N-400 Form, no updates for almost one year

[chens1 1]

Hi, I submit my N-400 form December 2017, and took my bio-metric appointment on Dec 26 2017, since then I have not heard anything back. Do you guys have any ideas. The office I went to was located in Brooklyn NY. 

[Kiolas 103]

Hello chens1,

sorry to hear for your long wait. If you go to USCIS Processing Times web-page, you will see that the current estimated time range for N-400 in Brooklyn, NY is 13.5 months to 17 months. 

 

[chens1 1]

But my green card is going to expire Feb 2019, I am not sure what to do.

[afrocraft 313]

5 hours ago, Kiolas said:

Hello chens1,

sorry to hear for your long wait. If you go to USCIS Processing Times web-page, you will see that the current estimated time range for N-400 in Brooklyn, NY is 13.5 months to 17 months. 

 

Still, it is highly unusual for a year to pass with not even a word about the application. I would call USCIS and ask for an update from a Level II officer.

[chens1 1]

do you know what their phone number?

 

[stech786 236]

Get infopass appointment, so they can stamp your passport, incase your GC expires

[Starkilla09 366]

It’s quite normal now for N400 to take even more than a year depending on how terribly backlogged your local USCIS field office is. I’m a Seattle December 2017 filer as well and our field office has been taking 14 months on average to schedule interviews.

 

If your green card is going to expire try booking an infopass appointment about 30 days prior to get an I-551 stamp on your passport. This will serve as proof of permanent residency for travel and employment purposes.

[chens1 1]

I am living in New York City, and I found out all the infopass appointment in New york city is booked. Do you know can go to different city? they have infopass appointment available. 

[flyingkites 22]

I am in Brooklyn. I filed in Feb 2018, biometrics in March and hear nothing except the regular "we have your application, stay tuned" message. I don't expect to hear anything until after 12 months.  I actually planned for 18 months when I submitted.

 

I know someone who filed in July 2017, has to submit some extra details so had his bio in Dec 2017 and he got his interview in July 2018 so that was 12 months back then. 

 

The wait here in NYC is huge. Not like anywhere else.  

 

Your permanent residence visa never expires only the "green card" document does.  So unless you plan to leave the country it is not a huge issue but if it was me I would start the process to renew it. 

 

https://www.usavisacounsel.com/articles/do-i-need-to-renew-my-green-card-if-i-am-applying-for-u-s-citizenship.htm

 

 

[Lemon23 400]

10 minutes ago, flyingkites said:

but if it was me I would start the process to renew it.

You mean renewing OP's green card? why renewing it if OP can get I-551 stamp? Renewing OP's green card will be highly costly while I-551 stamp is free since OP's have pending application.

Edited November 29, 2018 by Lemon23

[flyingkites 22]

Read the legal advice in the link I provided.

 

[Lemon23 400]

5 minutes ago, flyingkites said:

Read the legal advice in the link I provided.

 

This is the applicable one:

 

1.     N-400 applicant’s Green Card expiration is more than 6 months away

Permanent residents whose resident cards will expire that far off are not required to file Form I-90 if they are filing an N-400 Application for Naturalization.   In fact, the I-90 application instructions appears to even forbid its filing if the card has more than 6 months validity remaining.     Further, the filing of Form I-90 will not be required of the applicant at any point while their N-400 application remains pending.    If the Permanent Resident’s card then expires while the N-400 process is ongoing, the resident is eligible to visit their local CIS office to obtain an I-551 stamp in their passport evidencing his/her resident status if they need proof of resident status for purposes of employment or international travel – and without proof that an I-90 was filed.  To obtain that stamp, the Permanent Resident will have to show their expired resident card, a valid passport and the CIS N-400 processing receipt. 

 

Still it is not advise to renew the green card since OP applied more than 6 months away before the green card expiration. OP can obtain I-551 because USCIS is at fault on causing the delayed on processing the application

[austex 42]

Dallas is 15 months - 19 months.  I got my interview in 12 months literally to the day I applied.

 

M.

[flyingkites 22]

5 hours ago, Lemon23 said:

This is the applicable one:

 

1.     N-400 applicant’s Green Card expiration is more than 6 months away

Permanent residents whose resident cards will expire that far off are not required to file Form I-90 if they are filing an N-400 Application for Naturalization.   In fact, the I-90 application instructions appears to even forbid its filing if the card has more than 6 months validity remaining.     Further, the filing of Form I-90 will not be required of the applicant at any point while their N-400 application remains pending.    If the Permanent Resident’s card then expires while the N-400 process is ongoing, the resident is eligible to visit their local CIS office to obtain an I-551 stamp in their passport evidencing his/her resident status if they need proof of resident status for purposes of employment or international travel – and without proof that an I-90 was filed.  To obtain that stamp, the Permanent Resident will have to show their expired resident card, a valid passport and the CIS N-400 processing receipt. 

 

Still it is not advise to renew the green card since OP applied more than 6 months away before the green card expiration. OP can obtain I-551 because USCIS is at fault on causing the delayed on processing the application

The 6 months is irrelevant since that relates to the time of filing.  

 

The pertinent section is "the filing of Form I-90 will not be required of the applicant at any point while their N-400 application remains pending" .  So he does not need to renew his green card.

 

However it then states "If the Permanent Resident’s card then expires while the N-400 process is ongoing, the resident is eligible ... to obtain an I-551 stamp in their passport evidencing his/her resident status"  so I believe he should being that process i.e. to get an I-551 stamp when closer to when the green card is to expire as it is not a good idea to leave yourself without proof of residence. You never know when you will need to travel overseas on urgent family matters.