N400 interview scheduled / I-751 pending

[dave2 4]

My wife recently got her N400 interview notice. It's scheduled in less than a month. However, her I-751 is still pending and the interview notice only mentions the N400. We had stated on her cover letter for her N400 application that her I-751 (Removal of Conditions) is pending and that she requests a combo interview for both the N400 and I-751 together. Her 48 month green card extension letter was attached as well to the N400 application. So do we assume that it will be a combo interview or do we need to write a letter to the field office to request them again for a combo interview? The N400 was filed online. Her I-751 case status shows fingerprints taken as of early 2023.

[Nashmusah 29]

6 hours ago, dave2 said:

My wife recently got her N400 interview notice. It's scheduled in less than a month. However, her I-751 is still pending and the interview notice only mentions the N400. We had stated on her cover letter for her N400 application that her I-751 (Removal of Conditions) is pending and that she requests a combo interview for both the N400 and I-751 together. Her 48 month green card extension letter was attached as well to the N400 application. So do we assume that it will be a combo interview or do we need to write a letter to the field office to request them again for a combo interview? The N400 was filed online. Her I-751 case status shows fingerprints taken as of early 2023.

You have to call the agency to confirm the status for your case .

[dave2 4]

I did call USCIS but the lady I got was not helpful as she simply said it’s up to the officer to do the combo interview and we can ask them when we get there the day of the interview. I can try calling them again to see if I get a different person who may provide a more definitive answer.

[carmel34 3,611]

7 hours ago, dave2 said:

So do we assume that it will be a combo interview or do we need to write a letter to the field office to request them again for a combo interview?

Don't assume anything.  Some have hoped for a combo interview and then were disappointed when the case file for the I-751 was not there at the USCIS local office, so the N-400 could not be approved after the interview.  She should write a letter to the field office where the naturalization interview will be, requesting a combo interview with the pending I-751, include copies of the extension letter so that they can match the two case files.

[OldUser 6,508]

10 hours ago, dave2 said:

My wife recently got her N400 interview notice. It's scheduled in less than a month. However, her I-751 is still pending and the interview notice only mentions the N400. We had stated on her cover letter for her N400 application that her I-751 (Removal of Conditions) is pending and that she requests a combo interview for both the N400 and I-751 together. Her 48 month green card extension letter was attached as well to the N400 application. So do we assume that it will be a combo interview or do we need to write a letter to the field office to request them again for a combo interview? The N400 was filed online. Her I-751 case status shows fingerprints taken as of early 2023.

Bring the spouse regardless. You don't want surprises on the day.

[OldUser 6,508]

2 hours ago, carmel34 said:

Don't assume anything.  Some have hoped for a combo interview and then were disappointed when the case file for the I-751 was not there at the USCIS local office, so the N-400 could not be approved after the interview.  She should write a letter to the field office where the naturalization interview will be, requesting a combo interview with the pending I-751, include copies of the extension letter so that they can match the two case files.

While true, the reason many recommend assuming is to ensure one brings US citizen spouse. One thing is to be disappointed immigrant, but much worse is a dissapointed immigration officer interviewing the immigrant asking for spouse who's not there!

[OldUser 6,508]

3 hours ago, dave2 said:

I did call USCIS but the lady I got was not helpful as she simply said it’s up to the officer to do the combo interview and we can ask them when we get there the day of the interview. I can try calling them again to see if I get a different person who may provide a more definitive answer.

Would you trust this answer? I wouldn't. Come together for combo. You're right preparing for it. While not guaranteed, it's better for wife to be with you and combo doesn't happen VS her being there alone with officer trying to conduct combo.

[Crazy Cat 41,651]

12 hours ago, dave2 said:

My wife recently got her N400 interview notice. It's scheduled in less than a month. However, her I-751 is still pending and the interview notice only mentions the N400. We had stated on her cover letter for her N400 application that her I-751 (Removal of Conditions) is pending and that she requests a combo interview for both the N400 and I-751 together. Her 48 month green card extension letter was attached as well to the N400 application. So do we assume that it will be a combo interview or do we need to write a letter to the field office to request them again for a combo interview? The N400 was filed online. Her I-751 case status shows fingerprints taken as of early 2023.

You should assume this is a combo case regardless.  US spouse MUST attend, else you risk an automatic denial of both the I-751 and N-400.  In our case, I, the US spouse, was notified only 2 days prior to wife's interview that it would be a combo case.  There is recent case here which resulted in a denial of I-751 and N-400 when there was a mix-up in instructions and US spouse did not attend.......both spouses should attend.

Edited September 10 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,651]

By USCIS policy, if either of the spouses is not present for an I-751 interview, the will deny.

Edited September 10 by Crazy Cat

[dave2 4]

Well we were definitely going to be attending together regardless. There was no doubt about that. The reason I asked was because we want to make sure that it is a combo interview else if they don’t have the pending I-751 file with them then it could cause a delay or problem. Since we got an interview notice only for the N400 and not for the I-751, we should probably take carmel34’s advice and write that letter to the field office to sort of remind them of our request for a combo interview (in case they forgot about the pending I-751). Although my hunch is they didn’t forget since we clearly stated it in her cover N400 cover letter. I just wanted to get others’ opinion if writing the letter to the field office was a good idea.

[Crazy Cat 41,651]

Just now, dave2 said:

I just wanted to get others’ opinion if writing the letter to the field office was a good idea.

No harm to write the letter.  We included a request letter along with the N-400 application.

[Jinky&Bob 13]

Make sure to take the extension letter with.

We just went through this on May 28, have your spouse with.

As the husband I was not part of the interview, but I was there.

Good luck, it is a great milestone.

[Regdkp 53]

For my case, I did mention that the I751 was pending at the time of N400 application submission (6/30/2024). In about a month, I got the interview scheduled. Soon the fingerprint update part happened. I started preparing for my interview with my spouse. By mid August, I got I751 approved and I got the 10 years card. 1 week before my interview I got the letter for I 751 interview. The date and time of the interview was the same as the N400. We both went and as soon as the officer called us, I told him that we got two letters, especially I 751 interview. His reaction was, "Who sent you this?". I mean it came from the same USCIS office. He told me to not worry about it as I already had the 10 years card. However, we did prepare our documents in case of any confusion. The officer asked us to show latest property taxes, latest tax returns, latest paystubs, latest bank statements. He was surprised that we had everything that he asked for. He asked if those were the same which we uploaded. Then he asked me 6 questions, which I answered correctly. He asked my spouse about his prior marriage and divorce. But the conversation was with very friendly tone, nothing like grilling us. He did ask me to read a simple sentence and write a sentence. Then he kept updating a lot of things, and asked us if we were okay to attend the oath the same day. We took the opportunity and returned to the ceremony. 

My advice would be to be prepared for both interviews. They know that the two applications do get mixed up and local offices might not have all the updates. But whatever the situation by the time you attend the interview,  immediately inform them and answer and provide evidences as they ask. It is a process

Even if you have to wait additional days they would fix everything and you will have the good news. However,  I do hope that things go smoothly for your case.

[dave2 4]

Thanks all for the suggestions. My wife went ahead and mailed a letter to the field office requesting that it be a combo interview as she has her I-751 pending still. Hopefully this will remind them in case they forgot about the pending I-751. She mentioned the I-751 receipt number and included a copy of the N400 interview notice and the 48 month extension letter. Will update this space in case we get another notification from them. But regardless we will prepare to go together assuming it's a combo interview.

[dave2 4]

Just posting an update here. So my wife had the citizenship interview and it did turn out to be a combo interview. They only called her in though and I was told to stay in the waiting room, and she did pass. The officer said that her pending I-751 has to be transferred to the local office and then it would be approved also, which also happened in another week's time. Now it's been 18 days since the interview and she has not gotten a letter or email about the oath ceremony. The officer said she would be notified in a week's time after the interview where to attend the oath ceremony. I'm wondering if anybody had any similar experience. Is there any follow up action required on our part? And if so, who should we contact? My wife was thinking to send a message through the USCIS online account to their tier 1 support to see if they can tell us anything useful.