Traveling outside USA while N400 pending

[Nayda 28]

Hello!

 

Just to confirm with you dear experienced VJ members!

 

When I apply for N400, I can't go outside of USA until I receive the naturalization certificate, is this correct?

 

Thank you

[gregcrs2 1,778]

23 minutes ago, Dzenana said:

Hello!

 

Just to confirm with you dear experienced VJ members!

 

When I apply for N400, I can't go outside of USA until I receive the naturalization certificate, is this correct?

 

Thank you

You can.  So your statement is incorrect.

Edited December 11, 2018 by gregcrs2

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

Incorrect. You can travel outside the US while waiting for your interview and eventual naturalization ceremony & certificate.

 

You should be wary of a long trip of over 6 months.

 

You will have needed to have resided at your current address for 3 months prior to filing the N400.

 

EDIT: You also need to maintain good moral character during all of this time. Try not to commit any crimes.

Edited December 11, 2018 by Russ&Caro

[nightingalejules 678]

Yes, you can continue to use your green card to exit and reenter the US while your Naturalization is processing. 

However, when you are approved and take your oath, you will not be able to travel overseas until you apply for and receive your new US passport (because you surrender your green card at your oath ceremony.)

This may be where the confusion was.

[Nayda 28]

1 hour ago, gregcrs2 said:

You can.  So your statement is incorrect.

 

30 minutes ago, nightingalejules said:

Yes, you can continue to use your green card to exit and reenter the US while your Naturalization is processing. 

However, when you are approved and take your oath, you will not be able to travel overseas until you apply for and receive your new US passport (because you surrender your green card at your oath ceremony.)

This may be where the confusion was.

Thank you so much.

 

I read this on USCIS.gov, and this is what I understood "Reside continuously within the United States from the date of application for naturalization until the time of naturalization"

I can't find anywhere on the USCIS where it says that I can travel while N400 is pending.

 

[coloradoman 32]

39 minutes ago, Dzenana said:

 

Thank you so much.

 

I read this on USCIS.gov, and this is what I understood "Reside continuously within the United States from the date of application for naturalization until the time of naturalization"

I can't find anywhere on the USCIS where it says that I can travel while N400 is pending.

 

Reside means not to move your residence somewhere outside the U.S.

 

I went out of the country at least 10 times while my N400 was pending. No issues at all, as long as you don't stay away for too long...

1 hour ago, Russ&Caro said:

EDIT: You also need to maintain good moral character during all of this time. Try not to commit any crimes.

LOL

[gregcrs2 1,778]

Are you planning to live outside of the USA or just go traveling?

[Nayda 28]

24 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

Are you planning to live outside of the USA or just go traveling?

 

Only to visit my mother. The time for procssing of I751 and N400 are long nowadays, so only a thought that I am stuck until I receive US passport is a torture. 
 

25 minutes ago, coloradoman said:

Reside means not to move your residence somewhere outside the U.S.

 

I went out of the country at least 10 times while my N400 was pending. No issues at all, as long as you don't stay away for too long...

LOL

 

Thank you. I completely misunderstood it, then. I understood that I HAVE TO be physically present non stop in the USA during this N400 process time. Where would I move residence outside of USA while applying for their citizenship - doesn't sound like a common sense hehe

How do they count the travel time outside of US then? Because you wrote in N400 application where you went and how long you were outside of US, and sent it. After submitting N400, and traveling abroad again, where do you report how long you stayed, so you don't overcome allowed period of 30 months or 18 month (if married to US citizen)?

 

No crimes! I am such a good moral person, I could get two US citizenships


 

[coloradoman 32]

16 minutes ago, Dzenana said:

 

How do they count the travel time outside of US then? Because you wrote in N400 application where you went and how long you were outside of US, and sent it. After submitting N400, and traveling abroad again, where do you report how long you stayed, so you don't overcome allowed period of 30 months or 18 month (if married to US citizen)?

 

They ask you at the interview if you traveled abroad since you filed, and for how long. And they ask you again at the Oath Ceremony, if you traveled abroad since the interview, and for how long. So keep notes on your trips to make this easy on yourself.