Ortolan

I agree, K1 seems like a kind of more risky endeavor, as the foreign fiance/ee has to pull up stakes in their own country and pretty much cross their fingers, pack up their life completely, and move here.
I'd sure think about it long and hard before I did the same.

We are telling you that It happens from both sides......

I just find it unbelievable that the laws and stereotypes always favor the USC spouse. Laws always mention foreigner using the USC!!!  If the foreigner marries in good intent and faith and promises to dedicate themselves to improve the US citizen's life - including listening to everything they say and want, and then the US citizen shows they have no intent of respecting or committing to the foreign spouse and making it look like a joke of a marriage, that is putting the foreigner at all sorts of risks where they also have little options, especially if they depend on USC. Not to mention how vulnerable foreigners are and often get in hands of someone who thinks they're entitled to do whatever and nothing can happen to them (I'm an American and I can do whatever I want and you are here to "obey") while generally being manipulative and exploitative, emotionally and verbally abusive.

Exactly what I said, no big words pretty simple comment.

LOVE this comment!  It brings back so many good memories.  I used to live in Montreal and have never found anything that comes close to real poutine in the US, unless I make it myself at home.

What can be done and what is wise to do are not always the same.
 
Yes, your plan can be done.
But the wisdom of leaving the US as a USC without a valid US passport is questionable.

the original is sent in  the first time you apply for your new US passport 
send it via large manila envelope if you do not want it folded of take to post office where they do passport applications
1st make a copy of it for your own records (and possibility of loss)
your original will be returned in a separate envelope from the new passport and the third mailing of your proof of ID
 
When you renew all that is needed is old passport,  application to renew and the fee

I would hold the anxiety until an actual Executive Order is issued.  Typically, they include exemptions.  There are few news articles floating around, but I see no specifics other than it will include DACA.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/president-trump-working-on-executive-order-to-establish-merit-based-immigration-system-white-house/articleshow/76904086.cms
 
BTW:  Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have merit based immigration systems.......

The N-400 was properly denied.  They are not living together.  That's a requirement to file under the 3 years rule.  

An appeal will be unsuccessful.

Wait to file under the 5 years rule.

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-2
 
D. Marital Union and Living in Marital Union
1. Married and Living in Marital Union
In general, all naturalization applicants filing on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen must continue to be the spouse of a U.S. citizen from the time of filing the naturalization application until the applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance. In addition, some spousal naturalization provisions require that the applicant “live in marital union” with his or her citizen spouse for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of filing the naturalization application. [19] USCIS considers an applicant to “live in marital union” with his or her citizen spouse if the applicant and the citizen actually reside together.
An applicant does not meet the married and “living in marital union” requirements if:
The applicant is not residing with his or her U.S. citizen spouse at the time of filing or during the time in which the applicant is required to be living in marital union with the U.S. citizen spouse; or
The marital relationship is terminated at any time prior to taking the Oath of Allegiance.
If the applicant ceases to reside with his or her U.S. citizen spouse between the time of filing and the time at which the applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance, the officer should consider whether the applicant met the living in marital union requirement at the time of filing.
There are limited circumstances where an applicant may be able to establish that he or she is living in marital union with his or her citizen spouse even though the applicant does not actually reside with the citizen spouse. [20] 
In all cases where it is applicable, the burden is on the applicant to establish that he or she has lived in marital union with his or her U.S. citizen spouse for the required period of time. [21] 

If you start now, it is probably too late to get the visa by the time you want.  Under normal circumstances it takes a year to 18 months.  However, Consulates are closed now and have been for three months.  Maybe they will open again soon and maybe they will stay open and catch up by the time your case gets to the final stage.  Start by clicking on the word Guides at the top of any page here.  Do some study and then come back with remaining questions.

Go ahead and file. Things could speed up, you never know, and at least you'll have that set of paperwork done and in process and off your desk.  Take your time, read the instructions carefully, and go for it.

Go ahead and file. Things could speed up, you never know, and at least you'll have that set of paperwork done and in process and off your desk.  Take your time, read the instructions carefully, and go for it.

There is no better time than yesterday to file. 

Well how are you planning on supporting yourselves when you get here? 
 
You have two options: joint sponsor or you return ahead of them and find a job that makes enough to fulfill the requirements. Almost all of us went through some form of separation during this process. Many of us for extended periods of time. It didn’t kill us and it won’t kill you. 

Any job is a good job.
 
The more overqualified you are, the more you'll stand out in comparison with others, and the faster you'll advance through the ranks.  During this time, opportunities that you hadn't thought of might present themselves.  Keep the faith.

There is a 5 year ban between obtaining a green card via marriage and being able to petition another spouse (except in case of death of the first spouse).
 
Technically this can be overcome with an extremely strong case, but I would not suggest that route. Wait the 5 years.
 
Edit: And yes, it would be a F2A category, not CR-1 visa.

I don’t disagree, but this is USCIS we are talking about.  By the time they actually organized that, they will probably be re-open.

I just received an email that my oath ceremony has been scheduled.
This is an email only! There is no other information about it on myuscis or egov.
My ceremony (end march) was cancelled due to the covid. this notice does not mention re-scheduling it is identical to the first "ceremony scheduled" email sent months ago.

Ah....we'll just wait for the real thing. It'd be nice to be able to vote in November, though...I guess that's not going to happen.
 

I have reached out to my USCIS officer who interviewed my N400 application and he just responded back to me that all N-400 interviews and oath will be rescheduled after Apr 13th. Stay tuned next letter on its way.

If birthdays were a valid reason to expedite, USCIS would be overwhelmed with expedite requests. 

I think some people are skipping ahead on that part. I really don't think governments even have the ability to look at how to get back to "normal" right now. They are putting everything they have into stopping things from getting worse. Getting back to normal will come at some point, but it's very hard to put a number on when that will be right now. 

Why would they grant temporary visas for beneficiaries to come the the U.S to interview when there is a literal ban on travel from almost everywhere in the world to the U.S. at the moment? Did you think this through at all?
 
These are not normal times and immigration is on the bottom of the list for the government right now. There world is trying to stop the spread of a global pandemic.

I know it's inconvenient, and maddening to have to wait even MORE time. But people: THIS IS DIFFERENT. Get a grip. This is a pandemic. A 'like you read about in history books' type pandemic. Try to breathe, understand that even the USCIS folks have families, have lives, some are ill, and they also probably have infrastructure support problems right now, just like your own offices, your own businesses. Things are going to be weird for a while, and then, hopefully, things will crank back up. But right now, you're going to have to sit tight. Hang in there and stay well, try to stay positive. 

I know it's inconvenient, and maddening to have to wait even MORE time. But people: THIS IS DIFFERENT. Get a grip. This is a pandemic. A 'like you read about in history books' type pandemic. Try to breathe, understand that even the USCIS folks have families, have lives, some are ill, and they also probably have infrastructure support problems right now, just like your own offices, your own businesses. Things are going to be weird for a while, and then, hopefully, things will crank back up. But right now, you're going to have to sit tight. Hang in there and stay well, try to stay positive.