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Tellurous

N400 - Should I wait or should I just apply?

By Tellurous in US Citizenship General Discussion

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Tellurous Apprentice

Tellurous   19

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I recently became eligible to apply for naturalization through the 3 year rule. I have had only 1 international trip that is 1 month long during the entire 3 year period. I still have a pending I-751 that was submitted back in Oct 2023. My field office is Tampa, as of now, N400s are supposedly being processed within 8.5 months according to USCIS.
 

I have a 1 week domestic trip planned in March 2025 and a 1 month international trip planned in June 2025. The very risk averse part of me is thinking to just wait until after my international trip in June 2025 before submitting my N400 application, so that I won't have any issues with being out of town when I am needed for biometrics/interview/oath, AND/OR getting my naturalization just in time where I'll need to quickly apply for a US passport before the international trip. However, with the recent election news, part of me now feels like it I should just apply anyway before any possible issues/delays arise as a side effect of the new administration. Am I being too paranoid? Which would be the path of least "resistance" ?

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OldUser Veteran

OldUser   6,599

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4 hours ago, Tellurous said:

I would say fairly important. Non-refundable tickets, among other things.

If you were flexible with travel plans, I'd say apply today. You can still apply today, if you're ok with potentially getting denied and losing filing fee if you miss appointments or interview. 

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randomstairs Community Regular

randomstairs   303

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It only depends on your risk-aversion. I'm highly risk-averse when it comes to anything immigration, for example, and I would definitely apply ASAP and postpone/cancel the trips, especially in the light of the most unpredictable admin in modern US history taking over. But that's me.  

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

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