Citizenship Process Timeline

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mogambo1

Registered Users (C)
These are hypothetical questions but based on my real case.

Received GC in on Nov 2007.
Dated: 11/1/2007
Date of Expiration: 11/13/2017
Date I become eligible to file N-400: 8/1/2012 based on 90 day advanced application rule.
Eligible for Citizenship: Based on 5y stay

90-day prior application rule: I will dispatch my N-400 app to USCIS on 07/31/2012
At best it will be delivered to USCIS on: 08/1/2012 (Exact 90th day before 11/1/2012: 5y)

Continuous stay in USA after GC: 11/01/2007- 01/15/2010 with just 1 month trip abroad in this period.

After 01/15/2010 several trips of small duration, longest 4m20d.

Expected outside trips before N-400 application in 8/1/2012: 2x 5m in future from today.

Now my questions are:

(1) Can I mail my application on exact 90-days before 5 years or even earlier. Are we allowed to mail more than 90-day ahead of 5y or it is expected that USCIS should get my N-400 no more than 90-days ahead of 5y time but 90th day is okay? For counting 90-days at the time of interview do they consider mail receiving date or their notice date which can be generated as much as week after their actual mail receiving date, or they use PD date?

(2) If I do above then will they wait for my 5y to complete before processing my application that is till 11/1/2012, and they wont touch my case till then?

(3) Also lets say I send my application as per above plan will they start processing it and can they schedule an FP appointment before 11/1/2012 or you think nothing will happen before exact 5 years (11/1/2012).

(4) Or will they begin processing my case but my interview cant be held before 11/1/2012, is that the rule?

(5) Do I expect to get interviewed on 11/1/2012 or after or it can happen before that date but actual oath cant be scheduled before 11/1/2012?

(6) I am asking all this since I foresee travelling during that time and have to plan accordingly, that is whether I should not travel after 8/1/2012 till I complete my oath or although I mail my application on 8/1/2012 but stay assured that nothing will happen on it till 11/1/2012 not even FP or biometrics so plan to stay at a stretch after 11/1/20122 till oath?

Thanks guys for reading and responding. A lot of planning goes on a year ahead for all this to happen and done properly since a I am requesting a position from a US employer during my stay in US at that time.
 
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1. If they receive your application before 90 days to your fifth anniversally they will reject it. The worst thing is that they may not even catch up with it until during your interview and get rejected at that point! As others have mentioned you are safer to send it like 85 days to your 5th just to leave some room for any crazy counting difference that may occur.
2. As above.
3. As above.
4. Interview can be done before your fifth BUT oath can not.
5. As above no. 4.
6. You are better of to wait until you are done with the process unless you really have to travel.
Other members can weigh in, good luck.

mogambo1 said:
These are hypothetical questions but based on my real case.

Received GC in on Nov 2007.
Dated: 11/1/2007
Date of Expiration: 11/13/2017
Date I become eligible to file N-400: 8/1/2012 based on 90 day advanced application rule.
Eligible for Citizenship: Based on 5y stay

90-day prior application rule: I will dispatch my N-400 app to USCIS on 07/31/2012
At best it will be delivered to USCIS on: 08/1/2012 (Exact 90th day before 11/1/2012: 5y)

Continuous stay in USA after GC: 11/01/2007- 01/15/2010 with just 1 month trip abroad in this period.

After 01/15/2010 several trips of small duration, longest 4m20d.

Expected outside trips before N-400 application in 8/1/2012: 2x 5m in future from today.

Now my questions are:

(1) Can I mail my application on exact 90-days before 5 years or even earlier. Are we allowed to mail more than 90-day ahead of 5y or it is expected that USCIS should get my N-400 no more than 90-days ahead of 5y time but 90th day is okay?

(2) If I do above then will they wait for my 5y to complete before processing my application that is till 11/1/2012, and they wont touch my case till then?

(3) Also lets say I send my application as per above plan will they start processing it and will schedule an FP appointment before 11/1/2012 or you think nothing will happen before exact 5 years (11/1/2012).

(4) Or will they begin processing my case but my interview cant be held before 11/1/2012, is that the rule?

(5) Do I expect to get interviewed on 11/1/2012 or after or it can happen before that date but actual oath cant be scheduled before 11/1/2012?

(6) I am asking all this since I foresee travelling during that time and have to plan accordingly, that is whether I should not travel after 8/1/2012 till I complete my oath or although I mail my application on 8/1/2012 but stay assured that nothing will happen on it till 11/1/2012 not even FP or biometrics so plan to stay at a stretch after 11/1/20122 till oath?

Thanks guys for reading and responding. A lot of planning goes on a year ahead for all this to happen and done properly since a I am requesting a position from a US employer during my stay in US at time.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for your reply. I saw your case's timeline in your signature, but would like to know what date is/was your 5y anniversary, is that 8/2/2011?
 
Just use the Early Filing Calculator

Google "uscis early filing calculator" and click on the appropriate link. Type in the necessary info then it will show you the earliest date you can file. Good luck.
 
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kahuni98 said:
Resident since 07/15/2006
Click to expand...

Great so you got yours in 3.7 months basically. Good you started the process by mailing your application exactly on 90th day prior to your 5-y anniversary date. I think I will do so. This also tells me that now a days they are doing it faster.

One more thought, you waited for your FPs to be done on the FP appointment date per your notice some people just walk in after they receive FP notice, so maybe those guys would get the Interview Call right on their 5th Anniversary date or maybe even other.

Has anybody's been interviewed before 5-y anniversary date and then oath on exact date as I believe interview does not make you citizen but oath and certificate does so it makes more sense to conduct oath on 5-y anniversary date or later while interview can even occur few days ahead of 5-y anniversary, I guess.
 
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There has been some arguments if walk-in for fingerprints really speed up the processing with some having opinion that it doesn't matter but if in your district they will allow you to get done earlier why not go for it, won't hurt.
What I have seen in this forum is if you get interviewed before your anniversally they will schedule your oath at a later date to satisfy for your 5th with an exception of one a few months back who had posted here that his/her application was denied for being interviewed earlier than the anniversally date.

mogambo1 said:
Great so you got your in 3.7 months basically. Good you started the process by mailing your application exactly on 90th day prior to your 5-y anniversary date. I think I will do so. This also tells me that now a days they are doing it faster.

One more thought, you waited for your FPs to be done on the FP appointment date per your notice some people just walk in after they receive FP notice, so maybe those guys would get the Interview Call right on their 5th Anniversary date or maybe even other.

Has anybody's been interviewed before 5-y anniversary date and then oath on exact date as I believe interview does not make you citizen but oath and certificate does so it makes more sense to conduct oath on 5-y anniversary date or later while interview can even occur few days ahead of 5-y anniversary, I guess.
Click to expand...
 
Okay, so that means that I have to be in US for at least those 4months after I send my application to expect FP appointment, then interview and then oath. I would be there anyhow during other months but now it appears I have to there during those months even though I may be in US at other times, unless I start my process in such a way that I end up getting FP, Interview and Oath done in those time when I could in US anyway per my pre-planned visits and vacations.
 
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