N-400 delivered 1 day too early - what to do?

[lilsweetie 30]

I know I made a mistake here and should have been more patient, so please refrain from any comments of that nature. I just want some opinions on how to proceed given that I can turn back the clock and wait a couple more days to mail my N400 package.

Facts:

I am married to USCitizen, filing 90 days before 3 year mark of 9/28/2015.

Earliest filing date would be 6/30/2015 according to calculator.

I mailed my application 9/27/2015 (Saturday) via USPS Priority Mail which estimates a 2 day delivery. I didn't think USPS would count Sundays, so I expected it to be delivered right on the 30th which is the earliest filing date. I checked the USPS tracking and it shows an estimated delivery date of Monday which is 1 day too early!

Best case scenario, USPS delivers it late and it ends up being delivered on the right day, the 30th. I am hoping that USPS is slow and their estimated delivery date online is wrong.

However, if it really does get delivered 1 day early, what should I do? Here's what I have gathered as scenarios that can happen:

1) USCIS will reject it immediately and then I can just mail it back in. - no big deal, just the cost of shipping would be lost

2) USCIS will accept it and process it, then I could get denied at the interview for 1 day early filing - this would be a waste of $680 as well as time. Definitely worst case!

• Does the lockbox always accept applications the same day they are delivered by USPS or is there a delay at the lockbox stage that might bump me to within the 90 day window?
• Should I write to the lockbox email address and ask them to hold it a couple of days (this is a long shot but might be worth it?)
• Should I book an info pass appointment and ask them what they think I should do? (the nearest office is 2.5 hours away from me, so not a convenient option at all)
• If it doesn't get rejected at the point of acceptance, should I ask them to withdraw it anyway just in case the interviewer rejects it?
• Should I just cross my fingers and hope for the best and try to explain what happened at the interview?

Any insight or opinions would be super helpful, thanks.

I found one case where the person's application arrived 2 days early and they ended up getting approved (http://forum.murthy.com/index.php?/topic/39374-n-400-early-submission/) but it seems like a lot of people also get rejected.

[TimeTravel 78]

Lets say if it is delivered tomorrow ( June 29 ), but they will process it next day ( June 30 ). This is based on my experience. My app was delivered on Jan 15th morning before 10:30 am via Fedex, but they did process it next day only. So there is good chance that everything should be okay with your application. When you receive your NOA, you will see exact date when they did actually process your application.

Edited June 29, 2015 by TimeTravel

[DC85 113]

usually when you send with priority mail, they will tell you when it will be delivered.

Try to intercept the package https://retail-pi.usps.com/retailpi/actions/index.action

- Also, try tomorrow early morning to call the usps delivery post office hopefully they can stop/ return the package back.

If your priority date is before your eligibility date, there is a big a chance you will be denied on/after the interview.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Here is what happened to someone who applied 2 days too early; http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/255574-appeal-of-premature-filing-of-n-400-application-mailed-2-days-too-early/

[JimmyHou 610]

In most cases I've read about where an application was recieved early, USCIS returned the application without cashing the check.

In a few cases they cashed the check and the applicant was denied months later at the interview.

In two cases that I know of the interviewer approved the application because that particular office's policy was to use the date the application is first processed, not the day it was recieved (at least that's what the interviewer told the applicant).

[lilsweetie 30]

usually when you send with priority mail, they will tell you when it will be delivered.

Try to intercept the package https://retail-pi.usps.com/retailpi/actions/index.action

- Also, try tomorrow early morning to call the usps delivery post office hopefully they can stop/ return the package back.

If your priority date is before your eligibility date, there is a big a chance you will be denied on/after the interview.

Wow that package intercept link so awesome! For $12.15 I can either have them redirect it back to me, or to a different address.

Should I have them redirect it to a different lockbox (mine is Arizona, so I could have them ship it to Texas) which would cause a delay and by then it would certainly be within the 90 days.

Would that be too much of a mess?

as per USCIS (http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/directorates-and-program-offices/lockbox-intake/lockbox-intake-processing-questions-and-answers )

What happens when an application is sent to the wrong filing location?

The Lockbox facilities forward applications to the correct Lockbox facility. If the application is not processed by a Lockbox facility, it is returned to the customer. If customers or their representatives have specific cases where this is not happening, please provide details to Lockboxsupport@dhs.gov and we will make any required corrections.

[DC85 113]

my advice send it back to you if you can. Do it right, don't send it to another lockbox which you may wait a month to hear back. You gonna be more stressed

[aaron2020 11,651]

Have it redirected to you, then wait a few days to mail it in.

If the package is redirected to the wrong lockbox, the wrong lockbox will open your package to process it. They will use their internal system to reroute it and you have no idea if that will take a week or several months. Do not assume that your package will quickly make it ways to the correct lockbox facility.

[lilsweetie 30]

Thanks Aaron2020 and DC85.

Now to make things more stressful - I am reading a lot of stuff online that the USPS Package Intercept doesn't even work and they take your $12 even if they don't manage to intercept the package. Ugh... I hate that I made such a stupid mistake.

[lilsweetie 30]

Can anyone who has filed at Phoenix let me know their delivery date then the acceptance date? We're they the same? How long after the delivery was it accepted?

[breyandtthew 5]

in most cases - Receipt date is the same as priority date

[lilsweetie 30]

in most cases - Receipt date is the same as priority date

does that mean that delivery date (as per USPS tracking) is usually the same as the receipt date / priority date?

[Buckyball 22]

Get it back and send it again or are you short of the $12.

Never understood why people not wait a couple of days longer but rather screw it up.

Edited June 29, 2015 by Buckyball

[lilsweetie 30]

Get it back and send it again or are you short of the $12.

Never understood why people not wait a couple of days longer but rather screw it up.

I submitted a mail intercept request to USPS but I'm not sure if it will work. Seems to be a somewhat unreliable service. I checked tracking this morning and it is in Phoenix already. It will probably be delivered today regardless of the request to intercept.

as for your side commentary, I said in the first sentence of my original post that comments such as that are really not necessary. I obviously already know that I made a mistake, no need to beat a dead horse.

[DC85 113]

Try to call the post office that will deliver you package, and ask for supervisor. Maybe they can redirect it to you.

Edited June 29, 2015 by DC85