File N400 or wait for i751 approval

[whiterose123 95]

Hi all,

 

I am wondering which case would be better when filing for N400 with a pending i751. Do I wait for my i751 to be approved first then apply for N400 or do I apply for n400 while my i751 is still pending ? 

[Verrou 1,962]

file n-400 when ur window is open. no need to wait. sometimes i-751 taking too long

[OldUser 6,624]

If you're eligible for N-400 and it's your ultimate goal to naturalize, you should file N-400.

[mam521 2,059]

In recent history, filing the N-400 seems to trigger some movement on the I-751 cases.  I wouldn't hesitate to file the N-400 if you meet the eligibility requirements.  

[OldUser 6,624]

20 minutes ago, mam521 said:

In recent history, filing the N-400 seems to trigger some movement on the I-751 cases.  I wouldn't hesitate to file the N-400 if you meet the eligibility requirements.  

I don't believe this is always the case.

@Rocio0010 @Olga&Jared are good examples of when filing N-400 likely didn't have any effect on I-751.

 

Overall, yes, filing N-400 makes path to becoming a citizen shorter, because you start with N-400 earlier and don't wait for decision on I-751.

 

But I-751 itself takes whatever it needs to take in many cases in my opinion. Only when your I-751 wait is 24+ months, like @Crazy Cat's wife (44 months), then N-400 actually unblocks I-751.

 

In short: I would file N-400 to naturalize faster, not with a goal of unblocking I-751.

[whiterose123 95]

Thanks y'all for your input. The reason why I'm also asking is that I read that for some they get the n400 interview letter without the i751 double interview bc the local office doesn't have our i751 case transferred to them, they don't communicate with each other .. 

[OldUser 6,624]

1 minute ago, whiterose123 said:

Thanks y'all for your input. The reason why I'm also asking is that I read that for some they get the n400 interview letter without the i751 double interview bc the local office doesn't have our i751 case transferred to them, they don't communicate with each other .. 

Yes, sometimes this happens. You need to include copy of I-751 NOA with your N-400 and ask for combo interview in cover letter.

 

The worst case: you'll pass N-400 interview and will be waiting for I-751 to be approved. Not much downside because you're waiting for I-751 now anyway.

[Olga&Jared 267]

I don't think there's a yes or no answer to your question because it depends. I've been waiting for my I-751 approval since November 2021. Filed N-400 in February this year, and I just last week finally got invited for the interview. My local office here in San Francisco takes 8-14 months to schedule an interview for those who filed with a pending I-751. Others who file without it or under a 5 year rule can take as little as 2-3 months. Go figure why 😆 But my end goal is citizenship that's why I'm glad I filed it. The only thing I regret is filing 4 months later than my window was open. I could have already been done with this process. 

 

Also, I did include a letter requesting a combo interview with my N-400 like @OldUser was saying. When my interview was scheduled last week both I-751 and N-400 changed their status to "Interview was scheduled". I know sometimes it only happens to N-400 case and then they see I-751 in the system and do a combo anyway. I don't know if it guarantees that an officer is going to have my I-751 in hand the day of my interview but for the very least I know it's for sure a combo. 

Edited September 25, 2023 by Olga&Jared

[Rocio0010 5,579]

In my case, I can confirm that filing for the N400 did nothing to the 751. 

The reason why I say can confirm is that my officer didn't even know I had filed for a 751 when I got to the interview (my 751 was approved roughly 5 weeks prior to my N400 interview).

 

The funny thing is that the officer asked me how long 751s were taking, because his wife had a pending one. It gave me feeling that the two processes don't "communicate" with each other. I should have asked him there.

[EA_ 13]

I applied, interviewed and got naturalized while my I-751 is still at "Application received" stage. N-400 did not affect or got affected by my pending I-751. It's still "pending" even after naturalization.

[JKLSemicolon 411]

3 hours ago, EA_ said:

I applied, interviewed and got naturalized while my I-751 is still at "Application received" stage. N-400 did not affect or got affected by my pending I-751. It's still "pending" even after naturalization.

Your experience is not the norm since the I-751 is supposed to be adjudicated before a decision can be made on the N-400. Did you follow up with USCIS about the status of the I-751 or did this come up at the interview?

Edited September 26, 2023 by JKLSemicolon

[KrashC 9]

8 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

In my case, I can confirm that filing for the N400 did nothing to the 751. 

The reason why I say can confirm is that my officer didn't even know I had filed for a 751 when I got to the interview (my 751 was approved roughly 5 weeks prior to my N400 interview).

 

The funny thing is that the officer asked me how long 751s were taking, because his wife had a pending one. It gave me feeling that the two processes don't "communicate" with each other. I should have asked him there.

Did you write a letter asking them for a combo interview 

[Joyoussinger 1,425]

My husband sent in his I-751 application in September of 2021. He got the fingerprints reused notification shortly after, and then nothing for almost a year. In September of 2022 he applied for citizenship, and suddenly it all started happening and he became a citizen this past March.  At his interview, it seemed like they were just looking at the I-751 for the first time. He did upload a letter alerting to the fact that he had a pending I-751.  It did seem like applying for citizenship had an influence.

[Rocio0010 5,579]

2 hours ago, KrashC said:

Did you write a letter asking them for a combo interview 

I did. But I really doubt it made a difference. The officer was looking at my file as we spoke.

[Dashinka 24,487]

Since the I751 and the N400 run on separate clocks at least until the point where the N400 is nearing approval, it makes sense, if naturalization is the ultimate goal, get that clock running.  In my wife's case she did just that.  Now this was about the time where USCIS was beginning to deprioritize I751s (late 2016), and filing the N400 didn't really do anything to speed up the I751 as those filing the I751 at the same time as us got their approvals around the same time that we were approved, but my wife also had her N400 approved at the same time and was done.

 

Good Luck!