Seeking Suggestions: Combo Interview for I-751 and N400 or wait for I-751 approval first before applying N400

[Tom Tom 1]

Hello readers,

 

I am on marriage-based immigration path and I have a pending I-751 removing conditions on green card to get my 10-year green card. My pending I-751 was filed with Vermont service center in January 2020.

 

January 25, 2021 will be my early filing date for N400 Application for Naturalization. Based on the published processing time of Vermont service center, my I-751 case might still be pending by my N400 early filing date.

 

Based on your experiences, do you recommend :

1) wait until my I-751 to be approved , which can be anywhere in year 2021, and then start applying for N400; or

2) apply N400 on early filing date January 20, 2021, and hope my I-751 can be triggered to be approved before N400 interview, or get a combined interview of N400/I-751?

 

Thanks

 

Tom

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

There is never a positive in waiting while it comes to immigration (other than you don't have the money) File for N400 when you are eligible. Your I-751 can be approved before your citizenship interview or if not you will have a combo interview. I have no thoughts as to why it would be best to wait (again unless money is an issue). 

[Tom Tom 1]

Will the covid19 pandemic delay the interview  and thus delay the I-751 as well if it's a combo interview?

[Fr8dog 312]

I would file the N400 straight away. You are not limited in your daily life by being on an extension letter vs a 10 year card. The N400 will not be delayed by having a pending I-751. An I-751 sometimes does get a slight delay by filing the N400. My opinion is that that is worth the risk. There actually is a higher change that your ROC will get sped up by filing the N400. I also suggest to file online vs paper. Less change of stuff getting lost.