Pending Removal- Want to apply for citizenship

[minemar 96]

Hi. 

 

I'm kinda lost here.  So I have been a legal resident for 3 years and happily married with a US Citizen for 3 years as well. I believe I  can apply now to become a citizen. I received a NOA saying my current removal of conditions is pending and have the 18 months extension.  

 

Is it safe to apply for Citizenship now or do I need to wait until I have my conditions removed? 

 

Any word of advice would be great. 

 

Thank you! 

[JeanneAdil 6,205]

apply now

fees going up October 2nd 

legal immigrants eligible to apply for citizenship will pay $1,160 if they submit their application online, or $1,170 if submitting a paper application. Under the new fee, immigrants will pay at least $520 more to apply for citizenship. That is higher than the current application fee of $640.

Old Biometrics fee is $85 and i didn't look up to see if this changed

[HRQX 4,145]

30 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Old Biometrics fee is $85 and i didn't look up to see if this changed

It'll be eliminated for N-400 after the change: "Although DHS eliminates the separate biometrics service fee of $85 for many application types in this final rule, it establishes fees for most forms to reflect the estimated full cost of adjudication, including the cost of biometric services that are typically associated with that form. Thus, DHS will continue to recover the cost of providing biometric services, but it will do so by adjusting form fees to reflect the total cost of an adjudication, including providing biometric services. DHS will not forego any revenue associated with the biometric services fee because of this change." https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-16389.pdf

Edited August 18, 2020 by HRQX

[HRQX 4,145]

28 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

pay at least $520 more

*at least $435 more

 

Since biometric services fee will be eliminated for N-400.

[JeanneAdil 6,205]

actually really sorry as there is a difference between green card holder applying and what the news is telling us

the new fee according to USCIS site is $640 according to

 https://www.uscis.gov/archive/our-fees

the higher fee is for those who need to replace document of naturalizion  thru I 600 form

 

[HRQX 4,145]

1 minute ago, JeanneAdil said:

the new fee according to USCIS site is $640 according to

 https://www.uscis.gov/archive/our-fees

That page clearly says: "The information on this page is out of date."

2 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

actually really sorry as there is a difference between green card holder applying and what the news is telling us

The news is correct:

$1160 for online filing

$1170 for paper filing

https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-16389.pdf Page 16

[Thegirl 224]

4 hours ago, minemar said:

Hi. 

 

I'm kinda lost here.  So I have been a legal resident for 3 years and happily married with a US Citizen for 3 years as well. I believe I  can apply now to become a citizen. I received a NOA saying my current removal of conditions is pending and have the 18 months extension.  

 

Is it safe to apply for Citizenship now or do I need to wait until I have my conditions removed? 

 

Any word of advice would be great. 

 

Thank you! 

Yes you can apply with a pending i-751 many people on the forum are doing so, including myself. As long as you are eligible to apply for naturalization you can do so. And yes, the fees are increasing and the processing times are very unstable nowadays. So if you do plan to naturalize best to get on it soon! Good luck. 

[Fr8dog 312]

Apply for the citizenship. it's not going to hurt your ROC. Rates are only going up and wait times have been on the increase as well.

[JayDGODITRUST 132]

Take the advice and just start the process as mentioned above it will definitely go up if anything legal doesn’t pass to stop it

 

the new prices are horrendous to look at but we gotta prepare 

[Dashinka 23,268]

14 hours ago, minemar said:

Hi. 

 

I'm kinda lost here.  So I have been a legal resident for 3 years and happily married with a US Citizen for 3 years as well. I believe I  can apply now to become a citizen. I received a NOA saying my current removal of conditions is pending and have the 18 months extension.  

 

Is it safe to apply for Citizenship now or do I need to wait until I have my conditions removed? 

 

Any word of advice would be great. 

 

Thank you! 

I agree with others, apply now regardless of whatever the fees are or will be if naturalization is the ultimate goal.  Just make sure you do not apply even one day prior to your 90 day window opening up, and if applying online, wait a day or so after your window opens to avoid any funny IT date stamp issues.

 

Good Luck!

[minemar 96]

Thank you everyone for their input!  I will begin to prepare my package for naturalization! 

[Orangesapples 1,954]

11 hours ago, Fr8dog said:

Apply for the citizenship. it's not going to hurt your ROC. Rates are only going up and wait times have been on the increase as well.

It's not going to hurt ROC but it might slow it down significantly depending on the local office. If ROC was going to be approved without an interview and the local office is slow, then ROC might be prolonged with months or even years. I know I'd rather get my ROC first because my local office is way too slow and I don't want to have to deal with extension letters and stamps for 2 years. But it's a matter of personal choice and depends on each person's circumstances. 

[Orangesapples 1,954]

4 minutes ago, minemar said:

Thank you everyone for their input!  I will begin to prepare my package for naturalization! 

OP, I just saw your timeline. You got your green card in August 2018. You're not eligible to file for naturalization if that's correct. Btw, you should also add your ROC process to your timeline. 

Edited August 19, 2020 by Orangesapples

[Marieke H 2,316]

13 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

OP, I just saw your timeline. You got your green card in August 2018. You're not eligible to file for naturalization if that's correct. Btw, you should also add your ROC process to your timeline. 

Good catch!

 

OP, you said you have been an LPR for 3 years, but as a K1 visa holder,  you are not considered an LPR until you receive your greencard after AOS. Look at your greencard; what is the "Resident since" date? That's when your legal permanent residency started.

[mushroomspore 3,043]

21 minutes ago, minemar said:

Thank you everyone for their input!  I will begin to prepare my package for naturalization! 

Yes you can definitely apply for N-400 when you are ELIGIBLE. According to your signature, you became a permanent resident in 2018. You can't apply for citizenship until 2021 (90 days before your 3-year permanent residency anniversary). Do not apply for it now. They will take your money and then rightfully deny you.