Are there travel restrictions after filing N-400 ?

T

The New Guy

New Member
Hello,
I filed my marriage based N-400 on April 29th this year in California, later we moved to Virginia (July 1st) after I finished my school, and changed my address with the USCIS immediately. Few days after I arrived here I received a notice to appear for an initial interview in San Francisco, the funny thing is that this notice was sent to my new address in Virginia. When I called the 800 number the lady on the phone started saying how I should have "committed" to the location I filed my application in for 90 days or so. I could swear I've read the N-400 instructions several times, I didn't find anything about this commitment, I had to move for a job, was there any thing wrong with what I did? I already contacted both CA & VA field offices in writing, and I'm still waiting to hear from them. What do you think will happen next?
 
No, you didn't do anything wrong ;) The general thing is that moving and USCIS cannot go in the same sentence. Now, seriously, no there is no restriction, there is a restriction about having to live for 90 days or three months (I forgot which one) in a place before applying, but it says nothing about after applying. However, in practical terms your move is probably going to cause you a few headaches in terms of waiting to see if USCIS transfers things properly to Virginia. It is probably going to cause some delays, but I hope that at the end it works fine.

What that lady probably meant is that you would have been much better and had had a smoother experience if you had stayed put during the N-400 processing, but you have to do what you have to do, so don't feel bad about it.
 
Huracan said:
No, you didn't do anything wrong ;) The general thing is that moving and USCIS cannot go in the same sentence. Now, seriously, no there is no restriction, there is a restriction about having to live for 90 days or three months (I forgot which one) in a place before applying, but it says nothing about after applying. However, in practical terms your move is probably going to cause you a few headaches in terms of waiting to see if USCIS transfers things properly to Virginia. It is probably going to cause some delays, but I hope that at the end it works fine.

What that lady probably meant is that you would have been much better and had had a smoother experience if you had stayed put during the N-400 processing, but you have to do what you have to do, so don't feel bad about it.
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Thanks, it's not that I feel bad about it, I just wanna see if I should look into getting a lawyer to help if this move will complicate things, I don't mind waiting a couple of months though if that is the case.
Thanks again for chiming in
 
At the time of the interview, you must be living in the district where the interview takes place, and you must have been living in that district for at least 90 days. So you need to set up another interview for sometime in October or later (at least 90 days since your July move).
 
It would be pointless going to SF for your interview because that DO no longer has jurisdiction over your case. You need to write to USCIS, explain the situation and enclose the interview appointment letter. They will (eventually) get around to scheduling you for an interview in Virginia, but don't be surprised if it takes 3-4 months.
 
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