I need help answering a question on N-400

[viktoria 0]

Hello and thank you everybody in advance.

I read M-476 but still can`t anser this question. On the form N-400 Part 7 Time outside of the Unoted States

A and B is my problem

A . How many total days did you spend outside of United States during the past five years?

B. How many trips of 24 hours or more have you taken outside of the United states during the past five years?

Ok , I am applying based on 3 years marriage to american citizen , I haven`t been in US for 5 years. I have been here in US and my residency is since 3/15/2005 , as of today it`s about 3 years and 3 monts. How should I answer those too questions . Oooooo since I came in Us 3/15/2005 I have been only once outside of US for 7 days, 1 single trip to Canada.

In this case in question A should I put 7 days or 1 year and 9 months (but in days)?

Again they ask for the last FIVE years and I have been here only 3 years and 3 months and applying based on 3 year marriage.

Thank you

[YuAndDan 153]

Answer the questions as if they are asking about past 3 years not 5.

So 7 days, and number of trips in past 3 years.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=37244

And you are filing for something NOT N/A, update profile http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01

Edited June 11, 2008 by YuAndDan

[viktoria 0]

Answer the questions as if they are asking about past 3 years not 5.

So 7 days, and number of trips in past 3 years.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=37244

And you are filing for something NOT N/A, update profile http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01

Does my profile look better?

I called uscis and they told me to put the number of days I have been out of US, basicly 1 year and 3 months in days.

Hmmmmmmm?????? I have the feeling that they just answer something without checking and be sure before that.

Not sure yet whet to do

Thank you for your respond

[motu 6]

Many others have filled the form only covering the last 3 years and some have crossed out the '5' on the form and written in '3'. So whichever you want to choose, you should be OK.

Yes, some have stated that they have been out of the country for 2 years - since they didn't come in till 3 years ago also - so apparently anything goes here. Good Luck

[viktoria 0]

Many others have filled the form only covering the last 3 years and some have crossed out the '5' on the form and written in '3'. So whichever you want to choose, you should be OK.

Yes, some have stated that they have been out of the country for 2 years - since they didn't come in till 3 years ago also - so apparently anything goes here. Good Luck

I like the idea crossing out the `5` and write `3`

I will probably do that

Thank you very much

[NickD 203]

Many others have filled the form only covering the last 3 years and some have crossed out the '5' on the form and written in '3'. So whichever you want to choose, you should be OK.

Yes, some have stated that they have been out of the country for 2 years - since they didn't come in till 3 years ago also - so apparently anything goes here. Good Luck

I like the idea crossing out the `5` and write `3`

I will probably do that

Thank you very much

The question asks how many days you were out of the USA in the last five years? Answer that question the way it was asked this program makes it real easy. http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html. Never ethical to change a form, I don't care what anybody says or does, you may just get an officer that rejects your form and he/she has a right to do so. The date you use to compute the number of days you were out the country is the date you use when signing the application.

[flavaofsummer 0]

Hello and thank you everybody in advance.

I read M-476 but still can`t anser this question. On the form N-400 Part 7 Time outside of the Unoted States

A and B is my problem

A . How many total days did you spend outside of United States during the past five years?

B. How many trips of 24 hours or more have you taken outside of the United states during the past five years?

Ok , I am applying based on 3 years marriage to american citizen , I haven`t been in US for 5 years. I have been here in US and my residency is since 3/15/2005 , as of today it`s about 3 years and 3 monts. How should I answer those too questions . Oooooo since I came in Us 3/15/2005 I have been only once outside of US for 7 days, 1 single trip to Canada.

In this case in question A should I put 7 days or 1 year and 9 months (but in days)?

Again they ask for the last FIVE years and I have been here only 3 years and 3 months and applying based on 3 year marriage.

Thank you

it doesnt matter if ur not here for 5 years they ask that cuz the application is the same n400 that the 5 year people also apply to. 2nd is u have to count the DAYS u were out since u got ur GREENCARD and put in DAYS in the how many DAYS box and how many trips u put in the date of when u left and returned to the usa..in ur case u put in one trip in that line then the dates of the trip from what to what date u left/returned

keep it real! keep it simple! keep it real simple!

Edited June 11, 2008 by flavaofsummer

[faylen 0]

i honestly don't remember the TOTAL days i've been out of the US. is an approximation good enough for them? i mean, will they deny your application if you're off by several days? i know i'm not the most organized person who jots down everything in my planner (otherwise, i'd know exactly how many days i was gone for), but if i were to count (base the days on my passport), then what about the times when they don't stamp it???

Edited June 11, 2008 by faylen

[kmineo 0]

I don't know if ethics come into if you cross out the 5 and change it to a 3. It could piss someone off back there, but you are being ethical by being transparent. Lying about it is being unethical. As for should you do or not I am not sure, we didn’t actually cross it out. I have heard of people just putting what they have had for the last 3 years (ie since they got the GC) and have had no problems. As for what to do if you aren’t sure about some of your trips read this person’s experience from their intereview:

I told her that the "leaving the U.S." dates for travel on my application were approximate (Germany doesn't stamp their passport when you entry, so the only dates I knew for sure were the return dates to the U.S. when U.S. Immigration stamped my passport, she said that was fine.

[NickD 203]

i honestly don't remember the TOTAL days i've been out of the US. is an approximation good enough for them? i mean, will they deny your application if you're off by several days? i know i'm not the most organized person who jots down everything in my planner (otherwise, i'd know exactly how many days i was gone for), but if i were to count (base the days on my passport), then what about the times when they don't stamp it???

When you buy any food product that has to be cooked or baked, see a big red label, contents may be hot, like anybody doesn't know that, but all started with that woman suing Macs because her coffee didn't have a caution hot label on it. Made the comment to my wife, if ever a red label should be posted, should be when you first apply for immigration, caution, keep track of your dates!

Best place to start is where they want you to list the trips you have taken out of the country where you have to show the days you were out. Yeah, I know, this isn't easy if you made a lot of trips even with that separate sheet of paper, but you have to do it to the best of your ability.

You should know the date you entered this country and subtract five years from the date you put on your application, put in the five year day in that link above and the day you first entered this country, that will give you the number of days before you entered this country going back five years. Then add the number of days you spend out of the country since becoming a permanent resident and put that number of days in that box.

If you spent time out of the country since your first entry and the time you got your green card which is the date stated on it, should add those days too.

Math is easy, remembering those dates is not.

[motu 6]

You should know the date you entered this country and subtract five years from the date you put on your application, put in the five year day in that link above and the day you first entered this country, that will give you the number of days before you entered this country going back five years. Then add the number of days you spend out of the country since becoming a permanent resident and put that number of days in that box.

If you spent time out of the country since your first entry and the time you got your green card which is the date stated on it, should add those days too.

Math is easy, remembering those dates is not.

Nick sees everything one way - his way and I like reading his posts. But he doesn't know that many people go to another country on a daily basis for lunch, dinner, pizza (yes I have done that too) or for work or school.

In such cases - I lived in Michigan - when I filed for my citizenship, I just wrote the years I lived in Michigan and that I took several trips lasting a day or less and some lasting a few days (e.g. to Niagra falls) and I didn't have any issues with it. No, I didn't try to guess any dates and how many times I went to Canada - we even used to go over for lunch sometimes when working (Port Huron to Sarnia) 10 minutes!

[NickD 203]

Canada and Mexico are other issues, especially if you live right next to the border. Have friends that live in El Paso, Tx that commute daily to their jobs in Mexico. And since Ford and GM moved many of their operations to Canada to take advantage of their nation health plan, that same situation exists. I have always treated Canada as another state, border guard doesn't even look at me, just waves me on. But things are getting crazy with our great neighbors to the north and are uncalled for.

Many American corporations moved production to China, another mess, son was working for a corporation like that, two visits per month, over a couple of years that would also be a major list to compile. But I feel the interest of the USCIS, is are you paying taxes to the US government, satisfy that, and you will be okay.

[viktoria 0]

Many others have filled the form only covering the last 3 years and some have crossed out the '5' on the form and written in '3'. So whichever you want to choose, you should be OK.

Yes, some have stated that they have been out of the country for 2 years - since they didn't come in till 3 years ago also - so apparently anything goes here. Good Luck

I like the idea crossing out the `5` and write `3`

I will probably do that

Thank you very much

The question asks how many days you were out of the USA in the last five years? Answer that question the way it was asked this program makes it real easy. http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html. Never ethical to change a form, I don't care what anybody says or does, you may just get an officer that rejects your form and he/she has a right to do so. The date you use to compute the number of days you were out the country is the date you use when signing the application.

Thank you NickD

I guess I have been outside of US for the past 5 years 634 days, I am a little bit scared to put such a number there. That`s what it is , but I don`t want they to get confused something by seing this huge number of dates ou of US. Well, this should be something normal they see in such of situatuiation, applying based on 3 years. You are right it`s not right I to cross something on the form. I have doubts between puting the real number 634 days or just ignore the 5 years without crossing and put 7 days. These are the days I was out of US since I came here.

Please advise again, I am not sure

Thank you

[motu 6]

Please advise again, I am not sure

Thank you

There is another answer - you can wait two more years and follow the form literally! Just think, are you one of those that are scared to remove the labels on your mattresses that say 'do not remove under penalty of law'? The form N400 is meant for multiple purposes - so you can have the courage to draw a line through 5 and write 3 - or else ignore the 5 years and answer as if they asked for 3; or else wait for 2 more years.

[NickD 203]

Please advise again, I am not sure

Thank you

There is another answer - you can wait two more years and follow the form literally! Just think, are you one of those that are scared to remove the labels on your mattresses that say 'do not remove under penalty of law'? The form N400 is meant for multiple purposes - so you can have the courage to draw a line through 5 and write 3 - or else ignore the 5 years and answer as if they asked for 3; or else wait for 2 more years.

I personally felt it was dumb to have to account for days when my wife had nothing to do with this country, but when you are in Las Vegas you play by Las Vegas rules. Same with the USCIS, if they tell me to stand on my head so my wife gets her US citizenship, I will stand on my head.

Logically that number doesn't have any meaning, it's just the days you were out of the country since you became a permanent resident that is important and that total should be put after you list the days your were out of the country as a permanent resident and certainly not before it. And the unit of measure is days, not minutes or seconds. So if you do live next to the border and hop across the street for a sandwich, is that a day? Even more ironic living in Thunder Bay were an invisible line separates the two countries.

The whole issue of this question is based on time eligibility in years since you became a permanent resident and during that time were you in this country for a sufficient amount of that time and that number in the box certainly does not reflect it. Ha, use to say, no such thing as a stupid question, but there are stupid questions that kind of deserve a stupid answer. But that is what the N-400 asks and that is what is the answer we gave. Also suggested by my immigration attorney as well as posting that my wife was a sinister member of the American Red Cross.