Some Naturalization Interviews in Seattle Moving Away

It was reported by a spokesperson from the USCIS Seattle Field Office yesterday that effective immediately, Naturalization applicants living south of Seattle and on the Olympic Peninsula will have to go to the USCIS Field Office in Portland, Oregon for their Naturalization interviews. Applicants living east of Seattle will have to go to the USCIS Field Office in Yakima, Washington.

This information, obtained by a colleague of mine with AILA-WA, shared the reasons given by USCIS for this change:

-          Due to increased processing times of Natz cases in Seattle office  there has been a national decision to shift pending N-400 applications to other USCIS offices close by;

-          Pending applications with address "South of Seattle proper" (including Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way and south from there) will be interviewed and adjudicated in Portland (he wasn't sure about Kent and Renton);

-          Pending applications with address "East of Seattle proper" (including Bellevue, Issaquah and east from there) will be interviewed and adjudicated in Yakima;

-          This is a temporary measure and the end date is TBD;

-          All biometrics appointment appointments will still take place in Seattle;

-          First notices to come in the next 45 days with first interviews in late July - early August;

-          Reschedule requests will have to be directed to the offices at which the interview was to take place.