Travel Info

[ConcordUser 18]

I made few trips to canada and I have no idea about the dates for me to enter into N-400. Can we call CBP and ask them to give the dates? I dont want to write some thing incorrect on the application. Any way to find out with CBP or some other sources?

[Nata20102011 6]

Hi There!

Although I don't know what form you are talking about, I do know people that work at the CBP and they have told me that they can't give you a print out of when you came in or out of the country.. They have it - but I don't think they will give it to you. If you look at their website, there must be a number you can call but I'm sure the answer is no.

[CoffeeBeans 1]

I made few trips to canada and I have no idea about the dates for me to enter into N-400. Can we call CBP and ask them to give the dates? I dont want to write some thing incorrect on the application. Any way to find out with CBP or some other sources?

Did you not get any stamps in your passport when you cross the border ? If not, can you look up old credit card statements for transactions incurred in Canada to figure out some dates ?

If you only have a couple of trips in the last 5 years, and there is no date stamps in your passport, they likely won't grill you over the trips nor verify the dates. In my case, due to the super long list of trips (work related) on my N-400, the case officer went through every page in my expired and current passports to check what I listed matched what were stamped in my passports. She did so because she needed to ensure those trips did not trip me over the continuous residency threshold.

Relax ! Don't stress, you will be fine

Cheers

[ConcordUser 18]

Did you not get any stamps in your passport when you cross the border ? If not, can you look up old credit card statements for transactions incurred in Canada to figure out some dates ?

If you only have a couple of trips in the last 5 years, and there is no date stamps in your passport, they likely won't grill you over the trips nor verify the dates. In my case, due to the super long list of trips (work related) on my N-400, the case officer went through every page in my expired and current passports to check what I listed matched what were stamped in my passports. She did so because she needed to ensure those trips did not trip me over the continuous residency threshold.

Relax ! Don't stress, you willI be fine

Cheers

Hi CoffeeBeans, Thanks for your input. As for the last 5 years there are only 2 trips that lasted total of 10 days and there is stamps in the passport and I can diclose those dates. But we have to indicate all the trips I took since I became LPR in 1981. I took a trip in 1982 and I lost that passport and it is been close to 28-29 years and my memory is not that good to remember. Also I took 2-3 trips to canada that lasted approximately 3-5 days and they do not put a stamp in the passport. I want to be upfront about it and tell them that I am not sure about those dates.

[NickD 203]

Another after the fact question as what to do by not becoming familiar with the N-400 at the very beginning. USCIS certainly doesn't give you a brochure when you get your LPR card that tells you what to do if you are planning on becoming a US citizen. But all this information is available on the internet, if you take the time to find it.

Really don't believe in time travel, working with images only that can be washed out by billions of other light sources. Hypnotism may work diving deep into your subconscious mind.

Did have a very nice IO at our AOS, she suggested we download the I-751 and N-400 forms, I jotted those down, if she didn't, would have been in the same boat as you are in now. Kept records of all that stuff, strange I don't have to do that now.

Have no idea as to how to turn back the clock. Maybe your friends or relatives can remember.

[warlord 73]

Hi CoffeeBeans, Thanks for your input. As for the last 5 years there are only 2 trips that lasted total of 10 days and there is stamps in the passport and I can diclose those dates. But we have to indicate all the trips I took since I became LPR in 1981. I took a trip in 1982 and I lost that passport and it is been close to 28-29 years and my memory is not that good to remember. Also I took 2-3 trips to canada that lasted approximately 3-5 days and they do not put a stamp in the passport. I want to be upfront about it and tell them that I am not sure about those dates.

Just give an estimate. Unlike other countries, people frequently travel to Canada for short duration's due to it's proximity. Many times they won't stamp the passport if travelling by car. The IO during the interview won't worry much about this as long as you don't have many other trips documented for extended periods of time.

In my interview I told the IO I couldn't remember how many trips I had made there for long weekends. He just said to give a estimate of how many trips and the average length of each one and he just wrote that down. He mentioned since there are not any other extended trips that this won't affect anything...

[CoffeeBeans 1]

Hi CoffeeBeans, Thanks for your input. As for the last 5 years there are only 2 trips that lasted total of 10 days and there is stamps in the passport and I can diclose those dates. But we have to indicate all the trips I took since I became LPR in 1981. I took a trip in 1982 and I lost that passport and it is been close to 28-29 years and my memory is not that good to remember. Also I took 2-3 trips to canada that lasted approximately 3-5 days and they do not put a stamp in the passport. I want to be upfront about it and tell them that I am not sure about those dates.

I believe N-400 form asks for the trips for the LAST 5 years since you become a permanent resident. So when I filled out mine, I counted backward from the filing date back to 5 years prior. So my filing date was 6/1/2011 and I listed all trips all the way back to 6/1/2006 (although at the date of filing I had been a permanent resident for longer than 5 years). Answer was accepted with no dispute.

Seriously, the purpose of that question is to check if an applicant meets the continuous residency requirement. If you only have a few short trips in the last 5 years from your N-400 filing date, I do not think your case officer going to scrutinize those dates. If you are really unlucky and get a really nasty officer, just stay calm and explain the truth.

Cheers

[NickD 203]

Yeah, its five years for the five year, and three years for the marriage thing. I can't even begin to count the number of trips I made to Canada since the companies I have worked for all had divisions up there. Nor can I recall the exact date you now needed a passport to visit a now country that since the beginning of time was no different than crossing your state line or your street for that matter.

Do recall traveling by commercial airlines was first and then by land vehicle later at some time. Others on this board just gave an estimate to Canada, but specify an estimate, only trips beyond 24 hours duration need to be counted.

This was all done by an executive order from Bush, Obama sure isn't changing it to the way it was and can with a stroke of the pen. Those terrorist headed by a relative of his friends with Bush, certainly accomplished their goal, to even take away what little freedoms we have left. Still can't leave my driveway without a Homeland Security cop waiting to give me a ticket for whatever reason. And traveling to Canada via an airline now is pure misery. Still have another 3,500 miles of an unprotected border. This whole thing is crazy.

[ConcordUser 18]

I believe N-400 form asks for the trips for the LAST 5 years since you become a permanent resident. So when I filled out mine, I counted backward from the filing date back to 5 years prior. So my filing date was 6/1/2011 and I listed all trips all the way back to 6/1/2006 (although at the date of filing I had been a permanent resident for longer than 5 years). Answer was accepted with no dispute.

Seriously, the purpose of that question is to check if an applicant meets the continuous residency requirement. If you only have a few short trips in the last 5 years from your N-400 filing date, I do not think your case officer going to scrutinize those dates. If you are really unlucky and get a really nasty officer, just stay calm and explain the truth.

Cheers

Question B: It asks how many trips in the last 5 years

Question C: List all the trips you have taken since you are LPR. That means all the trips for the last 30 years in my case. I can account for most of them except for the quick trips to canada. There are no stamps in the passport since we are very close and went in the car. I dont want to put wrong information and they come back and claim I was not truthful. I would rather say I dont remember.

[CoffeeBeans 1]

Question B: It asks how many trips in the last 5 years

Question C: List all the trips you have taken since you are LPR. That means all the trips for the last 30 years in my case. I can account for most of them except for the quick trips to canada. There are no stamps in the passport since we are very close and went in the car. I dont want to put wrong information and they come back and claim I was not truthful. I would rather say I dont remember.

I see where you are coming from. Personally, I interpreted Question A,B and C as part of Section 7, with respected to the 5 year time period from the date of filing my N-400. I only listed trips within that period and did not include all the trips prior (I have tons of those due to my profession and did not apply for naturalization on the 5th anniversary of receiving my green card like most people do). My answer was accepted without no dispute, even though the case officer went through every page of my expired and current passports and saw those trips prior the 5 years mark I did not list.

In any case, if you feel more comfortable listing all the trips since you become a permanent resident, which is the last 30 years (yours is quite a long stretch by comparison with the average person) you can use estimate dates for those you have no date stamps to account for. You also have the option of consulting your attorney, so you really have nothing to be concerned about. Count yourself lucky and enjoy the extra peace of mind your $$$ bought you.

Cheers

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Question B: It asks how many trips in the last 5 years

Question C: List all the trips you have taken since you are LPR. That means all the trips for the last 30 years in my case. I can account for most of them except for the quick trips to canada. There are no stamps in the passport since we are very close and went in the car. I dont want to put wrong information and they come back and claim I was not truthful. I would rather say I dont remember.

I can see where you are coming from as well, but you are mistaken.

I have explained this many times, and frankly I'm getting tired of doing this in detail, so please forgive me for putting the short version up here. Question 7 A is the mother, question B is one division lower, and question C again one division lower.

First they want to know how many days total you were abroad -- during the past 5 years or since becoming a LPR, whatever is less.

Then they want to separate the short trips from those that lasted 24 hours or longer.

Finally, they want you to list the longer trips one by one.

The mother of # 7 is based on since you became a LPR (which could be 3 years only--less actually) or for the past 5 years. If you became a LPR in 1904, you don't need to list those trips from 1905 and 1925, as the requirement to file for naturalization is based on 5 years (or 3 years) of residence only.

We can discuss this ad nauseum by looking at the instructions under a magnifying glass and discuss semantics, or you take my word for it.

Edited September 29, 2011 by Just Bob

[NickD 203]

Stepdaughter was a LPR for six years, really didn't want to apply until she had a need for a US passport. Guess I never even considered Part 7 C as going all the way back that extra year or even 29 years. Is a resident requirement for just the last five years. Folks here that spent a lot of time out of the country over a long period of time, had no choice but to delay their application until they met that last five year resident requirement. This is further verified when reading, the M-476 manual, the instructions, and the new eligibility requirements.

The wording on part C certainly applied to my wife, read it just the opposite way, how can she go back five years when only a LPR for three years? So we went only back three years for her.

Another part of the form Emilio screwed up on, ironically the American Board of Immigration Attorneys got him kicked out. Just two acting directors since then. Say ironic, because if this form did make sense, these attorneys wouldn't have a job.

You should be fine only going back for the last five years.