Traveling while N-400 naturalization is in progress

[Alice Y. 0]

Hello fellow immigrants, I have a question about international travel while my N-400 naturalization application is being processed. 

 

I filed my N-400 application last month and just last week had my biometrics appointment. I've been notified that my case is now being actively reviewed by USCIS. The personalized estimated time until case decision in my portal shows 10 months, and the general processing time for N-400 for my field office is listed as 16 months. I am wondering how much of a risk it would be to travel internationally (back to my home country) later this year. My concerns are:

 

1) I was asked to fill out last 5 years of travel history on my N-400 application, which I did accurately at the time of submitting the application. If I travel now, this travel record would be missing from what I submitted on my application, though technically the application itself was accurate at the time of filing.

2) If my case happens to be processed quickly, faster than the estimated time, it is possible I will be out of the country when my interview appointment is scheduled. (If I were to travel, it would be in September for a 1 month long trip, which is in 5 months time from now). I would then have to reschedule the appointment (which USCIS frowns on unless it is an emergency) or cut the trip short (which, depending on the notice time, may or may not be feasible). 

 

I am wondering, given the risk involved, if I should not go on this trip. The trip would be a family function, it is important but not an emergency. Normally I would be very cautious for any decision involving USCIS, however, the estimated processing times are pretty far out. I would love any information or advice - thanks!

[mytruelove18 607]

9 minutes ago, Alice Y. said:

Hello fellow immigrants, I have a question about international travel while my N-400 naturalization application is being processed. 

 

I filed my N-400 application last month and just last week had my biometrics appointment. I've been notified that my case is now being actively reviewed by USCIS. The personalized estimated time until case decision in my portal shows 10 months, and the general processing time for N-400 for my field office is listed as 16 months. I am wondering how much of a risk it would be to travel internationally (back to my home country) later this year. My concerns are:

 

1) I was asked to fill out last 5 years of travel history on my N-400 application, which I did accurately at the time of submitting the application. If I travel now, this travel record would be missing from what I submitted on my application, though technically the application itself was accurate at the time of filing.

2) If my case happens to be processed quickly, faster than the estimated time, it is possible I will be out of the country when my interview appointment is scheduled. (If I were to travel, it would be in September for a 1 month long trip, which is in 5 months time from now). I would then have to reschedule the appointment (which USCIS frowns on unless it is an emergency) or cut the trip short (which, depending on the notice time, may or may not be feasible). 

 

I am wondering, given the risk involved, if I should not go on this trip. The trip would be a family function, it is important but not an emergency. Normally I would be very cautious for any decision involving USCIS, however, the estimated processing times are pretty far out. I would love any information or advice - thanks!

I traveled while waiting, and wgen i was in my country they schedule my interview for december, i saw the status online, the status changed on november while in my country.

When i came back i uploaded the plane ticket and passport stampt to my online account.

I waited 8 months for my interview , i submitted my case on april 2022

[AHC_2015 130]

I guess it depends on your field office and how fast they're processing applications. My field office is Phoenix, AZ. I filed my N-400 on December 27, 2022, received my interview notice on February 2 and had my interview on March 10. My oath ceremony is this Friday. 

 

USCIS also listed 16 months as the processing time for my field office. When I applied it said 10 months. It eventually changed to 8 months and that's when my interview was scheduled so I wouldn't trust their estimates. 

[MarryMe987654 241]

I had this same thoughts when I applied for N400. 

 

After applying for N400 in December 10, 2022, I planned on traveling to the Philippines for 6 weeks because the processing time says 11 months.

 

I started following other people's N400 timelines and I have been seeing N400 movement as fast as 3 months so I thought, if there's no update by March 2023, I will book my ticket. My assumption was from getting interview notice to actual interview would happen around June-July.

 

Then Feb 27, 2023, I received a notification that interview has been scheduled--that's only 2+ months since I filed for N400.

My interview schedule is on April 5th--that's less than 2 months from getting the interview notification.

 

I'm glad I did not book anything in May because there's no way that I could do the oath taking and passport right after the interview. I assume that post-interview process will be done by July. So it looks like I can't plan any trip until then.

 

So personally, I think you are risking it by going overseas while with pending N400. But if you just filed yesterday and you plan to travel for a month tomorrow, you might be fine. Other than that, I would be very careful about setting travel plans because the estimated time published is only 80% of the cases... you might fall on the top 20%.

 

Goodluck!

[randomstairs 266]

On 3/19/2023 at 5:06 PM, Alice Y. said:

Hello fellow immigrants, I have a question about international travel while my N-400 naturalization application is being processed. 

 

I filed my N-400 application last month and just last week had my biometrics appointment. I've been notified that my case is now being actively reviewed by USCIS. The personalized estimated time until case decision in my portal shows 10 months, and the general processing time for N-400 for my field office is listed as 16 months. I am wondering how much of a risk it would be to travel internationally (back to my home country) later this year. My concerns are:

 

1) I was asked to fill out last 5 years of travel history on my N-400 application, which I did accurately at the time of submitting the application. If I travel now, this travel record would be missing from what I submitted on my application, though technically the application itself was accurate at the time of filing.

2) If my case happens to be processed quickly, faster than the estimated time, it is possible I will be out of the country when my interview appointment is scheduled. (If I were to travel, it would be in September for a 1 month long trip, which is in 5 months time from now). I would then have to reschedule the appointment (which USCIS frowns on unless it is an emergency) or cut the trip short (which, depending on the notice time, may or may not be feasible). 

 

I am wondering, given the risk involved, if I should not go on this trip. The trip would be a family function, it is important but not an emergency. Normally I would be very cautious for any decision involving USCIS, however, the estimated processing times are pretty far out. I would love any information or advice - thanks!

You'll probably get the interview scheduled before August. It takes 2-4 months, roughly, from the date of filing. (I wouldn't plan on traveling before the interview if I were in your position, but I'm very risk averse when it comes to USCIS.)

 

The interview notice should appear in your account a month or more before the interview date. So if you're traveling for only a month, and in September, it's not totally unreasonable to go ahead with buying the tickets. Just monitor the account on daily basis when abroad. (For me that would spoil the trip completely, but again, that's me.)