Filing for citizenship - Few simple questions

Silly Man

Silly Man

Volunteer moderator
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to answer my questions.

Question #1:
N-400 form: Section D, Question #15 -
Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?

.. Do I include Traffic Violations (Speeding tickets) here?

Question #2:
I got my GC in Mid-Nov 2003.

2.a. My assumption is that I can send my application in Mid-August 2008. Is that correct?
2.b. In the past 5 years, I've travelled internationally, but never > 10 days at a stretch. In September, October, November and December, I need to take 6-10 day trips overseas. Do you see any issues with that?

Question #3:
Finally, I don't want to miss my FP date, but if it co-incides with my preplanned trips, well I guess I'm sc'wed then. How long is it taking to get the FP notice in Baltimore? Is reschedule advisable/possible/easy?

Thanks for all your help!
 
Silly Man said:
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to answer my questions.

Question #1:
N-400 form: Section D, Question #15 -
Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?

.. Do I include Traffic Violations (Speeding tickets) here?

Question #2:
I got my GC in Mid-Nov 2003.

2.a. My assumption is that I can send my application in Mid-August 2008. Is that correct?
2.b. In the past 5 years, I've travelled internationally, but never > 10 days at a stretch. In September, October, November and December, I need to take 6-10 day trips overseas. Do you see any issues with that?

Question #3:
Finally, I don't want to miss my FP date, but if it co-incides with my preplanned trips, well I guess I'm sc'wed then. How long is it taking to get the FP notice in Baltimore? Is reschedule advisable/possible/easy?

Thanks for all your help!
Click to expand...

Answers to Question 1: Yes, please check yes and include details truthfully if you have traffic citations. Do not enclose any proof of tickets/payments that your tickets are paid if they are less than $500 fine or non dui/dwi tickets. but you can take those proofs or driving records from dmv and court to the interview when you are called to come for an interview.

Answers to Question 2:
a) correct.. it would be better if you file in more than 91 days or 96 days before your 5th anniversary of your gc. just to be safe. otherwise they will reject your N400 applications.
b)No issue because total of days that you went overseas are less than 180 days (less than 6 months). Are your trips business-related trips? If you plan to take a vacation, try to postpone until your naturalization is completed. It doesn't take too long to complete the naturalization process if you have a straightforward case and let's pray that namecheck/background check is cleared. If you plan to take a trip because of business and you plan to travel for more than 180 days, you should convince the interview officer or explain that your job requires travel overseas.. make sure to tell them that you pay US taxes. Is your company a US company? if your company is a foreign company (unless it is headquartered in usa), you are out of luck.

Answers to Question 3: Try to avoid trips during naturalization process as possible. if you want to reschedule or postpone, you can. the worst case is it is depends on the USCIS performance. For example, sometimes the officer/clerk forgot to update or lazy to reschedule. It is bureaucracy.
 
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USGC485 said:
Answers to Question 2:
a) correct.. it would be better if you file in more than 91 days or 96 days before your 5th anniversary of your gc. just to be safe. otherwise they will reject your N400 applications.
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I suppose you meant "less than 91 days." More than 91 days would be too early.
 
Short trips oversea has no impact to your application and eligibility as long as the total oversea stay does not exceed the "continues residency" requirement. In your case, it does not like it will be any where closer. Myself had 4 trips oversea and each consists of 3-5 weeks for business reasons after I applied for citizenship (three between FP and interview, one before Oath), no problems whatsoever.
 
Thanks

Thanks USGC485, Jack & Citizen,

Q#1 - Okay I'll include my stupid speeding tickets. LOL
Q#2 - Okie dokie. Less than 91 days. Gotcha.
Q#3 - Well, I can't avoid overseas travel. It is my own company, it is US based, but my business partners are overseas. Yes I pay US taxes. I also have business partners in the US.

Thanks for your answers folks! :)
 
USGC485 said:
a) correct.. it would be better if you file in more than 91 days or 96 days before your 5th anniversary of your gc.
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Speaking of which, where do you get 91 and 96 days from? The earliest you can file is 90 days before your 5th year LPR anniversary.
 
SillyMan,
Welcome to the forum, we seem to have a few troublemakers here! Check the B'more tracker thread to see the timelines others have posted.

Reg trips, don't put your life/business on hold for the n400. Continue with your routines as long as you stay within eligibilty req and do not get into any trouble with the law ;-)
There are basically two types of believers here, one set is uber strict and high maintenance with every aspect of the n400. The other set is a little more laid back and flexible. In any case take all advice here with a grain of salt since many people including me make mistakes or are outright ignorant/wrong sometimes.
 
Bobsmyth said:
Speaking of which, where do you get 91 and 96 days from? The earliest you can file is 90 days before your 5th year LPR anniversary.
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Bobsmyth, Even though I know the earliest you can file is 90 days before 5th anniversary of LPR, it doesn't have to be exact 90 days because sometimes weekend counts or business days counts and leap year counts, etc.. Just play to be safe, less than 90 days like 91 or 96 just give a week to mail n-400! For example, you want to file n400 at midnight exactly (90 days from 5th year LPR anniversary), USCIS would reject it if the number of days from 5th anniversary of LPR is more than 90 days. You have to be careful.
 
USGC485 said:
Bobsmyth, Even though I know the earliest you can file is 90 days before 5th anniversary of LPR, it doesn't have to be exact 90 days because sometimes weekend counts or business days counts and leap year counts, etc.. Just play to be safe, less than 90 days like 91 or 96 just give a week to mail n-400! For example, you want to file n400 at midnight exactly (90 days from 5th year LPR anniversary), USCIS would reject it if the number of days from 5th anniversary of LPR is more than 90 days. You have to be careful.
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Yes I know, but 91 and 96 is more than 90 days. It would make have made sense if you answered that you should apply 81 or 86 days before 5th year anniversary date to make sure you don't file too early, but to say 91 or 96 days is implying you should apply sooner than allowed.
 
Bobsmyth said:
Yes I know, but 91 and 96 is more than 90 days. It would make have made sense if you answered that you should apply 81 or 86 days before 5th year anniversary date to make sure you don't file too early, but to say 91 or 96 days is implying you should apply sooner than allowed.
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Oops. sorry. yes you are right.. I am preoccupied with other things in my mind. I was thinking of something else that is bothering me alot.. lol. thanks for correcting me. :)
 
A ton of thread have been asked about the speeding tickets. And from many INS folks that have been contacted (by people on here) the answer is only disclose them if they are over $500 (I think that is) or if they were DUIs. Regular speeding tickets can be omitted...
 
warlord said:
A ton of thread have been asked about the speeding tickets. And from many INS folks that have been contacted (by people on here) the answer is only disclose them if they are over $500 (I think that is) or if they were DUIs. Regular speeding tickets can be omitted...
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That is correct. I contacted the USCIS regarding the traffic ticket issue and was told that exact thing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you post a while ago that you didn't disclose traffic violations?
 
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