Linyahui

On 3/19/2021 at 1:20 AM, Dublindave said:

Im applying with an outstanding I-751 I haven't heard anything about a combo interview. Does anyone know if they contact applicants and advise them of this? Not sure if I should ask my wife to take the day off work if its gonna be a waste. Also does anyone have any experience of what happens if they don't conduct a combo? 

11 hours ago, 684117 said:

I am on the exact same boat, yet, about 3 weeks ago I went for an info pass to get a new stamp on my passport since my 18 months letter expired. The officer checked the system and told me that he can see my pending i751 and it is still at the national benefits center, but he also said I can also see that very soon you will be contacted for your N400, when they send you, come here with your wife. 

 

February 22nd I got my biometrics reuse notice, March 15th the interview notice for April 23rd. on the website the estimated completion time jumped to 9 months after the interview notice, not sure why but that's what is says. 

 

no contact about a combo yet, just going by what the officer said and I will bring my wife with all documents we submitted for the i751 + documents between filing n400 and now. 

Writing with the very update you both need! Hubby received the interview letter for N-400 last month; interview was scheduled for yesterday (March 19). His i-751 was still outstanding and had been at NBC since March 2020 (filed in April 2019). He never received any updates about the status of the i-751 or if the interview would be a combo interview. The letter indicated it was just for N-400.

Fast forward to yesterday. The IO was incredibly nice and friendly, he essentially said "I see your i-751 has been pending for nearly two years--let's get it done." So, hubby ended up having a combo interview yesterday without any advance notice. I was waiting outside, just in case, and we brought along all of our binders of evidence and original documents (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) to be prepared, but the IO didn't even up asking for any of it. After forty minutes, hubby was approved for both i-751 and N-400. Oath ceremony on Tuesday! 

20 hours ago, NYBEtt said:

 

How did the interview go? Were they able to adjudicate the I-751 along with the N-400? Good luck!

Thanks for asking! Hubby's interview went very well. They DID adjudicate the i-751 together with the N-400. Totally unexpected, because the interview letter specifically mentioned N-400 and we never received any updates about a combo interview. Hubby reported that the USCIS officer was incredibly nice and friendly--he basically said "I see you've been waiting awhile; let's get this done."

Oath ceremony on Tuesday! 

2 hours ago, MindHunter said:

I can’t view my documents, status or history on my N400 account , any body here same as me?

I can see my hubby's documents, status, and history in his N-400 account, but the USCIS "Ask Emma" chatbot isn't working. There must be something wonky with their system today.

Just now, Italy-USA said:

I did not have an interview for AOS, so I'm not sure if the IO was just satisfied with the N-400 interview or if he will end up calling us for an interview. The whole process with USCIS is always so backwards 😅

This gives me hope!!!

4 minutes ago, MXcompadre said:

USCIS, depending on the FSO. will normally notify with a follow-up USPS delivered letter advising that the N-400 will be a combo joint I-751 interview informing that the spouse is required to also attend.  If it were me, I would plan to accompany your spouse in the event that they failed to notify of the combined joint interview status. That way they will not have to re-schedule the N-400 to include having a joint combo of your I-751. Progressive analytical projected thinking...

Oh, I will definitely be there! Me and our two gigantic binders with copies of all i-751 and N-400 documents submitted, plus all updated docs since the applications were received....

49 minutes ago, Italy-USA said:

I was in the same situation. I had my N-400 interview last friday. 

Agent was not extremely friendly, but still polite. We did the civics test, reading and writing test which I passed, then asked the yes/no questions and signed some stuff. But then he said that because my i-751 was still pending, which he wasn't aware of until this morning (how???), he couldn't approve my n-400 until he reviews the i-751 in the next few weeks. I will receive a decision letter in the mail and then a notice to appear for the oath ceremony should the case be approved. He gave me a receipt stating that I passed the test but that the case could not be adjudicated today. I asked if my husband (who was waiting in the car) needed to come in and he said no. So I'm assuming we won't have an interview for the i-751.He didn't ask for any additional documentation, other than to see my green card and passport. 

I was disappointed since I know of other people in the same situation that got their i-751 approved on the day of the citizenship interview. I was hoping to be done with USCIS today but I guess I'll survive a little bit longer

Thank you for your reply. We appreciate the support!

Did you have an interview for AOS so it wasn't necessary for ROC? Hubby's AOS was approved without interview in 2017, which is probably why his i-751 is still pending. I assume the pandemic, combined with the general USCIS backlog, has delayed scheduling for the i-751 interview. BUT STILL! He filed 1 year and 11 months ago. It's totally insane. 

I wonder whether the IO will have a similar reaction during my husband's interview on Friday--that he/she was not aware of the pending i-751....

On 3/4/2021 at 9:08 PM, Stelare said:

Anyone else who was transferred to NBC have any updates they can share? 

No updates here, either. Hubby's i-751 was transferred to NBC in March 2020 (yep, a year ago!). The online case status has been "my case is ready to be scheduled for an interview" since May 13, 2020. We've already submitted two case inquiries due to being outside normal processing times and had our DC Congresswoman contact USCIS. No movement. 

Hubby filed the N-400 in May 2020 and his citizenship interview is this Friday, March 19. I thought USCIS would schedule a combo interview after he had to get the ADIT stamp in his passport in January 2021, but it looks like the interview Friday is just for citizenship. No idea how this will pan out. 

1 hour ago, MXcompadre said:

You would recieve a follow-up notification from USCIS informing you of the details if it is to be scheduled as a combo joint I-751 and N-400 interview. In the follow-up notification it requested that the spouse attend the interview with the applicant, and what you're required to submit and/or bring. Buen suerte!  

Thank you! 

One final question: how far in advance of the interview did you receive the notification? We're now only 12 days away from the scheduled N-400 interview. 

10 minutes ago, MXcompadre said:

At USCIS Atlanta FSO we had our scheduled combo I-751 & N-400 interview. Bring any/all joint and/or individual bank monthly checking and/or savings statements, copies of joint utilities statements, and individual or joint Investment accounts statements whether 401-K, Roth or Traditional IRA account monthly statements. Any joint accounts paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.  Automobile joint registration proof of ownership, and valid insurance policy coverage invoice/documentation. Photocopies of renewed and/or new drivers licenses. Our interviewer did not ask for/request photos, Holidays cards, or proof of travel outside or within the US by air. Every interview and interviewer are different. Bring as much additional documentation as you believe your case and relationship would benefit from submitting. Our interviewer did not specifically specify what we should additionally submit. She asked please give me copies of all additional items you would like to submit for our consideration in the final evaluation of your case. 

    

Thank you for the suggestions. We will bring copies of all of our joint accounts, policy coverage, etc, as well as photos and greeting cards, just in case. Doesn't hurt!

Another VJ member told me they received an updated document informing them that their N-400 interview would actually be a combo i-751 and N-400 interview. Since my husband's i-751 is still pending and the N-400 interview is coming up, I thought we might receive a similar update. However, we haven't gotten anything yet. How did you find out your interview was going to be a combo? 

14 hours ago, Scandi said:

I'm in the same boat, interview coming up. I have been a member of several N-400 groups on Facebook for a while now and seen many different things in regards to documents asked for. I have seen people being asked for proof that they don't owe any taxes, either federal or state. So for that reason I will bring the typical tax return transcripts for 5 years, AND tax account transcripts for 5 years (yes a few people were actually asked for these) AND print outs from the state tax website showing $0 balance and joint filing for the past 5 years. Just in case! The chances are likely very slim they'll ask for it, but if they do at least I have it with me. 

 

Evidence of bonafide marriage - co-habitation and co-mingling as usual. Most was already sent at the ROC stage, and when I filed the N-400 and I have uploaded a ton while it's been pending too. But I will bring more, and originals. 

Good call on the tax transcripts. I'll request one for 2020 (others already included with the application). 

I feel like it's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. We'll lug both our ROC and N-400 binders to the interview, just in case. 

@ All: 

Hubby’s interview is coming up on March 19. Any advice or suggestions on what to bring to the interview? 
 

Since he filed for citizenship based on marriage to me, a US citizen, we’re planning to update our relationship evidence since the N-400 was submitted (lease, utility bills, dog adoption, photos, etc). Beyond that, any recommendations?

21 hours ago, Scandi said:

The letter never mentions if it's a combo or not, the absolute majority of everyone who gets a combo interview only receives an interview letter for the N-400, not for the i-751 (sometimes even the other way around). A combo interview letter doesn't exist (not yet anyway, maybe in the future). 

 

Chatting and calling regular tier 1 customer support won't help anything, the only ones who could potentionally see anything regarding your case is tier 2.

 

Definitely go to the interview with your husband. If they're doing a combo and want to interview you too for the i-751 then at least you're there, that way you guys don't get rescheduled.

Scandi, thanks for the heads up. I'll definitely plan to go to the interview with my husband. 

11 minutes ago, arj_435 said:

Interesting. I am in the DC metro area as well. Is your local office the DC office? Mine is the Baltimore office since we fall on the MD side of the DC city line. I filed for my N-400 in July 2020. So, hopefully I get my interview scheduled soon as well.

 

Do you know if that interview for your husband is gonna be a combo one?

We live in the District, so our office is the DC office (technically in Fairfax). 

I assumed the interview would be a combo, since the i-751 is still pending. However, the interview letter clearly states that it's for N-400 only and that no one is permitted to accompany my husband to the interview, due to ongoing Covid protocols. I even chatted with a USCIS officer via the Ask Emma function on the website and she said the same thing. However, in another VJ forum, someone else with a pending i-751 had their N-400 changed to a combo interview a couple of weeks after receiving the initial N-400 interview letter. My husband's N-400 interview notice arrived on February 10, and so far there is no news about the interview becoming a combo.

32 minutes ago, MXcompadre said:

The update was posted on the USCIS case tracking website. The letter arrived in the mail within 96 hours thereafter. 

Thanks! 

On 2/18/2021 at 11:44 AM, arj_435 said:

Filed for I-751 in May 2019. They transferred my case from Vermont service center to the Potomac service center in Feb 2020 for "faster processing". A year later, last week they transferred my case to NBC for "faster processing". I guess the first transfer was not for "faster processing" after all. I am glad I went in and got my I-551 stamp a couple weeks ago. Anyone know what a transfer to NBC means? I filed my N-400 in July 2020. Could it have anything to do with that?

My husband filed for i-751 in April 2019. USCIS transferred his case from the Vermont Service Center to NBC in March 2020 for "faster processing." He got his i-551 stamp last month. We're still waiting....

Incredibly, his citizenship interview has already been scheduled for next month (N-400 filed in May 2020), but i-751 remains pending. 

52 minutes ago, MXcompadre said:

Linyahui checking our I-751 and N-400 USCIS cases status, we received this msg "On January 26, 2021, we scheduled an interview for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, Receipt Number IOE##########. We will mail you an interview notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address."  Within 10 days after the N-400 interview message, we received a follow-up message notifying that we would have our I-751 also on the scheduled N-400 Interview date, and that both of us should plan to attend the interview.  VJ friends who had their N-400/I-751 interview also at the Atlanta USCIS FSO the 1st week of February.  Upon the conclusion of their interview, their interviewer gave them a verbal approval for both cases, however informed informed them would recieve a written follow-up letter. Here's what they posted on their updated VJ timeline.   

Thanks much for your reply. I am hopeful something similar may happen for my husband's case, too.

May I ask whether the follow-up message was an email or an update to your online USCIS account?

Last week, hubby and I chatted with a USCIS rep through the Ask Emma chat function. Now I'm even more confused. We asked whether his N-400 interview that was just scheduled might be a combo interview since hubby's i-751 is still pending. Agent said no, the interview is just for N-400. We then asked whether the i-751 had to be approved before the N-400 could be approved (as is our understanding). The agent said this (copied/pasted): 

To be honest, that is wrong, it really depends on the offices that are process both case. They sometimes don't go in order.

Does this sound right?? If not, does this mean he could be approved for N-400, but have to wait to take the oath until his i-751 interview is scheduled? (I wouldn't put it past USCIS). 

17 hours ago, Scandi said:

For the N-400 nobody should accompany you unless it's a lawyer, that's always the case no matter if you filed based on marriage or 5 years as an LPR. And now during covid times even interpreters are asked to only be present over the phone, not in person. 

 

But since he has a pending i-751 you should definitely go with him. The i-751 is all about your marriage and they are likely to want to see you there too and also ask you some questions. 👍

1 hour ago, Linyahui said:

Is there a way to know if this will be a combo interview, given the pending i-751?

Hubby and I just chatted with a USCIS rep through the Ask Emma chat function. Now I'm even more confused. We asked whether his N-400 interview that was just scheduled might be a combo interview since hubby's i-751 is still pending. Agent said no, the interview is just for N-400. We then asked whether the i-751 had to be approved before the N-400 could be approved (as is our understanding). The agent said this (copied/pasted): 

To be honest, that is wrong, it really depends on the offices that are process both case. They sometimes don't go in order.

Does this sound right??

16 hours ago, Scandi said:

For the N-400 nobody should accompany you unless it's a lawyer, that's always the case no matter if you filed based on marriage or 5 years as an LPR. And now during covid times even interpreters are asked to only be present over the phone, not in person. 

 

But since he has a pending i-751 you should definitely go with him. The i-751 is all about your marriage and they are likely to want to see you there too and also ask you some questions. 👍

Is there a way to know if this will be a combo interview, given the pending i-751?

8 hours ago, meadowzephyr said:

Wowww! That's awesome news. Congrats! The letter said that no  one can accompany my husband. But he is not applying based on being married for three years. So it may be different for you. My husband has been a resident for almost 8 years.

 

Hopefully someone who knows will answer.

Thanks. His letter said the same, which strikes me as odd. We didn’t have an interview for AOS so I’m not surprised we’re in the queue to be interviewed for ROC. It just seems like I would have to be interviewed, too, for either N-400 or ROC.

I’ll do some digging on VJ tomorrow to see if anyone else has posted about this recently. 

20 hours ago, meadowzephyr said:

Good news! To all my Washington DC people:

 

My hubby received his notice for his interview. We checked online. March 16th!

 

So DC folks, things are moving along! Your day is coming soon.

6 hours ago, Linyahui said:

Thanks for the update! We filed May 21, 2020 so just a couple weeks behind you. Hopefully, good news headed our way soon, too!

 

Are you still waiting on ROC (filed concurrently with N-400) or just citizenship?

I checked hubby's USCIS online account after I read your message and his interview has been scheduled, too! I am so happy!! I think the news is still sinking in for him; when I woke him up at 3:00 am to share the good news, he mumbled 'hooray' and went back to sleep. Ha!

His interview is scheduled for March 19, 2021. The notice posted to the online account didn't indicate whether I should attend the interview, too. I assume I should, since he filed the N-400 based on marriage to me, a U.S. citizen. Does anyone know?

Also, since his i-751 is still pending, does anyone know if the March 19 interview will be a combo interview? The case status for the i-751 still says "case is ready to be scheduled for an interview," not "interview is scheduled."

Thanks!

14 hours ago, meadowzephyr said:

Good news! To all my Washington DC people:

 

My hubby received his notice for his interview. We checked online. March 16th!

 

So DC folks, things are moving along! Your day is coming soon.

Thanks for the update! We filed May 21, 2020 so just a couple weeks behind you. Hopefully, good news headed our way soon, too!

Are you still waiting on ROC (filed concurrently with N-400) or just citizenship?

10 hours ago, Scandi said:

If you're outside normal processing time, yes definitely try the Ombudsman. 

 

I know, I've seen several people say it didn't help contacting the congress wo(man), s/he just received the same generic response you receive yourself when you inquire. 🤷‍♀️

 

I would think that things should start happening for you guys soon since you'll have your biometrics reused. That seem to mainly happen to those who are so close to the interview stage that there's no time to do biometrics, so therefore they reuse the old ones. 

Thanks so much for your reply--it gives us hope! 

43 minutes ago, Scandi said:

No, I never filled out the inquiry thingy on their website. This was just a regular message via my inbox in my online account. I highly suggest you try it too, I'm certain that's the only reason (ie sending them the message letting them know I was about to contact the ombudsman) that I got my biometrics appintment this early. Some other people at the bio appintment that day said they had their first biometrics appointment cancelled back in March 2020 due to the virus, and only received their new appointments now, almost a year later. So my guess is that I would've had to wait for all those people to be rescheduled first before I would get an appointment as I only filed in May, if it wasn't for me "nagging" them to get one. That would've taken several more months.

Oh, thanks for the info. Hubby's biometrics will be reused (received the notice dated January 13), so not sure whether the message will prompt any movement. Then again, we're going on 22 months. He had to get the i-551 stamp in his passport last week. I thought concurrently filing the N-400 would speed things up....

We already contacted our Congresswoman in DC, which was of absolutely no help (she sent back a stock response from USCIS that can be found on their website). Maybe the ombudsperson would do the trick? 

On 2/1/2021 at 10:43 AM, Scandi said:

I sent them a message in October 2020 but only got a generic answer back about being in line to be scheduled for biometrics and yada yada. 

 

Then in mid-December I got fed up with waiting and sent them another message, this time asking if I should contact the congressman or Ombudsman in order to get a biometrics appointment. That seemed to do the trick, on January 5 I got my biometrics appointment, scheduled for January 27. 

Did you submit your message via the contact form on the USCIS website? I submitted a case inquiry on behalf of my hubby last fall and never received a response at all...