Karen&Marile

Hi All,

My wife had combo I-751 and N-400 interview on April 30 - both approved.  On May 11, got the oath ceremony scheduled notice (N445), with naturalization ceremony set for June 2 (Chicago).  So from date of approval, it's about 4 weeks, which was the same for my friend in same situation here.  

Since her conditional Green Card had expired, her IL driver's license also expired.  Does anyone know if you can take the N445 notice to renew the driver's license, or must you have the naturalization certificate?

Hi everyone,

My wife had her I-175 interview yesterday (and 6 days later she was scheduled for the N400 interview).  Some mentioned possibly getting a call the morning of to inform it would be a combo interview, which we did NOT receive.  

The I-175 portion was very relaxed and the officer was friendly and not at all intimidating.  Asked us simple questions about time outside the U.S., vacations we took together, what states we've visited outside Illinois (Chicago), date of marriage and where, how we met and where and then he reviewed new evidence we brought - we're selling our condo, plus new lease, most updated bank statement, plus title of new car bought together, plus recently filed 2020 taxes.  That was it and we asked if it were possible to do the N400 interview since it was scheduled for next week, he said, "oh, you have that next week.... let me see if I can".... a couple minutes on his computer and he says, "sure, I can do it" -- omg!!!!!  Luckily she had been studying the N400 test questions just in case.

Civics Questions (she passed with first 6 questions):

1)What is the judicial system set up for?

2)The gov't is based on the idea of self-governance, what are the first 3 words of the constitution?

3) FORGOT

4)What is the political party of the current U.S. President?

5)Who is the current President of the U.S.?

6)For how long is the President elected?

English Test- he held up paper, and she had to read aloud the first sentence:  Where is the White House located?  Writing part - he gave her paper and she had to write what he said - "The White House is located in Washington, D.C."  SUPER EASY!  

Then he asked if he could keep the new taxes and our new lease to upload to the file and he approved both cases!  Final step is oath ceremony, which he said could be a couple months, but others I know have finished in a couple weeks.  

Here's our general timeline:

12 April 2017 - arrived in the US with marriage-based conditional Green Card

14 January 2019 - applied for Removal of Conditions

February 2019 - I-751 Biometrics completed

March 2019 - I-751 Ready to schedule interview

24 August 2020 - applied for US citizenship

30 December 2020 - N400 Biometrics reuse notice received

5 March 2021 - I-751 interview scheduled, which we had to reschedule due to being out of country

30 March 2021 - N400 interview scheduled notice

30 April 2021 - I-751 interview date - WHICH in the moment (no advance notice) became a combo interview for both ROC and citizenship

6 May 2021 - N400 interview date

Pending  - oath ceremony

I hope this helps everyone.  This has been such an entirely exhausting, daunting, stressful process with the 2 year wait to remove conditions and now with N400 approved, it's just DONE.  HANG IN THERE EVERYONE, YOU WILL GET THERE.

Hi everyone,

My wife had her I-175 interview yesterday (and 6 days later she was scheduled for the N400 interview).  Some mentioned possibly getting a call the morning of to inform it would be a combo interview, which we did NOT receive.  

The I-175 portion was very relaxed and the officer was friendly and not at all intimidating.  Asked us simple questions about time outside the U.S., vacations we took together, what states we've visited outside Illinois (Chicago), date of marriage and where, how we met and where and then he reviewed new evidence we brought - we're selling our condo, plus new lease, most updated bank statement, plus title of new car bought together, plus recently filed 2020 taxes.  That was it and we asked if it were possible to do the N400 interview since it was scheduled for next week, he said, "oh, you have that next week.... let me see if I can".... a couple minutes on his computer and he says, "sure, I can do it" -- omg!!!!!  Luckily she had been studying the N400 test questions just in case.

Civics Questions (she passed with first 6 questions):

1)What is the judicial system set up for?

2)The gov't is based on the idea of self-governance, what are the first 3 words of the constitution?

3) FORGOT

4)What is the political party of the current U.S. President?

5)Who is the current President of the U.S.?

6)For how long is the President elected?

English Test- he held up paper, and she had to read aloud the first sentence:  Where is the White House located?  Writing part - he gave her paper and she had to write what he said - "The White House is located in Washington, D.C."  SUPER EASY!  

Then he asked if he could keep the new taxes and our new lease to upload to the file and he approved both cases!  Final step is oath ceremony, which he said could be a couple months, but others I know have finished in a couple weeks.  

Here's our general timeline:

12 April 2017 - arrived in the US with marriage-based conditional Green Card

14 January 2019 - applied for Removal of Conditions

February 2019 - I-751 Biometrics completed

March 2019 - I-751 Ready to schedule interview

24 August 2020 - applied for US citizenship

30 December 2020 - N400 Biometrics reuse notice received

5 March 2021 - I-751 interview scheduled, which we had to reschedule due to being out of country

30 March 2021 - N400 interview scheduled notice

30 April 2021 - I-751 interview date - WHICH in the moment (no advance notice) became a combo interview for both ROC and citizenship

6 May 2021 - N400 interview date

Pending  - oath ceremony

I hope this helps everyone.  This has been such an entirely exhausting, daunting, stressful process with the 2 year wait to remove conditions and now with N400 approved, it's just DONE.  HANG IN THERE EVERYONE, YOU WILL GET THERE.

3 hours ago, VeronicaL said:

It may just be a formality to have two dates. After the phone call on the day of my interview, I got notified they had scheduled my ROC interview. A week later I got the letter, it’s in April 28 😂 I think they literally have to go through all the motions in the system! A friend of mine did her ROC and was notified her green card was being produced. Then that her biometrics were being reused (in that order!), then that the interview was waived, then that ROC was approved... so I think they really have to tick all the boxes in their system. I’d be prepared to be asked in for the first appointment. 
there was also some guidance by USCIS that the spouse should come with even if not specified in the appointment letter, if both cases are pending. look through the text in this link, it’s in there:
https://www.dhs.gov/publication/uscis-processing-concurrently-pending-forms-n-400-and-forms-i-751

Thank you for this link!  I wish had seen it last year to calm our nerves.  Anyways - we now see the light at the end of the tunnel!  Her I-751 interview is first, so I have to go with her anyways, and if they adjudicate N400 at the same time, I just step out of the room.... fingers crossed it all happens the same day.  Yeah - the system is just so bad and I know most people try to do their job as best they can under poor bureaucratic circumstances.

23 hours ago, VeronicaL said:

They might still combine the two. The did so for me. In fact I got a phone call from the interviewing IO the morning of my interview to tell me it would be Korb interview and to bring my husband. My green card extension expired 5 days after my interviews. I’m just waiting for my oath now, which is in two weeks, and then I’ll apply for my passport ASAP. 

Wow you got a call the same day?!  Interesting info - thanks.  Last year, we had inquired about whether we'd have a combo interview and their official reply 3 months later said, "both cases will be adjudicated at the same time" , Which I thought meant she would have a combo interview - so we're just confused/irritated that they're not on the same date (as of now).  We'll try calling again this week to see if someone can confirm a combo interview.

Checked my wife's case on Friday and saw 'Interview was scheduled', the DOCUMENTS tab miraculously did have the Interview notice posted - -  interview scheduled for MAY 6, 2021.  Odd that the 'Estimated case completion' at top now says December 2021 (8 months) and the 'Estimated wait time' at bottom says 5 months, all contradicting each other.   We're relieved the interview is scheduled, but my god, their system is horrific.  ALSO - it's incredibly annoying that her Removal of Conditions Green Card interview is 6 DAYS EARLIER, on April 30 - they couldn't have combined the interviews???  Nothing like some quality time at USCIS.

No, I’ve already checked both cases online and N400 says nothing about an interview and nothing in the docs section where the bio reuse notice was uploaded. 
We called to inquire about status of I-751 back in August 2020 and they responded via email in October 2020 that both cases would be adjudicated together, which would imply combo interview....

Same, my wife’s case now says “interview was scheduled”, but of course you have to wait for mailed PAPER to tell you the interview date. My wife is concurrently waiting on N400, which is estimated for May completion. A reply to our inquiry said it would be a combo interview. I have a friend who said when their online status changed to “we’ve scheduled your interview”, it still took FIVE MONTHS for the paper notice to arrive with interview date. So....I’m hoping for a May date, but never holding my breath for these people.

8 hours ago, NikkiRN said:

Hi, I never received a letter about biometrics since August filing but says completion is on May 2021. Anyone here from Seattle? I just want to hear people on the same boat. Thanks

Did you check under the 'Documents' tab of your N400 online portal?  They sneak in the Biometrics Reuse notice there without actually showing an update to your case.

Two Years since filing Jan. 2019, our I-751 Interview has been scheduled.  Got an email last night and another this morning, but upon login there is no Interview date shown.  Not surprising since USCIS is so out of sync with modern systems, so I guess we'll have to wait to receive the mailed notice to know when the interview is!  Annoying, but it's a sliver of good news.  I don't see any update on her N-400 case status, despite having received an email 3 months after inquiring, that both N-400 and I-751 would be adjuticated together.  So, fingers crossed.

Nice! My wife is waiting on both N400 interview (online says June 2021. Chicago) and ROC “waiting for interview to be scheduled” since April 2019 (filed Jan 2019). We submitted info request in August and they replied in October that both cases will be adjusted together...meaning combo interview. But we have zero info on actual dates... it’s likely yours will be a combo, which means your spouse MUST be with you to adjudicate/approve the ROC portion.

Zero news in Chicago too.  Filed Aug. 24th and has only said estimated completion: June 2021.  We called USCIS in August for info on my wife's Removal of Conditions filed in JANUARY 2019 (I-751) and 3 months later got an email that both cases will be adjudicated together - who knows if that means in June 2021, or what.  Have since had to get infopass appt for an I-551 passport stamp (they only gave her 6 months validity - annoying), in order to get driver's license and travel to Argentina in February.  Really irritating that there's no rhyme or reason as to who they process and who they let sit for months, or years.  Going on nearly 24 months now waiting for removal of conditions - we thought filing for citizenship might help move things along - wrong.

FYI - This appeared on my wife's account yesterday.  USCIS has changed the Civics test for anyone filing after Dec. 1, 2020 (not our group obviously).  We are thankfully locked in to the 10 question test from possible 100 questions.  Looks like moving forward they've increased mandatory questions to 20 out of a possible 128 questions.  Current administration doing all things possible to make immigration just slightly harder...

Hey! Thanks for your reply. I found info directly from USCIS website confirming that the I-551 stamp is sufficient proof of residency to leave/return to US. When she got the stamp they actually took her expired green card, which I assumed would happen. But I’m confident the stamp is enough. Just wish we could get info on interviews!

My wife's case MSC1990xxxx (I-751 Removal of Conditions) has been pending since April 2019 (Waiting to schedule interview, no RFEs). Her 18 month extension letter expired Oct. 12, 2020 so she received an I-551 stamp in her passport that is valid until April 12, 2021. Is this enough to permit her to travel back to visit Argentina and be allowed entry to return to U.S. before April 12, 2021? Does she need any other forms to ensure she can come home to the U.S.?  We're very worried. We also received a reply to info request submitted AUGUST 11 and Received email OCTOBER 30 that said this: "Our records indicate that your Form I-751 and Form N-400 are currently pending and will be adjudicated at the same time."   Does this mean she'll have a combined interview?   I also reached out to State Senator and IL Senator ####### Durbin who have yet to get back to us with any info.  So frustrated by this wait with zero info. 

We scheduled an infopass by calling (and waiting 45 minutes): 1-800-375-5283.  They can only schedule someone to call you back to set up an infopass appt.  Mind you, we waited a week for this scheduler to call and when he did, he said, 'Oh wait you're in Chicago? I can't schedule infopass appts for Chicago, I'm in L.A.".  I almost lost it on this guy.  Luckily someone appropriate called back the next day and scheduled for 2 weeks out.  Got the 6 month stamp last week.  Apparently, if that expires, you can keep calling to get additional stamps.  Let's hope that's not necessary and they just schedule an interview already!

My partner’s 18 month extension letter just expired Monday, we called USCIS 2 weeks ago to get an ipass appointment since she is now considered outside normal processing time (gee, ya think?!). She had waited at the DMV (Chicago) for 1.5 hours only to be told she can’t get a driver’s license with no valid visa... thankfully got an ipass appointment for this Monday and they gave her a 6 month passport stamp. This should work for a license (which will expire in 6 months...awesome) and leaving the country, if necessary.  Be aware that they DO take your green card at an ipass appointment since it’s basically invalid/expired. Maybe SOME day, someone will be able to schedule our appointment which has been “ready to schedule” since April 2019, biometrics done and no RFE. It’s all infuriating. 

Hi there.  Since my last post the USCIS account has not changed - except now instead of 'estimated wait time' it says, 'we're taking longer than normal to process your case'.  I'm so annoyed (as always with this process).  I've seen others who filed their N-400 after us, and they already have biometrics appts, or updates.  USCIS has zero protocol for timelines and processing cases in any logical order.  I have seen on some threads here that some people have gotten combined I-751 and N-400 interviews, but clearly there is no real pattern that USCIS follows.  I also called in early August to get call back for our I-751 case which is outside normal processing (filed January 2019, was ready for interview as of April 2019...NO UPDATES), and of course haven't gotten a call back.  I'll be calling today with a service request number for previous call and next step is calling our congress reps.  

My wife just submitted the N-400 on 8/24/20 and the account updated the next day with estimated completion time June 2021.  Also, still waiting since  April 5, 2019 on status of scheduling an interview for I-751 (January 2019 filer, no RFEs), so with any luck the N-400 application will get things moving and she'll just have a joint interview.  The inefficiency of all of this is exhausting.

As of April 4, 2019, we are ready to schedule your Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, Receipt Number MSC1990xxxxx, for an interview. We will schedule your interview and send you a notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. 

Hi All, we filed ROC on Jan. 14, 2019 and did biometrics, never received an RFE, but my wife has had this online status for 14 months now.  2 yr green card expired April 12, 2019 and extension letter for 18 months will expire 10/12/2020.  I know we still have 4 months until 18 months are up and have read here that others who've spoken to USCIS said to wait until 30 days before expiration to call and schedule an infopass appt, but just wondering if anyone has intel on whether interviews are really happing for ROC.  We interviewed in Argentina for AOS before moving to U.S. back in 2017, so I'm really hoping we can just bypass the interview.  Provided tons of evidence (6 months shared checking acct, Bought condo together in both of our names, family health insurance policy, etc. etc.).  Obviously COVID has thrown a wrench in processing times, but we haven't had ANY info in 14 months, which is just completely irritating.  Thanks and good luck to all.