse.
Your attention is urgently needed to halt these atrocities, protect me, and bring these extremist elements to justice.
I DEMAN AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THESE CRIMES AND HUGE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTD
johan, 2008-10-14 16:03:20 -- Flag for review
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johan, 2008-10-14 16:04:21 -- Flag for review
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