travel out of the country immediately after the N400 submission

chrisoffice

Registered Users (C)
Hi, the earliest submission date for me is Apr. 12. For some reason, I need to travel out of country as soon as possible. Can I mail in the application on Apr. 11 using the overnight mail and fly out of country on the Apr. 12? I will come back later for the fingerprint. I want to make sure that it is safe to leave the country right after the submission of N400.

Thanks!
 
Do NOT mail the application (or sign it, even) early. You will have a high chance of denial for early filing, and you will kick yourself. Post-date the signature and ask someone to mail it for you even past the 12th... maybe the 15th or 16th, JUST TO BE SAFE.
 
I think USCIS requires the applicant to be physically present in US at the time he/she submits the N400. So I don't think that it is wise to sign with a post-date and ask someone else to mail it. That could well be a ground for denial if USCIS finds out that you are out of the country when the N400 is submitted. Am I correct?
 
Hi, the earliest submission date for me is Apr. 12. For some reason, I need to travel out of country as soon as possible. Can I mail in the application on Apr. 11 using the overnight mail and fly out of country on the Apr. 12? I will come back later for the fingerprint. I want to make sure that it is safe to leave the country right after the submission of N400.

Don't send it using overnight mail, send it with a 2- or 3-day mail or courier option so it arrives at USCIS after the 12th. Having it arrive exactly on the 12th increases your risk of being rejected due to USCIS miscounting by 1 or 2 days.

However, by sending it on the 11th, you're still risking being rejected if they look at the postmark date (they're supposed to look at the arrival date, but occasionally people get rejected because the postmark date or signature date is before the 90-day mark).

How long is your expected trip ... why not just file it when you return? Or file it from abroad?
 
Thanks for the great reply, everyone!

One more question, my current understanding is that the physical presence requirement cease to exist as soon as one submits the N400, but the continuous residency requirement continue to be in effect until the oath, am I correct?

Also, if file the N400 from abroad, how to fill out the "date you returned to the US"? Leave it blank? And how to calculate the "total dates outside US"?

Thanks!
 
One more question, my current understanding is that the physical presence requirement cease to exist as soon as one submits the N400, but the continuous residency requirement continue to be in effect until the oath, am I correct?

Continuous residence is ongoing until you complete the oath, physical presence stops counting once you file the N-400.

Also, if file the N400 from abroad, how to fill out the "date you returned to the US"? Leave it blank? And how to calculate the "total dates outside US"?
Leave it blank, then update it at the interview.
 
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