N-400 and I-751 Combo Pending -- Part 2

[PonJor 69]

15 minutes ago, John andrew said:

that is true even though mine says 11 months i have seen couple of folks got the interview in 5 month and done in 6 month the entire process lol so finger cross  update me when you get any update and i will do the same:) 

Yes, I definitely will! I'm glad its moving this fast, I think it was a lot slower about a year ago.

[nwolfe90 18]

My wife has her interview on April 14th in Charleston SC.  We applied on 12/31 for N400 so not a long wait.  

[Brunno 11]

Hello All,

 

Maybe my questions should be posted somewhere else but we think you may be able to help us here.

 

We have a ROC pending since October 2018. With 18 months extension letter which will expire rather soon. Will USCIS send us a new letter? Or do we have to go for a stamp? We have tried to check online Chicago office but they don`t take appointments. How are we suppose to get stamp in our passport?  Is there a phone line/number we should call to ask/schedule the appointment?

 

Also, we are eligible for N400 and it is our goal to became citizen. We were so exited that so many OCT.`18 filers got approved so we were waiting to file after the ROC will be done/approved. We have a small baby and we did not want to drag him to the city for the combo interview. But this is going on for past 4 months and our USCIS account is showing: fingerprint review completed. And old site is showing: Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken. All this since July `18...since then crickets. We dont even get txt or email messages like before anymore.

 

Oct `18 LIN filer, Bio done in July `19...extension letter for 18 months but will expire soon. 

 

If we file for N400 with ROC pending, are we going to get new extension letter for another 18 months? The N 400 will take way more time than our 18 months current extension. And we do not want to be "out of status".

 

So we hope someone here can give us some directions. Someone here was in the same situation. Or if this is wrong forum please put the link with correct one.

 

Thank you all in advance.

 

Have a good day!

 

Brunno....:-)))

 

 

[nwolfe90 18]

8 minutes ago, Brunno said:

Hello All,

 

Maybe my questions should be posted somewhere else but we think you may be able to help us here.

 

We have a ROC pending since October 2018. With 18 months extension letter which will expire rather soon. Will USCIS send us a new letter? Or do we have to go for a stamp? We have tried to check online Chicago office but they don`t take appointments. How are we suppose to get stamp in our passport?  Is there a phone line/number we should call to ask/schedule the appointment?

 

Also, we are eligible for N400 and it is our goal to became citizen. We were so exited that so many OCT.`18 filers got approved so we were waiting to file after the ROC will be done/approved. We have a small baby and we did not want to drag him to the city for the combo interview. But this is going on for past 4 months and our USCIS account is showing: fingerprint review completed. And old site is showing: Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken. All this since July `18...since then crickets. We dont even get txt or email messages like before anymore.

 

Oct `18 LIN filer, Bio done in July `19...extension letter for 18 months but will expire soon. 

 

If we file for N400 with ROC pending, are we going to get new extension letter for another 18 months? The N 400 will take way more time than our 18 months current extension. And we do not want to be "out of status".

 

So we hope someone here can give us some directions. Someone here was in the same situation. Or if this is wrong forum please put the link with correct one.

 

Thank you all in advance.

 

Have a good day!

 

Brunno....:-)))

 

 

Same thing was happening with my wife in Texas.  So what I did was make an appointment with my local office (Charleston, SC for me) and got my wife's passport stamped and the woman said it was good for another year.  My N400 was only going to take till May 2020 it said. 

[NYBEtt 88]

19 hours ago, Brunno said:

Will USCIS send us a new letter? Or do we have to go for a stamp? We have tried to check online Chicago office but they don`t take appointments. How are we suppose to get stamp in our passport?  Is there a phone line/number we should call to ask/schedule the appointment?

USCIS will not send you another extension letter.

Call USCIS Customer Service Phone Number [accurate as of July 2019]:

800-375-5283

Press 1, then 2, then 2, then 2

Tell them your extension letter is expiring and you want to make an infopass appointment to get an I-551 stamp.
 

19 hours ago, Brunno said:

Also, we are eligible for N400 and it is our goal to became citizen. We were so exited that so many OCT.`18 filers got approved so we were waiting to file after the ROC will be done/approved. We have a small baby and we did not want to drag him to the city for the combo interview.

 

Oct `18 LIN filer, Bio done in July `19...extension letter for 18 months but will expire soon.

According to USCIS, processing time (see here)  for I-751 LIN applications is between 15-26 months, so you unfortunately you cannot file an inquiry for out of processing times.

 

There is also a very helpful google doc that community members created for LIN filers

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Buo_drIy4zaCFZUULdT_L9JrA6YZgrVtt7Cj6nUsvv0/edit#gid=0

 

According to the google doc it looks that a lot of LIN filers who have filed around your time have been approved. For this reason, I think a lot of people in this forum would recommend you file for N-400 since it is possible that your case is collecting dust on someone's desk and the N-400 might help expedite the process.

 

If your concern is having to take a baby to the interview, it is possible the ROC application will also require a separate interview so I don't think you are gaining much by waiting for ROC approval first. If I were in your place, I would definitely file for N-400, since similar timelines have been approved. That however is a personal decision and not based any concrete evidence or facts. Good luck and please update your timeline so you can help the community:

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=314843

 

 

 

Edited March 5, 2020 by NYBEtt
revised quote

[h2o15 12]

Just wanted to give an update on my N-400/I-751 combo interview at the New York Manhattan field office on March 4th. I applied for my N-400 in April 2019 and I-751 in April 2018. 

 

My interview was at 9:25am - went with my husband just in case they'll do a combo interview. Waited for about an hour and the officer came and called out my number. We went up together, but the officer immediately told us that he is not going to conduct a combo interview and that this interview is only for the N-400. We were disappointed, but said fine. My husband stayed in the waiting area.

 

When I first went into his room, he asked for all of my documentation - my passport, GC, and driver's license/state ID. He had me do an oath to tell the truth, and then we had some small talk about how my I-751 has been pending for a long time (since April 2018). He then asked me for all of the evidence that I brought with me to show our 3-year marriage requirement, including tax returns, leases, bank accounts, health insurance, pictures, etc. I ended up giving him everything that I brought, which I think was well over 100 pages. Not sure how he had a change of mind, but the officer said that he'll actually adjudicate both I-751 and N-400. He mentioned how he saw that my husband was with me and it seems like I've been waiting for a while, so maybe those were the reasons why he changed his mind. Then we proceeded to the N-400 interview portion, where he asked me the 6 civic questions, English reading and writing test, and then asked me the Yes/No questions. He verified some details of the application with me (change in jobs, address, travel history, etc.) and then had me sign the things he made changes to.

 

After all of that, he gave me the N-652 and told me that he'll approve both I-751 and N-400. But in the N-652, it says that I passed the tests, but that a decision cannot be made. He told me (if I remember correctly now) that it will take about a week or two to approve everything, and that afterwards, it will take 3-4 weeks to get the oath ceremony schedule. 

 

I'm thankful that I was able to do a combo interview and that the officer changed his mind mid-way through. My online status just changed to Oath Ceremony will be scheduled for N-400, so we'll see how fast they give me a date! 

[tootak 3]

On 1/31/2020 at 11:14 AM, kc2177 said:

I will. Please share as well. I feel like people from LA are underrepresented on here, even though there are so many applicants from our area. So hard to find posts from applicants who deal with the same downtown LA USCIS office. Good luck to you too!

Hey! Did you hear anything? Mine is still pending with USCIS without any update 

[kc2177 6]

19 hours ago, tootak said:

Hey! Did you hear anything? Mine is still pending with USCIS without any update 

Sorry forgot to update you. Yes, I heard back around Valentines day that everything got approved and my oath ceremony was late Feb a couple weeks ago. I think you should hear from them soon. I know someone else that it took about a month and a half or so to hear back. hang in there!

[tootak 3]

2 hours ago, kc2177 said:

Sorry forgot to update you. Yes, I heard back around Valentines day that everything got approved and my oath ceremony was late Feb a couple weeks ago. I think you should hear from them soon. I know someone else that it took about a month and a half or so to hear back. hang in there!

Awesome! Congratulations! Happy to hear your was quickly resolved. 
Mine has been about 40 days since the citizenship interview. I’m hoping to hear something in the next couple of weeks 

[h2o15 12]

On 3/6/2020 at 4:52 PM, h2o15 said:

Just wanted to give an update on my N-400/I-751 combo interview at the New York Manhattan field office on March 4th. I applied for my N-400 in April 2019 and I-751 in April 2018. 

 

My interview was at 9:25am - went with my husband just in case they'll do a combo interview. Waited for about an hour and the officer came and called out my number. We went up together, but the officer immediately told us that he is not going to conduct a combo interview and that this interview is only for the N-400. We were disappointed, but said fine. My husband stayed in the waiting area.

 

When I first went into his room, he asked for all of my documentation - my passport, GC, and driver's license/state ID. He had me do an oath to tell the truth, and then we had some small talk about how my I-751 has been pending for a long time (since April 2018). He then asked me for all of the evidence that I brought with me to show our 3-year marriage requirement, including tax returns, leases, bank accounts, health insurance, pictures, etc. I ended up giving him everything that I brought, which I think was well over 100 pages. Not sure how he had a change of mind, but the officer said that he'll actually adjudicate both I-751 and N-400. He mentioned how he saw that my husband was with me and it seems like I've been waiting for a while, so maybe those were the reasons why he changed his mind. Then we proceeded to the N-400 interview portion, where he asked me the 6 civic questions, English reading and writing test, and then asked me the Yes/No questions. He verified some details of the application with me (change in jobs, address, travel history, etc.) and then had me sign the things he made changes to.

 

After all of that, he gave me the N-652 and told me that he'll approve both I-751 and N-400. But in the N-652, it says that I passed the tests, but that a decision cannot be made. He told me (if I remember correctly now) that it will take about a week or two to approve everything, and that afterwards, it will take 3-4 weeks to get the oath ceremony schedule. 

 

I'm thankful that I was able to do a combo interview and that the officer changed his mind mid-way through. My online status just changed to Oath Ceremony will be scheduled for N-400, so we'll see how fast they give me a date! 

Just wanted to post an update that this morning (March 9th), my I-751 status changed to Case was approved! Finally after waiting for almost 2 years! Hopefully my oath ceremony will get scheduled quickly.  

[Eddiem2044 5]

Hi guys, this question is about combo interviews.

when you receive your appointment letter (N400 supposing), are we supposed to be notified about that it is going to be a combo interview???

 

I got my interview date (N400) taking place on April 15th, my I751 is still pending, but they do not mention anything about I751 in the letter…

 

TIMELINE: NEWARK-NJ

I751 filed ----                         Jan 2019

N400 filed ----                        Dic 2019

I751 transferred NBC----     Jan 2020

N400 int schdld ---               April 15 2020

[Brunno 11]

On 3/5/2020 at 11:16 AM, NYBEtt said:

USCIS will not send you another extension letter.

Call USCIS Customer Service Phone Number [accurate as of July 2019]:

800-375-5283

Press 1, then 2, then 2, then 2

Tell them your extension letter is expiring and you want to make an infopass appointment to get an I-551 stamp.
 

According to USCIS, processing time (see here)  for I-751 LIN applications is between 15-26 months, so you unfortunately you cannot file an inquiry for out of processing times.

 

There is also a very helpful google doc that community members created for LIN filers

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Buo_drIy4zaCFZUULdT_L9JrA6YZgrVtt7Cj6nUsvv0/edit#gid=0

 

According to the google doc it looks that a lot of LIN filers who have filed around your time have been approved. For this reason, I think a lot of people in this forum would recommend you file for N-400 since it is possible that your case is collecting dust on someone's desk and the N-400 might help expedite the process.

 

If your concern is having to take a baby to the interview, it is possible the ROC application will also require a separate interview so I don't think you are gaining much by waiting for ROC approval first. If I were in your place, I would definitely file for N-400, since similar timelines have been approved. That however is a personal decision and not based any concrete evidence or facts. Good luck and please update your timeline so you can help the community:

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=314843

 

 

 

Update:

 

Hello,

 

So we called USCIS with question what to do next and the agent told us we have to call and schedule the infopass 30 days before the 18 months extension letter will expire. So roughly first week in May we will be calling USCIS again.......Till then: maybe, maybe our ROC will get approved and we will not have to go for stamp.

 

Thank you ALL with your feedback and help.

 

Have a nice day.

 

Brunno..:-))

 

 

[O&R 5]

59 minutes ago, Brunno said:

Update:

 

Hello,

 

So we called USCIS with question what to do next and the agent told us we have to call and schedule the infopass 30 days before the 18 months extension letter will expire. So roughly first week in May we will be calling USCIS again.......Till then: maybe, maybe our ROC will get approved and we will not have to go for stamp.

 

Thank you ALL with your feedback and help.

 

Have a nice day.

 

Brunno..:-))

 

 

Brunno, so do we have to call and schedule once there is 30 d left or go for an appointment within these 30 days? Also do we call the USCIS customer service number or the field office? Thanks in advance!

Edited March 10, 2020 by O&R

[Brunno 11]

23 minutes ago, O&R said:

Brunno, so do we have to call and schedule once there is 30 d left or go for an appointment within these 30 days? Also do we call the USCIS customer service number or the field office? Thanks in advance!

So our situation is that we filed for ROC in October 2018 and received extension letter for 18 months. Which will expire soon. We did not file for N400 yet. It is our goal but we wanted to get 10 y GC first. 

We have called USCIS at: 800-375-5283. You have to press number options to get to the agent including your receipt number. 

We have asked the agent if we will receive some decision soon. Agent did not have any answer.He did not know.

Then we asked: If we can expect another extension letter. He said no. He said we have to schedule the infopass to get the appointment to get stamp which will replace the letter and the GC. We asked if we can do it online and he said no. Only via the phone.

We wanted to schedule it but the agent said we cannot do it because our extension is still valid for another 2-3 months. He asked us to call 30 days before the letter will expire. Also he mentioned that till that day USCIS may make decision on our ROC and we will not have to schedule the appointment whatsoever. 

During the call we had to verify:name, address, receipt number, A-number, phone number and email address. 

The call was very clear and helpful.  

 

I hope this will help...:-)

 

Brunno.

 

[O&R 5]

18 minutes ago, Brunno said:

So our situation is that we filed for ROC in October 2018 and received extension letter for 18 months. Which will expire soon. We did not file for N400 yet. It is our goal but we wanted to get 10 y GC first. 

We have called USCIS at: 800-375-5283. You have to press number options to get to the agent including your receipt number. 

We have asked the agent if we will receive some decision soon. Agent did not have any answer.He did not know.

Then we asked: If we can expect another extension letter. He said no. He said we have to schedule the infopass to get the appointment to get stamp which will replace the letter and the GC. We asked if we can do it online and he said no. Only via the phone.

We wanted to schedule it but the agent said we cannot do it because our extension is still valid for another 2-3 months. He asked us to call 30 days before the letter will expire. Also he mentioned that till that day USCIS may make decision on our ROC and we will not have to schedule the appointment whatsoever. 

During the call we had to verify:name, address, receipt number, A-number, phone number and email address. 

The call was very clear and helpful.  

 

I hope this will help...:-)

 

Brunno.

 

It is very helpful, thank you very much!!!

Good luck!