Lead time for N400 related notices.

O

obajaj

Registered Users (C)
Hi folks,

I wanted to know how much of a lead time is usually given between a notice and its associated required action.

e.g. between a fingerprint notice and the actual fingerprint date.
between an interview notice and the actual interview date?

This is because my wife and me are planning a trip to visit our parents and we wanted to know what is the maximum time we can stay away so that we don't miss any required N400 related action at the Service Center or District Office.

I just filed our applications about 10 days ago. We were thinking of making a 3 week trip around the end of November and keeping our mail on hold at the Post Office before we leave. Does that sound ok?
 
Obajaj,
Lead times seem to vary. Its probably hard to predict.

Folks: What is the MINIMUM lead time you have seen in this forum for between Fingerprint Notice date and FP appearance date
or Interview Letter date and Interview appearance date?


Is it usually atleast 2 weeks or can it be as short as a one-week notice?
 
obajaj,
In my case, I got my Fingerprint Notice letter in mail 19 days before the actual FP date.

Like CrossHairs mentioned, it varies. Your best bet is to check the Timeline of people in your District Office which might give a rough time estimate. Some people have posted a very detailed timeline for all the correspondence from USCIS.
 
It seems to be that one cannot take a chance assuming a certain lead time for the notices.
If one chooses to cut one's international travel trip short, there is always a risk that you may not get a flight back in time (Say due to flights being completely booked, etc.).

Does this mean that if you don't want to miss any appointments, you're stuck until after you receive the actual U.S. passport?
(Since you cannot travel with just a naturalization certificate in hand, and cannot travel with your original country passport either, if you have already naturalized.... atleast for Indian passports)

Is there any possibility of traveling between the interview and oath letter? (I'm assuming a gap of ATLEAST 3 weeks?). Is a person technically a U.S. Citizen after the Naturalization Interview (If he/she has "passed" or been "recommended"). If that is so, then I guess one cannot use an Indian passport to travel either, right?

How about traveling between after the Fingerprinting is done and the Interview Notice? Is that more viable for a 3 or 4 week trip out of the country?
 
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Obajaj,
No one can give an assurance.
The timeframes vary a lot and USCIS processing speed varies (I mean they approved 60,000 green card cases in 2 days...thats right 2 days!!! after sitting on them for months...that much HIGH VARIANCE in times)

So, who can predict all this? If you really have to travel, then just go ahead and travel, and you can request a reschedule of the dates, if you miss FP. One cannot stop living and family life because of an agency.
 
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obajaj said:
Is a person technically a U.S. Citizen after the Naturalization Interview (If he/she has "passed" or been "recommended"). If that is so, then I guess one cannot use an Indian passport to travel either, right?
Click to expand...
You become US Citizen not at the interview but ater you take the Oath o Allegiance. Between Interview and Oath you keep your GC and can travel with your (non-US) passport. Please keep in mind that the residence eligibility conditons apply until you take the oath.
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Detroit DO - NSC
03/16/07 N-400 sent to NSC
03/20/07 Priority Date
03/23/07 Notice of Action letter received
03/23/07 FP letter received
04/12/07 FP done
09/19/07 Interview Appointment :) (Notice date July 13)
 
Go after FP date

I am in the same situation and I just applied. I need to visit with my husband. I am planning on going after I do my fingerprints, which I think I can do anytime between the day I receive my FP notice and the day scheduled for FP??? Still looking into this. Anyway, it seems that, every case is different, the longest wait time is between the FP date and the interview notice. I will go then, BUT will have someone checking for the exact letter of interview so that I will be sure to return for my interview date, even if I pay high flying fares!!!
Good luck
 
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