Here is my experience. Hope it will help more people in the same case.
Yesterday,my hu*****and contacted a senator of our state about our case. Also he said he sent letters to local newspapers. That senator contacted the officer directly.
This morning, I went to talk to an attorney. She told me the same as you said. She said we mailed the request to wrong address. It should be sent to the office where interview is instead of Chicago. We should file to motion reopen and hire an attorney if INS asks me to leave USA.
But when I came back, that senator called us and said INS apologied. INS rescheduled our interview and will send us a notice very soon.
It is a surprise to me. But the lesson for our chinese is: We are too scared of INS. There is some other way to solve problem.
Wish everyone Luck!!!