Pat&Vince

Immigration to the US is a real journey, you should consider the DV (green card) lottery as well. I know a few people who won, so it’s not that rare.
Getting married would be the easiest path (though you’ll need to be patient…) as it grants a green card and the authorization to work.

That is simply not true. A lot of tech companies rely on graphic/UX designers, of which many are from abroad and secured a job in the US via a H1B. However that visa, I think, does require a college degree as starter.

Only if they’re bunny slippers, and she is also wearing flannel pajamas and rollers in her hair.

With a pending I-751 since March 2019, I am hoping for a combo interview!!!!!  It's time to end this journey.
N-400 interview scheduled for Dec 14th in Dallas!!!!!

Yes absolutely.
So I lucked out, as I checked for appointments availability today, a slot was available the same day at 7PM, I literally jumped on it and went to the global entry at SFO.
showed up 30 minutes ahead, was the only guy there and they let me in at 6:30… out at 6:35 approved and citizenship updated, easy peasy!
 
 

Haha, no worries! And apologies for being a bit cheeky… I’m with you, what year is this anyway, can’t remember myself. I guess that Covid has thrown all of us in a weird timeloop!

Do you live in the future? 😉

My extension letter (and thus my green card) was expired by 6 weeks when I got my i-751/N400 combo ITW. By precaution, I got my passport stamped, though that process itself took 5 weeks, so it didn't really matter at the end of the day.
Unless you need to travel, there shouldn't be a problem until you can get a US passport.
 
 

I was "ready for ITW" in June 2020 and got the letter early July in 2021 - 13 months later. Mind you it was a combo ITW, so it might have sped up the process.
SF is quite backlogged. 

They are weong and you are right. They're the worst sometimes. So can you confirm your husband got IR-1 visa (NOT adjustment of status?).
 
 File I-90 again and send it with:
 
- Copy of marriage certificate with a BRIGHT Post-it pointing to the official marriage date
- Copy of approval letter with another bright post-it note pointing to the APPROVAL date (NOT the filing date)
- Copy of passport page with the IR-1 visa showing DATE OF ENTRY (which is what the embassy/consulate should have given your husband...IR-1 is for couples married 2+ years and CR-1 is for less than 2 years)
- List these dates out again in a cover letter. 
- Also print out this page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/immigrant-visa-for-spouse.html#12
Highlight the WHOLE section of "What is Conditional Residence?", which clearly explains who gets the 2 year conditional card vs the 10 year card.
- End your cover letter by stating, "On ____'s date of entry, our marriage was 4 years old (or whatever the exact amt of time is) and ____ should receive the 10 year card as based on the provided policy regarding conditional vs permanent resident cards. Due to this being DHS/USCIS error, the fee must be waived for this I-90 filing."
 
You literally have to spell it out for them.
 

They may not want you doing walkins at the main GE office, but if you are coming back from overseas you can just go through the “appointment on entry” line (not sure if that’s exactly what it’s called, something like that) at the global entry kiosk. I did that on my last trip back a couple of weeks ago to update my citizenship and it wasn’t a problem, there was also someone who had had their GE application approved and needed it processed who they happily took as well.
edit to clarify I did this at SFO
edit ive just seen the update that you actually got an appointment and had it sorted! Oh well maybe someone else will find the info useful  
 
 

Depending on when you have applied, you probably haven’t submitted the latest tax documents. If you go to the IRS website, you can download or request a paper version of the tax transcript, showing you have no tax debt. The IO asked for ours, and I had all the transcripts for the past 5 years, she was only interested in the most recent one though.
in short, any additional evidence that you may have in addition to when you submitted, take it with you! There’s a high chance they won’t ask for anything, but if they do, you‘ll be prepared.
 
and… relax, it’s a great step forward, be ready to celebrate!
 
 

Depending on when you have applied, you probably haven’t submitted the latest tax documents. If you go to the IRS website, you can download or request a paper version of the tax transcript, showing you have no tax debt. The IO asked for ours, and I had all the transcripts for the past 5 years, she was only interested in the most recent one though.
in short, any additional evidence that you may have in addition to when you submitted, take it with you! There’s a high chance they won’t ask for anything, but if they do, you‘ll be prepared.
 
and… relax, it’s a great step forward, be ready to celebrate!
 
 

My wife has her N400 interview on 10/18. She also has a pending I-751 that has been waiting for an interview since July 2020. 
 
Hopefully she gets her oath and naturalization certificate by end of October. Then we will apply for her passport right away because we are traveling in middle of January. 
 
If all goes well it gives us 1 montb to get her visa before our flight...everything is on the edge as I am not sure how things will go with passport processing time. Definitely paying to have it expediteated. 
 
Please let me know how much your time takes. 

Election-day registration is not currently possible in NY because of Article II, § 5 of New York's constitution: "Laws shall be made for ascertaining, by proper proofs, the citizens who shall be entitled to the right of suffrage hereby established, and for the registration of voters; which registration shall be completed at least ten days before each election. Such registration shall not be required for town and village elections except by express provision of law."
 
Actually one of the ballot proposals for the Nov. 2, 2021 NY election is "Eliminating Ten-Day-Advance Voter Registration Requirement"
https://www.elections.ny.gov/2021BallotProposals.html https://ballotpedia.org/New_York_Proposal_3,_Remove_10-Day-Advance_Voter_Registration_Requirement_Amendment_(2021) The measure would amend Section 5 of Article II of the New York Constitution. The following struck-through text would be deleted:
  Laws shall be made for ascertaining, by proper proofs, the citizens who shall be entitled to the right of suffrage hereby established, and for the registration of voters; which registration shall be completed at least ten days before each election. Such registration shall not be required for town and village elections except by express provision of law.

Once you have the certificate in hand, it doesn’t matter anymore!
My status was literally updated as I was walking out of the facility where the oath took place,I was shocked by the timing!

Congrats!
My journey is also over, or is it just starting? I had my oath ceremony yesterday and am still in disbelief I have my certificate of naturalization in hand 🙂
t
my first act as a citizen was to register to vote, and to my delightful surprise, I quickly received a confirmation email that if I wanted to vote in the CA recall election, I could do it in person by casting a provisional ballot… which I did today, as my second act as a US citizen. Next step, passport on Friday.
The journey might be tedious, but it will eventually come to a happy ending, hang in there everyone!

We did, and there was no issue whatsoever. I’m not even sure we had to disclose my immigration status, just provide SSN and copy of DL. Easy peasy!
 
 
 

GIGANTIC SIGH OF RELIEF! Oh.my.Gosh Yay...
19 days after the Combo interview, status for both I-751 and N-400 have FINALLY been updated, now in line for the Oath ceremony. The finish line is getting super close, I'm so stoked :-)
3 years and 8 months since our I-130 was sent, man that feels good!
 
Sending good vibes to everyone that is still waiting, your turn will come soon!
 
 
 
 
 

GIGANTIC SIGH OF RELIEF! Oh.my.Gosh Yay...
19 days after the Combo interview, status for both I-751 and N-400 have FINALLY been updated, now in line for the Oath ceremony. The finish line is getting super close, I'm so stoked :-)
3 years and 8 months since our I-130 was sent, man that feels good!
 
Sending good vibes to everyone that is still waiting, your turn will come soon!
 
 
 
 
 

GIGANTIC SIGH OF RELIEF! Oh.my.Gosh Yay...
19 days after the Combo interview, status for both I-751 and N-400 have FINALLY been updated, now in line for the Oath ceremony. The finish line is getting super close, I'm so stoked :-)
3 years and 8 months since our I-130 was sent, man that feels good!
 
Sending good vibes to everyone that is still waiting, your turn will come soon!
 
 
 
 
 

GIGANTIC SIGH OF RELIEF! Oh.my.Gosh Yay...
19 days after the Combo interview, status for both I-751 and N-400 have FINALLY been updated, now in line for the Oath ceremony. The finish line is getting super close, I'm so stoked :-)
3 years and 8 months since our I-130 was sent, man that feels good!
 
Sending good vibes to everyone that is still waiting, your turn will come soon!
 
 
 
 
 

Applied 11-05-2020
NOA 12-15-2020
biometrics reused (letter sometimes in March 2021)
status changed to “interview scheduled” 07-06-2021, received letter 4 days later
Combo interview 08-06 (Passed!)
status changed to “approved” for i-751 on 08-25
status changed to “oath ceremony will be scheduled” on 08-25… waiting for that letter!
 
So from the time I’ve applied to itw, 9 months. Not that bad actually, lawyers told me to expect 1 year.
ROC took 22 months.

Thanks!
 
No they do not notify or mention that the interview will be a "combo". Both my statuses (N-400 first, then I-751) changed within hours saying interviews were scheduled. I received two appointment letters, one for each, showing the appointments at the exact same date and time.
The funny part is that the USCIS building in San Francisco is at an intersection, with entrances on each street. The appointment letters were indicating two different addresses, though they lead to the same spot. I was aware of the configuration so I didn't worry too much, but I can see it being a ####### moment if you are not familiar with the building.
 
I'v heard that sometimes, they conduct the I-751 at the N-400 even if you haven't received the letter. If the officer has the whole file with them it might be possible? I'm sure they will let your spouse get in if you only have the N400 letter with you though...
 
 
 

GIGANTIC SIGH OF RELIEF! Oh.my.Gosh Yay...
19 days after the Combo interview, status for both I-751 and N-400 have FINALLY been updated, now in line for the Oath ceremony. The finish line is getting super close, I'm so stoked :-)
3 years and 8 months since our I-130 was sent, man that feels good!
 
Sending good vibes to everyone that is still waiting, your turn will come soon!