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Filed: Timeline
Posted

Hello,

 

In another thread, someone suggested applying for citizenship rather than renewing green card which expires in one year. I need to give this some thought. If I was to apply for citizenship, does 8-9 months before green card expires allow enough time? 

If my application is denied, I'll be cutting it close to then try to renew green card.

Any advice is well appreciated while I weigh my options.

If these things matter, current citizenship is Canadian, status is divorced.

Thank you!


Misty

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Finland
Timeline
Posted

You can apply for citizenship as long as you still have 6 months on your GC AFAIK.  If during that process your card expires or comes up to the point of where you need to apply to get it renewed then that will be the something you'll have to handle at that time - I believe that you still have to have a valid card or an application in process to renew it.

 

Remember that the card validity does not indicate the validity of your status as a LPR - it is only the evidence of that status.  When you apply for a renewal, you can get an extension letter or a stamp in your passport, so that in and of itself should not be the deciding point.  Instead, go for naturalization if you feel that is the right direction for you, and thus stop the need to regularly pay USCIS for renewals, but be aware that you might still need to renew your card one more time unless your local office moves quickly on the N400.

 

Others can elaborate more - I'm not absolutely certain that you need to have a valid card at the time of naturalization as long as you have started the process more than 6 months prior to the expiration of the card.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted
16 minutes ago, mep said:

If I was to apply for citizenship, does 8-9 months before green card expires allow enough time? 

Even if the card expires---it's only the *card* that expires, not your legal status.  Most people's GC's expire before the N400 interview rolls around, it's a non-issue.

 

17 minutes ago, mep said:

If my application is denied, I'll be cutting it close to then try to renew green card.

If your N400 is denied for whatever reason, you can still renew the green card whether expired or not---again, remember the card expiring does NOT mean that your legal status is expired.

 

I was in your same shoes a year or so ago---my 10 year GC was about to expire and I had a choice between the i-90 or the N400.

One of the things that pushed me towards the N400 was that the price of either was pretty comparable at the time (and remember, fees only go up--never down)...so monetarily, it made sense to do the N400.  My green card expired only 1 month before applying, by the way.

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted (edited)
4 minutes ago, jkstark said:

You can apply for citizenship as long as you still have 6 months on your GC AFAIK.  If during that process your card expires or comes up to the point of where you need to apply to get it renewed then that will be the something you'll have to handle at that time - I believe that you still have to have a valid card or an application in process to renew it.

This is not accurate.  People can apply for citizenship even if the GC expires the next day after filing.   One can apply for the N400 even if the GC is already expired. One does not need an application in process to renew it either.  Many people live decades on a GC only.

Edited by Going through

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Finland
Timeline
Posted
Just now, Going through said:

This is not accurate.  People can apply for citizenship even if the GC expires the next day after filing.  One does not need an application in process to renew it either.  Many people live decades on a GC only.

At one point when I was going through that, I thought I had seen something about the 6 month requirement, but may well have been looking at something wrong.  However, I did not (at least intentionally) say anything about having to have any other application in process to renew a GC - other than the renewal application for the GC itself if you needed to renew that...  (I was here for about 17 or so years on a GC before naturalizing myself...)

 

Filed: Timeline
Posted
4 minutes ago, Going through said:

I was in your same shoes a year or so ago---my 10 year GC was about to expire and I had a choice between the i-90 or the N400.

 

So did you end up having an expired green card while waiting for naturalization to be approved?

 

I can't help feeling paranoid that soon, under the current administration, letting a green card expire will be cause for deportation.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted
1 minute ago, jkstark said:

At one point when I was going through that, I thought I had seen something about the 6 month requirement, but may well have been looking at something wrong.  However, I did not (at least intentionally) say anything about having to have any other application in process to renew a GC - other than the renewal application for the GC itself if you needed to renew that...  (I was here for about 17 or so years on a GC before naturalizing myself...)

 

You beat me---I got tired of dealing with USCIS after 13 years on a GC and did the N400 instead 😛 

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted (edited)
3 minutes ago, mep said:

So did you end up having an expired green card while waiting for naturalization to be approved?

 

I can't help feeling paranoid that soon, under the current administration, letting a green card expire will be cause for deportation.

Yes.  I had no need to renew it or get the passport stamp as I had no plans (at least not imminent plans) to travel abroad while my N400 was pending.  Like I said, my GC expired a month after I filed the N400...I was NOT gonna give USCIS my money twice lol...I could have done the passport stamp, though, but never bothered.

If questioned at any point by an immigration official, about why my GC was expired (if it ever came up in a situation, which it never did), I carried a copy of my NOA as well.

Edited by Going through

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

At my oath, I met a man who had been a LPR for 32 years...when I asked him what finally prompted him to apply for citizenship he said "I got tired of paying them money".

 

Personally, while I had no urge for citizenship and would have happily remained a LPR for the rest of my life, I'm actually quite happy that I have amicably divorced USCIS.   We'll just remain good friends, now.

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted (edited)

Have you checked into processing times for your local office?  I applied for my n400 at the end of April.  The system gave an original estimate to completion of 22 months, it is now to 14 months.  Based on others I have seen my times are on the long side but are not unusual.

Edited by NovaSprings
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Going through said:

I'm actually quite happy that I have amicably divorced USCIS.

This is what exactly I told to my spouse after my oath taking and we we're laughing out loud.

We both said that my decision for citizenship was a good thing so we dont waste too much money renewing that plastic card. LOL!

Edited by Lemon23

VERMONT SERVICE CENTER - I-751 ROC

05/11/17: Date of I-751
05/12/17: VSC received our package

05/12/17: NOA Date
05/14/17: NOA Arrived in the mail & check cashed

06/22/17: Biometrics Appointment at ASC Manhattan

04/09/18: Online changed to case transferred to local office but no actual letter

06/13/18: Card Being Produced - NO RFE/NO INTERVIEW

06/16/18: Approval Letter arrived in the mail with 06/13/18 approval date

06/18/18: Card was picked up by USPS

06/20/18: Received 10 years Green Card from the mail - END OF I-751 JOURNEY!

 

E-FILING (IOE) N-400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

06/21/18: Submitted Online
06/22/18: Received NOA Online

06/23/18: Online account updated to Biometrics scheduled on 07/12/18

06/25/18: NOA letter arrived in the mail

06/28/18: Biometrics appointment letter arrived in the mail

07/12/18: Biometrics appointment at ASC Manhattan

02/28/19: In Line for Interview

03/01/19: Interview Date is on 04/08/19

04/08/19: Interview Day: Approved on the spot

04/09/19: We Scheduled your Oath Ceremony 

04/12/19: Oath Letter arrived in the mail

05/02/19: Oath Ceremony - OFFICIALLY U.S. CITIZEN AND END OF IMMIGRATION JOURNEY!

 

DS-11 - APPLICATION FOR US PASSPORT BOOK AND CARD

05/02/19: Submitted application thru USPS - Expedited
05/06/19: Received email, passport application is now traceable online thru Travel.State.gov website (https://passportstatus.state.gov/Search)

05/08/19: Received email, passport has been printed and it's on final processing
05/09/19: Received email, passport application has been finished processing with USPS tracking number and expected delivery is on 05/14/2019

05/10/19: Receive email from USPS informed Delivery - Expected Passport delivery is on 05/11/2019

05/11/19: Passport book received thru USPS Priority Mail

05/13/19: Passport card received

05/14/19: Naturalization Certificate back - END OF PASSPORT APPLICATION!

 

Filed: Timeline
Posted
15 hours ago, NovaSprings said:

Have you checked into processing times for your local office?  I applied for my n400 at the end of April.  The system gave an original estimate to completion of 22 months, it is now to 14 months.  Based on others I have seen my times are on the long side but are not unusual.

 

I've not looked into processing times. I'm not sure how to do that ha!

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

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