Harveyspecter

Hi all,

Just one quick question. I am filing my N-400 (Naturalisation application) and have everything filled out. However under section 8 (Employment and schools attended) it says to list any most recent employer, schools or unemployment (if applicable). Does that mean if you were simply unemployed or if you CLAIMED unemployment (Which I cannot do as a LPR).
I was unemployed for nearly a year from moving to the US as a LPR to getting a job, I believe I need to list that but my wife seems to think it is if I claimed unemployment. Can someone confirm my thinking is correct?

If I do put it down, do I need to add an additional explanation or would that simply be asked at the interview?

MidAtlantic

I took it to mean time when I was not working. In other words there should be no gaps in the time period.

Harveyspecter

Thanks for confirming, it's what I suspected

retzie

No, "unemployed" doesn't have any connection to collecting unemployment; it just means "not employed".

Note that if you are filing the form online, it won't let you have ANY gaps. So even if you had a week off between jobs, you need to put that in as "unemployed". Same goes for addresses, which is even more annoying (errr, "an AirBnB before my lease started"??).

I had a lot of changes on both fronts while a PR, so this was an almighty pain in the ar$e!

Noorah101

BTW, an LPR can claim unemployment benefits, as it's not a means-tested benefit, it's provided by the employer. But the employer has to be US based, so in your case of having no job right after arrival in the USA, you are right, you didn't qualify at that time. Not because you were an LPR, but because you were not let go from a US employer.

Rene

civilservant

Unemployed mans unemployed, and retzie is correct that the online form will not let you leave gaps.