Time b/w sending the application and getting FP'd

A

Asif2000

Registered Users (C)
How long does it take to get the Finger Printing Appointment after they recieve your application? Is it a fixed date that they set or is it something you schedule? What is a priority date? what is it based on and how do you get one?

The reason I am asking is that, I am planning a trip abroad in the end of decemeber. I was thinking about sending my N-400 tomorrow (before leaving for abroad). And by any means, I don't want to miss the FP date. I am in Dallas by the way, if that matters.

Please help a newbie here (well, newbie for the citizenship process anyway).

Also, I am in Dallas and I sending the application to the following address.

Texas Service Center
P.O. Box 851204
Mesquite, TX 75185-1204

Is it recommended to send it via FedEx or regular mail? If regular mail, should I use priority, registered, etc?

Thanks in advance.
 
Your FP appointment letter can come very quickly after filing your N-400. Look at the other posters' timelines for Dallas to get an idea. Mine was two weeks after filing and I missed the appointment because I did not realise they acted so quickly !!!!!

Make sure you have somebody open your mail if you MUST travel after filing and be prepared to return at short notice.

Your Priority Date is assigned by the USCIS when they receive your application and cash your check.

I use USPS Priority Certified Mail with return receipt for ALL my communications with the USCIS.
 
Here is my wife's timeline (I mostly followed her, but had my interview descheduled for nearly 5 months, so I just became a USC). The Dallas DO has sped things up over the last year, it seems. Check the Dallas "timeline" thread for current processing times.

Count on 1 week to 1 month from receipt of your N-400 to the FP letter.

N-400 mailed: September 14, 2005
Priority Date: September 19, 2005
Biometrics Letter: September 29, 2005
Biometrics Appointment: November 5, 2005
Interview Letter: March 23, 2006
Interview: May 5, 2006
Oath: June 1, 2006

Good luck
 
My family is leaving on Dec. 5th and I am leaving on the 13th and then we are both coming back on 29th. I guess I will send both the applications on 12th. Given the December holidays, I will be pretty safe in not missing the FP date I hope.

What happens if I do miss the date anyway without even knowing about it or without having rescheduled it it prior to the appointment date?

Regarding sending the application, I thought I wouldn't be able to request return receipt because of the PO.Box address for TSC. Is that not correct?
 
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I sent both of ours certified mail with return receipt (to the Mesquite service center). We got the receipts. They know how to process it apparently.

There's a procedure on the FP notice if things get screwed up (you copy the notice, and then send the original back to the service center with an explanation of the problem - when we did this for my daughter's GC FPs, it worked like a charm (this was for the ASC near Love Field (Northwest Highway and Lemmon/Marsh))).

You should be fine though.

Good luck
 
What I have seen so far is that it varies between 4 to 6 weeks from your priority date to FP appointment date.
 
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