I751 filed in December 2022 to VSC, still no update. Shall we contact our congressman?

[travellers 2]

Hey folks, my wife and I need some advice. We live in NJ. She filed I751 in December 2022. It has been 16 months but the tracking info is still "Fingerprints Were Taken". We did not file N400 yet because we ever read some articles on the internet what it's "better" to Get I751 approved first. So shall we contact our congressman to push USCIS a little? Not sure it works but we have no idea what else we can do. Can you folks give some advice? thanks in advance 

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

My advice: File the N-400 .  After waiting 40 months for my wife's I-751 to be processed, she filed her N-400.  4 months later, both the I-751 and N-400 were approved in our combo interview.

I-751s are a low priority for USCIS.

Edited April 1 by Crazy Cat

[jackiegringa 419]

Processing times for VSC are 26 months so you're well within that. I don't think your representative can do much at this point. If citizenship is the end goal there's no reason to wait until is done. The processes can run in parallel and lots of people get scheduled for their N-400 way before the I-751 gets adjudicated, give or take a couple of weeks for the approval if it's not a combo interview.

[Dashinka 24,621]

I agree with @Crazy Cat and @jackiegringa, if you are planning on naturalizing, file the N400 assuming you meet all the requirements.  My wife did that with our I751 pending just when processing of I751s were starting to crawl, and she was a citizen about the same time as others who filed near the same time were getting their 10 yr GC.  Not sure about the articles, or what reasoning they are using to say wait, but it makes no sense overall.  However, they are right the I751 does have to be finalized first or at the same time as the N400 which is what usually happens for those in the situation with both petitions in process.

 

Good Luck!

Edited April 1 by Dashinka

[powerpuff 6,737]

16 months is not long for ROC wait. I agree that if the wait time is within the processing time posted on USCIS then that will be the answer to the congressional inquiry.

[OldUser 6,920]

1 hour ago, travellers said:

Hey folks, my wife and I need some advice. We live in NJ. She filed I751 in December 2022. It has been 16 months but the tracking info is still "Fingerprints Were Taken". We did not file N400 yet because we ever read some articles on the internet what it's "better" to Get I751 approved first. So shall we contact our congressman to push USCIS a little? Not sure it works but we have no idea what else we can do. Can you folks give some advice? thanks in advance 

My I-751 took 20.5 months and it was super fast for 2021 filers.

[travellers 2]

19 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

I agree with @Crazy Cat and @jackiegringa, if you are planning on naturalizing, file the N400 assuming you meet all the requirements.  My wife did that with our I751 pending just when processing of I751s were starting to crawl, and she was a citizen about the same time as others who filed near the same time were getting their 10 yr GC.  Not sure about the articles, or what reasoning they are using to say wait, but it makes no sense overall.  However, they are right the I751 does have to be finalized first or at the same time as the N400 which is what usually happens for those in the situation with both petitions in process.

 

Good Luck!

 

Thanks folks for your kind and fast replies. 

So we are going to file N400 while waiting for 751 approval. One more question about the combo interview. Must the sponsor (me) go together with beneficiary (my wife)?

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

5 minutes ago, travellers said:

Must the sponsor (me) go together with beneficiary (my wife)?

Yes.  If an I-751 is pending, spouse should attend.  The officer may or may not question both spouses. 

[Dashinka 24,621]

41 minutes ago, travellers said:

 

Thanks folks for your kind and fast replies. 

So we are going to file N400 while waiting for 751 approval. One more question about the combo interview. Must the sponsor (me) go together with beneficiary (my wife)?

 

 

As @Crazy Cat stated, yes.  Also if you get an N400 interview notice you can upload a request for a combo interview.  Depending on your local office, it may come up quickly.  Also, maybe @Crazy Cat will tell his wife’s I751/N400 story.

 

Good Luck!

[OldUser 6,920]

44 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Yes.  If an I-751 is pending, spouse should attend.  The officer may or may not question both spouses. 

I'll add to this. Spouse is encouraged to attend N-400 if filed under 3 year rule even if I-751 is approved. Based from what I've seen on VJ, sometimes IO want to speak to a US citizen spouse even informally before approving N-400." 

Edited April 1 by OldUser

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

My wife just received her 10 year Green Card March 15. We filed in Sept. 2021. Comparing her cases with others this seems to be the new normal. Maybe you will get lucky but expect a longer wait. File for your N-400 if you are eligible. It might push the process along.

[clw654321 159]

10 hours ago, travellers said:

Hey folks, my wife and I need some advice. We live in NJ. She filed I751 in December 2022. It has been 16 months but the tracking info is still "Fingerprints Were Taken". We did not file N400 yet because we ever read some articles on the internet what it's "better" to Get I751 approved first. So shall we contact our congressman to push USCIS a little? Not sure it works but we have no idea what else we can do. Can you folks give some advice? thanks in advance 

Same here but we filed over a year before you. We were told by USCIS just last week that we should have a request sent to our service center. We did and will have an update within 30 days. (Possibly the GC)

Also we filed for citizenship last week and that takes about 4 months. No need to wait to file N400.

Edited April 2 by clw654321

[SalishSea 17,952]

14 hours ago, travellers said:

Hey folks, my wife and I need some advice. We live in NJ. She filed I751 in December 2022. It has been 16 months but the tracking info is still "Fingerprints Were Taken". We did not file N400 yet because we ever read some articles on the internet what it's "better" to Get I751 approved first. So shall we contact our congressman to push USCIS a little? Not sure it works but we have no idea what else we can do. Can you folks give some advice? thanks in advance 

Why contact congressperson when you are still well within normal processing time?   Ours took 18 months at Nebraska.   
 

US immigration is an exercise in patience…..

[SalishSea 17,952]

13 hours ago, travellers said:

 

Thanks folks for your kind and fast replies. 

So we are going to file N400 while waiting for 751 approval. One more question about the combo interview. Must the sponsor (me) go together with beneficiary (my wife)?

 

 

Absolutely.   After all, both your 751 and N400 petitions are based on that marriage, right?

[Albinjr26 12]

Hi, wondering if anyone else uses checkstatusetx.com and is from EAC? I was looking yesterday and noticed a couple of Dec filers that have been approved after beeing moved to another office, hopefully it keeps going like that....fingers crossed.