N400 Online Form - question about countries visited

[N400NYC 380]

Hi All,

 

In regards to the question about countries visited...

 

On two occasions I have passed through airports in other countries (connecting flights) prior to my final destination. On both occasions I didn't leave the airport. Do I need to indicate that I "visited" those countries or just the destination country which I travelled to?

[arken 4,197]

Just the destination countries you actually visited.

[N400NYC 380]

6 minutes ago, arken said:

Just the destination countries you actually visited.

Thank You

[Loren Y 2,755]

Unlike in the US where you are basically forced thru immigration whenever you land, other countries have I guess you would call them transfer zones or areas. If you don't leave the secured area of the airport and actually go through customs, you haven't entered that country.

[kris&me 572]

the country(s)  that actually stamped your passport with an entry stamp

they will assume you entered if they see a stamp from customs and immigration 

most do not stamp a passport when only changing planes even when you go thru customs but they will if you leave the airport 

[Mollie09 1,543]

I added all the countries I legally "entered", meaning ones I went though immigration even if just connecting (thanks, Canada) and ones that I entered but didn't go through immigration (hello, EU!)

[xyz12345 260]

I only listed the countries in which I spent 24 hrs. I had 15-hr layovers during which I went through immigration and toured the place. Didn't include those countries since the visits were less than 24 hrs.

[Mollie09 1,543]

Just now, xyz12345 said:

I only listed the countries in which I spent 24 hrs. I had 15-hr layovers during which I went through immigration and toured the place. Didn't include those countries since the visits were less than 24 hrs.

The instructions say to include trips that were over 24h, not places where you stayed over 24h. If you left the US for more than 24h you have to list all the countries you visited.

[aaron2020 11,651]

3 hours ago, N400NYC said:

Hi All,

 

In regards to the question about countries visited...

 

On two occasions I have passed through airports in other countries (connecting flights) prior to my final destination. On both occasions I didn't leave the airport. Do I need to indicate that I "visited" those countries or just the destination country which I travelled to?

No.  You never went through customs.  You never legally entered those countries.  

Only list countries where you actually went through customs and legally entered a country.

[aaron2020 11,651]

7 minutes ago, xyz12345 said:

I only listed the countries in which I spent 24 hrs. I had 15-hr layovers during which I went through immigration and toured the place. Didn't include those countries since the visits were less than 24 hrs.

That's not the rule.

 

If you take a trip outside the US for more than 24 hours, then you need to list all the countries visited.  It's 24 hours outside the US; not 24 hours in each country visited.  

 

The US doesn't want to deal with people living on the borders who visits to Mexico or Canada for less than 24 hours.  I live in a border town.  If I had to  list every visit of less than 24 hours over the last 5 years, I couldn't because I visit 2-3 times a month for the day and return at night to the US.  

Edited April 17, 2019 by aaron2020

[xyz12345 260]

13 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

That's not the rule.

 

If you take a trip outside the US for more than 24 hours, then you need to list all the countries visited.  It's 24 hours outside the US; not 24 hours in each country visited.  

 

The US doesn't want to deal with people living on the borders who visits to Mexico or Canada for less than 24 hours.  I live in a border town.  If I had to  list every visit of less than 24 hours over the last 5 years, I couldn't because I visit 2-3 times a month for the day and return at night to the US.  

guys, my mistake!!!!!! I guess after re reading and re reading and more re-reading, I still misunderstand until somebody points it out to you and then you read again the official instructions with new eyes. Got fixated with the 24 hrs. I wasn't thinking about commuters though.

 

everyone, thanks for the correction!

[N400NYC 380]

1 hour ago, aaron2020 said:

No.  You never went through customs.  You never legally entered those countries.  

Only list countries where you actually went through customs and legally entered a country.

Thanks - that is clear. 

[Mike E 11,739]

On 4/17/2019 at 10:18 AM, N400NYC said:

Hi All,

 

In regards to the question about countries visited...

 

On two occasions I have passed through airports in other countries (connecting flights) prior to my final destination. On both occasions I didn't leave the airport. Do I need to indicate that I "visited" those countries or just the destination country which I travelled to?

I disagree with the consensus. Include all the countries you transited, whether you went through their passport control or not, whether you left the airport or not. 

 

Think it through. You have to list all travel outside the USA. Let's say you were doing a mileage run to say Hong Kong. You fly out of LAX. Land there in the morning two days later (dateline, lose a day). Hang out at the airport. Return to the USA later than day (dateline, gain a day). You are gone for more than 24 hours. You left the USA for more than 24 hours and you are going to list zero countries traveled to. Even though you have to clear USA immigration and customs on the return. 

 

Makes zero sense.

 

Thus transit countries must be disclosed. If the IO asks you what you did in a particular country, you can say "transit".