Wondering about any cons for filing N-400 before ROC is approved?

[Tina and Johan 206]

Hi.  It's been FOREVER since I've been on this site.  We sorta just assumed we'd be waiting over a year, so we have just put it in the back of our minds, and carried on with life.  Last night though, after discussing the timeframe (May 2017 filer), we decided to check on it and found that the status was that our case had been sent to our local office.  Glitch or not, we're now wondering if my husband should just go ahead and apply for citizenship when he's eligible, which is at the end of April.  Pros?  Cons?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Dashinka 24,494]

9 minutes ago, Tina and Johan said:

Hi.  It's been FOREVER since I've been on this site.  We sorta just assumed we'd be waiting over a year, so we have just put it in the back of our minds, and carried on with life.  Last night though, after discussing the timeframe (May 2017 filer), we decided to check on it and found that the status was that our case had been sent to our local office.  Glitch or not, we're now wondering if my husband should just go ahead and apply for citizenship when he's eligible, which is at the end of April.  Pros?  Cons?

 

Thanks in advance!

The biggest pro is that if naturalization is the ultimate goal, then you start that clock by filing the N400.  The biggest con is that it puts the ROC on hold and it will be processed with the N400, so you may need to get an I551 stamp when the extension letter expires.  You still have almost two months to wait, so with the file going to the local office, maybe the ROC will be finished before the N400 can be filed.

 

Good Luck!

[NYCruiser 423]

We are in the same boat. End of May my spouse is eligible to apply for N400. However, I am hearing the adjudication and receipt of the Green card for ROC is not 18 months. Therefore, it depends what you want. Sounds like you will get the 10 year green card in October 2018. If you file for an N400, when will your interview for the N-400 be?

[Dashinka 24,494]

12 hours ago, NYCruiser said:

We are in the same boat. End of May my spouse is eligible to apply for N400. However, I am hearing the adjudication and receipt of the Green card for ROC is not 18 months. Therefore, it depends what you want. Sounds like you will get the 10 year green card in October 2018. If you file for an N400, when will your interview for the N-400 be?

You can check local office N400 processing times on the USCIS site.  The OP shows their local office as LA which shows processing April 2017 N400s however it has not been updated since December 2017, so sounds like 8-10 months for the OP's office.

[NYCruiser 423]

2 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

You can check local office N400 processing times on the USCIS site.  The OP shows their local office as LA which shows processing April 2017 N400s however it has not been updated since December 2017, so sounds like 8-10 months for the OP's office.

I am not sure how accurate those timelines are. Fact: I filled out online paperwork for a Friend who has been here for 26 years as a LPR in early December 2017. This friend had their interview two months later and is scheduled for the swearing in in Mid-March. This is in a Mid-western City. Yet the processing times at the time of application said they were processing applications received in August 2017. (still says that by the way)

[Scazy 78]

IF you want to wait until they finally check your case and then transfer it to local office to be scheduled to interview under local office proceeding time, then go ahead. It will delay your Roc. If you from small city that might not be too bad, but if it's a bigger office then it's a long wait by itself.  On other hand you'll be sooner a citizen( under 3 year rule) but deal with explaining stamps at the airports around the world until that. 

IMO I would not mess with Roc and do anything to delay it even more