N400: Steps to retain Green Card for as long as possible

H

hopeful_immigrant

New Member
I have some questions.

A. I plan to file for N400 soon, however, I would like to know, at what step of the process, i would need to give my Green Card to USCIS/DHS?

And if someone who recently gone through the process, what was/is the timeline?

1. File N400 (with fees etc)
2. Do Biometric.
3. Interview (Civics test is done here right?)
4. Oath Ceremony

Do i need to give my GC to the authority at Step 4?

B. What would happen if i go out of the country before step 4 (after step 3) ? Would it jeopardize my N400 application?

C. Can i delay Step 4: Oath ceremony IF that is the step where i need to give up my GC?

Reason of the question is that I might need to hold on to my GC (for personal purpose) which i might need to use AFTER i start my N400. I do not want to delay N400 as i know it could take more than 1 year to process depending on the USCIS office, so delay in filing N400 is not something that I plan to do. But i plan to drag the process if needed be so that I can take my Oath later (preferably after the time i need to use my GC for). Comments anyone?
 
A. Yes you hand in card at oath ceremony.
Timeline is entirely dependent on your FO. The first part - bio - is quite quick, usually 2-4 weeks. It’s the wait for interview that can take time. For example places like SF and I believe NY can take around a year. I know of people in both Atlanta and Nashville who applied last month and already have interview letters for January.
B. Usually not, unless you miss your ceremony (without rescheduling in advance) as a result. The time between interview and ceremony can also vary wildly, from same day (rare) to a few months (also rare). 2-6 weeks seems the most common.
C. There is a limit to how many times you can reschedule an oath ceremony, I think it’s twice and then you have to start the process again. You have no control over when the initial or rescheduled ceremonies will be scheduled for.
 
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A. Cool, i do know the wait time depends on the FO, hence i do not want to wait to file for N400. my office might take 6 months but would not want to count my luck.

B. Continuous residency, would it stopped being counted AFTER the interview (BEFORE the Oath, since after the Oath, you are already a USC, so doesn't matter) i am curious if N400 would be cancelled should you go out of the country for quite sometime.

C. okay got this point.
 
hopeful_immigrant said:
B. Continuous residency, would it stopped being counted AFTER the interview (BEFORE the Oath, since after the Oath, you are already a USC, so doesn't matter) i am curious if N400 would be cancelled should you go out of the country for quite sometime.

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No, it matters all the way through taking the oath. When you go to take your oath you have to sign a declaration about any changes in your situation since the interview, and one of the questions is about travel abroad.

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-3

An absence of more than six months [more than 181 days but less than one year (less than 365 days)] during the period for which continuous residence is required is presumed to break the continuity of such residence. This includes any absence that takes place prior to filing the naturalization application or between filing and the applicant’s admission to citizenship.
 
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