Travel during filing period.

[Beantownbabe 1]

Hi all,

I have been a LPR since March 2nd 2009, conditions removed and received my 10 year GC earlier this year. I will be filing for Citizenship between December '11 and March '12 I guess. We are in the beginning stages of planning a trip back to England for next year, probably April or June and just want to find out if there is anything I should know before we buy tickets? Is it okay to travel during the time you have filed for citizenship?

[Shakil 4]

Yes, it is okay to travel when you have filed. Make sure you tell the IO when you have your interview with the dates of travel. BE SURE to take all of your passports that were used for travel as an evidence for this new trip along with all the other trips you list on N-400, you should be fine. Best of luck.

[NickD 203]

Sure its okay to travel, provided you don't exceed your out of country time limits and will be questioned about trips between your application and interview, actually again between your interview and oath ceremony.

But no law that states you have to apply for US citizenship, and you are making a commitment with the USCIS with the act of sending in your application. Its not a situation, where they will call you and set up mutually agreed upon appointments for your biometrics, interview, and oath ceremony. And if you don't show up, can result in delays far exceeding the time if you just wait to apply when you return. Plus if you don't show up at their appointed times, you cause them additional paperwork that literally "pisses" them off.

May find some form of understanding and even compassion if your travel is due to an emergency like severe illness or death in your family, they want to know why you didn't show up at their appointed times. Also can reject you if two seconds late for your appointment, even though we had to wait as long as 3 1/2 hours for one. And it seems like the further you live away, the earlier is your appointed time. Having to show up at either 8:00 or 9:00 AM four times has to be more than a coincidence.

We have clear sailing until we hit the metropolitan areas they always have these field offices located at, and right smack during the so-called rushed time, so always allow a couple of extra hours. A very tiring day.

[Beantownbabe 1]

Thanks for the responses. It certainly won't be a long trip, three weeks at the most probably. Now to decide when exactly to file -- or simply to wait. Decisions, decisions!

[Anh map 2,098]

FWIW here is our timeline:

Naturalization Timeline

09/27/10 - N400 Package sent to Texas Lockbox

10/04/10 - NOA1 rec'd

11/04/10 - Biometrics Appt.

01/10/11 - Interview (Approved)

03/03/11 - Oath

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

If you mail your N-400 on the way to the airport or one day before, you won't have to worry about anything.

[Beantownbabe 1]

If you mail your N-400 on the way to the airport or one day before, you won't have to worry about anything.

I thought of that too and may just be the way to go for me! Thanks all!