Does travel outside us affect N400??? Please help

[Andocjourney 2]

I travelled out of country for 5 times during my 3 years green card. Every trips took around 1-2 months. I did the FP last month. Now I want to go back to visit my family for a month. Does it affect my n400's decision because I am travelling too many times? Please help, thank you

Edited July 27, 2017 by Andocjourney

[milimelo 4,283]

No. 

[texaspanpan 0]

not at all.  

[NewOrleansJerry 12]

In part 9 of the N-400 you need to document your time outside of the USA.  The time you spend outside of the country is not credited to your 3 or 5 year requirement.

[Andocjourney 2]

1 hour ago, NewOrleansJerry said:

In part 9 of the N-400 you need to document your time outside of the USA.  The time you spend outside of the country is not credited to your 3 or 5 year requirement.

I know but I mean will they question or any effect from travelling like my case? Thank u

[nightingalejules 678]

No, it shouldn't... if your information is accurate, the maximum time (if you'd been absent for 2 months x 5 trips, + 1 month this trip) you'd have been absent for a total of 11 months out of the past 3 years. You only have to have been physically present for a minimum of 18 months in 3 years. If you'd had trips of longer than 6mo out of the country on one trip, you might have a problem, but this is fine. (Of course it makes me a little jealous that you can afford to travel so much - I wish I could take 2 months to go on a trip!)

[Andocjourney 2]

6 hours ago, nightingalejules said:

No, it shouldn't... if your information is accurate, the maximum time (if you'd been absent for 2 months x 5 trips, + 1 month this trip) you'd have been absent for a total of 11 months out of the past 3 years. You only have to have been physically present for a minimum of 18 months in 3 years. If you'd had trips of longer than 6mo out of the country on one trip, you might have a problem, but this is fine. (Of course it makes me a little jealous that you can afford to travel so much - I wish I could take 2 months to go on a trip!)

Have u been experienced or knwon someone similar like mine? I read and understand about all those, I am just worried that it may affect mine. I have been waiting long time so I dont want to ruin it. Hehe iI still have family back home, that is why I come back often. Trust me, all my money and family's go there 😅😅

[nightingalejules 678]

5 hours ago, Andocjourney said:

Have u been experienced or knwon someone similar like mine? I read and understand about all those, I am just worried that it may affect mine. I have been waiting long time so I dont want to ruin it. Hehe iI still have family back home, that is why I come back often. Trust me, all my money and family's go there 😅😅

Well, I haven't applied yet, but I've spent a fair amount of time outside the US, especially at the beginning of my conditional residency, finishing up business in Canada and visiting family. The wording in the N-400 instructions is pretty clear (if you're used to reading legalese) and define the amount of time you're allowed to be out of the country while still qualifying for citizenship. As long as you've been physically in the US for 18mo (1/2 of 3 years) and never out of the country for more than 6 months at a time, you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever.

Good luck!

[alguien 1]

On 7/28/2017 at 2:42 PM, nightingalejules said:

Well, I haven't applied yet, but I've spent a fair amount of time outside the US, especially at the beginning of my conditional residency, finishing up business in Canada and visiting family. The wording in the N-400 instructions is pretty clear (if you're used to reading legalese) and define the amount of time you're allowed to be out of the country while still qualifying for citizenship. As long as you've been physically in the US for 18mo (1/2 of 3 years) and never out of the country for more than 6 months at a time, you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever.

Good luck!

 

What about borderline "technically" enough days cases? Let's say, out of the 548 required days (18 months times 30 plus a few days for months having 31) someone has 550-ish days at the time of applying... technically it meets the requirement... I wonder how IOs treat such cases...?

 

 

 

[nightingalejules 678]

2 minutes ago, alguien said:

 

What about borderline "technically" enough days cases? Let's say, out of the 548 required days (18 months times 30 plus a few days for months having 31) someone has 550-ish days at the time of applying... technically it meets the requirement... I wonder how IOs treat such cases...?

 

 

 

If I were you, I'd wait until I was at the required number of days at the time of application, even if that meant waiting a couple of weeks to apply. I understand your math, but I suspect that if the numbers on the application say you haven't been in the country for enough days, they might just deny.

[Charro 17]

On 7/28/2017 at 9:28 AM, Andocjourney said:

Have u been experienced or knwon someone similar like mine? I read and understand about all those, I am just worried that it may affect mine. I have been waiting long time so I dont want to ruin it. Hehe iI still have family back home, that is why I come back often. Trust me, all my money and family's go there 😅😅

@Andocjourney you are fine. I am just like you. I have lots of family back home and my American husband and kids love going back to my home as well so we have made many visits. Many! We once had buddy passes so we would be there quite a bit.  BUT we  never stayed for long periods , a long weekend here and there and as my kids were /are in school all breaks were timed with their school vacation. The longest we were away was maybe 2 1/2 weeks. And remember they are looking at the travel history from the last 3 or 5 years ( dependent on what category you are filing under ). On my application I listed about 6 trips. The longest was 1 1/2 weeks. I even had one year that some trips occurred almost back to back. As I had a funeral and two planned vacations for that same year.

So it really looks like you will be fine. Just list the travel times for the last 3 or 5 years and of course bring all passports to verify. Good luck!

[Going through 5,668]

On 8/17/2017 at 3:53 AM, nightingalejules said:

If I were you, I'd wait until I was at the required number of days at the time of application, even if that meant waiting a couple of weeks to apply. I understand your math, but I suspect that if the numbers on the application say you haven't been in the country for enough days, they might just deny.

I agree with the above.   If you are very close numbers-wise at the time you file, just wait a little while before submitting your application.

 

Applicants can be denied for not having enough physical days in the US, so you want to make sure you being careful and accurate with the information you are giving them.  Sit down and calculate your total time spent outside of the US (note that the day of exit, and day of entry are not supposed to be counted since those two days are less than 24 hours---if you have been including them, subtract them from your final total as your numbers will drop down a bit more.)

[nightingalejules 678]

17 minutes ago, Going through said:

I agree with the above.   If you are very close numbers-wise at the time you file, just wait a little while before submitting your application.

 

Applicants can be denied for not having enough physical days in the US, so you want to make sure you being careful and accurate with the information you are giving them.  Sit down and calculate your total time spent outside of the US (note that the day of exit, and day of entry are not supposed to be counted since those two days are less than 24 hours---if you have been including them, subtract them from your final total as your numbers will drop down a bit more.)

I think you have to count one of those days - either the day you leave OR the day you return, but not both.

[Going through 5,668]

4 hours ago, nightingalejules said:

I think you have to count one of those days - either the day you leave OR the day you return, but not both.

From what I understand (can't remember the exact wording on the form I filled out) exit/entry days count as "partial days" since time is also in the US.  I guess it would also depend on length of plane ride and when you actually land back on US soil.  I do remember it being the most confusing part of the form, though, for me because I had no stamps on either side of the border to rely on lol

Edited August 19, 2017 by Going through

[marcusa 31]

On 7/26/2017 at 8:24 PM, Andocjourney said:

I travelled out of country for 5 times during my 3 years green card. Every trips took around 1-2 months. I did the FP last month. Now I want to go back to visit my family for a month. Does it affect my n400's decision because I am travelling too many times? Please help, thank you

During N400 processing,  lots of immigration lawyers recommend NOT to travel oversea unless you have to.

 

it's your decision to make if you REALLY have to visit your home and family with a pending-case.