N-400 Application

[at long last 58]

I'm just re doing my N-400 to the newest version. I'm still a little confused with part 8 - Time Outside the United States during the last 5 years.

If we are doing the 3 year thing because we married a US citizen what do we need here? Even times we lived in our own country but visited USA, or just the time we have lived here. Any attachment required?

I'm still not convinced on the cruise issue as well. It clearly states online that if the ship you board is registered in another country the passengers are under that countries jurisdiction. some say no it's the USA if docked and boarded in a USA port. Need clarification please.

Thanks for your help as always.

[JimmyHou 615]

I'm just re doing my N-400 to the newest version. I'm still a little confused with part 8 - Time Outside the United States during the last 5 years.

If we are doing the 3 year thing because we married a US citizen what do we need here? Even times we lived in our own country but visited USA, or just the time we have lived here. Any attachment required?

I'm still not convinced on the cruise issue as well. It clearly states online that if the ship you board is registered in another country the passengers are under that countries jurisdiction. some say no it's the USA if docked and boarded in a USA port. Need clarification please.

Thanks for your help as always.

Fill it out for the last 5 years if you want to follow the instructions as written.

Fill it out for the last 3 years if you want to give USCIS only the information they are going to need to review your eligibility.

People have done both and no one has posted about problems with this.

Either way, don't worry about it and explain what you've done to your interviewer.

They want times outside the US, so the earlier 2 years would be all (or almost all) outside the US. No attachments required; they will review your passport stamps at the itnerview.

Same for the cruise ship... don't overthink it... if you're not sure, then list it... unless it pushes you over the physical presence limit, then there's no problem.

Edited April 13, 2016 by JimmyHou

[at long last 58]

Thank you for your help. I will not include the other 2 years prior to USA POE. as for the cruise. We had a stop in Mexico and have no clue when officially we entered out departed Mexican water and port.

[at long last 58]

I also don't know about the new question Part 2 - question 6, USCIS online account number. does that refer to where we go to check our case status? If so I don't see an account number, only my login username? where do I look for the number?

[JimmyHou 615]

Thank you for your help. I will not include the other 2 years prior to USA POE. as for the cruise. We had a stop in Mexico and have no clue when officially we entered out departed Mexican water and port.

If you stopped in Mexico, then you definitely need to list this trip.

Ideally, you'd list your departure date as the last time you left a US port before going to Mexico and your return date as the day you entered the first US port after Mexico. Any US or Mexican passport stamps could help you find these dates. If there are no stamps, you can look up your cruise itinerary to find the dates.

If you can't find those dates, then list the whole trip (as long as it doesn't push you over the physical presence limit) and just explain it to your interviewer.

[at long last 58]

Thanks, I've prepared an attachment with the whole itinerary. That should cover it i think.