Hi everyone, I wanted to share my full situation and see if anyone has gone through something similar.
At my first naturalization interview, everything seemed to go well at the beginning. I took the oath, completed the English and civics test, and I was told that I passed.
However, at the start of the interview, the officer mentioned that some documents were missing. I explained that when I submitted my application, there was an issue with the system, and not all of my documents were uploaded correctly. I also told her that I had all the documents with me in a physical folder, ready to show if needed.
Despite that, the officer did not review my documents and proceeded directly with the interview and tests. At the end, I was told I passed, and I left thinking everything was fine.
A few days later, I received a Request for Evidence (RFE). While trying to respond, I saw a notification saying the RFE had been canceled, so I believed no further action was needed. However, shortly after that, my case was denied.
I then filed an appeal (N-336) and had a second interview.
During the appeal interview, the officer carefully reviewed all of my documents, including:
tax returns
lease and utility bills
car registrations
photos
letters from friends and family
I also explained everything again, including:
the system error when uploading documents
the confusion with the RFE
and that I had always had the documents available
The officer asked if I had any additional evidence that could change the decision, and I provided what was requested.
At the end of the interview, I was told I should receive a decision within 1 to 2 weeks, but I am still currently waiting for an update.
In summary:
I believe my initial denial happened because:
my documents were not properly uploaded due to a system issue
the first officer did not review the documents I had with me
and there was confusion with the RFE status
But during the appeal, everything was reviewed in detail.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially with an appeal still pending while having a new interview scheduled — I would really appreciate hearing your experience.