Travel before filing N400....Is it OK?

[pepper 34]

Hello! On January 2012 I will be eligible for citizenship and will definitely file for it but since I am planning to spend 3weeks in the Philippines this coming December I wanted to know for sure(before buying my tickets) if there is a travel restriction before filing N400? Is it not gonna break my continuous residency? I am just confused because I have friends telling me that I cannot travel before submitting my petition as it will reset my naturalization eligibility clock to zero. Personally I know it wont affect it unless I was out of the US for 6 months or more but they got me so confused.

Is it true that I cant leave the US a month before filing and is there such a restriction? Help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Edited October 24, 2011 by pepper

[Oksana & Max 94]

If you are only taking a short trip like several weeks not an issue at all.

[pepper 34]

If you are only taking a short trip like several weeks not an issue at all.

That"s great to know. I will be there for only 20 days.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

A short trip like that is no problem at all.

[warlord 73]

It all depends on how many days you have already have outside the US. If this trip puts your total over the amount allowed then it could be an issue. 6 months thing isn't what you think it is, it's about the nature of the trip and proof either you or the IO will need, 6 months just puts the burden of proving you maintained residency on you rather then on the IO (before 6 months).

So just look and calculate your total number of days outside the US and tack on the trip and see if you are still eligible. If so, you'll be fine.

Though do remember, you could get your notification or even your Oath during that time, so you do NOT want to miss that. Sometimes they give you very little notice, so trips before the oath can always be a bit problematic.

You can vacation at any time during the process except if you are held to and AOS petition where you would have to wait to get your AP document (if that even applied to you). That is the only travel restriction one would ever encounter during the entire immigration process from start to finish. You just need to document all your travels before the interview, then after the interview to the oath that is all...

[pepper 34]

A short trip like that is no problem at all.

*sigh of relief* ..Thanks Penguin:}}

[pepper 34]

It all depends on how many days you have already have outside the US. If this trip puts your total over the amount allowed then it could be an issue. 6 months thing isn't what you think it is, it's about the nature of the trip and proof either you or the IO will need, 6 months just puts the burden of proving you maintained residency on you rather then on the IO (before 6 months).

So just look and calculate your total number of days outside the US and tack on the trip and see if you are still eligible. If so, you'll be fine.

Though do remember, you could get your notification or even your Oath during that time, so you do NOT want to miss that. Sometimes they give you very little notice, so trips before the oath can always be a bit problematic.

You can vacation at any time during the process except if you are held to and AOS petition where you would have to wait to get your AP document (if that even applied to you). That is the only travel restriction one would ever encounter during the entire immigration process from start to finish. You just need to document all your travels before the interview, then after the interview to the oath that is all...

Warlord thanks for your detailed reply! I ve made 3 trips outside the US totaling 63 days. I am planning to travel a month before filing. If i take this trip then it will be 83 days total(out of US) I hope that it wont pose any problem when submitting my N400.

[NickD 202]

Why take anyones word for it, when its all in black and white right here?

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/attachments.pdf

[nwctzn 55]

Hello! On January 2012 I will be eligible for citizenship and will definitely file for it but since I am planning to spend 3weeks in the Philippines this coming December I wanted to know for sure(before buying my tickets) if there is a travel restriction before filing N400? Is it not gonna break my continuous residency? I am just confused because I have friends telling me that I cannot travel before submitting my petition as it will reset my naturalization eligibility clock to zero. Personally I know it wont affect it unless I was out of the US for 6 months or more but they got me so confused.

Is it true that I cant leave the US a month before filing and is there such a restriction? Help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Tell your friends they are wrong and that they should stop spreading false information. Short trips like this do not jeopardize your continuous residence (no single trips longer than 6 months) or physical presence (at least 30 months out of 5 years) requirements.

Even after you submit your N-400, you can take short trips and then update your N-400 application when you go over it with the interviewing officer.

And, you can even take short trips between the interview and your oath ceremony and you just update your N-445 form when you go to your oath ceremony.

Best of luck.

[pepper 34]

Tell your friends they are wrong and that they should stop spreading false information. Short trips like this do not jeopardize your continuous residence (no single trips longer than 6 months) or physical presence (at least 30 months out of 5 years) requirements.

Even after you submit your N-400, you can take short trips and then update your N-400 application when you go over it with the interviewing officer.

And, you can even take short trips between the interview and your oath ceremony and you just update your N-445 form when you go to your oath ceremony.

Best of luck.

Thank you so much! As always VJers are always there when you need them! I feel a lot better now knowing this...