Questions on N-400 Naturalization application
Dec 23rd 2002, 12:16 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Connecticut, U.S.A.
Posts: 49
Questions on N-400 Naturalization application
I have a few questions regarding the N-400 naturalization application, and was wondering if anybody could help me out.
I filed my application under the "accelerated" program, which allows spouses of U.S. citizens to file after having been a lawful permanent resident for just three years, instead of the usual five. My application was filed on October 1, and I was fingerprinted a few weeks later, so now I am just waiting for the interview and for my own peace of mind want to make sure that I have done everything correctly.
1. For residence and employment, I have listed all residence and employment for the past three years while I have been in the United States, even though the form asks for five years of biographical information. Five years ago, my employment and residence was in the United Kingdom. Is this likely to present a problem, or can I just clarify it at interview if necessary?
2. One of the questions asks for details of all trips outside the U.S. in the past five years (which I presume is only three years in my case, since I have only been here for three years). I have made about ten trips to the UK and Canada since becoming a Permanent Resident, most of them lasting just a few days. Although I can ascertain the date of reentry into the United States from the stamps in my passport, I have had to guess the dates I left on each occasion since I have long discarded my plane tickets (neither the UK nor Canada stamps a British passport upon entry). So the total number of days I have given may be off by a day or two. The important thing is that none of my trips have lasted more than a couple of weeks, and I know I haven't spent more than about eight weeks outside the U.S. in total. Is this likely to present a problem if the number of days is off by a day or two? Can I clarify this at interview?
3. A year ago, I was pulled over by the cops and issued with a warning for not wearing a seatbelt. I was not fined, arrested or detained. Does this count as "being cited, arrested or detained by a law enforcement officer"? I said on the form that I had never been cited or arrested.
4. My spouse has only been married once, and that is to me. Under the question "How many times has your spouse been married?", I have written 1. Does this sound correct, or are they going to assume that I am referring to a prior marriage? (The form doesn't make clear whether the number includes the current marriage).
5. My application is being adjudicated by the Hartford district office. In the past, they have always been very fast and efficient in processing my paperwork. Does anybody have any experience in dealing with Hartford for naturalization, and if so, what kind of timeframe can I expect? (I understand that there are currently delays being caused by increased background checks).
I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I can't wait to become a U.S. citizen and just want to make sure that I have all my bases covered. If any of the above questions require clarification or correction, can I provide the relevant information to the immigration officer at interview?
Thanks for all your help, and have a very happy holiday.
I filed my application under the "accelerated" program, which allows spouses of U.S. citizens to file after having been a lawful permanent resident for just three years, instead of the usual five. My application was filed on October 1, and I was fingerprinted a few weeks later, so now I am just waiting for the interview and for my own peace of mind want to make sure that I have done everything correctly.
1. For residence and employment, I have listed all residence and employment for the past three years while I have been in the United States, even though the form asks for five years of biographical information. Five years ago, my employment and residence was in the United Kingdom. Is this likely to present a problem, or can I just clarify it at interview if necessary?
2. One of the questions asks for details of all trips outside the U.S. in the past five years (which I presume is only three years in my case, since I have only been here for three years). I have made about ten trips to the UK and Canada since becoming a Permanent Resident, most of them lasting just a few days. Although I can ascertain the date of reentry into the United States from the stamps in my passport, I have had to guess the dates I left on each occasion since I have long discarded my plane tickets (neither the UK nor Canada stamps a British passport upon entry). So the total number of days I have given may be off by a day or two. The important thing is that none of my trips have lasted more than a couple of weeks, and I know I haven't spent more than about eight weeks outside the U.S. in total. Is this likely to present a problem if the number of days is off by a day or two? Can I clarify this at interview?
3. A year ago, I was pulled over by the cops and issued with a warning for not wearing a seatbelt. I was not fined, arrested or detained. Does this count as "being cited, arrested or detained by a law enforcement officer"? I said on the form that I had never been cited or arrested.
4. My spouse has only been married once, and that is to me. Under the question "How many times has your spouse been married?", I have written 1. Does this sound correct, or are they going to assume that I am referring to a prior marriage? (The form doesn't make clear whether the number includes the current marriage).
5. My application is being adjudicated by the Hartford district office. In the past, they have always been very fast and efficient in processing my paperwork. Does anybody have any experience in dealing with Hartford for naturalization, and if so, what kind of timeframe can I expect? (I understand that there are currently delays being caused by increased background checks).
I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I can't wait to become a U.S. citizen and just want to make sure that I have all my bases covered. If any of the above questions require clarification or correction, can I provide the relevant information to the immigration officer at interview?
Thanks for all your help, and have a very happy holiday.
Dec 23rd 2002, 5:15 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Questions on N-400 Naturalization application
shaggy wrote:
>I have a few questions regarding the N-400 naturalization application,
>and was wondering if anybody could help me out.
>I filed my application under the "accelerated" program, which allows
>spouses of U.S. citizens to file after having been a lawful permanent
>resident for just three years, instead of the usual five. My application
>was filed on October 1, and I was fingerprinted a few weeks later, so
>now I am just waiting for the interview and for my own peace of mind
>want to make sure that I have done everything correctly.
>1. For residence and employment, I have listed all residence and
> employment for the past three years while I have been in the United
> States, even though the form asks for five years of biographical
> information. Five years ago, my employment and residence was in the
> United Kingdom. Is this likely to present a problem, or can I just
> clarify it at interview if necessary?
If they ask tell them where you lived in the UK.
>2. One of the questions asks for details of all trips outside the U.S.
> in the past five years (which I presume is only three years in my
> case, since I have only been here for three years). I have made about
> ten trips to the UK and Canada since becoming a Permanent Resident,
> most of them lasting just a few days. Although I can ascertain the
> date of reentry into the United States from the stamps in my
> passport, I have had to guess the dates I left on each occasion since
> I have long discarded my plane tickets (neither the UK nor Canada
> stamps a British passport upon entry). So the total number of days I
> have given may be off by a day or two. The important thing is that
> none of my trips have lasted more than a couple of weeks, and I know
> I haven't spent more than about eight weeks outside the U.S. in
> total. Is this likely to present a problem if the number of days is
> off by a day or two? Can I clarify this at interview?
They are mainly interested in the overall total legth of time out of
the US. A day or two does not matter. I had at least a dozen trips
and it never came up during the interview.
>3. A year ago, I was pulled over by the cops and issued with a warning
> for not wearing a seatbelt. I was not fined, arrested or detained.
> Does this count as "being cited, arrested or detained by a law
> enforcement officer"? I said on the form that I had never been cited
> or arrested.
I'd say no on this one, but I should not be an issue if you admitted
it. Just answer honestly based on your understanding of the question.
>4. My spouse has only been married once, and that is to me. Under the
> question "How many times has your spouse been married?", I have
> written 1. Does this sound correct, or are they going to assume that
> I am referring to a prior marriage? (The form doesn't make clear
> whether the number includes the current marriage).
Never came up during my interview, but I filed over 5 years after I
got residency through my wife. My lawyer still told me to check the
3yrs as spouse of a citizen check box.
>5. My application is being adjudicated by the Hartford district office.
> In the past, they have always been very fast and efficient in
> processing my paperwork. Does anybody have any experience in dealing
> with Hartford for naturalization, and if so, what kind of timeframe
> can I expect? (I understand that there are currently delays being
> caused by increased background checks).
Sorry, I did San Antonio. It took 6 months to interview and another 6
months to get the swearing in notice since Dallas lost my file. Two
week later I got "de-scheduled" for more background checks.
>I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I can't wait to become a U.S.
>citizen and just want to make sure that I have all my bases covered. If
>any of the above questions require clarification or correction, can I
>provide the relevant information to the immigration officer at
>interview?
>Thanks for all your help, and have a very happy holiday.
Good luck
>I have a few questions regarding the N-400 naturalization application,
>and was wondering if anybody could help me out.
>I filed my application under the "accelerated" program, which allows
>spouses of U.S. citizens to file after having been a lawful permanent
>resident for just three years, instead of the usual five. My application
>was filed on October 1, and I was fingerprinted a few weeks later, so
>now I am just waiting for the interview and for my own peace of mind
>want to make sure that I have done everything correctly.
>1. For residence and employment, I have listed all residence and
> employment for the past three years while I have been in the United
> States, even though the form asks for five years of biographical
> information. Five years ago, my employment and residence was in the
> United Kingdom. Is this likely to present a problem, or can I just
> clarify it at interview if necessary?
If they ask tell them where you lived in the UK.
>2. One of the questions asks for details of all trips outside the U.S.
> in the past five years (which I presume is only three years in my
> case, since I have only been here for three years). I have made about
> ten trips to the UK and Canada since becoming a Permanent Resident,
> most of them lasting just a few days. Although I can ascertain the
> date of reentry into the United States from the stamps in my
> passport, I have had to guess the dates I left on each occasion since
> I have long discarded my plane tickets (neither the UK nor Canada
> stamps a British passport upon entry). So the total number of days I
> have given may be off by a day or two. The important thing is that
> none of my trips have lasted more than a couple of weeks, and I know
> I haven't spent more than about eight weeks outside the U.S. in
> total. Is this likely to present a problem if the number of days is
> off by a day or two? Can I clarify this at interview?
They are mainly interested in the overall total legth of time out of
the US. A day or two does not matter. I had at least a dozen trips
and it never came up during the interview.
>3. A year ago, I was pulled over by the cops and issued with a warning
> for not wearing a seatbelt. I was not fined, arrested or detained.
> Does this count as "being cited, arrested or detained by a law
> enforcement officer"? I said on the form that I had never been cited
> or arrested.
I'd say no on this one, but I should not be an issue if you admitted
it. Just answer honestly based on your understanding of the question.
>4. My spouse has only been married once, and that is to me. Under the
> question "How many times has your spouse been married?", I have
> written 1. Does this sound correct, or are they going to assume that
> I am referring to a prior marriage? (The form doesn't make clear
> whether the number includes the current marriage).
Never came up during my interview, but I filed over 5 years after I
got residency through my wife. My lawyer still told me to check the
3yrs as spouse of a citizen check box.
>5. My application is being adjudicated by the Hartford district office.
> In the past, they have always been very fast and efficient in
> processing my paperwork. Does anybody have any experience in dealing
> with Hartford for naturalization, and if so, what kind of timeframe
> can I expect? (I understand that there are currently delays being
> caused by increased background checks).
Sorry, I did San Antonio. It took 6 months to interview and another 6
months to get the swearing in notice since Dallas lost my file. Two
week later I got "de-scheduled" for more background checks.
>I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I can't wait to become a U.S.
>citizen and just want to make sure that I have all my bases covered. If
>any of the above questions require clarification or correction, can I
>provide the relevant information to the immigration officer at
>interview?
>Thanks for all your help, and have a very happy holiday.
Good luck
