Citizenship Application Denied
In early 2003 I applied for citizenship. The adjudication officer put the application on hold pending submission of additional documents and citing "good moral character". I have not committed any crime, major or minor, whether civil, criminal or involving moral turpitude that I am aware of, then to present.
I then collected the additional requirements, and requested for a re-interview but the second adjudication officer to which I was assigned simply took a cursory look at the papers upon my reply to her question on whether I have someone representing me and simply advised me to find a lawyer.
Recently, I engaged the services of a lawyer who then attended the INFOPASS, whatever that is, at the USCIS office and he says he found out that my case was formally denied in November 2003 and that a denial notice was sent out which I never received, and that the USCIS office was unable to tell him why the application was denied. The papers were sent to Vermont Service Center for reasons unknown, and from there they were sent to the National Records Center for long term storeage.
What best steps would you take as a lawyer and/or as an applicant ? The lawyer I hired said that my best option is to re-apply for citizenship because the period for appeal of this decision is well past.
Will the records in storeage be reflected in my re-application ?
Will it be fair if the USCIS cites the same reasons considering that the prescribed time for appeal has passed or will my application be treated as "new".
Re: Citizenship Application Denied
Your best step would appear to be, as your lawyer advised you, to apply again. As your lawyer told you, you did not file a timely appeal so you start over.
We have no way of telling you what records will turn up in association with that process.