If someone has to go outside USA (to see his sick relative) after passing the naturalization test/interview but before the oath. Does it affect the naturalization process?

This just very recently happened to a friend of mine. He had passed the naturalization test, gone overseas for the summer, came back for the oath ceremony. He kept asking me about one of the questions he had to answer on the form he had to bring to the oath ceremony.

Have you been outside of the U.S. in the last 6 months. (or something like that)

I told him to answer YES and always be honest. He said ok. Then he went to his ceremony and they did ask him about it, and he said he had just gone overseas for vacation (which he did) and it was no problem.

Not sure why they want to know, but they do. But it is not an issue

Thanks for replying, I am in the process of getting my N-400 ready to file, and this evening I noticed a comment about this question - I actually came to this forum to try and find out the answer to this very question - great timing.

But, compared to all the other INS forms we had to do years ago, the N-400 looks reltively painless.

They want to know because it can be an issue. If you are residing in another country during that time, they can pull your oath out. Or if you have gone over your number of days in the US since your Green Card, they can deny your oath as well.

Remember even during that time between the interview and the Oath still counts towards your citizenship requirements. You and not a US citizen and if you were on the border before with the number of days getting close to exceeding the limit outside the US, then this time could very well push you over the limit and your Oath will be denied.

Now if you have maintained US residency though that period and you don't go over with the days, then yes you will be fine...

Really? So you're saying you can file for the N-400 without completing the residency requirement? That's counter to what I've read in the past. I can understand the whole "can't be outside of the U.S. for more than 6 months in any one time" and how it would apply here.

Absolutely, you can file the N-400 before you've completed the residency requirement. It's in INA 334. You can file up to 90 days before you've completed your continuous residency requirement, as long as you meet all other requirements at the time of filing. INA 334 is translated into more-or-less plain English in the box at the bottom of page 22 of the M-476.


If you are applying based on 5 years as a Permanent Resident or 3 years as a Permanent Resident married to a U.S. citizen, you may file for naturalization up to 90 days before you meet the continuous residence requirement. For example, if you are applying based on 3 years of continuous residence as a Permanent Resident married to a U.S. citizen, you can apply any time after you have been a Permanent Resident in continuous residence for 3 years minus 90 days. You may send your application before you have met the requirement for continuous residence only. Therefore, you must still have been married to and living with your U.S. citizen spouse for 3 years before you may file your application. You must also meet all the other eligibility requirements when you file your application with USCIS.