N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

Forgive me if this has been asked before, I did run a search on previous threads.

I'm a handful of days away from being eligible to submit an N-400 application for naturalization to USCIS.

My application is based on marriage to a US citizen (by birth) and having lived here for 3 years (minus the 90 days which I believe they allow for these applications)

Part 9 of form N-400 asks exactly this:

1. "How many total days (24 hours or longer) did you spend outside the United States during the last 5 years?

2. "How many trips of 24 hours or longer have you taken outside the United States during the last 5 years?


My question is, since my application is based on 3 years, do I calculate the above based on a 3 years period, or do I literally calculate the days spent outside of the US for the 2 years prior to the commencement of my residency?

And then how might I calculate all my trips (since I guess technically every trip was outside of the US asides from the trips I purposefully made to the US) :confused: :confused:

Thanks all!

Re: N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

Yes the form is designed for the 5 year applicant, so at various points you have to adjust. So you calculate all time outside the USA in 3 years.

Re: N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

You can base your answers on 3 years.

Not sure what you mean by "how might I calculate all my trips"? You simply count the number of days you were outside the USA during the last 3 years.

Rene

Re: N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

As an aside, if one is close to the limits, do note that if any part of a day is in the United States, then the ENTIRE day counts as a day in the United States. So, if one leaves early Tuesday to return late Thursday, there has been only one day out. (The automatic calculators on electronic versions of the forms and DHS officers are known to miss this).

Re: N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

Thanks all, that's really helpful, I will respond per my three years.

One more final question:

Per the Required Evidence section, uscis strongly recommends I bring copies of my tax returns. Since I have been here for not quite three full years, will it be a problem only providing two years' of tax returns?

Re: N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

No. You can only provide what you have.

Rene

Re: N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

Thank you, Noorah.

Re: N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

Also since you are naturalizing under the 3 year married to a Yank rule, also be sure to bring with you, your marriage certificate, proof of life together, tax returns that you have, etc. While you might be asked for anything, they might well want to see that the marriage is still ongoing and viable. Rather safe than sorry.

Re: N-400 Part 9 Time Outside of the US
 

Excellent, will do. Thank you, Rete.