I-751 March 2018 Filers

[Fer00 7]

Going to South America next weekend with the extension letter again. Hope not to have problems on my way back 

[ch3john 308]

22 minutes ago, Fer00 said:

Going to South America next weekend with the extension letter again. Hope not to have problems on my way back 

You won't. Have fun!

[zorus40k 21]

Great jokes from VJ

 

 

[neoblast 138]

59 minutes ago, zorus40k said:

Great jokes from VJ

 

 

Not sure what they expect you to update one when the waiting game just started. Great joke indeed!

[kirkn09 13]

On 10/26/2018 at 5:42 PM, controlla said:

Anyone filing N400 (based on 3-year marriage) before ROC approval? Pros versus cons?

We'll be filing the N400 ASAP.  I see no reason not to. 

[neoblast 138]

10 hours ago, kirkn09 said:

We'll be filing the N400 ASAP.  I see no reason not to. 

I can't wait for February. I will apply the same day my window opens up. 

 

At this point, it's better to just get everything over with

[Dee tee 4]

At the rate USCIS is going , when do you all think they will start working on March 2018 cases ? 

[ch3john 308]

7 hours ago, Dee tee said:

At the rate USCIS is going , when do you all think they will start working on March 2018 cases ? 

They are currently working on February 2017 now. At that rate, that's outside of the 17.5 - 21.5 month range on the USCIS website. 

i don't expect anything to happen until at least August of next year. This is based on apps at CSC. 

[kirkn09 13]

8 hours ago, ch3john said:

 They are currently working on February 2017 now. At that rate, that's outside of the 17.5 - 21.5 month range on the USCIS website. 

 i don't expect anything to happen until at least August of next year. This is based on apps at CSC. 

It looks like people in the August 2017 thread are getting their responses now though?

[ch3john 308]

11 hours ago, kirkn09 said:

It looks like people in the August 2017 thread are getting their responses now though?

I am going by what's on USCIS's website, which is worst case scenario. 

[Dan2023 23]

On 10/26/2018 at 2:48 PM, GBOS said:

I am planning on it.  I am eligible to file on March 20, 2019.

 

Pros - It moves I751 to have to be approved at the same time with N400, which could potentially save you a couple of months waiting on I751 to be approved first.

 

Cons - You and your spouse could be called for a joint interview (like when we all did during AOS filing), when USCIS schedules you to come in for N400, because your I751 file is now batched together with your N400 file.  The only way N400 can be approved is after I751 is approved.

 

I mean they may call you alone to do N400, or they may call you and your spouse to first do I751 interview then N400 right after on the same day.  Most people I think would try to avoid having to be interview with spouse again because the details are too much to prepare for, regardless of how good or bad your marriage has been.

and how exactly would you check that eligibility ? 

[ch3john 308]

6 minutes ago, Dan&Carol said:

and how exactly would you check that eligibility ? 

90 days prior to the 3rd anniversary of green card issuance

USCIS has a calculator to figure the exact date 

[GBOS 198]

1 hour ago, Dan&Carol said:

and how exactly would you check that eligibility ? 

If you are married to a US citizen, you are eligible to apply for naturalization beginning at 90 days prior to your third anniversary of becoming US LPR.

 

So look at the date “resident since” on your green card, add 3 years and minus 90 days, that is the date you can begin to apply for naturalization by filing form N-400 online.

[junehar 1]

my N-400 window opens in Jan 10 so 2 more months of waiting and that's it! 

hopefully will be the last time i have to deal with USCIS.

[MHZ 68]

On 11/20/2018 at 12:32 AM, kirkn09 said:

We'll be filing the N400 ASAP.  I see no reason not to. 

I applied nearly a year and half ahead of all of you. Here are some advice from someone who has been through it all very recently.

1. Keep updating your evidence as you wait.  You will need it at one point or another. Whether it is for RFE or interview, they will want what you didn't file in those 2 year wait. 
2. Do not trust the Case tracker site or the DHS site if you use one exclusively. Sometimes one gets updated but not the other. Keep an eye on both.
3. Get email and text updates. It helps. ALOT!
4. Check your case in the middle and the beginning of the month. Make sure to log in at least once every 2 weeks. 
5. If you move, submit an online AR-11 asap. 
6. Try not to change things a lot and minimize travel while your case is pending. 
7. Call the USCIS phone once a month and see if they have more updates. They will probably be wrong though or just the same as the website.
8. DO NOT FREAK OUT. No matter what happens. If nothing happened, then you are still in the pipeline.  If something happens, then you are at least moving.
9. if you are considering applying for naturalization, apply for N-400 online as soon as you are eligible. Don't wait. It helps when both are lumped together. 
10. Finally, relax. You are still in status and they will not do anything unless you did something utterly stupid!

I will elaborate for #9. one pro is that you are more likely to have a combined interview, skip green card and go directly to citizenship. No cons that are not associated with one application. They make you wait till the I-751 get approved or do both interviews simultaneously. So my general recommendation is apply regardless. You will not lose anything realyl. 

Good luck to everyone.