FoundingMother

This is very true, I sent my response to the RFE earlier in February and my application got approved on Feb 21 and got the card after a few days. We are pretty young gay couple in NYC with no children, property, or anything "adult"-y to show. However, we sent utility bills in both of our names, lease, affidavits, emergency contact information and a ####### ton of pictures ranging from drunken make out snapchats to half naked instagram photos to birthday parties. Most of the documents were very casual and we explained it in the cover letter that we have no interest to own properties or to have children anytime soon. I think it lacked the polished or professional look you'd imagine they want, but it was very real and we were very honest about what the marriage means to us. It worked out well, so don't fret over making the application/response to RFE super precise, just make it real        

Saw some scary posts (thankfully I didn't find this thread before travelling lol), and I posted this positive one on October filer folder but here it goes:
 
Just for the peace of mind for anybody travelling, I just came back from Bangladesh (10 days) without my hubby. Landed at jfk, showed my expired GC and 18 month extension letter, they did take me to another room for further review but that seemed only for verifying the originality of the letter, no interview or anything like that. Gave me everything back without question after half an hour (there were other people going under further review so it takes a bit). TLDR; As long as your letter is real and your background is clear, travelling into the country is no issue at all 

Just for the peace of mind for anybody travelling, I just came back from Bangladesh (10 days) without my hubby. Landed at jfk, showed my expired GC and 18 month extension letter, they did take me to another room for further review but that seemed only for verifying the originality of the letter, no interview or anything like that. Gave me everything back without question after half an hour (there were other people going under further review so it takes a bit). TLDR; As long as your letter is real and your background is clear, travelling into the country is no issue at all

Yup, it said wait 180 days before making an inquiry. I agree, now that I think about it, it is the April one. Thanks!

Just for the peace of mind for anybody travelling, I just came back from Bangladesh (10 days) without my hubby. Landed at jfk, showed my expired GC and 18 month extension letter, they did take me to another room for further review but that seemed only for verifying the originality of the letter, no interview or anything like that. Gave me everything back without question after half an hour (there were other people going under further review so it takes a bit). TLDR; As long as your letter is real and your background is clear, travelling into the country is no issue at all

Just for the peace of mind for anybody travelling, I just came back from Bangladesh (10 days) without my hubby. Landed at jfk, showed my expired GC and 18 month extension letter, they did take me to another room for further review but that seemed only for verifying the originality of the letter, no interview or anything like that. Gave me everything back without question after half an hour (there were other people going under further review so it takes a bit). TLDR; As long as your letter is real and your background is clear, travelling into the country is no issue at all

You don't have to file for N-400 but a lot of people do it as soon as they can, even if their ROC is still pending because one application has nothing to do with the other. You can apply as soon as 90 days before your "anniversary" of GC. If your ROC is still pending and you file for N-400, your ROC may be combined with N-400 interview (hence, you may never receive your GC, just naturalization). You can also wait to receive your GC to file n-400, totally up to you. You can file based on 3 year (marriage-based) rule or 5 year rule, both calculated from the time you received your first GC. if you wait 5 years, you don't have to provide as many documents as with the 3 year rule.
 
In conclusion, you can apply for N-400 as soon as you can, wait months/years to apply or not apply at all. I hope this helps!
 

You don't have to file at all. Not now, not in 5 years, not ever. There are a lot of people in the US who have permanent residency but never file for naturalization. Some people are just not interested in becoming a citizen. Others can't be dual citizens and don't want to give their original one. Having a green card or being the citizen is almost the same. You can't vote with a GC and you can't leave the US for more than 6 months in a year. Even the latter is not true, if you want to travel longer or if you want to move abroad, you can ask for permission and leave (I know people living abroad for years with a GC!). So it is up to you. Many people in this group want to be citizens and want to file as soon as they can, especially since ROC is dragging. I always wanted to be a citizen and getting it as soon as possible is very important for a husband (and I would love to vote in 2020). But no naturalization is not obligatory. You don't have to do it at all. Or you can do it in years. There is a woman in the October N-400 filers group who has been a resident since the 90s but only applying for citizenship now.

@AlluringSoul great, thank you! I got a little worried since I am traveling soon and I was under the assumption that most October filers already received the newer extension letter like I did 

No that's not normal,...you need to call them.

i wake up today and found my greencard letter in mail box !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 years !!!!! yes yes yes , i have sent my case to California 

CASE APPROVED!
 
April, 2017 - filed to remove conditions , did my biometrics around same period (Vermont)
February, 2018 - my case was transferred to my local office (Atlanta)
April 9, 2018 - Local office received my case
April 17, 2018 - Case approved (Case status check)
April 20, 2018 - got a mail confirming my approval and card is being produced. Allow 60 days for arrival of card.
 
So in short, I say its not necessarily a glitch nor is it an automatic request for interview.
 
Good Luck everyone!!!
 

Hi all, just found this thread. I filed mine in Oct 21, 2017, and got NOA and Biometrics done by Nov 2 (which now I am finding out was super fast? since some of you have not even got biometrics appointment yet??......)
 
Now my notification is stuck on that March 5th case received at your local office step, and the case inquiry for beyond March 29 but honestly I do not see the point of doing that since people from 2016 are still stuck at this process haha. Thought it would be helpful to share with you October filers