I-751 applications by the numbers

[SabineGriffin 12]

Hello Everyone,

 

I filed for my I-751 on March 1, 2017. In June 2017, my husband and I received government orders (like military orders) from the DoD to PCS to the UK. So I was unable to include the orders in my application  to USCIS in March. USCIS stamped my passport with a one year extension in July 2017 and we then traveled to the UK.

 

Given the timeline and statistics discussion here, do I continue to sit still in the UK to wait for the GC renewal (I gave USCIS my sister's mailing address in California for the GC)? Or can I do sometime in the meantime? For example, is it possible to apply for the N-400 as well? I started with the K-1 visa and I resided continuously in the US for 2.5 years until my husband and I received government orders. Or am I not eligible to apply for citizenship until after 3 years of permanent residency (I may have read this somewhere)? Needless to say, I am slightly confused and would just like to follow the rules.

 

Thanks so much!

Edited January 2, 2018 by SabineGriffin

[Amhara 460]

38 minutes ago, SabineGriffin said:

Hello Everyone,

 

I filed for my I-751 on March 1, 2017. In June 2017, my husband and I received government orders (like military orders) from the DoD to PCS to the UK. So I was unable to include the orders in my application  to USCIS in March. USCIS stamped my passport with a one year extension in July 2017 and we then traveled to the UK.

 

Given the timeline and statistics discussion here, do I continue to sit still in the UK to wait for the GC renewal (I gave USCIS my sister's mailing address in California for the GC)? Or can I do sometime in the meantime? For example, is it possible to apply for the N-400 as well? I started with the K-1 visa and I resided continuously in the US for 2.5 years until my husband and I received government orders. Or am I not eligible to apply for citizenship until after 3 years of permanent residency (I may have read this somewhere)? Needless to say, I am slightly confused and would just like to follow the rules.

 

Thanks so much!

You can apply for USC early (regardless of timeframe) based on you going overseas on government orders.  You can apply for the USC now!

[SabineGriffin 12]

Amhara, thanks so much for the advice! I will look into it to see what can be started here from the UK. Guess, I have it stuck in my mind that a lot less can be done with USCIS applications when not in the US. I may ask you for more advice? Thanks!

[sddude89 31]

On 1/2/2018 at 3:43 AM, SabineGriffin said:

Hello Everyone,

 

I filed for my I-751 on March 1, 2017. In June 2017, my husband and I received government orders (like military orders) from the DoD to PCS to the UK. So I was unable to include the orders in my application  to USCIS in March. USCIS stamped my passport with a one year extension in July 2017 and we then traveled to the UK.

 

Given the timeline and statistics discussion here, do I continue to sit still in the UK to wait for the GC renewal (I gave USCIS my sister's mailing address in California for the GC)? Or can I do sometime in the meantime? For example, is it possible to apply for the N-400 as well? I started with the K-1 visa and I resided continuously in the US for 2.5 years until my husband and I received government orders. Or am I not eligible to apply for citizenship until after 3 years of permanent residency (I may have read this somewhere)? Needless to say, I am slightly confused and would just like to follow the rules.

 

Thanks so much!

One of the N-400 requirements is:

"Show that you have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you apply".

So I don't think you can apply to citizenship when living in the UK, regardless of what the reason is.

[Amhara 460]

39 minutes ago, sddude89 said:

One of the N-400 requirements is:

"Show that you have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you apply".

So I don't think you can apply to citizenship when living in the UK, regardless of what the reason is.

This statement is just wrong.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartG-Chapter4.html

[sddude89 31]

2 minutes ago, Amhara said:

This statement is just wrong.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartG-Chapter4.html

Thanks! Here is the quote noting the exception:

 

Quote

 

E. Exception to Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements

 

Spouses of U.S. citizens who are regularly stationed abroad under qualifying employment may be eligible to file fornaturalization immediately after obtaining LPR status in the United States. Such spouses are not required to have any prior period of residence or specified period of physical presence within the United States in order to qualify for naturalization.

 

 

[shell20 746]

On 30/12/2017 at 4:19 AM, sddude89 said:

The numbers are obvious.

The rate of approval of I-751s has significantly decreased starting 1st Quarter of 2017 (compare approval numbers in 2016 and 2017)

32-35k approved per quarter in 2016 (Obama) vs. 20-24k approved per quarter in 2017 (Trump).

 

Of course, the slow down has nothing to do with USCIS working slower just because there is another president. 

 

To the original poster, please add to your spreadsheet the I-821D statistics 2016 vs 2017.

 

That will show that there has been a surge of I-821Ds (a significant and undeniable surge) in 2017 and most likely has re-shifted resources inside USCIS and I-751s have been given the lowest priority. (I know VSC is faster, but not much faster, only 3 months ahead).

 

The surge is probably due to panic, lots of people that were afraid or not ready to file I-821D, suddenly realized that Trump wants to terminate the program, therefore the surge and panic.

 

 

Well apparently they have now transferred some of the 1-129 non immigrant visas on  Jan 2nd 2018  from California and Vermont to Texas.  So,  in theory if the 1-821D is now at the end of processing and they have transferred the 1-129,  there is a huge chance that California will pick up speed with regards to ROC.  Watch this spot!

 

January 2, 2018

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center and California Service Center to the Texas Service Center:

• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners seeking L nonimmigrant classification

Edited January 5, 2018 by shell20

[jrwh1177 12]

6 hours ago, shell20 said:

Well apparently they have now transferred some of the 1-129 non immigrant visas on  Jan 2nd 2018  from California and Vermont to Texas.  So,  in theory if the 1-821D is now at the end of processing and they have transferred the 1-129,  there is a huge chance that California will pick up speed with regards to ROC.  Watch this spot!

 

January 2, 2018

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center and California Service Center to the Texas Service Center:

• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners seeking L nonimmigrant classification

In 2016 there were 260,725 I-821D applications filed over the course of the year.  In 2017 there were 472,873 applications that were filed.  That is close to double that amount, year over year.  Out of those only 82,000+ are pending decision. It is correct to assume that the huge influx of these applications had a great impact on all other applications being processed.  If the I-129 were moved over that it will definitely expedite the process.  At the end of 2017 there were 148,173 applications still awaiting decision.  Both of those changes will improve the chances of our applications to be processed faster in 2018.  I believe the quarterly report at the end of March 2018 will really show if the process is getting faster or not.  I am hoping that it does pick up.

Edited January 5, 2018 by jrwh1177

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

I'm hoping the i751 processing time at both service centers get whittled down this year. Such a long wait at both coasts..