Easy Question Driving me nuts...

[Kev 0]

Hi Folks,

I'm from Canada and been here 5 years ...applying for US Ciizenship...Here is my question:

On the N-400 It asks for total days out of the USA...

So I left say 04/19/10 and returned 04/20/10..an overnight trip.

Is that 1 day or 0? Someone told ne that since part of both days was in the USA it was O for Total Days Outside USA???Doesn't seem right more like 1..

What do you guys think? Appreciate your time...

Kev

[Zen Den 18]

Hi Folks,

I'm from Canada and been here 5 years ...applying for US Ciizenship...Here is my question:

On the N-400 It asks for total days out of the USA...

So I left say 04/19/10 and returned 04/20/10..an overnight trip.

Is that 1 day or 0? Someone told ne that since part of both days was in the USA it was O for Total Days Outside USA???Doesn't seem right more like 1..

What do you guys think? Appreciate your time...

Kev

unfortunately uscis counts days only and based on your dates, it's one day =) and it's just 1 day so give it to them hehe good luck and god bless =)

[SisJ 13]

unfortunately uscis counts days only and based on your dates, it's one day =) and it's just 1 day so give it to them hehe good luck and god bless =)

This is totally off topic, but that's a CUTE baby you got there!!!! He looks very happy

[joe_robin66 6]

I would count it as 1 Day. Regardless if you been in the USA for 5 hrs...should be put down as 1 day I would think.

[v333k 59]

In this case, you are splitting hairs.

USCIS defines partial days as days spent in the US... however, to be safe, just put 1 day to make sure you do not appear to be hiding information. The IO can easily change it if they wish to do so, but this is only to establish how much you've spent out of the US and not when and where....

You should be all set!

[hhN400 3]

So I left say 04/19/10 and returned 04/20/10..an overnight trip.

Is that 1 day or 0? Someone told ne that since part of both days was in the USA it was O for Total Days Outside USA???Doesn't seem right more like 1..

That would be zero days. Travel days do not count; only full days --- from midnight to midnight --- that were spent outside the USA. I wouldn't even put such overnight trips on the form, but it doesn't hurt if you do.

[fozzie 41]

ASurely USCIS won't be too worried. If you have been out of the country a lot and are close to/or have gone over the limits for days spent outside the US then it wil lmake a difference. Thats why they ask that question..so a day off here and there really shouldnt matter.

[NickD 202]

USCIS defines a day as over 24 hours, so if you left on 04/19/10 and returned 04/20/10, was that over 24 hours? If it was, count one day, if not, drop it.

Found other things on the N-400 that drove me nuts, but not this one.

[joe_robin66 6]

Better to be honest about every little thing!

[antda 13]

Hi Kev,

Lol..If it makes you feel any better...

I went to Canada for 45 minutes to renew my Canadian passport...No joke..

On the N-400 I just wrote that trip as "45 minutes/1 day" when I made a list of all the dates/trips that I was out of the USA...They had no problem with that...

In fact, they were quite impressed with the detailed list of the list of trips that I made over the years..

Lol...I literally split it down to minutes/days/weeks....Interpret accordingly...

And yes, all that time adds up too, especially if you make a lot of frequent trips, like I do...lol......

So here is my suggestion...Make a list of all the trips to Canada, regardless of how little/small they are....You never know what they want....Better safe than sorry...and just declare all trips, regardless!

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Ant

Hi Folks,

I'm from Canada and been here 5 years ...applying for US Ciizenship...Here is my question:

On the N-400 It asks for total days out of the USA...

So I left say 04/19/10 and returned 04/20/10..an overnight trip.

Is that 1 day or 0? Someone told ne that since part of both days was in the USA it was O for Total Days Outside USA???Doesn't seem right more like 1..

What do you guys think? Appreciate your time...

Kev

Edited October 20, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[NickD 202]

Better to be honest about every little thing!

Is checking in a motel at 5:00 AM and being told you have to check out at 10:00 AM being honest? You may not think so but is the policy of the motel as is the policy of the USCIS to only count trips outside of the USA that lasted over 24 hours. Now we can play with numbers if the trip only lasted 23:59 and 59 seconds, what about exactly 24:00 hours, but says over 24:00 hours so if a fraction of a second over 24 hours, has to be counted. Just following their policy. Oh, and carry a precision stop watch with you.

[antda 13]

Is checking in a motel at 5:00 AM and being told you have to check out at 10:00 AM being honest? You may not think so but is the policy of the motel as is the policy of the USCIS to only count trips outside of the USA that lasted over 24 hours. Now we can play with numbers if the trip only lasted 23:59 and 59 seconds, what about exactly 24:00 hours, but says over 24:00 hours so if a fraction of a second over 24 hours, has to be counted. Just following their policy. Oh, and carry a precision stop watch with you.

...Does a wristwatch and a cell phone with a stopwatch function count?..

That's what we have when we go over the border....

Lol....With the USCIS....You never know..

On the bright side..Once you get US Citizenship...Come and go as you please...No need to count trips for the USCIS anymore (unless you really want to....lol...)

Ant

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Oh my God . . . that's a trick question, isn't it?

Nick is correct: 24 hours is what defines a day. USCIS follows the law of nature.

[NickD 202]

Oh my God . . . that's a trick question, isn't it?

Nick is correct: 24 hours is what defines a day. USCIS follows the law of nature.

Maybe we should have reported those two minutes when my wife and I were in Sault Ste Marie, and crossed the border just so we say she was in Canada. Gas prices were higher, so no reason to stay longer. But if we did, her IO would either think we were paranoid or kind of dumb where we couldn't follow instructions.

[CaliforniaRN 0]

Same question as Kev.

I live in Bellingham and family and friends live in Vancouver. I must have over 150 trips in the last 5 years up there for either a couple of hours or a couple of days.

Do all of these have to be listed?

I can't remember half of the trips.

Can I ask for a list from the CBP officers at Blaine Crossing with all the dates and times? Is there another place to call or write to in order to get a record of my crossings to add to the N-400 form?

Any help appreciated