Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
#1
Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
Hi Everyone,
I am after a practical heads-up, and am asking for your opinions....
There is a chance I can get leave in March 2010 to go back to the UK.
After looking online, I see I can leave the USA whilst processing my application - I just have to be here for the interview etc.
Is it true, that I could alter my date for my interview if needed, or, does this **&* up things?
I'm living in South Carolina - so my service centre is Texas. Would you recommend starting the process now, or would you wait until returning?
Many thanks for your input
Lee
I am after a practical heads-up, and am asking for your opinions....
There is a chance I can get leave in March 2010 to go back to the UK.
After looking online, I see I can leave the USA whilst processing my application - I just have to be here for the interview etc.
Is it true, that I could alter my date for my interview if needed, or, does this **&* up things?
I'm living in South Carolina - so my service centre is Texas. Would you recommend starting the process now, or would you wait until returning?
Many thanks for your input
Lee
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
Yes... you also need to ensure that being outside the US doesn't negatively impact the "continuous residency" or "physical presence" requirements.
Yes, it's true. But it could set you back many months and there is *no* guarantee that your notice gets to the right people. They might not know you wanted to alter the date and if you don't show up when they're expecting you to be there, they could summarily close your case and you won't know about it... possibly for many, many months afterwards when it's too late to fix things.
If you apply now, you might get an interview prior to the time you leave. You might even get an oath ceremony before you leave... but if that happens, you'll then need a US passport to travel and that might throw a wrench into your travel plans.
If it was me, I'd wait... but you must gauge your own risk tolerance.
Ian
Is it true, that I could alter my date for my interview if needed, or, does this **&* up things?
Would you recommend starting the process now, or would you wait until returning?
If it was me, I'd wait... but you must gauge your own risk tolerance.
Ian
#3
Re: Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
Based on very recent experiences at Texas Service Center (TSC), I would file the N-400 now. TSC has been approving cases very quickly lately, and people have been getting interviews and oaths scheduled in 3-4 months.
Once you leave the US, specially if you will be living in the UK for a long time, you start having to worry about physical presence and residence requirements, as Ian mentions. You can still file later, but you need to be very careful to demonstrate that you still meet the requirements.
Once you leave the US, specially if you will be living in the UK for a long time, you start having to worry about physical presence and residence requirements, as Ian mentions. You can still file later, but you need to be very careful to demonstrate that you still meet the requirements.
#4
Re: Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
Hi Everyone,
I am after a practical heads-up, and am asking for your opinions....
There is a chance I can get leave in March 2010 to go back to the UK.
After looking online, I see I can leave the USA whilst processing my application - I just have to be here for the interview etc.
Is it true, that I could alter my date for my interview if needed, or, does this **&* up things?
I'm living in South Carolina - so my service centre is Texas. Would you recommend starting the process now, or would you wait until returning?
Many thanks for your input
Lee
I am after a practical heads-up, and am asking for your opinions....
There is a chance I can get leave in March 2010 to go back to the UK.
After looking online, I see I can leave the USA whilst processing my application - I just have to be here for the interview etc.
Is it true, that I could alter my date for my interview if needed, or, does this **&* up things?
I'm living in South Carolina - so my service centre is Texas. Would you recommend starting the process now, or would you wait until returning?
Many thanks for your input
Lee
You'll have to do some looking up for processing times.
Your Service Center has nothing to do with that; find your local office here: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplay.do
Within a month of sending your application in, expect to have a biometrics appointment. After that, it's just waiting for the interview. Generally, it would be within 6 months of applying.
It's your call, you don't say how long you'll be away.
#5
Re: Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
Or is it different?
#6
Re: Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
There was a thread recently on N-400 experiences around the country. That will have more timeline details.
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Charleston SC, USA, North Yorkshire, now Malta
Posts: 632
Re: Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
Hi Everyone,
I am after a practical heads-up, and am asking for your opinions....
There is a chance I can get leave in March 2010 to go back to the UK.
After looking online, I see I can leave the USA whilst processing my application - I just have to be here for the interview etc.
Is it true, that I could alter my date for my interview if needed, or, does this **&* up things?
I'm living in South Carolina - so my service centre is Texas. Would you recommend starting the process now, or would you wait until returning?
Many thanks for your input
Lee
I am after a practical heads-up, and am asking for your opinions....
There is a chance I can get leave in March 2010 to go back to the UK.
After looking online, I see I can leave the USA whilst processing my application - I just have to be here for the interview etc.
Is it true, that I could alter my date for my interview if needed, or, does this **&* up things?
I'm living in South Carolina - so my service centre is Texas. Would you recommend starting the process now, or would you wait until returning?
Many thanks for your input
Lee
Hey, I'm in SC too. I sent my N 400 application in to Texas July 20 this year. I just had my check cashed Aug 17. Still waiting for a receipt. Just to give you an idea of what it might be like in SC.
#13
Re: Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
Thanks everyone for your input
I should have made it clearer, my trip back to Blighty will only be a holiday - I will not have any problems with the residence requirements.
It seems borderline to do it from what I am reading here so far.
Aes, I would be interested to hear your experience - thank you
cheers ya'll!
I should have made it clearer, my trip back to Blighty will only be a holiday - I will not have any problems with the residence requirements.
It seems borderline to do it from what I am reading here so far.
Aes, I would be interested to hear your experience - thank you
cheers ya'll!
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Charleston SC, USA, North Yorkshire, now Malta
Posts: 632
Re: Timeline for N400 and leaving USA
Thanks everyone for your input
I should have made it clearer, my trip back to Blighty will only be a holiday - I will not have any problems with the residence requirements.
It seems borderline to do it from what I am reading here so far.
Aes, I would be interested to hear your experience - thank you
cheers ya'll!
I should have made it clearer, my trip back to Blighty will only be a holiday - I will not have any problems with the residence requirements.
It seems borderline to do it from what I am reading here so far.
Aes, I would be interested to hear your experience - thank you
cheers ya'll!
Timline so far (short, only the beginning!!)
Mailed N400 8/20/09
Priority Date 8/23/09
check cashed 8/17/09
NOA receipt 8/20/09
As far as I can tell, average processing time for Charleston is 5 months. Wait and see with fingers, toes, arms, legs, turn into Gumby, crossed!!!!