Had Interview after submitting N-400 but still not approved

[gerrard.allam 2]

Hello VJ community

 

My wife had her interview today at USCIS and passed all the requirements. However she was not recommended for approval and he application was marked as: A decision cannot be made yet about your application on Form N-652. The immigration officer explained that her I-751 is still pending hence why they cannot recommend her for approval. She did her biometrics over a year ago and the I-751 processing time has been extended since there is a backlog of cases. Has this happened to anyone else? It seems a bit odd that they determine you are eligible to become a citizen but still want to go through the permanent resident process. Any information would be helpful. 

Thank you

[Lil bear 4,199]

13 minutes ago, gerrard.allam said:

Hello VJ community

 

My wife had her interview today at USCIS and passed all the requirements. However she was not recommended for approval and he application was marked as: A decision cannot be made yet about your application on Form N-652. The immigration officer explained that her I-751 is still pending hence why they cannot recommend her for approval. She did her biometrics over a year ago and the I-751 processing time has been extended since there is a backlog of cases. Has this happened to anyone else? It seems a bit odd that they determine you are eligible to become a citizen but still want to go through the permanent resident process. Any information would be helpful. 

Thank you

N400 cannot be completed until after the I751 has been approved.  They have taken the  N400 process as far as they can .. it will be approved s soon as the I 751 is completed. . 

[Pinkrlion 2,716]

This is why we tell people that there is no such thing as a combo interview. Your local office does not have to do it. Until that has processed citizenship is on hold or supervisor will deny and you will have to refile after I-751 is approved. Also you cannot appeal the denial. 

[Pinkrlion 2,716]

1 hour ago, gerrard.allam said:

Hello VJ community

 

My wife had her interview today at USCIS and passed all the requirements. However she was not recommended for approval and he application was marked as: A decision cannot be made yet about your application on Form N-652. The immigration officer explained that her I-751 is still pending hence why they cannot recommend her for approval. She did her biometrics over a year ago and the I-751 processing time has been extended since there is a backlog of cases. Has this happened to anyone else? It seems a bit odd that they determine you are eligible to become a citizen but still want to go through the permanent resident process. Any information would be helpful. 

Thank you

To answer your question. Each petition are processed as separate, individual petitions. The I-400 was processed according to its rules and regulations that do not pertain to I-751. 

[OldUser 6,639]

This is not unique. There was a thread about this where people in your situation shared their experiences.

 

 

 

 

[OldUser 6,639]

36 minutes ago, Pinkrlion said:

This is why we tell people that there is no such thing as a combo interview. 

@Crazy Cat and others who had it would disagree. It does exist and it does happen.

 

37 minutes ago, Pinkrlion said:

Your local office does not have to do it. Until that has processed citizenship is on hold 

100% agree with this.

[Crazy Cat 41,844]

11 hours ago, Pinkrlion said:

This is why we tell people that there is no such thing as a combo interview.

But there IS such a thing.  An email from our local office 2 days prior to wife's N-400 interview instructed me to be there, and it literally stated ours would be a combination interview......and it was.  First part was the I-751 where we both were asked a few questions, and I presented updated evidence since initial I-751 submission date.  Then the officer conducted wife's N-400 interview.  By the time we got home 45 minutes later, the N-400 status was "Oath ceremony will be scheduled".  Next day, the I-751 status changed to "case was approved". 

Edited February 27 by Crazy Cat

[Loo1 91]

I had my N400 interview on 2/15 with my i751 pending since October 2021. After the test and interview the officer did tell me he was recommending me for citizenship but did explain that the pending i751 would hold things up. He said he would work on getting it approved so could be put forward for the oath ceremony. When we filed i751, we lived in TN-application was at the TX service center, we moved to CT this past summer. After the interview, that afternoon, we got a notification that the i751 had been moved jurisdiction and would be processed. The next day, 2/16 we got a notification that the i751 had been approved and an oath ceremony letter mailed. We did receive a letter from USCIS yesterday confirming i751 was approved but I wouldn’t get a card after being approved for N400. I’m not sure if we were just lucky that i751 got approved so quickly or because the application was so old?! 

[Rocio0010 5,579]

15 hours ago, Pinkrlion said:

This is why we tell people that there is no such thing as a combo interview

Who is "we"?

[Thunderbolt 172]

15 hours ago, Pinkrlion said:

This is why we tell people that there is no such thing as a combo interview. Your local office does not have to do it. Until that has processed citizenship is on hold or supervisor will deny and you will have to refile after I-751 is approved. Also you cannot appeal the denial. 

We had combo interview last October. Both forms were approved and 6 weeks later my wife had her citizenship oath. 

[nastra30 2,284]

Wife had 'combo' interview and both I751 and N400 were approved same time. In fact they actually never interviewed her for the I751. The IO only asked is that your husband sitting over there and she said yes and that was that. He typed some things on the computer and moved straight to N400. While I was sitting in sitting area I was getting real time updates in USCIS tracking as the IO was updating the system. It was so surreal.  Haha she had her naturalization cert (same day) before official I751 approval showed up in the mail a week later. I always say she had a combo approval not interview. 😀

So combo interview is definitely a thing but it's not always the outcome as in op's case and yes sometimes field offices play a role. 

What I often recommend here is file N400 when you are eligible and hope for a combo interview. If combo doesn't happen then on the plus side you've already gotten the ball rolling on N400. So yes combo interview is a thing but NOT always the outcome.

Edited February 27 by nastra30

[Frozen🇺🇸 139]

On 2/26/2024 at 7:59 PM, Pinkrlion said:

This is why we tell people that there is no such thing as a combo interview. Your local office does not 

On 2/26/2024 at 7:59 PM, Pinkrlion said:

This is why we tell people that there is no such thing as a combo interview. Your local office does not have to do it. Until that has processed citizenship is on hold or supervisor will deny and you will have to refile after I-751 is approved. Also you cannot appeal the denial. 

 

Last week, I had a combo interview for my N-400 and I-751 applications. Although I had not specifically prepared for a combo interview, I was fortunate to have my wife present during the appointment. Following the completion of my N-400 interview, the interviewing officer invited my wife to join the interview, and we proceeded with the I-751 interview.

[naturelover0305 9]

On 2/26/2024 at 5:47 PM, gerrard.allam said:

Hello VJ community

 

My wife had her interview today at USCIS and passed all the requirements. However she was not recommended for approval and he application was marked as: A decision cannot be made yet about your application on Form N-652. The immigration officer explained that her I-751 is still pending hence why they cannot recommend her for approval. She did her biometrics over a year ago and the I-751 processing time has been extended since there is a backlog of cases. Has this happened to anyone else? It seems a bit odd that they determine you are eligible to become a citizen but still want to go through the permanent resident process. Any information would be helpful. 

Thank you

did you hear back yet?