Help I-751 pending since Feb2019

[USAjune2016 101]

Hello, I’m asking this for a friend in Boston.

He submitted his I-751 in Feb 2019, he got an MSC receipt number instead of EAC. In May 2019 he got an update that case is ready to be scheduled for an interview. In Feb 2020 he applied for N-400 and still nothing yet for both cases.

is this normal? Because Boston is already processing other February 2020 N400 applicants. 
any thoughts would be helpful, thank you! 

 

[Pats5415 97]

4 minutes ago, USAjune2016 said:

Hello, I’m asking this for a friend in Boston.

He submitted his I-751 in Feb 2019, he got an MSC receipt number instead of EAC. In May 2019 he got an update that case is ready to be scheduled for an interview. In Feb 2020 he applied for N-400 and still nothing yet for both cases.

is this normal? Because Boston is already processing other February 2020 N400 applicants. 
any thoughts would be helpful, thank you! 

 

Does he have an estimated completion date for N400? USCIS definitely is not processing in order which it was first received so maybe soon? I think it doesn't hurt to call and speak to a level 2 IO and see if he is in line for an interview.

[USAjune2016 101]

3 minutes ago, Pats5415 said:

Does he have an estimated completion date for N400? USCIS definitely is not processing in order which it was first received so maybe soon? I think it doesn't hurt to call and speak to a level 2 IO and see if he is in line for an interview.

No estimate completion time for N400, If he calls regarding N400 they say you are in queue for interview, if he calls and give his I-751 number he gets different feedbacks depending on the representative, many reps said it could take up to 44 months for I-751 except one rep agreed to file an inquiry for him but no response yet. How does he ask for Level 2 IO if reps thinks it takes 44 months for I-751

[Pats5415 97]

5 minutes ago, USAjune2016 said:

No estimate completion time for N400, If he calls regarding N400 they say you are in queue for interview, if he calls and give his I-751 number he gets different feedbacks depending on the representative, many reps said it could take up to 44 months for I-751 except one rep agreed to file an inquiry for him but no response yet. How does he ask for Level 2 IO if reps thinks it takes 44 months for I-751

Wow that's a while. When he calls just request to speak to one for more specifics on the case. It could be that if he is in que for an interview so is his I-751.

[Villanelle 4,121]

Well Im sure you know a lot of the following since it seems you are going through the same process right now- Obviously he has to have ROC done to naturalize and as you know one can submit the n400 while ROC is pending. You will see posts and blogs talking about how filing the n400 can speed up your ROC and it can in some cases. This is because the processing times for the n400 are shorter then the processing times for ROC. Processing times change constantly based on workload but in general USCIS tries to keep the n400 time shorter because of their concept that people who are eligible and file for citizenship should get it in a 'timely fashion' vs those who are LPRS and just removing conditions. Like with other processes citizens (or those applying for citizenship) get more priority. 

 

So someone who files n400 while ROC is pending has 2 cases active. The n400 should get to an Officer before the 751 does. When the Officer gets his n400 they should pull his 751 from wherever it is sitting waiting and adjudicate them at the same time. Its referred to as having a 'combo interview'. Most times this combo interview occurs with no issues but you will find plenty of posts of people who go for their n400 interview and the Officer tells them for whatever reason they dont have their 751- so they end up doing the n400 interview and get the decision can not be made and then have to wait until the local office finds and completes their 751. 

 

The only thing I can suggest is when he does get the n400 interview if his ROC has not been approved yet- to contact his congressman and inquire about the 751 and try to get confirmation that the interview will be a combo interview. Its kind of like giving them a heads up so if the Officer doing his n400 doesnt have his 751 file hopefully they can get it before his interview. If both files are at the local office just in different places waiting-  it shouldn't be too hard for them to get both files together so he can have a combo interview. Also if he gets an interview notice for the n400 he should make sure his spouse attends with him even though the notice will be for just him for the n400. His spouse needs to be there for the 751 part of the combo interview. 

 

If he gets a 751 interview then it will be a 751 interview only. They wont pull the n400 and do a combo unless the n400 is also at the interview waiting to be schedule status also. 

 

Im not sure about Boston but I know some offices in NYC have 1-2 yr wait times for interviews. The pandemic added significant wait times in some places + the influx of petitions overall due to the current administrations policies and public charge changes. Boston is pretty densely populated so 44 months for the overall 751 process is a bit high but still realistic unfortunately. He should keep an eye on the processing times for the n400 and as soon as its an option to inquire because its outside processing time range he should inquire. 

[USAjune2016 101]

23 minutes ago, Villanelle said:

Well Im sure you know a lot of the following since it seems you are going through the same process right now- Obviously he has to have ROC done to naturalize and as you know one can submit the n400 while ROC is pending. You will see posts and blogs talking about how filing the n400 can speed up your ROC and it can in some cases. This is because the processing times for the n400 are shorter then the processing times for ROC. Processing times change constantly based on workload but in general USCIS tries to keep the n400 time shorter because of their concept that people who are eligible and file for citizenship should get it in a 'timely fashion' vs those who are LPRS and just removing conditions. Like with other processes citizens (or those applying for citizenship) get more priority. 

 

So someone who files n400 while ROC is pending has 2 cases active. The n400 should get to an Officer before the 751 does. When the Officer gets his n400 they should pull his 751 from wherever it is sitting waiting and adjudicate them at the same time. Its referred to as having a 'combo interview'. Most times this combo interview occurs with no issues but you will find plenty of posts of people who go for their n400 interview and the Officer tells them for whatever reason they dont have their 751- so they end up doing the n400 interview and get the decision can not be made and then have to wait until the local office finds and completes their 751. 

 

The only thing I can suggest is when he does get the n400 interview if his ROC has not been approved yet- to contact his congressman and inquire about the 751 and try to get confirmation that the interview will be a combo interview. Its kind of like giving them a heads up so if the Officer doing his n400 doesnt have his 751 file hopefully they can get it before his interview. If both files are at the local office just in different places waiting-  it shouldn't be too hard for them to get both files together so he can have a combo interview. Also if he gets an interview notice for the n400 he should make sure his spouse attends with him even though the notice will be for just him for the n400. His spouse needs to be there for the 751 part of the combo interview. 

 

If he gets a 751 interview then it will be a 751 interview only. They wont pull the n400 and do a combo unless the n400 is also at the interview waiting to be schedule status also. 

 

Im not sure about Boston but I know some offices in NYC have 1-2 yr wait times for interviews. The pandemic added significant wait times in some places + the influx of petitions overall due to the current administrations policies and public charge changes. Boston is pretty densely populated so 44 months for the overall 751 process is a bit high but still realistic unfortunately. He should keep an eye on the processing times for the n400 and as soon as its an option to inquire because its outside processing time range he should inquire. 

Thank you for taking the time to write a detailed explanation . I found it to be very helpful.

It’s true I know how this works but in my case I purposely waited  for my I-751 to be approved before I submit my N400 , I personally prefer to have a 10 years green in hand before making any new move.

 

What I couldn’t understand was if the I-751 status was ready to be scheduled for an interview since a year wouldn’t  that means that the file is at the Local office already? But I agree with you only a Congressman can confirm that since there’s no way to contact local offices.

By the way the representative by phone told him that he is ready for a N400 interview but he’s in line to be scheduled but they’ve been saying that for a while and nothing yet while others that applied the same date are getting interviews.

 

Thank you again for your help! 

Edited October 2, 2020 by USAjune2016

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

As of today processing times for all field offices for I751 can take up to 44 months. Boston N400 processing times is currently estimated to take up util 14.5 months which would make him outside of normal processing times not until June 2021- which is when he can submit a case inquiry. Also he can find his estimated case completion date for N400 when he logs on to his account (although it may not be accurate). 

 

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

[USAjune2016 101]

9 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

As of today processing times for all field offices for I751 can take up to 44 months. Boston N400 processing times is currently estimated to take up util 14.5 months which would make him outside of normal processing times not until June 2021- which is when he can submit a case inquiry. Also he can find his estimated case completion date for N400 when he logs on to his account (although it may not be accurate). 

 

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

Is the 44 months a new estimate after the pandemic or has it been like this since before? Last year My I-751 was approved in 12 months without an interview because they interviewed me for my I-485 . Not the case for my friend he didn’t have an I-485 interview.

 

Thank you! 

[gregcrs2 1,777]

13 minutes ago, USAjune2016 said:

What I couldn’t understand was if the I-751 status was ready to be scheduled for an interview since a year wouldn’t  that means that the file is at the Local office already?

No, the files are not transferred to the local office until the local office is ready for it.  

[Crazy Cat 39,227]

1 hour ago, USAjune2016 said:

Hello, I’m asking this for a friend in Boston.

He submitted his I-751 in Feb 2019, he got an MSC receipt number instead of EAC. In May 2019 he got an update that case is ready to be scheduled for an interview. In Feb 2020 he applied for N-400 and still nothing yet for both cases.

is this normal? Because Boston is already processing other February 2020 N400 applicants. 
any thoughts would be helpful, thank you! 

 

We filed my wife's I-751 in March 2019.....MSC case.......been waiting for an interview since May 2019.

[Villanelle 4,121]

17 minutes ago, USAjune2016 said:

 

 

What I couldn’t understand was if the I-751 status was ready to be scheduled for an interview since a year wouldn’t  that means that the file is at the Local office already?

 

Yes. You only get the ready to be scheduled status when the file is at the local office and is waiting in the queue. Like I said most people in this situation have combo interviews with no issue but there are a significant number of people who go for their n400 and are told the Officer does not have their 751 for no apparent reason besides them just shrugging and saying hmm I dont have your 751 how odd. Oh well. Nothing I can do about it. We will just do your n400 cause thats all I have even though the 751 file is in the office. If the Officer does not have both your 751 and n400 in front of him when you walk in for the interview thats it. They will not dig it out from wherever it is while you wait. You can not demand a supervisor gets it. You are just out of luck. Thats why I said the only possible way to avoid that scenario is to try to get confirmation ahead of time using your congressman that they are going to do a combo interview. It may be overkill but if you have been waiting almost 2 years for your 751 then IMO its perfectly acceptable to try to make sure that when it is time for your interview it will be a combo one and you wont have any additional delays.

 

17 minutes ago, USAjune2016 said:

 

But I agree with you only a Congressman can confirm that since there’s no way to contact local offices.

Even if when its interview time he is able to contact the local office I would still encourage him to use the congressman to inquire and confirm its a combo interview vs getting it confirmed with the local office. It is impossible to hold anyone at the local office or even the phone center accountable for what they tell you. The congressman will get a definitive answer back and if it turns out to be wrong you can go right back to the congressman and demand to know what happened. 

 

 

[USAjune2016 101]

8 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

We filed my wife's I-751 in March 2019.....MSC case.......been waiting for an interview since May 2019.

That’s a long wait. I hope you get an update soon and Thank you for letting me know

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

33 minutes ago, USAjune2016 said:

Is the 44 months a new estimate after the pandemic or has it been like this since before? Last year My I-751 was approved in 12 months without an interview because they interviewed me for my I-485 . Not the case for my friend he didn’t have an I-485 interview.

 

Thank you! 

They update periodically ( I think monthly?) in general and yes I've noticed it is all so much slower. For example husbands case completion time for N400 when he applied was October.. I don't see him getting an interview and naturalized in the next 29 days however.. and processing Time has since increased from when we applied in Feb. 

[USAjune2016 101]

12 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

They update periodically ( I think monthly?) in general and yes I've noticed it is all so much slower. For example husbands case completion time for N400 when he applied was October.. I don't see him getting an interview and naturalized in the next 29 days however.. and processing Time has since increased from when we applied in Feb. 

For the N400 I would only  trust the case processing time estimates by local office and not the one that shows on your personal account on myuscis page. If it says 11 months minimum I would deduct 5 weeks and that’s when you’ll most probably get an update. Some people are just lucky and they’re done before that.

 

Good luck! 

[JFH 12,189]

Anyone from the Seattle office would consider that to be fast. There are combo filers there who file I-751 in 2017 and N-400 in 2018 and are only just now, at the end of 2020, getting their interviews. The combo filers do get a raw deal in all this and (certainly in Seattle, maybe other offices too) end up having the slowest progression of all. In fact, for our Seattle filers group we recommend completing ROC first before even touching N-400 as this is proving to be faster, as crazy as that sounds. 

Edited October 2, 2020 by JFH