How do I retrieve dates of past trips outside the US?

[churipu 4]

Hello everyone,

I was just taking a look at the N 400 form even though Naturalization is still a few months away before I am actually eligible...but being a mom of a one year old I need to plan things waaayy in advance...lol

Anyways...I was just looking at the part regarding the past trips outside the US in the past (3) years as a permanent resident and unfortunately it asks for the exact departure/return dates...I took 5 overseas trips in the past 3 years but I remember the exact dates of 3 of them only...I had no idea one day I would have had to remember because of the N 400 otherwise I would have written them down! Does anyone know how I can find out for the other 2 trips? Do airlines actually keep record/give out this kind of info? Or is there any other way? I know that when they swipe your passport at Immigration at the airport they can see record of all your past trips(not sure it is like that, I was told it is...), but would they actually tell me if I went there and asked?

Sorry if this sounds stupid but I truly have no idea and couldn't find anything about it on the board.

Thanks in advance!

[payxibka 10,047]

Are you saying you have no stamps at all in your passport from these trips? From either or any country that you visited?

[kitkat1 5]

Do you have copies of the emails for etickets or ANY receipts i.e. credit card receipts for your tickets, hotel, etc? You can request old statements from the credit card company - or maybe an old datebook with your trip dates noted?

[churipu 4]

Are you saying you have no stamps at all in your passport from these trips? From either or any country that you visited?

They were all to my homecountry so no stamps there since I was a national, I only have stamps for my returns I guess I have to go look.

[churipu 4]

Do you have copies of the emails for etickets or ANY receipts i.e. credit card receipts for your tickets, hotel, etc? You can request old statements from the credit card company - or maybe an old datebook with your trip dates noted?

One trip was in 2004 and we flew military planes (hubby is in the air force) so we didn't have to pay for that therefore no receipt, the other one was indeed commercial (2005-Delta I think) but I truly don't remember what card we used to pay for them...and no I doubt I have the emails after all this time.

Maybe I should look in my old AOS file...I might have kept a copy of our tickets in there, even though that particular trip I left earlier and then hubby joined later since he had to work. Then again we moved twice since then and God knows if that stuff is still in order!

I was hoping there was some other way other the obvious ones.

Thanks for your suggestions though

Edited May 1, 2007 by churipu

[Lou Lou 1]

I have crossed the border oodles of times to Quebec and have no idea how many times it has been over the past few years. My passport never gets stamped either. I'm just going to put that I was a regular visitor to Canada for afternoons, evenings and long weekends over the past few years totaling to approximately x number of times. At least you know how many trips, and I can't imagine approximate dates being a problem. But perhaps someone will come along with some information who's more informed.

[betep 0]

I have crossed the border oodles of times to Quebec and have no idea how many times it has been over the past few years. My passport never gets stamped either. I'm just going to put that I was a regular visitor to Canada for afternoons, evenings and long weekends over the past few years totaling to approximately x number of times. At least you know how many trips, and I can't imagine approximate dates being a problem. But perhaps someone will come along with some information who's more informed.

Hey Lou Lou,

I thought international trips were only to be noted if they were longer than 24 hours, according to the instructions pamphlet. So, an afternoon or evening in Canada shouldn't count. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

[Lou Lou 1]

I have crossed the border oodles of times to Quebec and have no idea how many times it has been over the past few years. My passport never gets stamped either. I'm just going to put that I was a regular visitor to Canada for afternoons, evenings and long weekends over the past few years totaling to approximately x number of times. At least you know how many trips, and I can't imagine approximate dates being a problem. But perhaps someone will come along with some information who's more informed.

Hey Lou Lou,

I thought international trips were only to be noted if they were longer than 24 hours, according to the instructions pamphlet. So, an afternoon or evening in Canada shouldn't count. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

No, you are right. It's the oodles of day trips that turned into overnight and beyond that I haven't documented. There are just simply too many! But thanks for clarifying.

[churipu 4]

Kinda bumping this thread to let those who might be interestes know that I made an Infopass appointment for monday morning to inquire about this matter...the Airline was no help at all...they do have a record dept but you need to mail them 20$ and all kinds of info about the trip which I don't obviously have anymore (where you purchased the ticket, form of payment, exact itinerary etc etc.) and after awhile they will send you a copy of your old ticket. At least Delta operates this way but they were no help for me.

BTW I'll post here what the IO tells me.

Edited June 17, 2007 by churipu

[Yodrak 7]

churipu,

Answer the questions to the best of your ability. If you know the exact date, great. If you can remember only month and year then provide only month and year.

Yodrak

Hello everyone,

I was just taking a look at the N 400 form even though Naturalization is still a few months away before I am actually eligible...but being a mom of a one year old I need to plan things waaayy in advance...lol

Anyways...I was just looking at the part regarding the past trips outside the US in the past (3) years as a permanent resident and unfortunately it asks for the exact departure/return dates...I took 5 overseas trips in the past 3 years but I remember the exact dates of 3 of them only...I had no idea one day I would have had to remember because of the N 400 otherwise I would have written them down! Does anyone know how I can find out for the other 2 trips? Do airlines actually keep record/give out this kind of info? Or is there any other way? I know that when they swipe your passport at Immigration at the airport they can see record of all your past trips(not sure it is like that, I was told it is...), but would they actually tell me if I went there and asked?

Sorry if this sounds stupid but I truly have no idea and couldn't find anything about it on the board.

Thanks in advance!

[churipu 4]

churipu,

Answer the questions to the best of your ability. If you know the exact date, great. If you can remember only month and year then provide only month and year.

Yodrak

Hello everyone,

I was just taking a look at the N 400 form even though Naturalization is still a few months away before I am actually eligible...but being a mom of a one year old I need to plan things waaayy in advance...lol

Anyways...I was just looking at the part regarding the past trips outside the US in the past (3) years as a permanent resident and unfortunately it asks for the exact departure/return dates...I took 5 overseas trips in the past 3 years but I remember the exact dates of 3 of them only...I had no idea one day I would have had to remember because of the N 400 otherwise I would have written them down! Does anyone know how I can find out for the other 2 trips? Do airlines actually keep record/give out this kind of info? Or is there any other way? I know that when they swipe your passport at Immigration at the airport they can see record of all your past trips(not sure it is like that, I was told it is...), but would they actually tell me if I went there and asked?

Sorry if this sounds stupid but I truly have no idea and couldn't find anything about it on the board.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks Yodrak! I made the appointment just because I wanted to make sure on this before filing...

Anyways they did tell me yesterday that an estimated date is acceptable as long as it's not over 30 days since they don't really go and check the dates of your trips (and since they don't check I wonder why they gave me the 30 days thing ...but anyways...).

Hope this helps others who might have had the same problem I had.

Have a great day everyone!