Just submitted the N-400... how long until I become a citizen?

[Colbert Report 5]

Hello, I just submitted my N-400.  I believe the next step will be biometrics followed by an interview.  Does anyone know how long the actual wait times for these things are?  I've read online that it can take 12-18 months but my lawyer told me that it is likely far less of a wait.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Please complete your timeline 🙂 you can see the estimated processing times here https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

[dwheels76 5,459]

49 minutes ago, Colbert Report said:

Hello, I just submitted my N-400.  I believe the next step will be biometrics followed by an interview.  Does anyone know how long the actual wait times for these things are?  I've read online that it can take 12-18 months but my lawyer told me that it is likely far less of a wait.

Check your field office no one can tell you how long.  Heck someone just posted today they waited 5 years and finally they just got interview for next month.

[Colbert Report 5]

The website says 12-17.5 months, but a friend of mine applied in August and was sworn in about six weeks ago.  The lawyer told me the processing times on the website are far longer than the actual wait times, just so that people aren't phoning all the time to check their case.  Can anyone tell me how accurate the website is when it comes to actual processing times?

 

It seems as though the biometric appointments are being waived due to covid, which cuts the processing time down significantly.

[SalishSea 16,770]

1 minute ago, Colbert Report said:

The website says 12-17.5 months, but a friend of mine applied in August and was sworn in about six weeks ago.  The lawyer told me the processing times on the website are far longer than the actual wait times, just so that people aren't phoning all the time to check their case.  Can anyone tell me how accurate the website is when it comes to actual processing times?

 

It seems as though the biometric appointments are being waived due to covid, which cuts the processing time down significantly.

I haven't heard of biometric appointments being waived.  Maybe for people who did one very recently for ROC?

 

Your lawyer seems to be spewing nonsense.  "Phoning all the time to check their case"?   Do you really think the field offices accept phone calls from people wanting to know when their interview will  be?   LOL.

 

You haven't done a timeline, so how can anyone tell you how accurate the official processing times are for your particular field office?

[Colbert Report 5]

Well, a colleague of mine applied in August and was sworn in back in very early March, and his biometric appointment was waived.  A simple google search has led me to understand that it is because of the pandemic that they've been waiving a lot of appointments and just scheduling people for the interview.  I don't know what a "timeline" is.  I've been a permanent resident for five years now, and I sent in the N-400 today.  There are two possible field offices my application can go to, because of a weird zip code I live in that straddles Los Angeles and Los Angeles County.

 

Los Angeles itself shows a 12-16.5 month wait.

Los Angeles County shows a 13.5-17 month wait.

 

My lawyer says that most of her clients are getting processed pretty quickly and assured me last week that I'd have an interview by the end of 2021.  

[Timona 3,940]

Well, you paid for his services. Quiz him based on your research 

[carmel34 3,529]

1 hour ago, Colbert Report said:

My lawyer says that most of her clients are getting processed pretty quickly and assured me last week that I'd have an interview by the end of 2021.

We see this a lot with attorneys and also visa processing services.  They promise faster processing times to get people to pay them for their services, when in reality they can do nothing to speed the process up, you get in line after everything is submitted, just like everyone else.  As with everything related to US immigration, it could go faster or slower than the posted times for your USCIS location, no one knows for sure, including your attorney, it's very unpredictable and not logical, and depends on so many unknowns, including the details of your specific case.  I've always found that expecting the longer, maximum estimated time works best, then you might be pleasantly surprised if it goes faster, and this approach significantly reduces the frustration level.  Good luck with your N-400 process!  

[Sebat4 77]

2 hours ago, Colbert Report said:

Well, a colleague of mine applied in August and was sworn in back in very early March, and his biometric appointment was waived.  A simple google search has led me to understand that it is because of the pandemic that they've been waiving a lot of appointments and just scheduling people for the interview.  I don't know what a "timeline" is.  I've been a permanent resident for five years now, and I sent in the N-400 today.  There are two possible field offices my application can go to, because of a weird zip code I live in that straddles Los Angeles and Los Angeles County.

 

Los Angeles itself shows a 12-16.5 month wait.

Los Angeles County shows a 13.5-17 month wait.

 

My lawyer says that most of her clients are getting processed pretty quickly and assured me last week that I'd have an interview by the end of 2021.  

It doesn't matter what your lawyers says, each person interview is scheduled on a case by case basis and no one can speed up your process. No one can promise you that your case will be done by 2021, for sure it can happen but not in most busiest Field Offices. If you join a military your case will be fast tracked and you might become a citizen in just few months. Everyone is a different case and you can't compare your case to your friend's. My friends had his application submitted in January 2020, schedule for interview in early August 2020, day before his interview his appointment was cancelled and rescheduled for Feb 2021. Some people are waiting 2-3 even 5 years to get an interview, and a lawyer who says that you will be a US Citizen by the end of 2021 is very full of . Only time will tell and I hope you will get your US Citizenship by the end of 2021. Good luck!

[H.Angy 51]

It is gonna take you 6 months and 4 days! 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Our biometrics was not waived.

Processing time on website when we applied was not accurate. Interview “should” have been October but was February.
You can choose what you want to believe 🤷🏻‍♀️

Edited April 11, 2021 by Luckycuds

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

My daughter and husband both applied about 2 weeks apart in Nov 2019. My husband interviewed and took oath early Jan this year, my daughter late March. So yes, well over a year is perfectly possible. Apparently North Carolina is pretty fast. A number of others are often more than a year. 
 

Why do you need a lawyer for n400? Do you have a complicated case?

 

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

6 hours ago, Colbert Report said:

My lawyer says that most of her clients are getting processed pretty quickly and assured me last week that I'd have an interview by the end of 2021.  

Is your lawyer is trying to lead you to believe that her clients get better treatment than anyone else?

[SalishSea 16,770]

@JFHrecently did it (Seattle, not LA).....I believe her case took a couple of years.  Most of the west coast field offices are extremely backed up for all services.

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by Jorgedig

[PhillyNatz 39]

9 hours ago, Colbert Report said:

Hello, I just submitted my N-400.  I believe the next step will be biometrics followed by an interview.  Does anyone know how long the actual wait times for these things are?  I've read online that it can take 12-18 months but my lawyer told me that it is likely far less of a wait.

It's really difficult to say, as everyone has pointed out the official posted times are online. Having said that, is it possible that under the new administration that processing time will quicken? It's possible, but whether it will happen or not is anyone's guess. There is some anecdotal information of people having processed sooner but there's so many variables.