N-400 Short Trips to Canada?

[Gulskjegg 0]

Ok as per the N-400 they ask to state any trips outside America. We live in Montana and back in 2006 and 2007 we made regular trips into Canada to visit friends in Calgary. We didnt record all the days but now we need them. I tried calling the American border patrol, they took all our information, told us they had the dates, then told us they were not going to give them to us no matter what.

We called the Canadian border patrol and they asked for our license plate number and said they would got through their computer and call us back with the dates.

Does anyone know HOW important this stuff is? Out trips were a weekend at most, and only about once a month. Nothing anywhere near the 6 month limit and nothing getting on a plane or boat.

We are on the verge of just putting "various shopping trips to Canada not exceeding one weekend" on the N-400 then seeing what USCIS does. The only good thing is, the border idiots said the info is all there, so USCIS can (perhaps) just access the computers.

[NickD 202]

I haven't crossed the border into Canada since 9/11, ha too busy here fighting off terrorists, just kidding.

Isn't Montana less dense than Minnesota? Frequently would cross by Thunderbay. Going into Canada was just asked if I had any plants or pets in my vehicle, said no and was waved on. Coming back was asked if I had any firearms, alcohol, or drugs, in my vehicle, said no, go ahead. But that guard was sitting on a stool with a baseball cap on her head covering her eyes, leaned back and never looked. So does border patrol really keep a record?

Last year wife and I went up to Soo Saint Marie, but with her expired green card, elected not to cross, ha, nothing up there anyway, but can say, you were in Canada. Too bad when you get your first green card, they don't say to keep a diary of your trips if you are planning on USA citizenship, never looked at that form either until it was time and had to do some date searching.

Since I do practically everything with my credit card and get a yearly statement with dates of all our purchases, that was very helpful in us remembering dates. In our trip to Colombia and Venezuela last year, stuck 1,500 bucks in my pocket and came back with 1,500 bucks in my pocket. That was useful with some old calendars to remember those dates. We could remember the day of the week we left and came back, but not the dates.

Some may think I have a negative attitude toward our government or should say the way it has become, but in a uncalled tax audit, learned the IRS had complete access to all my credit card statements, did you know that? You don't know things like that until they happen. And all this ####### about privacy in your medical records, I was hit by a stupid kid in 1995, filed a claim, his insurance company forced me to provide all my medical records since the day I was born for the claim, yes it's legal, and now they are a part of public record in our court house for anyone to view. I never provided medical records when I was in the military, but somehow they got a hold of those too, just looking hard for any pre medical condition so they wouldn't have to pay a claim. Again you don't believe this until it happens to you. Ha, even made the comment to the tax auditor, why do you put me through the misery of filing tax returns every year, you know more about me than I know about myself, just send me the bill each year. I am not kidding on this point.

So does the USCIS have records as to the number of times you visited Canada? And is this a game of comparing your statements against theres? Guess all you can do is to provide estimates as the the approximate dates and state they are estimates as you weren't aware you had to keep precise records.

[Krikit 1,164]

I have been keeping track of my dates out of the country for the N-400 but I wanted to share something with you. When we were applying for the K-1 visa and this type of question was on the form we called NVC and asked them about it. They said they weren't looking for specific dates.... they were only looking for overstays.... so we entered "Numerous visits but none lasting longer than 3 weeks" and that was fine for them. They are quite used to people living close to the border crossing quite regularly so it's not a big thing for them. I've been told that they are looking for the same type of information on the N-400.... that they are only interested in extended stays outside of the US which will impact the requirements for citizenship, so they do not require specific information. As far as I can determine, any time spent out of the country for a period of 6 months or more will impact your application for naturalization. So your statement that "various shopping trips to Canada not exceeding one weekend" should suffice.

[nfytoknow 0]

When I applied for N-400, I wrote only the month and year for time outside US. I did not remember any exact dates. Same with my address in last five years. I moved 6 times. I mentioned only the month and year when I moved.

[trailmix 77]

Isn't Montana less dense than Minnesota? Frequently would cross by Thunderbay. Going into Canada was just asked if I had any plants or pets in my vehicle, said no and was waved on. Coming back was asked if I had any firearms, alcohol, or drugs, in my vehicle, said no, go ahead. But that guard was sitting on a stool with a baseball cap on her head covering her eyes, leaned back and never looked. So does border patrol really keep a record?

Generally, no they don't - not sure why they are telling the OP that they do

[motu 5]

When I filed for my citizenship - I was in a similar position - I lived in Detroit and Port Huron and went to Canada for lunch, to buy gas, to buy pizza, to play golf etc. etc. -

So, what I wrote for my N400 (on a separate sheet) was this - While going to school in Detroit, Michigan from year xx to year yy; and while working in Michigan from year yy to year zz; And while living in Michigan from year xx to year zz - I went to Canada several times (up to 3 or 4 times a month or more) for very short periods (less than 1 day) and a few times a few days. The means of travel was by own car or with friends. Port of entry were Detroit and Port Huron.

That's all I wrote - the last line was to cover the entire period (xx to zz) even though it had been covered individually (xx to yy and then yy to zz). I just wrote the years since I have no idea which months and days. It was never questioned.

Good Luck

[Gulskjegg 0]

Thanks so much for all the input, everyone.

You guys will LOVE this story.

So, I call the US Border Patrol and explain the situation. They say "Yes, we have the records" and they ask for all our info, my passport number, license plate number, my wife's A number, her visa number, her Ukrainian passport number, etc etc.

Then, they call back...and dig this.

"We have all the dates, but we will not give them to you".

I asked if I could come up and offer a Freedom of Information Act disclaimer, IN PERSON, and see the dates.

They said "No".

I cant wait to pay the $700 for our N-400 and GET THE F OUTTA THIS COUNTRY!

Thanks all, Ill keep ya updated.

P.S. This Veteran asks, want to support the Veterans? BRING 'EM HOME!