Aburashid

11 hours ago, elicearea said:

Congratulations to your wife, too 🎉😊 It's sad that such a special thing cannot be shared with our loved ones but I'm happy to hear that at least two of us are there on the same day. VJ has been like family in a way and I'm very grateful 🙏😊

Thank you so much for your congrats and kind words! You are so correct about the indispensable support of the VJ family. I have met such awesome people who have made extraordinary efforts on behalf of their spouses and family members through their respective journeys. The struggle continues for many coming behind us. By the way, if you see a beautiful Ghanaian woman in her traditional garb at the Oath, don't hesitate to say hello! 😃.  In my imperfect Romanian, "felicitari" to you and your family!

5 hours ago, elicearea said:

I figured as much, thank you for replying 😊 It's weird though that there are no other posts of people's recent Oath taking experiences.

Congrats on your Oath scheduling. Coincidentally, we received notice that my wife was also scheduled on July 9 at the Atlanta FO. I am sad that family members apparently can't be inside to witness this special occasion. I am happy, though, that at least two VJers (you and my wife) will become U.S. citizens at the same ceremony. That's a special treat at least.

Hello all,

We are July 2020 N-400 filers. We filed online on July 23. Just casually checking the website tonight, we saw an electronic letter announcing that our most recent biometrics (from March 2020--for ROC) will be reused for the N-400. Haven't received the hard copy letter yet.

There are more than a few VJ posts advising folks not to get too excited about reuse letters since many people who received them in the past, got updated letters months later canceling the reuse and, instead, calling them to the service center to take biometrics.

We are cautiously excited, nonetheless. Happy to see some movement on our N-400 filed less than two months ago. Our local office is Atlanta.

2 hours ago, mushroomspore said:

Hmm, thanks for sharing this. I didn't realize you could do this. It's at least worth a try to include a letter requesting a combo interview, even if they don't or can't necessarily grant that. I'll keep this in mind for next year when I do N400 too.

Hi, 

You are so welcome. It was our pleasure to share our experiences. A letter requesting a combo certainly can't hurt, though who knows if USCIS takes these requests into account or not? Sadly, there's so much mystery (and inconsistency) in USCIS processing. 😥. We wish you all the best in your journey in any case!

8 hours ago, Thegirl said:

Hi there, how did you formally request a combo interview? 

Hi,

As our I-751 was still pending at the time that we were eligible to apply for citizenship, we wrote a dedicated letter requesting a combo interview, and included it with our N-400 application.

Mind you, we have no way of confirming that our letter was in any way consequential nor even if a combo will ultimately be granted. 

I hope this answers your question. We wish you all the best with your journey in any case.

Mario 

11 hours ago, Orangesapples said:

I think that if you came on a CR1 or just didn't have an interview in the US for some other reason, then combo filing might be the right choice, because an interview is likely happening anyway. Of course, no one can know for sure. It's just one consideration before people decide what to do. 

Absolutely. All good points. None of us really knowing for sure is precisely what makes the approaches we take that much more foggy. Regarding combos, for example, it's not clear to me if it must be requested formally in the N-400 application (we did) or if it's automatic if the I-751 is still pending. I've heard both views on these threads. All the best. 

On 8/19/2020 at 10:56 AM, Orangesapples said:

If you apply for citizenship before your ROC is finalized, you'll likely have to have an interview for ROC and that might slow things down. I'd look at timelines from your local office to see how long citizenship applications take. Personally, I know for me waiting to apply for citizenship after ROC has been completed is the right choice. 

Hi Oranges,

I appreciate your perspective on the issue of waiting until ROC is complete before applying for citizenship. It's an imprecise calculus that I'm still trying to wrap my mind around though in our case, we did go ahead and applied while our I-751 is still pending. We applied for ROC almost exactly a year ago this month.

Our local office (Atlanta) is notoriously slow. In all likelihood, we will be scheduled for an interview since we were never interviewed on this side since arriving on the CR1.

Here's where the imprecise calculus comes in especially when an interview is likely: one doesn't know when the interview will be scheduled (there are SO many people waiting 1.5-2 years for ROC approval with or without an interview). Added to this are other unknown variables such as how much backlog the covid shutdown has caused and whether these looming furloughs will come to fruition.

So many question marks.

We took our chances and jumped into the N-400 queue as soon as we were eligible last month. After all, our eye is on the citizenship prize. We don't care if we never even see the 10-year green card if citizenship is achieved.

Interestingly, about a week after we submitted the N-400, we got a message informing us that the I-751 was sent to a different office of the NBC. Many have commented that when this happens, it frequently suggests that the file is being prepped for a "combo" interview. If so, we can totally live with that outcome. The Atlanta office is a little more efficient with scheduling N-400 interviews, so if our I-751 gets on the citizenship interview schedule through a combined interview, no harm or foul. We'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out.

Wishing you and everyone a smooth process however we approach it in our respective strategies.

On 8/8/2020 at 10:41 PM, Mattgz14 said:

Hi people

Is there anyone had their i751-N400 combo interview with a divorce waiver?I have seen a lot of people did that but with their spouses.Is being a divorce waiver adds another requirement for an interview?(like two separate dates)Also do I need to get a notice that they will also do my i751 interview.The interview letter only mentions N400.

Hi,

Your post is more than a week old, so I'm not sure that you got an answer to your question.

I can't speak from experience regarding the divorce waiver, but I think the issue with your N-400 will come down to whether you applied based on the 3-year or 5-year rule. If you applied based on the 3-year rule, your N-400 might be rejected because it requires continuous marriage and residence with the person who you married for your original immigrant visa.

That being that case, you would have to wait and apply under the 5-year rule when eligible and at that point, no longer based on marriage. 

In the meantime, as you said your I-751 with divorce waiver is still pending. If you have strong evidence that the marriage was entered into in good faith despite not working out, it should be approved, which is your 10-year green card that will carry you, hopefully through the citizenship process when eligible.

I hope this helps a little.

Best of luck to you.

44 minutes ago, Ayja said:

Thanks for your timely response . I already received a letter from uscis that I’m already in line to be scheduled for an interview and that they will send me a letter for date ,time and venue .

i only thought about apply for n400 as I’m eligible since March 2020 and think may be it might help my i751 to be adjudicated on time whenever n400 is schedule for interview. 
moreover n400 application fees has already increased per uscis website 

Hi, 

Many I-751 filers are well over a year waiting and have a status showing waiting to schedule the interview. As stated in the previous comment, there's no guarantee that filing the N-400 will sped up the I-751.

Our I-751 case is similar to yours except we're only a year in (filed August 2019): our case was originally sent to SRC (Texas), then transferred within a month to NBC, where it had been for months, but after we had our fingerprints appointment in March 2020, our status changed to waiting to schedule interview. 

And that had been the status of the I-751 until we decided to file the N-400 as soon as we were eligible last month, July. Weeks after filing the N-400, the status of the I-751 changed to case moved to new office, which now has jurisdiction. Many have commented that this is an indication that both cases are being joined for a combo interview, but we have received no notice from USCIS confirming this.

What ultimately happens with the pending I-751 is likely subject to many different variables such as which is your local office, how the pandemic has impacted processing, and now, if the furloughs set for the end of August come to fruition. 

For us, we have our eye on citizenship, so we don't regret getting in queue for the N-400 no matter how the I-751 shakes out. If combined as a combo, that will put the I-751 on our N-400 schedule, which is just fine. Avoiding the fee increase was also very important to us, and by the way, the fee increase doesn't go into effect until October. If you file before then, you'll pay the current processing fee. 

6 hours ago, beans said:

I believe turnaround time is based on caseload. My office is out of Portland and it's saying 4 months. I haven't left the country since 2018 (I think 😂 feels like a lifetime ago)

 

Or it could be the website just throws out some arbitrary number and it means nothing.

Caseload coupled with the unique processing times of each individual local office would certainly yield differences in the completion schedule from office to office.

I've heard that the estimated completion time posted on the website for online N-400 submissions is frequently overestimated. One theory floating around is that the overestimate is designed to reduce the number of phone inquires at the USCIS call center. Seems plausible. I'd love to see if the data bares out this theory.  Other unknown variables are the residual impact of the pandemic, and significantly, if the pending USCIS furloughs come to fruition. Our office, by the way, is Atlanta, which is estimating 10 months for our July 2020 N-400 filing. Uggh.

On 7/31/2020 at 9:35 PM, OK83 said:

Greeting, I just looked and find out My eligibility to file N400 on Aug4.. 

 

Can we file 2 days early to save some money.. .. any advice 

In addition to the fact that the fee increase doesn't go into effect until October (so if you file anytime in August, you'll still be under the current fee scale), if you file online, the website won't allow you to submit before your eligibility window opens anyway. 

17 hours ago, NDB052714 said:

Here's what is stumping me: if the biometrics are still valid from ROC, why don't they just move the N-400 case to interview? Seems to me that would reduce a bit of the strain on ASC's. 

 

I, too, have begun to think that the funding issue has frozen things. I mean why schedule appts for August if they'll just have to cancel them.  

 

Regardless of the reasons...this is FRUSTRATING! 

 

--D&N

Hi, 

Your question hit the nail on the head! We did biometrics for I-751 just 4 months ago (March 2020). We filed the  N-400 just last week (July 2020). Seems totally reasonable to use the recently-taken biometrics. And not only that, it seems prudent in light of covid-19. Why make people have to come out and crowd up in the ASC or extend timelines by having to limit bio appointments for social distancing purposes if there's an alternative: like recycling biometrics that are still well within their validity?

2 hours ago, CdnRN said:

hey folks

 

i'm on the cusp of being able to submit. But i'm not sure how much evidence I should provide. i did post a separate discussion post about it but for those who just submitted, what did you include? I'm filing after holding a GC for 5 years. I'm wondering how deep I need to go. 

 

 

 

Hi,

We filed recently, but we filed under the 3-year rule, which means unlike us, you don't need to provide evidence that substantiates your marriage. So we provided additional evidence speaking to the marriage, something that you don't have to do. Further, our I-751 is not yet approved, so we provided evidence speaking to that point. I would imagine the required evidence that you have to present under the 5-year rule is pretty basic, vanilla. How much more beyond that to submit is a great question that 5-year ruler submitters here might jump in and speak to. Have you decided whether to file online or mail to the lockbox? Wishing you all the best with your preparations. 

5 hours ago, Pats5415 said:

I wish they provided an update on how re-scheduling/scheduling of biometrics will proceed once the ASC offices are open. As usual we are in the dark and the only way of tracking any movement is through here. We would have a better idea of where each office is at processing wise if more people joined this forum and posted. In my state, from Jan 1st to March 30th 2020 there were about 6000 N400 cases received (according to USCIS data). Researching here, from Jan to March i only found 10 users in my state...so that really does not show a reliable data...there are 5990 other applicants that are not on here. Hopefully though we will see more movement with the furloughs being postponed.

I echo your frustration 100%. It's unsettling to pay so much for these immigration services, and then be held on a string in the dark with inconsistent information on the website(s), and timelines and estimates with processing ranges so WIDE that they are not in the least useful. None of us is asking for special privileges. I think we can all understand that the pandemic caused procedural disruptions and delays. Honest communication and helpful explanations from USCIS can go a long way for people whose lives are in literal limbo for months and even years on end. It seems cruel and inhumane, or perhaps I am oversensitive and naive. I'm the U.S. citizen in my marriage, and I'm more outraged and stressed than my wife, who is doing far better than I am with the wait. Maybe I need to take more cues from her. Lol. I wish you and the others all the best in your respective journeys. 

2 hours ago, rodeo said:

I don't think our Fingerprint Appointment will come sooner, March to June 2020 Filers don't even get their Biometric Appointment yet.

Agreed. When I look at Atlanta office local N-400 filings like ours, almost all cases filed before early March 2020 got biometrics appointments within 20-25 days. Since mid March to now ZERO biometrics appointments have been scheduled for N-400 applications linked to the ATL office from what I can see. (I don't know the situation at other field offices). Obviously, this means the COVID-19 shutdown impacted biometrics appointment scheduling. The big question, though, is how (and when) will bio scheduling for N-400s resume, but most importantly, to what extent the shutdown will have impacted our projected N-400 processing times? How close or far off will we ultimately be to our estimated completion dates as a result of the close down?

On 7/24/2020 at 4:32 PM, doggieandsam said:

i agree with this. pre-covid, filing the n400 that might have forced the hand of uscis to "pull" one's case to the top of the pile earlier and therefore force a decision on the ROC earlier. but with covid, i have seen more ROC cases getting their interviews waived. by filing the n400, you force an interview and now you therefore have to wait for your local office to get to it. in this current climate, who knows how long that'll take. whereas those waited out their ROC could have had their cases completed faster since their interviews got waived. you win some, you lose some.

Very helpful comments here. As you can see from my timeline, we are August 2019 ROC (still pending, stuck at waiting for an interview) and recent July 2020 N-400. I've heard differing theories about the pros and cons of filing N-400 while the I-751 has not yet been adjudicated. Undoubtedly, there's a lot of uncertain calculus at play in whether to file the N-400 or wait. For us, the fact that our local office (Atlanta) is notoriously backlogged, we decided to move forward with the N-400. As the pandemic is pushing decisions and interviews beyond their original projections, it's possible that our I-751 not be decided until close to or beyond the 18-month extension deadline (March 2021). Sure, it's possible that the I-751 would have been decided without an interview, but it didn't happen for us in that batch of cases in our receipt # neighborhood.  We also saw a handful of pending I-751s (Atlanta office) months older than ours still not yet adjudicated. Estimated completion time for our filed N-400 is May 2021. Even if the N-400 is delayed beyond that, at least we're in the queue. The other decisive piece of calculus for us was the N-400 fee increase that looks to be on the horizon within the next few months. Can't fathom paying more (nearly double, perhaps) with the same wait and with no increase in service for the extra money being shelled out.

4 hours ago, Becci391 said:

Received my Biometrics letter in the mail today.

I'm in Atlanta. SCR service Center.

Biometrics scheduled for 11/14.

So happy to see August filer movement as well as progress at the Atlanta local office. Thanks so much for sharing! We're in Atlanta too, and hope to see biometrics scheduling soon. 

1 hour ago, Franklann said:

Atlanta ROC filer. SRC service center. Great news. I just received my biometrics appointment and it’s scheduled for 11/14/2019.

That's great to know! Thanks for sharing. Could be a sign of movement for other ATL SRC folks. Best of luck! 

9 minutes ago, ToBeHappy said:

Hopefully we can get everything done before next Year (knock on wood).  Did you file August 2019 also why did they transfer your case? 

Fingers crossed that your I751 will wrap up before next year!  It really looks like yours is moving at an excellent pace.  As for us, we did file in August 2019, not quite two months ago, and got transferred just 2 weeks after receiving our NOA1.  The transfer letter stated specifically that they transferred us to MSC "In order to speed up processing." (That's what our letter says).  I hope it turns out to be the case.  We'd love to be finished with the I-751 before we're ready to file the N-400 by next summer.  Do keep us posted on how your I-751 is processing!  We're excited for your progress! 

1 hour ago, ToBeHappy said:

MSC... Local office is Chicago.. How about you? 

MSC has been yielding excellent processing times for I-751 petitions.  We were originally assigned to Texas, but our case was transferred to MSC shortly thereafter, though we've not seen any movement since the transfer, not even the biometrics appointment.  Our local office is Atlanta.  

25 minutes ago, ToBeHappy said:

Hello everyone,

I just received this.  “As of October 2, 2019, we are ready to schedule your Form I751, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE, Receipt Number ###### for an interview. We will schedule your interview and send you a notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice.”

I filled in June 2019!

 

My wife will be having some medical procedure in some few weeks, which might probably keep her in bed for some additional weeks. 
Should I inform USCIS immediately or wait and see what date the interview would be?

 

Also should I re submit the docs I filled or just go with new/recent ones for the interview? I filled about 4 months ago!

 

Thanks for your suggestions 

 

Hi! Very impressive timeline with your I751! Could I ask which service center is processing your petition? Also, which local office (city) will do your interview?  We filed in August. Thanks for sharing!

32 minutes ago, DeepGaga said:

He is absolutely right. My interview was today and only went in with requested documents. They won’t allow anything not even an umbrella. Unless u go with someone who can hold it outside 4 u.

Hope your interview was super successful. All the best!

2 hours ago, JC&BS said:

Hello

 

When going to embassy what measures are taken once you are called in? They take everything from you and place it in a bin? Is it safe?

Unless things have changed since the last time I was there, the U.S. Embassy in Ghana is notoriously rigid about bringing things other than documents inside. There are no bins or lockers for securing your personal belongings, especially cell phones, and they don't allow you to bring cell phones inside the Embassy. Imagine standing in line in the Accra hot sun for a long time before reaching the door only to be told just as you feel the cool AC hit your face that you can't enter unless you can leave your phone with a friend or relative outside, or worse, if you came alone, a complete stranger out there who knows what you didn't know and offers to "hold" your phone for you until you finish. If leaving your phone with someone is not an option, you may have no choice but to leave the line altogether and walk ALL THE WAY back to where your car is parked to leave your phone in your car...and what if you arrived by taxi or by tro-tro? U.S. Embassy in Ghana is no joke. If what I've described has changed since I was last there for my wife's interview two years ago, then hallelujah. If not, be forewarned and enter only with your documents...

5 minutes ago, sarahandyunus said:

is it normal that we received the 18 month extension letter but not a NOA1 letter?

Hi.  The extension letter is the NOA1.

Our case started off at TSC when we filed in August, but was transferred to MSC a few weeks later.