Concurrent N-400 / I-551

[cleverodra 1]

Good afternoon all,

I would like some input regarding a special inquiry. My mom needs to renew her green card and would like to apply for citizenship.

Could she file concurrently?

[aleful 1,905]

hi

she doesn't need to, the i551 has no relevance, that was the stamp in her passport until she got her GC

how long has she had her GC? who filed for her?

[cleverodra 1]

Thank you for your reply.

She is renewing her 10 year green card, and she will apply on her own. So this mean she can file for citizenship without affecting her I-551 process?

[aleful 1,905]

hi

forget about the i551, that doesn't exist, she has a GC

she can renew her GC for another 10 years, or she can file for citizenship

[JimmyHou 613]

hi

she doesn't need to, the i551 has no relevance, that was the stamp in her passport until she got her GC

how long has she had her GC? who filed for her?

Thank you for your reply.

She is renewing her 10 year green card, and she will apply on her own. So this mean she can file for citizenship without affecting her I-551 process?

A green card IS an I-551. Look at the upper left corner of the back of your green card.

She can renew her green card and apply for citizenship at the same time. If she doesn't have her new green card by the time of the interview, she can show them a copy of the application receipt.

Technically, you are supposed to renew your green card before applying for naturalization if it is within 6 months of expiring.

However, in reality, USCIS does not deny naturalization applications with green cards that are about to expire or have already expired.

If you want to be really safe, have her file for renewal and then apply (she doesn't have to wait until she has the actual card). But she will probably be fine if she just applies for naturalization directly with her old green card, but this is not 100% guaranteed.

If she needs to travel and thinks that she will get a green card faster than a passport, then she should renew her green card.

[asisflyer 47]

I expected this thread would be about a foreign service or military posted overseas where there is a special section of INA for the Naturalization to immediately follow the Green card approval without the 'living in the US' requirement for these qualified government, military, or foreign service personnel on immediate overseas orders..

often done so that diplomatic or official passports can be quickly issued to new spouses of diplomats, contractors, etc.

Funny to hear of Alien spouses who steps in the US for first time for a few weeks, gets cards, naturalizes, and gets DIP black eagle passport from SIA 1,2, 3...... might just trigger jealous.