OldUser

There's nothing wrong with sending 2 years of banking statements. In fact, I-751 instructions ask for as much evidence as possible. This is relevant quality evidence. Hopefully, OP is not sending local bus schedules. In fact, somebody got RFE the other day for this exact reason - not providing enough bank statements. To OP: why not just send it as a stack of paper in a box? It should work, if laid nicely. This would allow USCIS staff to scan this into the system quickly.

Develop evidence as your married life goes on. Open joint checking account for bills / rent / recurring expenses. Open joint savings accounts to save towards common goals, be it vacation, house downpayment or emergency fund. A lot of these accounts are online accounts with no fees whatsoever. Take photos with family and friends. Get a library card, it's free. Let her create Amazon Prime household, Netflix family plan, additional card for Costco membership etc. See if she can add you to her health insurance plan, designate you as beneficiary on bank accounts, 401k plan etc, emergency contact at work etc. There's many things you can do. It will be vefy useful for I-751 too

This is normal. Yes, pending I-751 can slow your N-400. There's other factors - your local field office, your adjudicator and general slowdown as election is almost here (e.g. less incentive to naturalize people)

Agreed, marry and file away. Cannot file before marriage occurs.

More than enough time. She may get DL in her hand before the interview. Good luck!

You don't have to wait until the end of your allowed time on ESTA to get married. In fact, that would be a red flag. E.g. marrying when out of status. Marry and enjoy life. Just make sure you have a solid plan before your time on ESTA runs out. Either you have to adjust status or go throuh consular processing. If you pick adjustment, you should consider costs. It's much more expensive. Also consider you won't be able to travel outside of the US and work anywhere between 3 and 18 months. So if you cannot afford the staggering fees or your wife cannot cover both of you financially for prolonged time, then consular processing may be a good solution.

Exactly my thoughts. @gunny.ream you can share the suggestion above with your wife, it should be doable and you'll have better evidence for interview. She still may be asked why it took her so long to update the address. But it's better than USCIS questioning whether she even lives with you.

Why is this too late? Is the interview is tomorrow, then it's late. If it's day after tomorrow or further in the future - it's not late. I don't buy it and USCIS officer may not buy it. Just ask wife to go to DMV and update address. She should have valid actual address on her DL by law even in general, outside of immigration. If she doesn't have new DL by the time of your interview, at least you could show paperwork related to request to change address. It's better than having wrong address on DL. Yes, it is a red flag. It suggests you're not living together.

Yes, plus any new evidence bonafide marriage

Awesome, congrats! Take your approval letter and GC (if you'll get it by then) to N-400 interview. I'd still consider bringing more evidence of bonafide marriage and US citizen spouse just in case

Make sure to go to both appointments. Make sure to bring your spouse and marital evidence. Bring approval I-751 notice and GC to both appointments. The chances are, I-751 won't be conducted the moment officer sees approval notice. But I'd show up to avoid any issues of USCIS accusing you of not coming to the interview. Especially go to I-751 appointment if it's scheduled before N-400. The chances are, they'll use this timeslot to perform N-400 interview and naturalize you on that day.

Nobody can tell you for certain whether you will have separate I-751 and N-400 interviews, or combo interview or no interview for I-751. Because you're applying for naturalization based on marriage to US citizen, you can be asked about that marriage. You can be separated (this is more likely for I-751 than N-400 because for N-400 spouse is not always allowed). Experiences vary by office, officer and each case due to uniqueness in each person's circumstances. As one lawyer says, N-400 is the last opportunity for USCIS to deport you. Take it seriously, prepare well and it will go smooth. Good luck!

Yes, add images to PDF, 2-3 per page with annotations. Date, location, occassion, who's on photos (full names and relation to you) For example: "01/01/2023, New Times Square, New Year's Celebration. Left to right: Samantha Brown (Beneficiary), Joe Smith (Petitioner), Jake Smith (Petitioner's brother), Olivia Chen (Jake's girlfriend)"

N-400s are decided way faster than usual. Refugees are getting work authorization docs way faster than they used to.

Technically, he can. But I would always recommend finding a third neutral party who is not interested in you immigrating. E.g. not self, friend or relative. Online translations only cost $20-30 and those people do it for living. This will ensure there is no conflict of interest.

@Sabraha these estimates are meaningless. The time is also for N-400 approval, not for ceremony.

He needs to be ready for everything.

1. Bring your US citizen spouse if you're still married 2. Make sure to have matching address on your IDs 3. Bring all evidence of bonafide marriage you have 4. Bring lawyer if you can afford one 5. Practice questions with your spouse Do not tell stories. Answer questions directly. If unsure, don't remember or don't know something, don't make it up. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification.

Those are two non immigrant visas. If you applied for non-immigrant visa after trying to get immigrant visa, then this suspicion would have had some grounds.

You're right #2 can be sponsored too.

The kid #3 and #4 needed their own I-130 petitions to get immigrant visas. #1 and #2 could not piggy back on this marriage and need to be sponsored separately. US citizen spouse needs to file two I-130s for child #3 and #4

Thank you for clarifying.

Essentially, USCIS does not believe this relationship. Sadly, coming to the US and marrying after overstaying is one red flag. Marrying somebody who is locked up, is another red flag. Never living with the person is yet another red flag. Is he ever going to be released? If not, that's also a major red flag. There's definititely suspicion from USCIS about geniuity of this marriage. Overcoming it may be very difficult... Are you originally from South Africa? There's certainly bias that comes with being from African continent, be it Egypt, Nigeria or other country. This is "death by thousand cuts" situation, unfortunately. Do you have a lawyer (sorry if I missed?) Good luck and keep us posted.

Good chances. You can apply 5 years from last week's entry date (safest approach). You can also try applying 4 year and 1 day after returning from last week's entry date. Essentially, treat your last week's entry to the US as start of US residency for the purposes of naturalization. If you file under 5 year rule, that last trip won't be even in the list of trips you have to provide. If you apply under 4 years and 1 day rule, you'll have to prove you maintained residency and ties to the US, which makes filing under 5 year rule easier choice.

I wouldn't think evidence would be needed. The timeline is clear, you were over 25 when you got GC