Pending I-751 and N-400 (3-Year Rule) in Los Angeles – Looking for Timelines and Advice

[K A 1]

Hello, I’m hoping to get some feedback and hear about other people’s experiences with both removal of conditions (I-751) through marriage and the N-400 naturalization process under the 3-year marriage rule. I am especially interested in cases handled in Los Angeles/California, but I’d also appreciate perspectives from other states and countries, and from any attorneys who read this forum.

 

My situation:

 

• I filed my I-751 to remove conditions on my marriage-based green card in December 2023.

• I filed my N-400 based on the 3-year rule on December, 2024.

 

As of today, both cases are still pending.

 

In my USCIS online account, both cases show as “under review” and “within normal processing times”. The I-751 page has basically not changed, and there are no requests for additional evidence.

 

The N-400 page is a bit more confusing. Sometimes it shows a very optimistic estimated timeline (for example, saying the interview will be scheduled within a week), and then that timeline resets and pushes out again. So far nothing concrete has happened, just changing estimates.

 

In the meantime, I have:

 

• Uploaded additional documents and updated evidence for both the I-751 and N-400.

• Contacted USCIS a couple of times to request a review / inquiry. Each time, the response has been that both cases are still within normal processing time.

 

I’m mostly posting to ask:

 

1. Is anyone else seeing similar long timelines and constantly changing N-400 “estimated time” messages, especially in the Los Angeles field office?

2. For those who have gone through a similar situation, is there anything else you would recommend doing beyond what I’ve already done (updating evidence, service requests, etc.)?

 

One more detail:

 

My conditional green card expired on March, 2024. My I-751 receipt notice gives me a 48-month extension of my permanent resident status, so that should keep me in status until March, 2028. I also received another letter (form N400 application) that seems to extend my status for a much shorter period, so I’m assuming the original 48-month extension is still the main valid document.

 

The only next step I can think of is to request an I-551 (ADIT) stamp in my passport before traveling internationally, just to avoid any issues at the border while everything is still pending.

 

If anyone has experience with similar timelines, overlapping I-751 and N-400 cases, or getting the passport stamp in this situation, I would really appreciate your advice and insight. Thank you!

[OldUser 11,062]

Estimated timeline can be safely ignored.

When I filed my case the estimate was 7 months, but it only took 3.5 for N-400.

On day of my oath, the estimate was 3 weeks until decision. If you read VJ threads, nobody ever has an accurate estimate.

[OldUser 11,062]

1 hour ago, K A said:

I also received another letter (form N400 application) that seems to extend my status for a much shorter period, so I’m assuming the original 48-month extension is still the main valid document.

 

That's right

[OldUser 11,062]

1 hour ago, K A said:

The only next step I can think of is to request an I-551 (ADIT) stamp in my passport before traveling internationally, just to avoid any issues at the border while everything is still pending.

Don't do it. You have perfectly valid extension letter extending your GC until 2028.

If you get ADIT, your GC may be taken away. ADIT is only valid for 1 year max, so you'd be constantly renewing it

[OldUser 11,062]

Have you moved addresses since you filed I-751 or N-400?

 

If you have around $5k lying around, you can hire a lawyer to sue USCIS for decision on I-751.

[OldUser 11,062]

~ Thread was moved to citizenship forum ~

[P055UM 355]

Not in LA but pretty similar timelines. I-751 pending since Feb 24 and N-400 since Feb-25.

 

No real advice, but just to let you know you’re not the only one stuck here  

Edited yesterday at 04:15 AM by P055UM

[Crazy Cat 45,837]

12 hours ago, K A said:

The only next step I can think of is to request an I-551 (ADIT) stamp in my passport before traveling internationally, just to avoid any issues at the border while everything is still pending.

Another vote not to try this.  Besides, I don't think they will give you one since your extension letter is valid and you have your expired Green Card.

[Asterix78 29]

My wife's estimated time kept moving as well (was decreasing over time down to 2 months, then jumped to 4, then back down to 2, so we eventually learned to ignore it), but the moment the N-400 case hit the processing time limit, and the inquiry form was available, we sent one. Interview notice came 2-3 weeks later, not sure if by coincidence or due to the inquiry. 

I-751 case processing time was always way beyond that of the N400, despite an earlier submittal, so forget the I-751. it's the N400 you need to watch for and immediately send the inquiry once you hit the processing time limit. 

[Fr8dog 533]

I did get the I-551 when I was in the I-751/N-400 limbo. However that was the time you got the short extension time letter. When I called the USCIS for the stamp they only let me make an appointment as my extension letter had expired. So I doubt they will even let you make one. They did not take my expired green-card when giving me the stamp. 

Your basically waiting for your N-400 to be out of processing time as stated above the I-751 timeline is now completely irrelevant.

[P055UM 355]

OP - when was the last time you submitted a service request on the N-400? It plainly is well outside of processing time for Los Angeles field office so the answer that it is within processing time is absurd.