Long term travel while N400 application pending or any other options for long distance relationship?

[mrock27 4]

Hi all,

 

I have been a GC holder since 1998, and I got married to my Swiss national (no GC, no US visa) husband this summer. I was planning on moving to Switzerland to be with him, but I decided that I should become a U.S. citizen before moving so that I won't have to worry about reentry permits. I was expecting this process was going to be around a year, during which time we were planning on going back and forth for short visits, about once every other month for a week or two. However, after I applied on August 8, 2018, I received an estimate that it'll likely take 22 months (June 2020)! I filed online and I live in Brooklyn, and I heard there's a big backlog for NYC.

 

It seems ridiculous that I won't be able to live in the same city as my husband for almost 2 years. We've been long distance for 3 years and thought by getting married we could finally end up living in the same city.

 

My question is, how would it affect my application if I do the following, assuming I satisfy the number of days required in the U.S. and I will be in the country for the interview and the oath ceremony:

1) Ask for a sabbatical and leave my job for 3 months to go to Switzerland and come back to my job after

2) Quit my job and live there for a period under 6 months

 

Also, I am assuming one cannot apply for a reentry permit while the N400 is pending, correct?

 

If anyone has any other ideas I'm all ears. I know applying for my husband's GC would take even longer than 2 years based on my GC.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Kastrs 723]

 

My understanding is all new trips you take outside of the country will need to be reported at the time of your citizenship interview

 

if you applied online there will be an estimated completion timeline, ,mine says 9 months and the application was about a month ago

also you should expect biometrics about 1 month after application

 

[mrock27 4]

Thank you. I understand that I will need to report all the days I am out after filing my N400, but I am wondering if it will look bad at my interview if I quit my job and go to Switzerland for 5 months to be with my husband since my tie to the US will be gone. I only have a brother in my family lives in the US, and he lives about 7 hours away by car.

 

The 22 month estimate was from my online estimated completion timeline. My biometric is scheduled for 8/29/18.

[GreatDane 366]

Another alternative would be to keep your N400 processing and file a spousal visa. You'll be apart for less than a year and then you can both be in the US until your processing is completed. Your spouse would also be able to work immediately upon entry. You never know - your plans might change and this would allow you the option to be together, naturalize, and potentially setup a base in the US.

[mrock27 4]

Thanks so much! Can one apply for a spousal visa before becoming a U.S. citizen? I just went to the link and saw this:

IR1/CR1 Visas are immigrant visas issued to foreign spouses of U.S. Citizens. 

[geowrian 22,337]

1 minute ago, mrock27 said:

Thanks so much! Can one apply for a spousal visa before becoming a U.S. citizen? I just went to the link and saw this:

IR1/CR1 Visas are immigrant visas issued to foreign spouses of U.S. Citizens. 

It would fall under F2A at first, but can be upgraded to CR-1/IR-1 after naturalizing and sending evidence of US citizenship (copy of passport or naturalization certificate). This would reduce the wait for a visa down to processing timelines, instead of waiting for the PD to become current (~2-2.5 years from filing to interview down to ~12-16 months).

[mrock27 4]

I see. So there's no skirting around waiting for the 2 years to become a citizen then  

[TNJ17 1,329]

Join the club. We all live, lived, or will live away from our SOs for an extended period of time. You just gotta play the game and know it’s gonna take way longer than they tell you it will. 

[mrock27 4]

I'm definitely finding that out!

 

Back to the original question, would it be bad for me to leave the country for less than 6 months? I've seen people post about going on vacation is fine, but has anyone gotten their application denied or got reprimanded because they took too long of a trip after they submitted their N400?

[Kastrs 723]

I think your estimate for 22 months is off based on my timeline I cited above as well as other timelines I have seen here

How will you be checking your mail for correspondence from uscis

are you able and prepared to fly back at a moments notice

also, from what I have seen you need to disclose job changes during your interview

[mrock27 4]

I will change my address to my friend's apartment and I will be able to come back at any time. 

 

That's crazy that your estimate is 9 months and mine is 22 months. You're in NYC as well? Did you do yours online or did you mail it in?

[Going through 5,669]

On 8/24/2018 at 4:58 PM, mrock27 said:

I'm definitely finding that out!

 

Back to the original question, would it be bad for me to leave the country for less than 6 months? I've seen people post about going on vacation is fine, but has anyone gotten their application denied or got reprimanded because they took too long of a trip after they submitted their N400?

I've seen it happen once here where the person's travel AFTER filing the N400 was so long that the total days abroad was then outside the maximum time allowed for physical presence, and their application was denied at the interview.  With that person, it was more a matter of their entire travel history over the past 5 years being close to the maximum number to begin with---so the last trip put their numbers just over by something like 12 days.  

 

My point being, you also need to keep in mind your total travel history as reported on your application when determining how long you want to travel again after submitting the N400...

 

Don't hold the estimated case completion number to heart---anything that can happen.  When I filed, my case completion time was estimated at 19 months. 

My case actually completed in 96 days (I filed online from NYC---you can see my timeline below  in red).  That may happen to you, too, so be prepared to cut  your travel short if you get your notice for biometrics/interview appointment.

[mrock27 4]

Wow this is so great to read that yours went so quickly! I'm hoping that the estimate will change once I get my biometrics done, which is tomorrow.

[nyj215 103]

On 8/27/2018 at 7:23 AM, Going through said:

I've seen it happen once here where the person's travel AFTER filing the N400 was so long that the total days abroad was then outside the maximum time allowed for physical presence, and their application was denied at the interview.  With that person, it was more a matter of their entire travel history over the past 5 years being close to the maximum number to begin with---so the last trip put their numbers just over by something like 12 days.  

 

My point being, you also need to keep in mind your total travel history as reported on your application when determining how long you want to travel again after submitting the N400...

 

Don't hold the estimated case completion number to heart---anything that can happen.  When I filed, my case completion time was estimated at 19 months. 

My case actually completed in 96 days (I filed online from NYC---you can see my timeline below  in red).  That may happen to you, too, so be prepared to cut  your travel short if you get your notice for biometrics/interview appointment.

Wow - what a story!  Congrats on both the success and the incredibly short time, seems like some sort of record in terms of NYC in recent periods.

[Going through 5,669]

Yeah I was pleasantly surprised (or shocked?) at how quickly it was done and over with, especially since my case was not a straight-forward one.

Best of luck with yours!