3 yr versus 5 yr rule. Does it matter?

[Don0 73]

Hi everyone! Will try to make this short. I came to the US Aug 2020. So I'm going on my 4th yr. Last yr, my 751 got approved on October and I didn't apply for a combo since I will be out of the country within this yr (next month, brother's wedding) and I didn't want to miss the interview or whatever appointment they would have set. 

 

So now, I'm debating if I should apply when I come back on August under the 3 yr rule or wait for May-end next year to apply under the 5 yr rule.

 

Would it be easier since it won't be based on marriage? Will it be less paperwork (I've read you will basically need your 751 if you do the 3 yr, correct me if this is incorrect)? I am not in a hurry but I also want to get this over with. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[Lil bear 4,263]

1 hour ago, Don0 said:

Hi everyone! Will try to make this short. I came to the US Aug 2020. So I'm going on my 4th yr. Last yr, my 751 got approved on October and I didn't apply for a combo since I will be out of the country within this yr (next month, brother's wedding) and I didn't want to miss the interview or whatever appointment they would have set. 

 

So now, I'm debating if I should apply when I come back on August under the 3 yr rule or wait for May-end next year to apply under the 5 yr rule.

 

Would it be easier since it won't be based on marriage? Will it be less paperwork (I've read you will basically need your 751 if you do the 3 yr, correct me if this is incorrect)? I am not in a hurry but I also want to get this over with. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

5 yr does not require documentation regarding ongoing marriage so it is a little simpler. You must still meet the Continuous residence, physical presence and state residency requirements 

[nastra30 2,309]

1 hour ago, Don0 said:

I am not in a hurry but I also want to get this over with. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

If you are in no rush then definitely go with 5 year; less paper work. Note however, that questions about your marriage can still come up.

[discoverusa 277]

I did it after three years. It wasn't too much more paperwork. Major bonus is being done with USCIS forever. 

[RamonGomez 272]

Right now N400s are being processed lightning fast, especially if you file online and already have an approved I751. By fast I mean 6-8 weeks from submission to oath.

 

There's no guarantee that'll happen going forward the process could go back to the 1-2 year grind it was a few years back.

 

So I'd apply now. It's not that much more paperwork.

[Don0 73]

Thank you for everyone's input! I did see how fast the processing for N400 has been going but with how much paperwork (actual papers) I had to send for the ROC, it scares me a bit. 😆 Will think more about this. Thank you again!

[Peot 161]

3 hours ago, Don0 said:

Thank you for everyone's input! I did see how fast the processing for N400 has been going but with how much paperwork (actual papers) I had to send for the ROC, it scares me a bit. 😆 Will think more about this. Thank you again!

A major benefit is that the paperwork for N400 is done online. It even gives you time to save and add to the draft later. Mostly documents include a marriage certificate, passport, tax transcript, and that's really about it unless you have other situational documents to provide (court, military, divorce decrees, child birth certificates, etc).

 

N400 documentation is the easiest of all the processes - in most cases, even biometrics can be reused from previous - so it's not something that should scare you away from applying.