Change of state after filing N400

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498a

Guest
I am currently eligible to apply for my citizenship but I am also unemployed. I am applying for a job pretty much every where in USA. So, I would like to know if I send my N400 application from my current state and then move to another state if I get a job then what happens to my application?
Also, I don't know when I will get a job so I may move either right after filing N400 or after FP or after interview.
I would appreciate any input and advice on this dilemma. If anyone has gone through similar situation then it will be even more helpful to here their experience.
Thanks!
 
498a said:
I am currently eligible to apply for my citizenship but I am also unemployed. I am applying for a job pretty much every where in USA. So, I would like to know if I send my N400 application from my current state and then move to another state if I get a job then what happens to my application?
Also, I don't know when I will get a job so I may move either right after filing N400 or after FP or after interview.
I would appreciate any input and advice on this dilemma. If anyone has gone through similar situation then it will be even more helpful to here their experience.
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Why don't you settle your personal life (job, residence) first? With the economy being the way it is, the priority will be to find a job rather than get embroiled in the nitty gritties of address change, follow up to see what happened, watching mail, and so on.

If you apply N400 and then move, you will need to report it. Depending on which stage you are in, they will need to move the file to the new DO, and probably there will be a wait of 3 months. But if you want to file and move when you get a job ... sure you can.
 
Applying now and permanently moving later can cause up to a 3 month due to jurisdiction change. On the other hand, permanently moving and then applying will first require 3 months of district residency. Either way, there will be a delay in processing.
 
Thanks for all your answers!
The reason I want to apply now is I don't know when I will get a job (tomorrow or 6 months from now). So, why wait to apply for citizenship?
I only wanted to know if it is allowed to file N400 and then move to a different state? The answer seems to be YES. But I think there could be unnecessary complications and stress if I apply and move in terms of changing address and tracking it's change, right? But on the other hand I may get my citizenship before I get a job. So, this is the dilemma!
 
498a said:
But I think there could be unnecessary complications and stress if I apply and move in terms of changing address and tracking it's change, right?
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Not really since USCIS has a address notification process in place. Like any application, you need to make periodic inquiries on your case to make sure it is being processed.
 
All,
Here's the news - I got a job in another state and will be moving there in next few weeks. What I need to ask everyone is can I change my address to a new address in the state before actually moving by sending form AR-11? I have a friend who lives there and I can change my address say starting Jan 01, 2010 to his address. Doing this will save me almost a month on the 3 month district residency requirement.
I know some of you may say what's the rush but I do need to get my citizenship ASAP for some personal reasons.
I plan on moving somewhere in the 3rd week of Jan. and will probably stay at my friends place until I search for my own. So, I was thinking to change my address online on USCIS website to my friend's address in that state. I won't have any utility or home telephone bills on my name at that address. So, please advise me if it's ok to change my address starting Jan. 01, 2010 for purposes of 3 month district residency rule? Of course I will try to also move afterwards within the same district as my friend's to make things simple.
Thanks!
 
498a said:
All,
Here's the news - I got a job in another state and will be moving there in next few weeks. What I need to ask everyone is can I change my address to a new address in the state before actually moving by sending form AR-11? I have a friend who lives there and I can change my address say starting Jan 01, 2010 to his address. Doing this will save me almost a month on the 3 month district residency requirement.
I know some of you may say what's the rush but I do need to get my citizenship ASAP for some personal reasons.
I plan on moving somewhere in the 3rd week of Jan. and will probably stay at my friends place until I search for my own. So, I was thinking to change my address online on USCIS website to my friend's address in that state. I won't have any utility or home telephone bills on my name at that address. So, please advise me if it's ok to change my address starting Jan. 01, 2010 for purposes of 3 month district residency rule? Of course I will try to also move afterwards within the same district as my friend's to make things simple.
Thanks!
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Changing your physical address before you actually move is misrepresentation in order to get around district residency requirement. Not really a good idea when it comes to USCIS.
 
Ok! But say after I move I will probably stay at my friends place until I find an apartment for myself. So, will that be ok? I mean can that stay be still counted in the 3 month requirement or do I have to live in my own place for 3 months?
 
498a said:
Ok! But say after I move I will probably stay at my friends place until I find an apartment for myself. So, will that be ok? I mean can that stay be still counted in the 3 month requirement or do I have to live in my own place for 3 months?
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As long as its in the same district area it's fine.
 
498a said:
Ok! But say after I move I will probably stay at my friends place until I find an apartment for myself. So, will that be ok? I mean can that stay be still counted in the 3 month requirement or do I have to live in my own place for 3 months?
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Are you going to file AR-11, first to your friend's place and then to your apartment?
[ This is a hint, not a question per se. ]
 
Yes I plan to first file AR-11 to my friends address and then once I move to my place I will file another AR-11.
 
USCIS has a habit of botching address changes in one way or another, including sending notices to your old address (and the post office usually doesn't forward them). Other hiccups include setting an interview date for a time before you have completed the 3 month district requirement, only to have them later send a deschedule notice when they realize the 3 month issue, and then you sit and wait forever for a new interview date.

Since your move is only next month, keep things smoother by moving first, waiting out the 3 months, and then filing the N-400, so you will hold only one address throughout the N-400 process rather than risking screwups by USCIS due to mid-stream address changes. And don't forget to change your driver's license to the new state as soon as you move, as that is another thing USCIS looks at.
 
Jackolantern,
Yes I understand what you are saying but as I said before I need to get my citizenship as early as I can for some personal reasons.
But because of what you have said I decided not to apply from my current state and wait until I move. The only thing is I am not sure when I will get my own place and so I will be staying at my friends. I don't want to lose this time (time I stay at my friends place) which could be 3-4 weeks. I will definitely try to move within the same district as my friend.
So, given that I will later on move in the same disctrict will there be any issue in terms of delay in processing after address change? Also, will USCIS say that you did not really stay on your own so that period will not be counted for district residency?
Thanks!
 
You've heard the arguments why it's a not so smart move to move, i.e. USCIS process screwups etc that are beyond your control.
You should decide what has your highest priority in your situation and concentrate on that. Having too many balls in the air makes for pretty tough juggling and a high risk of e.g. your N-400 proceedings to fall flat on the floor.
From what I understand from your prior posts, getting USC is pretty high on your list. In that case, the most expedient plan is to stay put where you are, file your N-400 and don't move until you have your oath date. Most districts have now fast enough processing (3-6 months) so you should be able to reduce your job search to local to make ends meet.
 
Jackolantern said:
Since your move is only next month, keep things smoother by moving first, waiting out the 3 months, and then filing the N-400, so you will hold only one address throughout the N-400 process rather than risking screwups by USCIS due to mid-stream address changes.
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The OP is moving within the same district area, so no need to wait out 3 months residency requirement after moving..
 
Bobsmyth said:
The OP is moving within the same district area, so no need to wait out 3 months residency requirement after moving..
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The friend's place and the new future place after that will be in the same district, but both those places are in a different district than the OP's current residence. Waiting 3 months after moving to the friends place, would avoid the situation where the interview is originally scheduled before the 3 month district requirement is fulfilled.

Having said that, waiting 1 or 2 months after moving to the friend's place should be sufficient in order to guard against having the interview scheduled before the 3 month district requirement cutoff. And if USCIS sends an interview or fingerprint notice to the friend's address, it is OK because the friend can alert the OP about it.
 
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498a said:
Jackolantern,
Yes I understand what you are saying but as I said before I need to get my citizenship as early as I can for some personal reasons.
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It seems you don't get what I was saying, which is that mid-stream address changes can make things take longer because of USCIS tendency to screw things up one way or the other when you move in the middle of the process, whether it is a district change issue or more general address change snafus.
 
Jackolantern,
I did not completely understand your Dec. 21st., 4.07pm reply? Can you please clarify? Also, who is OP (me)?
Thanks!
 
Jackolantern said:
The friend's place and the new future place after that will be in the same district, but both those places are in a different district than the OP's current residence.
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Yep, you're right. I just reread OP's post and he's moving to another state altogether. One way or another he'll need to wait 3 months before applying to meet district residency requirement.
 
498a said:
Jackolantern,
I did not completely understand your Dec. 21st., 4.07pm reply? Can you please clarify?
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There are two main things that could cause delays and other problems because of your move:

1. USCIS may not properly process your address change, resulting in sending mail to the old address. Sometimes they will even do stupid stuff like send the fingerprint notice to your new address, but then later send the interview letter to your old address.

If you wait until you are in your new permanent address before filing the N-400, you can avoid this problem, as you would not do any change of address during the process. However, in your specific case, it is not such a big problem if you apply when still temporarily in your friend's place, because if they continue to send mail to your friend's place after you move into your own place, your friend can notify you.

2. The interview must take place after you have completed the 3-month district requirement. If you apply soon after moving to the new district area, you run the risk of having the interview (mistakenly) scheduled for a date which is before you complete the 3-month requirement. This would result in you getting a deschedule notice shortly before the original interview date, or showing up at the interview and being turned away. Then you have to wait for a new interview date, which can sometimes take forever.

So the idea is to wait for 1 or 2 months after you move to the new state before submitting the N-400, so the interview will not be scheduled before you have completed 3 months in the new area.
Also, who is OP (me)?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
OP = original poster, which is you where this thread is concerned.
 
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