N-400 Scheduled with I-751 Still Pending

[Olichka 186]

Hello all !

 

My husband has finally had his N-400 interview scheduled. However, he has his I-751 still pending (status shows "Fingerprints were taken"). That status came up as soon as we applied for N400 under the 3 year rule (K1 visa).

 

The letter he received regarding his N-400 interview doesn't mention anything about this interview being a combo interview, and I am not sure if I am supposed to be coming with him ? Or if I should ring any additional documents just in case it IS a combo interview ?

 

Not really sure how to proceed, should I call USCIS and ask if the I-751 is is outdated ? 

 

Interview is in NJ, in newly built Cranbury office.

 

Thank you ! 

[Liam2021 583]

38 minutes ago, Olichka said:

Hello all !

 

My husband has finally had his N-400 interview scheduled. However, he has his I-751 still pending (status shows "Fingerprints were taken"). That status came up as soon as we applied for N400 under the 3 year rule (K1 visa).

 

The letter he received regarding his N-400 interview doesn't mention anything about this interview being a combo interview, and I am not sure if I am supposed to be coming with him ? Or if I should ring any additional documents just in case it IS a combo interview ?

 

Not really sure how to proceed, should I call USCIS and ask if the I-751 is is outdated ? 

 

Interview is in NJ, in newly built Cranbury office.

 

Thank you ! 

It can be a combo interview, so please go with your spouse just in case. You don't need to call USCIS right now.

[Crazy Cat 41,979]

46 minutes ago, Olichka said:

Hello all !

 

My husband has finally had his N-400 interview scheduled. However, he has his I-751 still pending (status shows "Fingerprints were taken"). That status came up as soon as we applied for N400 under the 3 year rule (K1 visa).

 

The letter he received regarding his N-400 interview doesn't mention anything about this interview being a combo interview, and I am not sure if I am supposed to be coming with him ? Or if I should ring any additional documents just in case it IS a combo interview ?

 

Not really sure how to proceed, should I call USCIS and ask if the I-751 is is outdated ? 

 

Interview is in NJ, in newly built Cranbury office.

 

Thank you ! 

I would certainly prepare for a combo interview.  In our case, our I-751 was not initially mentioned in wife's N-400 interview notice.  But, I was notified a few days prior to interview date that my attendance was required for the interview (combo).  

Edited August 7, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[carmel34 3,639]

18 hours ago, Olichka said:

My husband has finally had his N-400 interview scheduled. However, he has his I-751 still pending (status shows "Fingerprints were taken"). That status came up as soon as we applied for N400 under the 3 year rule (K1 visa).

 

The letter he received regarding his N-400 interview doesn't mention anything about this interview being a combo interview, and I am not sure if I am supposed to be coming with him ? Or if I should ring any additional documents just in case it IS a combo interview ?

The same thing happened to my husband, and we didn't want to take a chance that USCIS would not connect the N-400 with the pending I-751, as sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.  When they don't, at the N-400, they will say they can't approve it without receiving the I-751 file first.  So to avoid this potential problem, my husband wrote a letter to the USCIS field office (address on the N-400 interview notice), and requested a combo interview.  The letter included a copy of the N-400 interview notice and his pending I-751 receipt number and 48-month extension letter.  A week after sending the letter, he received another interview notice for the I-751, same day and time as the N-400 interview, requesting that he bring me as his spouse and evidence of our marriage relationship since filing the I-751 (two years before).  Everything went well; we were questioned together for the I-751, then I was asked to leave and the officer proceeded with my husband's N-400 interview.  Now he's waiting for his US passport.  Good luck!  You're almost done with the crazy world of USCIS!

Edited August 8, 2023 by carmel34

[Crazy Cat 41,979]

27 minutes ago, carmel34 said:

my husband wrote a letter to the USCIS field office

Good idea.  Certainly worth trying.  I included a request for a combo interview with wife's N-400 application.  In the end, we got the combo interview.  

[LuFlolady 881]

My husband has a pending I 751 pending too and we have gotten the work permit extension letter twice…. Should we go ahead and apply for naturalization under the three year rule?

[OldUser 6,872]

40 minutes ago, LuFlolady said:

My husband has a pending I 751 pending too and we have gotten the work permit extension letter twice…. Should we go ahead and apply for naturalization under the three year rule?

Your husband can get unrestricted social security card and state ID or driver's license. That's all he needs to show to employer for I-9 verification. No need to show GC and deal with explaining how extension letters work to HR.

 

Your husband can apply for citizenship under 3 year rule when becomes eligible. That's 3 years minus 90 days from Resident Since date on GC.

Of course, he needed to live with you all this time in marital union, haven't had trips longer than 6 months and meet physical presence requirements, be of good moral character and pay taxes.

 

 

[LuFlolady 881]

On 8/14/2023 at 11:34 PM, OldUser said:

Your husband can get unrestricted social security card and state ID or driver's license. That's all he needs to show to employer for I-9 verification. No need to show GC and deal with explaining how extension letters work to HR.

 

Your husband can apply for citizenship under 3 year rule when becomes eligible. That's 3 years minus 90 days from Resident Since date on GC.

Of course, he needed to live with you all this time in marital union, haven't had trips longer than 6 months and meet physical presence requirements, be of good moral character and pay taxes.

 

 

What do you mean an unrestricted social and drivers license? We still have yet to hear from the removing of conditions we filed we are preparing to file for citizenship he has yet to get his GC we filed for removing of conditions and have yet to hear anything

[OldUser 6,872]

17 minutes ago, LuFlolady said:

What do you mean an unrestricted social and drivers license? 

Sometimes if you were in the US on different status before adjusting, the Social Security card may say "Valid for work only with DHS authorization". This means, employers ask for some other document to perform I-9 verification, such as Green Card and extension letter. The drawback of this is, not all HR at companies know how extension letters work, and start panicking thinking LPR doesn't have authorization to work while I-751 is pending. To avoid all of this, it's best to have unrestricted social security card. You can get it while on conditional GC or 10 year GC by going to SSA office. They can issue Social Security card which doesn't have any extra wording. This card, along with valid drivers license or state ID, can be used for I-9 verification. In this case, LPR can decide NOT to show GC and extension letter to employer and has a right to this. Employer can verify eligibility to work using unrestricted SS card and DL, and it makes things much easier and drama free.

[LuFlolady 881]

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

Sometimes if you were in the US on different status before adjusting, the Social Security card may say "Valid for work only with DHS authorization". This means, employers ask for some other document to perform I-9 verification, such as Green Card and extension letter. The drawback of this is, not all HR at companies know how extension letters work, and start panicking thinking LPR doesn't have authorization to work while I-751 is pending. To avoid all of this, it's best to have unrestricted social security card. You can get it while on conditional GC or 10 year GC by going to SSA office. They can issue Social Security card which doesn't have any extra wording. This card, along with valid drivers license or state ID, can be used for I-9 verification. In this case, LPR can decide NOT to show GC and extension letter to employer and has a right to this. Employer can verify eligibility to work using unrestricted SS card and DL, and it makes things much easier and drama free.

Ok thanks for clarification