Need help regarding naturalization filing

[Hardik Jani 1]

Dear,

I need your help. I am in USA since April 2008 and I will be eligible for citizenship in April 2013 but my marriage is planned in July 2013 back in India. I am pretty sure my interview will come during the time of my marriage. I want to call my wife from India soon after the marriage so it would be better I dont waste months and get citizenship asap.

My questions are :

1. Can I go to India after filing for naturalization ?

2. Can I re-schedule my interview if it comes during my stay in India ?

3. If I file after coming back to USA, do i need to stay for 3 more months and then apply (which will lengthen my process of citizenship)?

I really need a help in this matter.

Thanks,

Edited December 16, 2012 by Hardik Jani

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

1. Yes

2. Yes, though it may delay things for several months as you get put back at the end of the queue.

3. No, unless you stay in India for over 6 months.

How long do you plan to be in India and when are you leaving? Where are you filing for naturalisation? If you file 90 days before your 5 year anniversary date, and not fly out till July, there is a reasonable chance you will be a US citizen by then.

[NickD 203]

If you plan on bringing your new wife here, would be far better off doing it as a US citizen. I know this is tough, even as a US citizen, couldn't marry my intended as when I wanted to, had to wait an extra year. But all I can say, neither of us wanted to break off our engagement during that long wait.

Also feel you would be better off to get married here.

[Hardik Jani 1]

Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate

I am planning to go to India in mid of June 2013 and I will be back by end of august 2013. I will be filling at Dallas.

So I feel even if i get chance to attend interview, it will be hard to make presence at Oath.

I am not sure what to do.

1. Yes

2. Yes, though it may delay things for several months as you get put back at the end of the queue.

3. No, unless you stay in India for over 6 months.

How long do you plan to be in India and when are you leaving? Where are you filing for naturalisation? If you file 90 days before your 5 year anniversary date, and not fly out till July, there is a reasonable chance you will be a US citizen by then.

[Hardik Jani 1]

Yes, that is why I am so desperate to get citizenship without wasting months. If i file after coming back from india, it ll longer the duration.

If you plan on bringing your new wife here, would be far better off doing it as a US citizen. I know this is tough, even as a US citizen, couldn't marry my intended as when I wanted to, had to wait an extra year. But all I can say, neither of us wanted to break off our engagement during that long wait.

Also feel you would be better off to get married here.

[mozplay 29]

You really need to look at some folks who have filed in Texas but are from your area to learn how long everything takes. I'm still going through the process but this is what I've learned so far and what I'm expecting going forward.

• The whole thing, from mailing in my application to approval can take up to five months (or more if you live in New York City or some other really busy area).

• After you mail your application you will need to attend a biometrics appointment (for fingerprinting and getting your picture taken) - this usually happens within a month of filing. You will get a letter in the mail and they sometimes will only give you 7 days notice to attend. You MUST be here for that.

• One to three months after your biometrics, you will get your interview date. Again, you MUST be here for that.

• If you are lucky, you can take the oath on the same day. If not, you have to wait for another appointment, which again, can take two weeks to two months. And again, you MUST be here for that too.

• Then you need to mail in your passport application in order to travel. Turnaround time on that is approximately two weeks but it can be expedited for an additional fee. You can't travel internationally until you have your new passport.

These are all approximate times and only what I'm expecting for myself. Some people are a lot faster, some are a lot slower.

Listen to what Penguin said. You can mail in your application 90 days before your 3-year anniversary mark. For you, this could be as early as January ... I don't know your "resident since" date on your green card. When is the wedding? If you file in January, you could be by the end of May, early June and IF this works out, then you may have to change your departure date for your flight, but you should be able to leave with your passport in hand and go to your wedding without any worries.

[Hardik Jani 1]

thank you for ur reply.

My wedding is on July 13th n I need to go to India by June 20th.

Is it like taking a chance ?

What if I clear the interview on time but face delay for oath?

You really need to look at some folks who have filed in Texas but are from your area to learn how long everything takes. I'm still going through the process but this is what I've learned so far and what I'm expecting going forward.

• The whole thing, from mailing in my application to approval can take up to five months (or more if you live in New York City or some other really busy area).

• After you mail your application you will need to attend a biometrics appointment (for fingerprinting and getting your picture taken) - this usually happens within a month of filing. You will get a letter in the mail and they sometimes will only give you 7 days notice to attend. You MUST be here for that.

• One to three months after your biometrics, you will get your interview date. Again, you MUST be here for that.

• If you are lucky, you can take the oath on the same day. If not, you have to wait for another appointment, which again, can take two weeks to two months. And again, you MUST be here for that too.

• Then you need to mail in your passport application in order to travel. Turnaround time on that is approximately two weeks but it can be expedited for an additional fee. You can't travel internationally until you have your new passport.

These are all approximate times and only what I'm expecting for myself. Some people are a lot faster, some are a lot slower.

Listen to what Penguin said. You can mail in your application 90 days before your 3-year anniversary mark. For you, this could be as early as January ... I don't know your "resident since" date on your green card. When is the wedding? If you file in January, you could be by the end of May, early June and IF this works out, then you may have to change your departure date for your flight, but you should be able to leave with your passport in hand and go to your wedding without any worries.

[mozplay 29]

You can delay the oath. If people have to travel soon after being approved then they usually ask for a later oath date.